23 Pagpasok ni Jesus sa Templo, lumapit sa kanya ang mga
punong-pari, mga guro ng Batas at mga Matatanda ng mga Judio, at nagtanong:
“Ano ang karapatan mong gawin ang mga ito? Sino ang nagtalaga sa iyo?” 24 Sinagot
sila ni Jesus: “Tatanungin ko rin kayo ng isang tanong. At kung may sagot kayo,
sasagutin ko kayo kung sino ang nagtalaga sa akin para sa mga ito.
25 Saan galing ang pagbibinyag ni Juan, sa Diyos ba o sa tao?” At
nag-isip-isip sila: “Kung isasagot nating galing sa Diyos, sasabihin niya:
‘Bakit di kayo naniwala sa kanya?’ 26 At kung sasabihin naman nating
‘Galing lamang sa tao ang pagbibinyag ni Juan,’ dapat tayong matakot sa bayan
sapagkat akala nila’y tunay na propeta si Juan.” 27 Kaya sinabi nila kay
Jesus: “Hindi namin alam.” At sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Hindi ko rin
sasabihin sa inyo kung sino ang nagtalaga sa akin na gumawa ng mga ito.”
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent
his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or
should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell
John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good
news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what
did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine
clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes,
I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before
you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater
than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who was looking for the presence of Jesus
in his life. So, he went to the highest mountain with the hope of finding
Jesus but he did not find Jesus there. He again went to the most majestic
church with the hope of finding Jesus but he again did not find Jesus
there.
Are you looking for
Jesus’ presence in your life? Many of us are still looking for the presence of
the Lord in our lives. But the Lord is with us already we only fail to
recognize it because many of us are enslaved by the things of this
world.
We are with the Lord
when we pray, we are with the Lord when we go to Holy Mass. We are with the
Lord when we read and allow the words of the bible to speak to us. And there
are many more manifestations of the Lord's presence in our life which we fail to
recognize.
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the
works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are
you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them
in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their
sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. (Matthew 11:2-5)
By telling John’s disciples
about the things that He does. Jesus was in effect telling the followers of
John that there’s no more need to look for that somebody that is to come
because He is already there in their midst.
Jesus is already in
our midst as well we therefore have to rejoice and not be worried about the
many problems that we encounter. We simply have to learn to trust Him more than we trust ourselves. We
simply have to learn to submit everything to Him and we simply have to learn to
always call on Him.
Do you already discern the
Lord’s presence in your life? -Marino
J. Dasmarinas
2 Nang nasa kulungan si Juan Bautista,
nabalitaan niya ang mga ginagawa ni Kristo kaya pinapunta niya ang kanyang mga
alagad 3 para tanungin siya: “Ikaw ba ang darating o dapat bang maghintay
pa kami ng iba?”
4 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila: “Bumalik
kayo at ibalita kay Juan ang inyong narinig at nakita: 5 Nakakakita ang
mga bulag, nakakalakad ang mga pilay, lumilinis ang mga mayketong, nakakarinig
ang mga bingi, nagigising ang mga patay at may mabuting balitang ipinahahayag
sa mga dukha.6 At mapalad ang
hindi natitisod dahil sa akin.”
7 Pagkaalis ng mga sugo ni Juan,
nagsimulang magsalita si Jesus sa mga tao tungkol kay Juan: “Ano ang
pinuntahan ninyo sa disyerto para makita? Isang kawayang hinahampas-hampas ng
hangin? 8 Ano ang pinuntahan ninyo? Isang lalaking magara ang bihis? Sa
mga palasyo nga nakatira ang mga taong magagara ang bihis.
9 Ano ba ang pinuntahan ninyo?
Isang propeta? Totoo. At sinasabi ko na higit pa siya sa isang propeta.
10 Siya ang binabanggit sa Kasulatan: Pinauna ko sa iyo ang aking
mensahero upang ihanda ang daan sa harap mo.
11 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo,
walang sinuman sa mga kilalang tao ngayon ang mas dakila pa kay Juang
tagapagbinyag, pero mas dakila sa kanya ang pinakamaliit sa kaharian ng Langit.
Renewal of Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Nov. 16, 2019 at Holy Family Parish Church GMA Cavite
During my official deputation as Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion of Saint Joseph Parish Carmona Cavite; on May 24, 2000 with then Bishop Manuel C. Sobrevinas of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Imus as the Deputizing Bishop
As they were coming down from the mountain the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply,*
“Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has
already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they
pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples
understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why is it that we don’t listen to the voice of our conscience to repent until
we realize later that we are in a problematic situation?
The call of Jesus for repentance continuous until this very hour, He
speaks to us through people around us and through our conscience. We should not
ignore it, we should rather listen to it because to listen and repent is the
right course of action that we must always take.
