DAILY- HOMILY

May 4, 2018 – FRIDAY, 5th WEEK OF EASTER

St. Jose Maria Rubio, Priest

Memorial. White

Acts 15: 22- 31 / Jn 15: 12- 17

St. Jose Maria Rubio (1864- 1929), a Spanish Jesuit priest, dedicated his life to the ministry of preaching, giving spiritual direction and hearing confessions in Madrid.

GOSPEL READING:           Jn 15: 12- 17

Jesus said to his disciples, "This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, to give one's life for one's friends; and you are my friends if you do what I command you.

"I shall not call you servants any more, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father..

"You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

"This is my command, that you love one another."

REFLECTION

In the first reading, at the first Council in Jerusalem the early Church decreed, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that the Good News was for all the world and that the Gentiles who wished to be Christians were not required to follow Jewish religious law and customs.

In the Gospel reading Jesus reiterates the commandment of love, "This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you." Earlier in the evening at the Passover meal, Jesus had demonstrated this command when he washed the feet of his disciples, "If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another's feet. I have just given you and example that as I have done, you also must do.." (Jn 13: 14 - 15)

What is love? Is it possible to love a stranger or someone we do not know? How do we show love to the street children who beg at major street intersections? How do we show love to the helpers at home or subordinates at the workplace? How do we show love to so many in need of food, to so many in danger zones and conflicts in our country and in many other parts of the world, to many destroyed by natural calamities?

It is easy to love family and those we know. Are we able to love family and those we know after they have wronged us in whatever way it happened?

It is easy to love friends who love us, but "if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even pagans do as much?" (Mt 5:47) The Lord insists and commands we love all, "But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." (Mt 5: 44). Why? "so that you may be children of your Father in heaven." (Mt 5: 45)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Maribeth A. Pagtolon-an

     Alyssa Kate C. Pangilinan 

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Antonio Manas Sr.

     Lilia B.. Yang

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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