Friday, November 03, 2006
MEMORIAL, ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, BISHOP
NOVEMBER 4, 2006
MEMORIAL, ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, BISHOP
SATURDAY 30TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR II
PHILIPPIANS 1:18B-26
Brothers and sisters: As long as in every way, whether in pretense
or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Indeed I shall continue to rejoice, for I know that this will result
in deliverance for me through your prayers and support from the
Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I
shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness,
now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life
or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on
living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not
know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to
depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet
that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. And
this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the
service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so
that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when
I come to you again.
LUKE 14:1, 7-11
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading
Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He
told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were
choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by
someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place
of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited
by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and
say, `Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with
embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are
invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to
you he may say, `My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you
will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone
who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself
will be exalted."
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives instructions on how to make a good
impression on people. Jesus chooses concrete situations, understood
well by those he was addressing, and uses them as sort of metaphors
to teach us about the Kingdom of God.
Jesus' message in this Gospel is that there's no room for pride, for
self-glorification in God's Kingdom. Here he's making a profoundly
spiritual point. It's the same point he's made over and over again
throughout his public life: "He who is the greatest among you, is
servant of all." "Service is the hallmark of my disciple." "You
must wash one another's feet."
We all welcome honors; we all gobble up praise. Desire for
recognition is a powerful stimulus that can push aside Christ-like
motivation that can urge upon us a type of behavior that is hardly
in accord with Christ's values.
We would think this is the vulnerable point in the armor of a
Christian politician. Is this individual's strongest motivation the
service of his country and his constituents or is it the need for
approval, the desire to win reelection or to hold on to power? Is
this individual a person of principle?
One scholar ends his commentary on today's Gospel by speaking of
humility as the most difficult of all commandments. So difficult is
it that even Christians have to see an exultation offered as a
reward: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who
humbles himself will be exalted."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- In Memoriam(+): Candido, Maria, Corazon
- for the early recovery of Angelito Matibag
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- In Memoriam (+): Choa Thian Siu (Jan 21, 1913 - Nov 14, 1983)
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Visitacion De La Pena (2nd
death anniversary)
- 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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