DAILY- HOMILY

18 February 2016

Thursday, 1st Week of Lent

Violet.            

Est C: 12, 14 – 16, 23 – 25 / Mt 7:  7 – 12.     

Gospel Reading: Mt 7: 7 - 12 

Jesus told his disciples, "Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and the door will be opened to him who knocks.  Would any of you give a stone to your son when he asks for bread?  Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish?  As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!  SO, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets."

Reflection

Our readings today show us the way to the heart of our Father in heaven.  It is the way of being little, of being a child before him.

As a young child I once came home with my dress torn from playing. Upon seeing my torn dress, my father asked, "Now that your dress is torn, will you not ask for a new dress?"  Belligerent and proud, I replied, "No, thank you."

The incident mirrors our pride and emphasizes the lesson on dependence on others, especially our father.  We have to learn that we have a heavenly Father anxious to grace us with his abundant blessings, only if we could ask.  How do we learn the lesson that we will never be wanting if we have the heart of a child? A child's simplicity and total dependence upon others are endearing to its father and the father is most ready to bring the child to his embrace and to shower it with his love and generosity.

A child's natural urge because it is helpless is to turn to its parents for love and help.  The child asks. And receives.  The parent could not help but listen to the child's plea for help.

In the first reading Queen Esther, desperate and fearful for herself and her people, calls upon God for help and deliverance.

In the Gospel reading the challenge of God to us is to know how to ask and when to ask.  Jesus draws on the example of human fathers responding to the needs of their children: how much more the heavenly Father on his children who ask in their need?  A father gives what is good for his children: how much more the heavenly Father on us. His children?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Carmencita A. Reyes

     Eladia Capuno

     Yvonne Vanessa D. Chua

     Michelle R. De Castro

     Fr. Mac R. Reyes, SJ

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Jose Chua Beng Chong

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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