DAILY- HOMILY

March 17, 2015 TUESDAY, 4th Week of Lent

St. Patrick, Bishop and Missionary

Violet

Ez 47:1-9, 12 / Jn 5:1-16

[St. Patrick (389 - 461) was the apostle of Ireland.]

Reading: Ez 47:1-9, 12

     The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.

     The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.

     The man then said to me, "Son of man, did you see?" He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. Fishermen will stand on the banks and spread nets from En Gedi to En Eglaim. Fish of many kinds will be found there, like the fish of the open sea and very plentiful. 

     Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.

Gospel Reading: Jn 5:1-16

     After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people -blind, lame and paralyzed. . . .

     There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, and since he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me."

     Jesus then said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked.

     Now that day happened to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, "It is the Sabbath and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me: Take up your mat and walk." They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?" But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him. . .

     Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple court and told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse happen to you." And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the Sabbath.

     Jesus replied, "My Father goes on working and so do I." And the Jews tried all the harder to kill him, for Jesus not only broke the Sabbath observance, but also made himself equal with God, calling him his own Father.

Reflection:

     If faith is the ability to see the wonders of God, then the Jews in the Gospel story were probably suffering from "near-sighted faith." As the cliché goes, they missed the forest for the trees. Their "affliction" left them squinting at the fine-print, blind to the miracle that had unfolded before their very eyes.

We are often guilty of similar spiritual myopia. We see injustice and suffering. We complain about little inconveniences, small things that don't go our way. But perhaps with a little adjustment in perspective, we will see God's master plan unfolding in our lives - despite and even in tandem with problems along the way.

Lent is a good time to check our perspective. Maybe complaints can give way to gratitude - and we don't miss out on everyday miracles.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     FRANCIS JIM B. TUSCANO

     MARK HIL S. SAYSON

     PATRICIA Y. ONG 

     TINGGOY REYES

     VERNIEMAR G. CUDAL

THANKSGIVING

     PATRICIA B. TIANGCO

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     TAMA & CHRISTINA NG

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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