DAILY- HOMILY

November 22, 2013

Friday 33rd Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Memorial, Saint Cecilia

1 Mac 4:36-37,52-59 / 1 Chr 29: 10bcd. 11abc. 11d-12a. 12bcd / Lk 19: 45-48

1 Macabees 4:36-37,52-59

Then Judas and his brothers said: "Our enemies are defeated, so Then Judas and his brothers said: "Our enemies are defeated, so On the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight (164 B.C.) they arose at dawn and offered the sacrifice prescribed by the Law on the new altar of holocausts which they had built. It was precisely at that same time and date that the pagans had profaned it before; but now they consecrated it with songs accompanied by zithers, harps and cymbals. All the people fell prostrate and blessed Heaven that had given them happiness and success. They celebrated the consecration of the altar for eight days, joyfully offering holocausts and celebrating sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise. The front of the temple was adorned with crowns of gold and shields; the gates and the rooms had been restored and fitted with doors. There was no end to the celebration among the people, and so the profanation of the temple by the pagans was forgotten. Finally, Judas, his brothers and the whole assembly of Israel agreed to celebrate the anniversary of the consecration of the altar annually for eight days, from the twenty-fifth of the month of Chislev, in high festivity.

Luke 19: 45-48

Then Jesus entered the Temple area and began to drive out the merchants. And he said to them, "God says in the Scriptures, 'My house shall be a house of prayer', but you have turned it into a den of robbers!" Jesus was teaching every day in the Temple. The chief priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill him, and the elders of the Jews as well, but they were unable to do anything, for all the people were listening to him and hanging on his words.

Reflection

Jesus went to the temple and was shocked at what he saw. The temple had been turned into a marketplace where people no longer worshipped nor prayed, but were preoccupied with worldly things. In anger, he drove the merchants away.

This reading reminds us that every moment spent in church must be filled with reverence, worship, and prayer. But we desecrate God's temple in countless ways: wearing inappropriate attire, talking and texting during Mass, watching people, focusing on our outward appearance rather than turning inward in deep prayer and communion with God.

And there is another temple—the temple within us, where God's love dwells. Have we kept our temple free of worldly concerns, or has it, too been desecrated by earthly desires? In the humdrum of our everyday lives, do we make time to visit God in our inner sanctuary, keeping his Word alive in our hearts?

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of Lorenzo Meoli

… for the personal intentions of Pauline

… for the eternal repose of the souls of

Carmen Raffinan

Elsa Supsup

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: Cecilia b Garrucho

Birthday: Richard Eric S. Tiu

Wedding Anniversary: Judith & Geraldo L. Yu

In Memoriam (+): Nestor F. Miranda

In Memoriam (+): Yu Lim Giok Chang (1916-2005)

… 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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