DAILY- HOMILY: 12/27/10

DAILY- HOMILY

DAILY-HOMILY is a Catholic-based Scripture and Homily Reflections. It is a great source for scripture readings, homilies and reflections for Weekdays, Sundays and Holydays of Obligation. Subscribe to this list and you will receive a free, informed, down to earth and illustrated homilies focusing on the readings on Weekday & Sunday Masses, Liturgical Services or personal reflection. And best of all it's a FREE service. To subscribe or unsubscribe send email to: dailyhomily@gmail.com

Monday, December 27, 2010

FEAST, THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS

DECEMBER 28, 2010
FEAST, THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS

FIRST JOHN 1:5--2:2
This is what we have heard from him and are declaring to you: God is
light, and there is no darkness in him at all. If we say that we share
in God's life while we are living in darkness, we are lying, because
we are not living the truth. But if we live in light, as he is in
light, we have a share in another's life, and the blood of Jesus, his
Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say, 'We have no sin,' we are
deceiving ourselves, and truth has no place in us; if we acknowledge
our sins, he is trustworthy and upright, so that he will forgive our
sins and will cleanse us from all evil. If we say, 'We have never
sinned,' we make him a liar, and his word has no place in us. My
children, I am writing this to prevent you from sinning; but if anyone
does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the
upright. He is the sacrifice to expiate our sins, and not only ours,
but also those of the whole world.

MATTHEW 2:13-18
After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother with you,
and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod
intends to search for the child and do away with him.' So Joseph got
up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for
Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what
the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.
Herod was furious on realising that he had been fooled by the wise
men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male
children killed who were two years old or less, reckoning by the date
he had been careful to ask the wise men. Then were fulfilled the words
spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted because they are no more.

REFLECTION
Herod the Great was a notorious tyrant determined to wield power and
not be outmaneuvered by any other authority. These facts form the
background of today's tragic story of Herod's massacre of the Holy
Innocents. Beyond the gospel of Matthew, there is no official record
of this event. But the story remains a reminder of the ever-present
evil within the human heart, awaiting its moment to strike. Experience
tells us, that, because of original sin, wherever good is being done
there will always be evil attempts to undermine it.

Evil can easily masquerade as good. The various subtle ways in which
the power of evil infiltrates are seen in the increasing disregard for
human life in today's modern world. We are part of this society, and
each one of us has the responsibility to work to transform it. Our
culture of death needs the power of prayer and action combined to
change it into a culture of life. We owe it to ourselves as well as to
God not to remain passive bystanders. Our Christian calling carries
moral responsibility.

As we find ourselves lured into the ways of death rather than life,
let us call upon God's mercy and assistance in our hour of temptation.
Let us resist all violence and destructiveness, especially towards the
weak and vulnerable, and choose good.

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
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Sheila San Buenaventura
- Birthday: Jesus Felix Gonong
- Birthday: Herminia Musico
- Birthday: Vicente K. Fabella
- Birthday: Celia R. Marin
- Wedding Anniversary: Victoria & Leonardo L. Yu
- Wedding Anniversary: Wesley & Leona Panutat
… 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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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 3:22 AM 0 comments

FEAST, ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

DECEMBER 27, 2010
FEAST, ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

FIRST JOHN 1:1-4
Something which has existed since the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched and
touched with our own hands, the Word of life -- this is our theme.
That life was made visible; we saw it and are giving our testimony,
declaring to you the eternal life, which was present to the Father and
has been revealed to us. We are declaring to you what we have seen and
heard, so that you too may share our life. Our life is shared with the
Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you so
that our joy may be complete.

JOHN 20:2-8
Mary of Magdala saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb
and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom
Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,' she said,
'and we don't know where they have put him.' So Peter set out with the
other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other
disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent
down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.
Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the
linen cloths lying on the ground and also the cloth that had been over
his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place
by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also
went in; he saw and he believed.

REFLECTION
We need special glasses to see the Lord at work in our lives. Sometime
his presence and action is evident and sometimes not so evident. If we
would go on a pilgrimage to Israel without any faith, we would be
bored to death because we would just see a lot of stones and ruins. We
would just be like any other tourist.

Without the special eyeglass of faith, today's gospel reading which
refers to the tomb and the linen cloth would have no particular
significance. But with faith and love, these simple items were enough
to convince Simon Peter that the Lord is risen. No one witnessed Jesus
Christ actually rising from the tomb, but with faith, these simple
signs were enough to help them believe that indeed Christ is risen.

We all see these simple signs in our lives, but more often than not,
we fail to see the presence and handiwork of God in them. Look around,
our child, our spouse, our families, the fact that we have a job, the
fact that people love us, these simple joys speak a lot! The Lord is
already speaking to us through simple events.

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 all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Dinna Santos
- Birthday: Cyril Addison
- Birthday: Mother Cecilia Calaguas, OP
- Birthday: Lydia Cu
- Wedding Anniversary: John & Cynthia Tan
… for world peace and reconciliation.