DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 11, 2011
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR I

Is 58:1-9 / Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19 / Mt 9:14-15

ISAIAH 58:1-9
Cry out aloud for all you are worth; raise your voice like a trumpet
blast; tell my people of their offenses, Jacob's family of their sins.
Is it true that they seek me day after day, longing to know my ways,
as a people that does what is right and has not forsaken the word of
its God? They want to know the just laws and not to drift away from
their God. "Why are we fasting," they complain, "and you do not even
see it? We are doing penance and you never notice it." Look, on your
fast days you push your trade and you oppress your laborers. Yes, you
fast but end up quarreling, striking each other with wicked blows.
Fasting as you do will not make your voice heard on high. Is that the
kind of fast that pleases me, just a day to humble oneself? Is fasting
merely bowing down one's head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh? See the fast
that pleases me: breaking the fetters of injustice and unfastening the
thongs of the yoke, setting the oppressed free and breaking every
yoke. Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house
the homeless, clothe the one you see naked and do not turn away from
your own kin. Then will your light will break forth as the dawn and
your healing come in a flash. Your righteousness will be your
vanguard, the Glory of Yahweh your rearguard. Then you will call and
Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.

MATTHEW 9:14-15
The disciples of John came to Jesus with the question, "How is it that
we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?"
Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as
long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the
bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast."

REFLECTION
Generally speaking fasting is to deprive ourselves of food and drink.
Occasions and motives may vary. One may fast out of personal devotion,
mourning or ascetism. In the Church, fasting, together with prayer and
almsgiving, is one of the expressions of man's humility before God.
Christ denounces fasting or any good deeds done out of pride that is
"in order to be seen by men." Fasting should be practiced with perfect
discretion.

The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees fasted twice a
week as defined by the Law and the prophets which is also one of the
elements of justification. However, this practice can become
ostentatious, a public show of one's piety. We cannot become justified
by our own merit and goodness. Christ insists more on detachment of
wealth and self-renunciation because he came to fulfill our
justification. There is yet another reason for fasting, the one Jesus
mentioned in the Gospel. It is the fasting of the faith, the absence
of the sight of the bridegroom and the continuous search for him.
While waiting for the return of the bridegroom penitential fasting has
its place in Church practice.

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
- Nel de Leon
- Susan Seratan
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Ernesto Macatangay. Eternal
rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and
all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Gio C. Ventura
- Birthday: Koshu Ramnani
- Birthday: Sis. Ramira Uy
- Birthday: Dr. Matilde Gonzales
- In Memoriam (+): Natividad Lee Chuakay
- In Memoriam (+): Saw Cen
- In Memoriam (+): Yang Moon Chu
… 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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