DAILY- HOMILY

July 11, 2015 SATURDAY, 14TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Benedict, Abbot     

Memorial, White

Gn 49:29 - 32; 50:15 - 26a / Mt 10:24 - 33

[St. Benedict (480 -547), born in Norcia, organized monastic lifer with his Rule for the Benedictines. He was proclaimed Patron of Europe by Pope Paul VI.]

Reading: Gn 49: 29 - 32; 50: 15 – 26a

     He then gave them these instructions: "I am soon to be gathered to my people; bury me near my fathers, in the cave in the field of Ephron, the Hittite; in the cave in the field of Machpelah, to the east of Mamre in Canaan, the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place. It was there that Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried. There they buried Leah. The field and the cave in it were purchased from the Hittites."

     When Joseph's brothers realized that their father was dead they said, "What if Joseph turns against us in hate because of the evil we did him?" So they sent word to Joseph saying, "Before he died your father told us to say this to you: Please forgive the crime and the sin of your brothers in doing evil to you. Forgive the crime of the servants of your father's God." When he was given the message, Joseph wept. His brothers went and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph reassured them, "Don't be afraid! Am I in the place of God? You intended to do me harm, but God intended to turn it to good in order to bring about what is happening today – the survival of many people. So have no fear! I will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he touched their hearts and consoled them.

     Joseph remained in Egypt together with all his father's family. He lived for a hundred and ten years, long enough to see Ephraim's great-grandchildren, and also to have the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, placed on his knees after their birth.

     Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am going to die, but God will surely remember you and take you from this country to the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Joseph then made the sons of Israel swear, saying, "When God comes to bring you out from here, carry my bones with you." Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten.

Gospel: Mt 10:24 - 33

     Jesus said to the twelve, "A student is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. A student should be glad to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If the head of the family has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of the family! So, do not be afraid of them.

     "There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops. 

     "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows.  

     Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven."

Reflection:

     "Do not be afraid." This is mentioned four times in today's readings. Once in the first reading as Joseph reassures his brothers that no harm will come to them; and then three times in the Gospel reading.

     Jesus wants to allay our fears and to strengthen us not be afraid of the things of the world. That is if we acknowledge him before the Father in heaven. 

     We continue to have so many fears. What are these fears? We fear pain, serious illnesses, losing material things, getting hurt, separation from our loved ones, failures, embarrassment even the unknown. 

     Being mindful of the presence of our Lord Jesus in our life helps us to conquer these fears because we are reminded that his love conquers our fears.  

     If there is any fear that we should really come upon us, it should be the fear of being separated from God. As we know sin separates us from God. Thus if we avoid sin, and be reconciled with God through the Sacraments our fears will be banished. Receiving the Sacraments of reconciliation and holy communion makes us come closer to the Lord and really feel his presence. So let us go and receive the Sacraments. "Do not be afraid."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANDREA NICOLE C. SYLING

     JUYIN CHENG

     LAL MANALO

     MARCIANA ZENAIDA CUNANAN

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     EDMUND & MILLIE DY

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Anita Lecaros.

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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