DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 21, 2012
MEMORIAL, SAINT PETER DAMIAN
TUESDAY 7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

Jas 4:1-10 / Mk 9:30-37

JAMES 4:1-10
What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your
cravings that make war within your own selves? When you long for
something you cannot have, you kill for it and when you do not get
what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have
what you want because you do not pray for it. You pray for something
and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of
indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Don't you know that making
friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever
chooses to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. Can you not see
the point of the saying in Scripture: "The longing of the spirit he
sent to dwell in us is a jealous longing?" But God has something
better to give, and Scripture also says, God opposes the proud but he
gives his favor to the humble. Give in, then, to God; resist the devil
and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and he will come close to
you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
doubters. Recognize your distress, be miserable and weep. Turn your
laughter into tears and your joy into sadness. Humble yourselves
before the Lord and he will raise you up.

MARK 9:30-37
After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but
Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching
his disciples. And he told them, "The Son of Man will be delivered
into the hands of men. They will kill him, but three days after he has
been killed, he will rise." The disciples, however, did not understand
these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. They came
to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, "What were
you discussing on the way?" But they did not answer, because they had
been arguing about who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the
Twelve and said to them, "If someone wants to be first, let him be
last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child, placed
him in their midst, and putting his arms around him he said to them,
"Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and
whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me."

REFLECTION
The Gospel relates the story of how the disciples were wondering who
among them is the greatest. Greatest in God's eyes? The best disciple?
Sounds familiar? It should, because even if we may not have asked the
same questions, we have asked them in different ways.

In real life, there is often a kind of "rivalry" that exists, whether
sibling, friendly, or professional. We want to know who is greatest
because, deep inside, we wish we were better than others. This arises
from our need to be validated, praised, and acknowledged, especially
by those near and dear to us. We want to be better than others so that
we can have bragging rights or so that someone can be proud of us. But
at the root of it all, it is so that we can be proud of ourselves.

Our need for praise and validation arises from our own egoistic
desires and pride. It is a "deep-rooted need" that we, as Christians,
must overcome. Because in Jesus' eyes, the more worthy person is the
one that lives a life of service and humility, service to others and
to God, but especially to the lowly and downtrodden.

Do you do what you do to get praised, or simply to serve? Look within
and see that which truly motivates your actions and then go from
there.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Tung-Jou Sheh
- Chief Sam Rose Anyaugo
… for the personal intentions of
- John Ivan
- Pauline
- Josheil Dapo
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Mr Ogechi Anyaugo,'Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Barr
Mrs Barbara Adaugo Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Mathias Anyaugo,Chuba Osi
Anyaugo, Kelechi Ozurumba and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Annalie, John
- Jesus Yap
- Dumstan Gonzales
- Chief P.O Ezekwe & Ezinne Francisca Ezekwe, Mama Rose Anyaugo
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: Gregory Noah Nazal Kaw
- Birthday: Irene Corazon S. Vicedo
- Wedding Anniversary: Michael & Melanie Bangayan
- Wedding Anniversary: Anita & Godfrey Lim Pek Chuan
- Wedding Anniversary: Ed & Jojo Tanhui, MD
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente S. Dychiao
… 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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