DAILY- HOMILY

JULY 23, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, RELIGIOUS
SATURDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Ex 24:3-8 / Ps 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15 / Mt 13:24-30

EXODUS 24:3-8
Moses came and told the people all the words of Yahweh and all his
laws. The people replied with one voice: "Everything that Yahweh has
said, we shall do." Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh, then
rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the
mountain with twelve raised stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. He
then sent young men from among the sons of Israel to offer burnt
offerings and sacrifice bullocks as peace offerings to Yahweh. And
Moses took half the blood and put it in basins; and with the other
half of the blood he sprinkled the altar. He then took the Book of the
Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. They said, "All
that Yahweh said we shall do and obey." Moses then took the blood and
sprinkled it on the people saying, "Here is the blood of the covenant
that Yahweh has made with you in accordance with all these words."

MATTHEW 13:24-30
Jesus told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven can be
compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was
asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared.
Then the servants of the owner came to him and said, `Sir, was it not
good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come
from?' He answered them, `This is the work of an enemy.' They asked
him, `Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?' He told them, `No,
when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let
them just grow together until harvest; and at harvest time I will say
to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn
them; then gather the wheat into my barn.'"

REFLECTION
What better way to relate the Gospel reading about the Sower than to
know more about the saint we are commemorating today: St. Bridget of
Sweden.

St. Bridget, born in 1303, is the patron saint of Sweden and of
Europe. She is also the patron saint of rich people. That last
sentence is just to wake some readers up. Not a few rich people get
scared that camels have better chances of passing through a needle's
eye than for them to enter heaven. Well, St. Bridget is one more proof
among many that being rich is no excuse not to be a fertile ground for
the seed of God's word.

How was God's word nurtured in St. Bridget? The Catholic Encyclopedia
presents a beautiful story. Bridget's royal-blooded father was a
governor and judge and one of the wealthiest landowners in Sweden.
Barely 14, Bridget married the 18-year-old Prince of Sweden. Bridget
was lucky to be later tutored by learned and pious persons like a
bishop, a canon and a confessor. Bridget's association with the King
of Sweden changed him from being corrupt to being pious and
charitable. The King himself helped Bridget in founding religious
congregations and monasteries. Bridget undertook pilgrimages to holy
places and was even instrumental in bringing the center of
Catholicism, the Holy See, from Avignon, France, back to the Vatican
in Rome. St Bridget died 700 years ago, but her entire life
exemplifies the fact that the Church declares saints not as a reward
for virtues, hard work or suffering. Saints are perfect examples of
how the Christian life should be led and lived.

There are those of us who have progressed far in working hard to live
and lead truly Christian lives. And there are those of us who are
continually aspiring for the consolation that we are indeed fertile
grounds for the seed, saints who are still works in progress.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Judy
- Wendy McClintock
… for the personal intentions of Ong family
… In Thanksgiving: for the Condor Family. Celestino M. Condor, Rosa
Maria V. Condor, Richard V. Condor, Vimla B. Condor, Viennah B.
Condor, Robert Dominic B. Condor, Raphael David B. Condor, Rophi
Dennish B. Condor, & Richard Daniel B. Condor
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Felixberto Valdez. 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: Lita Villanueva
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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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