DAILY- HOMILY

July 25, 2011
Feast, St James, apostle
Monday 17^th week in Ordinary Time -- Year I

2 Cor 4:7-15 / PS 126: 1BC-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 / Mt 20:20-28

2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Ashur had three sons by Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan. Koz became
father
of Anub and Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. Jabez was
the known of them. His mother had given him the name Jabez, to recall
that "In pain she had given birth to him." Jabez called on the God of
Israel, "If you truly bless me, you will give me much land. Be with
me,
and keep me from anything that might harm or cause me pain." God gave
him what he had prayed for. Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, became the
father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton, had three
sons,
Bethrapha, Paseah and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Imahas.
The
descendants of these men lived in Recah. Kenaz had two sons, Othniel
and
Se raiah. Othniel also had two sons: Hathath and Meonothai, who
became
the father of Ophrah. Seraiah became the father of Joab, the founder
of
Craftsmen's Valley, where skilled workers lived. Caleb, son of
Jephunneh
had three sons: Iru, Elah and Naam. Son of Elah: Kenaz.

Matthew 20:20-28
The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she
knelt
down to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, "What do you want?" And she
answered, "Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at
your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom." Jesus
said to the brothers, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you
drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They answered, "We can."
Jesus
replied, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at
my
left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the
Father
has prepared it." The other ten heard all this and were angry with
the
two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that
the
rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them.
It
shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your
group shall make himself your servant. And if you want to be first,
make
yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man who has come, not
to
be served but to ser ve and to give his life to redeem many."

REFLECTION
St. James, whose feast we commemorate today, was a son of Zebedee and
Salome and the brother of John the Apostle and Evangelist. He was one
of
three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to his
Transfiguration. He died a martyr, executed by sword by Herod Agrippa
I.

Today's Gospel is truly a word of life for all of us. Indeed, it
shows
the path of life for Christians: "Be like the Son of Man who has
come,
not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many."
"If
you want to be first, make yourself servant to all." This is true for
people in government, for leaders in politics, teachers in school,
supervisors in business, parents at home, priests in the parish and
all
people. It is a word that is contrary to what the world tells us
today.
We often hear people say: "What are we in power for?" Today this is
said
in government, in school, in the family, in the church and in
practically all areas of human activity. The mentality of the world
is
to dominate people. It is to have power so that we may benefit from
that
power. And in the end we will be served according to what we want and
need.

But Christianity is the opposite! To be Christian means to think like
Christ, to act like Christ. It means to live in a radical way, that
is,
to live contrary to the values of the pagan world.

This Gospel invites us to true happiness, which is to serve. And the
reward will be that we shall be called sons and daughters of God and
will sit at the Heavenly banquet, maybe not right or left, but surely
somewhere there in Heaven. Let us all learn from James who served up
to
the end when he was martyred as he was bringing the Good News to all.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
.... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
.... for the speedy recovery and healing of
-Ananias and Cornelia
-Anna Limpe McAvoy
.... for the personal intentions of Ong family
.... In Thanksgiving: for the Condor Family. Celestino M. Condor,
Rosa
Maria V. Condor, Richard V. Condor, Vimla B. Condor, Viennah B.
Condor,
Robert Dominic B. Condor, Raphael David B. Condor, Rophi Dennish B.
Condor, &Richard Daniel B. Condor
.... for the eternal repose of the soul of Felixberto Valdez. Eternal
rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May
they
and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
.... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
-Birthday: Lim Prince Prescott
-Wedding Anniversary: Rodney & Kim Uy Yu
.... for families who are in need of healing
.... for world peace and reconciliation.

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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