DAILY- HOMILY

February 23, 2017 – THURSDAY, 7th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr

Memorial, Red

Sir 5: 1 - 8 / Mk 9: 41 -50

      A disciple of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, St. Polycarp (d. 155), Bishop of Smyrna (now lzmir in Turkey), was martyred by burning at the stake by the Roman Pro-Consul.

GOSPEL READING: Mk 9: 41- 50

      Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ and bear his name, truly, I say to you, he will not go without reward.

      "If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck.

     "If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than with two hands to go to hell, to the fire that never goes out. And if your foot makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a foot than with both feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! It is better for your to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, keeping both eyes, to be thrown into hell where the worms that eat them never die and the fire never goes out. The fire itself will preserve them.

"Salt is a good thing; but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another."

REFLECTION

     God is faithful. His love, compassion and mercy are limitless and unconditional, always available for us. He is always waiting for us to repent and to be reconciled to him.

     However, this does not mean that we can live our life any way we want, with no care for consequences and just hoping to repent at the last moment. As followers of Christ, God expects us to live each day, each hour, each moment, after that of Jesus and in accordance with his teachings and commandments. We are to love and serve God and neighbor, do good, bring peace, be compassionate, be like salt which brings flavor and life to those around us.

     God wants us to always live Christ-like lives. He knows our weaknesses. He is always there to inspire and support us.

     In the Gospel reading Jesus warns us to avoid sin at all cost and to avoid what lead us to sin, even to losing our hand, foot or eye, indeed even to losing our life itself.

     Jesus also warns us not to be occasions or helpers for others to sin, "If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ARLETH MENDOZA

     HARRIS JAVIER TAN NGO

     REV. FR. CALOY REYES

     RONALD CUADRO

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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