DAILY- HOMILY

December 7, 2013

Saturday 1st Week of Advent - Year I

Memorial, Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor

Is 30:19-21,23-26 / Ps 147: 1-2. 3-4. 5-6 / Mt 9:35—10: 8

Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. When you cry, he will listen; when he hears, he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, he, your teacher will hide no longer. Your own eyes will see him, and your ear will listen to his words behind you: "This is the way, walk in it." He will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. Your beasts of bur- den will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel. For on the day of the great slaugh ter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill. 26 The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when Yahweh binds up the wounds of his people and heals the bruises inflicted by his blows.

Matthew 9:35—10: 8

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds, he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest." Then he called his twelve disciples to him, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartho lomew, Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, the Cana anite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him. Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instructions: "Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift.

Reflection

As we reflect and think of ourselves now, in our modern society, we realize that we are no different from the ancient Israelites during the time of Isaiah as well as the contemporaries of our Lord Jesus in Palestine of the first century. We have the same needs, hopes, frustrations and we all suffer in different degrees as we live in damaged societies caused by our own imperfections. It is because of this that the message of Isaiah and our Lord are still very much relevant to us living many years after. Furthermore, the modern lifestyle with its relative moral values had resulted in dwindling vocations to consecrated life. Indeed, "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few". Can we hear the invitation of our Lord to be his co-workers in the building of his kingdom in our hearts, our families, our parishes, our workplaces and our country? St. Augustine when he heard the call of God through the person of St. Ambrose, responded by a life of total service to God and His Church. If we allow the Holy Spirit to be a part of our lives, then we may in our own little way be able to participate in God's great undertaking which Augustine did greatly by his life and work. Like the twelve apostles were called and like the 12 tribes of Israel who were chosen, we are being gathered to become the Church to participate in the great mission of Christ and to build the Kingdom of God. How well have I responded to His call by the way I live and the way I treat everyone around me – my family and loved ones, and especially those I find so difficult to love?

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

-                  Lorenzo Meoli

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

In Memoriam (+): Carmelita Yu Co (Feb 10, 1949 - Dec 7, 1997)

In Memoriam (+): Catherine Joy Yu Co (Nov 14, 1988 - Dec 7, 1997)

In Memoriam (+): Vicente Dy Sun Jr.

… 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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