DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 21, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
FRIDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Readings: Heb 8:6-13 / Ps 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14 / Mk 3:13-19

HEBREWS 8:6-13
Now, however, Jesus enjoys a much higher ministry in being the
mediator of a better covenant, founded on better promises. If all had
been perfect in the first covenant, there would have been no need for
another one. Yet God sees defects when he says: The days are coming—it
is the word of the Lord—when I will draw up a new covenant with the
people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the
covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by
the hand and led them out of Egypt. They did not keep my covenant, and
so I myself have forsaken them, says the Lord. But this is the
covenant that I will make with the people of Israel in the days to
come: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their
hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. None of them
will have to teach one another or say to each other: Know the Lord,
for they will know me from the least to the greatest. I will forgive
their sins and no longer remember their wrongs. Here we are being told
of a new covenant; which means that the first one had become obsolete,
and what is obsolete and aging is soon to disappear.

MARK 3:13-19
Jesus went up into the hill country and called those he wanted and
they came to him. So he appointed twelve to be with him; and he called
them apostles. He wanted to send them out to preach, and he gave them
authority to drive out demons. These are the Twelve: Simon, to whom he
gave the name Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother, to
whom he gave the name Boanerges, which means "men of thunder"; Andrew,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Thaddeus,
Simon the Cananean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

REFLECTION
Christians were either persecuted or killed during the primitive
Church because they refused to sacrifice to the gods who protected the
kingdom for this was considered treason. They became a threat to the
order of the Roman Empire. Marriage was considered only as a source of
progeny and it became a civic obligation for each woman. But the
Christians did not see marriage and family as an absolute necessity
for everyone because Christ also spoke of eunuchs for the kingdom.

This was the environment of St. Agnes when she was born c. 291. At 10
she consecrated herself to Christ. At 12, she refused the advances of
the governor's son. She refused to be made a vestal virgin in a Roman
temple. "Do you think that I shall dedicate myself to gods of
senseless stone?" Since they could not prevail upon her, she was
thrust naked in the open street to a brothel. Her blonde hair grew to
cover her nakedness. Men who attempted to rape her were struck blind.
Martyrdom then was done by fire, sword, decapitation or strangulation.
When Agnes was placed on the pyre, the fire would get extinguished,
fetters that bound her fell. At the end she was beheaded but not
before saying these words – "You may stain your sword with my blood
but you will never be able to profane my body consecrated to Christ."
Among many representations Agnes is pictured as a young maiden with
long hair holding a lamb. The name Agnes is Latin for lamb which is
the symbol of purity and sacrifice.

May St. Agnes teach us to love Christ in our body through purity and
chastity.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Jo Marcelo, Jun Lee, Tito Torres
- Marge, Gene L, John C, Cindy R, Marge G, Frank M, Maria & Pam
- David and Amy Trice
- Chona Borja
- Ely Lara
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Wendy
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Titong
- Jennifer Ann
… Birthday: Marjorie, Bebot, Ruby Ann, Mona
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Rita M
- Thomas Sy
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: Ma. Patricia Anne C. Inocencio
- Birthday: Corazon L. Atabug
- In Memoriam (+): Lim Ching Kho
… 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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