DAILY- HOMILY

APRIL 1, 2011
FRIDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Hos 14:2-10 / Ps 81:6-8, 8-9, 10-11, 14, 17/ Mk 12:28-34

HOSEA 14:2-10
Return to your God Yahweh, O Israel! Your sins have caused your
downfall. Return to Yahweh with humble words. Say to him, "Oh you who
show compassion to the fatherless forgive our debt, be appeased.
Instead of bulls and sacrifices, accept the praise from our lips.
Assyria will not save us: no longer shall we look for horses nor ever
again shall we say `Our gods' to the work of our hands." I will heal
their wavering and love them with all my heart for my anger has turned
from them. I shall be like dew to Israel like the lily will he
blossom. Like a cedar he will send down his roots; his young shoots
will grow and spread. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his
fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar. They will dwell in my shade again,
they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like a vine, and
their fame will be like Lebanon wine. What would Ephraim do with
idols, when it is I who hear and make him prosper? I am like an ever-
green cypress tree; all your fruitfulness comes from me. Who is wise
enough to grasp all this? Who is discerning and will understand?
Straight are the ways of Yahweh: the just walk in them, but the
sinners stumble.

MARK 12:28-34
One of the teachers of the Law came up to Jesus and asked him, "Which
commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is: Hear,
Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord,
your God, with all your hear t, with all your soul, with all your mind
and with all your strength. And after this comes another one: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater
than these two." The teacher of the Law said to him, "Well spoken,
Master; you are right when you say that he is one and there is no
other. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and
with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more
important than any burnt offering or sacrifice." Jesus approved this
answer and said, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after
that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

REFLECTION
Human love and divine love are totally different from each other. Love
can be carnal or spiritual, constructive or destructive. We can love
something pleasant – an animal, a relative, family or friends.

The love that is mentioned in today's Gospel is divine; to love God
and to love our neighbor as yourself. God being so great and powerful
lowered Himself in order to love man who is small and sinful. He calls
man to be His friend in Abraham and Moses. The prophets present God's
love as spousal, bridegroom to an unfaithful bride Israel. His love is
stronger than sin. It pardons and recreates a stony heart to a heart
of flesh than would be capable to love.

The supreme manifestation of His love can be seen in the gift of His
Son Jesus Christ who offered himself willingly on the cross. Christ
the innocent one received the death penalty that was due to us because
of our sin. But this did not end in Calvary because God sent another
gift that is the Holy Spirit. Through His Spirit our hearts can be
recreated. The love of God is completed by the second commandment that
is to love our neighbor as ourselves. These two are inseparable. If we
are loved by God it comes naturally for us to love the others. Our
love for God returns to Him in the love we show to the other. If
Christ laid down his life for us then we too ought to lay down our
lives for our brothers, says St. John. Divine love destroys every
barrier, does not despise anyone. It loves the enemies, pardons
without limit, returns good for evil. By this love all will know that
we are the disciples of Christ. This is the identity of a Christian
because this love belongs exclusively to Christ.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Helen Marx
- Gabriela Garber, Bruce Clyde, Molly DeSimone, Nestle Joy Escaro,
Carol K., Lori Ramalho, Diane Hayes, Maria Martin Asunsion, Jody
Bruno, Gerald Stutts, Patrick Wheeler, Mike Grady, Fr. Patrick McHugh,
Robert Bohne Atticus, Charlie, Stephanie Boen, Deanne, Gerald
McClellan, Angela, John Sinclare, Honga Yap
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Tessa C. Yang
… for the personal intentions of:
- Mary Wong
- JP and Danica Nabua, Mei, Tito Nabua, Milo
… Thanksgiving: Dr. Marlye Angeles, Jazmine Lozada, Paco Maramag and
Paz Jose
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Sister Bertilla, Muriel Cullen, Sarah Bingham, Sr. Mary Roth, Baby
Caylee, Linda Tamborino, Paul Reed, Anita Fuller, Freddie Rincon,
Carlton Hokama, Rosendo Vivdanes, Darren George's mother, Harold
Figueroa, Dennis Daniel, Nadine Williams, Ron Olguin, Doris Guzman,
Fred Truitt, Louie DeLeva, John Rose, Ronald Weurch, Harold Cochran,
Annie May Ishman, and Msgr Michael Lenihan
- Josefina Hong
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: Lorraine Philipps N. Sy
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Ba Lee+
… 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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