DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 18, 2010
SATURDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II

JEREMIAH 23:5-8
Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall raise an
upright Branch for David; he will reign as king and be wise, doing
what is just and upright in the country. In his days Judah will
triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name he will be
called, 'Yahweh-is-our-Saving-Justice.' " 'So, look, the days are
coming, Yahweh declares, when people will no longer say, "As Yahweh
lives who brought the Israelites out of Egypt," but, "As Yahweh lives
who led back and brought home the offspring of the House of Israel
from the land of the north and all the countries to which he had
driven them, to live on their own soil." '

MATTHEW 1:18-24
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph,
being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to
divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when
suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,
because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will
give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one
who is to save his people from their sins.' Now all this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: Look! the virgin
is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call
Immanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'. When Joseph woke up he
did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to
his home.

REFLECTION
It must have been a grave crisis in the lives of Jesus and Mary. After
their betrothal, Mary breaks the news that she was with child by the
Holy Spirit. Would any of today's prospective bridegrooms accept such
an untoward situation? Yet Joseph, forsaking all his dreams and
desires, bows to the Divine Will with faith and humility.

It was no easy task for Joseph to be husband and father. He had to
care for mother and child in a dark cave in Bethlehem. Shortly after,
he had to flee to escape Herod's evil designs. Securing mother and
child on the back of a donkey, with himself on foot, he takes them to
Egypt. He settled his family in Nazareth.

Joseph was a saint in the loving eyes of Mary. In the centuries to
follow, he was finally recognized as such by the Church. Pope IX in
1847 declared Joseph as the patron and protector of the universal
church. His patronage was truly universal.

St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that St. Joseph has the power to assist us
in all cases, in every under taking. Through the years, all classes of
Christians have turned to St. Joseph, imploring his assistance:
workmen, the poor and financially strapped, the travelers and exiles,
the youth, the religious. And finally, having died peacefully in the
arms of Jesus and Mary, Joseph is the patron of a happy death.

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, John Lawrence
- Amparo Acuesta
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Veronica Yap
- Bill and Carol
… for the eternal repose of the souls of Nalita Daclitan and Elmar
Fink. 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: Mel San Diego
- Birthday: Mayor Maria Olivia B. Pascual
- Birthday: Makairog R. Reyes, SJ
- Wedding Anniversary: Ryan & Jin Gregorio
- Wedding Anniversary: Tony & Miciel Leano
- Wedding Anniversary: Rene & Eufracia Larlar
- Wedding Anniversary: Zenaida & Alexander See Co
- Wedding Anniversary: Benito & Alice Cua
- Wedding Anniversary: Robin & Jackie Tong
- Prayer Intention: Vicky & Michael Tan Falcon
- In Memoriam (+): Sis. Imeda Paredes
… 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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