DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 21, 2007
FRIDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT - YEAR I

SONG OF SONGS 2:8-14
Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice. My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise,
my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is
past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the
season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their
fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the
mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your
voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice
with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away
your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of
Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day
they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your
hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." "The sorrows for the
appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a
reproach to you.

LUKE 1:39-45
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country
of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she
exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you
will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed
that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

REFLECTION
God's grace, like good news, is something that must be shared. God
visits his people. Like one visiting his beloved, God call us for a
response of song and joy. He stimulates growth, bloom and
fruitfulness in us.

What the Old Testament readings hint at through poetic fancy, Mary
demonstrates in practical action. The Lord has visited her. So now
she brings the Lord to her cousin Elizabeth and the child John in her
womb. God's gifts are not for personal price and profit but for self-
giving, sharing and service. Saying "Yes" to one grace opens the
door to a whole storehouse of graced responses, first the elderly
mother's blessing and then the unborn child's dance for joy. God's
visit is acknowledged and then celebrated. The God who has visited
his people in times past continues to come into our lives. Let us
bring him to those who need his blessing.

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
- Clem Pena, Ben Protacio, Beng Haynes, Mon Paulino, Luding and Tita
Gatmaitan
- Epifania Ylaya
- Herminia Guiden
- Liza and Cyril
- Isabel Maloles
... for the personal intentions of:
- 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.
- Josephine Pascua
... for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Remberto, Estrella, Florence and Danilo
- Milagros C. Reyes
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: JV Dano Carolino
- Birthday: Maura Castillo
- Birthday: Quesing V. Roleda
- Wedding Anniversary: Jocelyn and Vic Ilag
- Wedding Anniversary: Joel & Val Santillan
- Wedding Anniversary: Philip & Nancy Young
... 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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