DAILY- HOMILY

December 21, 2013

Saturday 3^rd Week of Advent - Year I

Memorial, Saint Peter Canisius, priest and doctor

Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a / Ps 33: 2-3. 11-12. 20-21 / Lk 1:39-45

Sg 2:8-14

The voice of my lover! Behold he comes, springing across the mountains, jumping over the hills, like a gazelle or a young stag. Now he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, peering through the lattice. My lover speaks to me, He "Arise, my love, my beautiful one! Come, the winter is gone, the rains are over. Flowers have appeared on earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard. The fig tree forms its early fruit, the vines in blossom are fragrant. Arise, my beautiful one, come with me, my love, come. O my dove in the rocky cleft, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice. Your face—how lovely! Your voice—how sweet!"

Luke 1:39-45

Mary then set out for a town in the hill country of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

Reflection

Whenever we pray the Hail Mary, we repeat the phrase found in today's Gospel reading. "You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Mary was given the highest honor to any creature, chosen to become the Mother of God by virtue of the Incarnation of Christ. Her consent in faith paved the way for God to enter personally into the process of re-creation until everything can be declared "good, very good" once more with finality through Christ Jesus.

In praying the rosary and while meditating on the mysteries of our faith we are reminded over and over again of the role of Mary as the Queen of apostles (one of the many titles attributed to her in the litany) and our role and duty as Christians. Indeed, the fullness of grace is with us. The Lord being within us, we are most blessed (not just among women but among men and mankind), and blessed is the fruit which we carry with us – God's Word – the fruit of the "tree of life". We are to bring this Word to others who are "barren" which takes away their "disgrace" and enables that which is within them to "leap for joy." Blessed indeed are those who believe the Lord's word and face and accept God's challenge to work through them, which definitely entails great inconveniences and sacrifices.

Are we willing to say "yes" and be faithful to bringing the "Word of God" to others so that they may also rejoice?

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

-                  Eric

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

… for the personal intentions of Fred de Leon

… for the eternal repose of the souls of Enriqueta Velasco Prado. 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: Tess Catindig

-                  Birthday: Maura F. Castillo

-                  Birthday: Cresencia V. Roleda

… 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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