DAILY- HOMILY

November 20, 2014

Thursday 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Rv 5: 1-10 / Ps 149: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b / Lk 19: 41-44 

Reading: Rv 5: 1-10

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on both sides, sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel exclaimed in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open this and break the seals?" But no one in heaven or on earth or in the netherworld was found able to open the book and read it. I wept much when I saw that no one was found worthy to open the book and read it. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Shoot of David, has conquered; he will open the book of the seven seals." And I saw next to the throne with its four living creatures and the twenty-four elders a Lamb standing, although it had been slain. I saw him with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth. The Lamb moved forward and took the book from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed before the Lamb. They all held in their hands harps and golden cups full of incense which are the prayers of the holy ones. This is the new song they sang: You are worthy to take the book and open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you purchased for God people of every race, language and nation; and you made them a kingdom and priests for our God and they shall reign over the land.

Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it and said, "If only today you knew the ways of peace! But now your eyes are held from seeing. Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side. And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your God."

Reflection:

     Jesus' lament for Jerusalem sounded like a father's grieving for a wayward child who failed to recognize his worth as a child of God and squandered his life on meaningless things or even debauchery. In a sense, the "enemies" in this passage may be those patterns of sinfulness that result in serious consequences that hold us hostage and keep us from enjoying our birth right as children of God. But we can derive consolation from today's Psalm reading (Psalm 149: 4): "For the Lord takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory." We must be poor to ourselves in order for God to delight in us. For indeed God loves us unconditionally and only wishes us good. He reproves us, much like our own earthly father, but he will never abandon 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 eternal repose of the soul of Liway Gamboa

... for the special intentions of Jennette Pe

We pray especially for Lorenzo Sy: 

     That his doctors may be guided in the cure of Lorenzo

     that his surgery may be successful

     and that he may be granted a long term cure.  

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |            http://www.marythequeen.org

   |  Distributed free and for personal use only.  

  +================================================+