DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. JANUARIUS, BISHOP & MARTYR
MONDAY 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Ezr 1:1-6 / Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 / Lk 8:16-18

EZRA 1:1-6 1
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, Yahweh willed to fulfill
the word he had said through the prophet Jeremiah, so he moved the
spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue the following command and
send it out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his kingdom,
"Thus speaks Cyrus, king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of heavens, who
has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has ordered me to build
him a Temple in Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. To everyone belonging
to his people, may his God be with him! Let them go up to Jerusalem
with the help of their God and there build the House of Yahweh, the
God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. In every place where the
rest of the people of Yahweh live, let the people of those places help
them for their journey with silver, gold and all kinds of goods and
livestock. Let them also give them voluntary offerings for the House
of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem." Then they rose up—the heads of the
families of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, and all
those whose spirit God had stirred up—and they decided to go and build
the House of Yahweh. And all their neighbors gave them all kinds of
help: gold, silver, livestock and precious objects in great quantity,
besides every kind of voluntary offering.

LUKE 8:16-18
Jesus said to his disciples, "No one, after lighting a lamp covers it
with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lampstand
so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is
nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that
shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for
whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not
produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them."

REFLECTION
The reading for today gives us three points for reflection:

(1) "No one lights a candle and hides it under a vessel." The world
today, influenced by the mass appeal of media, makes it so easy for us
to do what everyone else is doing. Can we face the challenge of this
passage which dares us to be different and give testimony, no matter
what the cost, to what we believe is right?

(2) "There is nothing that will not be made manifest," urging us to
lead lives which, unblemished, become a good example to others. For
everything we keep secret will someday be revealed. Are we leading
lives that may be considered open books, containing nothing to hide,
nothing to be ashamed of?

(3) "Take care, then, how you listen; for to him who has it will be
given; and from him who has not, there shall be taken away even what
he thinks he has." The message here is similar to the parable of the
sower. We are fortunate to be recipients of the word of God. Does the
word remain dormant in our hearts and minds, or does it lead us to
action?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of: Brian, Mary Ann, Kristen,
Debbie, Nancy, Gene, Eugene R, Frank, John C & Mrs C, Linda O
- Renan and Bong Lacida
- Jo Marcelo
- Wally Torres
- Mon Torres
- Monica
… for the personal intentions of Mary Wong
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Jun Lee
- Jonathan Salazar
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: Lorie Rivera
- Birthday: Lily C. Gaw
- Birthday: Diane Cruz
- Birthday: Jose C. Bautista
- Wedding Anniversary: Amada C. Munoz & Henry Go
- In Memoriam (+): Henry Tang
- In Memoriam (+): Ramon S. Bate
… 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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