DAILY- HOMILY

JUNE 30, 2011
MEMORIAL, FIRST MARTYRS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME
THURSDAY 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Gn 22:1-19 / Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 / Mt 9:1-8

GENESIS 22:1-19
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he
answered, "Here I am." Then God said, "Take your son, your only son,
Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there
as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you."
Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with
him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the
burnt offering and set out for the place to which God had directed
him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the
distance, and he said to the young men, "Stay here with the donkey.
The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back
to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on
Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife. As the
two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father,
"Father!" And Abraham replied, "Yes, my son?" Isaac said, "The fire
and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"
Abraham replied, "God himself will provide the lamb for the
sacrifice." They went on, the two of them together, until they came to
the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the
altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on
the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize
the knife and slay his son. But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from
heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." "Do not lay your
hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God,
and you have not held back from me your only son." Abraham looked
around and saw behind him a ram caught by its horns in a bush. He
offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the
place `The Lord will provide.' And the saying has lasted to this day.
And the Angel of Yahweh called from heaven a second time, "By myself I
have sworn, it is Yahweh who speaks, because you have done this and
not held back your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and
make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand
on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the lands of
their enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed through
your descendants because you have obeyed me." So Abraham returned to
his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba and it was there
that Abraham stayed.

MATTHEW 9:1-8
Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his
hometown. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed.
Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son!
Your sins are forgiven." Then some teachers of the Law said to
themselves, "This man insults God." Jesus was aware of what they were
thinking, and said, "Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier
to say: `Your sins are forgiven' or `Stand up and walk'? You must know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then
said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take your stretcher and go
home." The man got up, and went home.

REFLECTION
We may not realize or admit it, but we continue to associate faith
with logic. When science tells us that stage four cancer is terminal
or abortion is necessary to save a mother, we approach prayer with
more skepticism because we sense that the outcome we want is unlikely
to happen. Or perhaps more commonly, we pray only for the "harder
things"; that is, we implore God's help only when we feel that the
task is beyond our capability. If we can still manage on our own, we
try not to bother God with trivial requests.

However, God does not work based on priority or degree of difficulty.
Indeed, human time and purpose are different from God's; therefore, it
is not up to us to decide which petition to bring forward first or
more intensely. Our faith should be constant, just as God's power and
authority are constant. Sometimes, we require "big miracles" in order
to believe, and we take for granted "small, everyday miracles." We
associate God only with major events and forget that all is gift; as a
result, we also forget to thank Him for the common and the mundane.

Both the first reading and the Gospel illustrate faith being tested.
Does Abraham trust God enough so as not to question the command to
kill his beloved son Isaac? Can Jesus forgive sins just as he per
forms more obvious miracles?

How is our own faith? Do we need to get answers to our questions, see
effects and proof, or undergo great trials before we believe?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Luis Sierra, OP
- Ely Lara
- Eden Batuto
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Bert Monay and Rorie Monay
- Rolando Madrona
- Julie Manzon
- Estelita Escamilla
- Ditas dela Paz
- Jo Marcelo
- Wally Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Titong Villacorta
- Pauline
- Julie and Glenn Manzon
- Glenn Bisco
- Estelita Escamilla
- Ma. Fe De Castro
- Mary Ann Castro
- Domingo Barayoga Jr.
- Churchill Barayoga
- Edwin and Jeremy Victorino
- Marites Pinon
…In Thanksgiving: Manzon and Barayoga Family
… for the eternal repose of the souls of Domingo Barayoga Sr., Lourdes
Barayoga, Charlie Castro, Ms. Fely Dumaran. Eternal rest grant unto
them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the
dearly departed rest in peace.
… 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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