DAILY- HOMILY

JANUARY 17, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. ANTHONY, ABBOT
MONDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Readings: Heb 5:1-10 / Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4 / Mk 2:18-22

HEBREWS 5:1-10
Every High Priest is taken from among mortals and appointed to be
their representative before God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin.
He is able to understand the ignorant and erring for he himself is
subject to weakness. This is why he is bound to offer sacrifices for
his sins as well as for the sins of the people. Besides, one does not
presume to take this dignity, but takes it only when called by God, as
Aaron was. Nor did Christ become High Priest in taking upon himself
this dignity, but it was given to him by the One who says: You are my
son, I have begotten you today. And in another place: You are a priest
forever in the priestly order of Melchizedek. Christ, in the days of
his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed
to him who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his
humble submission. Although he was Son, he learned through suffering
what obedience was, and once made perfect, he became the source of
eternal salvation for those who obey him. This is how God proclaimed
him Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

MARK 2:18-22
One day, when the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were
fasting, some people asked Jesus, "Why is it that both the disciples
of John and of the Pharisees fast, but yours do not?" Jesus answered,
"How can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As
long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the
day will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and on that
day they will fast. "No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat,
because the new patch will shrink and tear away from the old cloth,
making a worse tear. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, for
the wine would burst the skins and then both the wine and the skins
would be lost. But new wine, new skins!"

REFLECTION
Many times in our lives, we will come across situations where there
will be seeming conflicts between the letter of the law and the spirit
of the law.

One example of this is the abuse of authority and power. In the
Philippines, the common misunderstanding is that authority and power
are personal and belong to those who have been given authority and
power.

The Lord Jesus, in this Gospel passage, illustrates the need to change
perspective. The common understanding is to fast during certain
appointed times, whereas the Lord tells us to focus on the Kingdom
that is at hand… the Kingdom which will provide forgiveness and
salvation.

The new perspective of focusing on forgiveness and salvation, rather
than on the fasting is more in compliance with the spirit of the Law,
rather than the letter of the Law.

How often have we failed to see the new perspectives of Jesus? How
often have we chosen to focus on the fasting and penance, rather than
doing the more essential work for the Kingdom of the Lord as witnesses
to HIS Gospel?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Baby Veloso, Erlinda Roa
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Ng Yam Bee Tuazon Lao
- Dy Beng
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: Ester Reyes Tagud
… 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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