DAILY- HOMILY

March 31, 2015 - TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

Violet  

Is 49:1 - 6 / Jn 13:21 - 33, 36 – 38

Reading: Is 49:1 - 6

     Listen to me, O islands, pay attention, peoples from distant lands. Yahweh called me from my mother's womb; he pronounced my name before I was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.  He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his quiver. 

     He said to me, "You are Israel, my servant, through you I will be known." "I have labored in vain," I thought and spent my strength for nothing." Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my reward was with my God. I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my God is my strength.    

     And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him. He said: "'Tis not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel,  I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth."

Gospel: Jn 13:21 - 33, 36 – 38

     After saying this, Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, "Truly, one of you will betray me." The disciples then looked at one another, wondering who he meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom he meant.

     And the disciple who was reclining near Jesus asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one."

     So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

     None of the others reclining at table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. As he had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or, "Give something to the poor." Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night.

     When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon.

     My children, I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but, as I already told the Jews, so now I tell you: where I am going you cannot come. 

     Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but afterwards you will." Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you." Jesus answered, "To give your life for me! Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times." 

Reflection:

     Do you ever feel like we're laboring in vain? Sometimes, the problems of the world seem too great, and we start doubting our capacities to make a difference.

Yet the Lord reminds us in the first reading today that it was he who fashioned us, and set us apart for our personal missions. It is he who calls us, over and over since the time of our birth, to greatness. 

     It takes great faith and trust in God and his plans to be able to say, "I am important in the sight of Yahweh; my God is my strength." That our Lord calls us to do his work in the world is not just a mighty vote of confidence. It is a challenge; it is a mandate.

     We are all preciously made, with unique gifts and talents. They were planted in us, that we may become not just servants of God, but the "light of the nations," beacons of hope in a world that at times grows numb to the wonders of Yahweh. Let us not lose sight of our worth and of our mission. When there is faith, there is no fear or faltering. There is no room for doubt, only action.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     MILTON VILLAFUERTE

THANKSGIVING

     JEFF & GLORIAL REAL & CHILDREN

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     LETICIA A. TUNG

     MIGUEL L. QUIROS & CESAR L. LOPEZ

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

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