DAILY- HOMILY

01 December 2016

Thursday, 1st Week of Advent

Sts. Edmund Campion and Robert Southwell, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs 

Bl. R. Filcock and R. Middleton, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs 

Memorial.       Red.   

Is 26:1 – 6 / Mt 7:21, 24 – 27    

Sts. Edmund Campion (1540 – 1581) and Robert Southwell (1561 – 1595). Jesuit priests, are among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales of the 16th and 17th   centuries canonized by Bl. Pope Paul VI in 1970.

Bl. Roger Filcock (1570 – 1601) and Robert Middleton (1571 – 1601), Jesuit priests were also martyrs of England of the 16th century.

From the 1st Reading: Is 26: 1 – 4

On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:  We have a strong city, he himself has set up walls and fortifications to protect us.  Open the gates! Let the righteous nation enter, she who is firm in faithfulness. You keep in perfect peace the one of steadfast mind, the one who trusts in you. Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock.

From the Gospel Reading: Mt 7: 24 - 27 

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me: Lord! Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.

"So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!"

Reflection

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we see how God protects and watches over those who trust in him. His city Jerusalem is safe and peaceful because he himself has set up its protecting walls and fortifications; it is a strong city built on rock, on a solid foundation.  "Trust in the Lord forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock." (Is 26: 4)  

In the Gospel reading from the end of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, a large collection of sayings and teachings of the Lord which begin with the Beatitudes. Jesus compares one who builds his life on the words and teachings of the Lord to one who has built his house on rock so that, despite heavy rains, floods and strong winds, the house will not fall because it is founded on rock.  

While the one who hears but not heed the words and teachings of the Lord is one like a foolish man who has built his house on sand and not on a solid foundation, so that, when buffeted by the rains, floods and winds, the house collapses.  

A solid foundation in life requires that we seek and do the will of the heavenly Father; it is not enough to just call upon him but be attentive, listening and following his will for us. Let us live what we pray: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Leo Carlos Almario Tan

     Gerardo Paras

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Dr. Soterania S. Santiago.

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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