DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 28, 2009
MEMORIAL, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST & DOCTOR
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

HEBREWS 10:11-18
Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those
same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered
one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of
God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one
offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying: This is the
covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord:
"I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their
minds," he also says: Their sins and their evildoing I will remember
no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer
offering for sin.

MARK 4:1-20
On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large
crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and
sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he
taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his
instruction he said to them, "Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And
as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it
up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It
sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun
rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it
produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.
It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." He
added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." And when he was
alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the
parables. He answered them, "The mystery of the Kingdom of God has
been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in
parables, so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and
listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and
be forgiven." Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the
word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon
as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in
them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear
the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they
last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes
because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns
are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly
anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude
and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil
are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and
sixty and a hundredfold."

REFLECTION
The word of God is like the seed in today's Gospel. It can bear fruit
in each of us or have little effect. It may take root or be blown
away. In the Gospel, Jesus relates the four ways seeds are sown. In
the first, there was failure; the second had initial growth; the third
more promising growth; and in the last, a huge harvest.

Prayer introduces us to the word of God. In prayer we contemplate His
word hoping that it reaches deep into our hearts. Prayer takes time.
Through prayer we allow God's word to echo in our minds and hearts.
Like the seed, we sow the seed of prayer, and hope that it takes root
and bears fruit in our lives. We need to develop a faith that is
firmly grounded in an unshakable foundation if we want our faith to
"yield" a rich harvest.

How is the Lord challenging us to deepen our faith in our daily lives
so that it brings a "rich harvest"? Let us pray that God sows His
seeds generously in our hearts.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Sophia Gonzalez
- Christy Chin
… for the healing of: Tita Aida C., Tital Del M. Son, Tito Jun, Tita
Karen, Tita Loudes
… for the personal intentions and guidance of:
- Jan Lenard, Jude, Leurens, Dave
- CFC KSA
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Daniel Qui
- Daisy and Ruel Pastrana, Jose Pascual, Toribio Ebora
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: Bheverlie T. Semitara
- Prayer Intention George Edwin & Mary Ann Lee
- Wedding Anniversary: Dr. Florentino & Lourdjean Gonzales
… 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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