DAILY- HOMILY

04 March 2016        

Friday, 3rd Week of Lent 

St. Casimir

Violet.        

Hos 14:2 – 10 / Mk 12:28 – 34

St. Casimir (1458 – 1484) was the son of the monarchs of Poland and Lithuania. He is the Patron of Poland and Lithuania.

From the 1st Reading: Hos 14:2 – 3

Return to your God Yahweh, O Israel!  Your sins have caused your downfall. Return to Yahweh with humble words. Say to him, "Oh you who show compassion to the fatherless, forgive our debt, be appeased.  Instead of bulls and sacrifices, accept the praise from our lips."

From the Gospel Reading: Mk 12:28 - 34

A teacher of the Law had been listening to this discussion and admired how Jesus answered them. So he came up and asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"

Jesus answered, "The first is: Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And after this comes another one: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these two."

The teacher of the Law said to him, "Well spoken, Master; you are right When you say that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice."

Jesus approved this answer and said, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflection

In the first reading, we are reminded to turn back to Yahweh whose ways are always right.  We need to be constantly reminded of this by listening to the Word of God, reading the Scriptures, going to Mass, etc.  We hear many voices every day – to become rich, successful, famous, powerful, etc. But we also need to hear a different voice, the voice of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to love God totally.  How do we do this?  By thinking a lot about Him, by loving Him in our hearts and doing His will in our lives.  God always tells us to love our neighbor.  How?  As we love ourselves.  We normally like the best things for ourselves – food, clothes, fun times, cars, etc.  So how should we love our neighbors?  By wishing that they will also have the same things.  By being generous to all with our time, money and resources. A life lived with love and generosity toward others is a life well spent.  When we die, we will not be measured by how much money we have made, or how many successes we have had, but how much love we have shown our families, friends and yes, also to our enemies.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Arturo M. Marin

     Deandra Go-Tan

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Benito S. Cua (Nov 5, 1935 – Mar 4, 2003)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the repose of the soul of Mary Connors.

Thanksgiving for the gift of life of Nelson Billanes.

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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