DAILY- HOMILY

February 7, 2015 SATURDAY, 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Green

Heb 13: 15-17, 20-21 / Mk 6: 30-34

Reading: Heb 13: 15-17, 20-21

     Let us, then, continually offer through Jesus a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips celebrating his name. Do not neglect good works and common life, for these are sacrifices pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are concerned for your souls and are accountable for them. Let this be a joy for them rather than a burden, which would be of no advantage for you.

     May God give you peace, he who brought back from among the dead Jesus our Lord, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, whose blood seals the eternal covenant.

     He will train you in every good work, that you may do his will, for it is he who works in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, to whom all glory be for ever and ever. Amen!

Gospel: Mk 6: 30-34

     The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, "Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest." For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves.

     But people saw them leaving, and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns, they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them. As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began a long teaching session with them.

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel reading, the disciples return to Jesus from their mission. Jesus counsels them to go to a deserted place and rest. Rest the body, surely!

     But could "going off by yourselves to a remote place and having some rest," especially for followers of Jesus today, be a reminder "to set aside time," to rest and review our attitudes and motivations in life?

     We can be so preoccupied with our daily work and routine that we forget the real purpose of our Christian life and work. Our work-place is such an imperfect world that we could easily be caught up with pressing and constant concerns for efficiency and productivity, unaware of the motives, deep and oftentimes unconscious ones, that often determine our choices and decisions, and not only ours but also of those we work with, especially those who direct our work and influence our lives.

     "Going to a deserted place" allows us to distinguish between the grain and chaff, between genuine and false motives. "Going to a deserted place" allows us to have the Lord shed light on our darkness. In the end, "going to a deserted place" is opportunity for prayer and discernment, letting God have a say on how we live our lives, how we work our work.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     GILBERT CHEANG

     JOMAR M. SALVADOR

     REY

     VERNICE

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ONG SU KHUN

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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February 6, 2016 FRIDAY, 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Sts. Paul Miki, Religious, and Companions;

San Pedro Bautista, Priest;

Bl. Charles Spinola, Sebastian Kimura, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

Memorial, Red 

Heb 13: 1–8 / Mk 6:14–29

[St. Paul Miki (1562–1597), a Japanese Jesuit novice, and 25 companions were martyred on crosses and then speared in Nagasaki. Among them was San Pedro Bautista (1542 – 1597), a Spanish Franciscan missionary who had worked for nine years in the Philippines.]

[Bl. Charles Spinola (1564–1622), an Italian Jesuit missionary, was martyred in Nagasaki with thirty other Jesuits, half of them Japanese; among them was Bl. Sebastian Kimura (1565–1622).]

Reading: Heb 13: 1–8

     Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you know that some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were with them in chains, and the same for those who are suffering. Remember that you also have a body.

     Marriage must be respected by all and husband and wife faithful to each other. God will punish the immoral and the adulterous.

     Do not depend on money. Be content with having enough for today for God has said: I will never forsake you or abandon you, and we shall confidently answer: The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me? Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Consider their end and imitate their faith. Christ Jesus is the same today as yesterday and forever.

Gospel: Mk 6:14–29

     King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name had become well-known. Some people said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Others thought, "He is Elijah," and others, "He is a prophet like the prophets of times past." When Herod was told of this, he thought: "I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!"

     For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

     Herodias had her chance on Herod's birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you." And he went so far as to say with many oaths, "I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom." She went out to consult her mother, "What shall I ask for?" The mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried to the king and made her request: "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish." 

     The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

Reflection:

     At his martyrdom, St. Paul Miki forgave his enemies: "I believe that not one of you thinks I want to hide the truth. That is why I declare to you that there is no other way of salvation than the one followed by Christians. Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies and all who have offended me, I willingly forgive the king and all those who have desired my death. And I pray that they will obtain the desire of Christian baptism."

     Saints inspire us to seek the perfection of God which is not so much as to become perfect in the sense of having no sin, but to be like God in the perfect love of loving even enemies. For when we were his enemies, Christ loved and forgave us to the point of giving up his life for us. Therefore, we learn that perfect love consists in forgiveness of the wrong and evil that others have committed against us. This experience calls many to conversion, and affirms the truth that God exists because forgiving the enemy is a divine act.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     BAYANI R. REYES

     MILLET R. MASCARINAS

     VICTORIA NAÑAGAS AND GABRIEL NAÑAGAS

IN MEMORIAM (?)

     FRANCIS B. ANG (JUL 1, 1927 - FEB 6, 2005)

     LUIS ROLEDA

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.  

  +================================================+