DAILY- HOMILY

September 24, 2013

Tuesday, 25^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20 / Ps 122: 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5 / Lk 8:19-21

READINGS

Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20

Let the governor of the Jews together with their leaders build the House of God on its former site. This is the command I give as to what you should do to help those Jewish leaders rebuild the House of God: pay the expenses in full and without delay, with the income from taxes of the province at the other side of the River which is allot- ted to the king. And may the God who makes his Name dwell there crush every rebel, king or people, who goes against this and tries to destroy the House of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, give this command. Let it be carried out at once." And the leaders of the Jews continued to make progress in building, encouraged by what Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, had said; and they finished the work according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius. The House was finished on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of those who had returned from exile celebrated the consecration of this House of God with rejoicing, offering on this solemnity one hundred young bulls, two hundred rams and four hundred lambs; and twelve he- goats as a sin-offering for all Israel, ac- cording to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests ac- cording to their ranks, and the Levites according to their classes, for the service of the house of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. Those who had returned from exile celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, for the priests and the Levites had purified them- selves together, and all of them were clean. So, they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all who had returned from exile, for their fellow-priests and for themselves.

Luke 8:19-21

Then his mother and his relatives came to him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you." Then Jesus answered, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Reflection

In the first reading, Ezra the priest recounts the events leading to the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem. After the work was finished, the Jews celebrated exceedingly because finally, after many decades of exile, they could worship again in the Temple of God. For us now, to rebuild the Temple of God could mean to rebuild our inner selves that are broken, to rebuild our family relationships, and finally and most importantly, to rebuild the Christian community.

In the gospel, Jesus is preaching the Word of God to the people stating that the claims of physical relationship comes after the spiritual. He put all his attention in forming a community of believers dedicated to loving, worshipping and serving the God of heaven. What is important is not that we are blood brothers but that we are brothers in the faith dedicated to spreading the Good News and helping people to rebuild their lives. God is our Father so we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We put worship of God before family, service of God before having a great career and worldly success, and obedience to God before obedience to man. Mother Mary surely knew this but some of her relatives and some of the Jews listening to Jesus did not. So Jesus made it clear when he told the people: "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice."

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Brenda

Joy Droke

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

Nick Lucena

… for the personal intentions of

Lavanya

Techie

… for the eternal repose of the soul of Irma Lazatin Veloso. 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: Dinna A. Ramos

Birthday: Jocelyn de Leon

Birthday: Kathrina Onglatco

Wedding Anniversary: Juanito & Stella Dy

In Memoriam (+): Peter Lim Jr. (Jun 28, 1927 - Sept 24, 1997)

… 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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