DAILY- HOMILY

MAY 28, 2010
FRIDAY 8TH WEEK OF EASTER – YEAR II

FIRST PETER 4:7-13
The end of all things is near, so keep your minds calm and sober for
prayer. Above all preserve an intense love for each other, since love
covers over many a sin. Welcome each other into your houses without
grumbling. Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good
stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the
service of others. If anyone is a speaker, let it be as the words of
God, if anyone serves, let it be as in strength granted by God; so
that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ,
since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
My dear friends, do not be taken aback at the testing by fire which is
taking place among you, as though something strange were happening to
you; but in so far as you share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad,
so that you may enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is
revealed.

MARK 11:11-25
He entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple; and when he had
surveyed it all, as it was late by now, he went out to Bethany with
the Twelve. Next day as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry.
Seeing a fig tree in leaf some distance away, he went to see if he
could find any fruit on it, but when he came up to it he found nothing
but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. And he addressed the
fig tree, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his
disciples heard him say this. So they reached Jerusalem and he went
into the Temple and began driving out the men selling and buying
there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the seats of the
dove sellers. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the
Temple. And he taught them and said, 'Does not scripture say: My house
will be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have turned
it into a bandits' den.' This came to the ears of the chief priests
and the scribes, and they tried to find some way of doing away with
him; they were afraid of him because the people were carried away by
his teaching. And when evening came he went out of the city. Next
morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the
roots. Peter remembered. 'Look, Rabbi,' he said to Jesus, 'the fig
tree that you cursed has withered away.' Jesus answered, 'Have faith
in God. In truth I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, "Be
pulled up and thrown into the sea," with no doubt in his heart, but
believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I
tell you, therefore, everything you ask and pray for, believe that you
have it already, and it will be yours. And when you stand in prayer,
forgive whatever you have against anybody, so your Father in heaven
may forgive your failings too.'

REFLECTION
We see the tough Jesus, quite different from the gentle and
compassionate Christ. He curses the fig tree that bore no fruits and
he drives away the peddlers in the temple. There must have been good
reasons for him to act in this manner.

The temple which should be a place of prayer has become a den of
thieves — the sellers abuse the pilgrims who have to buy their
offerings in the temple; the money changers cheat the poor; and the
high priests allow these to happen. The fig tree must have been
likened to people who are adorned excessively for show, who have power
enough to do what is right but remain bystanders and do nothing to
change what is wrong and evil. So these must have caused Jesus' anger.

Jesus reminds us to clean our hearts, our homes, and the community so
that our lives and our society can be directed toward God and be fully
transformed. Are we ready to be a Christian who is tough but tender-
hearted?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing and strength:
- Ellen Paz Cosico
- Abraham A.
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Cesar Galang
- Camille
- Luis
- Arnold Cabatingan & Alfonso Purugganan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Alvin
- Mariano Montemayor
- Maricar
- Pauline
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Chelsea Heather C. Tan
- Birthday: Harry Yu
- Wedding Anniversary: Gabby & Helen Tong
- In Memoriam (+): Edmundo Inocentes (Nov 16, 1936-May 28, 2002)
… 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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