Friday, July 29, 2016

 

Saturday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

30 July 2016
Saturday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time 
St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 
Green.              

Jer 26:11 – 16, 24 / Mt 14:1 – 12

St. Peter Chrysologus (c 380 – 450), the "golden-worded," was Bishop of Ravenna.

From the Gospel Reading: Mt 14: 1 – 11
At that time the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." 

Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.  For John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife."  Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet. 

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish." 

The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother. 

Reflection
It is not an easy task to correct someone. Everybody fears possible consequences of telling the truth and correcting someone.  It may mean rejection, punishment, withdrawal of affections, even loss of important things like money or economic security.  Even parents risk losing the affection of the children when they have to scold or discipline them.  

As Christians, we are called to speak the truth and, as may be helpful and needed, to correct others out of love for them.  Human that we are, we fear the effects of our doing so.  

In this light, what helps is an adult faith which trusts in God alone.  If we have this kind of faith, we can be firm even if the world around us crumbles and everyone abandons us.  John the Baptist, with this faith, testified to the truth even at the cost of his imprisonment and eventually his life. 

We may not be beheaded for speaking the truth as John was.  But part of our prophetic calling as Christians is to risk entering into suffering as a consequence of our duty to safeguard and proclaim the truth.

In this sense, we need to ask ourselves:  Am I willing to witness to the truth even if it means running into opposition, into rejection?  Or am I content with living in compromise for the sake of preserving myself?


WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY
     Richard Roy Tan

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
     Jonathan & Virginia Ho Gotamco

IN MEMORIAM (+)
     Ma. Brigida R. Alagar

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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