DAILY- HOMILY

23 August 2016        

Tuesday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Rose of Lima, Virgin  

Green.         

2 Thes 2:1 – 3a, 14 – 17 / Mt 23: 23 – 26

Born of Spanish parents in Lima, Peru, St. Rose of Lima (1586 – 1617) became a Dominican Teritiary and was instrumental in the foundation of the first monastery of cloistered nuns in Lima. Canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671, she was the first canonized saint of the New World.  She was proclaimed Patroness of the Americas, the Philippines  and the West Indies. 

From the 1st Reading: 2 Thes 2:15 - 1

Brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions that we taught you by word or by letter.  May Christ Jesus our Lord who has loved us, may God our Father, who in his mercy gives us everlasting comfort and true hope, strengthen you.  May he encourage your hearts and make you steadfast in every good work and word.

Gospel Reading: Mt 23: 23 - 26

Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you pay the tenth of everything, but then you forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith. These you must practice, without neglecting the others.  Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel.

"Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them.  Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified."

Reflection

In the first reading Paul encourages the Thessalonians to "stand firm and hold to the traditions that we taught you by word or by letter."  May they remain true and faithful to the Good News preached to them.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus denounces the religious leaders of his time for their lack of godliness and sincerity. He accuses them of hypocrisy; of cleansing the outside while being defiled in the inside. 

This applies to all of us who call ourselves people of God.  We are all sinners, fallen and in great need of God's grace. 

Jesus is calls us out of our conceited selves and reminds us that holiness is not something that we put on for others to see and notice. It is more important to nurture our relationship with God than to receive the empty admiration of others. 

Cleaning from within through repentance before God, especially through the sacrament of Reconciliation, and being truthful at whatever cost bring us closer to God, "Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified."       

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Charlemangne G. Yu

     Crostome C. Tan

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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