Reflection for Saturday February 29, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What made Jesus call Levi to follow Him and what made Levi leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Of course the main reason was Levi was a sinner and he was tired of living a life of sin. Therefore when Levi was called by Jesus he threw caution to the wind to follow Jesus. For he knew that at long last there is someone who’s not judging him. And someone who’s willing to give him a second chance to live life away from sin.

In this gospel episode Jesus gives us valuable lesson on how we can call others to conversion. First is let us not be judgmental with those whom we perceive as sinners. Who are we to judge when we are sinners also? Second is let us always give others a second chance no matter how sinful they are.

There are many who are itching to live their lives away from sin but no one is willing to give them a second chance. It seems to them that almost everyone is condemning them. If only we know that they are already sick and tired of living in sin. If only we know that they are just waiting for us to call them to a life of renewal.

Let us make it our vow not to be judgmental. Let us make it our vow to give those whom we perceive as sinners a second chance. There are sinners because there are people who are judgmental and people who are not willing to give them a second chance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Pebrero 29, Sabado pagkaraan ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 5:27-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:27-32

27 Nakita ni Jesus ang isang kolektor ng buwis na nagngangalang Levi na naka­upo sa paningilan ng buwis. Sinabi niya rito: “Sumunod ka sa akin.” 28 Tu­mayo naman ito, iniwan ang lahat at sumunod sa kanya.

29 Naghandog sa kanya si Levi ng isang marang­yang handaan sa kanyang bahay at nakisalo sa kanila ang maraming kolektor ng buwis at iba pang mga tao. 30 Dahil dito’y pabulong na nag­reklamo ang mga Pariseo at ang panig sa kanilang mga guro ng Batas sa mga alagad ni Jesus: “Bakit kayo kuma­kain at umiinom kasama ng mga mani­ningil ng buwis at mga maka­sa­lanan?”

31 Sumagot naman si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Hindi ang malulusog ang na­ngangailangan ng doktor kundi ang mga may­sakit. 32 Hindi ako pumarito para tawagin ang mabu­buti kundi ang mga makasalanan tungo sa pagba­balik-loob.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Friday February 28, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you practice fasting? 

The church teaches us that we have to observe fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Does it have any basis in the Bible? Yes just to name a few: Jonah 3:7, Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.

Matthew 4:2: “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.”

Matthew 6:16: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.

To practice fasting is an edifying experience for we would discover that we can still be productive even if we are fasting. For as long as we focus our attention to Jesus who observed fasting for forty days in the desert. And in the process was tempted in vain by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).   

But more than the voluntary denial of food it also requires us to fast from doing anything that would offend God and our fellowmen. From doing anything that would defile us physically and spiritually. For example we fast from committing sin, we fast from judging our neighbor and so forth.  

In the gospel Jesus was asked by the Pharisees and John’s disciples why His followers were not fasting. Jesus answered them that there’s no reason yet for them to fast for the reason that He is with them (Matthew 9:15).

When are we going therefore to be with Jesus so that we will not anymore practice fasting? It’s when we die and eventually ascend to heaven, there we will be with Jesus and we will not be fasting anymore.

But for the mean time that we are still in this world we have to observe fasting not only with food but with anything that makes us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Pebrero 27, Biyernes pagkaraan ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Mateo 9:14-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo:9:14-15
14 Noo’y lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad ni Juan at nagtanong: “May araw ng ayuno kami at ang mga Pariseo, at wala bang pag-aayuno ang iyong mga alagad?”

15 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Puwede bang magluksa ang mga abay sa kasalan habang kasama pa nila ang nobyo? Darating ang panahon na aagawin sa kanila ang nobyo at sa araw na iyon sila mag-aayuno.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Thursday February 27, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A man of the world was on the verge of ending his life, he decided to go to a cliff to jump so that he could end everything.  On his way he saw a church that had an inscription of the words of Jesus that says: Come follow me (Matthew 9:14). He gave it a serious thought and decided to go to that church and inquired about it.

 There he was informed that it was a call to vocation in the service of the Lord. He thereafter decided not to end his life he instead responded to the instant vocation call. And soon after he found God and he also discerned the true meaning of his life with Jesus. 

Many of us spend our lifetime to pursue our earthly ambition such as to be rich and powerful. And then when we reach the pinnacle of our ambitions we also discover that something is still lacking or missing. We yearn for something that is meaningful and something that would satisfy our inner being.   

This something that is meaningful that we yearn is no other than God. No matter how rich and powerful some of us may become we would still not have contentment and peace of mind. For the simple reason that only God will gives peace of mind only God will give us inner calmness and healing. But to follow God is not easy because this would entail us to carry our own cross.

