Monday, November 21, 2011

 

TUESDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

NOVEMBER 22, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST CECILIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
TUESDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Dn 2:31-45 / Dn 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 / Lk 21:5-11

DANIEL 2:31–45
Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, "In your vision you saw a statue—very
large, very bright, terrible to look at. Its head was of pure gold,
its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs
of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. As you
watched, a rock cut from a mountain but not by human hands, struck the
statue on its feet of iron and clay, smashing them. All at once the
iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold crumbled into pieces as fine as
chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind swept them off and
not a trace was left. But the rock that struck the statue became a
great mountain that filled the whole earth. "That was the dream. The
great God has shown the king what will happen in the future. The dream
is true and its interpretation reliable."

LUKE 21:5-11
While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it
was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them,
"The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon
another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down." And they
asked him, "Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that
this is about to take place?" Jesus then said, "Take care not to be
deceived, for many will come claiming my title and saying: `I am he,
the Messiah; the time is at hand.' Do not follow them. When you hear
of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all this must
happen first, even though the end is not so soon." And Jesus said,
"Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There
will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange
and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen."

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the
destruction of the world. He puts them together because the
destruction of Jerusalem was a symbol of the destruction of the world
and both catastrophes are signs announcing the second coming of Jesus.
For the apostles, Jesus' announcement of the destruction of the temple
of Jerusalem was a shock because the Temple was for a Jew the most
precious treasure on earth. Now, whenever we read in the Gospel Jesus'
prophecy of destruction and of his second coming, we run the risk of
getting the impression that he made these announcements in order to
frighten people. This is a great mistake. The purpose of Jesus'
announcement was not so much to proclaim destruction as to proclaim
salvation. Jesus did it not to frighten people but to give them
courage.

Neither the destruction of the Temple and of the world are the really
important points in the announcement of Christ. The important point is
his second coming, when he will come to reward his faithful people.
The destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple took place shortly
after Luke wrote his Gospel. The early Christians must have taken it
as a clear proof that what Jesus had prophesied was being fulfilled
and as an assurance that the rest of his words too would be fulfilled
to the last detail.

The second coming of Christ should not be taken as a frightening event
but as a joyful one, since it brings us salvation. Hence, the early
Christians did not look at it with fear. Instead, they longed for it.
Their daily prayer, both as individuals and as a community, as they
celebrated the Eucharist was: "Maranatha", an invocation in Aramaic,
which means: "Come, Lord Jesus." This should be our daily prayer as
well.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Linda O, Brian, Michael G, Rudy, Mary Ann R, Gene, Frank, Maureen,
Nick, Martha, Delores & Mary Ann
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Rita P, Dana & Eugene R
- Cherie Torres
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Cecilia B. Garrucho
- Wedding Anniversary: Judith & Geraldo L. Yu
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Lim Giok Chang (1916-2005)+
- In Memoriam (+): Celso de las Alas
… 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!

**************************************************

These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only.
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colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the
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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+

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MEMORIAL, PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

NOVEMBER 21, 2011
MEMORIAL, PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
MONDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Dn 1:1-6, 8-20 / Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 / Lk 21:1-4

DANIEL 1:1–6, 8–2
As Daniel was resolved not to make himself unclean with the king's
food or wine, he begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement.
By the grace of God, the chief eunuch had been sympathetic to Daniel,
but he was afraid of the king, and so he said, "If the king, who has
allotted your food and drink, sees that you look more emaciated than
the other young men of your age, he might think ill of me. It will put
my life in danger to give in to your wish." Daniel then turned to the
steward whom the chief eunuch had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us
only vegetables to eat and water to drink, and see how we look in
comparison with the young men who eat food from the king's table. Then
treat us in accordance with what you see." The steward agreed and
tested them for ten days, at the end of which they looked healthier
and better fed than any of the young men who ate the king's food. So
the steward continued to give them vegetables instead of the choice
food and wine. To these four youths God gave wisdom and proficiency in
literature, and to Daniel the gift of interpreting visions and dreams.
At the end of the period set by the king for the youths' training, the
chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with
them and found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
These four became members of the king's court. In any matter of wisdom
and discernment about which the king consulted, he found them ten
times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole
kingdom.

LUKE 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the
treasury of the Temple. He also saw a poor widow, who dropped in two
small coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in
more than all of them. For all of them gave an offering from their
plenty; but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."

REFLECTION
There was a young lady who gathered empty plastic bottles of mineral
water in her house right after at tending Sunday Mass. She would
usually collect such bottles to put them in the trash bin, but not
this time. The lady was so resolved and excited to start putting in 25
centavos into the empty bottle for the "Pondo ng Pinoy" project, even
if she could not understand why 25 centavos should be shared instead
of one peso or more. When asked why she was doing it, she simply
replied that she was inspired and challenged by the parish priest at
Mass. She was convinced that participating in the "Pondo ng Pinoy" is
an act of love for God and she would like to experience the mystery of
giving a small amount on a regular basis.

The story of the young lady is somehow similar to the Gospel story
about the poor widow who dropped two small coins into the treasure
box. She was appreciated by Jesus more than the rich people. Both
stories involved giving a small amount from their own resource out of
love for God, a sacrifice and reward at the same time. The widow's
mite had great value to Jesus because of her loving and generous
heart. In a way each one of us could be the poor widow. No matter our
status in life, all of us are given resources to share and contribute.

