DAILY- HOMILY

November 30, 2013

Saturday 34^th Week in Ordinary Time- Year I

Feast, Saint Andrew the Apostle Feast

Rom 10: 9-18 / Ps 19: 8. 9. 10. 11 / Mt 4: 18-22

Romans 10: 9-18

You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the heart, you obtain true righteousness; by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For Scripture says: No one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call upon the name of the Lord without having believed in him? And how can they believe in him without having first heard about him? And how will they hear about him if no one preaches about him? And how will they preach about him if no one sends them? As Scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news. Al though not everyone obeyed the good news, as Isaiah said: Lord, who has believed in our preaching? So, faith comes from preaching, and preaching is rooted in the word of Christ. I ask: Have the Jews not heard? But of course they have. Because the voice of those preaching resounded all over the earth and their voice was heard to the ends of the world.

Matthew 4: 18-22

As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him. He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them. At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Reflection

Why would Jesus choose fishermen as his apostles? It certainly was not for their educational background or their training in Scripture. Such men would be found in the synagogues, not by the seashore. The apostles were chosen not because they were pious men at the start, but good men deep down. They were not easily discouraged but patient and persevering. They were not self-indulgent but hard working. Though they were not educated, they were full of wisdom. Through their experiences with Jesus, these first disciples would learn that man can be destroyed, but not defeated.

For the next three years, they would observe Jesus teach, preach and heal. They would then see him crucified but rise from the dead and ascend into glory. After Pentecost, when they received the power of the Holy Spirit, these fishermen would embark upon their own mission to catch people for Christ. They too would heal, preach and share with others their hope of eternal glory.

Although we many not fishermen like the first disciples, we too are called by Jesus to live for him, not just earn a livelihood. We are invited to leave behind our old securities and launch out with Jesus onto a larger sea in life. In other words, we are called to be witnesses for Jesus and fishers of men and women for him. And we fulfill our ministry whenever we reach out in love to heal others by words of comfort in their times of sorrow or gestures of encouragement in their moments of crisis.

We witness to Jesus whenever we proclaim the indestructibility of hope by bouncing back from our own losses or by starting anew after a tragedy. We draw others closer to the Lord whenever we pray together as a family or forgive one another's offenses. To be fishers of men and women is more than a figure of speech. It is a mission from Christ, through Christ and in Christ.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

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

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

- Lorenzo Meoli

- Joy Droke

- Renan Lacida, Ramon Domingo, Karren Anne Domingo

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

… for the personal intentions of

- Beny Chua

- Pauline

In Thanksgiving: Castillo family

In Memoriam: Soterania Santiago

… for the eternal repose of the souls of

- Elsa Supsup

- Bong Lacida, Rowena Lacida-Yap, Kaye Factoran, Jennifer Santos, XJ Javier, Jess Garces, Grace Mabunay-Bonggalo, Ernesto Apacible, Luding Grindulo, Gelic Red, Raul Lacida, Nellie Lacida

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: Erwin Peale E. Belza

Birthday: Raynard Lim Yu

Wedding Anniversary: Bert & Mi-ann Lombos

Wedding Anniversary: Timothy & Eurica Tan

Wedding Anniversary: Gonzalo & Perpetua F. Ang

In Memoriam (+): Grace Ang Lim (Feb 20, 1954 - Nov 30, 2000)

In Memoriam (+): Yao Le de Sy Suy (1903-1968)

… 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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