DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 22, 2009
THURSDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

HEBREWS 7:25–8:6
Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since
he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we
should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated
from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high
priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and
then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered
himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high
priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever. The main point of
what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken
his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a
minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord,
not man, set up. Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and
sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to
offer. If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there
are those who offer gifts according to the law. They worship in a copy
and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was
about to erect the tabernacle. For God says, "See that you make
everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Now he
has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a
better covenant, enacted on better promises.

MARK 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of
people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was
doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from
Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and
Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of
the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as
a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God." He warned them sternly not to
make him known.

REFLECTION
How open is our hearts to Jesus? Jesus is surrounded, pressed by the
crowd. Jesus is a person sought after. The teachers of the Law and the
Pharisees form themselves into an opposition group while the crowds
become enthusiastic. Mark underlines the striking contrast between the
hostility Jesus faces from the leaders and the popularity he enjoys
among the simple people, the poor. One day, these same crowds will
turn against him, but just now, they are searching for him.

In today's Gospel we find expressed the impetuousness and simplicity
of the ordinary people. Up to this point Mark has not given us any of
Jesus' lengthy instructions. Jesus does not talk much; he acts, he
heals, and this is really what they come to seek from him — healing.
Jesus is the Savior.

When we are ill, when we suffer, we rush to him. Is Jesus our Savior
only in time of trouble? Should he not be the King and center of our
hearts at all times? Let us ask Jesus to help us to work with him, to
fight against evil with all our strength today and every day of our
lives. It should be our constant desire to help people to grow up,
heal some pains and comfort some sorrows, make some of the people
around us blossom with Jesus.

The Gospel ends with Jesus' directive to the devils to be silent. The
devils know who Jesus is and they shout it out. Popular enthusiasm,
far from manifesting what is essential in the person of Jesus, risks
its failure by stressing on unimportant aspects. Jesus' kingdom is not
an ordinary undertaking. It progresses only in a slow and discrete
manner, in the secret recesses of the heart. Faith is not a loud
proclamation but a modest interior discovery that is gradually
purified.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the personal intentions of Pauline
… healings for
- Pam, Cindy R, Mrs. C, Henry D
- Sophia Gonzalez
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Henk van den Borne
- Christy Chin
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Mrs. Lorna C. Leonardo, Deogracias Tigno, Jr., Deogracias Tigno III,
Clara Tigno, Rolando Alano
- Lourdes Borja 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: Toti P. Ventura
- Wedding Anniversary: Richard & Ria Cabanela
… 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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