DAILY- HOMILY

April 11, 2014
Friday Fifth Week of Lent 
[St. Stanislaus]

Jer 20: 10-13 / Ps 18: 2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7 / Jn 10: 31-42

Reading: Jer 20:10-13
I hear many people whispering, "Terror is all around! Denounce him! Yes, denounce him!" All my friends watch me to see if I will slip: "Perhaps he can be deceived," they say; "then we can get the better of him and have our revenge." But Yahweh, a mighty warrior, is with me. My persecutors will stumble and not prevail; that failure will be their shame and their disgrace will never be forgotten. Yahweh, God of hosts, you test the just and probe the heart and mind. Let me see your revenge on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh and say: he has rescued the poor from the clutches of the wicked!   

Gospel: Jn 10: 31-42
The Jews then picked up stones to throw at him; so Jesus said, "I have openly done many good works among you, which the Father gave me to do. For which of these do you stone me?" The Jews answered, "We are not stoning you for doing a good work, but for insulting God; you are only a man, and you make yourself God." Then Jesus replied, "Is this not written in your law: I said, you are gods? So those who received this word of God were called gods, and the Scripture is always true. What then should be said of the one anointed, and sent into the world, by the Father? Am I insulting God when I say, 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you have no faith in me, believe because of the works I do; and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Again they tried to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands. He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and there he stayed. Many people came to Jesus, and said, "John worked no miracles, but he spoke about you, and everything he said was true." And many became believers in that place.

Reflection:
     There are times when we can be biased about some people because they are different from us in the way they look, speak, dress or do things. No matter what good they do, we find it difficult to see beyond our biases about them.
     There were always some people who asked for signs from Jesus so that they could believe in him and his message. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had been doing good works: healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, forgiving sins, preaching the Good News. And yet, despite all these works, these same people who asked for signs still did not believe in him. They closed their eyes, hearts and minds to the divine works that Jesus was doing and only saw a carpenter's son from Galilee. Almost in exasperation, Jesus said, "If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you have no faith in me, believe because of the works I do; and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
     In any relationship, especially in our relationship with God, it is important to have an open mind and heart in order to see beyond our limited perspectives and biases. The truth is not limited only to what we know and have experienced.God asks us to have an open and receptive heart and mind so that he could work through us in bringing about His kingdom here and now.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing

     * Joy Droke, Louie Relatado, Romie Ang

... 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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