Monday, June 13, 2005
TUESDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 14, 2005
TUESDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I
2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-9
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God that
has been given to the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of
affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For according to
their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the
service to the holy ones, and this, not as we expected, but they
gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God,
so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also
complete for you this gracious act also. Now as you excel in every
respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the
love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. I
say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your
love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he
was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
MATTHEW 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, you
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be
children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the
bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the
unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you
have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your
brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the
same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
REFLECTION
The City of Corinth was a very wealthy trade center. The church
Paul had established there was much better off financially than
churches he had founded elsewhere. Paul turned to the Corinthians,
therefore, requesting them to give generously to the fund he was
gathering for the Church in Jerusalem. Two reasons motivated him in
the pursuit of this project, which was very close to his heart. The
Christians in Jerusalem were poor. Making a donation would be an
act of charity for the Gentile Church. Secondly, a donation would
affirm that Jews and Gentiles were members of but one Church. There
was one gospel, one faith . . . one Church.
The motivation Paul proposes to the Corinthians is the love and
generosity that Jesus manifested in the Incarnation when "for your
sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you
might become rich."
Paul also suggests that the Corinthians might look to the Macedonian
Church as an exemplar of generosity. The Macedonians were poor,
particularly if compared to the wealthy Corinthians, and furthermore
they were undergoing the trials of persecution. Yet they insisted
that they be allowed to share in this service to the needy in
Jerusalem. Such generosity Paul sees as inspired by God and as a
sign that the Macedonians gave much more than a simple financial
gift to the Jerusalem community; the donation signified the gift of
their love.
The primary motivation every Christian has for donating gifts to the
poor is Jesus' generosity to him- or herself when "for your sake he
became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might
become rich." When a Christian gives generously Christ is always
his model and his inspiration.
PRAYER
"Lord, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy
Spirit and set my heart ablaze with your love that nothing may make
me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me
bitter towards anyone."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of Milagros Doria.
- for the speedy recovery of Jocy Leron.
- for the personal intentions of Veronica Yap.
- for the personal intentions of Mary Wong and Lawrence.
- for thanksgiving and special intentions of Ma. Eufrocenri Navarro.
- Birthday: Edna E. Olmedo
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Luis & Josie Ong
- In Memoriam: Ramon Lee Ngo
- In Memoriam: Antonio Cabrera
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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