DAILY- HOMILY

October 1, 2015 THURSDAY, 26TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Therese of Lisieux, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Memorial, White

Neh 8:1-4a. 5-6. 7b-12 / Lk 10:1-12 

Reading: Neh 8:1-4a. 5-6. 7b-12

     In the seventh month, all the people gathered as one man in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh had given to Israel. Ezra brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all the children who could understand what was being read. It was the first day of the seventh month. Ezra read the book before all of them from early morning until midday in the square facing the Water Gate; and all who heard were attentive to the Book of the Law.

    Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a wooden platform built for that occasion. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was in a higher place; and when he opened it, all the people stood. Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God; and all the people lifted up their hands and answered, "Amen! Amen!" And they bowed their heads to the ground.

     The Levites Joshua, Bani and the rest of their brothers explained the Law to the people who were standing. They read from the Book of the Law of God, clarifying and interpreting the meaning, so that everyone might understand what they were hearing.

     Then Ezra, the teacher of the Law, said to the people, "This day is dedicated to Yahweh, your God, so do not be sad or weep." He said this because all wept when they heard the reading of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go and eat rich foods, drink sweet wine and share with him who has nothing prepared. 

     This day is dedicated to the Lord, so do not be sad. The joy of Yahweh is our strength."

     The Levites also calmed the people down, saying, "Do not weep. This day is a festival day. Do not be sad." And the people went their way to eat, drink and share, and they had a great feast, because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12  

     After this the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know. Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: 'Peace to this house.' If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house. When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.' But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.' I tell you that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this town.

Reflection:   

     October marks the beginning of our devotion to the Rosary, and today's gospel provides the reason for this devotion. Jesus sends his disciple out with the mission to preach the Good News of salvation and to perform miracles in God's name. They are asked to bring nothing with them, and to simply knock from house to house accepting whatever food is presented before them. In short, they are asked to rely solely on the grace of God in order to fulfil their mission. Our devotion to the Holy Rosary is no different. When we pray the rosary, all we have is ourselves, and a series of beads strung together. We are asked to focus solely on the reality of Christ's life and the beauty of his suffering because he loved us. We, too, are asked to be humble and to accept all that God has given us in our lives, and as Mary did, to surrender ourselves to God's plan for us.  

     But the Rosary is not a passive prayer: it is a prayer of action. Because we contemplate Christ's life, we ask God's grace in freeing us from doubt, fear and trepidation as we live the reality of our daily lives. We shake off the shackles of our timidity and indifference. And in doing so, we are not afraid to live by the truths and actions that every Christian is called to live by. Christ's message in the gospel rings truer that ever – we rely not on our own strength to fulfil our lifelong mission as Christians, but we consecrate our efforts through our solemn devotion to God. We follow the call of Christ, and we are emboldened by our devotion to the Rosary and to God's amazing plan of salvation.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANGEL ANDEN

     JOSE ALFONSO POBLETE

     RANDY LIM

     ROSARIO GARCIA-YU

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     GLORIA LIM HEJAZI (JUL 26, 1957 – OCT 1, 1970)

     SANTIAGO ONG (JUN 30, 1920 – OCT 1, 1970)

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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