DAILY- HOMILY

July 12, 2015 - 15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 

Cycle B, Green

Am 7:12 – 15 / Eph 1:3 - 14 / Mk 6:7 - 13 

First Reading: Am 7:12 – 15

     Amaziah then said to Amos, "Off with you, seer, go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there by prophesying. But never again prophesy at Bethel for it is a king's sanctuary and a national shrine."

     Amos replied to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet or one of the fellow-prophets. I am a breeder of sheep and a dresser of sycamore trees. But Yahweh took me from shepherding the flock and said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

Second Reading: Eph 1: 3 - 14

     Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing. God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence. From eternity he destined us in love to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved might finally receive all glory and praise. For in Christ we obtain freedom, sealed by his blood, and have the forgiveness of sins. In this appears the greatness of his grace, which he lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding, God has made known to us his mysterious design, in accordance with his loving-kindness in Christ. In him and under him God wanted to unite, when the fullness of time had come, everything in heaven and on earth. By a decree of Him who disposes all things according to his own plan and decision we, the Jews, have been chosen and called and we were awaiting the Messiah, for the praise of his glory. You, on hearing the word of truth, the Gospel that saves you, have believed in him. And, as promised, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit, the first pledge of what we shall receive, on the way to our deliverance as a people of God, for the praise of his glory.

Gospel: Mk 6:7 –13

     Jesus called the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits. And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff; no food, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals and were not to take an extra tunic.

     And he added, "In whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place. If any place doesn't receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them."

     So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them.

Reflection

     Our second reading today opens with St. Paul praising God.  We are created to praise God always and forever. Our greatest praise of God is our Eucharistic worship.  At Mass Jesus, the eternal High Priest, is not only the object of our praise but also the leader of our praise and worship of the Father, in the Holy Spirit. Through, with and in Jesus we share at Mass in the heavenly praises of the angels and saints to the blessed Trinity.

     We see Paul pre-occupied completely with being with Jesus and with sharing the Good News to the world. Paul mentions benefits and blessings from being with Jesus. Paul proclaims that in Jesus we have every spiritual blessing: in Jesus we have been chosen to be holy and blameless; in Jesus we have God's glorious favor bestowed on us; in Jesus we are redeemed and forgiven.

     The best way to be in Jesus is to have Jesus in us. In the Eucharist we receive Jesus into ourselves, "He who feeds in my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me." 

     However, in our God-given freedom we can choose not to be with Jesus. As the song goes, we could live our life as we wish: "I did it my way." Jesus invites us all to be with him, "Live on in me." Let our answer be, "Jesus, of my own choice, I wish to live not on my own but always that you always live in me."

     Our culture instructs us, "Ready, set, go!" In the Gospels Jesus tells us to be ready but not to be set on the things of this world. He tells us to get rid of our baggage: he instructed his disciples to take nothing on their journey, no food, traveling bag, or money but only their trust in him.

     Jesus practiced what he preached: he went out with nothing; he emptied himself of his divinity; he was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn; in his public ministry he had nowhere to lay his head.

     Of course, Jesus wants all of humanity to live decent human lives. But he encourages us all, following him, to live simply, austerely, without waste or ostentation, always concerned for those with less than ourselves.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ETHAN GABRIEL YU AMPIL

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     CHARLIE & CAROLYN CO CHAN BUENAVISTA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ELENA ANG TUNG

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

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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