DAILY- HOMILY

June 15, 2015 MONDAY, 11th Week in Ordinary Time     

Green    

2 Cor 6: 1 – 10 / Mt 5: 38 - 42

Reading: 2 Cor 6:1-10

     Being God's helpers we beg you: let it not be in vain that you received this grace of God. Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you. This is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation.

     We are concerned not to give anyone an occasion to stumble or criticize our mission. Instead we prove we are true ministers of God in every way by our endurance in so many trials, in hardships, afflictions, floggings, imprisonment, riots, fatigue, sleepless nights and days of hunger.

  People can notice in our upright life, knowledge, patience and kindness, action of the Holy Spirit, sincere love, words of truth and power of God. So we fight with the weapons of justice, to attack as well as to defend.

     Sometimes we are honored, at other times insulted; we receive criticism as well as praise. We are regarded as liars although we speak the truth; as unknown though we are well known; as dead and yet we live. Punishments come upon us but we have not, as yet, been put to death. We appear to be afflicted, yet always joyful; we seem to be poor, but we enrich many; we have nothing, but we possess everything!

Gospel: Mt 5:38 – 42

     You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you this: do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other. If someone sues you in court for your shirt, give your coat as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give when asked and do not turn your back on anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Reflection:

     In receiving and truly accepting the grace of salvation that comes freely to each and everyone of us thru Jesus Christ, the grace that lifts the heavy burden of sin and the reality of our mortal lives from our shoulders, can we then just turn away rather than find some way to serve God in our new lives as St. Paul and the other Apostles did?

     This is the question that St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, poses to us. St Paul asks, just as he asked the Corinthians then, that in our daily lives; in the work we do, how we deal with our co-workers, officemates, suppliers, constituents, helpers, classmates and yes, our spouse, brothers, sisters, mother and father; that we, as the Apostles did, seek to prove ourselves as true "ministers" of God. 

     Corinth was a bustling seaport in Greece of those times. As could be expected, after having been set up by St. Paul, the young church was beset by the many temptations and troubles of living in a corrupt and pagan society not unlike those of today's cosmopolitan port cities. Thus, St. Paul, in his letters to the early Christians of Corinth, urges them not to let their acceptance of God's grace become meaningless and bear no fruit.  

     The same message is addressed to us today; that if we fully appreciate and treasure the free gift of salvation that Christ paid for on our behalf with the sacrifice of his life; that if we really learn to cherish the freedom from sin and from the consequence of human failings that comes with God's grace; then we cannot help but embrace a new life in Christ and willingly commit ourselves to seeking and doing God's will; offering all that we do, all our work, all our joys and pains, our dreams and pursuits, willingly unto the Lord.

     For it is in persevering in this mission – in the way that we face our daily responsibilities, challenges and frustrations; and how we celebrate and share our triumphs, achievements and good fortune – that we have the opportunity to share Christ's grace with others; to shout out, through quiet example and sincere actions what it means to be a Christian, a Catholic, a true disciple of Christ.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

THANKSGIVING

     JERRY & SASA UY

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     WILFRED LIM & EDNA LIM

PRAYER INTENTION

     ADELINA CLAVECILLA

IN MEMORIAM (+) 

     CIPRIANO LU

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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