DAILY- HOMILY

October 9, 2013

Wednesday 27^th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Memorial, Saint Denis and companions, martyrs or Saint John Leonardi, priest

Jon 4:1-11 / Ps 86: 3-4. 5-6. 9-10 / Lk 11:1-4

Jonah 4:1-11

But Jonah was greatly displeased at this, and he was indignant. He prayed to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh, is this not what I said when I was yet in my own country? This is why I fled to Tar shish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and full of love, and you relent from imposing terrible punishment. I beseech you now, Yahweh, to take my life, for now it is better for me to die than to live." But Yahweh replied, "What right have you to be angry?" Jonah then left the city. He went to a place east of it, built himself a shelter and sat under its shade to wait and see what would happen to Nineveh. Then Yahweh God provided a castor-oil plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade over his head and to ease his discomfort. Jonah was very happy about the plant. But the next day, at dawn, God sent a worm which attacked the plant and made it wither. When the sun rose, God sent a scorching east wind; the sun blazed down upon Jonah's head, and he grew faint. His death wish returned and he said, "It is better for me to die than to live." Then God asked Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the castor-oil plant?" Jonah answered, "I am right to be angry enough to wish to die." Yahweh said, "You are concerned about a plant which cost you no labor to make it grow. Overnight it sprang up, and overnight it perished. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish right from left and they have many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned for such a great city?"

Luke 11:1-4

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." And Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this: Father, may your name be held holy, may your kingdom come; give us each day the kind of bread we need, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong; and do not bring us to the test."

REFLECTION

The first reading is the conclusion of the book of the prophet Jonah. Jonah is sent by God to Nineveh to call the sinful Ninevites to conversion. He goes reluctantly, and lo and behold, they convert and repent of their wickedness, so God does not inflict the disaster he has threatened to do. But the prophet becomes indignant and protests against God's merciful and forgiving ways.

How ironic this situation is, yet we are sometimes like Jonah. When somebody we dislike or despise starts to reform his life and ends up doing good, sometimes we do not rejoice at this turn of events. We are so lacking in kindness, especially to people whom we do not like. We would prefer that God punish the sinner rather than forgive him. But God is our complete opposite. He is always ready to forgive sinful men when they turn back to Him. His desire is to save all men, and His mercy and compassion are always available to everyone.

Let us pray to be kind and merciful as God wants us to be, so that when the time comes to ask forgiveness for our own sins, He will readily give it to us.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Enrique Navarro and Eufrocina Navarro

Joy Droke

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

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

… for the personal intentions of

Ma. Theresa P. Guevarra

Beny Chua

Ben,Nancy,Mary Ann M, Netta, Mrs D, Joan's son, Fr. Larry & his dad

Pauline

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

Birthday: Ellery S. Lim

Birthday: Corazon S. Chiong

In Memoriam (+): Jose John C. Payawal

In Memoriam (+): Candida Cuiting

In Memoriam (+): Arch. Thomas S. Diokno (May 29, 1931 - Oct 9, 2011)

In Memoriam (+): Teresa Sia Go

… 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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