DAILY- HOMILY

September 26, 2015 SATURDAY, 25th Week in Ordinary Time 

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs                              

Green          

Zec 2:5 – 9, 14 - 15a / Lk 9:43b – 45

[Sts. Cosmas and Damian (d. 303) were brothers known for their medical  skills and were martyred under Diocletian.]

Reading: Zec 2:5 – 9, 14 - 15a

     Raising my eyes again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, "Where are you going?" He answered, "I'm going to measure Jerusalem, to find its width and its length." As the angel who spoke to me came forward, another angel met him and said, "Run and tell this to that young man: 'Jerusalem will remain unwalled because of its multitude of people and livestock.' For this is the word of Yahweh: I myself will be around her like a wall of fire, and also within her in Glory."

     "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for I am about to come, I shall dwell among you," says Yahweh. On that day, many nations will join Yahweh and be my people."

Gospel: Lk 9:43b - 45 

     While all were amazed at everything Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands." But the disciples did not understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Reflection:

     There was a television program in the 60's when television was still black and white entitled "Lost in Space" depicting a family marooned in a planet somewhere in space. Among the characters was a robot who would blurt out the phrase "It does not compute. It does not compute" in its robotic monotone whenever the robot was presented with situations it did not understand. 

     Today, the robot or computer would say or flash on the monitor the error message  'insufficient data' and the program or app would not proceed. The robot is like the disciples who could not comprehend why "the Son of Man must suffer many things . . . be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. . .after three days he will be raised to life" (Lk 9: 22)

     How and why would this happen to such a wonderful teacher, a powerful miracle worker and a faithful friend?  How and why would this happen to one with so many followers and admirers?

     But being a retired IT Specialist, this writer knows that many things or instances 'do not compute' because of insufficient data. It would take an infinite amount of understanding even to grasp a glimpse of God's mind, and we know that we possess only minute understanding and  'insufficient data.' 

     The disciples who could not understand did not put in data or did not have enough data on God's infinite and great love for us. 

     After Christ's death and resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Spirit's continuing presence in the Church, we have been grace and faith to believe in the Paschal mystery of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection for our salvation. 

     Hopefully with faith and grace we have, unlike the disciples in today's Gospel reading, enough data to believe and understand, even if we do not completely comprehend how much God loves us. Hopefully, unlike the robot who stops because "It does not compute" or the computer which stops to function because of 'insufficient data,' we can move on with our lives with great love and gratitude to our good and loving God.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     FR. THOMAS H. O'GORMAN, SJ

     MARILYN SUNG LU

PRAYER INTENTION

     BONIFACE HTWAI AUNG

     REFORM IN MYANMAR

     RELIEF WORK IN LAPUTTA, MYAUNGMYA

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     DRA. ROSALID SIA & DR. JOHN LIM

     NONOY & SHIRLEY PANGANIBAN, M.D.

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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