DAILY- HOMILY

August 23, 2007
Memorial, St. Rose of Lima, virgin
Thursday 20th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

JUDGES 11:29-39A
The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead
and Manasseh, and through Mizpah-Gilead as well, and from there he
went on to the Ammonites. Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. "If you
deliver the Ammonites into my power," he said, "whoever comes out of
the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the
Ammonites shall belong to the LORD. I shall offer him up as a burnt
offering." Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against
them, and the LORD delivered them into his power, so that he inflicted
a severe defeat on them, from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty
cities in all) and as far as Abel-keramim. Thus were the Ammonites
brought into subjection by the children of Israel. When Jephthah
returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his daughter who came forth,
playing the tambourines and dancing. She was an only child: he had
neither son nor daughter besides her. When he saw her, he rent his
garments and said, "Alas, daughter, you have struck me down and
brought calamity upon me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and I
cannot retract." She replied, "Father, you have made a vow to the
LORD. Do with me as you have vowed, because the LORD has wrought
vengeance for you on your enemies the Ammonites." Then she said to her
father, "Let me have this favor. Spare me for two months, that I may
go off down the mountains to mourn my virginity with my companions."
"Go," he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed
with her companions and mourned her virginity on the mountains. At the
end of the two months she returned to her father, who did to her as he
had vowed.

MATTHEW 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the
people in parables saying, "The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a
king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A
second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited:
"Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are
killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the
invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers,
and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, 'The feast
is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out,
therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you
find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they
found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But
when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not
dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced
to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and
feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be
wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

REFLECTION
The wedding banquet mentioned in today's Gospel reminds us of God's
invitation and calling because it is here where we can encounter the
covenant between love and life.

Today's Gospel reminds us that Jesus established the Eucharist for
everyone who is willing to listen and practice his teachings. He
allowed his love to be available to all. It's a matter of choice; it's
a matter of heart.

However, when we are called and invited to his table, we should accept
his invitation with an open mind and an open heart. It is similar to
wearing a clean wedding garment when we attend a banquet. We must
prepare ourselves physically when we attend an invitation, but we must
also cleanse our hearts and our minds when we accept the invitation to
His banquet.

It is through the Eucharist that we can share spiritual renewal not
only because of God's love for us, but also by listening to his word.

How do we prepare ourselves when we accept his invitation?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:
- Myra
- Matet Rey
- Damaso Guevara
- Dodo
- Tom Diokno
- Ely
... for the personal intentions of:
- Jasmin
- Guevara Family
- the San Juan de Dios Hospital
... In Thanksgiving: Balangit Family
... for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Remberto Gascon, Estrella Gascon, Danilo Gascon, Florence Gascon
- Minda Flowers
Eternal rest grant unto them and may 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: Aurora Ong Sy
- Birthday: Bryan L. Lim
- Birthday: Justin Peter Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Carmen Tan Ngo
... 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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