DAILY- HOMILY

August 3, 2017 – THURSDAY, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Green

Ex 40:16 - 21, 34 38 / Mt 13:47- 53

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Ex 40: 34- 38

     Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the Glory of Yahweh filled the Holy Tent. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because of the cloud that rested on it and because of the Glory of Yahweh that filled the Holy Tent.

     At every stage of their journey, whenever the cloud rose from the Holy Tent the people of Israel would continue their march. If the cloud did not rise, they waited and would not move their camp until it did. For the cloud rested on the Holy Tent by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night for all the House of Isreal to see.

From the GOSPEL READING:        Mt 13: 47- 52

     Jesus said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish in buckets, but throw the worthless ones away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace where they will weep and gnash their teeth."

     Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they answered. So he said to them, "You will see that every teacher of the Law who becomes a disciple of the kingdom is like a householder who can produce from his store things both new and old."

REFLECTION

     The kingdom of heaven being compared to a big fishing net let down into the sea illustrates the mission of the Church "to catch people." When Jesus

called the brothers Simon Peter and Andrew, he told them,

"Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mk 1: 17)

     "To be caught" means we are given the opportunity to follow Christ. However, it is not enough for us just "to be caught." Hopefully we are like the good fish, good to eat and nourishing for people; hopefully we are not bad fish, not good to eat, which are then just thrown away.

     Most of us were baptized as infants: in a way we have been "caught" for Christ. The lifelong challenge is to live our vocation and life as true Christians, loyal followers of Christ and his Gospel message. As good fish we are rewarded with eternal life with God; as bad fish we are punished with an eternity without God.

     As we go through life, we continue to make choices: we hope we choose responsibly and correctly to be rewarded with eternal life with God.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANITA PUA

     JOAQUIN CUNANAN JR.

     NAIDA JAVIER-UY 

     RAFAEL DE LA CRUZ JR.

     WILLIAM YANG

PRAYER INTENTION 

     CHRISTOPHER KARL W. CUYEGKENG

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     FELICIANO T. LAO

     MANUEL GO LIM, 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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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.  

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

August 4, 2017 – FRIDAY, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

St. John Marie Vianney, Priest

Memorial, White

Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b- 37 / Mt 13:54- 58

     St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney (1786 - 1859), born in Lyons, France, spent almost his entire priestly life as the Parish Priest of Ars. Pope Pius XI proclaimed him Patron of Parish Priests.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Lv 23: 1 - 2

     Yahweh said to Moses, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: You proclaim holy assemblies on the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which are these."

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 13: 54- 58

     Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, "Where did he get this wisdom, and these special powers? Isn't he the carpenter's son" Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren't all his sisters living there? How did he get all this?" And so they took offense at him'

     Jesus said to them, "The only place where prophets are not welcome is their own hometown and in their family." And he did not perfom many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

REFLECTION

     When Jesus returned to his hometown Nazareth and spoke at the synagogue, the people would not listen to him. "They took offense at him." "Where did he get this wisdom, and these special powers? Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother?"

     The people of his hometown, neighbors and even relatives, were unwilling to listen to him because they felt he did not have any proper credentials to speak to them. They were not willing to evaluate the wisdom of his message; they were not willing to appreciate and wonder at his cures and powerful works.

     Disappointed, Jesus "did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith."

     We probably have seen similar prejudice and pre-judgments. How can one so young and inexperienced have such wonderful ideas? How can this government official advocate these changes? We have always done these things in these ways! We can at times have our minds so closed and unwilling to listen to new things.

     "Lord, teach us to have open minds and hearts. Teach us to patiently listen and fairly process what we hear. Guide our minds on the path of truth. Help us to hear your message through others. And let us be bearers of your Good News to the world, doing so with love and patience."

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the healing of Moje Ramos-Aquino.

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.  

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