DAILY- HOMILY

January 17, 2017 - TUESDAY, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

St. Anthony, Abbot

Memorial, White

Heb 6:10- 20 / Mk 2:23-28

     Called the Patriarch of Monks, St. Anthony (251 - 356) retired to the desert at the age of 18; he was the first to establish rules for a community of monks.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Heb 6:10- 15

     God is not unjust and will not forget everything you have done for love of his name; you have helped and still help the believers. We desire each of you to have, until the end, the same zeal for reaching what you have hoped for. Do not grow careless but imitate those who, by their faith and determination, inherit the promise.

     Remember God's promise to Abraham. God wanted to confirm it with an oath and, as no one is higher than God, he swore by himself: I shall bless you and give you many descendants. By just patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.

GOSPEL READING: Mk 2:23 - 28

     One Sabbath Jesus was walking through grainfields. As his disciples walked along with him, they began to pick the heads of grain and crush them in their hands. Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look! They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath!"

     And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did in his time of need, when he and his men were very hungry? He went into the house of God when Abiathar was High Priest and ate the bread of offering, which only the priests are allowed to eat, and he also gave some to the men who were with him." Then Jesus said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath."

REFLECTION

     The Gospel reading reminds us that to be Christian is not a matter of obeying rules and regulations. Christianity is not just a religion in the traditional sense of the word but a way of life, a way of conversion.

     A Christian can never say that he has arrived, that he is already perfect. If we are truthful to ourselves, we will always realize that we are still aiming for what St. Paul says, "I do not believe I have already reached my goal, nor do I consider myself perfect, but I press on till I conquer Christ Jesus, as I have been conquered by him." (Phil 3:12)

     All the saints say the same thing that they are far from the holiness of God. This attitude makes us vigilant always and not proud or presumptuous. God loves a humble heart, a heart that continues to love him. We must never tire of doing what is good and bringing others to the knowledge and love of God.

     The Christian is a missionary at heart, meaning that each Christian is an instrument for bringing others to the knowledge of God. The Christian is always going towards others, always in motion, in a "holy tension," bringing and sharing the Good News of salvation to others.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

    ESTER REYES TAGUD

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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