DAILY- HOMILY

11 August 2016

Thursday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Clare, Virgin 

Memorial.       White.          

Ez 12:1 – 12 / Mt 18:  21 – 19:1

St. Clare (1193 – 1253), a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi (1182 – 1226), loved poverty and founded the Order of Poor Clares; she was Abbess of its first convent for 42 years.

Gospel Reading: Mt 18: 21- 35 

Then Peter asked him, "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?"  Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

"This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven.  A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots.  As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

"The official threw himself at the feet of the kind and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.'  The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

"This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver.  He grabbed him by the neck, and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!'   His companions threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.'  The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

"His companions saw what had happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord.  Then the lord summoned his official, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Were you not bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?'  The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt."

Jesus added, "So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister."   

Reflection

Jesus declared that our forgiveness of others should have no limits: "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Mt18: 22)

To further illustrate what limitless forgiveness means, Jesus tells the parable on the "Unmerciful Servant," about the generous forgiveness of the king for a truly huge debt and the unwillingness of the servant whose huge debt was forgiven to do the same for a fellow servant for a much smaller debt.

In the king's mercy to the debtor-servant, Jesus shows the almost limitless mercy and readiness of the heavenly Father to forgive the repentant sinner. At the same time Jesus stresses that we too must learn to be as forgiving as our heavenly Father. 

The forgiving king in the parable became merciless on the unforgiving servant: "So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister."   (Mt 18: 35)

PRAYER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Richard Raul Guibani.

For the eternal repose of the soul of Dy Ka Bian.

For the intentions of the Thursday meeting.

10 August 2016

Wednesday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Feast.        Red.        

2 Cor 9: 6 – 10 / Jn 12:  24 – 26

A Roman deacon, St. Lawrence (d 258) was martyred during the persecution of Velerian.  After Sts. Peter and Paul, he is venerated as Patron of Rome.

From the 1st Reading: 2 Cor 9: 6 - 7

Remember: the one who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for the one who sows generously.  Each of you should give as you decided personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged.  God loves a cheerful giver. 

Gospel Reading: Jn 12: 24 -  26

Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

"Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.

"Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Reflection

When we hold on too tightly to our own concerns and worries, we cease to notice the needs of others. We get so caught up in what we have to do to survive. We distract ourselves with busy schedules, or we just don't want to see beyond routine and mediocrity. That's all perfectly normal. But, shouldn't we pray for the grace to do something much more than what we're presently doing?

Jesus shows us just what it will take. It'll probably mean giving up our own lives so that others may live. Are we ready to do that for our brothers and sisters? Can we let go of what's bothering us at the moment so that we can properly look after a brother or a sister who might be in dire straits? This dying to ourselves will happen again and again, but the positive effects will also be multiplied. That's how many seeds can be produced by the supreme sacrifice of just one. Jesus guides us on this self-giving way that has a definite multiplier effect.

This service is not meant to be a temporary occurence. We're invited to give completely of ourselves until our very last breath. This might seem like a very strict requirement: indeed we are proclaiming that we are not meant only for this world. 

Jesus realized that everything on this earth was temporary, both the joys and the pains: everything is fleeting. The real peace and happiness that we seek can only be found in the Father's love. We are called to die to our own insecurities, our personal conflicts, our selfish interests, and our self-centeredness. Only when we open ourselves to what God accepts in us can we be able to die to the temporary and give in to what is eternal and lasting. We are meant for something so much more. 

Feel free to forward this to your friends, family and associates!
  
To Subscribe, send a blank email message to:  dailyprayer-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank email message to: dailyprayer-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Send your comments to:   dailyprayer@marythequeen.org
To Post a prayer request, send an email to:  requestprayer@marythequeen.org

This free service is produced by the laity, priests and friends of:
Mary the Queen Parish
Madison, West Greenhills, San Juan, Philippines
Website: http://www.marythequeen.org