DAILY- HOMILY

JUNE 24, 2010
SOLEMNITY, NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
THURSDAY 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

ISAIAH 49:1-6
Coasts and islands, listen to me, pay attention, distant peoples.
Yahweh called me when I was in the womb, before my birth he had
pronounced my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in
the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow and
concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, 'Israel, you are my
servant, through whom I shall manifest my glory.' But I said, 'My toil
has been futile, I have exhausted myself for nothing, to no purpose.'
Yet all the while my cause was with Yahweh and my reward with my God.
And now Yahweh has spoken, who formed me in the womb to be his
servant, to bring Jacob back to him and to re-unite Israel to him;-I
shall be honoured in Yahweh's eyes, and my God has been my strength.-
He said, 'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the
tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I shall make
you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest
parts of earth.'

ACTS 13:22-26
After forty years, God deposed Saul and raised up David to be king,
whom he attested in these words, "I have found David son of Jesse, a
man after my own heart, who will perform my entire will." To keep his
promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David's descendants,
Jesus, as Savior, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed
a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John
ended his course he said, "I am not the one you imagine me to be;
there is someone coming after me whose sandal I am not fit to undo."
'My brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all you godfearers, this
message of salvation is meant for you.

LUKE 1:57-66, 80
The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a
son; and when her neighbors and relations heard that the Lord had
lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy. Now it
happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child;
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother
spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.' They said to her,
'But no one in your family has that name,' and made signs to his
father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a
writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were all
astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke
and praised God. All their neighbors were filled with awe and the
whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea.
All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will
this child turn out to be?' they wondered. And indeed the hand of the
Lord was with him. Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew
strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to
Israel.

REFLECTION
During the feast of their patron John the Baptist in San Juan City,
unwary pedestrians and innocent bystanders are inevitably get soaked
by water bombs and other liquid projectiles in the spirit of
celebration. For jeepneys who ply through the city proper, once out of
the war zone so to speak, waiting passengers have that surprised look
when they notice that the vehicle's interior is dripping wet. To those
who lack a sense of humor, it may seem like such an inconvenience. To
those in the know, this once-a year organized chaos is a healthy way
to let it all hang out and cool down. Hopefully, people remember why
this tradition is practiced in the first place.

John the Baptist was born for such a purpose: to baptize our Lord and
Savior. Jesus, even if he was free from original sin because his
Mother was immaculately conceived as well, still chose to join us in
our sinfulness. Without John to administer this sacrament made
complete by Jesus, perhaps our primary initiation into the faith would
be for naught.

In Christ, God chooses to freely cooperate with his creation. We are
given the option to participate in His salvation or not. But, it's
there for us just the same, whether we say yes or no. Let us pray to
always give ourselves humbly, just like Jesus, to the healing waters
of baptism.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Abraham A.
- Angela, Sheldon, Henrietta, Jesus, Norma
… for the personal intentions of
- Patrick and Mary Ann
- Nikolai Cortez, Aydin Cortez, Karl Cortez, Maureen Cortez
- Med Villanueva
- Atrero family
- Patrick Chukwudi
- J.E.S.
- Josheil Dapo
- Maricar
… Birthday: Juan Bandong (+)
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Sy Chay
- Josefa Villanueva
- Asilda Guanzon
- William Guanzon
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.
- Birthday: Rodelio A. Cayetano
- Birthday: Gloria B. Tamayo
- Birthday: Sandra Reyes-Morgan
- In Memoriam (+): Ma Del Carmen F. Bate
… 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!

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