July 16, 2012
Monday
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Optional Memorial)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Optional Memorial)
by Rev. Fr. Joed Buenaventura, Diocese of Balanga, Bataan
EDSA Shrine
First Reading: Isaiah 1:10-17
Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man's foes will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
HOMILY
The key to today's Gospel is consistency. God does not look on our outward sacrifices and offerings, but on the true state and intentions of our heart. We may have all the best offerings given to the Church, we may have all the money to give, we may have all the talents to share, but if we only do this to show off, it is useless. We may be "holy" in public, but are we also holy inside the privacy of our rooms, when nobody can see us?
In the Gospel, Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but the sword. Jesus did not literally mean "sword". Jesus was pertaining to "division" among family, among kin, in terms of consistently upholding God's commands. For example, if your parents tell you to be dishonest, even if you know that it is not the way of God, and your heart knows it is bad, will you still do it? No matter what, we should be consistent in doing good deeds.
The key to today's Gospel is consistency. God does not look on our outward sacrifices and offerings, but on the true state and intentions of our heart. We may have all the best offerings given to the Church, we may have all the money to give, we may have all the talents to share, but if we only do this to show off, it is useless. We may be "holy" in public, but are we also holy inside the privacy of our rooms, when nobody can see us?
In the Gospel, Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but the sword. Jesus did not literally mean "sword". Jesus was pertaining to "division" among family, among kin, in terms of consistently upholding God's commands. For example, if your parents tell you to be dishonest, even if you know that it is not the way of God, and your heart knows it is bad, will you still do it? No matter what, we should be consistent in doing good deeds.
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