DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 16, 2012
FRIDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR II

Hos 14:2-10 / Mk 12:28-34

HOSEA 14:2-10
Return to your God Yahweh, O Israel! Your sins have caused your
downfall. Return to Yahweh with humble words. Say to him, "Oh you who
show compassion to the fatherless forgive our debt, be appeased.
Instead of bulls and sacrifices, accept the praise from our lips.
Assyria will not save us: no longer shall we look for horses nor ever
again shall we say `Our gods' to the work of our hands." I will heal
their wavering and love them with all my heart for my anger has turned
from them. I shall be like dew to Israel like the lily will he
blossom. Like a cedar he will send down his roots; his young shoots
will grow and spread. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his
fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar. They will dwell in my shade again,
they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like a vine, and
their fame will be like Lebanon wine. What would Ephraim do with
idols, when it is I who hear and make him prosper? I am like an ever-
green cypress tree; all your fruitfulness comes from me. Who is wise
enough to grasp all this? Who is discerning and will understand?
Straight are the ways of Yahweh: the just walk in them, but the
sinners stumble.

MARK 12:28-34
A teacher of the Law had been listening to this discussion and admired
how Jesus answered them. So he came up and asked him, "Which
commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is: Hear,
Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord,
your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind
and with all your strength. And after this comes a second commandment:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment
greater than these two." The teacher of the Law said to him, "Well
spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one, and there
is no other besides him. To love him with all our heart, with all our
understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as
ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice."
Jesus approved this answer and said, "You are not far from the kingdom
of God." And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel, Jesus summarizes the Ten Commandments of Moses
into two Great Commandments of Love: "You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with
all your strength," and "You shall love your neighbor as you love
yourself." Thus, loving God is not just fulfilling Sunday obligations,
praying the rosary and novenas, and participating in many religious
activities; otherwise it will only be a religion of mere form, reduced
to vanity and perverse sentiments. Jesus speaks about loving God with
our entire being – heart, mind, and strength. A heart that is free
from constant grumbling and complaint, a mind that is in conformity
with God's will, and a strength shown in deeds directed toward God.

Yet, we cannot say we love God if we hate our neighbor. That's
hypocrisy. Jesus stressed love of neighbor, too. Besides our family,
let us be aware of others around us and show concern to those who most
need our help – the sick, the homeless, the poor, the hungry. What can
we do to help? What can we share with our neighbor, God's gifts to us
– time, talent, and treasure? We are only stewards of God's gifts to
us and we have an obligation of love to share these with others. If we
love God and serve others with a generous heart, we are not far from
the kingdom 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
- Mr. Wong Cho Ping
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
- Tonie Lingad
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Darlene, Bob, Kristin, Elena, Linda O, Mary Ann, Ron S, Darlene's
husband
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Erlinda Wong
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Barr Mrs
Barbara Amarachi Adabekee Okoronkwo, Engr Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba
Chuchu Anyaugo; Cordelia Anyaugo& Kelechi Kellar Ozurumba
- Dana, Eugene R, Rita & Pam, Ben
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Mr. Kho Giok Keng
- Karl Roy
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: Rhea R. Reyes
- Wedding Anniversary: Wilson & Rosie Gosingco
- In Memoriam (+): Ben Apolinario Jr.
… 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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