Thursday, March 30, 2006
Friday 4th week of Lent
March 31, 2006
Friday 4th week of Lent - Yr II
WISDOM 2:1A, 12-22
The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Let us beset
the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against
our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us
with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our
thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is
not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us
debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls
blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us
see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver
him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put
him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his
patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his
own words, God will take care of him." These were their thoughts, but
they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the
hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of
holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.
JOHN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of
Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of
the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying
to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know
where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is
from." So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and
said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on
my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know
him, because I am from him, and he sent me." So they tried to arrest
him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet
come.
REFLECTION
Our Lord's time of suffering and death had been planned by God. Jesus
will suffer and die at the "appointed time." God's plan cannot be
changed by men. The enemies of Jesus could not "lay a finger on him,"
could not arrest him unless he allowed them to. Jesus will suffer at
the time set by God his Father. God is all-powerful. No man can
frustrate or change God's plan. However, Our Lord cooperates with God's
plan. His relatives go to the Jewish festival of Booths. Jesus does not
join them. Scripture narrates: "... he too went but as if in secret and
not for all to see."
In the Gospels, in certain miracles he performed, Jesus cautioned those
cured not to publicize the cures so as to avoid inciting his enemies to
take action against him before the scheduled time of his suffering.
Jesus gives us an example of cooperating with God's plan.
God is our Father. He loves us. He takes care of us. At the same time,
has given us a mind and abilities to cooperate, in our human way, with
care for us. He wants us to do what is in our power to cooperate with
him. For example, we pray that God will give good health. So, we have
to choose well the food we eat. We practice moderation in food and
drink. In modern times, it is generally recommended to have regular
physical exercise to enjoy good health. For our spiritual health we
pray to God to help us avoid sin and to do good. This means we should
avoid the occasions of sin. These occasions of sin may be persons or
things, which could lead us to strong temptations and sin. They also
could be places where most people usually fall into serious sin. Our
cooperation with God's care and protection requires that we avoid these
occasions of sin.
God helps those who help themselves. While praying for and trusting in
God's protection, we do our part to avoid sin and do good to others.
When we ask God to help us do good to others, we must look for and
create the opportunities for doing good.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the special intention of Nery Ramos. May God's glory and power
shines on her always, to guide her on the right path of life.
- for the speedy recovery and spiritual healing of Primitiva Guan Ang
Cu.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- 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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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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