Reflection for Tuesday January 21, Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What would be your stand if you are made to choose between the observance of the law or the lawful need of your fellowmen? Jesus gives us a clear choice, for Him it’s always the primary need of our fellowmen. As exemplified by His mention of David who violated the Sabbath to address their need to satisfy their hunger.

Rules and laws are created to create order and to prevent chaos. But there are times that it’s disregarded for a much higher and noble purpose. If the welfare of our fellowmen are at stake their interest  must come first. This is what we must always follow and we must also not create rules to serve our own selfish ends.

For example in a family setting, parents would normally have rules for their children to follow. However, we must always be amenable to bend these rules no matter how stringent. We do this if there is a valid need or reason. Stringent rules can also be bent when parents want to show that they love their children more than the implementation of their house rules.

Jesus is a compassionate God, He would not mind if we violate rules for so long as there is a higher and noble purpose. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Enero 21, Santa Agnes, dalaga at martir: Marcos 2:23-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:23-28

23 Naglakad si Jesus sa mga taniman ng trigo minsang Araw ng Pa­hinga. At ha­bang naglalakad ang kanyang mga alagad, sinimulan nilang alisin sa uhay ang mga butil, at kinain iyon. 24 At sinabi kay Jesus ng mga Pariseo: “Tingnan mo ang ginagawa nila sa Araw ng Pahinga. Hindi ito ipinahi­hintulot.”

25 Ngunit sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa kailanman ang ginawa ni David nang nangangailangan siya at nagu­gutom – siya at ang kanyang mga kasama? 26 Pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos nang si Abiatar ang Punong-pari, at kinain ang tinapay na inihain para sa Diyos gayong bawal ito kaninuman liban sa mga pari, at binigyan pa niya pati na ang kanyang mga kasama.” 27 At sinabi pa sa kanila ni Jesus: “Dahil sa tao kaya ginawa ang Araw ng Pa­hinga ngu­nit hindi ang tao dahil sa Araw ng Pahinga. 28 Kung gayon, ang Anak ng Tao ang Panginoon kahit na ng Araw ng Pahi­nga.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Monday January 20, Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:18-22

Gospel Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is wineskin? Wineskin is a dried goat or sheep’s skin used as a container for wine this is perhaps the equivalent of wine bottle or wine drum today. What is the relevance of the new wineskin which represents Jesus?

By our sinfulness we become the old wine that is not fit to be poured into the new wineskin. Yet if we desire to be poured into the new wineskin we have to decide to leave behind our old sinful lives.

Thus we become new wine that is very much appropriate for the new wineskin. And the moment we are poured into this new wineskin we become secure. In other words the new wineskin which is Jesus Himself becomes our security blanket. Jesus is always offering Himself to us so that we can have a new life in this world. What He only asks from us is to leave behind our sinfulness.

Has sin done you any good? No it did no good to you and it will never do good to you in the future! You therefore have to leave it behind so that you could journey in this world hand in hand with your new wineskin and your security blanket which is none other than Jesus. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Enero 20, sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 2:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:18-22

18 Nag-aayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan at ang mga Pariseo. Kaya may lumapit sa kanya at nagta­nong: “May araw ng ayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan at ang mga alagad ng mga Pariseo, at wala ba namang pag-aayuno ang iyong mga alagad?”

19 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Puwede bang mag-ayuno ang mga abay sa kasalan kapag kasama pa nila ang nobyo? 20 Darating ang panahon na kukunin sa kanila ang nobyo; sa araw na iyon sila mag-aayuno.

21 Walang nagtatagpi ng piraso ng ba­gong tela sa lumang damit. Kung gagawin mo ito, hihilahin ng tagpi ang damit, ng bago ang luma at lalo pang lalaki ang punit. 22 At hindi ka rin naman maglalagay ng bagong alak sa mga lumang sisidlan. Kung gagawin mo ito, papuputukin ng alak ang mga sisidlan at masisira ang alak pati na ang mga sisidlan. Sa bagong sisidlan ang bagong alak!”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday January 19, Feast of the Sto. Nino: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Why did the disciples ask Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” Were they expecting that Jesus would tell them that they’re the greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they are His disciples?

