DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 19, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST JOHN EUDES, PRIEST
FRIDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Ru 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22 / Ps 146:5-6, 7, 8-9, 9-10 / Mt 22:34-40

RUTH 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22
There was a famine in the land during the time of the Jud ges, and a
man from Bethlehem in Judah departed with his wife and two sons to
sojourn in the country of Moab. Naomi's husband Elimelech died. She
was left with her two sons, who married Moabite women, one named Orpah
and the other Ruth. After living in Moab for about ten years, Mahlon
and Chilion also died and Naomi was left bereft of husband and two
sons. Having heard that Yahweh had come to help his people by giving
them food, Naomi prepared to return home. Again they sobbed and wept.
Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good bye, but Ruth clung to her.
Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law returns to her people and her
gods. You too must return. Go after her." Ruth replied, "Don't ask me
to leave you. For I will go where you go and stay where you stay. Your
people will be my people and your god, my God. Thus it was that Naomi
returned from Moab with her Moabite daughter-in-law and arrived in
Bethlehem as the barley harvest began.

MATTHEW 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they
came together. One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test him
with this question, "Teacher, which is the most important commandment
in the Law?" Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with
all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the
first and the most important of the commandments. But after this there
is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two
commandments."

REFLECTION
The first reading is from the book of Ruth. Ruth is the pagan daughter-
in-law of Naomi who loses her husband and two sons in the land of
Moab, a pagan nation. After losing her son, Naomi decides to go back
to Israel and Ruth goes with her even though she was free not to do
so. Although a Moabitess whose people worshipped pagan idols, she
chose to go with her mother-in-law to Israel, and her loyalty to Naomi
eventually brings her to the Jewish fold. She ends up marrying Boaz
and their descendant many years later would be the great King David.

What does the loyalty of Ruth tell us as Christians? That we have to
be loyal or faithful to our parents, wives, friends, children, and
most important of all, to God. Loyalty or faithfulness is a virtue. It
means to be on the side of someone through thick or thin. It means to
continue loving people even when situations change or things take a
turn for the worse. This Ruth did.

In the Gospel, we are enjoined by Jesus to love God with all our hear
t, with all our soul and with all our mind. We are called to be
faithful to God in times of difficulties. To be a true Christian means
to be faithful to Jesus. As he was faithful to us till death, we must
also follow him even when the going gets tough. Ruth is a great
example of a person who surrenders his will to another. A Christian
always puts the will of God first in his life. He holds on to his
Christian principles even when opposition and persecution comes.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Wilfredo Tadiosa
- Anna Limpe McAvoy
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Jonathan Salazar
- Wally Torres
- Mon Torres
- Ely Lara
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Bert Villacorta
- Eden Batuto
- Titong V
… for the personal intentions of
- Fr. Sergio Dias
- Josheil Dapo
- Pauline
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Juan E. Bonafe, SJ
- Birthday: Manny Flores, SJ
- Birthday: Ma. Consuelo F. Bate
- Birthday: Luisa R. Opelanio
- Birthday: Francesca Jhian
- In Memoriam (+): Buenasenso Sy (Jan 27, 1934--Aug 19, 2008)
… 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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