DAILY- HOMILY

September 26, 2019 – THURSDAY. 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
St. Paul VI, Pope
Green.

Hg 1: 1 – 8 / Lk 9: 7 – 9

Sts. Cosmas and Damian (d. 303) were brothers known for their medical skills and were martyred under Diocletian.

Italian St. Paul VI (1897 – 1978) was Pope from 1963 to 1978. Elected after the pontificate of Pope St. John XXIII (1881 – 1963, Pope from 1958 – 1963), he continued Vatican Council II until its conclusion (1965).

FROM THE 1ST READING: Hg 1: 4 – 8
Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins? Think about your ways: you have sown much but harvested little, you eat and drink but are not satisfied, you clothe yourselves but still feel cold, and the laborer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.

Now think about what you must do: go to the mountain and look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy and I will feel deeply honored, says Yahweh.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 9: 7 – 9
King Herod heard of all this and did not know what to think, for people said, "This is John raised from the dead." Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets had come back to life.

As for Herod, he said, "I had John beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?" And he was anxious to see him.

REFLECTION
In the first reading the post-exilic prophet Haggai speaks about the rebuilding of the nation, beginning with the rebuilding of the Temple, where God dwells. Their growth and development as a nation will depend upon their faithfulness to their covenant with Yahweh. From the destruction of their Temple and nation and the shame, defeat and desolation of exile, God's chosen people hoped to rise again.. Has the exile formed a chastened and renewed people?

In the Gospel reading King Herod wonders who this miracle-worker Jesus is: one of the prophets come back to life, Elijah-come-back, or John the Baptist raised to life? Though Herod respected John as "an upright and holy man" and "liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him" (Mk 6: 20), he had John beheaded at the demand of the daughter of Herodias his consort.

We know that Herod wanted to meet Jesus. He finally met him when Pilate sent Jesus to him at his trial. But he got no reply from Jesus. (Lk 23: 6
-12)

Like Herod, we are asked the same question – Who is this Jesus of Nazareth? And, more important, what is he to us now? When Jesus asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi, "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." What is our answer?

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.  
  +================================================+

SEPTEMBER 25, 2019, WEDNESDAY, 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.

Ezr 9: 5 – 9 / Lk 9: 1 – 6

FROM THE 1ST READING: Ezr 9: 8 – 9
For a brief moment, the mercy of Yahweh, our God, has been shown to us. He made a remnant of our people survive, and allowed the survivors to settle once again in his Holy Place; he has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage. We are no more than slaves, but in the midst of our slavery, God has not abandoned us, he has extended a merciful hand over us to support us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our life, enabled us to rebuild the House of our God and to have walls in Jerusalem and in the other cities of Judah.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 9: 1 – 6
Then Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. He instructed them, "Don't take anything for the journey, neither walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor silver coins; and don't even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be a testimony against them."

So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

REFLECTION
In the first reading the people of Israel in exile in Babylon are allowed by King Cyrus to return and re-build Jerusalem and their nation.. In their return they hoped to maintain the worship of Yahweh, their one true God.

In the Gospel reading Jesus sent his disciples out to the villages and towns to proclaim the good news and to heal the sick. Jesus instructed them to depend upon the people for their housing and other needs.

The disciples were, like their successors even in our time, human instruments helped and strengthened by the Holy Spirit in doing God's work of preaching the Good News and establishing the Kingdom of God. As Bishop Kenneth Untener of Saginaw wrote, we are "workers and not master builders, ministers and not messiahs, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest."

With God's grace, we should be confident and not fearful. For "with God nothing is impossible." (Lk 1: 37)

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.  
  +================================================+