DAILY- HOMILY

November 22, 2017 - WEDNESDAY, 33RD Week in Ordinary Time

St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Memorial, Red

2 Mc 7: 1, 20 - 31 / Lk 19: 11 - 28

     St. Cecilia (d. c117) was martyred for her unwillingness to sacrifice to the pagan gods.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          2 Mc 7: 20 - 23

     More than all of them, their mother ought to be admired and remembered. She saw her seven sons die in a single day. But she endured it with joy for she had put her hope in the Lord. Full of a noble sense of honor, she encouraged each one of them in the language of their fathers. Her woman's heart was moved by manly courage, she told them: "I wonder how you were born of me; it was not I who gave you breath and life, nor I who ordered the matter of your body. The Creator of the world who formed man in the beginning and ordered the unfolding of all creation shall in his mercy give you back breath and life, since you now despise them for love of his laws."

From the GOSPEL READING:        Lk 19: 26

     Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

REFLECTION

     In the parable of the talents in the Gospel reading, we are told that we must make the best use of the gifts given us in life: we will be rewarded or punished accordingly.

     Our God-given gifts win for us much coveted worldly honors: power, prestige, fame. They could be boon or bane depending on how we use them. Success and fame could be all-consuming passions, leading to our own destruction. Our talents could remain dormant in us for a variety of reasons: such would be a great lack of responsibility on our part.

     No one is without talents and gifts. Everyone has something to offer and to work with. Even in old age, we can give good example and guidance.

     In the first reading and in the life of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, whose memorial is celebrated today, we see courage, faith and love of God even unto death.

     May we have the faith and courage of the mother of the seven brothers: "I ask you now, my son, that when you see the heavens, the earth and all that is in it, you know that God made all this from nothing, and the human race as well. Do not fear these executioners, but make yourself worthy of your brothers - accept death that you may again meet your brothers in the time of mercy."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     MICHAEL H. DE CASTRO

     ZOE DOMINIQUE L. SALONGA

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     JUDITH & GERALDO L. YU

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     YU LIM GIOK CHANG (1916·2005)

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

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