DAILY- HOMILY

28 April 2016

Thursday, 5th Week of Easter 

St. Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr 

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, Priest

White.            

Acts 15: 7 – 21 / Jn 15: 9 – 11  

St. Peter Chanel (1803 – 1841), a French priest of the Society of Mary (Marists) was the Apostle of Oceania and its first martyr.

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673 – 1716), born in Brittany, a great preacher and missionary, with great devotion to our Lady and praying the Rosary, founded the Company of Mary (for priests), the Congregation of Daughters of Divine Wisdom (women devoted to the poor) and the Brothers of St. Gabriel.

Gospel Reading: Jn 15: 9 - 11 

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

Reflection

Jesus gives us the secret to a life of complete joy: obeying God's commands.  In Mt 22: 37 – 40, Jesus gives us the two greatest commandments: to "love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind" . . .  and to "love your neighbor as yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments."

This is the secret to happiness and yet many people do not heed the instruction.  Why are we unable to obey God's commandments?

In today's world where individual freedom is so important, obedience seems to be losing strength as a value. Human power has been so emphasized that at times we no longer see the need for God.  Plus in reality it is not that easy to follow God's commandments.

It is not easy to love God when we see and experience pain and suffering in life. We expect a God who provides for our needs, one who gives us good times and good things. How can we love a God who allows poverty and hunger, war and sickness, and so many calamities to come. Why?

It is also difficult to love others as ourselves because of our selfish nature and especially if the other seems unlovable, if the other does not love us and even hurts us.  How can a son respect a drunkard-father? A wife an unfaithful husband?  A friend who has cheated?

The Lord does not provide easy answers. He simply calls us to remain in his love and promises true joy. This is the obedience Jesus showed: despite pain, rejection and suffering, he remained faithful to what the Father wanted.

The obedience and love Jesus showed are beyond our ordinary logic.  With loving obedience, he believed all will be well. 

We are called to do the same.  Are we willing to forego logic and trust and remain in God's love?  

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Fr. Joseph Y. Haw, SJ

     Jaime Ysmael

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Gregorio T. Basilio

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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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

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