DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 19, 2007
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT - YEAR I

JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25
There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose
name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An
angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you
are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a
son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to
eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no
razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God
from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines." The woman went and told her
husband, "A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel
of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor
did he tell me his name. But he said to me, `You will be with child
and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat
nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the
womb, until the day of his death.'" The woman bore a son and named
him Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the Spirit of
the Lord stirred him.

LUKE 1:5-25
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous
in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of
the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was
barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as
priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice
of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary
of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the
people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the
angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar
of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came
upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in
the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their
God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn
the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the
understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the
Lord." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the
angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I
was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But
now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these
things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will
be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were
waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the
sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and
they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was
gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry
were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth
conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So
has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away
my disgrace before others."

REFLECTION
John the Baptist came from a barren womb, so did Samson and some
others who served the Lord. Jesus came from a virgin womb, from a
heart reserved for God alone. Such is God's way with people. Yet,
when God works and enters our lives, miracles happen and our lives
are full. So let us prepare for the coming of God this Advent, for
his birth within the kingdom of our hearts. This is the time and the
season of the Spirit's reign when the barrenness of our hearts gives
birth and bears the fruit of God.

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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