DAILY- HOMILY

October 17, 2013

Thursday 28^th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Memorial, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

Rom 3:21-29 / Ps 130: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6ab / Lk 11:47-54

Romans 3:21-29

But, now it has been revealed altogether apart from the Law, as it was already foretold in the Law and the Prophets: God makes us righteous by means of faith in Jesus Christ, and this is applied to all who believe, without distinction of persons. Because all have sinned and all fall short of the Glory of God; and all are graciously forgiven and made righteous through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus. For God has given him to be the victim whose blood obtains us forgiveness through faith. So God shows us how he makes us righteous. Past sins are forgiven which God overlooked till now. For now he wants to reveal his way of righteousness: how he is just and how he makes us righteous through faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our pride? It is excluded. How? Not through the Law and its observances, but through another law which is faith. For we hold that people are in God's grace by faith and not because of all the things ordered by the Law. Otherwise, God would be the God of the Jews; but is he not God of pagan nations as well?

Luke 11:47-54

A curse is on you, for you build monuments to the prophets your ancestors killed. So you approve and agree with what your ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and you build monuments to them! For that reason the Wisdom of God also said: I will send prophets and apostles and this people will kill and persecute some of them. But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the people of this Time will have to answer for them all. A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented others from entering." As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to harass him, asking him endless questions, setting traps to catch him in something he might say.

REFLECTION

If we felt that we have hurt or offended others, we do our best to redeem ourselves from the mistakes we have committed against them and ourselves. We seek atonement as the only way to take away the guilt in our hearts. We contribute time and money to charitable projects to atone for the sins committed against others.

We often forget that God has sent His only Son to atone for our sins. It was Jesus who died on the cross to atone for our wrong doings. The grace of God is with us through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Do we always remember to be grateful for this grace?

Today's gospel admonishes not only the people who killed the prophets that God sent, but also the people who condoned the killing and built their tombs. God's messengers and servants served in the best of their ability, but there were those who, with the slightest provocation, chose to criticize them, find faults and continued to persecute them. It is no wonder that the "Pharisees began to oppose Jesus fiercely and tried to find fault in the things that he said and did."

Let us reflect on our lives, in our actions, thoughts and deeds. Can we do more than be true to the teachings of Jesus, help those who are dedicated in serving the Church, especially the priests, bishops, nuns, religious … those whose task is to serve the true Shepherd?

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

Brenda D. Solis, Sister Carmencita and Ibarra Cruz

… for the personal intentions of

Ma. Angeli Marmeto

Ma.Amparo H. Dedios

Beny Chua

… for the eternal repose of the souls of

-               Larry Erickson, Wally Hingten, Dick Thomas,Adrian Peterson Jr.

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: Rose Siaco

Birthday: Roy Emerson S. Tiu

Wedding Anniversary: Christine & Mike Dinh

Thanksgiving: Tyrone & Letty Tang

In Memoriam (+): Sergio V. Lim Sr.

… 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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