DAILY- HOMILY

APRIL 28, 2009
MEMORIAL, PETER CHANEL, PRIEST, MARTYR, LOUIS MARIE DE MONTFORT,
PRIEST
TUESDAY 3RD WEEK OF EASTER – YEAR I

ACTS 7:51–8:1A
Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: "You stiff-
necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the
Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets
did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold
the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you
have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but
you did not observe it." When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy
Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and
Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, "Behold, I
see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand
of God." But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and
rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to
stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young
man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell to his knees and cried out in
a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he
said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

JOHN 6:30-35
The crowd said to Jesus: "What sign can you do, that we may see and
believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the
desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who
gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from
heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world." So they said to Jesus, "Sir, give us this
bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever
comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never
thirst."

REFLECTION
Today's first reading speaks of the execution by stoning of the first
Christian martyr — St Stephen. During Stephen's time, perhaps many
people felt threatened by him, especially when he was calling them to
conversion. Many of us do not like to be told, to be reprimanded or
corrected. And yet, sometimes the truth is the greatest kindness we
can share with others. But not everyone has the humility to accept
correction.

Stephen announced the Good News which denounced sinners who refused to
listen to the truth. It said that "they ground their teeth in anger"
at Stephen. And as a result, they stoned him, with the same anger and
hate that others crucified Jesus. But through his martyrdom, Stephen
became the salvation for those who stoned him. This also holds true
for Jesus, who by dying on the cross saved those who crucified him.
That is why the Gospel speaks of the bread of life. Jesus Christ is
truly the Bread of Life that saves us!

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the healing and strength of:
- Lisa
- Eligia Fernando
- Marlyn Tadeo
- Rogelio Perez
- Jonathan Castro
- Remee R. Veloso
- Ana del Rosario
- Arnold Cabatingan

… for the safety of Johnson Cuiting
… for the personal intentions of Mariano Montemayor
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary:
Birthday: Jaime Ysmael

… 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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