DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 21, 2010
5TH SUNDAY OF LENT – C

ISAIAH 43:16-21
Thus says Yahweh, who made a way through the sea, a path in the raging
waters, who led out chariot and horse together with an army of picked
troops: they lay down never to rise again, they were snuffed out, put
out like a wick. No need to remember past events, no need to think
about what was done before. Look, I am doing something new, now it
emerges; can you not see it? Yes, I am making a road in the desert and
rivers in wastelands. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and
the ostriches, for bestowing water in the desert and rivers on the
wastelands for my people, my chosen one, to drink. The people I have
shaped for myself will broadcast my praises.

PHILIPPIANS 3:8-14
Yes, I will go further: because of the supreme advantage of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss. For him I have
accepted the loss of all other things, and look on them all as filth
if only I can gain Christ and be given a place in him, with the
uprightness I have gained not from the Law, but through faith in
Christ, an uprightness from God, based on faith, that I may come to
know him and the power of his resurrection, and partake of his
sufferings by being moulded to the pattern of his death, striving
towards the goal of resurrection from the dead. Not that I have
secured it already, nor yet reached my goal, but I am still pursuing
it in the attempt to take hold of the prize for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me. Brothers, I do not reckon myself as having taken hold
of it; I can only say that forgetting all that lies behind me, and
straining forward to what lies in front, I am racing towards the
finishing-point to win the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ
Jesus.

JOHN 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the
Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began
to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had
been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the
middle they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very
act of committing adultery, and in the Law Moses has ordered us to
stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?' They asked him
this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But
Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As
they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let
the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at
her.' Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground. When they
heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until
the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who
remained in the middle. Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman,
where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir,' she replied.
'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment
sin no more.'

REFLECTION
"I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing
knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ."

This is the profound insight of Paul with regard to his faith in Jesus
whom he had earlier persecuted. What a terrific transformation! From
being one of the fiercest opposition to one who becomes the greatest
apostle to the Gentiles. What Paul tries to underscore with this
insight is the blessing and privilege that has been granted to him in
being able to get to know Jesus in a very deep and personal manner.
There is no doubt that he was a devout Jew but in a most unusual turn
of events, Jesus chose him to become his instrument in proclaiming the
Good news to the non-Jews. The mission brought him to various places.
It is then fitting that Paul who did not encounter Jesus during the
latter's lifetime and only in the resurrection is considered as an
apostle. To be called an apostle is to be sent, something that Jesus
did to Paul who eventually became the Apostle to the gentiles.

The story of Paul then is an inspiration to us for it suggests the
impossible is not really impossible only if we allow God to reign in
us.

Is there anything in our lives that has happened that we have
witnessed the impossible occur. What have been the effects in our
lives?

This insight of Paul is somewhat similar to what Augustine said: "Our
hearts are restless until they rest in you."

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Jao Jacinto
… for the personal intentions of
- Socorro
- Ma. Angeli
.. Birthday:
- Jocelyn Flora
- Gabriel Nibungco
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Isabelita S. Hipolito
- Birthday: Patrick S. Saludares
- Birthday: Tyler Villanueva
- In Memoriam (+): Patria P. Reyes
… 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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