DAILY- HOMILY

July 10, 2015 FRIDAY, 14th Week in Ordinary Time         

Green           

Gn 46:1 – 7, 28 – 30 / Mt 10: 16 - 23

Reading: Gn 46:1 – 7, 28 – 30

     Israel left with all he owned and reached Beersheba where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions that he had during the night, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he said. "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I will go with you to Egypt and I will bring you back again and Joseph's hand will close your eyes."

     Jacob left Beersheba and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father with their little children and their wives in the wagons that Joseph had sent to fetch him. They also took their flocks and all that they had acquired in Canaan. And so it was that Jacob came to Egypt and with him all his family, his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, in short all his children he took with him to Egypt.

     Jacob sent Judah ahead to let Joseph know he was coming and that he would soon arrive in the land of Goshen.

     Joseph got his chariot ready in order to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself, threw his arms around his father and wept on his shoulder for a long time. Israel said to Joseph, "Now I can die, for I have seen your face and know you are alive."

Gospel: Mt 10:16-23 

     Jesus said to the twelve. "Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves. Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, and so you may witness to them and the pagans. 

     "But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you. 

     "Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. For sure, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Reflection:

     Expect that when the Lord comes into our lives, our lives will not remain the same. When the Holy Spirit descends upon us, we can be sure that our lives will be set in motion. There will always be a dynamic activity, an interaction that comes from above. And for sure conflict will arise when we stand up as witnesses for Christ. 

     Whether in the office or in the family, there may be many topics and views contrary to the teachings of the Church. In the world, we will be caught in tension as we strive to follow the will of God. We will be tempted, and many trials will await us. We may be subjected to ridicule, criticism and even hatred when we stand by Christ. 

     The world does not value Christ. Many of the teachings in the Gospel are against the values of the world. We are in the world, but yet we do not belong to the world.  

     Today's Gospel reading invites us to stand firm in our Christian beliefs, during opportune and inopportune times. We may lose many friends, jobs, business opportunities and securities. It is a great sacrifice, but then we follow God and not men, and our reward will also be great in heaven.  

     The consolation is that the Holy Spirit will defend us and make us righteous.  In the midst of the difficulties and trials because of our commitment to our faith,  God will provide. He will take care of us. We should consider it an honor to follow his footsteps, to experience some "crucifixion" and to complete whatever is lacking in his passion through our suffering with him. 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     JOYCE MARIE C. ALVAREZ

     ENRIQUE-JAIME CASTILLO

     EVER LIM NGO

     HITCHELLE E CARSTENSEN

     JOSEFINA N. TANDIAMA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     MACARIA CO YU (JUN 25, 1924 – JUL 10, 1988)

     WILFRED S. SY (OCT 12, 1944 – JUL 10, 1994)

     YU CHENG PHO (1911 – 1989)

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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