DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 19, 2010
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR II

ISAIAH 58:1-9
Shout for all you are worth, do not hold back, raise your voice like a
trumpet. To my people proclaim their rebellious acts, to the House of
Jacob, their sins. They seek for me day after day, they long to know
my ways, like a nation that has acted uprightly and not forsaken the
law of its God. They ask me for laws that are upright, they long to be
near God: 'Why have we fasted, if you do not see, why mortify
ourselves if you never notice?' Look, you seek your own pleasure on
your fastdays and you exploit all your workmen; look, the only purpose
of your fasting is to quarrel and squabble and strike viciously with
your fist. Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard
on high. Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a day when a person
inflicts pain on himself? Hanging your head like a reed, spreading out
sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call fasting, a day acceptable
to Yahweh? Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break
unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed
go free, and to break all yokes? Is it not sharing your food with the
hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking
clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin? Then
your light will blaze out like the dawn and your wound be quickly
healed over. Saving justice will go ahead of you and Yahweh's glory
come behind you. Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer;
you will call and he will say, 'I am here.' If you do away with the
yoke, the clenched fist and malicious words,

MATTHEW 9:14-15
Then John's disciples came to him and said, 'Why is it that we and the
Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?' Jesus replied, 'Surely the
bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is
still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken
away from them, and then they will fast.

REFLECTION
During the time of Jesus, the rich and the learned believed that their
riches and talents were God's blessing and favor. They considered
themselves a specially blessed by God. The rest of the people,
especially the poor, the widows and the sick, were sinners. They are
that way because God is punishing them for their sins or the sins of
their fathers. Because of this belief, the sinners were in mourning.
And in those days fasting was a typical expression of mourning.

Jesus preached the good news! "Your sins are forgiven." "Peace be with
you." He lived his divine compassion and broke all the man-made rules.
He welcomed the tax collectors; he mingled with the gentiles; he spoke
with Samaritan woman; and allowed the sinful woman to touch his feet.
He touched the lepers. In his own words, he said, "I did not come to
call the righteous but sinners". In other words, he did not exclude
the so-called sinners at that time but he went to them and released
them from their heavy burden. They should be celebrating with Jesus
and not mourning for him.

In living our faith, are we in mourning or in celebration? Do we tend
to deal with only those who are "saved"? Does our action give peace
and freedom to those burdened in this life or do we contribute to
their suffering by excluding them?

Christ lived a life a love and compassion. Is living our faith mere
obedience to rules and commandments and not a practice of compassion
and love?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Brenda
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Filmore T.
- Dapo family
- Renan Lacida
… for the personal intentions of
- R.
- Abraham A.
- Veronica Yap
… for the eternal repose of the soul of
- 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: Franz A. Saw
- In Memoriam (+): Dr. Celso de los Angeles, Sr.
- In Memoriam (+): Feliciana M. Marin
- In Memoriam (+): Arturo Chong Muñoz (Dec 22, 1928-Feb 19, 2003)+
… 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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