DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 24, 2009
MEMORIAL, ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP & DOCTOR
SATURDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

HEBREWS 9:2-3,11-14
A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the
table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, When
Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,
he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not
man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not
enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal
redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that
they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to
God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we
may serve the living God!

MARK 3:20-21
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and
his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about
this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of
his mind."

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel, Jesus' family comes to take charge of him, for,
they say, "he's out of his mind." They had seen him overwhelmed with
work, the people so insistent in their demands on his time and his
energy, that he couldn't even find a moment for rest and food.

Jesus' family also knew that he had been baiting the priests, the
scribes and the Pharisees, the power elite of Israel. The man who
confronted this power elite, Jesus' relatives knew, would be trampled
underfoot. So they saw him risking his security and his safety,
possibly his life itself, for the sake of his moral convictions.

Christ himself chose to come into this world, not as a king robed in
glory and power, but as a child born of humble parents and wrapped in
swaddling clothes. He walked among the poor, healing, consoling,
teaching and feeding them. He loved his people with such passion
often forgetting his own needs. His relatives tried in vain to get
him away from crowds so he could eat, sleep and live a normal life.
As if these were not enough, his "madness" led him to the cross on
Calvary to fulfill the will of his Father and earn for us our eternal
salvation.

Times have not changed since Jesus' relatives wanted to take charge of
him because he was out of his mind. There are people living today,
whose lives mirror moments in the life that Jesus led two thousand
years ago.

How many among us choose to rise above ourselves and be called
"insane" while lovingly fulfilling the will of God through service to
our brothers, particularly those who suffer from poverty, sickness,
and ignorance of the Lord? Isn't this what being a disciple of Christ
is all about?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Henk van den Borne
- Christy Chin
- Boy Afable
- Tomas
… for the personal intentions of Ryan V. and Edu O.
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Lourdes Borja Reyes. Eternal
rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she
and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Ma. Paz A. Tolentino
- Birthday: Arlene Gutierrez
- Thanksgiving: Gervin & Rosabel Kaw
… for the healing and peace of all families

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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