DAILY- HOMILY

September 9, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 23RD Week in Ordinary Time

St. Peter Claver, Priest 

Memorial, White            

Col 3:1–11 / Lk 6:20-26

Reading: Col 3:1 – 11

     So then, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in Glory.

     Therefore, put to death what is earthly in your life, that is immorality, impurity, inordinate passions, wicked desires and greed which is a way of worshiping idols. These are the things that arouse the wrath of God.

     For a time you followed this way and lived in such disorders. Well then, reject all that: anger, evil intentions, malice; and let no abusive words be heard from your lips. 

     Do not lie to one another. You have been stripped of the old self and its way of thinking to put on the new, which is being renewed and is to reach perfect knowledge and the likeness of its creator. There is no room for distinction between Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, foreigner, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Gospel: Lk 6:20 - 26 

     Then looking at his disciples, Jesus said, "Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours." Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember that is how the ancestors of this people treated the prophets. But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of these people treated the false prophets.

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel, Jesus says that the Kingdom belongs to those who are poor and hungry in this world. St. Peter Claver (1581 - 1654) showed the slaves of his time that they were blessed with the dignity of God's Kingdom. 

     A Spaniard, Claver joined the Jesuits at the age of 21. When he was in Majorca studying philosophy, Claver was encouraged by Brother Alphonsus Rodriguez, the saintly doorkeeper at the Jesuit college, to volunteer for the missions in the Americas. In 1610 he arrived in Cartagena, Colombia.

     Claver was deeply disturbed by the harsh treatment and living conditions of the black slaves being brought from Africa. By his time the slave trade had been long established in the Americas and Cartagena was a center for it.  Ten thousand slaves poured into the port each year, crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one third of them died in transit.

     When a ship arrived, Claver begged for fruits, biscuits or sweets to bring to the slaves. He went on board to share his goods as well as his skills as a doctor and a teacher. Claver entered the holds of the ships and would not leave until every person had received some measure of care. He gave short instructions in the Catholic faith and baptized as many as he could. In this way he did his best to prevail on the slave owners to give humane treatment to fellow Christians.

     In forty years of ministry to the slaves, Claver baptized more than 300,000 slaves. Ill for the last four years of his life, he suffered from what we now know as Parkinson's disease. At his death in 1654 the city turned out to give him an elaborate funeral. He was beatified in 1851 and canonized in 1888.

     Claver understood that concrete services like the distribution of food, medicines and care to the slaves were more effective for preaching of the Good News than mere words: "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."

     In our efforts for all peoples to live in harmony, St. Peter Claver teaches us to see every person we encounter, especially those different from us, as brother or sister in Christ.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     EVELYN BAUTISTA

     GIANFRANCO V. AMURAO

     JOYCE TIU

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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