DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 23, 2010
SATURDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

2 SAMUEL 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
Saul was dead and David, returning after his victory over the
Amalekites, had been at Ziklag for two days. On the third day, a man
arrived from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and earth on his head.
When he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
David asked him, 'Where have you come from?' 'I have escaped from the
Israelite camp,' he said. David said, 'What has happened? Tell me.' He
replied, 'The people fled from the battle, and many of them have
fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.' David
then took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him
did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for
Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of Yahweh and for the House
of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. Does the splendour of
Israel lie dead on your heights? How did the heroes fall? Saul and
Jonathan, beloved and handsome, were divided neither in life, nor in
death. Swifter than eagles were they, stronger than lions. O daughters
of Israel, weep for Saul who gave you scarlet and fine linen to wear,
who pinned golden jewellery on your dresses! How did the heroes fall
in the thick of the battle? Jonathan, by your dying I too am stricken,
I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother. Very dear you were to me,
your love more wonderful to me than the love of a woman. How did the
heroes fall and the weapons of war succumb!

MARK 3:20-21
He went home again, and once more such a crowd collected that they
could not even have a meal. When his relations heard of this, they set
out to take charge of him; they said, 'He is out of his mind.'

REFLECTION
We all need the gift of friendship. It is one of the great treasures
of life. We need someone to know us as we truly are. We need someone
who trusts us and who we trust absolutely.

The first reading is David's lament at the death of Jonathan: "I
grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother! Most dear you have been to
me..." Their friendship was unlikely. Jonathan was a prince and heir
to Israel's throne. David was a shepherd God had chosen to take the
throne after Saul. In any other eyes but God's, they should have been
mortal enemies.

The words Jonathan uses to claim David as a friend foreshadow Christ's
commandment to us. Jonathan chose – instinctively, instantly – to love
David as he loved himself (1 Samuel 18:1). This choice was tested
again and again as a jealous Saul hunted David and tried to kill him.
Jonathan's friendship saved David's life. When they part, Jonathan
tells David: "Go in peace... The Lord shall be between you and me, and
between your posterity and mine forever."

We may never be asked to do the things Jonathan did in the name of
friendship. But we are called to be friends, true friends in the name
of Christ. Jesus asks that we love others as we love ourselves. The
bond is strengthened when the Lord is the third person in a
friendship. Keep the Lord between us and our friends.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Brenda
- Don Villanueva
- Marietta Triunfante
- Vic Carabajal
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Rita Cuerva
- Gemma
- Davis Danao
- Abraham A.
- Julian Santiago, Sr.
… for the personal intentions of:
- Mariano Montemayor
- Angelo Sulangi
- Jackie T.
- Pauline
- Josheil Dapo
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Benjamin Amaranto, Inocencia Amaranto, Alfredo Amaranto, Cecilia
Amaranto, Antolin Amaranto, Felicito Amaranto, Francisca Amaranto,
Evelyn Amaranto
- Roger Gestiada
- Edmund D. Tagle
Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Edward J. Salvador
- Wedding Anniversary: Luis & Susan Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Cheng Kho (1916-1993)+
… 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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