DAILY- HOMILY

June 16, 2007
Memorial, Immaculate Heart of Mary
Saturday 10th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

ISAIAH 61: 9-11
Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, and their
offspring among the peoples; All who see them shall acknowledge them
as a race the LORD has blessed. I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my
God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of
salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom
adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the
earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring
up, So will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all
the nations.

LUKE 2:41-51
Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival
custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the
boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know
it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and
looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not
finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three
days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who
heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When
his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,
"Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been
looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were
you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's
house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down
with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his
mother kept all these things in her heart.

REFLECTION
In the first reading of today's Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary, Isaiah sings a song of joy. Carol Stuhlmueller calls this song a
marriage song. It celebrates the fulfillment of love between God and
his people. The people's joy is found in the Lord: God is their joy.
They have become one with God. The Lord has wrapped them with a robe
of salvation so no discordant shadow of sin or selfishness is found
among them.

The Church chooses this reading for today's feast obviously because
she sees Mary as the perfect exemplar of the people of God when once
their sin has been washed away, when once they have become God's
spotless bride.

The Gospel reading introduces a much more somber tone. Mary and Joseph
have lost the child they love. For three days fear overwhelmed them
and anxiety seized their hearts. There is relief in finding him, of
course, but hardly joy. For this boy knowingly left them, apparently
with no concern for the pain his absence would cause them. And now he
asks a strange, unfeeling question, "Why were you looking for me?" And
what does he mean by "being in his Father's house" which he wants them
to accept as justification for the hurt he has caused them?

This would be the story of Mary's life. Luke tells us that she stored
up all these things in her heart. Both the joy and the pain, both the
ecstasy and the sorrow. How would she survive? The only explanation is
her faith, forged as it was in her prayer.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
.. for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
.. for the healing and speedy recovery of Sister Heidi Facto DC
.. In Thanksgiving: personal intentions of the Evangelista Family
.. for the safe trip and a new beginning for Mrs. Teresita Nunez Choa
.. for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Jaime V. Ongpin
- Birthday: Joselito De Vera
- Wedding Anniversary: Wilfred Lim & Edna Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Estanislawa S. Bate
.. 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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