Thursday, September 27, 2012

 

MEMORIAL, ST WENCESLAUS, LORENZO RUIZ AND COMPANIONS

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
MEMORIAL, ST WENCESLAUS, LORENZO RUIZ AND COMPANIONS
FRIDAY 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

Eccl 3:1-11 / Lk 9:18-22

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-11
There is a given time for everything and a time for every happening under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting. A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building. A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing. A time for throwing stones, a time for gathering stones; a time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing. A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for throwing away. A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace. What profit is there for a man from all his toils? Finally I considered the task God gave to the humans. He made everything fitting in its time, but he also set eternity in their hearts, although they are not able to embrace the work of God from the beginning to the end.

LUKE 9:18-22
One day, when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them, "What do people say about me?" And they answered, "Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others that you are one of the prophets of old, risen from the dead." Again Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. And he added, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and be put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life."

REFLECTION
When Pope John Paul II beatified St. Lorenzo Ruiz and companions at the Luneta Grandstand in 1981 in Manila, he said, "To die for the faith is a call to some, but to live the faith is a call for all." Who was St. Lorenzo? Half-Chinese and half-Filipino, he was a married man with three children. Being a devout Catholic, he worked for a time as a sacristan for the Dominican priests. Because of a false accusation of murder, he had to flee the country and ended up in Japan with some Dominican missionaries who went there to evangelize. They were arrested in a great persecution, tortured for three days, and finally martyred on Nagasaki Hill in 1637.

While being tortured, Lorenzo was tempted to deny his faith. But through fervent prayers and the encouragement of his companions, he remained steadfast and eventually died for Jesus. Before his execution, he declared, "I willingly give up my life for Christ. Even if I have a thousand lives, I will gladly offer them all for him."

Pope John Paul II also said, "The example of St. Lorenzo Ruiz reminds us that everyone's life must be Christ-centered. Faith in Christ conquers the world." To profess our faith again and again is a challenge to us all. And how do we do this? By our words and actions, by virtue of our baptism, we are called to proclaim our faith so that others may come to believe in Jesus. Through our Christ-like actions, we can also make believers of all men, as St. Lorenzo and his companions did.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Rita P. Cuerva
- Ma. Fatima Nona Bonsol
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Francis P. Treñas
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: Rebecca Chua Lim Siu Cheng
- Birthday: Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas DD
- Birthday: Rolly dela Rosa
- Wedding Anniversary: Benjamin & Michelle Lynette Yu Jones
- Wedding Anniversary: Ferdie & Bel Chua, MD
… 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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