DAILY- HOMILY

APRIL 11, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. STANISLAUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR
MONDAY 5TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41-62 / Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 / Jn
8:1-11

DANIEL 13:41-62
This is our statement, and we testify to its truth. The assembly took
their word, since they were elders and judges of the people. Susanna
was condemned to death. She cried aloud, "Eternal God, nothing is
hidden from you; you know all things before they come to be. You know
that these men have testified falsely against me. Would you let me
die, though I am not guilty of all their malicious charges?" The Lord
heard her, and as she was being led to her execution, God aroused the
holy spirit residing in a young lad named Daniel. He shouted, "I will
have no part in the death of this woman!" Those present turned to him,
"What did you say?" they all asked. Standing in their midst, he said
to them, "Have you become fools, you Israelites, to condemn a daughter
of Israel without due process and in the absence of clear evidence?
Return to court, for those men have testified falsely against her."
Hurriedly they returned, and the elders said to Daniel, "Come and sit
with us, for you also possess the gifts bestowed by God upon the
elders." Daniel said to the people, "Separate these two from one
another and I will examine each of them." When the two elders were se
pa - rated from each other, Daniel called one of them and said, "How
wicked you have grown with age. Your sins of earlier days have piled
up against you, and now is the time of reckoning. Remember how you
have passed unjust sentences, condemning the innocent and freeing the
guilty, although the Lord has said `The innocent and the just should
not be put to death.' Now, if you really witnessed the crime, under
what tree did you see them do it?" The elder answered, "Under a mastic
tree." Daniel said, "Your lie will cost you your head. You will be cut
in two, as soon as the Lord's angel receives your sentence from God."
Putting the first one aside, Daniel called the other elder and said to
him, "You offspring of Cana an and not of Judah, you have long allowed
yourself to be perverted by lust. This is how you have dealt with the
daughters of Israel, who out of fear have yielded to you. But here is
a daughter of Judah who would not tolerate your wickedness. Tell me
then, under what tree did you catch them committing the crime?" The
answer came, "Under an oak." "Your lie has also cost you your head,"
Daniel said. "God's angel waits to cut you both in two." The whole
assembly shouted and blessed God for helping those who hope in him.
They turned against the two elders who, through Daniel's efforts, had
been convicted by their own mouths. In accordance with Moses' law, the
penalty the two elders had intended to impose upon their neighbor was
inflicted upon them. They were sentenced to death. Thus was the life
of an innocent woman spared that day.

JOHN 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak Jesus appeared in the
Temple again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to
teach them. Then the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in
a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They made her
stand in front of everyone. "Master," they said, "this woman has been
caught in the act of adultery. Now the Law of Moses orders that such
women be stoned to death; but you, what do you say?" Jesus bent down
and started writing on the ground with his finger. And as they
continued to ask him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone
among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her." As a
result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the
elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
Then Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?" She replied, "No one." And Jesus said, "Neither do
I condemn you; go away and don't sin again."

REFLECTION
Our ever-forgiving God always gives second chances, more so countless
opportunities to rekindle our relationship with Him and reconcile with
Him. God's encompassing love is always ready to forgive. We have seen
this in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. God, our Father, is always
patiently waiting for us to come home and welcome us back with open
arms. In the same extent, Jesus tells us to forgive seventy times
seven. And as long as we live, we should not refuse to forgive.
Forgiving is grace, a gift and a blessing that brings peace and joy to
both the offender and the offended. We cannot spend our lives hating
and cursing those who have hurt us. In the process, we, too, suffer.

We are all sinners. No one can claim that he has not sinned. We are
all transients, travelers and passers-by in this short life. Yes, life
is too short to fill it with anger, hatred, resentment, ill-will,
greed, pride, selfishness and disharmony. Why not fill it with joy,
peace, humility, harmony, generosity and selflessness that we can only
get by being forgiving to those who have hurt us?

We can make a choice. We have to make a choice whether to forgive or
not. Let us ask ourselves: Do we want to enjoy God's love, peace and
joy? Then, let us forgive and we shall be freed from the chains of
unhappiness and restlessness that bind us. Only God, love and
forgiveness can free us.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Jo Marcelo, Jun Lee, Allen P.
- Mrs. Borja
- Mr. Roland and Mrs. Elaine PDL Cuenca and Russell
… for the personal intentions of:
- Josheil Dapo
- Wilfredo L. De Leon
… 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: Arlene P. Francisco
- Birthday: Maui Datu
- Birthday: Benedicto de Jesus
- In Memoriam (+): Pablo A, Tan
- In Memoriam (+): Msgr. Paul Lu, P.I.M.E.
… 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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