Friday, June 21, 2013

 

SATURDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YR I

JUNE 22, 2013
MEMORIAL, SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA, BISHOP OR SAINTS JOHN FISHER AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYRS
SATURDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YR I

2 Cor 12:1-10 / Ps 34: 8-9. 10-11. 12-13 / Mt 6:24-34

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
It is useless to boast; but if I have to, I will go on to some visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a certain Christian: fourteen years ago he was taken up to the third heaven. Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. But I know that this man, whether in the body or out of the body—I do not know, God knows—was taken up to Paradise where he heard words that cannot be told: things which humans cannot express. Of that man I can indeed boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, it would not be foolish of me, for I would speak the truth. However, I better give up lest somebody think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me. Lest I become proud after so many and extra ordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, to slap me in the face. Three times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me, but he answered, "My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness." Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine. So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Matthew 6:24-34
No one can serve two masters; for he will either hate one and love the other, or he will be loyal to the first and look down on the second. You cannot at the same time serve God and money. This is why I tell you not to be worried about food and drink for yourself, or about clothes for your body. Is not life more important than food, and is not the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, they do not harvest and do not store food in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you less worthy than they are? Can any of you add a day to your life by worrying about it? Why are you so worried about your clothes? Look at how the flowers in the fields grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his wealth was clothed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass in the field, which blooms today and is to be burned tomorrow in an oven, how much more will he clothe you? What little faith you have! Do not worry and say: What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? or: What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God, and all these things will also be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

REFLECTION
Our martyrs St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, whose feast we commemorate today, lived their lives very well as servants of God as expressed in today's reading of St. Paul.

St. John Fisher, a well educated priest and proctor in the University of Cambridge became chaplain and confessor to the mother of King Henry VIII. He also became the tutor of the young Prince Henry. Soon he became bishop and influential Chancellor of Cambridge. When the prince became king, he married Catherine of Spain but they did not have an heir so he wanted to divorce her. Because John Fisher opposed the divorce and preached against it, he earned the ire of the king who caused his arrest for treason and later his execution by guillotine. Before his beheading, John Fischer stated his personal principles clearly… `not that I condemn anyone else's conscience… their conscience may save them, and mine must save me.'

Interestingly, Thomas More was a friend of John Fisher's in prison where they exchanged letters. A pious married layman, and an eloquent and learned lawyer, Thomas More was knighted by Henry VIII and served him long and well as Lord Chancellor. Later, due to ethical compromises, More retired from the world of royal politics. But his decisions were still valuable to the king. When More was asked to take an oath agreeing to the law making the king the Supreme Head of the Church thus breaking away from Rome, he refused. For this he was put in the tower for treason and sentenced to the guillotine. Before he died, he uttered, "I die the king's good servant, but God's first." Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers,

With these two saintly lives commemorated today, today's gospel acquires greater significance.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Elizabeth Lim
- Lydia, Jennette & Kevin Francis Christian Pe
- Cecilia Katigbak
- Rodel
- Guiseppe
… for the personal intentions of
- JP
- Pauline
- Donna
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Ramon Torres, Pilar David, and Alejandro Lecaros
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: Paulino Ongtenco
- Birthday: Mary Wong Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Jose Antonio Carvajal
- In Memoriam (+): Sergio L. Te
… 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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