DAILY- HOMILY: 07/04/06

DAILY- HOMILY

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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Thursday 13th Week in Ordinary Time

July 6, 2006
Thursday 13th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II

AMOS 7:10-17
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel:
"Amos has conspired against you here within Israel; the country cannot
endure all his words. For this is what Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by
the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land." To Amos,
Amaziah said: "Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in
Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple." Amos
answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company
of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took
me from following the flock, and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people
Israel.' Now hear the word of the LORD!" You say: prophesy not against
Israel, preach not against the house of Isaac. Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and
daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by
measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; Israel
shall be exiled far from its land.

MATTHEW 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own
town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child,
your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to
themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were
thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier,
to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that
you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins"- he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher,
and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were
struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

REFLECTION
It's not unusual for a corrupt government to cite religion to support
its corrupt policies. Nor is it unheard of that a corrupt religious
leader might be in the forefront of those defending government
corruption. This was the situation in which Amos found himself when at
God's urging, he went about Israel, condemning the social sinfulness of
king, priests, and people.

Amos's preaching was subversive. It condemned king, priests and people,
revealing to them how they were violating the obligations imposed on
them by the covenant they had entered into with God.

The priest Amaziah expelled the prophet from the Temple at Bethel, the
main site of religious worship in Israel, and ordered Amos to go back
to Judah, where, he told him, he could earn his bread by prophesying.
He was never to prophesy in Israel again.

Amos responded to Azamiah's deportation order, protesting that he was
not a professional prophet, that his one goal was to preach the word
God had told him to preach. Amos certainly had no interest at all in
supporting the political establishment.

On the day of our baptism all of us were appointed prophets. It's not
an easy role to fulfill. People don't like to being reminded of their
sinfulness, and so the prophet always arouses opposition. If, however,
we meet with opposition, we need only put our trust in God and rely,
not on our wisdom and strength, but on his. Amos can be an inspiration
for us. He was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees. He was not
an educated man. Yet he fulfilled the obligation God put on him. We can
do the same in regard to the obligation he put on us on the day of our
baptism.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the continued recovery of Aida.
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio.
- for the early recovery of Deng de Leon and Elen.
- for the speedy recovery of Felicitas Simeon.
- for guidance and discernment of Nitz.
- for the speedy recovery of Ding Vidanes.
- In Thanksgiving: Bro. Nanding
- for the speedy recovery of Angelina Ramos.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Philip Go Sy
- Birthday: Pasencia Siy
- Wedding Anniversary: Arsenio & Maria Chua
- 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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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 2:35 AM 0 comments

Wednesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time

July 5, 2006
Wednesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II

AMOS 5:14-15, 21-24
Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly will the LORD,
the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate; Then it may be that the LORD, the
God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph. I hate, I spurn
your feasts, says the LORD, I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed
peace offerings. Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the
melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me burnt offerings, then
let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.

MATTHEW 8:28-34
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who
were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one
could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with
us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed
time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons
pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of
swine." And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the
swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where
they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town
they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him
they begged him to leave their district.

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel story, our attention is focused on the healing of
people possessed by evil spirits. If we imagine ourselves to be at the
scene, we see the story unfolding with various sights and sounds that
we might have missed if we just read the passages of the Gospel without
a thorough reflection.

The more prominent meaning of the miracle Jesus performs today is one
of power. Even the demons recognize this power and plead to be cast
into the herd of pigs. When the swineherds report to the town's people
what happened to the herd of pigs, there is an outcry because they
regard the pigs as prized possessions.

Miracles are signs that invite people to open their eyes to Jesus'
works and ears to hear Jesus' words. They are signs that invite people
to be spiritually reborn to begin new lives as "new creations" in God's
kingdom. Looking at our present life-styles, do we allow Jesus to
challenge our comfortable ways of living even when they are not
pleasing before God's eyes? Now that we have been enlightened through
daily "miracles" do we still cling to our old ways?

Indeed, after being freed from worldly vices through the knowledge of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they still returned to those vices
and surrendered to them. And their present state has become worse than
the first. It would have been better for them not to have known the way
of holiness than, knowing it, to turn away from the sacred doctrine
that they had been taught. In their case these proverbs are relevant:
"Hardly has the pig been washed than it again wallows in the mud." (2
Peter 2:20-22)

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!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!