Daily Gospel Reflection
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February 29, 2020
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”. This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson was my high school senior class motto. Inspired, I knew with certainty I would forge a unique path into the world.
In the many decades since graduation, I have not cured cancer or accomplished any newsworthy events. In fact, to the outside observer, my life may seem as if it has not created any new trails. Fortunately, God is okay with that. Jesus has welcomed me, and all other sinners, to the banquet feast of the Church. Jesus asks one thing of all of us “Follow me.” I try. I really do. I try to love my neighbor, except when I am in a hurry, then my neighbor is someone to ignore. I try to love God with my whole heart, but God is not my priority every day. I want God to use me to accomplish God’s will, except when that is difficult, then I wish God would use someone else. Each time I sin, I ask for forgiveness and I am welcomed back by Jesus. This well-worn path is mine, and all sinners are invited to plod along with me.
Our refrigerator is now covered with numerous inspiring mantras: “Be the change you want to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi). “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart ” (Anne Frank). “If you judge people, you have no time to love them” (Mother Teresa). All of these quotes can be synthesized by Jesus’ command to Levi: “Follow me.”
Prayer
Lord, you knew each of us before the foundation of the world and called us each by name. Free us from narrow, prejudicial thinking, attitudes and actions. We are all sinners. Inspire us to humbly serve You and all your creation. We ask this through Christ our Brother Amen.
Saint of the Day
Blessed Antonia of Florence entered the convent after her husband died, and though she gave the example of an undeniably holy life to others, she was not immune to the problems of family discord.
She was born in 1401 in Florence, Italy, and married at a young age. Her husband died in 1428, after they had one child, and she refused to be convinced to marry again. She felt a call to dedicate her life to God through prayer.
She entered a Franciscan community, and gave such a good example of religious life that she was given leadership roles and transferred to several different convents. Eventually, she came to lead her own convent, where she was able to form a community that adhered to a strict rule of poverty in imitation of St. Clare. Soon more than 100 women joined the community.
Antonia is said to have had remarkable patience and humility. For more than 15 years, she bore without complaint a very painful illness. Though she served as founder and abbess, she sought out the most menial and disagreeable tasks; she wore the most worn-out clothes and set aside all honors and distinctions. Above all, like St. Francis, she loved poverty—she even called it “Queen of the House.”
She saw her share of troubles: when her son grew up, he squandered his inheritance, and used to bring other relatives to the convent to bother Antonia with their conflicts and disputes. She also bore several trials in her prayer life and turbulence in the leadership of the Franciscan order in the region.
At times, during her prayer, she seemed to levitate. Other times, she was noted to be in a kind of ecstasy, and some observed light to emit from her head that brightened the whole room.
She died at the age of 71 on this date in 1472. Her body remains in Aquila, and is said to be in an state of incorruption; a number of miracles were reported at her tomb. On non-leap years, her feast is held on Feb. 28.
Blessed Antonia of Florence, you knew the trouble of family problems and led others in the search for holiness—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Bl. Antonia of Florence is in the public domain. Last accessed December 6, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
