Thursday, June 21, 2012

 

FRIDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II

JUNE 22, 2012
FRIDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
MEMORIAL ST. PAULINUS OF NOLA, ST JOHN FISHER, ST THOMAS MORE

2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 / Mt 6:19-23

2 KINGS 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son had died, she was determined to wipe out all the descendants of the king. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, her nephew, and brought him away from among the king's sons who were about to be killed, and put him with his wet nurse in the bedroom. Thus she hid him from Athaliah, so that the boy was saved. And Joash remained hidden in the House of Yahweh for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the chief priest, summoned the officers of the royal guard and of the Carites to the House of Yahweh. After concluding a pact with them under oath, he showed them the king's son. The commanders of the guards did what Jehoiada the priest had told them to do and they showed up with all their men, those who were to go off duty on the sabbath as well as those who were to come on duty on that day. Jehoiada entrusted to the officers the spears and shields of king David which were in the House of Yahweh. And then the guards stood from the southern corner of the house to the north, surrounding the altar and the House of Yahweh. Then Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the king's son, crowned him and put the bracelets on him, then proclaimed and consecrated him king. All clapped their hands, shouting and crying out, "Long live the king!" When Athaliah heard the noise of the people, she approached the crowd surrounding the House of Yahweh. The king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the officers and the trumpeters were with him. The people were filled with joy and they were blowing trumpets. On seeing this, Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason, treason!" Jehoiada the priest commanded the officers, "Surround her and bring her out to the courtyard, and kill anyone who tries to defend her." He gave this order, because he thought, "She should not die in the House of Yahweh." They brought her out, and when they reached the palace of the king by the horses' entrance, there they killed her. Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people so they would be the people of Yahweh. All the citizens went to the temple of Baal and destroyed it. They broke the altars and the images into pieces, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before his altar. Then Jehoiada, the priest, posted guards over the House of Yahweh. All the citizens were happy and the city was at peace. Now regarding Athaliah, she had died by the sword in the king's palace.

MATTHEW 6:19-23
Do not store up treasures for yourself here on earth, where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it. Store up treasures for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy it, nor thief come and steal it. For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be. The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in the light. If your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!

REFLECTION
Today is the feast day of martyrs St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, who were put to death in 1535 within 15 days of each other. Both were Englishmen who were beheaded by order of King Henry VIII of England, whom they resisted in the matter of his divorce. They did not expect to suffer martyrdom at the hands of a Christian king.

John Fisher was a cardinal while Thomas More was the king's Lord Chancellor. Though they did not expect to become martyrs, God emboldened them to be unwavering in their faith in front of the threats and angry outbursts of their king. In prison they wrote to their relatives saying that God would be merciful with them and give them courage to give up their lives for Him.

Have we ever thought of becoming a martyr? Martyrs gladly accept their fate because their love for God is stronger than their fear of physical death. This kind of love is divine; it comes from God. If we are willing to stand up for our faith and even die for it, then let us ask the Lord to give us the courage to face the many trials and sufferings from which will come many graces and blessings. Blessed are we if we are deemed worthy of suffering even just a little for Jesus.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo and Cordelia Anyaugo
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Neil Nicholas
- Renan Lacida and Rowena Yap
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Mr.Ogechi Anyaugo,Barr & Barr (Mrs) Obinna Okoronkwo, Engr Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Mr.Chuba Anyaugo and Cordelia Anyaugo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Mary Wong Lim
- Birthday: Mary Anne Narvaez
- In Memoriam (+): Jose Antonio Carvajal +
- In Memoriam (+): Nieves Bengson Cudala
… 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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