Friday, August 19, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. BERNARD, ABBOT AND DOCTOR
AUGUST 20, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. BERNARD, ABBOT AND DOCTOR
SATURDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I
RUTH 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17
Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz, of the clan of her husband
Elimelech. Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go and glean ears of
grain in the field of anyone who will allow me that favor." Naomi said
to her, "Go, my daughter," and she went. The field she entered to glean
after the harvesters happened to be the section belonging to Boaz of
the clan of Elimelech. Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter! Do not
go to glean in anyone else's field; you are not to leave here. Stay
here with my women servants. Watch to see which field is to be
harvested, and follow them; I have commanded the young men to do you no
harm. When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels the
young men have filled." Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth
said to him, "Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?"
Boaz answered her: "I have had a complete account of what you have done
for your mother-in-law after your husband's death; you have left your
father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a
people whom you did not know previously." Boaz took Ruth. When they
came together as man and wife, the LORD enabled her to conceive and she
bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has
not failed to provide you today with an heir! May he become famous in
Israel! He will be your comfort and the support of your old age, for
his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you. She is worth more to
you than seven sons!" Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and
became his nurse. And the neighbor women gave him his name, at the news
that a grandson had been born to Naomi. They called him Obed. He was
the father of Jesse, the father of David.
MATTHEW 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes
and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do
not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's
shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their
works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and
lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of
honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation
`Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called `Rabbi.' You have but one
teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called `Master'; you have
but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your
servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles
himself will be exalted."
REFLECTION
For the greatest to be the servant is something that defies our common
sense. It is natural for the president of the bank to sit in the
distinguished place of honor. It is but appropriate for the biggest
donor to cut the ribbon and get the best seat. This is what the world
proposes, but Christ spoke of a concept that is quite revolutionary.
He invites the greatest among us to be the servant! He invites us to
discover humility.
Humility is a gift and a grace from God. It can be asked from the
Lord. Why should we seek humility? Sometimes it seems that the proud
and haughty are better off, are "luckier". But Christ shows us that
life's true path is through humility. He shows us in the cross the
ultimate and only truth. The only truth is that only those who have the
love of Christ may enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Only if we are humble enough to bear the cross, will God exalt us. God
exalted His son Jesus Christ on the cross when Christ willingly
accepted humiliation to manifest God's great love for men. God raised
Christ from the dead to prove this point! By our sins, we killed an
innocent man, the little one. Christ manifested his humility when he
accepted his Father's will that he humble himself, embracing the cross.
Jesus Christ is really Son of God. He is nobler than a king, more
powerful than a president, more influential than any politician, but He
chose to become our servant. He chose to serve us out of love. In
fact, His service to us meant dying for us.
One cannot be humble unless he has love in his heart. If you have the
love of God in your heart, you discover an inner peace that enables you
to be happy in the midst of persecution and difficulties. You discover
happiness in the last place, because in you the spirit of Jesus Christ
risen is found. That is why when we are humbled, we will be exalted,
exalted by the Lord Himself because we follow in His humble footsteps.
At the end of time, all man made structures and concepts will fall.
All the proud will have to step down. All healthy men will die. All
popular idols will lose their fame. Everything will collapse. One
thing only will be left standing --- it is the cross of Christ. And
this cross will judge all the nations at the end of time. The face of
God can be seen in Jesus Christ. The latter reflects the love of the
Father for mankind. If we possess this love, we can then be humble and
be happy. And there will be no need for external signs, phylacteries
and tassels and such, because in the end all is
just vanity.
PRAYER
"Lord, teach me your way of servanthood and humility that I may walk in
love as you have loved. Fill me with the joy of servanthood that I may
inspire others to walk in your way of happiness and holiness."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the speedy recovery and safekeeping of Martin Allen Kunz.
- for the personal intentions of Wayne, Nadine, Noah and Nellie
- for the guidance and enlightenment of Joseph D. and John C.
- for the special intentions of Julie.
- for the healing of Kam Biak.
- for the personal intentions of Jordan D.
- for the health of Mic Mic and Mae Mae
- in thanksgiving for all the blessings received by the Chan family.
- for the speedy recovery of Jan
- for the speedy recovery of Elizabeth
- for the speedy recovery of John
- healings for Elizabeth, Angela's dad, Alan, Phil, Pam, Joyce & BB
- for the personal intentions of Jane Figuerres-Guillermo.
- for the gifts of wisdom and knowledge on the incoming medical board
exams of Evangelyn.
- for the early recovery of Lilia Payawal. May the almighty God touch
her with His healing hands.
- for the personal intentions of Julie D.
- for the safe travel of Lydia and JP
- for the personal intentions of the Pe Family
- for the personal intentions of Mary Catherine Co Librando.
- for the eternal repose of the souls of Erlito Lluch Sr., Victor
Lluch, Ma. Elena Lluch, Lola Orang, Ray Librando, Tata Maghuyop and
Ondo Abellar. Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light
shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Felipe Santos
- Birthday: Hilda T. So
- for world peace and reconciliation.
- for the healing and full recovery of Lester Reyes
- for good health and safe pregnancy of Melissa Simonette Reyes-Lata
- for the increase of vocation to the Holy Priesthood
- for the blessing of another son for Joel & Matel Hernandez
- for the reconciliation of Joel and Lani.
- for the grant of the personal intention of Demette Guevarra.
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!
***************************************************************
Welcome to DAILY-HOMILY, a Catholic-based Scripture and Homily
Reflection. It is a great source for scripture reading and
reflectionfor Weekdays, Sundays and Holydays of Obligation.
Subscribe to this list and you will receive a free, informed,
down to earth and illustrated homily. It's a FREE service.
***************************************************************
To subscribe or unsubscribe, tell friends about Daily-Homily,
read past reflection and feedbacks, give donation or submit a
prayer request please go to:
Webpage: http://homily.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Email: dailyhomily@gmail.com
To subscribe: subscribe_dh@dailyfoodforthought.org
To Unsubscribe: unsubscribe_dh@dailyfoodforthought.org
To post a Prayer Request: prayer_request@dailyfoodforthought.org
PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT BEFORE MEDITATING ON GOD'S WORD:
http://www.marythequeen.org/
Feel free to forward this to your friends, family and associates!
© 2005 Daily-Homily
