Sunday, March 11, 2012
MONDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR II
MONDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR II
2 Kgs 5:1-15b / Lk 4:24-30
2 KINGS 5:1-15B
Now, Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard
that he had been anointed king in place of his father. For David had
always been Hiram's friend. Solomon then sent this message to Hiram,
"You know that David my father could not build a temple for Yahweh his
God because his enemies were at war with him until the time when
Yahweh gave him victory over them. But now Yahweh my God has given me
peace on all sides and there is no enemy or calamity that afflicts us.
And so I intend to build a temple for Yahweh my God as Yahweh told
David my father, `Your son, whom I will set upon your throne, shall
build the House for my Name.' Now, therefore, give orders to have
cedars of Lebanon cut for me. My servants will join yours and I will
pay your servants the wages you set, for you know that none of us can
cut timber like the Sidonians." When Hiram heard the answer of
Solomon, he was exceedingly glad and said, "Blessed be Yahweh this day
who has given David a wise son to rule over this great people." Then
Hiram sent a messenger to Solomon with these words, "I have heard the
message you sent me and I am ready to do whatever you want concerning
the cedar and cypress timber. My servants shall have it sent down to
the sea from Lebanon. I will make it into rafts and deliver them by
sea to the place you choose. I will have the rafts broken up there and
you can take the timber away. You, for your part, will provide food
for my household." So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the cedar and
cypress timber that he wanted, while Solomon gave Hiram every year
twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty
thousand cors of pure oil. Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon as he had
promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon who bound
themselves by a treaty. King Solomon conscripted thirty thousand men
from all Israel for forced labor. He sent them to Lebanon in relays of
ten thousand a month, so that they would be in Lebanon for a month and
at home for two months. Adoniram was in charge of the draft of
laborers. Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand
stone cutters in the hill country.
LUKE 4:24-30
Jesus added, "No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say
to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when
the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great
famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of
them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were
also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and no
one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian." On hearing these words, the
whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of
the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built,
intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their
midst and went his way.
REFLECTION
Jesus spoke in the Synagogue of Nazareth, using a text from Isaiah
that spoke about the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed
(Is 61, 1-2). The Israelites were astonished and amazed at what he
said. But this was immediately followed by skepticism: where did he
get his authority? "But this is only Joseph's son!"
With a heavy heart, Jesus said, "No prophet is accepted in his
hometown." No doubt, Jesus wanted them to listen to him, and learn
what he had to teach them – but they looked the other way.
Today's Gospel reminds us that we can understand him only when we
humbly open our hearts and make ourselves available to him. How many
times have we heard his parables? We become so familiar with these
parables that perhaps we fail to grasp the true meaning of the message
that God is sending to us – new resolutions to change our ways, new
challenges to repentance and growth in the Spirit, new opportunities
to open our hearts to his love.
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 Samrose Anyaugo
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
- Tonie Lingad
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Barr Mrs
Barbara Adaugo Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Anyaugo, 'Chuba Osi Anyaugo,
Cordelia Anyaugo and Kelechi Ozurumba
- Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Augusto Leonardo. 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.
- Wedding Anniversary: Dennis & Girlie Sytin
… 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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