DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 3, 2007
FEAST, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, PRIEST
MONDAY 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT - YEAR I

ISAIAH 4:2-6
On that day, The branch of the LORD will be luster and glory, and the
fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of
Israel. He who remains in Zion and he who is left in Jerusalem Will be
called holy: every one marked down for life in Jerusalem. When the
LORD washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion, And purges
Jerusalem's blood from her midst with a blast of searing judgment,
Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over
her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming
fire by night. For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and
protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from
storm and rain.

MATTHEW 8:5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed
to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed,
suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter
under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I
too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I
say to one, `Go,' and he goes; and to another, `Come here,' and he
comes; and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard
this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to
you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many
will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

REFLECTION
St. Francis Xavier, of whom we celebrate today's feast day, was one of
the close companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the
Society of Jesus.

What drives these individuals we call "Saints" to give up everything
in the pursuit of their mission? They believe in the message and call
of Christ because their faith tells them that it is the only hope
given to us for our salvation. Yet, primarily it is their love for
God and for humanity that keeps them going and doing the things that
they are convicted to pursue. It is in the same way that Jesus, in
today's Gospel, said: "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd."

When Jesus asked his disciples some questions, he was not only
inquiring. He had a deeper purpose that attached to these simple
questions. The first question He asked was: "Where could we ever
get?" Jesus was at this point testing his listeners who might be
holding off their decisions. His next question was: "Do you have?"
This was a direct challenge that determines whether his listeners
would let go of their attachment to their possessions and join his
ministry.

So today let us ask ourselves Jesus' question: "Where can we get?" "Do
you have?"' How would we answer?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of Epifania Ylaya
... for the eternal repose of the soul of Sr. Serena Escarcha, DC.
Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Cathy Diokno
- Birthday: Sy Bian Bian
- Wedding Anniversary: Beny & Soraya Chua
- In Memoriam (+): Ong Siong
- In Memoriam (+): Mario Villegas
... 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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