DAILY- HOMILY

JULY 19, 2013
FRIDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YR I

Ex 11:10-12:14 / Ps 116: 12-13. 15 and 16bc. 17-18 / Mt 12:1-8

Exodus 11:10-12:14
Moses and Aaron had worked all these marvels in the presence of Pharaoh, but Yahweh had made Pharaoh obstinate and he would not let the people of Israel leave his country. Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt and said, "This month is to be the beginning of all months, the first month of your year. Speak to the community of Israel and say to them: On the tenth day of this month let each family take a lamb, a lamb for each house. If the family is too small for a lamb, they must join with a neighbor, the nearest to the house, according to the number of persons and to what each one can eat. You will select a perfect lamb without blemish, a male born during the present year, taken from the sheep or goats. Then you will keep it until the fourteenth day of the month. On that evening all the people will slaughter their lambs and take some of the blood to put on the door- posts and on top of the doorframes of the houses where you eat. That night you will eat the flesh roasted at the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat the meat lightly cooked or boiled in water but roasted entirely over the fire—the head, the legs and the inner parts. Do not leave any of it until the morning. If any is left till morning, burn it in the fire. And this is how you will eat: with a belt round your waist, sandals on your feet and a staff in your hand. You shall eat hastily for it is a passover in honor of Yahweh. On that night I shall go through Egypt and strike every first-born in Egypt, men and animals; and I will even bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! The blood on your houses will be the sign that you are there. I will see the blood and pass over you; and you will escape the mortal plague when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to remember and celebrate in honor of Yahweh. It is to be kept as a festival day for all generations forever.

Matthew 12:1-8
It happened that Jesus walked through the wheat fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some heads of wheat and crush them to eat the grain. When the Pharisees noticed this, they said to Jesus, "Look at your disciples! They are doing what is prohibited on the Sabbath!" Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did, when he and his men were hungry? He went into the house of God, and they ate the bread offered to God, though neither he nor his men had the right to eat it, but only the priests. And have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath rest, yet they are not guilty? I tell you, there is greater than the Temple here. If you really knew the meaning of the words: It is mercy I want, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. Besides, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

REFLECTION
There are two things that we can bring out from today's reading. One is the sacrificial lamb and second, the family.

The lamb, or the sheep as it is often referred to in the scriptures, is known for its affection for the one who takes care of it. It is also seen as meek and obedient. And as seen in the gospels, they are helpless and very dependent on the shepherd. This very same animal is chosen by Yahweh to be slaughtered and offered to save the people of Israel by its blood painted on the door posts and door frames. The roasted meat of the lamb is taken as food together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Why the lamb? Could we imagine it graphically happening with all the cooperation, willingness and sense of fulfillment on the part of the lamb? The lamb knows that its purpose in life is to be slaughtered in order to give life to others.

It is striking to note that Yahweh's instruction was for the family to gather together in one household with just enough food for each one. If there would be more than enough food they were instructed to join another household or family in partaking of the roasted lamb. At the Passover one does not stand by himself. One is only saved together with his family and others. How true is this at the present time? Do we look at our family as our companion in our journey towards salvation? When we find this grace given in our life we can then celebrate it as Yahweh's sign of His love for us as it was for the Israelites.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the personal intentions of
- Marquez family
- Beny Chua
- Carmel Joan
- Netta, Jo, Denise, Debbie, Gene L & Fr Larry
- Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres
- Anabelle Alves
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Rowena Lacida Yap, Rodney Lacida, Gelic Red, Ernesto Apacible, Luding Grindulo, XJ Javier, Jess Garces
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: Lizabeth N. Cantuba
- Birthday: Joey Ng
- In Memoriam (+): Chua Ching Ho
- In Memoriam (+): Gloria Chew Ong Acero (Jan 11, 1911 - Jul 19, 1987)
- In Memoriam (+): Jose Ong Tang
… 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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