DAILY- HOMILY

10 November 2016

Thursday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Memorial.         White.           

Phlm 7 – 20 / Lk 17: 20 – 25

The Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) which defined Jesus Christ as one divine Person with two natures was held during the pontificate of St. Leo the Great (d. 461).  St. Leo also fought against the Manicheans, the Nestorians, the Priscillianists and the Arians.

From the 1st Reading: Phlm 8 – 10, 12 – 14, 17

. . . although in Christ I have the freedom to command what you should do, yet I prefer to request you in love.  The one talking is Paul, the old man, now a prisoner for Christ.  And my request is on behalf of Onesimus, whose father I have become while I was in prison. .  . .

In returning him to you, I am sending you my own heart.  I would have liked to keep him at my side, to serve me on your behalf while I am in prison for the Gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your agreement, nor impose a good deed upon you without your free consent. . . .

And so, because of our friendship, receive him as if he were I myself. 

From the Gospel Reading: Lk 17: 20 - 25 

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come. He answered, "The kingdom of God is not like something you can observe and say of it: 'Look, here it is! There it is!'  See the kingdom of God is among you."

And Jesus said to his disciples, "The time is at hand when you will long to see one of the glorious days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. Then people will tell you:  'Look here! Look there!' Do not go, do not follow them.  As lightning flashes from one end of the sky to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this people."

Reflection

In the Letter to Philemon St. Paul appeals to Philemon and his community on behalf of the slave who had befriended and served him in his imprisonment in Rome.  In the prevailing culture where slaves were part of life, Paul asks that the slave Onesimus be seen and treated as a brother, and even suggests that he be given his freedom.  St. Paul gives us a lesson in respect for others, even slaves and those of very humble rank.

In the Gospel reading Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of God is at hand and that it is among us here and now.   Though we all look forward to the final triumph of God's kingdom at the end of time, here and now we are challenged and tasked to live out in our daily ordinary lives the dictates and ideals Jesus gave us in living out and in anticipation of God's kingdom.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Vince L. Santos

     Carolyn Yao

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.  

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