Saint Anthony, Abbot Yrs 1 and 2 2026
Ordinary Time Homilies • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsGod called Saul, Levi, and Anthony, yes, seeing raw qualities he could use, but mainly seeing their willingness to obey, their commitment, and their fortitude. He would refine them later into the leaders he would make them, sometimes using rejection or struggles in the process. So God has called us, perhaps has a Saul or a Levi or an Anthony, but likely for an original call. Our duty is to obey and live in fortitude as he refines us for our ultimate task.
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Transcript
Title
Title
Called and Committed
Outline
Outline
God chooses people differently than humans do
God chooses people differently than humans do
God chose Saul, knowing his impressive height, but also knowiing his obedience to his father, his fortitude in that obedience, and his openness to both counsel and the Spirit. He was also not self-seeking. These did not qualify him, but were used by God until by disobedience he let in an unholy spirit. God knew about that too.
God chose Levi knowing he would respond and knowing he had many contacts among the social outcasts. Perhaps his background seen in the name Levi and his rejection by the Pharisees would make him qualified to write the gospel of Matthew, assuming he is the author. Jesus will have to form him into a disciple, but Levi was ready for the first step, leaving all and following Jesus and the second step of honoring Jesus before his associates, which was the basis of his becoming an apostle.
God chose Anthony who had a decent family and a good mind, for he had a family that had land and he also had a decent education, given the letters he wrote. He was already committed to the Church, for it was after his parents had died that he came into church as the gospel was being read and heard the call given to the rich young ruler. He was totally committed and the Spirit used the reading to change his direction. But he had to develop, so first he lived outside the town, then further off, and finally barricaded in a fort in the desert. But the point was to fight the demons within, not separate from the Church. When God has trained him he leaves the fort and both is accessible to others and goes into Alexandria to help Athanasius.
God can see the raw material he wants to develop and the “stuff” that needs to be cut out, but chiefly he is looking for a heart ready to obey.
That is how he is choosing us
That is how he is choosing us
It may be as a Saul to deliver his people, an idea that had never come into Saul’s head. First he would equip him by having him “speak in tongues” (in the text prophesy), an ecstatic experience that would lower his status.
It may be as a Levi whom God chose to write a gospel comprehensible to the very people who rejected him and rejected Jesus for eating with him.
It may be as an Anthony to inspire (better than lead) monastics and give wisdom to the Church, knowing that Anthony had to first learn discipline and to fight demons before he could lead others into the same depth of commitment and wisdom.
And it likely is as something else, yet God is refining the qualities he wants to develop and is burning out those he knows need to go.
Our job is to submit to his discipline, live in humble fortitude, and never turn aside so that he bring us to his goal.
