June 13, Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Daily Readings: 1 Kings 18:41-46; Matthew 5:20-26
In the first reading, Ahab follows all the instructions given to him by the prophet Elijah. Through Elijah, Ahab, an evil king, realizes his mistakes and reconciles with God.
Jesus reminds His disciples that anyone who wants to offer gifts at the altar must first reconcile with their brother. In other words, one should settle disputes quickly before they escalate to the courts.
Jesus encourages people to resolve grudges immediately to avoid unnecessary conflict that might end up in court. Reconciliation is God's will and His way of forgiving the sins of all who believe. Reconciliation occurs through the obedience of faith. Just as in the first reading, where God converts Ahab's heart through Elijah, God will always send His people as instruments of reconciliation.
Reconciliation requires repentance. Repentance involves confessing our sins. Through the humble act of reconciliation, conflicts can be prevented from escalating. If one is humble enough to approach the person they have wronged, the conflict can be settled.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Humility and kindness are key to mending the heart of an enemy. It is believed that being humble and kind can foster peace and reconciliation.
Lord, help us to be humble and kind so that we may reconcile with those we have hurt. Amen.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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