DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 26, 2013
MONDAY 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

1 Thes 1:2-5,8-10 / Ps 149: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6a and 9b / Mt 23:13-22

READINGS
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5,8-10
We give thanks to God at all times for you and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall before God our Father the work of your faith, the labors of your love and your endurance in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord. We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such not only in words. Miracles, Holy Spirit and plenty of everything were given to you. You also know how we dealt with you for your sake. since from you the word of the Lord spread to Macedonia and Achaia, and still farther. The faith you have in God has become news in so many places that we need say no more about it. Others tell of how you welcome us and turned from idols to the Lord. For you serve the living and true God, and you wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who frees us from impending trial.

Matthew 23:13-22
Therefore, woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow others to do so. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel by sea and land to win a single convert, yet once he is converted, you make him twice as fit for hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides! You say: To swear by the Temple is not binding, but to swear by the treasure of the Temple is binding. Blind fools! Which is of more worth: the gold in the Temple, or the Temple which makes the gold a sacred treasure? You say: To swear by the altar is not binding, but to swear by the offering on the altar is binding. How blind you are! Which is of more value: the offering on the altar, or the altar which makes the offering sacred? Whoever swears by the altar, is swearing by the altar and by everything on it. Whoever swears by the Temple is swearing by the Temple and by God who dwells in the Temple. Whoever swears by heaven is swearing by the throne of God, and by him who is seated on it.

REFLECTION
When the Lord knocks at our door, are we ready to let Him in? God offers each of us an open door to His kingdom but, sometimes, we ourselves close it. Jesus proclaimed that He is the door (John 10:8-9) and the way (John 14:6) that makes it possible to access Heaven. Jesus also laments as he issues a stern warning. He was angry at religious leaders because they misled the people. Oaths were binding but the Pharisees found clever ways to evade the obligation to their oaths. They forgot that God hears everything we say and knows what we do and why we do it.

How often have we made promises like we will not eat meat as a sacrifice for Lent and then, when the situation presents itself, say it's all right to eat the beef because we did a good deed or went to mass on that day?

How can we shut the door of God's kingdom in our lives by closing our ears to Jesus? The Lord wants to dwell with us and to bring us His kingdom. God's kingdom is present in all who seek Him and do His will. Do we pray as Jesus has taught, "Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10)?

Lord, your word is life to us. Help us not to close the door to your kingdom through disobedience, disbelief or indifference. Help us to listen to your voice and conform our lives more fully to your word.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Joy Droke
… In Thanksgiving for the birthday of Mary Joy Billanes
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Inocencio B. Bajala. 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: Edwin C. Inocentes
- Birthday: Ceferina Del Valle
- In Memoriam (+): Edgardo Diama
… 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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