Like John who prepared the way for Jesus, we too should become the modern
day John. Thus we should also gently call for repentance to those within our
sphere of environment. This is for the reason that this is a call of duty for us
followers of the Lord.
Lest we forget that by virtue of our Baptism we are the modern day John.
Therefore, we have to call for repentance and conversion as well. For this call
to be effective we have to do this with gentleness, with mercy and compassion.
And of course we also have to be a good role model because if we don’t live
what we preach then that would be useless
It is obvious that Jesus is pertaining to John as the second coming of
the prophet Elijah. But majority of the people did not recognize the call of
John to renew their lives because they were busy with the things of this world.
They have no time to listen to the messenger of God yet they created time to
serve their own selfish interest.
We have nothing to lose if we tread the way of John. Yes it will not be a
walk in the park and there would be challenges as well. But if Christ is with
us who will be against us? Nobody for we have Jesus at our backs silently
supporting us.
Oftentimes it may seem that Jesus is not there for us but He is always
there. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
9 At sa pagbaba nila mula sa bundok, tinanong si Jesus ng mga
alagad: “Bakit sinasabi ng mga guro ng Batas na dapat munang pumarito si
Elias?” 11 At sumagot si Jesus: “Dapat nga munang dumating si Elias para
ayusin ang lahat ng bagay.12 Ngunit
sinasabi ko sa inyo na dumating na si Elias pero hindi nila siya nakilala, at
pinakitunguhan nila siya ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan. At sa gayon ding paraan
magdurusa ang Anak ng Tao sa kamay nila.” 1 3 At naunawaan ng mga
alagad na si Juan Bautista ang tinutukoy ni Jesus.
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is
like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the
flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed
by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he
is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But
wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Whenever biographies of famous personalities are to be written.
Publishers would try to make the exterior of the book as attractive as possible
so that it would create an immediate exterior attraction to the buying public. Especially
to those who have superficial knowledge of the personality involve.
Jesus was called names such as glutton, drunkard, friend of tax
collectors and sinners by the Pharisees and scribes. Because that’s what they
saw, they based their unfair judgments on what they saw from Jesus. If only they
knew that the real motive of Jesus was the conversion of tax collectors and
sinners they would not have unfairly judged Him.
The same is true with John he was labelled as someone who is possessed by
a demon. Perhaps the reason behind such unfair name calling is based on the
physical appearance of John. And John’s preference to live in the desert before
coming out to prepare the way for Jesus.
Oftentimes we are like the Pharisees and the scribes for we judge also
based on what we see and hear about our fellowwmen. We base our judgment on the
exterior and the superficial. But is this right? Of course not!
It’s not correct to throw judgment based on what we see or observe for
what we see is a scant representation of the whole person. Let us know first
the person before judging. And if there’s an opportunity to talk to him/her so
that we could have a clearer picture of the person’s personality let us do so.
Are you sometimes quick to judge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao 16 Ngayon, kanino ko ikukumpara ang mga tao
sa kasalukuyan? Para silang mga batang nakaupo sa mga plasa at nagkakantahan,
at nagrereklamo ang ilan sa kanila: 17 ‘Tinugtog namin ang plauta para sa
inyo pero ayaw ninyong sumayaw, at nang umawit naman kami ng malungkot na
awit, ayaw din ninyong umiyak!’
18 Ganito rin ang nangyari: Dumating muna si Juan na nag-aayuno,
at sabi ng mga tao: ‘Inaalihan siya ng demonyo.’ 19 At saka dumating ang
Anak ng Tao na kumakain at umiinom, at ang sabi ng mga tao: ‘Lasenggo at matakaw,
kaibigan ng mga publikano at mga makasalanan!’ Gayon pa man, mapatutunayang
tama ang karunungan ng Diyos sa mga gawa nito.”
26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house
of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said,
"Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly
troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this
might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you
have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be
called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne
of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and
of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel,
"How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said
to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God. 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37
For with God nothing will be impossible."38 And Mary said, "Behold, I
am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And
the angel departed from her.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why is the Blessed Mother favored by God? Why was she chosen amongst many
women? She was favored because of her humility and docility, she was favored
because God saw her saintly character which He did not found from any women
during that time. Therefore the Blessed Mother was given the singular honor to
carry in her womb our savior.
So you might say I would also want to be humble because I also expect to
receive some blessings from God. That’s ok nothing is wrong with this kind of
mindset. However, we must remember that the Blessed Mother is humble and docile
not because she was vying to be chosen as the dwelling place of the son of God.
To be humble and docile was her natural character. There was no
pretension or any sort of fake humility in her system. In other words as
far as the Blessed Mother is concerned, what we see is what we get from her. If
we see her as humble and docile to the will of God the Father, she really is
humble and docile.
