DAILY- HOMILY

March 4, 2017 – SATURDAY after Ash Wednesday 

St. Casimir

Violet

Is 58:9b- 14 / Lk 5: 27- 32

St. Casimir (1458 - 1484) was the son of the monarchs of Poland and Lithuania. He is the Patron of Poland and Lithuania.

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Is 58: 9b- 12

     If you remove from your midst the yoke, the clenched fist and the wicked word, if you share your food with the hungry and give relief to the oppressed, then your light will rise in the dark, your night will be like noon. Yahweh will guide you always and give you relief in desert places. He will strengthen your bones; he will make you as a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, the age-old foundations will be raised. You will be called the Breach-mender, and the Restorer of ruined houses.

GOSPEL READING:     Lk 5: 27- 32

     After this Jesus went out, and as he noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office, he said to him, "Follow me." So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus.

     Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax collectors came to his house and took their place at table with the other people. Then the Pharisees and their fellow teachers complained to Jesus' disciples, "How is it that you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?" But Jesus spoke up, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have come to call to repentance; I call sinners, not the righteous."

REFLECTION

     In the Gospel reading the Pharisees and their fellow teachers criticize Jesus "for eating and drinking with tax collectors and other sinners." Jesus explains to them why he eats with tax collectors and sinners, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have come to call to repentance; I call sinners, not

the righteous."

     Jesus came to call sinners; his mission was to reconcile sinful mankind with God. We see this concern even in his choice of his close followers and helpers. In today's Gospel reading he calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. At Jesus' call, without any hesitation or delay, Levi, "leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus." At Jesus' call, "Follow me," Levi leaves his tax-office and follows Jesus.

     After a miraculous catch of fish at Jesus' instructions, "Simon Peter fell at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"' Jesus then calls Peter and his fishermen-partners James and John, "Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on." (Lk 5: 8- 10)

     Before God we are all sinners and in need of his forgiving love. We are most grateful for a Savior who ate with sinners and sought sinners not only to assure them of his love but also to save them in his mission to call sinners

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ARTURO M. MARIN 

     DEANDRA GO-TAN

     FR. ADRIANO R. TAPIADOR SJ

     GAN ARRABEL 

     NELSON BILLANES 

     RUBY CO

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     ERNEST & ROSARIO CUYEGKENG

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     JOHNNY LIM UY (OCT. 2,1953 ·MAR. 4, 2016)

     BENITO S. CUA (NOV 5, 1935 ·MAR. 4, 2003)

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

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