DAILY- HOMILY

11 September 2016

24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle C.   Green.  

Ex 32:7-11, 13 –14 / 1 Tm 1:12 – 17 / Lk 15: 1- 32

From the 1st Reading: Ex 32:7 – 11, 14 

Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.   They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them and have made for themselves a molten calf; they have bowed down before it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'"

And Yahweh said to Moses, "I see that these people are a stiff-necked people.  Now just leave me that my anger may blaze against them. I will destroy them, but of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses calmed the anger of Yahweh, his God, and said, "Why, O Yahweh, should your anger burst against your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with a mighty hand."

Yahweh then changed his mind and would not harm his people.   

From the 2nd Reading: 1 Tm 1:12 – 17

I give thanks to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who is my strength, who has considered me trustworthy and appointed me to his service, although I had been a blasphemer, a persecutor and a rabid enemy.  However, he took mercy on because I did not know what I was doing when I opposed the faith; and the grace of our Lord was more abundant, together with faith and Christian love.

This saying is true and worthy of belief:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.  Because of that I was forgiven; Christ Jesus wanted to display his greatness in me so that I might be an example for all who are to believe and obtain eternal life.

From the Gospel Reading: Lk 15:1 -10 

Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say.  But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So Jesus told them this parable: "Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and seek out the lost one till he finds it?  And finding it, will he not joyfully carry it home on his shoulders?  Then he will call his friends and neighbors together and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found my lost sheep.'  I tell you, just so, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent."

"What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one, will not light a lamp and sweep the house in a thorough search till she finds the lost coin?  And finding it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found the silver coin I lost!'  I tell you, in the same way there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner." 

Reflection

The readings at Mass today remind us of God's mercy and of enduring desire to seek and save the abandoned and the lost.

In the first reading God has lost his patience and is angry at the Israelites for abandoning their covenant with him and for adoring and serving false gods.  God is so angry he threatens to destroy them.

Moses appeals to him and sort of calms God down: "But Moses calmed the anger of Yahweh, his God, and said, 'Why, O Yahweh, should your anger burst against your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with a mighty hand.' Yahweh then changed his mind and would not harm his people."   (Ex 32: 11, 14) God remains so patient and forgiving with Israel.

In the second reading Paul writes how the merciful God transformed Paul the great tormentor of the Christians into the Apostle to the Gentiles.

In the Gospel reading Jesus acts just like the merciful Father and eats and speaks with sinners. His parables stress how God in his endless mercy seeks to find and save the lost, like the shepherd seeking the lost sheep or the woman the lost coin: "I tell you, just so, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent." (Lk 15: 7)

God continues to love us despite our woundedness and sinfulness. He never gives up on us.  Like the forgiving father of the prodigal son, his arms are always open to welcome us back.  As Pope Francis reminds us, "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy."

May our loving and merciful God grant us the grace to humbly seek his mercy and the courage to also forgive and embrace those who have wronged us.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Andy Pinto

     Adelene C. Diamonon 

     Tony Siy Tan & Toby Gotamco Tan

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Virginia Tan

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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