DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 21, 2010
TUESDAY 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II

SONG OF SONGS 2:8-14
BELOVED: I hear my love. See how he comes leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills. My love is like a gazelle, like a young stag.
See where he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the window, he
peers through the opening. My love lifts up his voice, he says to me,
'Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come. For see, winter is past,
the rains are over and gone. 'Flowers are appearing on the earth. The
season of glad songs has come, the cooing of the turtledove is heard
in our land. The fig tree is forming its first figs and the blossoming
vines give out their fragrance. Come then, my beloved, my lovely one,
come. 'My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of
the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice
is sweet and your face is lovely.'

LUKE 1:39-45
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the
hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and
greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard
Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you
are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why
should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look,
the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt
for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by
the Lord would be fulfilled.'

REFLECTION
Today's first reading from the Song of Songs is from one of several
Old Testament books that paint a picture of a God who deeply loves his
people. God will stop at nothing until they respond; He calls them as
beloved and beautiful one, inviting them to come with Him. We must let
go of the things that hold us back and allow the will of God to
control our lives. When we are able to reach that point of surrender,
we can express our love in the words of today's Psalm, "cry out with
joy to the Lord, sing a new song to him." God's love unleashes joy in
our lives and allows us to respond to that love in ways that can
surprise us.

The gospel reading from Luke provides us with a wonderful example of
belief and trust. This is expressed in the lives of two ordinary
women. In yesterday's gospel, we were able to recognize Mary's belief
when she said "yes" to Gabriel's announcement that she was to become
the mother of Jesus. This event prompted Mary to travel to Elizabeth.
There Mary sees the sign of God's power at work in the womb of
Elizabeth. These events confirm Mary's belief in the greatness of God.

The Holy Spirit to whom Mary and Elizabeth responded is the same
Spirit that each one of us received in Baptism and Confirmation. We
too are filled with the Holy Spirit. We only need to listen to the
call of the Spirit and say "yes" to God as often as we can as we seek
to reach the level of belief and trust like Mary and Elizabeth. When
we apply God's promises to our own lives, we, like Mary and Elizabeth,
will know the excitement and serenity that come from having complete
faith in our God.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Bill and Carol
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Cresencia Roleda
- Birthday: Maura F. Castillo
- Birthday: Noel Domingo
- Birthday: Tess Catindig
- Birthday: Cecilla R. Fernandez
- Wedding Anniversary: Jocelyn & Vic Ilag
- Wedding Anniversary: Ramir & Larcy Mangahas Libre
- Wedding Anniversary: Carlo & Lesan Malana
- Wedding Anniversary: Philip & Nancy Young
- Presbyterial Ordination Bishop Teodoro Buhain, DD
… 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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