DAILY- HOMILY

July 6, 2007
Friday 13th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

GENESIS 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years. She
died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and
Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her. Then he left
the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites: "Although I am a
resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of
property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife." After the
transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of
Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him
in every way. Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who
had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh, and
I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of
earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters
of the Canaanites among whom I live, but that you will go to my own
land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac." The servant
asked him: "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him. "The
LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the
land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to
me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'- he will send his
messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there. If
the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this
oath. But never take my son back there!" A long time later, Isaac went
to live in the region of the Negeb. One day toward evening he went
out . . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that
camels were approaching. Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she
saw him, she alighted from her camel and asked the servant, "Who is
the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?" "That is my
master," replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done. Then Isaac
took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his
wife. In his love for her, Isaac found solace after the death of his
mother Sarah.

MATTHEW 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs
post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners
came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and
said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need
a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I
desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but
sinners."

REFLECTION
In the eyes of the Jews, Matthew the tax collector had made a mess of
his life by betraying both his country and his religion. Jesus was
well aware of this and yet he was willing to give Matthew a second
chance by inviting him to follow him.

Matthew sensed that something significant was happening. Here was a
supreme chance for him to leave his old life and to start again, a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redeem the past and to create a new
future for himself. Matthew didn't miss this second chance. He seized
the moment and followed Jesus. Matthew left behind his tax-collector's
table but took with him his pen to compose a Gospel later. He lost a
position which brought him a lot of worldly treasures and money but
found instead an apostolic mission and heavenly treasures. He gave up
economic security but gained an eternal destiny.

In a sense we are all second-chance people in the company of Matthew.
We have all made mistakes or wasted opportunities in the past. Perhaps
it was not continuing an education, or drinking oneself out of a good
job, or messing up one's marriage. Whatever it may have been, the Lord
gave us a second chance. He saw us for what we were in terms of our
past foolishness, but he also saw what we could become in terms of our
future possibilities.

It is no different today. Jesus does not want us sitting around some
table collecting taxes of guilt and self-pity when we make mistakes.
He invites us to leave the table and follow him. He calls us to take
new directions with our life and to explore new paths.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:
- Dodo
- Ely
- Tolentino A. Sandoval
- Salvador L. Mallari
- Julie Manzon
- Delly David
- Amileta Quinto
- Glenn Bisco
- Josie Ureta
- Charlie Castro
... for the personal intentions and guidance of:
- Jasmin
- Lydia and family
- Guevara family
- Pauline
- Emilio and Engracia C.
... for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Jerry Guevara
- Domingo Barayoga, Sr.
- Lourdes Vergara Barayo
- Allan Manzanilla
Eternal rest grant unto them and perpetual light shine upon them. May
they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Diane Sim
... 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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