DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 8, 2010
MONDAY 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

1 KINGS 8:1-7, 9-13
Solomon then summoned the elders of Israel to Jerusalem to bring the
ark of the covenant of Yahweh up from the City of David, that is,
Zion. All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month
of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month).
When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark
and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred utensils which were in the
Tent. King Solomon and all Israel, present with him before the ark,
sacrificed countless, innumerable sheep and oxen. The priests brought
the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, in the Debir of the
Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the winged
creatures for the winged creatures spread their wings over the place
where the ark stood, forming a canopy over the ark and its shafts.
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses
had placed in it at Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which Yahweh
made with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. Now when the
priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the Temple of
Yahweh, and because of the cloud the priests could not stay and
perform their duties. For the glory of Yahweh filled the Temple of
Yahweh. Then Solomon said: Yahweh has chosen to dwell in thick cloud.
I have built you a princely dwelling, a residence for you forever.

MARK 6:53-56
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored
there. When they disembarked people at once recognised him, and
started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on
stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to
village or town or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces,
begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all
those who touched him were saved.

REFLECTION
The ark of the covenant was one of the visible signs of the presence
of God in Israel. It was a coffer, which measures 5 feet x 3 feet, and
enclosed the two tablets of the law. It was covered with gold and
mounted with cherubim. It accompanied Israel from Sinai and was
sheltered under a mobile tent until the construction of the temple
where it rested in a more secured shelter. This ark manifested God's
presence in the midst of His people to guide, protect, to make known
His Word and hear their prayer.

What happened when the ark disappeared? Did God disappear? God was
preparing little by little His people for the perfect fulfillment of
His presence that is His Son Jesus Christ, the Word of God living
among men, Emmanuel. But then again Christ was taken from our sight in
his Ascension. Are we left as orphans again?

Though He is corporeally absent we are encouraged to look for Him by
faith in the place where He resides. He is present in the suffering,
in the Scripture, in those who are united in prayer in His name, in
the Eucharist. Those who received Him through faith become the living
temple of the Holy Spirit. To be the living temple means for us to be
united with the Father through Love, the kind of Love shown to us in
Christ. Men will experience God present in their midst when this Love
continues to be visible at all times.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Abraham A
- Jerry Solis
- Jedidiah Vega
- Brenda
- Renan Lacida
- John Benedict "JB"
- Walter Stamatelaky
- Josefina T. Lichauco
- Filmore T.
.. Birthday: Fr. Georges-Etienne Beauregard, SJ
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Cora Cabral
- Birthday: Marge Lim
- Birthday: Quinta Atienza
- Thanksgiving: Efleda R. Aban
… 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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