DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 16, 2013
MEMORIAL, SAINT STEPHEN OF HUNGARY
FRIDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Jos 24:1-13 / Ps 136: 1-3. 16-18. 21-22 and 24 / Mt 19:3-12

READINGS
Joshua 24:1-13
Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: "Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River—Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor—serving other gods. But I brought Abraham your father from beyond the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. Then I gave him a son Isa ac, that he might have numerous descendants. And to Isaac, I gave two sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau received the mountains of Seir as his inheritance, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron to punish Egypt in the way that you know, that you might leave. Then I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued you with chariots and horses as far as the Red Sea. Then you cried to Yahweh, and he put immense darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea go back on them and they were drowned. You have witnessed all the things he did in Egypt, and then you lived in the desert for a long time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who were on the east of the Jordan. You fought them but it was I who gave them into your hand; you destroyed them and you seized their lands. Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, declared war on Israel and commanded Balaam son of Beorto curse you. But I would not listen to him, so Balaam blessed you and I saved you from the hands of Balak. Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the landlords of Jericho fought against you: the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites declared war on you, but I gave them to you. The two Amorite kings fled from you because of the swarm of hornets that attacked them and not because of your sword and bow. I gave you lands which you have not tilled, cities which you did not build but in which you now live. I gave you vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant but from which you now eat.

Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees approached him. They wanted to test him and asked, "Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?" Jesus replied, "Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and he said: Man has now to leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body? So they are no longer two, but one body. Let no one separate what God has joined." They asked him, "Then why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?" Jesus replied, "Moses knew the hardness of your hearts, so he allowed you to divorce your wives; but it was not so in the beginning. Therefore I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless it be for prostitution, and marries another, commits adultery." The disciples said, "If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry." Jesus said to them, "Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. There are eunuchs born so from their mother's womb. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it."

REFLECTION
The question which the Pharisees asked of Jesus will once again be the question which the present followers of Jesus will soon ask – divorce. Supporters of the distorted notion of "pro-choice" are now gearing up again for another big push to have divorce accepted in our country.

Some of us in the present "modern society" feel that they are now equal to, or even higher than, the Creator. They feel that they now have the power to separate what God has joined. They promote safe sex practices so that there would no longer be a need for marriage to enjoy the privileges of married couples. They even distort the meaning of "male" and "female" and propose to join together in marriage people of the same sex.

Even worse, in spite of the huge increase in the population, fewer and fewer people accept the gift of giving up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Gender issues should not be a cause for disobedience to God's will. It could be a gift if they accept it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

The question is, which do we want to follow, the will of God or the desires of man?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Beny Chua
- Gerard Olona
- Lungelo
- Pauline
- Juliet Fallaria
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Asterio Buquiron. 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: Aurelio Montinola
- Birthday: Norma B. Villegas
- Birthday: David S. Lim
- Thanksgiving: Annabel Uy-Braganza
- Thanksgiving: Mr. & Mrs. Peter Onglatco & Family
- In Memoriam (+): Johnson Lim Lao
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente C. Aquino
… 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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