DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 31, 2009
MEMORIAL, SYLVESTER I, POPE
THURSDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

1 JOHN 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the
antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we
know this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not
really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with
us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. But you
have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have
knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but
because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

JOHN 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be
through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which
enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of
God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural
generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And
the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his
glory, the glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace
and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he
of whom I said, `The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all
received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given
through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has
ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father's
side, has revealed him.

REFLECTION
As we prepare to end one year and enter another, let us look forward
with hope and trust in the Lord who is stronger than all darkness. As
we look back over the year and think perhaps with mixed feelings, of
all its joys and sorrows, all the promises kept and opportunities
wasted, it is important for us to be reminded that our Father is the
Lord of all time, and in Him all things are truly made new. It may be
that we find ourselves looking back on the resolutions which we made
at the beginning of the year, on all our good intentions to improve
our commitment to prayer and our spiritual life, and feeling
disappointed at our inability to live up to our ideals. Perhaps we
find ourselves struggling with the same pat terns of sinfulness which
we did a year ago and more.

The Church tells us that today is not a day for disappointment over
how little we have achieved but a day for joy and anticipation over
what God has achieved. Today's Gospel invites us to turn our eyes away
from the slow passage of days and years and to look instead towards
the free unending horizon of eternity.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Brenda
... In Thanksgiving for all the blessing received and to come: Josheil
Dapo
… for the personal intentions of:
- Richard Condor
- Pauline
- Jazmine
… for the victims of natural disasters
… for the eternal repose of the souls of Raul and Epifania Ylaya.
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.
- Prayer Intention: Baboorankey
- Birthday: Net Alburquerque
- Birthday: Ma. Juana S. Rodriguez
- Thanksgiving: Castillo Family
- In Memoriam (+): Ong Huay Kia
… 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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