DAILY- HOMILY

February 24, 2018 – SATURDAY, 1st Week of Lent

Violet.

Dt 26: 16 - 19 / Mt 5: 43 – 48

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Dt 26: 18- 19

Today, Yahweh has declared to you that you will be his very own people even as he had promised you, and you must obey all his commandments. He, for his part, will give you honor, renown and glory, and set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will become a nation consecrated to Yahweh, your God as he has declared.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 5: 43- 48

Jesus said, "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 your 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 your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect."

REFLECTION

In the first reading we are reminded of the extraordinary covenant between Yahweh God and the people of Israel: "Yahweh has declared to you that you will be his very own people even as he had promised you, and you must obey all his commandments."

In the Gospel reading from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we are called to love all, even our enemies. It is so easy for us to love those who are lovable and who love us in return. In the Gospel reading Jesus extends the commandment "to love your neighbor" to "your enemies" and to "those who persecute you."

Jesus teaches us to love all, even the unlovable, even those who have betrayed us, those who have hurt us and taken advantage of us. Love of neighbor is much related to forgiveness of those who have offended us, those who have transgressed against us. This comes from our Lord who at the cross prayed, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Lk 23: 34)

We should love all, even our enemies, because our Lord died for all of us and wants all of us to be saved. If everyone is loved by the Lord, loved even to the point of giving up his life to save them, why should we not follow our Lord's example of loving all, even our enemies?

Let us ask for this grace, to love all, following the example of our Lord, who loved and died for us even if we are sinners and indeed his enemies.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Jacqueline M. Habbiling

     Shelly Ong Joson

     Roberto Cristobal Nazal 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     Christopher Karl & Krizia Cuyegkeng

     Gemma Tete! & Johnson Ho Gotamco

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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