DAILY- HOMILY

January 11, 2015 SUNDAY

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Feast, White

Is 42: 1-4, 6–7 / Acts10:34–38 / Mk1:7-11

1st Reading: Is 42: 1-4, 6-7

     Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He does not shout or raise his voice, proclamations are not heard in the streets. A broken reed he will not crush, nor will he snuff out the light of the wavering wick. He will make justice appear in truth. . . . I, Yahweh, have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your hand to make you firm; I will make you as a covenant to the people, and a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.

From the Gospel Reading: Mk 1: 9 - 11

     At that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And the moment he came up out of the water, heaven opened before him and he saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. And these words were heard from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen."

Reflection:

     "You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen." The baptism of Jesus by his cousin John the Baptist at the Jordan River inaugurates Jesus' mission to the poor and sinners. Today's feast which ends the liturgical Christmas season reminds us of our own baptism, not so much of our being cleansed but, more important, of our being made adopted children of God called to be men and women for others.

     The spirit of our baptism is not to just impose a creed or ritual but is meant to be a call to share a life. In our baptism each one of us is called to a life of kindness and honesty, of compassion and forgiveness, of fairness and love. The type of life we live is the real evidence of the reality of our baptism.

     One truly baptized is a person who lives right-side-up in a world that is upside-down. He/she lives his/her life in such a way that he/she does not add to the world's problems but is part of the solution to the world's problems. One truly baptized is the presence of love in today's world.

     How do we live this mission of love demanded by our baptism? Our Church has so many "retired" Christians, those who are not genuine pilgrims because they do not advance in life, baptized people who continue in their sinfulness and with their fraternization with the enemy. One truly baptized is one horrified at his/her own sinfulness and the sinfulness of the world.

     Our baptism is not only about the forgiveness of original sin. Our baptism is a challenge and a call to live holy lives, lives of love. The better we understand our baptism, the more we will be dissatisfied with lives without purpose or direction and the more we will aspire for holiness. If we wish to convince others of the value of their baptism, we must live the challenges demanded of us by our baptism. We have to live the faith we professed when we were baptized to be able to help others believe in God and live lives of faith.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILYPRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     RALPH DIXEL B. GARRO

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     MANIO, VICTOR (SEP 18, 1923 -JAN 11, 1995)

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

  +================================================+

January 10, 2015 SATURDAY

CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY

White

1Jn 5:14–21 / Jn 3: 22-30

Gospel Reading: Jn 3: 22-30

     After this, Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed there with them and baptized. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized. This happened before John was put in prison.

     Now John's disciples had been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing, so they came to him and said, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing and all are going to him."

     John answered, "No one can take on anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said: 'I am not the Christ but I have been sent before him.' Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice. My joy is now full. It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease."

Reflection:

     While we are still in the season of Christmas, for most people the imagery of the season remains stuck on the infant Jesus and the nativity scenes. However, there is more to the scene found in Christmas card designs. Our short memories make us forget about God's promise and the long awaited time foretold by the prophets of old, and that appointed time had come when God made Himself vulnerable and entered human history.

     More importance is being given to the event of baptism than the meaning of the sacrament for us. Modern man has watered down the deeper meaning of rituals and made them routine actions or SOP (standard operating procedures), robbing us of the sacredness originally intended. Divine Action that is operative in the sacrament – the first important sacramental encounter with Grace – has been set aside and not recognized. We forget that God had claimed us to be His children. The gift of fullness of new life necessarily comes with the death of the old life – the spiritual cleansing mentioned in our gospel.

     Like Christmas, baptism marks the beginning of God's entry into our lives. Epiphany gradually reveals the mystery of God's love manifested through Jesus Christ. Salvation is the best gift of God's love – divine life for us to recognize and accept with gratitude and humility.

     Have we grown tired of waiting too, preoccupied with our businesses, without giving much thought to the importance of this divine initiative? Does pride prevent us from accepting the gift of salvation?

PRAYER INTENTIONS:

Thanksgiving & special intentions of Beny Chua.

For the eternal repose of the soul of Rozelle Digal.

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:

  +================================================+

   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only. 

  +================================================+