DAILY- HOMILY

08 June 2016

Wednesday, 10th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Jacques Berthieu, Priest and Martyr

Memorial.        Red.       

1 Kgs 18:20 – 39 / Mt 5:17 – 19

St. James Berthieu (1838 – 1896), French Jesuit missionary to Madagascar, was matyred for his Christian faith.

From the 1st Reading: 1 Kgs 18:36 – 39

Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, doing all these things at your command.  Answer me, Yahweh, answer me so that this people may know that you, O Yahweh, are God and that you are turning back their hearts to you." Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, together with the wood, the stones also, and the dust; the water also dried up in the trench. 

All the people witnessed this. Then they fell on their faces and said, Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!"

Gospel Reading: Mt 5: 17 – 19

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets.  I have not come to remove but to fulfill them.  I tell you this:  as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.

"So, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others not to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  On the other hand, whoever obeys them and teaches others to do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven." 

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks about being the true fulfillment of the law. This can be further confirmed through concrete actions.  His actions are acts of goodness.  

Jesus gives us a warning in doing our good deeds.  He asks us today to examine ourselves honestly:  Why do we do them?  What is our motive?  Do we do them because of human respect or for love of God and neighbor?  Our inner disposition in doing good deeds is important.   If we do good deeds because we expect the admiration and respect of others or for selfish reasons like the Scribes and Pharisees, then we have already received our reward and should not expect to be rewarded by our heavenly Father.   If we do good deeds because we expect to be rewarded for good deeds done, our motives are also questionable.  

However, if we do good deeds out of love for God and neighbor, simply because it is the right thing to do or because we wish to be good, not expecting to be rewarded for doing them, then we are on the right path. Our motives are honest and true, and our righteousness is justified before the eyes of God.  

Therefore, let us heed the Lord's warning.  Let our prayer today be: "Lord, give me the courage, the strength, and the wisdom not to do the right things for the wrong reasons.  Amen." 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Adelaida Lombos

     Winona Lo

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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