DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 4, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST JOHN MARY VIANNEY
THURSDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Nm 20:1-13 / Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 / Mt 16:13-23

NUMBERS 20:1-13
The whole congregation of Israel came to the wilderness of Zin in the
first month and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was
buried there. Now there was no water for the community, and the people
gathered together against Moses and Aaron. They disputed with Moses
saying, "Would that we had perished with our kinsmen in the presence
of Yahweh! Why have you led Yahweh's community to this desert to die
here with our cattle? And why did you bring us out of Egypt to this
wretched place? It's no place for grain or figs or vines or
pomegranates and there's not even water for drinking." Moses and Aaron
fled from the assembly to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and fell
on their faces. Then the Glory of Yahweh appeared and Yahweh spoke to
Moses, "Take your rod and assemble the community, you and Aaron, your
brother. In their presence command the rock to give forth water and
you will make water gush from the rock for the community and their
livestock to drink." So Moses took the rod from before Yahweh as he
had been ordered. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front
of the rock and said to them, "Listen, you rebels. Shall we bring
water for you from this rock?" Moses raised his hand and struck the
rock twice with his rod. And then water in abundance gushed out for
the community and their livestock to drink. But Yahweh said to Moses
and Aaron, "You did not trust me nor treat me as the Holy One in the
sight of the Israelites; because of that you shall not lead this
community into the land that I am giving you." It was at the waters of
Meribah that the sons of Israel quarreled with Yahweh and where he
showed his holiness to them.

MATTHEW 16:13-23
Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, "Who do
people say the Son of Man is?" They said, "For some of them you are
John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the
prophets." Jesus asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?" Peter
answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus
replied, "It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or
blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. "And now
I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my
Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. ... From that
day Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem; he would suffer many things from the Jewish authorities,
the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and
be raised on the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to
reproach him, "Never, Lord! No, this must never happen to you." But
Jesus turned to him and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an
obstacle in my path. You are thinking not as God does, but as people
do."

REFLECTION
In the first reading God punishes Moses and Aaron for not
acknowledging His holiness to the Israelites when they rebel in the
desert because they had no water. And in the Gospel, Jesus asks his
disciples: "Who do people say that I am?"

The God of Moses, the God of the Israelites, the God of the disciples
of Jesus is the same God in whose presence each and every one of us
stands today. People today are still shouting and complaining to God
because they are thirsty. They want to experience the power of God.
And God looks at each one of us, His disciples, His leaders, and ask:
"How do you show them that I AM, that I am alive, that I can do all
things? Have you asked them who I am? And having heard, what now? Do
you stop there at what people say of me?" Jesus insists that what we
say must come from our personal belief, rather than from the Holy
Spirit's revelation of who our God IS – that He is the Living God,
that He is Holy and that He lives among us and is with us.

Today we commemorate the feast of St. John Mary Vianney, the patron
saint of priests. He is a model for us in showing forth the holiness
and the power of God. He lived a very holy life – so full of wisdom
and insight from God that people from everywhere flocked to his church
to hear him talk about God. They flocked to his confessional to
confess their sins. St. John Mary Vianney is said to have worked 16
hours a day for God doing everything to bring people back to Him,
preaching, teaching, consoling, counseling.

As it was in the time of Moses, as it was in the time of Jesus, so it
is today, in our times, people need to know that there is a God who
cares for them. He has already proven His claim. Through His son, He
won for us victory over death and over any negative forces in this
world!

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Anna Limpe McAvoy
- Antonio Evangelista
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Eden Batuto
- Bert Villacorta
- Ely Lara
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Julie and Glenn Manzon
- Estileta & Salvador Escamilla
- Ma. Fe and Florante De Castro
- Fe Edralyn & Domingo Barayoga Jr.
- Mary Ann Castro
- Joy and Noli Caparid
- Melinda Sarmiento
- Imelda & Edwin Bacolod
- John & Glenn Dale Manzon
- Angeli
- Titong
- Frances Marie Gonzalez
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Sean Kester Go
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: Olivia A. Ferry
… 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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