Thursday, April 07, 2011

 

FRIDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

APRIL 8, 2011
FRIDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Wis 2:1, 12-22 / Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 23 / Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

WISDOM 2:1, 12-22
Led by mistaken reasons they think, "Life is short and sad and there
is no cure for death. It was never heard that anyone came back from
the netherworld. Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us
and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the
Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing. He claims
knowledge of God and calls himself son of the Lord. He has become a
reproach to our way of thinking; even to meet him is burdensome to us.
He does not live like others and behaves strange ly. According to him
we have low standards, so he keeps aloof from us as if we were
unclean. He emphasizes the happy end of the righteous and boasts of
having God as father. Let us see the truth of what he says and find
out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, God will
defend him and deliver him from his adversaries. Let us humble and
torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we
have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words." This
is the way they reason, but they are mistaken, blinded by their
malice. They do not know the mysteries of God nor do they hope for the
reward of a holy life; they do not believe that the blameless will be
recompensed.

JOHN 7:1-2,10 , 25-30
Jesus went around Galilee; he would not go about in Judea because the
Jews wanted to kill him. Now the Jewish feast of the Tents was at
hand. But after his brothers had gone to the festival, he also went
up, not publicly but in secret. Some of the people of Jerusalem said,
"Is this not the man they want to kill? And here he is speaking
freely, and they don't say a word to him? Can it be that the rulers
know that this is really the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes
from; but when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes
from." So Jesus announced in a loud voice in the Temple court where he
was teaching, "You say that you know me and know where I come from! I
have not come of myself; I was sent by the One who is true, and you
don't know him. I know him for I come from him and he sent me."

REFLECTION
The Jews were already after Jesus, but still he went around his
mission of teaching the people. He was so passionate with what he was
doing that he did not mind if his life was in danger. All he knew was
that he was doing the will of his Father. Some of the people who heard
him recognized him. They knew his parents Joseph and Mary. They were
surprised. They could not believe that the son of the carpenter could
be the Messiah. Even though he was speaking with authority, they
doubted the origin of his wisdom and miracles.

"A prophet is despised in his own country among his own relation and
in his own house." (Mark 6:4) Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith
among the people he knew, but he praised the faith of the centurion
who did not doubt him – "In truth I tell you, no one in Israel have I
found faith as great as this." (Mt. 8:10)

We can learn from the actions of the townspeople. They were quick to
judge Jesus about his credibility. What standard did they use – his
poor background? Just because he was the son of Joseph the carpenter?
They did not know that he was sent by his Father in heaven, his source
of authority. In our case, we are sometimes quick to judge and show
disbelief if a person from a poor background rises above our
expectations. Why, is it impossible for a poor man to improve himself?
Being poor does not hinder a person from becoming better.

We can also learn from Jesus' seriousness to do his calling in life
despite the danger he was facing. We all have a calling in life, and
like Jesus we must follow it. We cannot just keep quiet when there are
injustices being perpetrated. We must speak up and have our voices
heard. That is doing our Christian calling.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Shantell Ponce De Leon Bancaso
- Marge, Pat, Chuck, Gene, Frank, Maria, Kristin, KD, Alex
- Jo Marcelo, Jun Lee, Allen P.
… for the personal intentions of:
- Elizabeth R. Ong - Pilones
- Andrew
- Nick
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Fr. Rodolfo Valdes, SJ.
Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Concesa M. Padilla
- Birthday: Pepeton Villaluna
- Wedding Anniversary: Jocelyn & Dr. Davis Chu
- In Memoriam (+): Co Tiong Chua
… 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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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
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| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
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THURSDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

APRIL 7, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE, PRIEST
THURSDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Ex 32:7-14 / Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23 / Jn 5:31-47

EXODUS 32:7-14
Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down at once, for your people, whom you
brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They
have quickly turned from the way I commanded them and have made for
themselves a molten calf; they have bowed down before it and
sacrificed to it and said: `These are your gods, Israel, who brought
you out of Egypt.'" And Yahweh said to Moses, "I see that these people
are a stiff-necked people. Now just leave me that my anger may blaze
against them. I will destroy them, but of you I will make a great
nation." But Moses calmed the anger of Yahweh, his God, and said,
"Why, O Yahweh, should your anger burst against your people whom you
brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with a
mighty hand? Let not the Egyptians say: `Yahweh brought them out with
evil intent, for he wanted to kill them in the mountains and wipe them
from the face of the earth.' Turn away from the heat of your anger and
do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and the promise you yourself swore: I will multiply
your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land I spoke
about I will give to them as an everlasting inheritance." Yahweh then
changed his mind and would not yet harm his people.

JOHN 5:31-47
Jesus said to the Jews, "If I bore witness to myself, my testimony
would be worthless. But Another One is bearing witness to me and I
know that his testimony is true when he bears witness to me. John also
bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do
not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may
be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you
were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that
of John—the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The
very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me. Thus he who
bears witness to me is the Father who sent me. You search in the
Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture
bears witness to me. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live.
I am not seeking human praise; but I have known that love of God is
not within you, for I have come in my Father's name and you do not
accept me. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him. As
long as you seek praise from one another instead of seeking the glory
coming from the only God, how can you believe?"

REFLECTION
In the first reading we see the Israelites journeying from Egypt. They
begin to forget the Lord's teachings given them through Moses. They
make the golden calf to worship as they seek their true liberation
from slavery.

In the Gospel we hear Jesus with his sad complaint against the Jews:
"The works the Father gave me to accomplish, you do not believe. You
do not want to come to me to have life."

All of us desire eternal life. Indeed if we do, there is but one way:
to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and to follow his teachings.
Which are of the Father. "Not they who say, "Lord, Lord, but they who
do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven".

Lent invites us to take a look at the way we live. Are there some
barriers that we have that need tearing down? Have we set ourselves as
the master to be obeyed rather we to obey the Lord? What about our
values? Do we practice brotherhood rather than lordism, companionship
and sharing rather than personal security and self-sufficiency,
forgiveness rather than anger, dialogue rather than domination,
worship instead of self-righteousness? As we discern where we are, we
pray: "Jesus, come and bring us eternal life"!

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Tessa C. Yang
- Shantell Ponce De Leon Bancaso
- Marge, Pat, Chuck, Gene, Frank, Maria, Kristin, KD, Alex
… for the personal intentions of:
- Elizabeth R. Ong - Pilones
- Andrew
- Nick
.. Birthday: Cora Uy
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: J. Ramon R. Marin
- Birthday: Andrea Dominique Yu
… 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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only.
Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends,
colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the
following:

+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

© 2011 Daily-Homily


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