DAILY- HOMILY

February 19, 2015 THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

[Chinese New Year]

Violet

Dt 30:15-20 / Lk 9:22-25

Reading: Dt 30:15-20

     See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death. I command you to love Yahweh, your God and follow his ways. Observe his commandments, his norms and his laws, and you will live and increase, and Yahweh will give you his blessing in the land you are going to possess. But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish. You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan. 

     Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving Yahweh, listening to his voice, and being one with him. In this is life for you and length of days in the land which Yahweh swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Gospel: Lk 9:22-25

     And he added, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life."

     Jesus also said to all the people, "If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?

Reflection:

     In the first reading, God is asking us to choose - life or death. To choose life means to obey God, to listen to His voice and to cling to His commandments. To do otherwise means death. So what do these words mean exactly? It means that during this time of Lent, we must pray for God's guidance in our lives. Every day He will tell us what to do - how to treat our workmates, students, subordinates, etc. He will tell us to help the poor, be kind to the oppressed, feed the hungry, bring people to a knowledge of God, etc. The time of Lent is a time to do good to our neighbour, and to listen to the voice of God.

     In the Gospel reading, Jesus calls his disciples and tells them that the way to follow him is to carry their crosses. What is your cross? To provide food and shelter for your family of seven? To take care of an old person? To be a good supervisor to hard-headed workers? To be a holy priest? Everything we have to do every day, our daily responsibilities, we are called to do with love, patience and understanding. To save one's life by losing it means to renounce our desires for pleasure, fame and excessive wealth, and instead to live for others.

     A good Christian is a man for others. Jesus says if we have gained the whole world - fame, success, wealth - at the expense of our soul, we have actually ruined it. A bad Christian is a man always looking out for himself. What Jesus asks of us is a paradox, but everything he did, especially his death and resurrection, has always been contrary to the values of the world. This is the mystery of God's love which He reveals to those who listen to his voice, to those who pray to him.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ELVIN KENNEDY H. LATAYAN

     FRANZ DARWIN A. SAW

     PHILIP GO

THANKSGIVING

     JEFFREY & VIVIAN NG & FAMILY

     JOHN & ESTHER NG & FAMILY

     MICHAEL & ANGELINE NG & FAMILY

MICHAEL & EMILY NG & FAMILY

     OLIVER & JOANABEE NG & FAMILY

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     FELICIANA MARIN

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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