DAILY- HOMILY

October 18, 2019 – FRIDAY, 28TH Week in Ordinary Time
ST. LUKE, Evangelist
Feast. Red.

2 Tm 4: 10 – 17b / Lk 10: 1 – 9

A Greek physician from Antioch, St. Luke the Evangelist (d. c.84) is the author of the third Synoptic Gospel and of the Acts of the Apostles. He is the Patron of doctors, together with Sts. Cosmas and Damian (d. 303) and also of painters because he is said to have painted an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

FROM THE 1ST READING: 2 Tm 4: 10 – 12
You must know that Demas has deserted me for the love of this world: he returned to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke remains with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is a useful helper in my work. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 10: 1 – 9
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest.

"Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know..

"Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: 'Peace to this house.' If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.

"When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'"

REFLECTION
In the Gospel reading Jesus sends off his disciples to preach the Good News, "The kingdom of God has drawn near to you." Jesus also gives them the power to heal the sick and to expel demons. He tells them to live on the generosity of the people. The preaching of the Good News needs its messengers, "You must ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his harvest."

In the first reading we hear St. Paul speaking of his helpers and assistants in his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Though the Church is of divine institution, guidance and protection, founded by Christ the Son of God, its work continues through the ages throughout the world through the work    and ministry of men and women, ordained men, men and women religious and a multitude of generous lay men and women in the parishes and many apostolic works of the Church.

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
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October 16, 2019 – WEDNESDAY, 28th Week in Ordinary Time
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin and Religious
St. Hedwig, Religious
Green.

Rom 2: 1 – 11 / Lk 11: 42 – 46

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647 – 1690), a French nun of the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial had mystical revelations on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

From Bavaria, St. Hedwig (1174 – 1243) was Duchess of Silesia and the wife of the Duke of Portugal and mother of seven children.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Rom 2: 6 – 9
He will give each one his due, according to his actions. He will give everlasting life to those who seek glory, honor and immortality and persevere in doing good. But anger and vengeance will be the lot of those who do not serve truth but injustice. There will be suffering and anguish for everyone committing evil, first the Jew, then the Greek.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 11: 42 – 46
Jesus said, "A curse is on you, Pharisees; for the Temple you give a tenth of all, including mint and rue and the other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.. This ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other.      A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people do not notice  them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them.

Then a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, "Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too." And Jesus answered, "A curse is on you also, teachers of the Law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on people, while you yourselves do not move a finger to help them.'"

REFLECTION
In the first reading Paul reminds us of God's justice: the good will be rewarded and evil ones punished: "He will give each one his due, according to his actions." Each one of us, given freedom by God, is responsible for one's actions.

In the Gospel reading Jesus condemns the Pharisees and the teachers and leaders of Israel for their self-righteousness and hypocrisy: they focus on externals and minutiae of observance of the Law and forget the Spirit and real purpose of the Law. They stress observance of the Law and forget about the people to be served and protected and helped by the Law.

How much of what Jesus condemned among the Pharisees is there in each one of us? How much hypocrisy is there in us? How easily do we judge others? How much do we ourselves focus on externals? How often have we forgotten the spirit behind the Law and that the real purpose of Law is to help and protect real people? And for those with positions of leadership, has our leadership been truly one of service to others?

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