Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thankfulness makes for peace
From Bernard Y. Gutierrez
How can we feel thankful when so much is wrong, so much is difficult,
so much is not the way we'd like it to be? In today's Gospel passage,
we see Jesus crying. We know this same sorrow. We have felt the pain
of crying for others, grieving over the harm that they are doing to
themselves by remaining in sin or addictions or bad decisions,
mourning also because of the harm that they are doing to us and to
others. When we have felt this way, we have felt HIS pain, Christ's
own pain.
As he came within sight of Jerusalem while making his way down the
Mount of Olives, Jesus stopped to look across the narrow valley and
gaze into the soul of the city. He longed to give his peace to all
those who lived there. Don't you sometimes feel the same way toward
some of the people you know? United to Jesus, we can say: "If you only
knew what makes for peace, but you have completely lost it from view!"
We see how darkness surrounds them and how sin is infiltrating their
walls. We're aware that if they had heeded our warnings or followed
our advice, they would not be doing so poorly.
Crying because you care about someone who's rejecting the saving power
of God is a great blessing to Jesus who cries with you.
But, what about the ways WE reject God help? How can we feel thankful
when it's us who have lost peace? Jesus has cried for you, too. Do you
have any turmoil or stress within you? Jesus yearns to give you his
peace.
Whatever is disturbing us, if we expect it be resolved the way WE want
it fixed and as fast as WE demand it, we shall meet with
disappointment and failure and hopelessness. We can't see the good
that God is doing while we're focused on our miseries and our own so-
called solutions to the problems.
Stuck in our limited perspectives, we fail to recognise the time of
Christ's visitation. So we reject what he offers us and we fail to
notice that he is right here in front of us offering us a greater good
than what we think we need. We fail to recognise how he's trying to
bless our lives. Stuck in our frustrations, we reject what he offers,
and thus we blunder deeper into the disasters that we're desperately
trying to avoid.
The way out of this mess is to remember that we don't know everything
and we really don't understand what's best for us. We don't know how
God, in his great love for us, is already turning our problems into
blessings -- and that's okay!
The way out of the mess is to thank God for whatever he is doing, even
if we can't see it yet, trusting that of course his plans are good and
that his timing is perfect. Thankfulness is what makes for peace.
1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15 (with 23b)
Luke 19:41-44
The Thanksgiving Prayer
"Our Father,
Help calm the distracting thoughts swirling around our minds so we can
pray peacefully. Remind us that words alone are not gratitude. We open
our hearts... as we remember that You know us infinitely better than
we can ever know ourselves. We are struck dumb, wordless, humbled, yet
comforted by the faith you placed in our souls at our baptism, the
friendship of your saints, the utterly reliable embrace of Mary, the
protection of Joseph... yet we have nothing to offer but our silence
as we wait for your word. O Father, what should we pray?
Our prayer of thanksgiving is one word, one way, one truth, one life,
one priest, one king, one man carrying us in His arms, bringing us
into the very depths of the Holy Trinity. Our word of thanksgiving is:
Jesus.
Jesus, we whisper.
Jesus, we long for You.
Jesus, the tears well in our eyes.
Jesus. You are our prayer.
Thank you, Father.
Amen."
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FRIDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FRIDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I
1 MACCABEES 4:36-37, 52-59
Then Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have been
crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it." So
the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. Early in the
morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the
month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, they arose
and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of
holocausts that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which
the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostrated
themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and
joyfully offered holocausts and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and
shields; they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers and
furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now
that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his
brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days
of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and
gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the
twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.
LUKE 19:45-48
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were
selling. "It is written," he said to them, "`My house will be a house
of prayer'; but you have made it `a den of robbers.'" Every day he
was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of
the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet
they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on
his words.
REFLECTION
In Jesus' time, the Temple, and particularly its altar was for the
Jewish people symbolic of God's presence among them. It was the
place to which the people could go to meet their God. It was, as
Jesus pointed out, a house of prayer. The solemnity and the beauty
of a religious celebration and the Jewish people's unswerving
commitment to its commemoration are indications enough of the
importance the Temple and its altar of sacrifice which continue to
hold in their religious life. And this should remind us of the
importance our churches should hold in our lives.
Perhaps for many of us, the church holds a different meaning. It may
be a place where we develop prayer. But prayer comes in different
forms. Some of us prefer to pray quietly in church or in private.
Others may prefer to bring their prayer into action, helping those
who cannot help themselves, serving the poor, conducting catechism
classes, giving of themselves. Whatever or however we pray and how
our opinion of our church should appear, we need to remember to have
a respect for the significance of the church. This is important
because our church is a symbol of community and service for others.
It should never be used as a venue for selfish self-serving or
exploitation of others.
Today, let our lives, become far more than being confined in the
narrow walls of our homes. Take the risk of reaching out to those who
will receive us.
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, Eligia Fernando, Sr. Belen Latorre, DC
- Dennis Labayen and Mario Delariarte
- Fr. Santos Mena, S.J.
- Tom Diokno
... for the personal intentions of Pe Family
... Good health:
- Guevarra Family
- Fred and Nel de Leon and family
... In Thanksgiving: Jennette
... Birthday: Beatrice F. Peralta
... for the eternal repose of the soul of Tolentino Abu Sandoval.
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: Celia C. Dizon
- Birthday: Heather Marie D. Burke
- Birthday: Remedios A. Jose
- In Memoriam (+): Potenciano 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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© 2007 Daily-Homily
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