DAILY- HOMILY

February 25, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 1st Week of Lent

Violet

Jon 3: 1-10 / Lk 11: 29-32

Reading: Jon 3: 1-10

     The word of Yahweh came to Jonah a second time: "Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you."

     In obedience to the word of Yahweh, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day's journey and began proclaiming, "Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed."

     The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

     Upon hearing the news, the king of Nineveh got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh:

     "By the decree of the king and his nobles, no people or beasts, herd or flock, will taste anything; neither will they eat nor drink. But let people and beasts be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call aloud to God, turn from his evil ways and violence. Who knows? God may yet relent, turn from his fierce anger and spare us."

     When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them. 

Gospel: Lk 11: 29-32

     As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, "People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah."

Reflection:

     Signs are very important in our day-to-day living. We work with signs in our daily lives. Everything we have is a sign which our senses perceive and transmit to our brain for processing. It is our memory which then attaches meaning to these particular signs so that we can sense the object and are then able to associate meaning to it. The meaning of the sign is usually commonly shared and understood; it is in following the understood meaning that we have order in our life and society. The importance of a sign is not so much in merely sensing it but in understanding and following the meaning of the sign.

     A traffic light and its tri-colors are signs which instruct us what to do at the road intersection. The color green is understood as "Go," yellow as "Caution," and red as "Stop." If one were to read red as "Go," one could have disastrous results.

     In today's Gospel reading Jesus reprimands the Jews for continuing to demand a sign: he had shown them many "signs" in his public ministry. Jesus reprimands them more especially for their refusal to read and accept the meaning of the signs given to them - the signs which point to his message and person as the Messiah. Jesus is concerned that this refusal and unbelief will bring them to a disastrous end, just like the driver on the road who does not see nor understand the meaning of a red traffic light.

     What signs have we received from the Lord? What signs have we ignored? We could look at areas or aspects of our lives which may be in chaos or disorder. Let us ask for his grace to be more sensitive to his signs and promptings, especially during the Lenten season.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     VERNICE

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     JOSE CHUA BENG CHONG (MAR 4, 1882 - FEB 25, 1932)

     JOSEPH CHAMSAY (JUNE 26, 1929 - FEB 25, 1995)

     JOHN PAUL UY (FEB 25, 1984 – FEB 27, 2010)

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: 

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   |  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.  

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

February 24, 2015, TUESDAY, 1st Week of Lent

Violet 

Is 55:10-11 / Mt 6:7-15

Reading: Is 55:10-11

     As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return till they have watered the earth, making it yield seed for the sower and food for others to eat, so is my word that goes forth out of my mouth: it will not return to me idle, but it shall accomplish my will, the purpose for which it has been sent.

Gospel: Mt 6:7-15

     Jesus said, "When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.

     "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from the evil one.

     "If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either."

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel reading, Jesus instructs us to forgive others. That is easier said than done, especially when oftentimes those whom we try to help seem undeserving of our mercy. Sometimes, no matter how much we try, they just keep falling into the same problem all over again. What should we do then?

     Jesus tells us that we must be reflections of God's infinite mercy. For as long as our fellow men are in need of forgiveness, we must grant them mercy. So that through us, they may realize that despite their ways, and regardless of their situation, God has not abandoned them.

     Lent is a time of repentance, when we ask God for forgiveness. Maybe it's about time we grant forgiveness as well? Is there anyone who has wronged you? Forgive them for their trespasses, and be merciful, just like Our Father is merciful.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     FAYE ANTOLIN

     ROBERTO CRISTOBAL NAZAL

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     GEMMIMA TETEL & JOHNSON HO GOTAMCO

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     MARIE O'GORMAN

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.  

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