DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 5, 2009
SATURDAY 22ND WEEK ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

COLOSSIANS 1:21-23
Brothers and sisters: You once were alienated and hostile in mind
because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body
of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and
irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith,
firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel
that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under
heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

LUKE 6:1-5
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his
disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their
hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what
is unlawful on the sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you
not read what David did when he and those who were with him were
hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it
with his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of
the sabbath."

REFLECTION
Luke's account in today's Gospel is very brief yet right to the point.
He describes in a very simple manner the plucking of a few heads of
grain, shelling them by rubbing them together with the hands and then
eating the small handful of kernels. It is a very small and
insignificant act. Yet the Pharisees are scandalized. All they can
think of is the law, the law of Sabbath rest which was interpreted to
include preparing food as one of the forbidden works on the Sabbath.

Jesus answers accusations by referring to the story of David and his
men eating the forbidden bread because they were hungry. Jesus answers
the human objection with the divinely inspired Scriptures. We find it
rather repulsive on the part of the Pharisees to bring up such an
objection. It is really very petty to make an issue out of plucking
and shelling a few grains of wheat while walking through the field, be
it on the Sabbath day or not. But are we certain that we are not
petty, choosy, over meticulous in our own way sometimes to the extent
of being difficult to others, making their lives miserable? Are we
reasonably aware of human differences, that what is important to some,
is of very little importance or consequence to another?

Unless it is a matter of really important principles, the law of love
supersedes all. This is what Jesus is teaching us today. Maybe
objectively we are right with regard to this or that matter, how the
sick ought to be treated professionally and pastorally. But we must
make exceptions for special people, special circumstances where love
asks it. Let us remember that our God is a God of kindness, mercy and
love. Let us challenge ourselves to be like God in our love for each
other.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Ely Lara
- Lydia, Keempee and Kevin
- Kurt Czyrell
- Arnold Cabatingan
- Brenda Domingo-Solis
- Lisa
- Inday Tan
… for the personal intentions of Pvijay
… for the safety of San Juan de Dios Hospital
… In thanksgiving: Jazmine
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Nancy Alicbusan
- Birthday: Carissa Marin
… 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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