To understand and appreciate the mystery of love in a widow's mite
better, let us continue to reflect on the Gospel using these
questions: Do we give our resources (time, talent and treasure)
regularly out of our love for God? Do we give to others what we need
to live, even if it will create discomfort to us and our loved ones?
Do we trust God with our whole hear t and mind that He will take care
of us in times of our own needs and thus there's no need to worry? Do
we find joy and peace in sharing with others what we have?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Samrose Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Ifeanyi Anyaugo, Cordelia Anyaugo
- Jo Marcelo
- Mon Torres
- Linda O, Brian, Michael G, Rudy, Mary Ann R, Gene, Frank, Maureen,
Nick, Martha, Delores & Mary Ann
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Anyaugo family
- Josheil Dapo
- Rita P, Dana & Eugene R
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Quinciana Ana Guieb Fiel
- Birthday: Cecilia C. Escobar
- Birthday: Milagros S. Enriquez
- Birthday: Cynthia L. Picazo
- Birthday: Nica Enrile
- Wedding Anniversary: Philip & Louciana Sy
- In Memoriam (+): Ong Tee
- In Memoriam (+): Marcelino T. Tiu
… 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!

**************************************************

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
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+

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© 2011 Daily-Homily


 

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING - A

NOVEMBER 20, 2011
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING - A

Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 / Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5, 6 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Mt
25:31-46

EZEKIEL 34:11-12, 15-17
Indeed Yahweh says this: I myself will care for my sheep and watch
over them. As the shepherd looks after his flock when he finds them
scattered, so will I watch over my sheep and gather them from all the
places where they were scattered in a time of cloud and fog. I myself
will tend my sheep and let them rest, word of Yahweh. I will search
for the lost and lead back the strays. I will bind up the injured and
strengthen the weak, but the fat and strong will be eliminated. I will
shepherd my flock with justice. As for you, my flock—says Yahweh—I
will distinguish between one sheep and another, and set apart rams and
goats.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20–26, 28
Brothers and sisters, Christ has been raised from the dead and he
comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought
death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. All die for
being Adam's, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one
in his own time: first Christ, then Christ's people, when he comes.
Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the
Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he
must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be
destroyed will be death. When the Father has subjected everything to
him, the Son will place himself under the One who subjected everything
to him. From then on, God will be all in all.

MATTHEW 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory
with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. All the
nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats, so will he do with them, placing the sheep on
his right and the goats on his left. "The King will say to those on
his right: `Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom
prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and
you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and
you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was
sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.'
"Then the good people will ask him: `Lord, when did we see you hungry
and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or a stranger and
welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to see you?' The King will answer, `Truly, I say to you:
whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and
sisters, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left:
`Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has
been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you
did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing
to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house;
I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and
you did not visit me.' They, too, will ask: `Lord, when did we see you
hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not
help you?' The King will answer them: `Truly, I say to you: whatever
you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.'
And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal
life."

REFLECTION
We have reached the end of another year in the calendar of the
Church. At the gateway between the liturgical years, the Church places
the figure of Christ the King.

Jesus is no conventional king, a person of might, power and glory, who
lords it over people and imposes his will upon them. Jesus is a king
who serves those whom he rules. That is why the first reading gives us
the figure of the shepherd, the one who watches over the flock and
protects the sheep from danger and attack.

When we were baptized, we received a share in Christ's kingship. St.
Peter tells us that baptism makes us "a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation and a people set apart by God for his own."
As sharers in Christ's kingship, we, like him, are called to serve
people as a shepherd serves his sheep. On judgment day, we shall not
be asked the questions which so many Catholics expect to be asked
like: How often have you been to Mass, or how seldom? How many prayers
have you said? How many sins have you avoided? We shall have to answer
only one question: How much have you done for people in need – have
you done anything at all? In this context, are Sunday Mass, prayer,
and obedience to the precepts of the Church unimportant? Certainly
not. Our duty to God is vitally important. But Jesus gives us this
great parable of judgment to tell us that our duty to God is fulfilled
first by serving others.

When we help people in need, we are truly serving God. Jesus
identifies himself with those in need. He says that anything we do for
people in need, we actually do it for him. The most serious disease in
the world today is not leprosy, TB, cancer or AIDS, but the feeling of
being unwanted and uncared for. The greatest evil in the world is lack
of love, the terrible indifference towards one's fellowmen. What the
rich and the poor alike need even more than food, clothes and shelter
is to be wanted and loved.

There are so many kind things we could do for one another if we were a
lit tle more aware and sensitive to the needs of the other people. It
is not a question of doing great things, but of doing little things
with great love. Nor, in most cases, it is not a question of giving
things; rather it is a question of giving ourselves, our time, our
energy and our love in the service of others. Those who really love
their fellow men do so without show and without expecting any reward.
When we love others sincerely, in simple, practical, everyday ways, we
are truly serving Christ and helping to build his Kingdom.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Samrose Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Ifeanyi Anyaugo, Cordelia Anyaugo
- Jo Marcelo
- Mon Torres
- Susan
… for the successful result of the BAR examinees of Ateneo Law School
Batch 2011
… for the personal intentions of
- Anyaugo family
- Josheil Dapo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Manny Mercado
- In Memoriam (+): Charles Kang Lim (Oct 17, 1960-Nov 20, 1997)+
… 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!

**************************************************

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
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
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© 2011 Daily-Homily


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