DAILY- HOMILY

October 29, 2015 THURSDAY, 30th Week in Ordinary Time        

Green 

Rom 8:31b-39 / Lk 13:31-35

Reading: Rom 8:31b-39

     If God is with us, who shall be against us? If he did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not give us all things with him? Who shall accuse those chosen by God: he takes away their guilt. Who will dare to condemn them? Christ who died, and better still, rose and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us?

     Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be trials, or anguish, persecution or hunger, lack of clothing, or dangers or sword? As the Scripture says: For your sake we are being killed all day long; they treat us like sheep to be slaughtered.

     No, in all of this we are more than conquerors, thanks to him who has loved us. I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor spiritual powers, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers, were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Gospel:  Lk 13:31-35      

      At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and gave him this warning, "Leave this place and go on your way, for Herod wants to kill you." Jesus said to them, "Go and give that fox my answer: 'I drive out demons and heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my course!' Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and for a little longer, for it would not be fitting for a prophet to be killed outside Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you slay the prophets and stone your apostles! How often have I tried to bring together your children, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, but you refused! From now on you will be left with your temple and you will no longer see me until the time when you will say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Reflection:

     In the today's Gospel, we see how Jesus remains confident in his mission, despite threats to his life. In our own lives, there will come a time when our faith will be persecuted. Despite our country being a supposedly "Christian" nation, we see the increasing influence of secularism that contradicts our Christian values. We must realize that even if we may not be persecuted physically for our faith, pressures from society may make it hostile for us to live our Christian faith. Many people, in fact, succumb to these pressures and choose to abandon their values altogether, either out of fear of rejection by others or simply for expedience's sake. Let us be practical and go with the times, many say.

     Our readings today give us great consolation.  We are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith simply because God loves us. The first reading expresses this beautifully, for "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Indeed, if Christ has died for us, we already share eternal life with him. This is why we too can remain confident in our faith and not be afraid, because the battle has already been fought and won for us. 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ACE M. SANTOS

     PETER JUDE T. ALVAREZ

PRESBYTERAL ORDINATION

     FELIPE SANTOS

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the thanksgiving and special intentions of Beny Chua.

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: 

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   |  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.  

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

October 28, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 30TH Week in Ordinary Time

STS. SIMON and JUDE, Apostles 

Feast, Red      

Eph 2:19 – 22 / Lk 6:12 – 16

[Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles, preached in Mesopotamia where they were martyred. St. Jude is widely venerated as the Patron of the Impossible and Desperate Situations.]

Reading: Eph 2:19 - 22

     Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Gospel: Lk 6:12 - 16

     At this time Jesus went into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God. When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

Reflection:

     The Gospel reading tells us of the choice of the Twelve apostles, an improbable group of men only Jesus would have chosen to be his close collaborators; fishermen, a tax collector, common country-folk. They were to be the foundation stones of his Church after his death and resurrection: "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation." On Pentecost Sunday they were confirmed and anointed by the Spirit, "There appeared tongues as if of fire which parted and came to rest upon each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak."

     The Gospel reading tells that before he named the Twelve, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer with his Father.

     Jesus in prayer teaches us to involve God in our lives especially in our decision-making. With God's blessing we can only be in the right track.

     Today the bishops, the successors of the apostles, and the priests and deacons who are their collaborators and assistants, undergo formal philosophical and theological studies in addition to spiritual and psychological training and formation. And at their formal selection and ordination as bishops, priests and deacons, the Church asks for the help and intercession of all the saints and blessed in heaven and they are ordained by the laying on of hands by the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Let us pray that the Lord may call more vocations for service in the Church, in the ministerial priesthood and in religious life both of men and women. And let us also pray for our bishops, priests, deacons and religious who serve the Church.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ALICIA DE JESUS

     CHRISTIAN A. RAMIREZ

     IRESH RIE DACIAN

     MA. ROSARIO P. MARIN

     MARIA CLARISA M. TAMAYO

THANKSGIVING

     NOEMI, KENJI & KELSI REYES

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     NOEMI & SAMUEL CO CHAN

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.  

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

October 27, 2015 TUESDAY, 30th Week in Ordinary Time           

Green

Rom 8:18-25 / Lk 13:18-21

Reading: Rom 8:18-25

     I consider that the suffering of our present life cannot be compared with the Glory that will be revealed and given to us. All creation is eagerly expecting the birth in glory of the children of God. For if now the created world was unable to attain its purpose, this did not come from itself, but from the one who subjected it. But it is not without hope; for even the created world will be freed from this fate of death and share the freedom and glory of the children of God.

     We know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pangs of birth. Not creation alone, but even ourselves, although the Spirit was given to us as a foretaste of what we are to receive, we groan in our innermost being, eagerly awaiting the day when God will give us full rights and rescue our bodies as well.

     In hope we already have salvation. But if we saw what we hoped for, there would no longer be hope: how can you hope for what is already seen? So we hope for what we do not see and we will receive it through patient hope. 

Gospel: Lk 13:18-21

     He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

Reflection:

     Leaven is a powerful agent of change. Without it dough remains just a coagulation of water and flour. If you add leaven to the mix, once baked it produces rich and wholesome bread, which is a human staple. This leaven is meant to be totally absorbed into these ingredients, so that the desired result occurs.

     Even with such a small seed, once it grows and becomes a tree, the birds cannot help but find refuge in its branches. What was thought to be insignificant has provided shelter for all those who need it.  We just need to grasp this simple, yet very deep truth about God's kingdom. 

     This kingdom of God produces a transformation in those who receive the word and believe in the promises of Jesus. When we truly accept Him, our lives are changed for the better by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 

     It is not meant to be hidden and kept in secret. This reality of God should be wholly imbibed in our Christian lives. We must allow it to be leaven so that we, too, can become and share this daily bread that sustains us all. At first glance it might not seem possible, but we must let that seed of faith grow in our lives. Over time, this will be a sanctuary for those who find themselves lost and afraid in this chaotic world. They will find rest in our words of peace and comfort.  They will also witness how God works in us, so that others may see that his love is truly alive.

     We continually pray to the Spirit that we may be enflamed with this transforming love.  We are meant to be participants in this build, and not just mere spectators.  May the Lord's leaven be so intertwined in our souls that we cannot help but share this saving grace with others. In some way, the Kingdom of God now exists among us.

     "Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the Christ-like holiness you desire. Increase my zeal for your kingdom and instill in me a holy desire to live for your greater glory."- Don Schwager

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERARY

     GILBERT & SANDRA CO

THANKSGIVING

     JOY & TIM BAUTISTA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ADELAIDA M. TEJADA

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.