DAILY- HOMILY

December 20, 2007
Thursday 3rd Week of Advent - Year I

ISAIAH 7:10-14
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the LORD your God for a sign,
whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz
said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." Then
Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try
the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

LUKE 1:26-38
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her
and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with
you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of
greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid,
Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the
house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this
be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son
of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her
old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For
nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary
answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

REFLECTION
God wants to great things for us but we resist. This is often the case
of people in general. We have an inborn hunger and desire for God, and
yet we seem to be afraid of assuming the responsibility of receiving
him into our lives.

Mary, the virgin, was quite different. Without hesitation, Mary
consented to becoming the mother of Jesus, by saying: "I am the
handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say." Apart from
Jesus, Mary's life and example makes her one of the greatest preacher
and spiritual director the world has ever known. The lesson of her
life is the only lesson that is essential for us. When God wishes to
give himself to us, when he wishes to do something marvelous for us,
we must not refuse as Ahaz did. Rather, like Mary, we must open our
minds, hearts and lives to him. Only then will he come and make
himself at home with us. It is as simple as that. This is basic
Christianity.

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 and Eligia Fernando
- Ronan P Cuenca
- Clem Pena, Ben Protacio, Beng Haynes, Mon Paulino, Luding and Tita
Gatmaitan
- Epifania Ylaya
... for the personal intentions of:
- Danica Nadia M. Calonia
- Eliezer and Emilia Santiago, Emerson and Jonalyn Santiago and
family, Don Jemerald, Princess Dinah Bond, Susana Abon, Ros Tauschek,
Maricar, Ronnie and Mylene Constantino, Edgar Gabad and co-workers.
... In Thanksgiving: Balingit Family
... Birthday: Joseph Benedict Chua
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Elena Yiu
- Wedding Anniversary: Cecilia and Allan Dayrit
- Wedding Anniversary: Teresa & Johnny Ng ... 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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