DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010
MEMORIAL, ST. PETER CLAVER, PRIEST
THURSDAY 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

FIRST CORINTHIANS 8:1-7, 11-13
Now about food which has been dedicated to false gods. We are well
aware that all of us have knowledge; but while knowledge puffs up,
love is what builds up. Someone may think that he has full knowledge
of something and yet not know it as well as he should; but someone who
loves God is known by God. On the subject of eating foods dedicated to
false gods, we are well aware that none of the false gods exists in
reality and that there is no God other than the One. Though there are
so-called gods, in the heavens or on earth -- and there are plenty of
gods and plenty of lords- yet for us there is only one God, the Father
from whom all things come and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus
Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.
However, not everybody has this knowledge. There are some in whose
consciences false gods still play such a part that they take the food
as though it had been dedicated to a god; then their conscience, being
vulnerable, is defiled. And then it would be through your knowledge
that this brother for whom Christ died, vulnerable as he is, has been
lost. So, sinning against your brothers and wounding their vulnerable
consciences, you would be sinning against Christ. That is why, if food
can be the cause of a brother's downfall, I will never eat meat any
more, rather than cause my brother's downfall.

LUKE 6:27-38
'But I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who
treat you badly. To anyone who slaps you on one cheek, present the
other cheek as well; to anyone who takes your cloak from you, do not
refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for
your property back from someone who takes it. Treat others as you
would like people to treat you. If you love those who love you, what
credit can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if
you do good to those who do good to you, what credit can you expect?
For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you
hope to get money back, what credit can you expect? Even sinners lend
to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and
do good to them, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a
great reward, and you will be children of the Most High, for he
himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 'Be compassionate
just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not
be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and
you will be forgiven. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full
measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be
poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the
standard used for you.'

REFLECTION
If it was easy to forgive those who wronged us; if it was really that
simple to look on our enemies with love; if the pains we experienced
because of misunderstandings and selfish actions were dismissed that
quickly, perhaps this would be a more peaceful place to live.
Unfortunately, conflicts have become par for the course instead of
exceptions to the rule. Reparation is desperately demanded for
offenses committed.

But Jesus continually challenges us to go beyond ourselves. So if we
get slapped, offer the offender the other cheek. Love never settles
for what is passable, rather it goes beyond what is expected; whatever
the minimum may be.

As long as we turn our hearts to what our Lord desires from us, the
transformation will happen, albeit a bit slowly. Each time our
patience grows and our anger subsides, maybe we can look on those who
have hurt us with a little more understanding and compassion, and a
little less hate and regret. That truly takes a whole lot of grace.

May we always aim for what is more than just okay. May our actions be
used by God to really bring about the peace and harmony we all seek.
It is through this cooperative effort of love that His kingdom will be
built upon.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Jo Marcelo, Jun Lee, Mon Torres
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Tess Espinosa-Aquinde
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Luis Torres
- Emz Pamplona
- Cherie Torres
- Iyam Salvanera
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Farnie Luistro
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: Joyce Tiu
- Birthday: Gian V. Amurao
- Birthday: Lily Dee
- Birthday: Angela Ong
- Birthday: Evelyn Bautista
- Wedding Anniversary: Bernie & Grace Mercado
- Wedding Anniversary: Benedict & Rachelle Tan
- In Memoriam (+) Natividad Lontoc de las Alas
… 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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