DAILY- HOMILY

April 27, 2017 – THURSDAY, 2nd Week of Easter

St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Memorial, White

Acts 5: 27- 33 / Jn 3: 31- 36

     Born in Nijmegen, St. Peter Canisius (1521 -1597) was an indefatigable Jesuit preacher and writer.

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Acts 5: 27- 32

     They brought the apostles in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them, "We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man."

     To this Peter and the apostles replied, "Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging on a wooden post. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 3: 31 - 36

     Jesus said to his disciples, "He who comes from above is above all; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and his words, too, are earthly. The One who comes from heaven speaks of the things he has seen and heard; he bears witness to this but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does receive his testimony acknowledges the truthfulness of God.

     "The one sent by God speaks God's words and gives the Spirit without measure. For the Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son lives with eternal life, but he who will not believe in the Son will never know life and always faces the justice of God."

REFLECTION

     When I was much younger, my father brought me to the house of a very rich relative, a non-Catholic but a very religious man. While my father talked to him, I explored his mansion with my companions. On the second floor we found a big shrine with an enormous Buddha, images of some Chinese gods, statues of Mary and Jesus. There were food, drinks and burning incense, whose scent filled the room.

     Back home I asked my father about what we saw. I remember that he said that my uncle was one who never left anything to chance. So, he practiced whatever religion suited him for each particular business situation.

     That experience I had as a young person has made a lasting impression on me. It did not fit my belief in the one true God, that our God is not one of many gods.

     I could not understand putting together a shrine with images of Jesus and Mary, of Buddha and various Chinese gods.

     We could perhaps reflect on a few questions: Are there "other gods" which exist in my life and belief? How does belief in the Lord Jesus affect my daily life? Can people see my faith in Jesus in my actions? How do I share in the great mystery of the God-made-Man?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     GINA F. JAYMALIN 

     TOFFIE NUQUI

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     BENJAMIN "KOKOK" PANGANIBAN MD

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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