DAILY- HOMILY

September 24, 2015 THURSDAY, 25th Week in Ordinary Time       

Green      

Hg 1:1 – 8 / Lk 9:7 - 9

Reading: Hg 1:1 – 8 

     In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, a word of Yahweh was directed to the prophet Haggai for the benefit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

      "So says Yahweh of hosts: This people claim that the time to rebuild the House of Yahweh has not yet come. Well now, hear what I have to say through the prophet Haggai: Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins? Think about your ways: you have sown much but harvested little, you eat and drink but are not satisfied, you clothe yourselves but still feel cold, and the laborer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.

     Now think about what you must do: go to the mountain and look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy and I will feel deeply honored, says Yahweh. 

Gospel: Lk 9:7 - 9      

     King Herod heard of all this and did not know what to think, for people said, "This is John, raised from the dead." Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. As for Herod, he said, "I had John beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?" And he was anxious to see him.

Reflection:

     We live in an age where information is power. We are able to make decisions on how to act, think and even feel based on the knowledge that we have. The more information we have, the more empowered we feel to act because we know that we have adequate data for our decisions. 

     In the Gospel reading today, this was what Herod wanted:  information.  Herod, who had already ordered John the Baptist to be beheaded, asked his minions to tell him about the other man who acted as if he were John risen from the dead. Herod did not know that he was inquiring about Jesus of Nazareth. He did not know that, even though John had died, there was one far greater that John who could continue to challenge his ways and the ways of his world.  Herod did not know of the plan of God, and the role that John had played in it.  He would meet Jesus at a later date when Pilate the Roman Procurator would Jesus to him when he heard he was from Galilee.  By then, it would be already too late for Herod to change his ways. And Herod was not about to change his ways.

     In our daily lives, we have to ask ourselves: Are we like the curious Herod? What do we know about Jesus of Nazareth from our education? From the homilies we hear at Mass? From our own readings and reflection? From our own life and experience?

     What do we know about the Good News which continues to be preached even today? How much time do we give to reflect on what we have heard, read and learned about our Lord?

     Our Lord is not some historical figure of the past: our Lord is the living Son of God made man at the right hand of the Father. We ask that we may believe, though we have not seen. 

     We ask that that Father may reveal to us as he did to Peter9who Jesus really is, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Mt 16: 16)

     We ask for the grace of faith to believe and affirm, with the once-doubting Thomas, "You are my Lord and my God." (Jn 20: 28)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     DINNA A. RAMOS

     NENA

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     JUANITO & STELLA DY'

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the thanksgiving and special intentions of Beny Chua.

For the special intentions of Mary Wong for her son Lawrence.

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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