DAILY- HOMILY

March 8, 2014 

Saturday after Ash Wednesday 

[St. John of God, religious]

 

Is 58: 9b-14 / Ps 86: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 / Lk 5: 27-32  

 

Reading: Is 58: 9b-14

If you remove from your midst the yoke, the clenched fist and the wicked word, if you share your food with the hungry and give relief to the oppressed, then your light will rise in the dark, your night will be like noon. Yahweh will guide you always and give you relief in desert places. He will strengthen your bones; he will make you as a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, the age-old foundations will be raised. You will be called the Breach-mender, and the Restorer of ruined houses. If you stop profaning the sabbath and doing as you please on the holy day, if you call the sabbath a day of delight and keep sacred Yahweh's holy day, if you honor it by not going your own way, not doing as you please and not speaking with malice, then you will find happiness in Yahweh, over the heights you will ride triumphantly, and feast joyfully on the inheritance of your father Jacob you. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.           

 

Gospel: Luke 5: 27-32                                                                                               

After this Jesus went out, and as he noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office, he said to him, "Follow me." So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus. Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax collectors came to his house and took their place at table with the other people. Then the Pharisees and their fellow teachers complained to Jesus' disciples, "How is it that you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?" But Jesus spoke up," Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have come to call to repentance; I call sinners, not the righteous."

 

 

Reflection: 

     It is encouraging to know that the Lord hears our prayers. And when we seem to think that He doesn't, we wonder where we went wrong in our prayers. This is but an incorrect way to go about the thought. The question should be: what must be done for the Lord to hear our prayers? He knows that we are hurt and in need. He knows that we are in pain and sick. He knows everything that we may not even fully know. In Psalm 86:1-6, we are shown an example of a prayer in its four forms all together. First we adore the Lord and praise Him for His glory and grace. Second, contrition or asking for forgiveness for things we have done and haven't done, being aware that we are mere beings under His will. Third, thanksgiving, when we thank the Lord for the people around us, the air we breathe, the land beneath our feet and everything else that He offers us. Last but not the least, supplication also known as petition. This is when we ask the Lord for what we need or even for what other people need, such as a friend, a newfound hope, and anything else. These four forms: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication – can be prayed separately or together in one prayer. 

     These are but a few types of prayer that one can do. There is also the option to quietly think about God, for communication is a two-way street. When we talk, we also need to keep quiet and listen. If one is scared, don't be. We should not be afraid of this process. Listening can be thinking about the Lord. We also think about the Lord when we read the Holy Scriptures. When we are true to our hearts, the Lord will listen to our pleading. 

 

Prayer Requests:

We pray …

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

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

… for families who are in need of healing

     * Joy Droke

… for personal intentions

… 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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