DAILY- HOMILY

October 17, 2015 SATURDAY, 28TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Memorial, Red

Rom 4:13, 16-18 / Lk 11:27-28

Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18

     If God promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the Law, but because he was just and a friend of God through faith. 

     For that reason, faith is the way and all is given by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the Law, but also for all the others who have believed.

   Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written: I will make you father of many nations. He is our father in the eyes of Him who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence what does not yet exist, for this is the God in whom he believed.

Abraham believed and hoped against all expectation, thus becoming father of many nations, as he had been told: See how many will be your descendants. 

Gospel: Lk 11:27-28

     As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you!" Jesus replied, "Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well."

Reflection: 

     We honor St. Ignatius of Antioch as a man who strived to remain faithful to the teachings of the Church. In spite of all the difficulties and challenges, he did his very best to preserve the foundation of Christ's teachings. This was quite a daunting task especially since the Church of his time was still trying to survive and stay afloat.

     The reality of St. Ignatius during his period is not so far from what we face today. It's easy to fall into compromise in order to placate all parties concerned. The lines seem blurred when it comes to Christian morals and following logic. We find ourselves also trying to survive and remain afloat as we also do all that we can to remain faithful followers of Jesus.

     Perhaps the best way to arm ourselves is to dutifully study the Word of God. There's so much to gain in attending sessions that discuss Church History and other forums that help us understand how the Bible came to be. There's so much to learn about how it was during the era when Our Lord walked the earth. What was the political situation? How were people being treated? It seems like their struggles against social inequality still ring true in these modern times.

     Maybe that's why we are being asked to live out what Jesus teaches us instead of relegating it to just an intellectual discourse. When we find ourselves disoriented with what's happening around us, we can always rely on God's Word to guide us and to steady ourselves. These words have been around much longer than we've been alive and their truth will definitely live on long after we've departed from this world. 

     May we always pray for the grace to be enlightened by the Word. Let us always be so ever grateful that God continues to communicate and interact with us through these means. And in the way we live out our lives, may we always be faithful and be formed by His teachings.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ABRAHAM DANIEL CRUZ

     ATTY. NANCY SIY

THANKSGIVING

     TYRONE & LETTY TANG

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     MIKE & CHRISTINE J. DINH

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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