Sunday, September 11, 2005
MONDAY 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
MONDAY 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8
Beloved: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions,
and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion
and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills
everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there
is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the
testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and
Apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place
the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
LUKE 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered
Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders
of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He
deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he
built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was
only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to
tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have
you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to
come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too
am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I
say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come here, and he comes;
and to my slave, Do this, and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was
amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell
you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers
returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
REFLECTION
There is nothing that enables and prepares us more to receive Jesus
than kindness and goodness to our fellow men. The centurion was not of
the chosen people of God, but his kindness toward them facilitated his
encounter with Jesus. Christ-like attitudes and manners are important
preludes to spiritual growth. If we feel stuck in our spiritual lives,
and can't seem to get to Jesus, perhaps it is because of self-centered
attitudes and dispositions in our dealings with others. Goodness of
heart, attentiveness and kindness toward others, will lead us
invariable to an encounter with the
Lord.
Humility is a virtue that we love to see in others. How easy it is to
let leadership go to our heads. But this centurion was different. He
was an outstanding example of an individual whose high position and
responsibility did not make him proud. He thought long and deep about
the authority he exercised. So when he asks Jesus for the cure for his
servant, he does so with a tone that is filled with respect. He does
not "throw his weight around." His words have been made immortal by the
liturgy, which evokes them at communion time: "Lord I am not worthy to
receive you." Indeed, we are all beggars before God, desperately in
need of the grace that we do not deserve.
The centurion aptly recognizes what he has been given, authority over
others as a commander, and also his duties. He himself is a soldier
under the authority of his commanders. This attitude of serene
recognition of reality, of one's qualities and duties, is a sign of
true humility. Humility is truth. When we recognize sincerely and
simply who we are before God, this allows Jesus to act. Trying to be
what we are not sets up barriers to Jesus and others. The centurion did
not consider recognizing the authority of Jesus as an insult or threat
to his own authority. An attitude of self-importance impedes any
approach of the Lord, but humility permits Jesus to draw near.
Jesus displays his own humility. He is unable to say "no" when he
encounters a disposition of faith. Not only does he readily accede to
the request, but he also stops to admire and praise the faith of the
centurion. Humility allows us to recognize and praise the qualities of
others, and creates an atmosphere of peace and nobility of spirit.
Luke tells us that Jesus was amazed at the centurion. His mission was
"to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" but the centurion allowed
Jesus to cast his glance forward, to the day when the Gospel would be
preached to the ends of the earth and when all people would be invited
to the banquet table of God's Kingdom. What counts is not one's
lineage, but one's faith. Our love for Jesus should encourage us to
give him what he truly values. When Jesus grants the centurion's
request, his servant is cured at a distance. He means it to serve as a
sign that he will always hear those who believe and trust him.
PRAYER
"Heavenly Father, you sent us your Son that we might be freed from the
tyranny of sin and death. Increase my faith in the power of your saving
word and give me freedom to love and serve others with generosity and
mercy as you have loved me."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- birthday thanksgiving: Bituin A. Marcelino
- for the special intentions of George & Carolina Wee & Family.
- for the special intentions of Miko Peña.
- for the enlightenment of Patrick Batallones.
- in thanksgiving and for the personal intentions of Soter Pobari
Menegbo.
- for the speedy recovery of Annika Nadine Uy.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of the mother of Sr. Annal and
Father Amalan. Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light
shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
- for the speedy recovery of Theresa
- for the speedy recovery and well-being of John
- In Memoriam: Col. Jose R. Villarico
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Jun Ambas. Eternal rest grant
unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Tom Balagot. Eternal rest grant
unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of father of John Lesaca. Eternal
rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest
in peace.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Luz S. Lim
- Prayer Intention: Leona O. Chua - Francisco Sycip
- In Memoriam: Dr. Benito Tan
- 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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