DAILY- HOMILY

May 11 , 2017 – THURSDAY, 4th Week of Easter

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Acts 13: 13 - 25 / Jn 13: 16- 20

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Acts 13: 23 - 25

     Paul said, "It is from the descendants of David that God has now raised up the promised savior of Israel, Jesus. Before he appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. As John was ending his life's work, he said, 'I am not what you think I am, for after me another one is coming whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."'

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 13: 16- 20

     Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him. Understand this, and blessed are you if you put it into practice.

     "I am not speaking of you all, because I know the ones I have chosen and the Scripture has to be fulfilled that says, The one who shared my table has risen against me. I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may know that I am He.

     "Truly, I say to you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me."

REFLECTION

     In the first reading Paul narrates God's special actions with Israel culminating in the coming of Jesus, our Savior.

     In the Gospel reading Jesus stresses that "the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him." At the same time Jesus said that, for him, leadership is shown in service, "If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all." (Mk 9: 35) He also said, "The so-called rulers of nations act as tyrants and their great ones oppress them. But it shall not be among you: whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all." (Mk 10:43- 44)

     Jesus also stresses that "whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me." When the disciples are welcomed, they are welcoming Jesus who had sent them; and when they welcome Jesus, they welcome the heavenly Father who had sent him.

     We pray that we learn and live according to Christ's ideal of leadership, which is really service to others.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     NENISSA B. BATITIS

     SR. ELOISA MARIE C. INOCENTES R.V.M.

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     EVELIA N. INOCENTES (MAY 11, 1938 ·FEB. 1, 2001)

     FILADELFO INOCENTES (MAY11, 1910·NOV1, 1967)

     SY TO CHIN

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the healing and recovery of Elisa Lipio.

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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These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

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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.  

  +================================================+

May 10, 2017 – WEDNESDAY, 4th Week of Easter 

St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i, Priest

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Acts 12: 24 - 13:5a / Jn 12: 44 -50

     Born in Belgium, St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i (1840 - 1888), a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, worked as a missionary in Hawaii before volunteering to work at the leper colony in Moloka'i. During the last four years of his life he became a leper among the lepers.

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 12: 44- 50

     Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

     "If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him, for I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word already has a judge: the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day.

     "For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed me."

REFLECTION

     In today's reading Jesus reminds us to believe in him.

     The world around us can make us spiritually blind: at times we fall prey to worldly ideas and lose sight of God's plan for us. Fragmented beliefs, especially those related to our quest for money, prestige and power, blur our vision of the simple and peaceful life God has planned for us. At times this may even lead to disbelief in God. Jesus assures us of his great love for us, "If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him, for I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world."

     In our life journey we are challenged when God is silent and when our prayers seem unanswered. We forget the many times God has responded to our prayers. We turn to other means which may seem to be quick fixes to our concerns. However, often these short cuts lead us away from the right path. At these times God seems to be absent; at these times we must stand firm in our faith in God: "Faith is the way of holding onto what we hope for, being certain of what we cannot see." (Heb 11: 1)

     What blocks our vision of faith in the God who loves and always stands by us?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     DOMINGO YU (FEB. 25,1925 ·MAY 10, 2015)

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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following: 

  +================================================+

   |  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.  

  +================================================+