DAILY- HOMILY

December 6, 2014

Saturday, First Week of Advent

[Memorial, St. Nicholas]

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

Reading: Is 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 burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel. For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill. 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.  

Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and illness   These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: "The kingdom of heaven has come near."  Heal those who are ill, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Reflection:

     Jesus didn't just preach about salvation, he did something about it. He saved us. He performed miracles and healed thousands of people and his whole life was just a living testimony of unconditional love. Faith without actions is dead. We can say how much we love God and go to church every Sunday, but if Jesus' presence isn't obvious in our lives, it all amounts to nothing. Without love, we are nothing. God didn't just ask us to stand by the sidelines, he called us to act. He commanded us to preach the good news. That's supposed to be our mission. And he gave us the power and the strength and the love to do it. The question is -- are we willing to do what he asks us to do?  We need to participate in this cooperative effort for God's plan of salvation.  

     We cannot allow ourselves to be on the sidelines watching the world go by. As his followers, we should be willing to witness his love in our lives.  Let us continue to pray for courage and faith to do just that.

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 intentions of Feliciana Bonsol and Ma Fatima Nona M. Bonsol

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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