Instead, Jesus called a child and said: “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

The key that will unlock for us the kingdom of heaven is the humility of a child that we must always emulate. The key that will invite the grace of the Holy Spirit upon us is the same childlike humility.

 It’s no brainer to ask why a child and not an adult?  Unlike adults, children have the simplest and purest minds. Children are not tainted by any form of sin and they are docile, humble and obedient. Adults like us are sinful we defy God’s commandments to satisfy our whims, caprices and desires which sometimes lead us to commit sin. 

As we celebrate the Feast of the Child Jesus or the Santo Nino we are also gently reminded that the children of today are not anymore like the children of yesteryear. Compared to children born forty or thirty or twenty years ago, children today are exposed to gadgets and internet. Gadgets and internet that sometimes corrupts their innocent minds.  What intervention can we do to help these children being corrupted by gadgets and internet?

Due to the harshness of life many of our children today are also more exposed to poverty. Just look around and you will see. What intervention can you do to help these children being eaten alive by poverty? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday January 19, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 1:29-34

Gospel: John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you live the virtue of Humility? CS Lewis once said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said this: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John recognized the true identity of Jesus because he lived the virtue of humility to the core of his bones. There was no fakery and pretension, it was authentic humility.

We also always hear these words of John when we go to Holy Mass. The priest raises the Sacred Host and pronounces these very words of John at Holy Mass before Holy Communion as the faithful kneel and fix its gaze upon it with deep reverence.

Jesus will heal us from all of our sins no matter how grave. But we have to humble ourselves before our Lord. This kind of humble demeanor without a doubt was with John thus John was able to recognize the majesty of Jesus over anyone else.        

We will never recognize the magnificence of Jesus if we don’t have humility. And we will never fully grasp the reason why John called Jesus the lamb of God. If we are not ready to strip ourselves with anything that is contrary to the virtue of humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo January 19, Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 1:29-34

Mabuting Balita: Juan 1:29-34

29 Kinabukasan, nakita I Juan Bautista si Jesus na papalapit sa kanya kaya sinabi niya: “Hayan ang Kordero ng Diyos, sa kanya napapawi ang sala ng mundo. 30 Ito ang tinutukoy ko nang sinabi kong ‘Isang lalaki and kasunod kong dumarating, nauna na siya sa akin pagkat bago ako’y siya na.’ 31 Wala nga akong alam sa kanya pero upang mahayag siya sa Israel ang dahilan kaya dumating akong nagbi­binyag sa tubig.”

32 At nagpatunay si Juan sa pagsa­sabing “Nakita ko ang Espiritu na bumababa mula sa langit gaya ng isang kalapati, at namalagi sa kanya. 33 Wala nga akong alam sa kanya pero ang nagpadala sa akin na magbinyag sa tubig ang siya ring nagsabi sa akin: ‘Kung kanino mo makitang bumababa ang Espiritu at namamalagi sa kanya, ito ang magbibinyag sa Espiritu Santo!” 34 Nakita ko at pinatutunayan ko na siya nga ang hinirang Diyos.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Saturday January 18, First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Why did Jesus call Levi to follow Him notwithstanding his notorious reputation as a corrupt tax collector? This is for the reason that Jesus loves sinners. He walked on this earth primarily to save us sinners and to call us all to follow Him.

 Jesus is pro sinners and He loves sinners. He favors the sinners, He seeks the sinners and He doesn’t judge and discriminate the sinners. This is what happened to Levi or Matthew. Being a sinner Jesus went to Levi to express to him that He still loves him notwithstanding his many sins.

No matter how sinful we are, God is continuously calling us to conversion and to follow Him just like what He had done with Levi. He doesn’t judge us by our sins; He rather looks at our desire to leave behind our sinfulness. The moment we decide to leave our sinful ways we can always be assured of His peace and His abiding presence.

