DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 28, 2009
MEMORIAL, AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, BISHOP, DOCTOR
FRIDAY 21ST WEEK ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-8
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please
God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the
Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we
gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you
should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that
each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy
and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not
know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or
take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as
we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be
impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this
instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy
Spirit.

MATTHEW 25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were
foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did
not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along
with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they
all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out:
`Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins
woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise,
`Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "`No,' they
replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to
those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were
on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who
were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was
shut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the
door for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know
you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the
hour.

REFLECTION
"Luck is when preparation meets the occasion," one Public Relations
guru enthused. Another PR practitioner commented likewise, "Better to
have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it." It's
always good to be ready for any outcome.

The state of readiness or preparedness is the ideal. When Jesus
finally sees us, will we be able to hold our lamps up high for him? Or
would we sadly discover that we've run out of fuel. Even champion
athletes know that in order to win their respective competitions,
continuous conditioning and training is the key to accomplishing the
desired victory. We've all got to be on the lookout for when our
Master arrives or else we'll miss him.

Of course, it's normal to tire out and feel that we're entering into
an endless routine of preparation. But, that's what vigil means. We've
got to be on the ready for anything.

Waiting can be tiring. But, Jesus is worth the wait. Parents wait long
to see their kids come home after a long separation. The excitement or
anxiety is part of the wait. But when we finally get a glimpse of our
beloved, it would seem we never waited at all.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Francis Torres
- Shiappee
- Richy Ozoa
- Benjamin Reyes
- Eutiquio Atanacio
- Gertrudes M. Atanacio
- Brenda Domingo-Solis
- Lisa
- Romy Ramos
- Danny Quisel
… for the personal intentions of
- John Paul Urbina
- Arnold Cabatingan
- Crisanta Anas
- Leo Flores
- Josheil Dapo
… for the safety of San Juan de Dios Hospital
… good health: Diomedes C. Mallari
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Regina Malagueno Lopez and Rosario Cadag Malagueno
- Jimmy Domingo, Edwin Roque, Rodolfo Victoria
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: Remedios Aldana Carpenter
- Birthday: Martin O. Montecillo
- Birthday: Fr. Arnie Boehme, OCD
- Birthday: Tessie Macatangay
… 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!

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily

To subscribe from this mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

Join our group on Facebook | FoodForThought and post your views,
comments and feedbacks on the reflection. Click below:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398

© 2009 Daily-Homily
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---