DAILY- HOMILY

15 January 2016

Weekday,  1st Week in Ordinary Time          

Green.         1 Sm 8: 4 - 7, 10 - 22a.           Mk 2: 1 – 12. 

Gospel Reading:  Mk 2: 1 - 12 

After some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was at home, so many people gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the Word to them, some people brought a paralyzed man to him.  

The four men who carried him couldn't get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 

Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered within themselves, "How can he speak like this insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?" 

At once Jesus knew through his spirit what they were thinking and asked, "Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say: 'Rise, take up your mat and walk?' But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." 

And he said to the paralytic, "Stand up, take up your mat and go home."  The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised God saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Reflection

At one point in their history, the people of Israel ask for a king to reign over them.  At first, Yahweh God tries to dissuade them but they insist,  so He allows Israel to have her first king, Saul.  

Why does God not want  His People to have an earthly king?  Because He knew that all men are fallible.  They easily fall into either the sin of pride, lust for women, lust for power or are simply incompetent to lead others.  God wants us to trust in Him and Him alone.  

Earthly leaders come and go, but God is everlasting.  We often prefer to idolize men instead of worshipping God.  Yet God has given us the Pope, His vicar here on earth.  The Pope is not a king, but a shepherd.  He does not rule over us but guides us along the right path of holiness and goodness.  We listen to him concerning moral issues and not on what job to take, how much money to earn or other earthly concerns.  Yet his guidance and pronouncements indicate to us the path and the purpose which our lives should take.  His leadership exhorts us to build the kingdom of God here on earth together with him and other church leaders. 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Raymond & Chrlene Blanche Yu Banzal

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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