It is always us who creates detachment from Jesus and not Jesus detaching Himself from us.   This occurs when we commit sins and continuously ignore Jesus’ call for repentance. Jesus is just a prayer away, ever ready to embrace us with His love and forgiveness the moment we decide to walk away from our sinful ways.

Would you respond to Jesus’ call of repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Enero 18, sa Unang Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 2:13-17

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:13-17

13 Pumunta si Jesus sa tabing-dagat at lumapit din sa kanya ang lahat. Kaya nagturo siya sa kanila. 14 Nakita naman niya sa paglalakad si Levi na anak ni Alfeo, na nakaupo sa singilan ng buwis at sinabi niya rito: “Sumunod ka sa akin.” At tumayo ito at sinundan siya.

15 Habang nanunuluyan naman si Jesus sa bahay ni Levi, maraming taga­singil ng buwis at iba pang maka­sa­la­nan ang nakisalo kay Jesus at sa kan­yang mga ala­gad. Talaga ngang marami sila. 16 Ngu­nit may mga guro ng Batas namang sumu­sunod sa kan­ya. Nang makita nila na nasa hapag siya kasama ng mga makasalanan at mani­ningil ng buwis, sinabi nila sa kanyang mga alagad: “Ano! kumakain siyang kasama ng mga makasalanan at mani­ningil ng buwis?”

17 Nang marinig ito ni Jesus, sinabi niya sa kanila: “Hindi ang malulusog ang nanga­ngailangan ng doktor kundi ang mga may­sakit! Hindi ako pumarito para tawagin ang mabubuti kundi ang mga makasalanan.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Friday January 17, Saint Anthony, abbot: Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Would you be willing to help someone in need?

We can gain a lot of valuable insights in today’s gospel reading, insights about faith by the four men who brought to Jesus the paralytic. Insights about forgiveness of our sins and spiritual as well as physical healing.

However, there are two more insights that we can learn in this gospel. Insight on humility; the four that brought the paralytic to Jesus were so humble that they immediately evaporated after they’ve brought the sick man to Jesus. They did not care if they would be recognized for their heroic act. The four men obviously had no bloated egos. So unlike many of us who always want to be recognized and seen whenever we do good for our fellowmen.

The other insight that we can learn here is to be more sensitive to the needs of those who are in greater need than us. Sometimes we are so concerned about our own needs that we tend to forget the greater need of others. We become very selfish instead of selfless.

The four humble men were selfless, perhaps they were also in need of Jesus. But they saw that the paralytic was in greater need than them and need to be immediately healed by Jesus. They’ve sacrificed their own need to address the pressing need of the paralytic. They channeled every ounce of their energies so that they could help the paralytic, even opening up the roof of the house to bring him in front of Jesus.

Would you also be willing to help someone in need? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 17, Biyernes San Antonio, abad: Marcos 2:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:1-12

1 Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, pumasok si Jesus sa Capernaum. Nang maba­litang nasa bahay siya, 2 ma­rami ang nagtipon doon kaya wala nang lugar kahit sa may pintuan. At ipinahayag niya ang Salita. 3 May mga tao namang duma­ting at dinala sa kanya ang isang parali­tiko, na buhat-buhat ng apat.

4 At nang hindi sila makalapit kay Jesus dahil sa dami ng tao, inalis nila ang mga tisa ng terasang nasa ibabaw ng kinaroroonan ni Jesus at pagka­bukas nila nito, inihugos nila ang pa­ralitiko na nasa higaan. 5 Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Anak! Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasa­lanan.”

6 May ilang guro ng Batas naman na nakaupo roon at inisip nila: 7 “Ano itong sinasabi niya? Talagang iniinsulto niya ang Diyos. Sino ba ang may kapang­yari­hang magpatawad ng mga kasa­lanan? Di ba’t ang Diyos lamang?” 8 At agad na nalaman ni Jesus sa kan­yang espiritu na ganoon ang kani­lang mga niloloob na kaisipan. Kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ano ang mga kaisipan ninyong ito?

9 Ano ba ang mas madaling sabihin sa paralitiko: ‘Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan’ o ‘Tumayo ka, kunin ang iyong higaan at lumakad’? 10 Dapat ninyong malaman na sa lupa ay may kapang­yarihan ang Anak ng Tao na magpatawad ng kasa­lanan.”

