DAILY- HOMILY

July 27, 2017 – THURSDAY, 16th Week in Ordinary Time

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Ex 19:1- 2, 9 -11, 16- 20b / Mt 13:10- 17

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Ex 19: 18- 19

     Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because Yahweh had come down in fire, and the smoke rose as from a furnace. The whole mountain shook violently while the blast of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke and God replied in thunder.

From the GOSPEL READING:        Mt 13: 10- 13, 16- 17

     Then his disciples came to him with the question, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

     Jesus answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has will be given more and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has. That is why I speak to them in parables, because they look and do not see; they hear, but they do not listen and understand....

     "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you that many prophets and upright people would have longed to see the things you see, but they did not, and to hear the things you hear but they did not hear it."

REFLECTION

     In today's readings God speaks to us in very different ways. In the first reading Yahweh comes in great power, in fire, thunder and trumpet blasts, to speak with Moses at Mount Sinai. In the Gospel reading Jesus explains to his disciples why he often makes use of parables in his teaching.

     However different the ways, what is important is that God wishes to speak to us. Are we able to listen to him? Do we hear him?

     Yahweh spoke in great power and with great wonders to the people of Israel through Moses: though Israel made a covenant to follow Yahweh's commandments, very often they also strayed away from God and violated their covenant with him.

     In the preaching of Jesus, he hoped to teach the people, especially his disciples and close followers about the kingdom of God. He often made use of parables not only to clarify through images from the ordinary life and world of the people what the kingdom of God was but also because so many of the listeners were not ready to hear and accept his message.

     All that the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law saw were Jesus violating the sabbath, eating with tax collectors and sinners and not following their cleansing practices; they refused to see his wonderful message and works.

     How ready am I to hear God's urgings in my life? What are my mufflers and blinders in not hearing and seeing God in my life? Are my selfishness and self-absorption blocking me in seeing my neighbor's needs? Am I too busy to have time with God?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     FLORENCIA A. SALAMAT

     MARY ANNE O'GORMAN

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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