DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
THURSDAY 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

HAGGAI 1:1-8
On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to the governor
of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua,
son of Jehozadak: Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people says: "The
time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD." (Then this
word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:) Is it time for you
to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown
much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been
satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed
yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them
for a bag with holes in it. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your
ways! Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the LORD.

LUKE 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was
greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from
the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others,
"One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I
beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept
trying to see him.

REFLECTION
The prophet Haggai, in today's first reading, speaks strongly of the
emptiness in lives of the Israelites as they look to their own
interests above those of God. With all the crops they have sown, all
the food and drink they have consumed, and all the wages they have
earned, the people of Israel receive only empty rewards and no
satisfaction, no joy. It is only by building up the Lord's temple and
serving the God of their salvation that the people again find joy and
meaning in life.

The message is very clear. Without God in our lives, our lives have
little meaning. King Herod, who is mentioned in the Gospel reading,
had every reason to be happy. He had power, wealth and a new wife.
However, the Gospel reading shows him fretting and confused about this
new preacher, Jesus of Nazareth, who has just come on the scene.
Herod's curiosity about Jesus could eventually have led to his
conversion, to his giving his life over to Jesus and finding the joy
that we all seek. Herod's life story became the tragic story of a
might y ruler who missed a precious opportunity to be a great follower
of Jesus.

Both readings today describe people who set their hearts on the wrong
aspects of life and did not put God first in the lives. But today, the
Church directs our attention to a man who did put God first in his
life. He is St. Vincent de Paul whom we are honoring today. Until his
death in 1660 in France, as a priest, he did much to alleviate the
sufferings of the poor farmers. He founded the Vincentians and the
Daughters of Charity, as well as charitable lay organizations. The
Church has named St. Vincent de Paul as the Patron Saint of charitable
societies. In his name, some 650,000 members of St. Vincent de Paul
Society throughout the world follow his example of putting God first
in their lives and reaching out to those in need in countless ways.

Let us pray today for the wisdom and courage to put God first in our
own lives.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Francis Torres
- Shiappee
- Richy Ozoa
- Brenda Domingo-Solis
- Lisa
- Inday Tan
… for the personal intentions of
- Sridhar Raj
- Veronica Yap
- Edu and Minette
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Dinna A Ramos
- Birthday: Grace M. Dy
- Wedding Anniversary: Johnny & Anna UY
- Wedding Anniversary: Joey & Wendy de Villa
- In Memoriam (+): Peter Lim Jr. (Jun 28, 1927-Sept 24, 1997)+
… 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!

**************************************************
Parish Priests' e-mail:
Fr. J. Cesar R. Marin, S. J. parishpriest@marythequeen.org

Assistant Parish Priests' e-mails:
Fr. R. Hart, S. J. rodneyhart@marythequeen.org
Fr. Thomas O'Gorman, S. J. thogorman@marythequeen.org
**************************************************

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