DAILY- HOMILY

09 October 2016

28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Green.      

2 Kgs 5:14 – 17 / 2 Tm 2: 8 – 13 / Lk 17:11 - 19  

1st Reading: 2 Kgs 5: 14 – 17 

So Naaman went down to the Jordan where he washed himself seven times as Elisha had ordered.  His skin became soft like that of a child and he was cleansed.  

Then Naaman returned to the man of God with all his men. He entered and said to him, "Now I know that there is no other God anywhere in the world but in Israel.  I ask you to accept these gifts from your servant.  But Elisha answered, "I swear by Yahweh whom I serve, I will accept nothing." And however much Naaman insisted, Elisha would not accept his gifts. So Naaman told him, "Since you refuse, let me get some sacks of soil from your land – the amount that two mules can carry.  I shall use it to build an altar to Yahweh, for I shall not offer sacrifices to any other god but him."

2nd Reading: 2 Tm 2: 8 – 13

Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead, Jesus, son of David, as preached in my Gospel.  For this Gospel I labor and even wear chains like an evildoer, but the word of God is not chained.  And so I bear everything for the sake of the chosen people, that they, too, may obtain the salvation given to us in Christ Jesus and share eternal glory.  This statement is true:  If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure with him, we shall reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel Reading: Lk 17:11 - 19. 

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along the border between Samaria and Galilee, and as he entered a village, ten lepers came to meet him.  Keeping their distance, they called to him, "Jesus. Master, have pity on us!" Then Jesus said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." Now, as they went their way, they found they were cured. One of them, as soon as he saw he was cleansed, turned back praising God in a loud voice, and throwing himself on his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks.  This man was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus said, "Were not all ten healed?  Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God but this alien?"  And Jesus said to him, "Stand up and go your way; your faith has saved you."

Reflection

One virtue not often found in people is gratitude. We rejoice at gifts, opportunities and blessings received but oftentimes forget to acknowledge the source of all these good things.

Scientists have associated gratitude with good health: they have found out that giving or expressing thanks is one simple way of feeling better. Studies have shown that being thankful releases hormones: Serotonin which improves one's moods, Cytokines which improves the immune system, Cortisol which is anti-stress and Dopamine which is related to cognitive and pleasure-related neurotransmitters.  Expressing thanks has been found to relax blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar levels and improve overall wellbeing.

So once again we have something to be thankful for.  God has provided us with a simple and natural way of keeping healthy by merely improving our sense of gratitude.  

There are many ways we can develop this habit. One could start by saying a short silent prayer of thanks each and every time one received something good.  This can be as small as finding a convenient parking slot at the crowded shopping mall to something as surprising and significant as a miraculous and unexplained cure of a potentially fatal illness.

Whatever it is, give thanks and let the giver know you appreciate the gift or favor.  You can also give thanks by being yourself generous, like Naaman the leper in the first reading cured of his leprosy.

Often we receive gifts through other people.  Let us practice always giving thanks to people who have helped us or benefitted us.  Saying thank you, sending a thank you note, text or email, or token gift are all great practices of giving thanks.  

We can always set time to count our blessings and to thank God and others for their awesome and generous gifts.  Let everyday be a Thanksgiving Day.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Frederick Tiu

     Ellery S. Lim

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

08 October 2016 

Saturday, 27th Week in Ordinary Time 

Green.        

Gal 3:22 – 29 / Lk 11:27 - 28

From the 1st Reading: Gal 3: 26 – 29

Now, in Christ Jesus, all of you are sons and daughters of God through faith.  All of you who were given to Christ through baptism have put on Christ. Here there is no longer any difference between Jew or Greek, or between slave or freed, or between man and woman, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Christ, you are of Abraham's race and you are to inherit God's promise. 

Gospel Reading: Lk 11: 27- 28

As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you!"  Jesus replied, "Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well."

Reflection

Today's Gospel reading reminds us of the virtue that made Mary the Mother of Christ and our mother as well. An admirer wished to compliment Jesus by praising his mother.  Jesus did not reject the compliment but added to her praise by acknowledging the virtue that brings us true blessedness.

We are reminded that Mary submitted herself humbly to the wonderful plan of God by accepting to conceive the Son of God in her womb. In this way Jesus points out that the truly blessed are those who take the time to know God, as Mary did, and find joy in hearing and obeying his word, as Mary did also.

Is this not the very reason we have been created? To be united with God? Jesus prioritizes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of one's family and lineage, but more importantly, one's inner relationship with God. Do we listen to God's word and desire to keep it?

In the first reading St. Paul tells us that we are sons and daughters of God by virtue of our baptism and our faith in Christ Jesus. By being baptized in Christ, we become adopted children of God.  Jesus has made it possible for us to share in the promise made to Abraham. He enables us to receive a new nature, to participate in the divine nature, when we were baptized and received the gift of faith. How great is this generous gift that we Christians become children of God and co-heirs with Christ of the heavenly kingdom.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Aida Inocentes Capistrano

     Rudy Siazon

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

  +================================================+

07 October 2016

Friday, 27th Week in Ordinary Time   

Our Lady of the Rosary

Memorial.        White.       

Acts 1:12–14 / Lk 1:26 – 38

Pope St. Pius V established thic celebration in 1573 in thanksgiving for the victory of the combined Christian forces against the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 off western Greece. The victory was attributed to Mary's intercession and the Holy Rosary.

From the Gospel Reading: Lk 26 - 38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. 

But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. . . ."

Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." 

Reflection

Today we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. We recall the love shown by Mary to her beloved Son Jesus Christ.  Mary was the most true witness of the life, death and resurrection of her Son Jesus.  As part of the MTQ parish community, we are called to pray the Rosary.  More than just a devotion, the Rosary helps and guides us through our daily struggles as we invoke the intercession of our Blessed Mother.

The first reading reminds us of what the apostles together with Mary and others did after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Like the apostles, we must also ask for the Holy Spirit to help us fulfill what God wants us to do in our lives.  

The gospel is the account of the Annunciation.  Here we see the beauty of God's divine plan of salvation for mankind and Mary's role in it.  God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God and Mary answers, "Let it be done to me as you have said."  

Like Mary, we are also called to be obedient to God's will.  But what is God's plan for you?  Do you already know it?  If not, then you must pray for God to reveal it to you.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Simoun Antonio Salinas

     Ramon Ventosa II

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

  +================================================+