DAILY- HOMILY

MAY 20, 2009
MEMORIAL, BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST
WEDNESDAY 6TH WEEK OF EASTER – YEAR I

ACTS 17:15, 22–18:1
After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with
instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see
that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around
looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar
inscribed, `To an Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly
worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is
in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries
made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs
anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and
everything. He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the
entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the
boundaries of their regions, so that people might seek God, even
perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from
any one of us. For `In him we live and move and have our being,' as
even some of your poets have said, `For we too are his offspring.'
Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think
that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or
stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of
ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
because he has established a day on which he will `judge the world
with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided
confirmation for all by raising him from the dead." When they heard
about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said,
"We should like to hear you on this some other time." And so Paul left
them. But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were
Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named
Damaris, and others with them. After this he left Athens and went to
Corinth.

JOHN 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you
cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will
guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will
speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are
coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and
declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this
reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it
to you."

REFLECTION
The Resurrection brought Jesus back to his disciples but he was only
with them for a short time. Jesus must have known that the feeling of
emptiness would be great for those who loved him. So he promised to
send them the Holy Spirit to be their teacher and guide. The Acts of
the Apostles shows us how Jesus kept this promise. One might say that
the Holy Spirit became the engine, pulling the train of the Church
into new territory. Things that seemed impossible to this group of
believers became ordinary daily events.

Saul, the persecutor of the early Christians, became Paul, the Spirit-
driven apostle. In Athens, Paul "took on" local philosophers at their
own game. However, he failed. Paul, however, did not give up. He
learned from his experience. He moved on to Corinth where he changed
his strategy. He took a different approach and won many converts.
Sometimes we hear these events as if they are simply stories or
descriptions of things that happened a long time ago. Marvelous things
did take place but they happened under the influence of the Holy
Spirit.

Jesus kept his promise. The Holy Spirit did fill in the emptiness left
with Jesus' departure and even more. But there are times when both
Jesus and the Holy Spirit seem to be in retirement. Perhaps some of us
have felt like that sometimes, as if we were on our own or even
abandoned. Listening to what Jesus is saying in the Gospel today, can
spark in us an Easter faith. It can bring new life to our faith. To
say that Jesus is risen is to declare that Jesus is here and now,
acting through the Holy Spirit. Jesus' words are not past tense. Jesus
is speaking to us in the present.

Let us ask ourselves, "Lord, what shall you and I accomplish today?"
We can make such a prayer without fear because the Holy Spirit has
never retired and never will retire. The Holy Spirit can strengthen us
in faith, hope and love so that we are able to respond to any
opportunities or challenges that come our way.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing and speedy recovery of:
- Eligia Fernando
- Sophia Gonzalez
- Shiappee
- Mylene Lingad
- Francis Torres
- Ester Marcelo
… for the safety of Johnson Cuiting
… for the special intentions: San Juan de Dios Hospital
… In Memoriam:
- Luy Wai and Lok Nee Chau
- Sebastian Luy
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Sandra Ng & Matthew Lim Furukawa
- Wedding Anniversary: Freddie & Linda Villadelgado
… 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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