DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 5, 2011
MONDAY 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR I

Is 35:1-10 / Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 / Lk 5:17-26

ISAIAH 35:1-10
Let the wilderness and the arid land rejoice, the desert be glad and
blossom. Covered with flowers, it sings and shouts with joy, adorned
with the splendor of Lebanon, the magnificence of Carmel and Sharon.
They, my people, see the glory of Yahweh, the majesty of our God. Give
vigor to weary hands and strength to enfeebled knees. Say to those who
are afraid: "Have courage, do not fear. See, your God comes, demanding
justice. He is the God who rewards, the God who comes to save you."
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf
unsealed. Then will the lame leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb
sing and shout. For water will break out in the wilderness and streams
gush forth from the desert. The thirsty ground will become a pool, the
arid land springs of water. In the haunts where once reptiles lay,
grass will grow with reeds and rushes. There will be a highway which
will be called The Way of Holiness; no one unclean will pass over it
nor any wicked fool stray there. No lion will be found there nor any
beast of prey. Only the redeemed will walk there. For the ransomed of
Yahweh will return: with everlasting joy upon their heads, they will
come to Zion singing, gladness and joy marching with them, while
sorrow and sighing flee away.

LUKE 5:17-26
One day Jesus was teaching and many Pharisees and teachers of the Law
had come from every part of Galilee and Judea and even from Jerusalem.
They were sitting there while the power of the Lord was at work to
heal the sick. Then some men brought a paralyzed man who lay on his
mat. They tried to enter the house to place him before Jesus, but they
couldn't find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof
and, removing the tiles, they lowered him on his mat into the middle
of the crowd, in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said
to the man, "My friend, your sins are forgiven." At once the teachers
of the Law and the Pharisees began to wonder, "This man insults God!
Who can forgive sins but only God? But Jesus knew their thoughts and
asked them, "Why are you reacting like this? Which is easier to say:
`Your sins are forgiven,' or: `Get up and walk'? Now you shall know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." And Jesus
said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home." At
once the man stood before them. He took up the mat he had been lying
on and went home praising God. Amazement seized the people and they
praised God. They were filled with a holy fear and said, "What
wonderful things we have seen today!"

REFLECTION
Usually, when we hear the word paralysis, we think in physical terms.
But there is also an emotional paralysis. A person can be paralyzed
with fear. One can experience paralysis through a trauma caused by an
accident. A crisis situation can bring about an anxiety attack in some
people, paralyzing them and interfering with their decision making
process.

Sin is a type of paralysis. It deadens our relationship with others
and with God. Jesus reconciled us to each other and to God; Jesus
forgave our sins. He removed our paralysis, just like he healed the
paralytic and sent him home.

The scribes and the Pharisees who were questioning Jesus' motive, were
also offered the possibility to be healed of their spiritual
paralysis. They had already concluded that Jesus could not be the
promised Messiah, because he performed miracles and proclaimed
forgiveness; actions reserved only for God. Through the forgiveness of
sins and the restoration of the ability to walk, Jesus offered a non-
paralyzed way of life to everyone.

What type of paralysis have we most recently experienced? Have we been
reconciled to others, ourselves and to God? Our God is a forgiving
God. Through the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus, He has set us
free from the paralysis of sin. Let us never cease to glorify Him.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Chief Samrose Anyaugo
… for the personal intentions of
- Carlos and Emma Q
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Mr Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr (Mrs)Barbara Adaugo
Okoronkwo, Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Mathias Anyaugo, Chuba
Osinachi Anyaugo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Myrra Famy
- Birthday: Sophia Sim Bate
- Birthday: Aimee Luz Go
- Birthday: Chynna Denise Tan
- Prayer Intention: Keng Koc & Mary Co
- Prayer Intention: Vicky Roman
- In Memoriam (+): Luis V. Artiaga Jr.
… 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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