DAILY- HOMILY

FEBRUARY 24, 2012
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR II

Is 58:1-9a / Mt 9:14-15

ISAIAH 58:1-9A
Cry out aloud for all you are worth; raise your voice like a trumpet
blast; tell my people of their offenses, Jacob's family of their sins.
Is it true that they seek me day after day, longing to know my ways,
as a people that does what is right and has not forsaken the word of
its God? They want to know the just laws and not to drift away from
their God. "Why are we fasting," they complain, "and you do not even
see it? We are doing penance and you never notice it." Look, on your
fast days you push your trade and you oppress your laborers. Yes, you
fast but end up quarreling, striking each other with wicked blows.
Fasting as you do will not make your voice heard on high. Is that the
kind of fast that pleases me, just a day to humble oneself? Is fasting
merely bowing down one's head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh? See the fast
that pleases me: breaking the fetters of injustice and unfastening the
thongs of the yoke, setting the oppressed free and breaking every
yoke. Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house
the homeless, clothe the one you see naked and do not turn away from
your own kin. Then will your light break forth as the dawn and your
healing come in a flash. Your righteousness will be your vanguard, the
Glory of Yahweh your rearguard. Then you will call and Yahweh will
answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.

MATTHEW 9:14-15
Then the disciples of John came to him with the question, "How is it
that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your
disciples?" Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to
mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when
the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

REFLECTION
Fasting involves depriving ourselves of food, drink, or certain
pleasures; it is also linked to prayer and almsgiving. These three
acts are inseparable, all expressing humility, hope, and love toward
God and neighbor. They are not supposed to be ostentatious, "trumpeted
or paraded in public" to gain human admiration, because this is what
the hypocrites do. They seek only self-righteousness and feed their
pride.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving should be done in secret, known only
to God. To fast is to wait on the Lord, while to pray is to humble
ourselves before the Lord. Almsgiving is charity towards our neighbor.
Above all, self-renunciation is done for the love of God.

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
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
- Tonie Lingad
… for the personal intentions of
- 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
- Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Jesus Yap
- Dumstan Gonzales
- Chief P.O Ezekwe & Ezinne Francisca Ezekwe, Mama Rose Anyaugo
- Lourdes Pujante
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: Roberto Cristobal Nazal
- In Memoriam (+): Marie O'Gorman
… 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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