DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 12, 2011
FRIDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Jos 24:1-13 / Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24 / Mt 19:3-12

JOSHUA 24:1-13
Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the
elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented
themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua said to them:
"Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors
lived beyond the Euphrates River—Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor—
serving other gods. But I brought Abraham your father from beyond the
Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. Then I gave
him a son Isa ac, that he might have numerous descendants. And to
Isaac, I gave two sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau received the mountains of
Seir as his inheritance, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
Then I sent Moses and Aaron to punish Egypt in the way that you know,
that you might leave. Then I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and
you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued you with chariots and
horses as far as the Red Sea. Then you cried to Yahweh, and he put
immense darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea go
back on them and they were drowned. You have witnessed all the things
he did in Egypt, and then you lived in the desert for a long time.
Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who were on the east of
the Jordan. You fought them but it was I who gave them into your hand;
you destroyed them and you seized their lands. Balak, the son of
Zippor, king of Moab, declared war on Israel and commanded Balaam son
of Beor to curse you. But I would not listen to him, so Balaam blessed
you and I saved you from the hands of Balak. Then you crossed the
Jordan and came to Jericho. And the landlords of Jericho fought
against you: the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites,
Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites declared war on you, but I gave
them to you. The two Amorite kings fled from you because of the swarm
of hornets that attacked them and not because of your sword and bow. I
gave you lands which you have not tilled, cities which you did not
build but in which you now live. I gave you vineyards and olive groves
which you did not plant but from which you now eat.

MATTHEW 19:3-12
Some Pharisees approached him. They wanted to test him and asked, "Is
a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?" Jesus
replied, "Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made
them male and female, and he said: Man has now to leave father and
mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body?
So they are no longer two but one body; let no one separate what God
has joined." They asked him, "Then, why did Moses command us to write
a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?" Jesus replied, "Moses knew
your stubborn heart, so he allowed you to divorce your wives, but it
was not so in the beginning. Therefore I say to you: whoever divorces
his wife, unless it be for concubinage, and marries another, commits
adultery." The disciples said, "If that is the condition of a married
man, it is better not to marry." Jesus said to them, "Not everybody
can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received
this gift. There are eunuchs born so from their mother's womb. Some
have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given
up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
Let the one who can accept it, accept it."

REFLECTION
The Gospel speaks about the vocation of a Christian – to be married or
to be single. Concerning marriage which is the road usually taken, the
couple should make sure they have a mature relationship before they
decide to marry. It means that they know each other quite well,
including the weaknesses of one another, and understand that marriage
is a lifetime commitment. So when they are married and encounter
problems, their relationship will remain strong. As God permanently
loves us, spouses must permanently love each other. Divorce or
separation must be out of the equation, as the Gospel says.

For those who in their adult life decide to remain single, it would be
best if they offer their singleness to God. We are beings with hearts
that love and emotions towards the other. So single persons should
channel their emotions to God first and then to others. A single
doctor can devote his life to healing; a single laborer, to working
hard and to being a witness to Jesus in the workplace. For the single
Christian, his status means that he may completely dedicate his life
and his chastity to God. On the other hand, married people, in order
to be truly happy, must also dedicate their lives to God. By bringing
up their children in the fear of the Lord, they are fulfilling their
mission to be Christian parents.

Therefore the basic vocation of a Christian is not to be married or to
be single, but to love God and to serve Him.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Aling Summing
- Linda O
- Ben
- Kristin
- Maria
- Eugene R
- Gene
- Frank
- G
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Jonathan Salazar
- Wally Torres
- Mon Torres
…In Thanksgiving: Antonio Evangelista
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Sean Ong Co. 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: Felisa S. Keh
- In Memoriam (+): Pilar H. Faisan
… 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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