DAILY- HOMILY

February 2, 2015 MONDAY, PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Feast, White

Mal 3:1–4 / Heb 2:14 – 18 / Lk 2: 22–40

First Reading: Mal 3:1–4

     Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord for whom you long will enter the sanctuary. The envoy of the covenant which you so greatly desire already comes, says Yahweh of hosts. Who can bear the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears? For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.

     He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. So Yahweh will have priests who will present the offering as it should be. Then Yahweh will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days.

Second Reading: Heb 2:14 – 18

     And because all those children share one same nature of flesh and blood, Jesus likewise had to share this nature. This is why his death destroyed the one holding the power of death, that is the devil, and freed those who remained in bondage all their lifetime because of the fear of death.

     Jesus came to take by the hand not the angels but the human race. So he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every respect, in order to be the High Priest faithful to God and merciful to them, a priest able to ask pardon and atone for their sins. Having been tested through suffering, he is able to help those who are tested.

From the Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22-35

     When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

     There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus. . .

     Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying, "Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see. Here is the light you will reveal to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."

     His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret thoughts of many may be brought to light."

Reflection:

     Mary and Joseph, faithful followers of Jewish rituals, brought the baby Jesus to the temple as their first-born son to be consecrated to God. Together with the consecration they offered two turtledoves.

     Baptism is the initiation of a child or adult into God's life and incorporation into his Church. At a baptism we may not have a Simeon to prophecy about the child's role in God's plan. But, through the priest administering baptism in the name of the Church, we are assured that the one baptized has been freed from sin and has become a child of God and a member of God's Church, called to holiness and God's kingdom. The parents and godparents are invited to renew their own baptismal vows and to pledge to assist the child in his/her growth and life as God's child.

     Let us pray for our children and godchildren that they may grow up following the ways of Jesus Our Lord. Let us thank the Lord for our own baptism when we were first presented to him to become his children. Let us ask the Lord for the lifelong grace to live our lives according to the faith of the Church in which we were baptized.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     DELFIN & JOSITA ABADCO

     JASON & BADETTE CO

     VICTOR & HELEN YAO

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     MICHAEL ONG SE HAI

     VALENTINO CHAO (FEB 14, 1957 – FEB 2, 1983)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the souls of Enrique Santos and Mixomino Hizon.

For Joel Minor who is suffering from cancer.

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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