DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 8, 2012
FEAST, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
SATURDAY 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II

Gn 3:9-15, 20 / Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 / Lk 1:26-38

GENESIS 3:9-15, 20
Yahweh God called the man saying to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree I ordered you not to eat?" The man answered, "The woman you put with me gave me fruit from the tree and I ate it." God said to the woman, "What have you done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me and I ate." Yahweh God said to the serpent, "Since you have done that, be cursed among all the cattle and wild beasts! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel." The man called his wife by the name of Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.

EPHESIANS 1:3-6, 11-12
Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing. God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence. From eternity he destined us in love to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved might finally receive all glory and praise. By a decree of Him who disposes all things according to his own plan and decision we, the Jews, have been chosen and called and we were awaiting the Messiah, for the praise of his glory.

LUKE 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his reign shall have no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible." Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

 

REFLECTION
This holy day, the day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is about expectations. God chose Mary to be born without blemish, unstained by original sin. He chose Mary to be holy. He chose Mary to accomplish all things according to the intentions of His will. God had expectations. And Mary's YES claimed all these.

Today, as we remember Mary and how God had revealed His plan to her, let us listen to our heart and hear that stirring. It is the stirring of God's expectation from us. He expects us to be happy and to be free from sin. He expects us to be true to our core, to an authentic goodness, fashioned in His own likeness. He expects us to use all the gifts that He gave us to glorify His name.

Today, as we remember Mary's YES to God's expectations, let us reflect on all our strivings to please God and to fulfill His expectations in our lives.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Mon Torres, Fleur Torres, Ditas dela Paz
- Mommy Carmen
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Meghan
… Birthday: Maria Concepcion Billanes
… for those affected by Typhoon Pablo
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Col. Felix Duenas, Sr.
- Dolores Tan
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: Rev. Fr. Mario Cueto
- Wedding Anniversary: Bobby & Chit Certeza
- Wedding Anniversary: Charlene & Manolette Carlos

- Thanksgiving: Anna Pashmina
- Thanksgiving: Mamerto & Virginia Domingo
- Prayer Intention: Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary -1996
- In Memoriam (+): Chua Chen
… 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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