DAILY- HOMILY

06 May 2016 

Friday, 6th Week of Easter

White.         

Acts 18: 9 –18 / Jn 16: 20 – 23

From the 1st Reading: Acts 18:9 – 11

One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul, "Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, for many people in this city are mine. I am with you, so no one will harm you."  So Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of God among them.

Gospel Reading: Jn 16: 20 - 23 

Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.  A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time is at hand. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of such great joy: a human being is born into the world. 

"You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice. And no one will take your joy from you. When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my Name, he will give you."

Reflection

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see that most of the first converts to Christianity were Jews.  On Pentecost Sunday, most of those who believed in the preaching of the apostles were Jews.  Therefore we should not think that just because the scribes and Pharisees and their followers had Jesus put to death, then all Jews were against Jesus and his apostles.  God converts whom He wants, but He needs preachers to spread the Good News which is what the Acts of the Apostles narrates.

Yet the preaching of the Good News is not an easy task.  It is described in the Gospels as similar to the act of giving birth.  In bringing new converts to the baptismal font which is a symbol of a mother's womb, the Church must first spend time to catechize the catechumen about the beliefs of the Church, the sacraments and liturgies and all our traditions.  This takes time and a godfather is assigned by the Church to make sure that the catechumen is growing in faith, hope and love.  In the early Church, a catechumen must first show tangible signs of Christian love and forgiveness in his life.  The bishops must also discern if the Holy Spirit has really made him/her a new man.  Then when the period of catechumenate is over, the candidate is baptized amidst great rejoicing in the Church.  Our sorrow has been turned into joy because a Christian has been born into the world.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Michael Catindig

     Maricar Pleno

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Gerry & Menchu Chua

     Jerry & Emma Yeung

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Gloria Orbin.

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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