DAILY- HOMILY

22 October 2016 

Saturday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time

St. John Paul II, Pope     

Green.          

Ep 4:7–16 / Lk 13:1 – 9

Pope St. John Paul II (1920 – 2005), from Poland, had one of the longest pontificates (1978 – 2005) and was the most travelled Pope.  Together with Pope St. John XIII, he   was canonized by Pope Francis on 27 April 2014, in the presence of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Gospel Reading: Lk 13: 1 - 9 

One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this?  I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.

"And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did."

And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down."

Reflection

Today's Gospel reading speaks about reasons for good things or bad things happening to people. Are good people always rewarded? Are bad people always punished? In truth misfortune happens to both good people and bad people. What is important is we do not persist in doing bad or we would indeed be punished.

Also, in times of misfortune, something good may come out of them.  We just need to see God's hand in everything that happens in our lives.  Therefore, we should pray for faith and courage in times of adversity.  

In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus tells us that God is willing to give us another chance even if we have failed him.  Therefore, we should not give up at once since God does not want to give up on us.  Every time we have disappointed God and other people, we must stand up again, ask for forgiveness and strive to make up for our mistakes.  A Christian should not lose hope, because God is always ready to help him when he asks for it.  We should also give others another chance especially if they come to us repentant and desiring to change for the better.   

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Antonio La Vina

     Lennie Hong

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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