DAILY- HOMILY

December 27, 2017 - WEDNESDAY

ST. JOHN, Apostle and Evangelist

Feast, White

1 Jn 1: 1 - 4 I Jn 20: 1a, 2- 8

     Born in Bethsaida, St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, the "beloved disciple," a fisherman, son of Zebedee, had been a disciple of St. John the Baptist before he was called by Christ. Together with Sts. Peter and his brother James, they were at the Transfiguration of Christ and at the agony in the garden. St. John preached the Gospel in Samaria, Antioch and Ephesus, where his tomb is venerated. He was exiled to the isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He died at Patmos towards the end of the first century.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          1 Jn 1: 1- 2

     This is what has been from the beginning, and what we have heard and seen, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, I mean the Word who is Life. The Life made itself known and we bear witness, and we are telling you of it. It was with the Father and made himself known to us.

GOSPEL READING:           Jn 20: 1a, 2- 8

     Now, on the first day after the sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning.... She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him."

     Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.

     Then Simon Peter came following him and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head was not lying flat like the other linen cloths but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and believed.

REFLECTION

     In the first reading, the first few verses of John's First Letter, we are told about the importance of personal witnessing. John, the beloved disciple, writes as a personal witness and friend of the Lord Jesus.

     We are reminded of John's words towards the end of his Gospel, "There are many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;

believe and you will have life through his Name." (Jn 20: 30- 31)

     In the Gospel reading we see the faith of the followers grow about the risen Christ: first, the witness of Mary of Magdala at the empty tomb, and then of John: "he saw and believed."

     The risen Jesus speaks to us, "Happy are those who have not seen and believe." (Jn 20: 29)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     GIOVANNA VERA

     NINA SANTOS 

PRAYER INTENTION 

     VIRGILIO & MA. CONCEPCION CALIMON 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     BUTCH & ROSE NARCISO 

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     SALVADORA R. REYES 

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.  

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

December 26, 2017 – TUESDAY, 

ST. STEPHEN, The First Martyr

Feast, Red

Acts 6:8 -10; 7:54-59 / Mt 10:17- 22

     St. Stephen (d. 34), one of the first seven deacons appointed by the Apostles (Acts 6: 1 - 6), was the first Christian to be martyred. St. Paul, then known as Saul and a jealous Jew and persecutor of the early Church, witnessed the martyrdom of St. Stephen.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Acts 6: 8; 7: 57- 59

     Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people ....

     But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands and rushed together upon him. They brought him out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

     As they were stoning him. Stephen prayed saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

From the GOSPEL READING:        Mt 10: 17- 22

     Jesus said, "Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, and so you may witness to them and the pagans.

     "But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you.

     "Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved."

REFLECTION

     In the Gospel reading Jesus warns his followers that his followers would be persecuted because of their fidelity to Jesus. Throughout its long history men and women have given their lives in witness to their love for Christ and his Church.

     One of the first seven deacons in the Church to help in the distribution of food and assistance to widows and the poor, St. Stephen was the first Martyr of the Church. His martyrdom is given in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Saul, the future St. Paul and Apostle to the Gentiles, was a witness at Stephen's martyrdom.

     Like the Lord Jesus, Stephen died outside the city, stoned to death for what his tormentors considered blasphemy. Like Christ, at his death, he commends his spirit

to God and forgives his tormentors, "Lord, do not hold this sin

against them."

     At the Mass, the Church prays, "Grant, Lord, we pray, that we may imitate what we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for the heavenly birthday of a man who knew how to pray even for his persecutors."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

     CRYSTAL I PRADO 

     MA. LOURDES CO MONEDERO

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.  

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