DAILY- HOMILY

NOVEMBER 16, 2009
MEMORIAL, ROQUE GONZALES, JUAN DEL CASTILLO, ALONSO RODRIGUEZ, PRIESTS
AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
MONDAY 33RD WEEK ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

1 MACCABEES 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
[From the descendants of Alexander's officers] there sprang a sinful
offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage
at Rome. He became king in the year one hundred and thirty-seven of
the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there appeared in Israel men
who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since
we separated from them, many evils have come upon us." The proposal
was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile
custom. They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned
the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold
themselves to wrongdoing. Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom
that all should be one people, each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many
children of Israel were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to
idols and profaned the sabbath. On the fifteenth day of the month
Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the
horrible abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings and in the
surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burned
incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of
the law which they found they tore up and burnt. Whoever was found
with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was
condemned to death by royal decree. But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they
preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to
profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was
upon Israel.

LUKE 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside
begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus,
Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked
him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that
he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do
you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately
received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they
saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

REFLECTION
Faith is a gift of inestimable value. Sometimes we profess our faith
in Jesus with our lips, yet our words and actions express something
completely different. When we do not act consistently with what Jesus
expects of his followers, perhaps we need to ask ourselves why. Jesus
said that not everyone that says "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom
of Heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father. The will of
the Father is that we follow his Son, Jesus Christ, not just
occasionally when it suits us, but in everything that we do especially
when it is difficult for us to do so. This requires that we accept
Jesus as our savior and act in accordance with all that is implied
when we follow him. It would be a good for us to regularly take time
to examine ourselves: in what ways are we living our Christian faith?
Have we been consistent? What do we need to do?

Jesus came to change our hearts. At times we feel overwhelmed with
sheer joy knowing that we have the gift of faith, Jesus' great gift to
us. Let us ask Jesus to bless us continually with the grace to grow in
faith, so that we will see all things in his light and will do only
the Father's will. Let us ask Jesus to open our eyes to see more
clearly the person he wants us to be. Let us work to live our lives
more perfectly as followers of Jesus.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Eriberta Calvario
- Heidi Faraon
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Brenda Domingo-Solis
… for the personal intentions of
- Romuel Zamoranos
- Mary Deanne and family
- Valerie A
- Mark and Mycel
… Thanksgiving: Danica and family
… for the victims of natural disasters
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Carlos 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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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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