Homily – Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Year II
By Fr. Williams Onyilo, CSSp
Memoria: St. Anthony of Egypt
Readings: I Samuel 9:1-4,17-19.10:1, Mark 2:13-17
Today, we celebrate a great man who transformed a tragic life experience into what many Christians now cherish as monasticism. We are told that he lost both parents, and instead of remaining trapped in grief-feeling lonely, depressed, or even blaming God for his misfortune—he saw this loss as an opportunity. He left everything behind in the city, withdrew into the desert, and dedicated himself wholly to the service of God. His courageous and spiritual decision inspired many others to follow him, giving rise to what we know today as monastic life.
In the first reading, we encounter Saul, whose father Kish lost several donkeys and entrusted Saul with the demanding task of finding them. Saul, accompanied by his servants, journeyed through many towns in search of the lost animals, seemingly in vain and for many days. Yet, instead of expressing frustration towards the servants, the lost donkeys, or even his father, Saul remained patient, calm, and gentle. This journey, born out of loss, eventually led him to Samuel, who anointed him king of Israel.
Furthermore, in the Gospel, Jesus associates Himself with tax collectors, an action that drew harsh criticism from the scribes and Pharisees. Ironically, this very condemnation became the doorway through which many tax collectors were welcomed, transformed, and converted.
Each of us carries scars from living in an often unfair world. The question we must ask ourselves today is this: will we allow our scars to hinder our progress, or will we transform them into stepping stones, launching us higher, until they become stars that illuminate our journey and the lives of others?
May God’s grace be enough for us. Amen.
