DAILY- HOMILY

October 31, 2019 – THURSDAY, 30TH Week in Ordinary Time
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, Religious
Memorial.
White.

Rom 8: 31b – 39 / Lk 13: 31 – 35

A Spanish Jesuit lay brother, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez (1533 – 1617) performed humble tasks all his life at the Jesuit house at Palma in Majorca.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Rom 8: 35, 38
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be trials, or anguish, persecution or hunger, lack of clothing, or dangers or sword? . . .

I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor spiritual powers, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers, were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 13: 31 – 35
At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and gave him this warning, "Leave this place and go on your way, for Herod wants to kill you." Jesus said to them, "Go and give that fox my answer: 'I drive out demons and heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my course!' Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and for a little longer, for it would not be fitting for a prophet to be killed outside Jerusalem.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you slay the prophets and stone your apostles! How often have I tried to bring together your children, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, but you refused! From now on you will be left with your temple and you will no longer see me until the time when you will say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

REFLECTION
In the today's Gospel reading, we see how Jesus remains confident in his mission, despite threats to his life. In our own lives, there will come  a time when our faith will be persecuted. Despite our country being a supposedly "Christian" nation, we see the increasing influence of secularism that contradicts our Christian values. We must realize that even if we may not be persecuted physically for our faith, pressures from society may make it hostile for us to live our Christian faith. Many people, in fact, succumb to these pressures and choose to abandon their values altogether, either out of fear of rejection by others or simply for expedience's sake. "Let us be practical and go with the times," many say.

Our readings today give us great consolation. We are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith simply because God loves us.

The first reading expresses this beautifully, for "neither death nor life, neither angels nor spiritual powers, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers, were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord."

Indeed, because Christ has died for us, we already share eternal life with him. This is why we too can remain confident in our faith and not be afraid, because the battle has already been fought and won for us.

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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