DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 20, 2013
MEMORIAL, SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, ABBOT AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
TUESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Jdg 6:11-24 / Ps 85: 9. 11-12. 13-14 / Mt 19:23-30

Judges 6:11-24
The Angel of Yahweh came and sat under the sacred tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, of the family of Abiezer. Gideon, the son of Joash, was threshing the wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. The Angel of Yahweh said to him, "Yahweh be with you, valiant warrior." Gideon answered, "Please, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why is all this happening to us? Where are the wonders which our fathers recounted to us? Did they not say that Yahweh led them up from Egypt? Why has he abandoned us now and given us into the hands of the Midianites?" Yahweh then turned to him and said, "Go, and with your courage, save Israel from the Midianites. It is I who send you." Gideon answered: "Pardon me, Lord, but how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in my tribe and I am the least in the family of my father." Yahweh said to him, "I will be with you and you shall defeat the people of Midian with one single stroke." Gideon said to him, "Please give me a sign that it is indeed you who speak. Do not leave until I return with an offer ing and present it to you." Yahweh responded, "I am going to wait for you here." Gideon went and prepared a young goat, took a measure of flour and baked unleavened bread. He put the broth in a pot and the meat in a basket, and went to present them to the Angel under the tree. Then the Angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the bread; put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them." Gideon did so. At that moment, the Angel of Yahweh extended the staff he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Suddenly, fire blazed from the rock. The fire consumed the meat and the bread, and the Angel of Yahweh disappeared. Gideon realized that he was the Angel of Yahweh and said, "Alas, O Lord Yahweh! I have seen the Angel of Yahweh face to face." But Yahweh said to him, "Peace be with you. Do not fear for you shall not die." Gideon built an altar to Yahweh in that place and called it Yahweh- Peace. To this day, it is still in Ophrah of Abiezer.

Matthew 19:23-30
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven." On hearing this the disciples were astonished and said, "Who, then, can be saved?" Jesus looked steadily at them and answered, "For human beings it is impossible, but for God all things are possible." Then Peter spoke up and said, "You see we have given up everything to follow you. What will be our lot?" Jesus answered, "You who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name's sake, they will receive a hundredfold, and be given eternal life. Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

REFLECTION
In the first reading, at a time when Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites, the angel of God appears to Gideon and tells him to lead Israel against Midian. Gideon is a bit hesitant because he does not feel qualified, but the angel is able to convince him.

There are people whom God specifically calls to help rebuild His Church. Among them were St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, etc. All of them felt small and unworthy in front of their election, but God was there to guide them. The Church nowadays urgently needs saints/heroes to be shining lights for the faithful.

In the gospel, it is clear that all true disciples of Jesus are called to be detached from family, friends, wealth and the desire to live a comfortable and problem-free life. All the saints mentioned earlier gave up everything to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. And Jesus accomplished great things through them. In the end, their reward was to possess Jesus himself. They experienced great consolations, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the joy of seeing many people brought to God's kingdom. Now they are our intercessors in heaven aside from being our inspiration and models of Christian living.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Judy Fernandez and Harry Shearer
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
… for the personal intentions of
- Ma. Angeli Marmeto
- Teresa Antoinette Bagaipo and Sol Bagaipo
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo, Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo, Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Beny Chua
- Rosemarie Reyes
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Teresita Ronquillo
- Birthday: Detdet Cruz
- Birthday: Felipe Santos
- Birthday: Bebet Gaston
- Birthday: Michelle Sison
- Birthday: Thelma Kimpo Panganiban
- Birthday: Hilda T. So
- In Memoriam (+): Ong 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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