DAILY- HOMILY

August 14, 2017 – MONDAY, 19TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Sts. Antonio Primaldo and Companions, Martyrs

Memorial, Red

Dt 10: 12- 22 / Mt 17: 22- 27

     St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (1894 - 1941), a Franciscan priest with great devotion to Mary, offered his life in exchange for that of a family-man at Auschwitz.

     Sts. Antonio Primaldo and approximately 800 others were beheaded by Muslims in August 1480 in Otranto, Italy, for refusing to give up their faith. Beatified in 1771, they were canonized by Pope Francis on 12 May 2013.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Dt 10: 12- 15

     So now, Israel, what is it that Yahweh, your God, asks of you but to fear him and follow all his ways? Love him and serve him with all your heart and all your soul. Observe the commands of Yahweh and his laws which I command you today, for your good.

     See, the heavens, those that are seen and those that are unseen, the earth and all that is in it, everything belongs to Yahweh, your God. Nevertheless, it was on your fathers that Yahweh set his heart. He loved them, and after them, he chose their descendants - you - preferring you to all the peoples, as you can see this day.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 17: 22- 27

     While Jesus was in Galilee with the Twelve, he said to them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands, and they will kill him. But he will rise on the third day." The Twelve were deeply grieved.

     When they returned to Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, "Does your Master pay the Temple tax?" He answered, "Certainly."

     Peter then entered the house, but immediately Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings of the earth: their sons or the other people?" Peter answered, "The others." And Jesus told him, "The sons, then, are tax-free. But so as not to offend this people, go to the sea, throw in a hook and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it, take it and let it pay for you and for me."

REFLECTION

     Throughout the Old Testament we see God's love for those who obey him and his punishment for those who disobey his commands. He has loved and fulfilled his promises to his chosen people, Israel, beginning with Abraham and Isaac. Led by Moses, God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt and brought them to their promised land.

     In the Gospel reading Jesus predicts his passion, death and resurrection. He also shows his respect for civil authorities by paying tax for himself and Peter, "The sons, then, are tax-free. But so as not to offend these people... take the coin [in the fish you catch] and let it pay for you and for me." Christians have to be law-abiding citizens of their countries: they are citizens of this world and of God's kingdom.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ELEANOR BAHRAMI

     LIAM GABRIEL DOMINIC UY

     OMIE A. INOCENCIO

     RENE DELA CALZADA

WEDDING ANNVIERSARY 

     AUGUSTO AND GLORIA DACANAY

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     THOMAS NGO TIONG TAY (1930·1988)

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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