DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007
FEAST, ST MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
FRIDAY 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I

EPHESIANS 4:1-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in
a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one
hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace
was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as
evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones
for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until
we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

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
St. Matthew was a tax collector. It would certainly seem that
Matthew passionately desired wealth. He collected taxes for the
hated Roman conquerors. He was seen as collaborating with the
enemy. He made himself rich by squeezing out of the Jewish people,
both rich and poor, whether by means legal or illegal. The people
despised him and ostracized him. To accept such a life, Matthew must
have had a passionate desire for wealth.

Then one day Jesus stops at the custom-table where Matthew works. He
speaks two brief words to him. "Follow me." Matthew immediately
rises, leaving behind even his passionate desire for wealth,
embracing Jesus' simple life-style, poverty and total dependence on
God. St. Matthew found a better love than wealth.

We're also called to this task. God wants our lives to be so many
lights, spotlighting Christ and his values in the secular world about
us. The desire for wealth is one of the main obstacles to success in
this mission. For if we are honest, we have to admit that this
simply was not one of Jesus' values.

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
- Lisa Kardos, John Papetti III, Elizabeth Papetti
- Jose Lim
- Lisa Lo
- Julie Manzon, Glenda Bisco, Delly David, Charlie Castro
... for Ms. Genoveva S. Sunpayco
... for the personal intentions of:
- Guevara family
- San Juan de Dios Hospital
- Veronica Yap
- Aurie Trillana
- Glenn & Julie Manzon, Ma. Fe De Castor, Joel & Glenda Bisco,
Estileta & Buds Escamilla, Churchill & Maricho Barayoga, Mary &
Charlie Castro, Nolie & Joe Caparida
... In Thanksgiving: John Dale Manzon
... for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Wenceslao L. Reyes
- Gabriel Jose Maria R. Sevilla
- Domingo Barayoga Sr, Lourdes Barayoga, Allan Manzanilla
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: Ethan Jacob Rosca
- Birthday: Fr. Victor Helly, S.J.
- Birthday: Lolita Cham
... 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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