DAILY- HOMILY

December 16, 2014

Tuesday 3rd Week of Advent 

Zep 3: 1-2, 9-13 / Ps 34: 2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23 / Mt 21: 28-32 

Reading: Zep 3: 1-2, 9-13

Woe to the rebellious, the defiled, the city that oppresses. She did not pay attention to the call nor accept the correction; she did not trust Yahweh nor did she approach her God. At that time I will give truthful lips to the pagan nations that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve him with the same zeal. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia they will bring offerings to me. On that day you will no longer be ashamed of all your deeds when you were unfaithful to me; I will have removed from your midst the conceited and arrogant and my holy mountain will no longer be for you a pretext for boasting. I will leave within you a poor and meek people who seek refuge in God. The remnant of Israel will not act unjustly nor will they speak falsely, nor will deceitful words be found in their mouths. They will eat and rest with none to threaten them. 

Gospel: Matthew 21:18-32

While returning to the city early in the morning, Jesus felt hungry. He noticed a fig tree by the road, went up to it and found nothing on it but leaves. Then he said to the tree, "Never again bear fruit!" And immediately, the fig tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were astonished and they said, "How did the fig tree suddenly dry up!" Jesus told them, "Truly, I say to you: if you had faith and did not doubt, not only could you do what I have done with the fig tree, but you could even say to that mountain: 'Go and throw yourself into the sea!' and it would be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer full of faith, you will receive." Jesus had entered the Temple and was teaching when the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the Jewish authorities came to him and asked, "What authority have you to act like this? Who gave you authority to do all this?"Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you a question, only one. And if you give me an answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. When John began to baptize, was it a work of God, or was it merely something human?" They reasoned out among themselves, "If we reply that it was a work of God, he will say: Why, then, did you not believe him? And if we say: The baptism of John was merely something human, beware of the people: since all hold John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what right I do these things." Jesus went on to say, "What do you think of this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said to him: 'Son, today go and work in my vineyard.' And the son answered: 'I don't want to.' But later he thought better of it and went. Then the father went to the second and gave him the same command. This son replied: 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what the father wanted?" They answered, "The first." And Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you: the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven. For John came to show you the way of goodness but you did not believe him, yet the publicans and the prostitutes did. You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him.

Reflection:

     Today is the first day of the Misa de Gallo which is a series of novena masses leading to Christmas Day. We go to Mass early in the morning and we can feel that Christmas is in the air. If we have been so preoccupied with buying gifts and attending parties, now is the time to seriously prepare ourselves spiritually for the Birth of our Savior.  

     In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah talks about a humble and lowly people who will be left in Israel. They are those the Jews called the Anawim, the spiritually poor but ready to submit to God's will.  We think that to be materially deprived is enough to earn the favor of God. No, it is those who are obedient to the Father's will, the Anawim. Jesus and Mary both submitted to God's will totally despite the sufferings their amens cost them. The proud and the braggart, on the other hand, do not listen to others, cannot accept correction, and trust and exalt themselves alone. They are blind to the goodness of others and to God's providence and mercy. It is easier for the poor to enter the kingdom of God because their entry is not based on human endeavor but on their meeting with the Lord in their poverty and weakness. God has large ears eager to listen to our cries, to the cries of the Anawim. He has wide arms to welcome us in our sins.  We need only to cry out and invoke His Name and He will come to our aid. This is the best way to prepare ourselves for Christmas Day.

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 the healing of Denden Villanueva

     * for the emotional healing of Gee de Leon

... 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!

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

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

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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

December 15, 2014

Monday 3rd Week of Advent 

Nm 24: 2-7, 15-17a / Ps 25: 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 / Mt 21: 23-27 

Reading: Nm 24: 2-7, 15-17a

He looked up and saw Israel camping, tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him and he uttered his song: "Word of Balaam, son of Beor, the seer, the one who hears the words of God, and beholds the vision of the Almighty, in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled. How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your encampments, Israel! Like valleys stretching far, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters. His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered. His king becomes stronger than Agag, and his kingdom grows. Then Balaam pronounced his oracle: "Word of Balaam, son of Beor, the seer, the one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, and sees the vision of the Almighty, in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled. I see a figure, but not really.

Gospel: Matthew 21: 23-27

Jesus had entered the Temple and was teaching when the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the Jewish authorities came to him and asked, "What authority have you to act like this? Who gave you authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you a question, only one. And if you give me an answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. When John began to baptize, was it a work of God, or was it merely something human?" They reasoned out among themselves, "If we reply that it was a work of God, he will say: Why, then, did you not believe him? And if we say: The baptism of John was merely something human, beware of the people: since all hold John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what right I do these things."

Reflection:

     We are in the middle of the Advent season. The readings today call us to remember that this season is one of recognizing anew who Jesus is, the Son of God, the promised Messiah. In the first reading, the prophet Balaam draws our attention to a star that will come from the tribe of Jacob. In the Gospel reading, we hear that the chief priests challenge the authority of Jesus.

     Two approaches to life seem to be represented in these two scripture readings.  In the oracle of Balaam, we have a prophet who is attentive to God. Balaam knows God's presence. He hears God's words and sees what God shows him. Balaam knows with a kind of faith that is sure but which he cannot prove by logic or fact. On the other hand, in the gospel reading we hear the chief priests who focus on the more concrete. They want credentials from Jesus. Balaam speaks of a vision.  In it he sees a star that will come from Jacob. He also sees a staff, representing a leader who will rise from Israel.

     These prophecies probably applied directly to the rise of the house of King David and of the Davidic monarch. However, hearing these words in the spirit of Advent. We can also understand them as a foreshadowing of the rise of the star which the Magi followed, and the staff which could be Jesus leading us back to the Father.

     During the remaining days of our Advent preparation, let us strive to recognize how Jesus is our staff, our leader, and our star. 

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

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

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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