Homily (Reflection) for Memorial of
Saint Athanasius, B.D. (2nd May, 2016) on the Gospel and the
memorial
(Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter)
Acts 16:11-15;
Ps 149:1-6.9. (R. v.4); Jn 15:26–16:4.
St. Athanasius was born at Alexandria about the year
296 of Christian parents and was educated under the eye of Alexander who later became
his Bishop. He spent some time in the desert with St. Anthony. Athanasius was
ordained a deacon in 319. He assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicaea in
325, where his influence began to be felt. On Alexander’s death bed, he
recommended St. Athanasius as his successor which paved way to his unanimous
election as Patriarch in 326.
His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause
of many trials and persecutions for St. Athanasius. He spent seventeen of the
forty-six years of his episcopate in exile. St. Athanasius died on May 2, 373.[1]
Topic: God sustains His people.
In today’s gospel, Jesus told His disciples things as they would
be to prevent them from stumbling:
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is
coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering
worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or
me.
When we juxtapose Christ’s message with what many give today
in God’s name, one wonders. We must remember always that this work is God’s,
cf. Jn 14:10. And the task of
protecting the flock is the Lord’s, cf. 1Sam
17:47; 2Ch 20:15. As a result, there is no need for all the false promises,
prophesies, messages, and so on.
Saint Athanasius never mixed-up God’s message with his. He rather
exposed them as Paul admonished, cf. Eph
5:11. Let us follow His example.
Bible Reading: Ps 25.
Thought for today: God is not yet tired for the work.
Let us pray: Lord, lead me in your truth and
teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long –
Amen (cf. Ps 25:5).
Saint Athanasius – Pray for us.
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