Tuesday, March 12, 2013
TUESDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I
MARCH 12, 2013
TUESDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I
Ezk 47:1-12 / Ps 46: 2-3. 5-6. 8-9 / Jn 5:1-3,5-16
EZEKIEL 47:1-12
The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side. The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming. The man then said to me, "Son of man, did you see?" He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. Fishermen will stand on the banks and spread nets from En Gedi to En Eglaim. Fish of many kinds will be found there, like the fish of the open sea and very plentiful. The swamps and the marshes will not become wholesome; they will be used as salt beds. Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.
JOHN 5:1-3,5-16
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people: blind, lame and paralyzed. There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, and because he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me." Jesus then said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk!" And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked. Now that day happened to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me, `Take up your mat and walk!'" They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?" But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that filled the place. Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple court and told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse happen to you." And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the Sabbath.
REFLECTION
This miracle happens early on in Jesus' ministry. Thus far in John's gospel, Jesus has performed two public miracles – the changing of water into wine at Cana, and the healing of an official's child. He has also unsettled the temple for its commercialization. By now, the Jews have Jesus in their sight as a potential problem. This latest act takes them over the edge and convinces them that Jesus must be destroyed. What were they so worried about? Why were they so legalistic and technical, so keen to throw the book at him? How could they not see that all Jesus did was to end the long suffering of his fellow man? Why were their fear and hatred for Jesus so deep that they couldn't celebrate the sick man's sudden recovery? Whatever the reason, what's clear is that they've lost sight of their real goal as religious leaders. Instead, by turning a blind eye to Jesus' kindness and love for his fellow man, they show their true intent which is to hold on to their position in society, the source of their power and wealth, which is now under threat by Jesus' message of love and kindness.
How many times have we turned a blind eye to Jesus' message? How many times have we side-stepped or looked indifferently away to avoid a destitute sleeping on the sidewalk? How many times have we ignored the extra collection plate during mass after another typhoon or earthquake in an area far from us? How many times have we stood our ground in an argument with a loved one or a colleague because we're too proud to admit that we're wrong?
Holy Spirit, open our eyes and give us courage to truly heed Jesus' message of love for others. Help us to be blind to our fears, and open our hearts so that we can genuinely answer Jesus' invitation to his kingdom. Help us to see the kindness around us so that we can ourselves become channels of that same kindness to others.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Denise TX, Jo, Carolyn, Mary P, Gene L & Netta
- Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Andy Lecaros, Virginia Hernandez, Mon Torres, andFleur Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo, Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Emma Q
- Beny Chua
- Ma. Angeli Marmeto
- Carol O Lucena
- Cherie Torres
- Renan and Jo Lacida
- Pauline
… Birthday: Ram de Guzman
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Teresa T. Ruste
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2013 Daily-Homily
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to daily_homily+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
TUESDAY 3RD WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I
Ezk 47:1-12 / Ps 46: 2-3. 5-6. 8-9 / Jn 5:1-3,5-16
EZEKIEL 47:1-12
The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side. The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming. The man then said to me, "Son of man, did you see?" He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. Fishermen will stand on the banks and spread nets from En Gedi to En Eglaim. Fish of many kinds will be found there, like the fish of the open sea and very plentiful. The swamps and the marshes will not become wholesome; they will be used as salt beds. Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.
JOHN 5:1-3,5-16
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people: blind, lame and paralyzed. There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, and because he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me." Jesus then said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk!" And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked. Now that day happened to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me, `Take up your mat and walk!'" They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?" But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that filled the place. Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple court and told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse happen to you." And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the Sabbath.
REFLECTION
This miracle happens early on in Jesus' ministry. Thus far in John's gospel, Jesus has performed two public miracles – the changing of water into wine at Cana, and the healing of an official's child. He has also unsettled the temple for its commercialization. By now, the Jews have Jesus in their sight as a potential problem. This latest act takes them over the edge and convinces them that Jesus must be destroyed. What were they so worried about? Why were they so legalistic and technical, so keen to throw the book at him? How could they not see that all Jesus did was to end the long suffering of his fellow man? Why were their fear and hatred for Jesus so deep that they couldn't celebrate the sick man's sudden recovery? Whatever the reason, what's clear is that they've lost sight of their real goal as religious leaders. Instead, by turning a blind eye to Jesus' kindness and love for his fellow man, they show their true intent which is to hold on to their position in society, the source of their power and wealth, which is now under threat by Jesus' message of love and kindness.
How many times have we turned a blind eye to Jesus' message? How many times have we side-stepped or looked indifferently away to avoid a destitute sleeping on the sidewalk? How many times have we ignored the extra collection plate during mass after another typhoon or earthquake in an area far from us? How many times have we stood our ground in an argument with a loved one or a colleague because we're too proud to admit that we're wrong?
Holy Spirit, open our eyes and give us courage to truly heed Jesus' message of love for others. Help us to be blind to our fears, and open our hearts so that we can genuinely answer Jesus' invitation to his kingdom. Help us to see the kindness around us so that we can ourselves become channels of that same kindness to others.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Denise TX, Jo, Carolyn, Mary P, Gene L & Netta
- Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Andy Lecaros, Virginia Hernandez, Mon Torres, andFleur Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo, Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Emma Q
- Beny Chua
- Ma. Angeli Marmeto
- Carol O Lucena
- Cherie Torres
- Renan and Jo Lacida
- Pauline
… Birthday: Ram de Guzman
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Teresa T. Ruste
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2013 Daily-Homily
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to daily_homily+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 8:17 AM 
