DAILY- HOMILY

08 February 2016 

Monday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Jerome Emiliani, Priest;

St. Josephine Bakhita, Virgin

Green. 

1 Kgs 8:1–7 / Mk 6: 53–56.     

Born in Venice, St. Jerome Emiliani (1486 – 1537) founded the Company of Servants of the Poor, clerks regular approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.  Pope Pius IX named him patron of orphans and abandoned infants.

Born a Sudanese slave and eventually given her freedom by an Italian Consul, St. Josephine Bahkita (1869 – 1947) became a religious of the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa and lived a quiet life in humble services at her religious congregation.

Gospel Reading: Mk 6: 53 – 56

Having crossed the lake, they came ashore at Gennesaret where they tied up the boat.  As soon as they landed, people recognized Jesus and ran to spread the news throughout the countryside.  Wherever he was they brought to him the sick lying on their mats. And wherever he went, to villages, towns or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplace and begged him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak.  And all who touched him were cured.

Reflection

Jesus preached the coming of the kingdom not only through his teaching and parables but also through healing the sick and expelling evil spirits. Towards the beginning of his public ministry he had proclaimed his task as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah: "'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.  He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord's year of mercy.' Then he said to them, 'Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen.'" (Lk 4: 18 – 21)

We see all the people with illnesses crowding to be with him, "to touch just the fringe of his cloak" and be cured.  "And all who touched him were cured."

People came in crowds to listen to him; the Pharisees and the Jewish teachers of the Law came to find fault with him:  "Who is this but Joseph's son?"  (Lk 4: 22) "How did this come to him? What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also performs such miracles?" (Mk 6:2) 

When he "violated" the sabbath, "the ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had performed this healing on the sabbath day and he said to the people, 'There are six days in which to work; come on those days to be healed and not on the sabbath.'" (Lk 13: 14)

When Jesus seemed friendly to a public sinner, the Pharisee Simon was scandalized, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him; isn't this woman a sinner?" (Lk 7: 35) When he forgave sinners, "How can he speak like this insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?"  (Mk 2: 6)

Where do we encounter Jesus in our lives?  Where do we hear him?  Where do we see him?  

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Peter Tiu

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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