DAILY- HOMILY

October 28, 2014

Tuesday 30th Week in Ordinary Time

[Feast of Sts. Simon & Jude, apostles]   

Eph 2: 19-22 / Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 / Lk 6:12-16  

Reading: Eph 2: 19-22

Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Gospel: Luke 6:12-16

At this time Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God.  When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alpheus and Simon called the Zealot; Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel, we see how Jesus, after much prayer and meditation, chooses his twelve apostles from among his disciples.  While a disciple is merely a follower of Jesus, an apostle is a "messenger, a person sent forth." Sacred Tradition tells us that after evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude, and as a team, spread the gospel in Persia, Armenia and Lebanon, where they were both martyred. Do you have the strength and courage to announce the Good News like Simon and Jude? What treasure did the apostles discover that allowed them to give up their lives for the evangelization? Is it possible to find meaning in suffering for Christ to the point of death?

     The first reading tells us that the foundation for the zeal to announce the gospel is Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of our faith, because anyone who has received him shall no longer die. Truly, we on earth can experience eternal life when we have Jesus in our hearts, who himself experienced suffering and death, and who makes it possible for us to become fellow citizens with God's people and members of his household. Death is a vanquished adversary who has lost its power and sting when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. As we approach All Saints' and All Souls' Day, let us ask the intercession of Sts. Simon and Jude. May their lives teach us not to fear death any longer, that the sufferings we experience can have meaning in Jesus Christ, and that eternal life may be with us through Jesus who has fought this battle for us.

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

... for world peace and reconciliation

... for the birthday intentions of Iona Lacson Dy

... for wisdom, perseverance and clarity of mind for those who prepare and take their exams:

     * Elmer and Liza who will take their exams on October 25, 26, 28

... for the personal intentions of Beny Chua

... for the eternal repose of Pelagia Sandoval

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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