DAILY- HOMILY

23 December 2016  

Friday, 4th Week of Advent

Violet.          

Mal 3:1 – 4, 23 – 24 / Lk 1: 57 – 66

[Misa de Aguinaldo.       White.    With Gloria]

From the 1st Reading: Mal 3: 1 – 3a

Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord for whom you long will enter the sanctuary.  The envoy of the covenant which you so greatly desire already comes, says Yahweh of hosts.  Who can bear the days of  his coming and remain standing when he appears?  For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye in beaching.  

He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.

Gospel Reading: Lk 1: 57 – 66

When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her.

When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."  They said to her, "No one in your family has that name";  and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, "His name is John," and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God.

A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, "What will this child be?" For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

Reflection

Christmas is so near! We celebrate the Word's birth as a helpless Infant. This time we should desire that he will be "born" in us, in our hearts.

John the Baptist prepared the way for his coming.  Have you met John the Baptist?  He could be your parish priest, your parents, your teachers, your friends, etc. He is the one who invites us to be just, not to oppress others, to repent of our sins, to fix our messy relationships, not to be lazy, greedy and selfish, etc.  He is the voice of God that tells us always to change our lives for the better, to go out of our way to help others. 

If we have listened to and obeyed the words of John the Baptist, then we should be ready to welcome the infant Jesus at his birth.

John the Baptist helps us prepare for Jesus' coming.  May the Infant Jesus, bring true joy, true peace and true justice to us and to all of mankind.  May our families and communities be havens of this joy, peace and justice brought by  the Lord.               

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Joy Chua

     Gavin John Anthony Uy

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the personal intentions of Alex Morais.

For the eternal repose of the soul of Teresa Santos.

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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