DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 14, 2009
MEMORIAL, ST MATHILDA, QUEEN
SATURDAY 2ND WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

MICAH 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed
in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you
came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. Who is there
like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of
his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights
rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading
underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our
sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As
you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man
welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this
parable. "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
`Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So
the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the
younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant
country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that
country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to
one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but
nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, `How many of my
father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am
I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall
say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I
no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat
one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and
was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed
him. His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his
father ordered his servants, `Quickly, bring the finest robe and put
it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the
fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was
lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older
son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the
house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the
servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him,
`Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the
fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became
angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and
pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, `Look, all these
years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you
never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when
your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for
him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, `My son, you are
here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must
celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to
life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

REFLECTION
When we mess up our lives and sin, we need to have this same attitude
of contrition. Like the younger son, we need to humble ourselves,
realize that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and make
our way back to our heavenly Father.

There was not even enough time for the son to finish his prepared
speech on meeting his father when his father smothered him with kisses
and hugs and treated him like royalty. Our heavenly Father treats us
like this each time we run to him for forgiveness. He wants to hear
our repentance, but more than anything else, He wants to build us up
through His grace and presence in our lives.

Today, let us ask His help to recognize our complete dependence on Him
for grace to live according to His will and to detach ourselves more
each day from that which may enslave us in sin.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing and strength of:
- Lisa
- Jason Paul
- Christy Chin
- Elena
… for the personal intentions of:
- Nitz Carvajal
- Vijayakumar
… for the safety of Johnson Cuiting
.. Birthday: Bert Domingo
... for the healing of the Dapo family
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Charlene Tan
- Birthday: Paul Vincent O. L
- Wedding Anniversary: Dionisio & Teresa L Tan
- In Memoriam (+): Richard O'Gorman
… 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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