DAILY- HOMILY

July 6, 2018 – Friday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr

Green.

Am 8: 4 - 6, 9 - 12 / Mt 9: 9 – 13

St. Maria Goretti (1890 -1902), a twelve year old Italian maiden, was stabbed to death by one who wished to seduce her.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 9: 9- 13

As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew got up and followed him.

Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?"

When Jesus heard this he said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy and not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

REFLECTION

There are two key points we could consider from the Gospel reading today.

The first is how Matthew, the tax collector, was called by Jesus. Walking by the custom-house, Jesus sees Matthew, a tax collector, Jesus simply tells him, "Follow me!" and, without any hesitation or thought, Matthew "got up [from his seat at the custom-house] and followed him."

Did Jesus know about Matthew before? There must have been other tax­ collectors in the custom-house: why choose and call Matthew? God's choices and ways are indeed inexplicable to men: yet we know God knows what he is doing.

Matthew's response was one of great generosity and trust in Jesus: what did Matthew know about Jesus? What kind of a man was Matthew? Except that he was named among the Twelve, there is nothing more about Matthew in the Gospels. Matthew wrote the first Gospel which was written in Aramaic. Tradition says Matthew preached in Persia and Ethiopia. He was martyred in Ethiopia.

The second key point was Jesus' reiteration of his mission in life, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do... I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This was a simplified statement of his mission, as compared to what he had read and affirmed from the prophet Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord's year of mercy." "Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen." (Lk 4:18- 19, 21)

Hence, we see Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners; we see him forgiving sin; we hear him give the parable of the Prodigal Son and the Merciful Father. We see him promising heaven to the good thief and praising the humility and faith of the publican in his parable.

We thank the Lord for his loving mercy for all of us, sinners that we are.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     George Christian Young Ill

WEDDINGANNVIERSARY 

     Jose Lorenzo & Susana Lim Lorenzo 

THANKSGIVING 

     Lucia & Rolan Ong and Family

IN MEMORIAM (+) 

     German Siy

     Tan Du Ty

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the repose of the soul of Rey Tomas.

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.  

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

July 5 2018 – THURSDAY, 13th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Priest and Religious Founder

Green.

Am 7: 10 - 17 / Mt 9: 1 - 8

Born in Cremona, Italy, St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502- 1539) had studied medicine but became a priest. He founded the Congregation of Clerks Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites, 1533) for the purpose of reform of the clergy and the laity. He also founded a congregation for women.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Am 7: 14- 15

Amos replied to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet or one of the fellow-prophets. I am a breeder of sheep and a dresser of sycamore trees. But Yahweh took me from shepherding the flock and said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 9: 1 - 8

Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."

Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, "This man insults God." Jesus was aware of what they were thinking and said, "Why do you have such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'? You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take up your stretcher and go home." The man got up and went home.

When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

REFLECTION

In ttie first reading Amos prophesies in the name of Yahweh because Yahweh

chose him to prophesy. True prophets speak what God tells them to say:

In the Gospel reading, when the teachers of the Law questioned how Jesus could forgive sins, he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?"

Before they could answer, to prove himself Jesus cured the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take up your stretcher and go home."

If we had been with Jesus then, we might have reacted as the teachers of the Law did: How could a man like Jesus forgive sins? Would we have believed in Jesus after he cured the paralyzed man? The reading says that the crowd was "filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings." The reading did not say whether the cure convinced the teachers of the Law of the legitimacy of Jesus' message.

Though we have not seen such miracles, do we believe in Jesus as our God and Savior? Are we like the Apostle Thomas who would not believe until he himself saw the risen Christ and his wounds?

There were two miracles in today's Gospel reading: the cure of the paralytic and the forgiveness of his sins. Both healings are miracles of God's loving mercy: may we value the healing of the spirit more.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Romar Julius P. Lucero 

THANKSGIVING 

     Philippine British Assurance Company, Inc

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.  

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

July 7, 2018 – WEDNESDAY, 13TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Widow

Green.

Am 5: 14- 15, 21 - 24 / Mt 8: 28- 34

St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 -1336), a daughter of King Peter Ill of Aragon, showed great charity to the poor and needy. She was named after her great grandaunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (d. 1231)

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Am 5: 14- 15

Seek good and shun evil, that you may live. Then Yahweh, the God of hosts, aa you have claimed will be with you. Hate wickedness and love virtue, and let justice prevail in the courts; perhaps Yahweh, the God of hosts, will take pity on the remnant of Joseph.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Mt 8: 28- 32

Without warning a fierce storm hit the lake, with waves sweeping the boat. But Jesus was asleep. They woke him up and cried, "Lord save us! We are lost!" But Jesus answered, "Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?" Then he stood up and ordered the wind and sea, and it became completely calm. The people were astonished. They said, "What kind of a man is he? Even the winds and the sea obey him."

When Jesus reached Gadara on the other side, he was met by two demoniacs who came out from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one dared pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, "What do you want with us, you, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?"

At some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. So the demons begged him, "If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs." Jesus ordered them, "Go.." So they left and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.

REFLECTION

In the first reading the prophet Amos reiterates God's central command: "Seek good and shun evil, that you may live."

Today's Gospel reading Jesus shows his divine powers: he calms the stormy sea by his word and he drives out demons from two men.

The disciples in the boat with Jesus feared for their lives in the sudden strong winds and waves bearing on their boat: "'Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?' Then he stood up and ordered the wind and sea, and it became completely calm."

At the shore, Jesus drives out demons which possessed two men. The demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God: Jesus allows them to leave the men, to go into the herd of pigs which then rushed down the cliff and drowned.

We may not see or experience possession by demons as in the Gospel narrative. But in reality we are possessed by a whole variety of "demons": greed, gluttony, lust, envy, pride and so many prevailing "values" today which trouble and possess us, complicate our lives, bring us to sin and drive us away from our God.

We take comfort knowing that God is present with his grace to help us overcome these demons in our lives. We need prayer; we need faith. God will take care of the rest.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Zacarias E Gallardo Jr.

     Philp Go Sy 

WEDDING ANNVIERSARY 

     Arsenio & Maria Chua

     Ronald & Aida Tagalog

THANKSGIVING 

     Pasencia Siy

IN MEMORIAM (+) 

     Matthew Patrick C. Sy

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the special intentions of Mary Wong.

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.