Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
In today’s first reading, we hear the story of David overcoming Goliath with just a sling and a stone. In reality, David knows that it is the Lord who overcomes Goliath: “Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand,” David proclaims.
Today, we also celebrate St. Anthony, one of the great desert fathers. During his life in prayer and solitude, St. Anthony fought his own Goliath in the form of constant and severe spiritual combat with the devil. Sometimes the devil brought St. Anthony great temptation, or sometimes terrifying visions. But St. Anthony did not meet force with force – instead, he fled to the Lord through ceaseless prayer and fasting, and he allowed to Lord to defend him. The Lord overcame Anthony’s Goliath, just as He overcame David’s.
What is the Goliath in our life that we need to allow the Lord to overcome? So often we think we have to fight alone, to overcome our obstacles with our own strength. Today, let’s remember that it is the Lord who conquers the foe, who delivers us from our struggles.