DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 31, 2009
MEMORIAL, ST. JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST
SATURDAY 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

HEBREWS 11:1-2,8-19
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do
not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith
Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his
inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was
going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger
in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who
were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to
the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By
faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was
barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him
faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as
good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and
as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still
living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things
promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And
they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who
say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would
have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a
better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith
Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had
received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your
offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the
dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

MARK 4:35-41
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over
to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A
furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it
was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The
disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we
drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be
still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to
his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind
and the waves obey him!"

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel the apostles turn to Jesus for help in a moment of
crisis. In our own lives, how often have we turned to God in prayer as
a last resort in crisis situations? This attitude resembles the lack
of trust found in the apostles during the storm at sea.

Jesus wishes to teach us today that our attitude must be different,
that our prayer of trust as we turn to God for help, must be a
habitual part of our life in all its circumstances. We must use human
means to help ourselves, but not with the idea that we will turn to
God only after all our human efforts have failed. God should not be
the last person we think of as we are tossed about by the storms of
life. We should not wait until the violent winds blow before we pray
to God.

No matter how old or young we may be, in relation to God we are like
little children. And God is a Father who is more loving and interested
in us than even the best of parents. God wants us to turn to him in
all the circumstances of our lives, not merely when we are in serious
trouble.

When we turn to God in prayer, it should not be some last ditch effort
to turn away impending evil or disaster. It should instead be a
child's confident turning to God as a loving Father.

Today's Gospel story is true not only in a literal sense wherein it
happened once upon a time in Galilee but also in a symbolic sense.
Life presents all kinds of storms: disease, natural disasters,
epidemics, hatred, prejudice, injustice, betrayal and selfishness. For
Christians, acceptance of Jesus is not a guarantee that on our journey
through life, we will sail on trouble-free waters. To the contrary,
Jesus invites us to travel on uncharted waters and to make for
unfamiliar shores. Jesus does not tell us that we will never have a
rough journey through life but that we will never be overcome or
drowned in our problems. The risk of faith demands a radical trust,
whatever our particular storms. Jesus is present. Being conscious of
his presence will give us a calm peace in all the storms of life.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing of:
- Tita Aida C., Tital Del M. Son, Tito Jun, Tita Karen, Tita Loudes
- Sophia Gonzalez
… for the personal intentions and guidance of:
- Jan Lenard, Jude, Leurens, Dave
- CFC KSA
- Josheil Dapo and family
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Daisy and Ruel Pastrana, Jose Pascual, Toribio Ebora
- Lino Castelo
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.
- Wedding Anniversary: Randy and Dowa Manaloto
… 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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