DAILY- HOMILY

19 July 2015 - 16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle B, Green

Jer 23:1 -6 / Eph 2:13 – 18 / Mk 6:30 – 34

First Reading: Jer 23: 1 -6 

     "Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the sheep of my pasture!"

     This is the message of Yahweh, God of Israel, to the shepherds in charge of my people, "You have scattered my sheep and driven them away instead of caring for them. Now I will deal with you because of your evil deeds.

     I will gather the remnant of my sheep from every land to which I have driven them and I will bring them back to the grasslands. They will be fruitful and increase in number. I will appoint shepherds who will take care of them. No longer will they fear or be terrified. No one will be lost."

     Yahweh further says, "The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-our-justice!"

Second Reading: Eph 2:13 – 18

     But now, in Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near.

     For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall - the hatred - which separated us. He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts. He made peace in uniting the two peoples in him, creating out of the two one New Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God through the cross, making the two one body.

     He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near. Through him we - the two peoples - approach the Father in one Spirit.

Gospel: Mk 6:30 - 34 

     The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, "Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest." For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

     But people saw them leaving and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them.  

     As Jesus went ashore he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without shepherd.  And he began a long teaching session with them.  

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel reading, Jesus invites his disciples to rest, "Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest." 

     This is true even today.  We are invited to take time out, to carve for ourselves space where we can be alone, and to rest.

     We add something. We reflect. And pray. We listen. And speak to God in a very personal way.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     LIZABETH N. CANTUBA

     MA. RODORA E. BAÑARES

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     GLORIA GOMEZ ONG ACERO (JAN 11, 1911 – JUL 19, 1987)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Anita Tongco Lecaros.

For the intentions of Valerie Darbe.

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.  

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

July 18, 2015 SATURDAY, 15th Week in Ordinary Time 

Green 

Ex 12:37 – 42 / Mt 12:14 - 21

Reading: Ex 12: 37 – 42

     The Isrealites left Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand of them on the march, counting men only, and not the children.

     A great number of other people of all descriptions went with them, as well as sheep and cattle in droves.

     With the dough they had brought with them from Egypt, they made cakes of unleavened bread. It had not risen, for when they were driven from Egypt they could not delay and had even provided themselves with food. 

     The Israelites had been in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years. It was at the end of these four hundred and thirty years to the very day that the armies of Yahweh left Egypt.

     This is the watch for Yahweh who brought Israel out of Egypt. The night is for Yahweh, and the sons of Israel are also to keep vigil on this night, year after year, for all time. 

Gospel: Mt 12:14 - 21

     Then the Pharisees went out and made plans to get rid of him. As Jesus was aware of the plot, he went away from that place. Many people followed him and he cured all who ere sick. Then he gave them strict orders not to make him known.

     In this way Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled: "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will announce my judgment to the nations. 

     "He will not argue or shout, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed he will not crush, nor snuff out the smoldering wick. He will persist until justice is made victorious and in him all the nations will put their hope."

Reflection:

     The first reading from Exodus recalls the march of the people of Israel from Egypt, "six hundred thousand of them on the march, counting men only, and not the children." The reading recalls the length of their slavery in Egypt, four hundred and thirty years, and thus emphasizes the greatness of what Yahweh did for his people in freeing them from the slavery of Pharaoh.

     And the people of Israel are forever to be grateful to Yahweh and to forever celebrate their deliverance from Egypt.

     In the Gospel reading we see the Pharisees plotting "to get rid" of Jesus.  Jesus moves on to safer places, continuing to cure the sick. 

     Despite the opposition and dangers, Jesus remains true to his mission, as prophesied by Isaiah: "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will announce my judgment to the nations. . . . . He will persist until justice is made victorious and in him all the nations will put their hope."

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.  

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