DAILY- HOMILY

September 13, 2015 - 24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle B, Green        

Is 50:5 – 9a / Jas 2: 14 – 18 / Mk 8: 27 – 35

First Reading:  Is 50: 6 - 7

     The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.

     I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord Yahweh is my help, who will condemn me?

Second Reading: Jas 2:14 – 18

     What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, "May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied," without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead.

     Say to whoever challenges you, "You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act." 

Gospel: Mk 8:27 - 35

     Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Cesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" And they told him, "Some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets."

    Then Jesus asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?"  Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." And he ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

     Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days rise again.  Jesus said all this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus turning around, and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter saying, "Get behind me Satan! You are thinking, not as God does, but as people do."

     Then Jesus called the people and his disciples and said, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.  For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it."

Reflection:

     At an opportune time Jesus tests his disciples with crucial questions, "Who do men say I am and who do you say that I am?" He was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, compared with John the Baptist and the great prophets Elijah and Jeremiah.

     Peter, quick to respond, professes that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Messiah. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter, but only God. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He recognized Jesus as the Anointed One, Christ the Messiah. 

     Peter's faith, however, was severely tested when Jesus explained that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die to accomplish

God's work of the years since the resurrection of Jesus and two thousand years of the Christian faith, who do I say Jesus is? Is he the merciful Savior? Is he the Lord God? Is he a friend? And a brother?

     What are our images and experiences of the Lord Jesus? And are we able to be as merciful as Jesus was? Have we entrusted ourselves totally to him? Have we imbibed the values he preached, especially his love for the poor and the underprivileged? Do we feel saved knowing Jesus never gives up on us? Do we give up on others? Or do we allow them multiple chances as Jesus does?

     We can never fully describe our experiences and understanding of Jesus. Nonetheless, whatever images and experiences we may have of Jesus at different moments in our lives will hopefully be reflected in our lives as our way of showing the depth and intimacy of our belief in and relationship with Jesus and as signs of our commitment to live by his commandment of love.   

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     BING A. COURTNEY

     DANIEL SY TAN

     JADEN MARCUS YAP DY

     MARIA LOURDES MIRANDA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ARTEMIO REYES

     MANUEL DIAZ

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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