DAILY- HOMILY

04 July 2015

July 4, 2015 SATURDAY, 13th Week in Ordinary Time /

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Widow

Green    

Gn 27:1 – 5, 15 – 29 / Mt 9:14 – 17

[St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 1336), a daughter of King Peter III of Aragon, showed great charity to the poor and the needy.]

Reading: Gn 27:1 – 5, 15 -29

     When Isaac was old and his eyes so weak that he could no longer see, he called Esau, his older son, and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. Isaac continued, "You see I am old and I don't know when I shall die; so take your weapons, your bow and arrow, go out into the country and hunt some game for me. Then prepare some of the savory food I like and bring it to me so that I may eat and give you my blessing before I die."

     Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau went into the country to hunt game and bring it back,

     Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her elder son Esau that she had in the house and put them on Jacob, her younger son. With the goatskin she covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck, and she handed to him the bread and food she had prepared.

     He went to his father and said, "Father!" He answered, "Yes, my son, who is it?" and Jacob said to his father, "It is Esau, your firstborn; I have done what you told me to do. Come, sit up and eat my game so that you may give me your blessing." Isaac said, "How quick you have been my son!" Jacob said, "Yahweh, your God, guided me." Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near and let me feel you, my son, and know that it is you, Esau my son, or not."

     When Jacob drew near to Isaac, his father felt him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like the hands of Esau his brother and so he blessed him. He asked, "Are you really my son Esau?" and Jacob answered, "I am." Isaac said, "Bring me some of your game, my son, so that I may eat and give you my blessing." So Jacob brought it to him and he ate. And he brought him wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near and kiss me, my son." So Jacob came near and kissed him.

     Isaac then caught the smell of his clothes and blessed him, saying,

     "The smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. May God give you of the dew of heaven; and of the richness of the earth; and abundance of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you and nations bow down before you. Be lord over your brothers, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone that curses you and blessed be everyone that blesses you!"

Reflection:

     The first reading from Genesis is an account of Jacob's duplicity over his elder brother Esau, helped in no small measure by their own mother, Rebekah!    

     Let us reflect on what these stories about Isaac's children teach us. First, the importance of oaths, which, once given, cannot be overturned, and second, how God uses imperfect, flawed men to further his Kingdom. And Jacob himself was duped by his father-in-law over his two wives, Rachel and Leah. 

     The Old Testament has many stories that could pass for modern best-sellers, with complex twists and turns, villains and arch villains. These stories tell us is that there is hope, even for the worst of us.

     What sets these sinners-turned-holy-men-of-God apart is that they obeyed   God and went on to glorify him in the roles that were given to them.   

     And so our faith has endured, over many generations, continuing to give light and salvation to numerous souls, anchored on Christ's coming as man and his sacrifice on the cross for our sins.  It is a truth to which we hold fast.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CELY LIM FRANCISCO

     PASENCIA SIY

     PHILIP GO SY

     ZACARIAS E. GALLARDO JR.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     JONATHAN & JOCELYN SARTE

     MARY & ARSENIO CHUA

     RONALD & AIDA TAGALOG

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     GEMINIANO ONG ACERO (SEP 16, 1904 – JUL 4, 1977)

     MATTHEW PATRICK C. SY

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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