DAILY- HOMILY

October 2, 2013

Wednesday 26th Week in Ordinary Time – Year I

Memorial, Guardian Angels

Ne 2:1-8 / Ps 137: 1-2. 3. 4-5. 6 / Lk 9:57-62

Nehemiah 2:1-8

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, I was doing my duty as cup-bearer. I took up the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad before the king in the past. So, the king said to me, "Why do you look sad? You don't look sick. Is there something that bothers you?" I became hesitant. And I said, "May the king live forever! How could I afford not to be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates are burned down?" The king said to me, "What do you want, then?" I asked help of God from heaven and said to the king, "If it seems good to the king and if he is pleased with my work, then may he send me to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, that I may rebuild it." The queen was sitting beside the king, and the king asked me, "How long will you be gone? When will you be back?" I told him the date and he allowed me to leave. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, may you give me letters for the governors of the province at the other side of the River that I may travel to Judah, and also a letter to Asaph, the caretaker of the king's forest, for I will need wood for the gates of the Citadel near the Temple, for the walls of the city and for the house where I shall live." The good hand of God was supporting me, so that the king gave me what I asked.

Luke 9:57-62

As they went on their way, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another Jesus said, "Follow me!" But he answered, "Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them, and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." And Jesus said to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow, and looks back, is not fit for the kingdom of God."

REFLECTION

In the first reading, Nehemiah who was cupbearer to the king of Persia asks the king to let him go back to Israel to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. The king allows him to go and even supplies him with timber to rebuild the walls of the temple. Unlike Ezra who was a scribe/priest, Nehemiah was a layman highly trusted by the king. This tells us that our Christian community (which is also the temple of God) must be rebuilt by both the priests and laymen. There must be laypeople who will give all or most of their time to the evangelization of the faithful, to the building up of the Christian community. We need Christian lay couples and families actively doing the apostolic work of priests.

The gospel talks about the hardships of the apostolic calling. A missionary catechist must be ready to endure any and all physical discomforts to preach anywhere. He understands that his guide in the missions, Jesus Christ, "had nowhere to lay his head." Also the missionary must be ready to cut off all family ties in order to concentrate fully on his apostolate. Once he leaves his house, parents, relatives, etc. he does not know if and when he will come back. He understands that to preach the Good News takes precedence over all family obligations. The last requirement to becoming a missionary is being ready to leave everything behind – a good job, comforts of life, friends and family. But of course support from his family would be a big help in his missionary work.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Benny, Herb, Nick (MD), Debbie (AZ), Denise (TX), Chuck, Ed, Bob M (MN), Randy & Mrs D

… for the personal intentions of Ben, Nancy, Rita, her sisters, Joann's son, Bob F, Mary Ann M & Fr Larry

… for the eternal repose of the soul of Arcadio Licaros. 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: Annie T. Alipao

Birthday: Johnny Lim Uy

… 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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