The Word of God calls us to shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the Word of Life. Saint Anthony

Stubbornness of heart is found in the legend of Anthony of Padua, who proves to heretics the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament by feeding a hungry mule. Anthony called out, “Mule! Come here and show reverence to your Creator!” At once, the animal came towards Anthony and bowed its head and knees before the sacred host. The owner of the mule and many heretics were reconciled to the Church.

The Miracle of the Mule invites us to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. St. Anthony taught that the Eucharist is a sacramental extension of the Incarnation in space and time. The presence of Christ among us did not end with Jesus’ death. In the celebration of the Mass, we meet Jesus at the deepest, most intimate level. We hear his voice, His Word in the Holy Scriptures; we pray together, and then, in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ. An intimate encounter of the Eucharist dispels the act of adultery and lust.

Paul declares, “We are earthen jars that hold this treasure.” The treasure is the divine indwelling in the Body of Christ, enabling us to live the gospel like earthenware jars, which were used in Jesus’ time to hold oil and a wick to make a light. Paul goes on to say that the overwhelming power of the gospel does not come from us but from God. God is powerfully at work helping us to live the treasure of the gospel, and his power is greater than our weakness and greater than the pressures that oppose the gospel.

Let Us Pray:

Many times, we fail to live the truth of the Gospel. Christ is not telling us to mutilate our bodies because of sin. Jesus calls for a change of heart, a purifying of our desires and intentions. This interior transformation is understood to be the work of the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God who renews the human heart. It is in prayer that we open ourselves to the Spirit of God.