DAILY- HOMILY

October 4, 2007
Memorial, St. Francis of Assisi
Thursday 26th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

NEHEMIAH 8:1-4,5-6,7-12
All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water
Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of
Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of
the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly,
which was made up of men and women and all who were able to
understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the
square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and
others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively
to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden
platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood
Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his
left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah
and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him
because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people
all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people
lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down
and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. The Levites--
Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah,
Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah--instructed the people in
the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book
of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the
people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the
governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were
instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the
LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been
weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go
and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who
have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The Levites calmed all the
people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of
food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the
words that had been made known to them.

LUKE 10:1-12
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by
two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He
told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the
Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest
field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a
purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. "When
you enter a house, first say, `Peace to this house.' If a man of peace
is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for
the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, `The kingdom of God is near
you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its
streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet
we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is
near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than
for that town.

REFLECTIION
In today's Gospel Jesus warns us that Christians will be liable to
pains and injuries, as he was. It is all part of the unique
discipleship that is required of each one of us as Christians. Jesus
does not alter the rules to make life easier for us now than it was
for the apostles. He continues to send us out like lambs in the midst
of wolves. Once we take a definite stand, support an unpopular cause
or stand for the truth when it hurts the selfish interests of others,
then we will begin to collect our scars for Christ.

When we receive scars for being models of Christian living, let us
keep in mind that Jesus, the greatest model of all times, was
literally scarred from head to foot. The marks of the nails and spear
became his best proof of identification when he appeared to his
disciples after his Resurrection. He cherished his wounds so dearly
that he transferred them to his glorified body and undoubtedly still
displays them in Heaven today.

As for ourselves, what scars do we have to show for our years of
Christian living? As it is only natural for a professional boxer to be
scarred as he battles his opponents, so too, it is only natural if for
a Christian, to be scarred, since true Christian living is a lifelong
battle defending Christian principles against injustices and the
forces of evil.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:
- Damaso Guevara
- Epifania Ylaya and Rexon Ylaya
- Catalina de Leon
- Eligia G. Fernando
- Marietta Climaco
... for the personal intentions of:
- Guevara family
- San Juan de Dios Hospital
- Vangie
- Arnold Abarquez & family
- Pe family
... Good health: Mary Therese, Jesus Anthony and Joseph Emmanuel
Abarquez
... In Thanksgiving and safe travel: Jasmin
... for the eternal repose of the soul of Angel. Eternal rest grant
unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and all the
dearly departed rest in peace.
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Virginia Dimalanta
- Wedding Anniversary: Oscar & Angelita Abel
- In Memoriam (+): Nestor F. Miranda
... 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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