DAILY- HOMILY

August 21, 2017 – MONDAY, 20th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Pius X, Pope

Memorial, White

Jgs 2: 11 - 19 / Mt 19: 16 - 22

[Ninoy Aquino Day]

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Jgs 2: 16- 17

     Yahweh raised up "judges" (or liberators) who saved the Israelites from their exploiters. But neither did they obey those "judges" for they still prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They soon left the ways of their fathers who obeyed the commandments of Yahweh; they did not follow the ways of their fathers.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 19: 16 -22

     It was then that a young man approached Jesus and said, "Master, what good work must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus answered, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only one is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments."

     The young man said, "Which commandments?" Jesus replied, "Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."

     The young man said to him, "I have kept all these commandments; what is still lacking?" Jesus answered, "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all that you possess and give the money to the poor and you will be the owner of a treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me." On hearing this answer, the young man went away sad for he was a man of great wealth.

REFLECTION

     In the first reading, we hear how Yahweh tried to keep his people Israel obedient to his commandments. He appointed judges to remind them of their covenant with God.

     In the Gospel reading, when asked by the young man what to do to enter eternal life, Jesus said to keep the commandments given by God.

     Pressed by the young man, "I have kept all these commandments; what is still lacking?" Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor and come and follow him. A man of great wealth, the young man walked away sad.

     The young man was invited by Jesus to follow a higher calling, "if you wish to be perfect," be with him and follow him.

     The young man was invited or challenged by Jesus to follow him more closely in his poverty and his obedience to the heavenly Father. Today this same invitation is given by God to those who join religious life, be they male or female, to live out their lives in evangelical, poverty, chastity and obedience for love of Christ and in service of his Church and his people.

     Though not everyone is called to such "perfection," to such following of Christ, everyone is called to love his/ her neighbor, including enemies, and to be "righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect." (Mt 5: 43 - 48)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

IN MEMORIAM (†) 

     CARMEN TAN SIO TY NGO (1932  1977)

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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