DAILY- HOMILY

February 6, 2016 FRIDAY, 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Sts. Paul Miki, Religious, and Companions;

San Pedro Bautista, Priest;

Bl. Charles Spinola, Sebastian Kimura, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

Memorial, Red 

Heb 13: 1–8 / Mk 6:14–29

[St. Paul Miki (1562–1597), a Japanese Jesuit novice, and 25 companions were martyred on crosses and then speared in Nagasaki. Among them was San Pedro Bautista (1542 – 1597), a Spanish Franciscan missionary who had worked for nine years in the Philippines.]

[Bl. Charles Spinola (1564–1622), an Italian Jesuit missionary, was martyred in Nagasaki with thirty other Jesuits, half of them Japanese; among them was Bl. Sebastian Kimura (1565–1622).]

Reading: Heb 13: 1–8

     Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you know that some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were with them in chains, and the same for those who are suffering. Remember that you also have a body.

     Marriage must be respected by all and husband and wife faithful to each other. God will punish the immoral and the adulterous.

     Do not depend on money. Be content with having enough for today for God has said: I will never forsake you or abandon you, and we shall confidently answer: The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me? Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Consider their end and imitate their faith. Christ Jesus is the same today as yesterday and forever.

Gospel: Mk 6:14–29

     King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name had become well-known. Some people said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Others thought, "He is Elijah," and others, "He is a prophet like the prophets of times past." When Herod was told of this, he thought: "I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!"

     For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

     Herodias had her chance on Herod's birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you." And he went so far as to say with many oaths, "I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom." She went out to consult her mother, "What shall I ask for?" The mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried to the king and made her request: "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish." 

     The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

Reflection:

     At his martyrdom, St. Paul Miki forgave his enemies: "I believe that not one of you thinks I want to hide the truth. That is why I declare to you that there is no other way of salvation than the one followed by Christians. Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies and all who have offended me, I willingly forgive the king and all those who have desired my death. And I pray that they will obtain the desire of Christian baptism."

     Saints inspire us to seek the perfection of God which is not so much as to become perfect in the sense of having no sin, but to be like God in the perfect love of loving even enemies. For when we were his enemies, Christ loved and forgave us to the point of giving up his life for us. Therefore, we learn that perfect love consists in forgiveness of the wrong and evil that others have committed against us. This experience calls many to conversion, and affirms the truth that God exists because forgiving the enemy is a divine act.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     BAYANI R. REYES

     MILLET R. MASCARINAS

     VICTORIA NAÑAGAS AND GABRIEL NAÑAGAS

IN MEMORIAM (?)

     FRANCIS B. ANG (JUL 1, 1927 - FEB 6, 2005)

     LUIS ROLEDA

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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