Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church Matthew 5:27-32 Human dignity restored by Christ
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with a truth that pierces our modern hearts: “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Mt 5:28) These are not merely words about personal morality. They are a call to dignity and justice, especially for women who, even today, are so often reduced to objects and cast aside when no longer “useful.”
From the beginning, God created man and woman together in His image. Not one above the other, but side by side. A man without a woman at his side—whether as mother, sister, wife, or friend—is incomplete in reflecting God’s image. This is the truth Jesus reveals in His radical treatment of women. He speaks to them, defends them, heals them, and restores their dignity.
Yet today, so often women are reduced to objects—used in advertising, exploited on the streets, treated as disposable. This exploitation is not far away; it happens in our own cities, in our neighbourhood. Women, especially the poor and migrant women, are trafficked and humiliated. Many have never known the joy of being a mother, the warmth of a home, or the dignity of being seen as a person.
This is a sin against the Creator. When we treat women as less than human, we reject the image of God. We must reflect: How do we speak about women? How do we see them?
The Gospel calls us to look at the other with eyes of love and respect. Let us ask the Lord to purify our hearts and minds, to help us see every individual as someone sacred. And may Mary, Mother of the Living, teach us to build a world where every woman is honoured and loved. Amen.
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