DAILY- HOMILY

OCTOBER 18, 2009
29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B

ISAIAH 53:10-11
The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life
as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of
his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his
suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall
bear.

HEBREWS 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our
confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested
in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the
throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

MARK 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He
replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him,
"Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other
at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are
asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the
baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus
said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the
baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at
my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom
it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant
at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know
that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it
shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among
you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be
the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to
serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

REFLECTION
Let us remember that the Church exists to evangelize. The Church,
which is you and I, is missionary by nature. Through our baptism, we
were baptized into this body of Christ, the Church. For better or for
worse, we are symbols of Jesus Christ in the world. It is therefore
our mission, our very lifeblood to see Mission Sunday, not as an
outsider, but as someone called to be on mission.

It is sad that in the Church today many Catholics have been
sacramentalized but not catechized. These people have been baptized
but not formed in the teaching of Jesus and his Church. There is a
certain kind of lethargy that, like a leech, has attached itself to
the flesh of the Church. This leech of lethargy and indifference makes
many of us spiritually anemic, reluctant to share faith with others.
Almost like parasites, we are eager to receive the sacraments and
other riches of the Church, but we are reluctant to share it with
others. We listen to God's word, but are reluctant to proclaim it
ourselves. We must ask ourselves, why? Is it because the word of God
has not become flesh in our lives? Does Jesus mean anyone or anything
to us at all?

It's an old principle that says: we cannot give to others what we do
not have ourselves. Hence we need first of all, to be "missionized".
lf our Christianity is only a matter of rules and regulations like
going to Church on Sundays and not eating meat on Fridays; if our
faith is only a matter of convenience and not of conviction; if Christ
is only a statue and not a person whom we really know, then we are
certainly thinking and viewing Mission Sunday as an outsider. We will
end up with excuses saying: "Not me, I am too busy; I am too afraid, I
don't know to talk to others about Christ."

We need to have the faith level conviction in our intellect and in our
heart. Once that happens, we will need no urging to witness to Christ.
We will feel impelled from within to celebrate and share the life of
Jesus. We must begin today and begin now because now is the acceptable
moment of salvation. In our own corner of the world, let us light the
lamp of Christ by what we say and how we live, by what we believe and
what we stand for, and by the attitudes we manifest. Let these be seen
and heard loud and clear at home, in our study and work place, in our
neighborhood, and particularly with those who do not share our faith.
May the people around us begin to see a difference in our lives, and
let that difference be Christ himself. After all, he is there to
inspire us every step of the way. Let us not forget that with his
great commission: "Go make disciples of all nations", we also have his
great promise: "Know that I am with you always until the end of time."

Mission Sunday is a day to thank God for our faith. Christ expects
each one of us to never let a day pass by without proclaiming God's
message of salvation to those around us. None of us can say that we
cannot be a good Christian, that we cannot pray, that we cannot offer
to God our crosses for the salvation of our brothers and sisters. If
we try, we shall discover that we can help to spread the kingdom of
God far more that we think.

Let us keep in mind that there is no shorter way to heaven than
helping others to reach there. And so, as we worship God today, let us
pray we may have the courage to shout out and offer to all those
around us Christ and his message of salvation for Christ is our
lifeblood and theirs as well.

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
- Mon Torres
- Julie Manzon
- John Dale Manzon
- Raymond Mother
- Arnold Cabatingan
- Walter W, Rita M, John C, Henry D, Chase
- Lisa
- Brenda Domingo-Solis
… In Thanksgiving:
- Julie and Glenn Manzon
- Barayoga Family
… for the personal intentions of
- Vera Yap
- Mariano Montemayor
… Thanksgiving for the gift of life: Brenda Domingo Solis
… for the victims of natural disasters
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Domingo Barayoga, Sr., Lourdes Barayoga, Charlie Barayoga
- Mrs. Ligaya Agnote
- Maegan Chua
- Mr. Faustino Sotong (aka So Chong Hian)
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for the healing and peace of all families
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Tama Ng
- Birthday: Jose Dee
- Birthday: Rosa Yu
- Thanksgiving: Samuel, Precious, Nikki
… for world peace and reconciliation.

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!

**************************************************
Parish Priests' e-mail:
Fr. J. Cesar R. Marin, S. J. parishpriest@marythequeen.org

Assistant Parish Priests' e-mails:
Fr. R. Hart, S. J. rodneyhart@marythequeen.org
Fr. Thomas O'Gorman, S. J. thogorman@marythequeen.org
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