At sinabi niya sa paralitiko: 11 “Ini­uutos ko sa iyo: bumangon ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at umuwi.” 12 At bumangon nga ang tao, agad na kinu­ha ang higaan at lumabas na nakikita ng lahat. Lubhang namangha ang lahat at nagpuri sila sa Diyos sa pagsasabing “Kailanma’y hindi pa kami nakakakita ng ganito.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Thursday January 16, First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What moves you to go to Jesus?

The leper went to Jesus knelled down and begged Jesus by saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” And immediately the leper was healed by Jesus. You may ask, what moved the leper to ask Jesus to heal him?

Was it his grave sickness? No, his leprosy was not the driving force that moved him to seek the help of Jesus. It was something far bigger than his sickness and it was the leper’s deep reservoir of faith in Jesus! Otherwise if he did not have faith he wouldn’t have gone to Jesus.  And what drove Jesus to heal the leper? Was it His leprosy? No it was not his leprosy that moved Jesus to heal him. It was the leper’s great faith in Him!

What brings us to Jesus and why do we pray to Jesus? Do we pray to Jesus because of our problems? Are we doing this because of our sickness? Our sickness and our problems must not be the primary reason why we go in prayer to Jesus. It must always be our deep faith in Him!

Let us always see to it that our faith is always the main driving force why we want to commune with Jesus. For the reason that the more that we are driven by faith to go to Jesus. The bigger our chance of being heard by Him.

What moves you to pray to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 16, Huwebes sa Unang Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 1:40-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:40-45

40 Lumapit kay Jesus ang isang may­­ketong at nakiusap sa kanya: “Kung gusto mo, mapalilinis mo ako.” 41 Naha­bag si Jesus sa kanya, iniunat ang kanyang kamay, hinipo siya at sinabi: “Gusto ko, luminis ka!” 42 Nang oras ding iyon, iniwan ang lalaki ng kanyang ketong at luminis siya.

43 Ngunit mahigpit siyang pinagbilinan ni Jesus sa kanyang pag-alis, 44 sinabi niya: “Mag-ingat ka, huwag mo itong sa­bihin kaninuman, kundi pu­munta ka sa pari para masuri ka niya at maialay alang-alang sa pagkalinis sa iyo ang handog na iniutos ni Moises upang magkaroon sila ng patunay.”

45 Ngunit pagkaalis ng tao, sini­mulan niyang ipahayag ito kahit saan at ipa­malita ang pangyayaring ito. Dahil dito, hindi na lantarang maka­pasok sa bayan si Jesus kundi nanatili siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na lugar. Ngunit may dumarating pa rin sa kanya na kung saan-saan galing.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Wednesday January 15, First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you afraid to get sick? Of course we all are afraid of sickness and as much as possible we don’t want to get sick. Some of us would even wish to have an instant death so that we could avoid getting sick and being enslaved by sickness.  But one of the many truths of life is the reality of sickness and death. Somehow it will catch up with us no matter how we try to avoid it.

What is our shield for sickness? Our money and health insurance? It will not be enough and it may run out before we get healed. So what is the best cure for sickness? It’s our faith in Jesus! Our deep faith in Jesus will set us free from all kinds of sickness: Be it physical, emotional and spiritual sickness. Faith is a mystery that we should all embrace and faith is also a gift that we should ask Jesus to give us so that we would be able to feel His healing presence in our lives.

After preaching in the synagogue Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. He went there because Simon’s mother in law was sick with fever. Jesus simply approached her grasped her hand and helped her get up and with those simple gestures from Jesus she regained back her health. It was not only Simon’s mother in-law who got healed; many more were brought to Jesus in that place and all of them were healed.  

The big question here is this; did they all have faith in Jesus that’s why they were all healed? Yes of course otherwise they would have not been healed.

Do you always ask Jesus to give you the gift of faith and do you always prayerfully ask Jesus to heal you with anything that ails you?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas