DAILY- HOMILY

December 20, 2015 - 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT

[Misa de Gallo - White, with Gloria]  

Cycle C      

Violet  

Mi 5:1 - 4a / Heb 10:5 – 10 / Lk 1:9 - 45

First Reading: Mi 5:1 – 4a 

     But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, so small that you are hardly named among the clans of Judah, from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel. For he comes forth from of old, from ancient times.  

     Yahweh, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she who is to give birth has given birth. Then the rest of his deported brothers will return to the people of Israel.

     He will stand and shepherd his flock with the strength of Yahweh, in the glorious Name of Yahweh, his God. They will live safely while he wins renown to the ends of the earth.  He shall be peace. 

Second Reading: Heb 10: 5 – 10

     This is why on entering the world, Christ says: You did not desire sacrifice and offering; you were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said: "Here I am. It was written of me in the scroll. I will do your will, O God."

     First he says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were you pleased with them—although they were required by the Law. Then he says: Here I am to do your will.

This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new. Now, by this will of God, we are sanctified once and for all by the sacrifice of the body of Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Lk 1:39 - 45

     Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

Reflection:

     Today we commemorate the Second Joyful Mystery, when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. Why did Mary visit Elizabeth? Mary wanted to see with her own eyes the wonderful news of Elizabeth having a child in her old age. Mary wanted to join Elizabeth in her gratitude to God's goodness to her. And Mary wanted to be of help to her cousin in her pregnancy. 

     Mary herself had been especially chosen and blessed by God: she carried within her the Son of the Most High. She had humbly and graciously accepted God's invitation for her to bear the Son of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  She was the first and foremost disciple of the Lord Jesus, with a privileged role as Mother of God: from her conception she had been kept free of all sin.

     When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child within her "leapt for joy." "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, he baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true."

     The Visitation shows us the mysterious ways of God with people: two extraordinary women bearing children announced by angels, one though barren and in her old age, the other a virgin and by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Both had special roles in God's plan of salvation for all: one carrying the Son of God, the other carrying his Precursor.

     Mary came to assist her cousin Elizabeth. In her Magnificat Mary humbly and joyfully acknowledges God's great works in her.

     As followers of Jesus, we are also asked to have roles in God's salvific plan and work. Are our minds and hearts open to hear God's invitation, as Mary did?  We look at Mary our Mother in her unconditional loving and trusting response to God's invitation, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said."  We pray we can do the same.

     Mary took time to visit Elizabeth, to share her joy and to be of assistance to her: may we also share ourselves with others in need.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     MARCUS NG

     MICHELLE GONZAGA

     MS. MARY ELIZABETH N. GUCE

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     JUAN OLONDRIZ, JR. & TERESITA OLONDRIZ

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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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.  

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

December 19, 2015 SATURDAY, 3rd Week of Advent      

[Misa de Gallo - White, with Gloria] 

Violet   

Jgs 13:2 – 7, 24 - 25a / Lk 1:5 - 25

Reading: Jgs13: 2 – 7, 24 - 25a

     There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife could not bear children. The Angel of Yahweh appeared to this woman and said to her, "You have not borne children and have not given birth, but see, you are to conceive and give birth to a son. Because of this, take care not to take wine or any alcoholic drink, nor to eat unclean foods from now on, for you shall bear a son who shall be a Nazirite of Yahweh from the womb of his mother. Never shall his hair be cut for he is consecrated to Yahweh. He shall begin the liberation of the Israel-ites from the Philistine oppression."

     The woman went to her husband and told him, "A messenger of God who bore the majesty of an angel spoke to me. I did not ask him where he came from nor did he tell me his name.

     But he said to me: 'You are to conceive and give birth to a son. Henceforth, you shall not drink wine or fermented drinks, nor eat anything unclean, for your son shall be a Nazirite of God from the womb of his mother until the day of his death'."

     The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew and Yah-weh blessed him. Then the Spirit of Yahweh began to move him.

Gospel: Lk 1:  5 - 25 

     In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God and lived blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord, but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old.

     Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense all the people were praying outside; it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of him.

     But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will bring joy and gladness to you and many will rejoice at his birth.

     This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with holy spirit even from his mother's womb. Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to the Lord their God. He himself will open the way to the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

     Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too." The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I am the one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time. But you would not believe and now you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened." 

     Meanwhile the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them.

     When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned home and some time later Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking, "What is the Lord doing for me! This is his time for mercy and for taking away my public disgrace."

Reflection:

     During Advent we look back with joy and thanksgiving at Christ's birth as man in Bethlehem and look forward with faith and hope to his second coming in glory as Son of Man and Judge. 

     In the first reading from the Book of Judges we hear of the miraculous birth of God's strong man, Samson.

     The Gospel reading is about the angel's apparition to Zechariah at the Temple sanctuary to inform him about the coming of his son, despite his old age and the old age of his barren wife Elizabeth. His son is special: "This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. . . he will be filled with the holy spirit even from his mother's womb."

     During this Advent season, we must be prayerful as we prepare to rejoice at the birth of a Child born to save our sins.  Let us celebrate his birth full of joy and gladness.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ALFONSO TEH

     CYNTHIA TAN

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     JOHN PAUL & MELODY JOY DY

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     RAFAEL LIM SOON (JAN 18, 1966 – DEC 19, 2013)

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.  

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