DAILY- HOMILY

October 2, 2017 - MONDAY, 26TH Week in Ordinary Time

The Guardian Angels

Memorial, White

Zec 8: 1 - 8 / Mt 18: 1 - 5, 10

     Scripture has many stories about angels who help mankind. Observed since the 16th century in Spain, Pope Clement X fixed this memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels in 1670.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Zec 8: 1, 7- 8

     "I am intensely zealous for Zion, stirred by a burning anger for her sake. Yahweh says: I will return to Zion and live in her midst. Jerusalem shall be called City of faithfulness and the Mountain of Yahweh of hosts, the Mountain of holiness." ...

     Yahweh, God of hosts says, "See, I am going to save my people, bringing them from the east and from the west and they will live in Jerusalem. They will be my people and I shall be their God in truth and in justice."

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 18: 1 - 5, 10

     At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

     Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me....

     "See that you do not despise these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of the heavenly Father."

REFLECTION

     To "become like little children" in the Gospel reading does not mean to be ignorant and weak, helpless and gullible. To "become like little children" means to be little children totally dependent on their parents and elders in our relationship with our heavenly Father. It means we should be "innocent," with the pure innocence of little children, trusting, obedient and dependent on our Father in heaven in the way of little children with their parents. It means we somehow let go of our pride, arrogance and complete confidence in ourselves.

     In the first reading Yahweh, God of Israel, faithful to his covenant, reiterates his love for Israel and promises their return to Jerusalem, "I am going to save my people ... They will be my people and I shall be their God."

     Are we able to "become like little children" before our heavenly Father? Are we able to have complete trust and confidence that our heavenly Father will take care of us? "If God so clothes the grass in the field which blooms today and is to be burned tomorrow in an oven, how much more will he clothe you?" (Mt 6: 30) "As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Mt 7: 11)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANNIE T. ALIPAO

     FRANCISCO V. NARCISO

     KRISTINE JOY A. PENAFLORIDA

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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