DAILY- HOMILY

February 7, 2015 SATURDAY, 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Green

Heb 13: 15-17, 20-21 / Mk 6: 30-34

Reading: Heb 13: 15-17, 20-21

     Let us, then, continually offer through Jesus a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips celebrating his name. Do not neglect good works and common life, for these are sacrifices pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are concerned for your souls and are accountable for them. Let this be a joy for them rather than a burden, which would be of no advantage for you.

     May God give you peace, he who brought back from among the dead Jesus our Lord, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, whose blood seals the eternal covenant.

     He will train you in every good work, that you may do his will, for it is he who works in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, to whom all glory be for ever and ever. Amen!

Gospel: Mk 6: 30-34

     The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, "Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest." For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves.

     But people saw them leaving, and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns, they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them. As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began a long teaching session with them.

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel reading, the disciples return to Jesus from their mission. Jesus counsels them to go to a deserted place and rest. Rest the body, surely!

     But could "going off by yourselves to a remote place and having some rest," especially for followers of Jesus today, be a reminder "to set aside time," to rest and review our attitudes and motivations in life?

     We can be so preoccupied with our daily work and routine that we forget the real purpose of our Christian life and work. Our work-place is such an imperfect world that we could easily be caught up with pressing and constant concerns for efficiency and productivity, unaware of the motives, deep and oftentimes unconscious ones, that often determine our choices and decisions, and not only ours but also of those we work with, especially those who direct our work and influence our lives.

     "Going to a deserted place" allows us to distinguish between the grain and chaff, between genuine and false motives. "Going to a deserted place" allows us to have the Lord shed light on our darkness. In the end, "going to a deserted place" is opportunity for prayer and discernment, letting God have a say on how we live our lives, how we work our work.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     GILBERT CHEANG

     JOMAR M. SALVADOR

     REY

     VERNICE

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ONG SU KHUN

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

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