DAILY- HOMILY

April 16, 2015 THURSDAY, 2nd Week of Easter

White            

Acts 5:27 – 33  / Jn 3:31 - 36

Reading: Acts 5:27 – 33

     So they brought them in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them, "We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man."  

     To this Peter and the apostles replied, "Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you called by hanging him on a wooden post. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those close to him."

     When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them.

Gospel: Jn 3:31 – 36

     He who comes from above is above all; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and his words, too, are earthly. The One who comes from heaven speaks of the things he has seen and heard; he bears witness to this but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does receive his testimony acknowledges the truthfulness of God.

     The one sent by God speaks God's words and gives the Spirit without measure. For the Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son lives with eternal life, but he who will not believe in the Son will never know life and always faces the justice of God."

Reflection:

     In the first reading, the apostles told the Sanhedrin that they had to preach Jesus as the Messiah because the Holy Spirit was telling them to do so. The members of the Sanhedrin were so angry that they wanted to kill them. But "obedience to God comes before obedience to men," the apostles said.  

     A person filled with the Holy Spirit is on fire with love for God and speaks of salvation and forgiveness of sins in Jesus alone. Jesus came to our world, lived, suffered, died and rose for our salvation. We are called to be saved and then to save others. The most important thing to do in our lives is to save men from hell and damnation and to bring them to heaven.  

     The apostles knew this because they have seen heavenly things when Jesus was with them. They have heard heavenly discourses from Jesus like the Sermon on the Mount, the parables of the kingdom, the discourse during the Last Supper, etc. They have seen how Jesus as Son of God had died a horrible death. Then they saw the Risen Christ for 40 days after his Resurrection.  

     So they knew that their preaching was so important that they risked physical harm and proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Saviour of the world, and of every individual here on earth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they went everywhere witnessing to what they had seen and heard about Jesus. Do you feel compelled to speak about Jesus to others?  

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     AUGUSTINE PROBOSUSANTO

     CATALINA LIBOON

     DAVID BRIAN LU

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     PAUL K. S. LU

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.  

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