DAILY- HOMILY

JULY 12, 2009
15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B

AMOS 7:12-15
Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, "Off with you, visionary,
flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but
never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary and a
royal temple." Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor have I
belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of
sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
Go, prophesy to my people Israel."

EPHESIANS 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as
he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and
without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to
himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the
beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of
transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he
lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in
him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in
Christ, in heaven and on earth. In him we were also chosen, destined
in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things
according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the
praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also,
who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and
have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which
is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's
possession, to the praise of his glory.

MARK 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and
gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take
nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no
money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a
second tunic. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there
until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against
them." So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out
many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured
them

REFLECTION
The theme of today's Gospel reading is about "mission" — on being
sent. Jesus sends on mission his apostles. In this under taking, Jesus
tells them to be focused on their purpose which is to proclaim that
God is in our midst. They are to serve as the spokespersons of God on
reminding them to be faithful and put their trust in the Messiah.
Though it is normal to worry about things that would be needed in the
journey, Jesus assures them that whatever is necessary will be
provided. Jesus is telling us to go through our lives with the maximum
of freedom and the minimum of burdens. The apostles were sent to share
the message of Jesus with the assurance that all their other needs
would be provided by others.

We can go through our lives so laden down with things, with property
and possessions which are an endless source of worry and anxiety. We
become their slaves. There are other worries and anxieties in our
heads which also can paralyze us. How free are our lives then? Where
can real wealth be found?

Jesus himself is an inspiration as he only had the clothes on his back
and had nowhere to lay his head. But Jesus was not poor in the
sociological sense. On the contrary, he was rich on all the things
which really matter and was able to enrich those who came in contact
with him.

Meanwhile, it is good to note that a prophet or anyone on mission is
not always welcome. In the First Reading today, the priest Amaziah
tells Amos to bring his prophesying back to his own country. They
don't want to listen to him in Bethel. Amos replies that it was not
his idea to become a prophet. He was a simple shepherd and a tender of
fig trees. But, while he was a shepherd, the Lord chose him and told
him to prophesy to Israel.

Amos' reaction is something we can readily sympathize. After all,
there are moments and feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness for
something that we did not expect. We can say "How can that be? I am
only like this or that … but, because I have been baptized, Jesus is
calling me in my working and living environment to evangelize, to
invite people to know him to love him, to serve him, to follow him.
And I can be sure I will not often get a warm hearing."

In a word, if we want Christ to be IN us he has also to go THROUGH us.
There is no other way. And then, in the end, those we influence in
turn will hopefully become the evangelizers of others. That is how the
mustard seed grows in a large tree.

What is Jesus' mission for us now? Are we ready to go? Or are we
bogged down from anxieties and worries, feelings of incompetence? Are
we ready to face opposition and misunderstanding?

May the Lord give us the grace of companionship and courage to be able
to fulfill his mission to proclaim him in our midst.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the special intentions:
- Kate Lotilla
- Margie R. Ponce de Leon
- Glenn & Julie Manzon
- Glenn Dale & John Dale Manzon
- Mary Castro & Family
- Sandra Vergara
- Estelita Escamilla
- Glenda Bisco
- Ma. Fe Castro
- Churchill Barayoga
- San Juan de Dios Hospital
… for the eternal repose of the souls of Domingo Barayoga Sr., Lourdes
Barayoga & Charlie Castro. Eternal rest grant unto them and may
perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed
rest in peace.
… for the emotional and spiritual healing of the Dapo family
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Ethan Gabriel Yu Ampil
- Birthday: Lucas Antonio Cabanela
- Wedding Anniversary: Charlie & Carolyn Co Buenavista
- Wedding Anniversary: Jerry & Sabrina Uy
- Wedding Anniversary: Mabini & Norma Juan
… 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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