DAILY- HOMILY

November 23, 2015 MONDAY, 34th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Clement I, Pope and Martyr; 

St. Columban, Abbot;

Bl. Miguel Augustine Pro, Priest and Martyr            

Green     

Dn 1:1-6, 8–20 / Lk 21:1-4

[St. Clement I, Pope and Martyr (d. 99) was the third Pope after St. Peter.]

[St. Columban, Abbot (545 - 615), an Irish monk, went to France and founded many monasteries; his followers also founded many monasteries in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In Italy he founded the monastery at Bobbio, which became a center of culture, learning and spirituality.]

[Bl. Miguel Augustine Pro (1891 – 1927), a Mexican Jesuit priest, was martyred  during fierce persecution of the Church in Mexico.]  

Reading: Dn 1:1 -6, 8–20

     In the third year of Jehoiakim's reign as king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem. The Lord delivered into his hands King Jehoiakim of Judah, and some of the vessels from the temple of God as well. These he carried off to the land of Shinar and placed in the treasure house of his god.

     King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief eunuch Ashpenaz to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility: young men without physical defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, well-informed, quick to learn and understand, and suitable for service in the king's palace. They were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans. They were allotted a daily portion of food and wine from the king's table and were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king's service.

     Among these were young men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 

     As Daniel was resolved not to make himself unclean with the king's food  or  wine,  he  begged  the  chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. By the grace of God, the chief eunuch had been sympathetic to Daniel, but he was afraid of the king, and so he said, "If the king, who has allotted your food and drink, sees that you look more emaciated than the other young men of your age, he might think ill of me. It will put my life in danger to give in to your wish."

     Daniel then turned to the steward whom the chief eunuch had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink, and see how we look in comparison with the young men who eat food from the king's table. Then treat us in accordance with what you see."

     The steward agreed and tested them for ten days, at the end of which they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate the king's food. So the steward continued to give them vegetables instead of the choice food and wine.

     To these four youths God gave wisdom and proficiency in literature, and to Daniel the gift of interpreting visions and dreams.

     At the end of the period set by the king for the youths' training, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them and found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four became members of the king's court. In any matter of wisdom and discernment about which the king consulted, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Gospel: Lk 21:1– 4

     Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasure box; he also saw a poor widow dropping in two small coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. For all gave an offering from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."

Reflection:  

     There is an old saying, "It is better to give than to receive." This is what the widow in today's Gospel tried to fulfill. In fact, she went further and fulfilled yet another saying, "Give until it hurts." This earned her the notice and praise of our Lord. She gave all that she had, despite having very little. She was generous of herself, giving selflessly. Her generosity is also a demonstration of her trust that God will provide for her needs and that she did not need to hold on to the little she had.  

     The simple act of giving by the widow was worth praise in Jesus' eyes. In fact, the deed was so small it could have escaped anyone's notice. Jesus did not only see the act itself, he also saw what it really represented. He observed with the Father's eyes. And he made sure that his disciples understood what he saw. The widow's behavior was not only about giving two copper coins. It was about her acknowledgement of her deep trust and dependence on God: somehow God will provide.    

     The generosity of the widow is extraordinary. It is an act of true faith and love of God. 

     There must have been many who gave donations for the temple; many must have given generously. But our Lord singles out for praise this poor widow who "put in more than all of them. For all gave an offering from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."

     How generous are we in our charities? How generous are we in the support of our parish? How ready are we to help those in need? How much do we appreciate the kindness and generosity of so many around us, even of many we do not really know?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ARVIN VENNET V. CASTAÑEDA

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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