DAILY- HOMILY

May 22, 2018 – TUESDAY, 7TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Rita of Cascia, Religious

Green

Jas 4: 1- 10 / Mk 9: 30 – 37

Born in Umbria, St. Rita of Cascia (1381 - 1457), after being widowed, spent long years in prayer, penance and service to the Lord and the sick.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Jas 4: 5- 10

Surely, Scripture is not wrong when it says that our spirit tends towards excess. But God has something better to give, and Scripture also says, God opposes the proud but gives his favor to the humble. Give in, then, to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters. Recognize your distress, be miserable and weep. Turn your laughter into tears and your joy to sadness. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will raise you up.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Mk 9: 33- 37

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they did not answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, "If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child, placed it in their midst and, putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me."

REFLECTION

In tfl'f;irst reading St. James, knowing well our frail human condition, reminds us to choose God over the desires of the flesh and worldly allurements. He encourages us, "Draw close to God and he will come close to you."

God wants to give us true happiness but we must be humble enough to give up our sinful behavior.

Nowadays in our society, at home and in the work-place, everyone wants to be first. People jockey for promotions and the best assignments, to be given the most recognition. Everyone wants to be the best and the greatest.

On the other hand God wants his followers to be the smallest, the kindest, the simplest, the most child-like. This was the example lived by Jesus, his only begotten Son. So if we wish to be like God's Son Jesus, we must choose the path of the lowly, the abject, the poor.

In similar fashion, in the Gospel reading, Jesus surprises his disciples when he says that to be first one must make himself the servant of all. Jesus himself taught and lived this path of humility and selflessness.

We pray that this could also be our path. Are we ready to walk and live this path, of being small, least and last? Jesus tells us this is the path to being first in God's eyes.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Gemma Rita R. Marin

     Lesley Castillo Meoli

     Marita Wilson

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     Luis & Susana de Jesus

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Elaine Marie Cuaso (28 Aug 1983 - 22 May 1997)

     Harris Javier T. Ngo (1909 - 2017)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For all the intentions of Med Villanueva.

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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