DAILY- HOMILY

February 1 1, 2017 – SATURDAY, 5th Week in Ordinary Time 

Our Lady of Lourdes

Green

Gn 3:9-24 I Mk 8:1 – 10

     11 February marks the first of eighteen appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes to fourteen-year old St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844 - 1879) in 1858. In one of the appearances, the Blessed Virgin proclaimed herself "the Immaculate Conception," which dogma had been defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

GOSPEL REAding:     Mk 8:1 -10

     Soon afterwards, Jesus was in the midst of another large crowd that obviously had nothing to eat. So he called his disciples and said to them, "I feel sorry for these people because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat. If I send them to their homes hungry, they will faint on the way; some of them have come a long way."

     His disciples replied, "Where in a deserted place like this could we get enough bread to feed these people?" He asked them, "How many loaves have you?" And they answered, "Seven."

   Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and giving thanks, he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute. And they distributed them among the people. They also had some small fish, so Jesus said a blessing and asked that these be shared as well.

     The people ate and were satisfied. The broken pieces were collected, seven wicker baskets full of leftovers. Now there had been about four thousand people. Jesus sent them away and immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

REFLECTION

     The miracle of the multiplication of bread and fishes to feed thousands is significant in the Gospels: the feeding of the thousands showed our Lord's concern for the people, the concern of the Good Shepherd for his flock; it also pre-figured the great gift of the Eucharist.

     When we pray in the Lord's Prayer for our "daily bread," we pray not only for our food but also for our many material needs. In a way, when we pray for our "daily bread," we also pray for the nourishment of our spiritual life, for the Eucharist as food and drink for our souls and for God's grace as nourishment and help in our lives.

     Today's Gospel reading illustrates that God always knows and wants what is best for us; the crowds did not even ask to be fed: "I feel sorry for these people because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat. If I send them to their homes hungry, they will faint on the way; some of them have come a long way."

     God reminds us that we need food not only for our bodies but more especially for our spiritual life in preparation for and anticipation of life eternal in heaven.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     RALPH DIXEL B. GARRO

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     EDWARD & JENNIFER INOCENTES

     GERALD & GERALDINE DY SY

     JEROME & SALLY LIM GOTAMCO

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     LUCIA C. TIU

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the personal intention of Kat Rulloda.

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

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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