DAILY- HOMILY

JULY 1, 2009
MEMORIAL, BLESSED JUNIPERO SERRA, PRIEST
WEDNESDAY 13TH WEEK ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

GENESIS 21:5, 8-20A
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Isaac grew, and on the day of the child's weaning Abraham held a great
feast. Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to
Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: "Drive
out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the
inheritance with my son Isaac!" Abraham was greatly distressed,
especially on account of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham: "Do
not be distressed about the boy or about your slave woman. Heed the
demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you; for it is
through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name. As for the son of
the slave woman, I will make a great nation of him also, since he too
is your offspring." Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and
a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her
back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of
Beer-sheba, the water in the skin was used up. So she put the child
down under a shrub, and then went and sat down opposite him, about a
bowshot away; for she said to herself, "Let me not watch to see the
child die." As she sat opposite Ishmael, he began to cry. God heard
the boy's cry, and God's messenger called to Hagar from heaven: "What
is the matter, Hagar? Don't be afraid; God has heard the boy's cry in
this plight of his. Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand;
for I will make of him a great nation." Then God opened her eyes, and
she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and
then let the boy drink. God was with the boy as he grew up.

MATTHEW 8:28-34
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who
were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one
could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with
us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed
time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons
pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of
swine." And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the
swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the
town they reported everything, including what had happened to the
demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when
they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

REFLECTION
It is rather significant that today's Gospel story is told not only in
Matthew but also in Mark and Luke. It indicates how important the
Gospel writers regarded the exorcism story and how it seems the story
was meant for all, Gentile or Jew. The story stresses the reality of
the devil and its existence in our world. The demon and its capability
to possess us have remained as a distressing and disturbing event
throughout history.

These days, Satan seems to walk among us. There seems to be much
indifference to those who are poor. Politics is tainted with scandal
and corruption. Extreme cruelty and contempt seem to pervade through
society. There is despair for those victimized by crime. But Jesus has
routed the devil via his suffering and death on the cross. We are thus
saved from Satan's evil hold by our imploring for the grace and
blessing of Christ our Lord.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Meiyin
- Juvy Ong
- Sophia Gonzalez
- Francis Torres
- Mylene Lingad
- Shiappee
- Ester Marcelo
- Lisa
… for the special intentions: San Juan de Dios Hospital
… for the personal intentions:
- Pauline
- Veronica Yap
- Hernane B. Suede
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Julie Miano
- Birthday: Chito Gomez
… 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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