DAILY- HOMILY

November 1, 2013

Friday 30^th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Solemnity, All Saints

Rv 7: 2-4. 9-14 / Ps 24: 1b-2. 3-4ab. 5-6 / 1 Jn 3: 1-3 / Mt 5: 1-12a

Revelation 7: 2-4. 9-14

I saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, carrying the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice to the four an- gels empowered to harm the earth and the sea, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." Then I heard the number of those marked with the seal: a hundred and forty-four thou sand from all the tribes of the people of Israel: After this I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue, stand- ing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, and they cried out with a loud voice, "Who saves but our God who sits on the throne and the Lamb?" All the angels were around the throne, the elders and the four living creatures; they then bowed before the throne with their faces to the ground to wor ship God. They said, Amen. Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen! At that moment, one of the elders spoke up and said to me, "Who are these people clothed in white, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, it is you who know this." The elder replied, "They are those who have come out of the great persecution; they have washed and made their clothes white in the blood of the Lamb.

1 John 3: 1-3

1 See what singular love the Father has for us: we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children and what we shall be has not yet been shown. Yet when he appears in his glory, we know that we shall be like him, for then we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have such a hope try to be pure as he is pure.

Matthew 5: 1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him. Then he spoke and began to teach them: Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted. Fortunate are the gentle, they shall possess the land. Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God. Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God. Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. This is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

Reflection

Anything worth having is worth making sacrifices for. And the more that thing is worth, the greater the sacrifices we are willing to make for it. Buying a luxury car of one's dream entails waiting, working very hard, saving, and scrimping on other expenses just to be able to buy it. If people are willing to make such great sacrifices to gain things that they cannot keep after death, shouldn't they be more willing to make even greater sacrifices for something eternal? Of course, we know that's far from the truth. Many people do not even think of eternal happiness because they are already enjoying their worldly happiness – their vast wealth and the perks that go with it. They are not interested or motivated to go to heaven.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Most of us will have to admit that we are not doing much to live according to the Beatitudes. We really don't think much about the excellence of the gift – eternal happiness in heaven – that Jesus offers us.

Let us pray today for the grace to desire eternal life more ardently and be willing to do anything, whatever it takes, to get there.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Brenda D. Solis and Sister Carmencita

Lorenzo Meoli

Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres

Renan Lacida, Cha Dilla, Karen and Ramon Domingo

… for the personal intentions of Joel(Jay) and Ma. Cecilia(Eya)

.. In Memoriam: Cipriano P. Maribojoc, Anselmo M. De Guia, Purisima DG. Castillo, Eulogio M. De Guia, Alexis C. Hirang , Sr., Adelaida H. Alterado, Cion H. Quelnan, Carmelo Aranzamendez, Sr., Emerenciana P. Aranzamendez, Karmina Claire Aranzamendez, Carolino P. Aranzamendez, Hermogenes C. Serrano, Celerina Reyes, Apolonio R. Dimapilis, Leonida M. Dimapilis, Mylene A. Dimapilis, Alice Dimapilis, Zenelyn Catapia, Crispin Ofrecio, Rosario Ofrecio, Florentina Suñga, Benito Suñga, Felisa Suñga, Bernabe Suñga, Benedicto Suñga, Buenaventura Suñga, Eutaquio Ofrecio, Dominador Rayola, Ramon Rayola, Julian Escototo, Cynthia A. Leoveras, Generoso Leoveras, Patricia Gabriel, Rosie Ancheta, Leonora Ancheta, Teodoro A. Legario, Jr., Regina A. Soriano, Pelagia S. Lumbang, Leopoldo Sy Yao, Felomina A. Legario, Florentino M. Villamer, Avelina N. Villamer, Florentino N. Villamer, Jr., Dominador Villanueva, Rimedios Villanueva, Erlinda V. Ma, Vilhelmina V. Panelo, Manuel Villanueva, Ramon Villanueva, Wilson V. Ma, Gregorio Panelo, Irine Ma Centeno, Alfredo Ortiz, Iian Crisle Ma, Rosemarie Joyce Ortiz

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

Birthday: Gloria M. Pilares

Birthday: Antonio S. Samson, S.J.

Birthday: Soly Ong Acero Chua

Birthday: Ania Ng

In Memoriam (+): Proceso Fernando, Sr.

In Memoriam (+): Departed Friends & Relatives of James & Gloria Yu

In Memoriam (+): Henry L. Go

In Memoriam (+): Johnson Robert Go

… 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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