Mario vicko

May God answers all our prayers true the ministry of priest

*Monday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time*
One day I overheard one teenage boy with his friend saying, I don't care how I make this money even if it's through blood I will &when I get it, I will build a church to appease God. I was shocked to hear that; Imagine the mindset of these children; that even if one kills to make money once he makes offering to God, he will be pardoned. This is one of the illusions of today's Christianity; that donations in church automatically equals forgiveness of sin; no amount of offering can take away sins without repentance. Today's first reading reveals this, Samuel reminds Israel through Saul that God is not hungry of their sacrifice, He demands their obedience. Let us do the will of God.

St Anthony Abbott.

A brief reflection on today's readings.

From 1 Samuel 9:1–4, 17–19; 10:1 (The Call of Saul)

God works through ordinary situations: Saul went searching for lost donkeys, but God was already guiding him toward a greater purpose. Our daily struggles can lead to divine encounters.
God sees beyond appearances: Though Saul looked ordinary to himself, God had chosen him for leadership. God’s call is based on His plan, not human opinion.
Divine appointment is real: When God sends you, He also prepares the way ahead of you.

From Mark 2:13–17 (The Call of Levi)

Jesus calls sinners, not the perfect: Christ chooses hearts open to conversion, not those who think they are already righteous.
Mercy is central to discipleship: Following Jesus means extending compassion, not judgment.
True conversion begins with responding to Christ’s call: Like Levi, immediate obedience opens the door to transformation.

On the Feast of St. Anthony the Abbot, these readings remind us that God calls ordinary people to extraordinary holiness. Like Saul, Anthony encountered God’s call in the midst of ordinary life and responded with total surrender. He left behind comfort and status to seek God alone.

From the Gospel, we learn that Jesus calls not the perfect but those willing to change. St. Anthony teaches us the same lesson: holiness begins with obedience, detachment from worldly attachments, and a deep desire for conversion. His life challenges us today to listen to God’s call, renounce what distracts us from Him, and follow Christ with undivided hearts.