DAILY- HOMILY

May 23, 2017 – TUESDAY, 6th Week of Easter

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Acts 16: 22- 34 / Jn 16: 5 – 11

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Acts 16: 25- 32

     About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and the chains of all the prisoners fell off. The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul shouted to him, "Do not harm yourself! We are all still here."

     The jailer asked for a light, then rushed in, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas. After he had secured the other prisoners, he led them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved." Then they spoke the word of God to him and all his household.

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 16:5- 11

     Jesus said to his disciples, "But now I am going to the One who sent me and none of you asks where I am going. Instead you are overcome with grief because of what I have said.

"Indeed believe me: It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you, and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness and to the judgment.

     "What has been the sin? They did not believe in me. What is the way of righteousness? I am on the way to the Father, meanwhile you will not see me. What judgment? The Ruler of this world has himself been condemned."

REFLECTION

     The first reading shows that the Good News can and should be preached to anyone. After being flogged, Paul and Silas are imprisoned. An earthquake shook the prison, doors opened and chains fell off but Paul and the other prisoners did not escape. The jailer and his household believed and were baptized.

     In the Gospel reading the Lord prepares his disciples for his return to his Father in heaven: he will leave but the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will be sent to them to inspire and help them: "and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness and to the judgment."

     We see the power of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, when he came with power upon the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. This same Spirit dwells in us: we received him when we were baptized and confirmed.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CAESAR D. WONGCHUKING

     CYNTHIA C. SALUD 

     MERRY JOY Y. TAMBASEN

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     FRANCIS & ANDRE ACERO

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     JOSE NG TAN

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 24, 2017 – WEDNESDAY, 6th Week of Easter 

Our Lady of the Wayside (Madonna della Strada) 

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Acts 17: 15, 22 -- 18: 1 / Jn 16: 12- 15

     Our Lady of the Wayside (Madonna della Strada) is a small shrine just outside Rome which the Society of Jesus received as its first parish.

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 16: 12- 15

     Jesus said, "I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the whole truth.

     "He has nothing to say of himself but he will speak of what he hears, and he will tell you of the things to come. He will take what is mine and make it known to you; in doing this, he will glorify me. All that the Father has is mine; because of this I have just told you, that the Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you."

REFLECTION

     Today's Gospel reading speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit: "he will guide you into the whole truth."

     Though seemingly abstract at times, the Holy Spirit is indeed present in our lives. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the first Pentecost turned the frightened apostles into courageous preachers of the Good News of the risen Jesus.

     St. Paul speaks of our new life in Christ: "For that same reason, the one who is in Christ is a new creature. For him the old things have passed away; a new world has come." (2 Cor 5: 17) With the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, this new world redirects us to the truth and the right path, a life enlivened by God's own life.

     The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is manifested by the gifts of the Holy Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control." (Gal 5: 22 - 23) Such virtues spring from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

     We pray, "0 God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANNE ROMADINE TIENG

     ELIZABETH GO 

     KATHLEEN KAYE TSOI

     MARK ANTHONY S. CRUZ

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     HENRY CHOA

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.  

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

May 25, 2017 – THURSDAY, 6th Week of Easter 

Venerable Bede, Priest and Doctor of the Church 

St. Gregory VII, Pope I

St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, Religious

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Acts 18: 1- 8 / Jn 16: 16- 20

     Venerable Bede (672 - 735), a Benedictine monk, is considered the Father of English History.

     Benedictine Pope St. Gregory VII (d. 1085) fought against the abuse of lay investiture.

     From Florence, St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi (1566- 1607), a Carmelite nun from age 19, practiced great mortification and worked for the renewal of Church life.

GOSPEL READING:     Jn 16:16- 20

     Jesus said to his disciples, "A little while and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you will see me."

     Some of the disciples wondered, "What does he mean by: 'A little while and you will not see me, and then a little while and you will see me'? And why did he say: 'I go to the Father'?" And they said to one another, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not understand."

     Jesus knew that they wanted to question him; so he said to them, "You are puzzled because I told you that in a little while you will see me no more, and then a little while later you will see me. Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy."

REFLECTION

     The Gospel reading today is from Jesus' farewell discourse to his apostles after the Last Supper, on the night he instituted the Eucharist as a parting gift to his apostles and the Church and the night before he suffered and died for us.

     After the profession of faith of Peter and after his transfiguration before Peter, James and John, Jesus repeatedly told his disciples that "the Son of Man had to suffer many things ... would be killed and after three days rise again." (Mk 8:31) Jesus told his apostles that he would leave them but would send the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, to comfort and guide them.

     Three days after he was crucified and died, he rose again and showed himself several times to his apostles and some others, that he was truly risen. After forty days, before his disciples, he returned to his Father in heaven. He missioned them to make disciples and believers from all nations. He also promised to be with them until the end of the world: "I am with you always until the end of the world."

     Today and forever he sits in power at the right hand of the Father, as Son of God - made Man, as our Savior and Intercessor with the Father. Forever he is our Brother before our heavenly Father. Indeed he has really never left us!

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     SUZANNE GO KAW

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     AMELIA R. MARIN

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.  

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