“Each of us has particular gifts and talents which we believe are God given.” Fr Dean reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Friday of week 14 of Ordinary Time can be found here
At Pentecost in 1222, 3000 Franciscan friars gathered in Assisi for what became known as the “Chapter or Gathering of the the Mats.” The name arose from the difficulty of being able to find anywhere to accommodate so many people, and so they friars slept on mats they had carried with them. In their midst was St Anthony of Padua who had recently joined the order. At one point in the gathering, it was suggested that one of the friars give a short sermon. No one volunteered so Anthony was asked to give a simple sermon. Little was expected of him considering his age and education. However, he showed such eloquence and knowledge that he was assigned by his seniors to a ministry of preaching.
St Anthony has thought his vocation was to become a martyr. Instead, his life was turned to one of preaching. In the gospel reading, Jesus is preparing his disciples for challenging times ahead when they will be handed over and persecuted. However, he tells them, “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Each of us has particular gifts and talents which we believe are God given. So often, we can overlook or take these gifts for granted, or not use them in the service of God. Some of us may not even realise what our gifts are. Perhaps this was the case for St Anthony before he surprised his listeners. But filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives can be used by God to witness to Christ. Some individuals are indeed called to martyrdom as St Anthony desired. Others as preachers— St Anthony became. However, each of us, in our own circumstances, have a calling to fulfil, meet by word or deed.
Mass today is in St Saviour’s at 10am
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