DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 18, 2010
THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR II

DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20
'Look, today I am offering you life and prosperity, death and
disaster. If you obey the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I am
laying down for you today, if you love Yahweh your God and follow his
ways, if you keep his commandments, his laws and his customs, you will
live and grow numerous, and Yahweh your God will bless you in the
country which you are about to enter and make your own. But if your
heart turns away, if you refuse to listen, if you let yourself be
drawn into worshiping other gods and serving them, I tell you today,
you will most certainly perish; you will not live for long in the
country which you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. Today,
I call heaven and earth to witness against you: I am offering you life
or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your
descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his
voice, holding fast to him; for in this your life consists, and on
this depends the length of time that you stay in the country which
Yahweh swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would
give them.'

LUKE 9:22-25
He said, 'The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be
rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to
death, and to be raised up on the third day.' Then, speaking to all,
he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce
himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. Anyone who
wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for
my sake, will save it. What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole
world and forfeit or lose his very self?

REFLECTION
"What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or
forfeit himself?" This was the question St. Ignatius of Loyola, the
founder of the Society of Jesus, presented to a very young St. Francis
Xavier. They were both studying in Paris at that time, and St. Francis
had the worldly dreams that most youth aspire for: wealth, fame,
power.

These aspirations by themselves are not at all wrong. It's only when
we make them the end all and be all of our existence that may cause
harm, not just to our own selves but to others as well. In his
Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius describes these as disordered
attachments. If we do not fully realize that what we are presently
doing takes us away from God's mission for us, than feelings of
emptiness and other desolations become the warning signs.

Maybe acquiring 10 Ferraris doesn't seem excessive; perhaps that 100th
designer handbag will possibly be the one; it's probably ok if we
indulge in an endless buffet of gourmet meals day in and day out. We
don't need to notice those who have to walk kilometer upon kilometer
in order to earn a living so that their families have something to
eat. Let them be happy with a simple plastic bag while we enjoy the
latest technologically advanced backpacks.

Yes, we can aim to be the master of the universe, but what good is
that when the people in our communities remain slaves to poverty and
marginalized circumstances. Where is the fulfillment? May we continue
to ask for the grace to be more like St. Francis and to bravely seek
God's will for us.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Brenda
- Don V.
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Filmore T.
- Dapo family
- Renan Lacida
… for the personal intentions of
- R.
- Abraham A.
- Veronica Yap
… In Memoriam: Manuel Go
… for the eternal repose of the soul of
- Maria Olbes Velasco
- Josie Lichauco
- Eugene Yang
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: Francisco Bate
- Birthday: Roberto Claudio
- Birthday: Fr. Maximo G. Barbero, SJ
… 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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