DAILY- HOMILY

May 22, 2017 – MONDAY, 6th Week of Easter 

St. Rita of Cascia, Religious 

White

Acts 16:11 - 15 / Jn 15: 26 - 16: 4a

     Born in Umbria, after being widowed, St. Rita of Cascia (1381 - 1457) spent long years in prayer, penance and service to the poor and the sick.

FROM THE 1ST READING:    Acts 16:13-15

    On the sabbath we went outside the city gate to the bank of the river where we thought the Jews would gather to pray. We sat down and began speaking to the women who were gathering there. One of them was a God-fearing woman named Lydia from Thyatira City, a dealer in purple cloth.

     As she listened the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she had been baptized together with her household, she invited us to her house, "If you think I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us to accept her invitation.

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 15: 26- 16: 4a

     Jesus said to his disciples, "From the Father, I will send you the Spirit of truth. When this Helper has come from the Father, he will be my witness, and you too will be my witnesses for you have been with me from the beginning.

     "I tell you all this to keep you from stumbling and falling away. They will put you out of Jewish communities. Still more, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God; they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. I tell you all these things now so that when the time comes you may remember that I told you."

REFLECTION

     Pope Francis tells us that, by our baptism, all of us are called to be witnesses of Christ, that we should be ready to go out wherever to preach the Good News of salvation. He tells us that we should proclaim our faith first in our own lives and actions so that when we preach to others they could listen and believe our words.

     Today's readings invite us to be witnesses of Christ. In the first reading God­ fearing Lydia and her household are baptized after the preaching and witnessing of Paul. In the Gospel reading Jesus tells his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, to be a witness to Christ and to assist us in our witness to Christ. Jesus warns his disciples to "keep from stumbling and falling away"; he warns them they would meet opposition, even persecution: "they will put you out of Jewish communities. Still more, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God."

     Jesus tells his disciples not to be afraid, especially with the Helper with them. This same Spirit is also with us.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     GEMMA RITA R. MARIN

     LESLEY CASTILLO MEOLI

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     LUIS & SUSANA DE JESUS

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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