DAILY- HOMILY

31 January 2016

4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle C. Green. Jer 1: 4– 5, 17 – 19. 1 Cor 12: 31 –13: 13. Lk 4: 21 – 30. 

From the 2nd Reading:     1 Cor 13: 4 - 13

Love is patient, kind, without envy.  It is not boastful or arrogant.  It is not ill-mannered nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offenses.  It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in the truth.  Loves excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love will never end. Prophecies may cease, tongues be silent and knowledge disappear.  For knowledge grasps something of the truth and prophecy as well.  And when what is perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away.

When I was a child I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I gave up my childish ways.  Likewise at present we see dimly as in a faulty mirror, but then it shall be face to face.  Now we know in part, but then I will know as I am known.  Now we have faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

From the Gospel  Reading:    Lk 4: 21 – 24

Then Jesus said to the people, "Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen."

All agreed with him and were lost in wonder, while he kept on speaking of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, "Who is this but Joseph's son?" So he said: 'Doubtless, you will quote me the saying: Doctor, heal yourself! Do here in your town what they say you did in Capernaum."

Jesus added, "No prophet is honored in his own country."

Reflection

"Love will never end." (1 Cor 13: 8)  This statement was made by St. Paul in his first letter to the Church in Corinth.  This statement begs an explanation in a world awash with the tears, litter and debris of failed marriages and commitments, once vowed to last for life, even forever.

However one looks at it, "love will never end."  There is still love in broken marriages and failed vows.  The love might not be for what was vowed, but loves remains.  In some instances, the love is for another person or another life. In other instances, there may be greater love for one's self.  Even in the depths of sin, when man courts eternal damnation of his immortal soul, there is love.  Because more often than not, the choice is not really between loving God or preferring the devil.  The choice is between loving God and loving one's self.  Often self-love prevails.

Yet again there is a loving that we aspire for.  It is loving characterized by the lack or absence of self-interest. It is not selfish, nor pompous, nor rude.  What it has in abundance is love for the other, to see the good and happiness of the beloved.  As Paul wrote, "Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things." (1 Cor 13: 7)  This is loving as we saw it in Jesus: he loved his Father with all that he had and he loved mankind even unto death.

We see glimpses of this love in families, in people in love.  We can see glimpses of God's love in man's love of country. The goal is not only to intensify but to develop the loving into a selfless and generous kind that gives the lover the courage to wager his life for that which he loves.  The goal is to love the way Jesus did.  We take heart in the prophecy of Paul about those who love, "at present we see dimly as in a faulty mirror but then it shall be face to face.  Now we know in part, but then I will know as I am known." (1Cor 13: 12)   The one who loved us all, Jesus did just that.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Johnny & Nena Go

     Kit & Menchi Narciso

     Randy & Dowa Manaloto

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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