DAILY- HOMILY

September 12, 2013

Thursday 23rd Week in Ordinary Time – Year I

Col 3:12-17 / Ps 150: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6 / Lk 6:27-38

Colossians 3:12-17

Clothe yourselves, then, as is fitting for God's chosen people, holy and beloved of him. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience to bear with one an- other and forgive whenever there is any occasion to do so. As the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one an - other. Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. May the peace of Christ overflow in your hearts; for this end you were called to be one body. And be thankful. Let the word of God dwell in you in all its richness. Teach and admonish one another with words of wisdom. With thankful hearts sing to God psalms, hymns and spontaneous praise. And whatever you do or say, do it in the Name of Jesus, the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 6:27-38

But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt. Give to the one who asks, and if anyone has taken something from you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of grace is yours? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of grace is yours? Even sinners do the same. If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of grace is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return. But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High. For he is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back."

Reflection

The lesson offered to us in today's reading is much easier said than done, easier spoken than lived. Who would ever enjoy loving one's enemy? Giving the other cheek to the one who strikes us ? Lending our things without expecting their return? This would be impossible to do! One would even enjoy taking vengeance against one's enemies if there is an opportunity. But Jesus, the Son of God, teaches us otherwise. And he did not only tell us but showed us by his life, how he lived according to God's will even to the point of selflessness. But Jesus is also God! Is it possible for me to live this kind of life, me, a mere human being and a sinner?

If we look around¸ we can find not far away, a perfect model of a follower of Jesus, our Blessed Mother Mary who is human in every way and who has followed Jesus so closely in utter simplicity and humility. She did not publish her privilege of being chosen the mother of God, but openly accepted her vocation in quiet simplicity, though she was forewarned of the double sword that would pierce her heart when she presented the child Jesus in the Temple. We also have other saints as examples who were inspired to live as Jesus had lived. So if they were able to do it, this must be possible for me and for you, too. Why shouldn't we give it a try? Loving our enemies and doing good to them? This is something new for us, but with and in Jesus, nothing is impossible.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Arceli Capitly 

Dinah Marzan 

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

Deacon Nick Vietri, Annette Sturhmans 

… for the personal intentions of

Father William 

Andrew Guri 

Beny Chua 

… In Memoriam: 

Bernardo Santiago Jr. 

Ruben M. Pasion 

… for the eternal repose of the soul of Dindo Quilona. 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: Luz S. Lim

In Memoriam (+): Benito T. Tan (Aug 23, 1922 - Sept 12, 1998)

… 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!

**************************************************  

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:

+================================================+

   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |            http://www.marythequeen.org

   |  Distributed free and for personal use only. 

+================================================+