DAILY- HOMILY

June 19, 2018 – TUESDAY, 11th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Romuald, Abbot

Green

1 Kgs 21: 17- 29 I Mt 5: 43- 48

St. Romuald (d. 1027) , an Italian Benedictine from a noble family, founded the Camaldolese monks in 980.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             1 Kgs 21: 25- 29

There was no one like Ahab, urged by his wife Jezebel, in doing what Yahweh abhors. He did horrible things and ran after unclean idols as the Amorites had done, from whom Yahweh had taken the land to give it to Israel.

On hearing these words, Ahab tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. He fasted as he lay in sackcloth and moved around despondently. Then Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself? Because of this I will not bring about the disaster during his reign; during his son's reign disgrace will fall on his family."

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 5: 43- 48

Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of our Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

"If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way that your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect."

REFLECTION

In Hie first reading, because Ahad repented and fasted at the warning of the prophet Elijah, God postponed the penalty for his evil deeds.

In the Gospel reading we are enjoined to love our enemies. To truly follow God's commandment of love, we cannot love only those easy to love - our parents and family, our friends and benefactors. These people have shown love for us: "If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much?"

Jesus' commandment tells us to take the extra step, to walk the extra mile, to go beyond our comfort zones: to love those difficult to love, our enemies, those who annoy, hurt and persecute us.

And there are also those neglected by society and are victims of social indifference, the poor, the sick, the underprivileged

In one of his quotes, British novelist C.S. Lewis novelist, poet and lay theologian said, "God loves us not because we are lovable but because He is love."

When Jesus told us to love our neighbor, he meant that we be a good neighbor to each and everyone. We cannot afford to choose whom to love and how to love. We can only choose to follow the example of Jesus: "See how God manifested his love for us; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and we have become just through his blood. Once enemies we have been reconciled with God through the death of his Son." (Rom 8: 8 - lOa)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     John Joseph C. Duma

     Josephine Nancoo 

PRAYER INTENTION 

     Emelinda Teck Yu

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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