DAILY- HOMILY

October 23, 2013

Wednesday 29^th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Memorial, Saint John of Capistrano, priest

Rom 6:12-18 / Ps 124: 1b-3. 4-6. 7-8 / Lk 12:39-48

Romans 6:12-18

Do not allow sin any control over your mortal bodies; do not submit yourselves to its evil inclinations, and do not give your members over to sin, as instruments to do evil. On the contrary, offer yourselves as persons returned from death to life, and let the members of your body be as holy instruments at the service of God. Sin will not lord it over you again, for you are not under the law, but under grace. I ask again: are we to sin because we are not under the Law, but under grace? Certainly not. If you have given yourselves up to someone as his slave, you are to obey the one who commands you, aren't you? Now with sin you go to death, and by accepting faith you go the right way. Let us give thanks to God for, after having sin as your master, you have been given to another, that is, to the doctrine of faith, to which you listen willingly. And being free from sin, you began to serve true righteousness.

Luke 12:39-48

Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what Time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect." Peter said, "Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants to give them wheat at the proper Time. Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home, finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property. But it may be that the steward thinks, 'My Lord delays in coming,' and he begins to abuse the male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he doesn't know. He will cut him off, and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful. The servant who knew his master's will, but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more.

REFLECTION

In the first reading, St. Paul tells us to "make every part of our body a weapon fighting on the side of God." This means that if we are truly followers of Jesus, we must use all our energies to do good works. A Christian is a soldier always ready for battle and not an aristocrat who just stays around his mansion relaxing. He is like St. Francis Xavier who spent every ounce of his human strength, time and resources to bring Christ to the pagans in India and Japan. We are called to labor and to fight to establish God's kingdom here on earth.

A Christian once enlightened by the Lord knows his life will always be marked by a kind of tension – the tension of being ready for the Master's return. The gospel says that the servant of God spends his time doing what God wants him to do. He wakes up every morning asking God, "Lord, what do you want me to do today?" Then he goes about his day doing God's work by living a life of virtue no matter what his station or occupation in life is. He is ever ready for the return of his Master. At the end of the day he says, "Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to serve you today. Forgive my failings and bring me to your everlasting kingdom when my time comes."

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Joy Droke

Brenda D. Solis, Sister Carmencita and Cynthia Ordona

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

Renan Lacida and Raul Domingo

… for the personal intentions of Pauline

… for the eternal repose of the soul of Niña L. Nava. 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.

In Memoriam (+): Crescencia D. Lao

In Memoriam (+): Juanita Gokongwei

… 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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