“Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves...” (Luke 10:3.)
Saint Ephrem the Syrian offers the following insight on these verses from today’s Gospel:
“He sent them two by two, in his likeness. He sent them preaching without a salary, as he had done. “Behold, I am sending you forth like lambs among the wolves,” to show that as long as the Shepherd was with them they would not be harmed. To encourage them, he said, “He who receives you, receives me.” He forbid them to take money for fear they would be considered businessmen and not announcers.” (Commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron, 8.)
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
Who gave Saint Anthony of Padua
to your people
as an outstanding preacher
and an intercessor in their need,
grant that, with his assistance,
as we follow the teachings
of the Christian life,
we may know Your help in every trial.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Who gave Saint Anthony of Padua
to your people
as an outstanding preacher
and an intercessor in their need,
grant that, with his assistance,
as we follow the teachings
of the Christian life,
we may know Your help in every trial.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
