DAILY- HOMILY

02 December 2016  

Friday, 1st Week of Advent

Violet.        

Is 29: 17 – 24 / Mt 9: 27 - 31

From the 1st Reading: Is 29: 18

On that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and out of the dark and obscurity the eyes of the blind will see.  The meek will find joy and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  For the tyrant will be no more and the scoffers gone forever, and all who plan to do evil will be cut down.

Gospel Reading: Mt 9: 27 – 31

As Jesus moved on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Son of David, help us!" When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?" They answered, "Yes, sir!"

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "As you have believed, so let it be." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, "Be careful and let no one know about this." But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

Reflection

In the first reading, Yahweh promises to lift up the poor and the lowly.  God is salvation for Israel, the Chosen People of God.  As long as she strives to walk in his ways, Yahweh will always come to her help and defend her from tyrants and oppressors.  

How about you?  On which camp are you – the oppressed or the oppressors?  Hopefully we belong to the former.  And even if nobody oppresses us seriously, unfortunate events, our sins and temptations can also oppress us and make us miserable, compelling us to ask for God's saving help.  

In the Gospel reading, two blind men ask Jesus to cure them.  How did these men come to have such faith in Jesus?  They must have heard about the miracles Jesus had done, the many people Jesus had healed and most important of all, the compassion of Jesus towards the weak and the downtrodden.  Therefore, they began to believe not only in his power to cure but also in his desire to help all those who asked for it. That is why they were able to say to Jesus that they believed he could cure them. 

Do you have faith not only that God exists, but also that he wants to cure you of your diseases and sicknesses?  We are all sick of something and if we want to be cured, we must ask God for faith in his Son who was sent to save mankind from sins and sicknesses.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Isis T. So

     Didi C. Ventura

     Nonna Nañagas

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Visitacion Antoni Co (1926 – 2012)

     Mrs. Dolores L. Tan

     Robert N. Tang

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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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: 

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   |  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.  

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

01 December 2016

Thursday, 1st Week of Advent

Sts. Edmund Campion and Robert Southwell, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs 

Bl. R. Filcock and R. Middleton, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs 

Memorial.       Red.   

Is 26:1 – 6 / Mt 7:21, 24 – 27    

Sts. Edmund Campion (1540 – 1581) and Robert Southwell (1561 – 1595). Jesuit priests, are among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales of the 16th and 17th   centuries canonized by Bl. Pope Paul VI in 1970.

Bl. Roger Filcock (1570 – 1601) and Robert Middleton (1571 – 1601), Jesuit priests were also martyrs of England of the 16th century.

From the 1st Reading: Is 26: 1 – 4

On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:  We have a strong city, he himself has set up walls and fortifications to protect us.  Open the gates! Let the righteous nation enter, she who is firm in faithfulness. You keep in perfect peace the one of steadfast mind, the one who trusts in you. Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock.

From the Gospel Reading: Mt 7: 24 - 27 

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me: Lord! Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.

"So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!"

Reflection

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we see how God protects and watches over those who trust in him. His city Jerusalem is safe and peaceful because he himself has set up its protecting walls and fortifications; it is a strong city built on rock, on a solid foundation.  "Trust in the Lord forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock." (Is 26: 4)  

In the Gospel reading from the end of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, a large collection of sayings and teachings of the Lord which begin with the Beatitudes. Jesus compares one who builds his life on the words and teachings of the Lord to one who has built his house on rock so that, despite heavy rains, floods and strong winds, the house will not fall because it is founded on rock.  

While the one who hears but not heed the words and teachings of the Lord is one like a foolish man who has built his house on sand and not on a solid foundation, so that, when buffeted by the rains, floods and winds, the house collapses.  

A solid foundation in life requires that we seek and do the will of the heavenly Father; it is not enough to just call upon him but be attentive, listening and following his will for us. Let us live what we pray: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Leo Carlos Almario Tan

     Gerardo Paras

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the eternal repose of the soul of Dr. Soterania S. Santiago.

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.  

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