In so many ways, God also announces His will for us and what is His will
for us? It’s for us to live simple and humble lives. Many of us live
complicated lifestyle instead of a simple lifestyle and many of us are so full
of egotism in our system. What is the result of this kind of lifestyle and
behavior we fail to hear the voice of God and we fail to hear the guidance of
God us well.
The Blessed Mother lived a simple and humble lifestyle thus she heard and
humbly obeyed the voice of God. How are you living your life? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you sometimes feeling weary and burdened by the problems that you
carry? You‘re not alone for many of us are sometimes burdened by worldly
problems. However these burdens the we carry are miraculously made light the
moment we learn to submit it to Jesus and when we invite Jesus to help us carry
it.
Why do you endure to carry the burden of someone you love or to suffer
for someone you love? This is for the reason that you are already yoked or made
one with this person that you love. For example, in married life if your spouse
is sick you would sacrifice to take care of your spouse until he/she gets well.
Or you may even wish that you’re the one that is sick and not your spouse.
Why is this so? This is for the reason that Jesus bonded the two of you
to become one through the Sacrament of Matrimony. Remember the words of
your marriage vows that says: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in
bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of
my life." If marriage made you one with your spouse, through your Baptism
you became one with Jesus or you are already yoked with Jesus.
Let us therefore always respond to this invitation of Jesus; we who are
often times burdened by the difficulties of life for we will always find
healing and strength in HIM.
Are you burdened by your problems right now? Bring it to Jesus for He
will take care of it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus 28 Lumapit sa akin, lahat kayong nahi¬hirapan at may
pinapasan, at pagi¬gin¬hawahin ko kayo. 29 Kunin ninyo ang aking pamatok at
matuto sa akin, akong mahinahon at ma-babang-loob, at maka¬ka¬tagpo kayo ng
ginhawa para sa inyong kaluluwa. 30 Sapagkat mahu¬say ang aking pamatok at
magaan ang aking pasanin.”
Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a
hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in
the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to
you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In
just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these
little ones be lost.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Can you measure God’s love for you? No for God’s love is not bound by any
kind of measurement or limited by time and space. God will continue to love you
even if you are the most sinful person in this world.
The Parable of the lost sheep in our gospel is a showcase of this
infinite love of God. Who is the man who looked for the lost sheep? He is our
loving and merciful God! Who is the lost sheep that went astray? It’s us
we who are sinful and we who sometimes love sin more than God.
Nevertheless, even if we love to sin and even if we run away from the
love of God. He is always there looking for us. Ever ready to forgive and forget
all the sins that we have committed. Let us all be cognizant of this infinite
love of God and let us also not be quick to judge our brothers and sisters who
sin.
Instead of judging those who sin let us rather emulate God who looked for
and reached out to the lost sheep. Instead of judging let us help them get up
on their feet so that they could free themselves from the bondage of sin. There
are sinners because no one is willing to reach out to them, no one is willing
to pay forward the infinite love of God.
Are you quick to judge those who sin? Would you care to reach out to them
so that they could feel the infinite love of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 12 Ano sa palagay ninyo? Kung may
sandaang tupa ang isang tao at naligaw ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba niya iiwan
sa kaburulan ang siyam¬napu’t siyam para hanapin ang naliligaw? 13 At sinasabi
ko sa inyo: Kapag nakita niya ito, mas matu¬tuwa pa siya rito kaysa
siyam¬napu’t siyam na hindi naligaw. 14 Gayun¬din naman, ayaw ng inyong Amang
nasa Langit na mawala isa man sa maliliit na ito.
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The
Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered
what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,
Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be
called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David
his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his
Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And
behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and
this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be
impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it
be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you always humble yourself before God?
There is something in the Blessed Mother that many of us don’t have. We
may ask, what is it which the Blessed Mother have that we often don’t usually
have? It’s the humility and docility to follow the will of God.
After the angel Gabriel told her everything about the Lord’s plan
for her. The blessed Mother simply said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the
Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
In so many ways God speaks to us as well, He even uses people and events
in our lives to convey His message for us. But we often chose to
purposely ignore it and go on with what we want in our lives. What if the
Blessed Mother chose to ignore the angel and move on with her life and have no
part with the plan of God?
But she chose to listen to the voice of God. Listening to the voice of
God is something that is often lacking in our lives. Yes we pray, yes we go to
church for Holy Mass. But at the end of the day it’s still our selfish will for
ourselves that we follow.
This is primarily the reason why we always sin and why we have enormous
problems. Because we often ignore the voice of God and we often don’t pay
attention to the teachings of the church which always tells us to only do what
is good and right.
The Blessed Mother did not resist God’s will she simply believed and
humbly submitted herself to God’s will. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
