DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 4, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST JOHN DE BRITO, PRIEST, BL. RUDOLPH ACQUAVIVA, PRIEST
FRIDAY 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Heb 13:1-8 / Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9 / Mk 6:14-29

HEBREWS 13:1-8
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you
know that some people have entertained angels without know ing it.
Remember prisoners as if you were with them in chains, and the same
for those who are suffering. Remember that you also have a body.
Marriage must be respected by all and husband and wife faithful to
each other. God will punish the immoral and the adulterous. Do not
depend on money. Be content with having enough for today for God has
said: I will never forsake you or abandon you, and we shall
confidently answer: The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can
man do to me? Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God.
Consider their end and imitate their faith. Christ Jesus is the same
today as yesterday and forever.

MARK 6:14-29
King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name had become well-
known. He thought: "I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the
dead!" For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be
arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the
wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told
him, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." So
Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she
could not because Herod respected John. Herodias had her chance on
Herod's birthday, On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in
and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to
the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you."
And he went so far as to say with many oaths, "I will give you
anything you ask, even half my kingdom." She went out to consult her
mother, "What shall I ask for?" The mother replied, "The head of John
the Baptist." The girl hurried to the king and made her request: "I
want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a
dish." The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front
of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards
with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded John in prison;
then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the
girl gave it to her mother.

REFLECTION
John de Brito was born of Portuguese nobility. At 15, he joined the
Jesuits, and despite the objection of his family, he volunteered for
the mission in India in 1673.

Sts. John the Baptist and John de Brito have some striking points of
similarity. Both are named John. One is the Baptizer while the other
is known as the apostle of Madura, India, and is also known as the
Portuguese St. Francis Xavier. De Brito established himself as an
Indian ascetic dressed in a saffron cloak and turban; he also remained
a strict vegetarian living only on legumes and fruits. Similarly, the
Baptizer wore a garment of camel-skin and lived on locusts and wild
honey.

St. John de Brito converted as many as 10,000, including India's
higher caste. John the Baptist, on the other hand, had all of Judea
and the Jordan district make their way to him to be baptized. Because
of his popularity, St. John de Brito became the object of hostility of
the Brahmans, members of the highest caste. He was captured together
with some catechists, and when released, he chose again to return to
the mission. He was then successful in converting the prince. After
the prince's baptism, De Brito insisted that the prince should keep
only one of his wives. One of the rejected wives then complained to
her uncle, a rajah, who arrested and decapitated De Brito. These
circumstances are startlingly similar to those in the beheading of
John the Baptist as mentioned in the Gospel.

The spilt blood of martyrs and lives of saints has given birth to many
conversions and charisms in the Church. May we be modern day saints
and martyrs in our daily lives wherever we may be.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Nel de Leon
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Marge, Frank, Gene, Maria, Cindy, Mildred
… for the personal intentions of
- Tito, Estrelle, Mei, JP, Danica, Joaquin, Pe Aguirre Family
- Cherie Torres
... Birthday: Elizabeth T. Yap
… In Memoriam: Santiago, Petronila, Emmanuel, Antonio, Violeta
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Mercy Colangi. Eternal rest
grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and
all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… 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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