DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 8, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. DOMINIC, PRIEST
MONDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Dt 10:12-22 / Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 / Mt 17:22-27

DEUTERONOMY 10:12-22
So now, Israel, what is it that Yahweh, your God, asks of you but to
fear him and follow all his ways? Love him and serve him with all your
heart and with all your soul. Observe the commandments of Yahweh and
his laws which I command you today, for your good. See: the heavens,
those that are seen and those that are unseen, the earth and all that
is in it, everything belongs to Yahweh, your God. Nevertheless, it was
on your fathers that Yahweh set his heart. He loved them, and after
them, he chose their descendants— you—preferring you to all the
peoples, as you can see this day. Purify your hearts, then, and do not
be defiant towards Yahweh because Yahweh is the God of gods and the
Lord of lords. He is the great God, the strong and terrible God. When
he judges, he treats everyone equally; he does not let himself be
bought by gifts. He renders justice to the orphan and the widow, and
loves the stranger, giving him bread and clothing. Love the stranger
then, because you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. Fear
Yahweh, your God, serve him, follow him and call on his name when you
have to make an oath. He is your pride and he is your God, who has
done those amazing things for you. When you went down to Egypt, your
ancestors were no more than seventy persons, but now, Yahweh, your
God, has made you as many as the stars of heaven.

MATTHEW 17:22-27
While Jesus was in Galilee with the Twelve, he said to them, "The Son
of Man will be delivered into human hands, and they will kill him. But
he will rise on the third day." The Twelve were deeply grieved. When
they returned to Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter
and asked him, "Does your master pay the temple tax?" He answered,
"Certainly." Peter then entered the house, but immediately Jesus asked
him, "What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings
of the earth: their sons or the other people?" Peter replied, "The
others." And Jesus told him, "The sons, then, are tax-free. But so as
not to offend these people, go to the sea, throw in a hook and open
the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it,
take it and let it pay for you and for me."

REFLECTION
Christian morality can sometimes come across to us as a long and
complex set of rules to follow, obligations to do and demands to
fulfill, the sum of which can easily become overwhelming. The Book of
Deuteronomy alone, from which today's first reading is taken, gives us
a total of 613 laws. No wonder, our Jewish brothers of ten use the
image of a heavy "yoke" as metaphor for the Law of God. Did God free
us from the Egyptians only to become our even more tiresome and
demanding slave driver?

It is easy to see the demands of moral living as a burdensome yoke
that we get weary of sooner or later. But like a yoke, we must
remember that these laws are given not to oppress us but to guide us
to what is truly essential, to the only thing that God in fact
requires, which is to love and serve Him with our whole being.

When one is not in love, any demand will seem like huge trouble such
as when a not-so-close friend asks even a small favor from us. But for
those whom we love, do we not readily and willingly do anything for
them, indeed even more than what they ask for? When we truly love God,
moral obligations cease to be burdens imposed on us and become the
sweet demands of love that we do freely, motivated by a sincere desire
to serve the Beloved from deep within ourselves. Then, in the face of
these manifold commandments, we would no longer feel like shackled
slaves but lovers given welcome tips on how to love better.

God is unlike the kings of the earth who force people to give tribute.
Instead, he is a Father who awaits and well deserves not only our
obligation but our love. Only when we serve God with the love of
children and not the compulsion of slaves are we truly free. "Then,
the sons are free." (Mt.17: 26)

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
- Jonathan Salazar
- Wally Torres
- Mon Torres
- Tito Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Ulysses Yap. 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: Enrique -Alfonso Castillo
- Birthday: Francesca Andrea Ching
- Birthday: Edgar V. Morabe
- In Memoriam (+): Corazon S. Ong
… 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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