DAILY- HOMILY

August 11, 2015 TUESDAY, 19TH Week in Ordinary Time

ST. CLARE, Virgin   

Memorial, White  

Dt 31:1 - 8 / Mt 18:1 - 5, 10, 12 - 14   

[St. Clare (1193 – 1253) loved poverty and founded the Order of the Poor Clares.]

Reading: Dt 31:1 – 8

     When Moses finished telling all Israel these words, he said, "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I can no longer deal with anything – Remember that Yahweh told me that I shall not cross the Jordan River. Now Joshua shall be at your head, as Yahweh has said. He, your God, will go before you to destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them away.

     Yahweh shall deal with these cities as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and their land, which he destroyed. So when he has given these nations over to you, you shall do the same, according to what I have commanded you.

     Be valiant and strong, do not fear or tremble before them for Yahweh, your God, is with you; he will not leave you or abandon you."

     After this, Moses called Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel: "Be valiant and strong, you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh swore to their ancestors he would give them and you shall give it to them as their possession. Yahweh shall go before you. He shall be with you; he shall not leave you or abandon you. Do not fear, then, or be discouraged."

Gospel: Mt 18:1 - 5, 10, 12 -14   

     At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 

     Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, "I assure you that say unless you change and become like children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and   whoever receives such a child in my name receives me."

     "See that you do not despise any of these little ones; for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father."

     "What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for stray one?  And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it more than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost. It is the same with your Father in heaven: there hey do not want even one of these little ones to be lost."

Reflection:

     Our Lord tells us in the first reading: "I assure you that say unless you change and become like children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 18: 3)

     Children have a unique way of getting back on their feet. Their resilience can easily seen when, after petty squabbles with playmates, they can play with them again. They seem to be conscious of the present and not let past petty disagreements get in their way of enjoying the moment. In their very young lives, they have that tact to live to the fullest the present moment.

     This passage does not only tell us how trusting children are with adults but also how we should have an outlook on life like children and how we should trust God our Father like children trust their parents and elders. 

     Let us pray for that child-like trust, wonder and awe in our Creator. God values us and loves us as his children. May we always be fully aware that his love is ever present in each and every second of our lives. Like any parent, he delights in us as being his very own.  

     Let us claim that and live in his love and guiding presence. We have a Father who wants all of us to find our real abode in heaven with him for all eternity. That is the happiest place to be. There is no place like our heavenly home with our Father.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CATHERINE GEETA METHARAM

     JARED GABRIEL SALITA

     CHRISTOPHER CARMINE MEOLI

     ERIQUE G. CUNANAN

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     BENITO C. LEE

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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