But the big question is this: Would we be willing to carry that cross? Would we willing to give away our life to God so that He could save it and make full use of it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas        

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Pebrero 27, Huwebes pagkaraan ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 9:22-25

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:22-25

22 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Kaila­ngang magtiis ng marami ang Anak ng Tao. Itatakwil nga siya ng mga Matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong-pari at ng mga guro ng Batas. Papatayin siya at muling babangon sa ikatlong araw.”

23 Sinabi naman ni Jesus sa lahat: “Kung may gustong sumunod sa akin, itakwil ang kanyang sarili at kunin ang kanyang krus araw-araw para sumunod sa akin. 24 Sapagkat ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang sarili ay mawa­walan nito, at ang mawawalan ng kanyang sarili alang-alang sa akin ay siyang ma­ka­­pagliligtas nito. 25 Ano ang pakinabang ng tao tubuin man niya ang buong daig­dig at mawawala naman o mapapahamak ang kanyang sarili?  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Wednesday February 26, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had the habit of showing off through social media the good and pious acts that he does. For example, when he attends Mass he would take pictures of it and post it in his facebook. He does the same thing when he does acts of compassion, he does this so that his friends would take notice of it.  

The three core teachings of the gospel this Ash Wednesday is about Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting. Unlike our many facebook posts (pictures, comments, likes, etc…) wherein we show off so that our friends and many others will know who we are and what we are doing. We are being invited by Jesus to permanently veer away from this selfish and ego tripping mentality.

On the aspect of Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting, Jesus is inviting us to do these noble acts without letting everyone know about it. Let us do these acts piety privately and ensure that nobody will know about it.

For if we do these hidden from the prying eyes of our friends and the public at large. We would then earn approval from Jesus. Because this is what Jesus would always want us to do for as long as we live: Do our noble acts hidden from anyone’s eye.

In the same breath, lent is also an invitation for us to reflect about our life, concerning our relationship with Jesus and the many sins that we have committed. For example concerning our sins; would we just let this sins remain or we will do something about it by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession?

Our many sins pull us further away from God and if we are not careful we may live our life permanently away from the love of God. Would we want a life permanently cut off from the love of God?  Of course not! Nobody wants to live his/her own life away from the love of God.

Therefore, let us take a deeper spiritual reflection about our life this Ash Wednesday in particular and during lent in general. Let us take a closer look at our sinfulness, the fragility of life and our personal relationship with Jesus.

Are we still mindful of our sins, are we still aware that life can end anytime and how personal and deep is our relationship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Pebrero 26, Miyerkules ng Abo: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

1 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad  pag-ingatang huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang in­yong mabubuting gawa. Kung ganito ang ga­gawin ninyo, wala na kayong gantimpala sa inyong Amang nasa langit. 2 Kaya pag nagbibigay ka ng limos, huwag pahipan ang trumpeta sa unahan gaya ng gina­gawa ng mga mapagkunwari sa sinagoga at sa mga daan; gusto nilang mapuri ng mga tao. Sinisiguro ko sa inyo na nagan­timpala­an na sila nang husto.

3 Kaya kung ikaw naman ang magbi­bigay ng limos, huwag ipaalam sa iyong kaliwang kamay ang ginagawa ng iyong kanang kamay; 4 at mananatiling lihim ang iyong pagli­limos at ang iyong Amang nakakakita sa mga lihim ang siyang ga­gantimpala sa iyo.

5 Kung mananalangin kayo, huwag nin­yong tularan ang mga mapagkunwari. Gustung-gusto nilang tumayo sa mga sinagoga o sa mga daan para manala­ngin nang nakikita ng marami. Sinisi­guro ko sa inyo na nagantimpa­laan na sila nang husto. 6 At kung ikaw naman ang mana­nalangin, pumasok sa iyong silid, isara ang pinto at mana­langin sa iyong Ama na kasama mo nang lihim; at ang iyong Ama na naka­kakita sa ipinag­lilihim ang gagantimpala sa iyo.

• 16 Pag mag-aayuno kayo, huwag magpakita ng lungkot sa mukha gaya ng mga mapagkunwari. Nagpapakita sila ng lungkot sa mukha para makita ng tao na nag-aayuno sila. Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na nagantimpalaan na sila nang husto. 17 Kung ikaw naman ang mag-aayuno, maghilamos at ayusin ang sarili 18 sapagkat hindi ka nag-aayuno para pakitang-tao lamang kun­di para sa iyong Amang naka­kakita sa lahat. At gagantimpalaan ka ng iyong Amang nakakakita sa lahat ng lihim.

  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Tuesday February 25, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst and putting his arms around it, he said to them “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but the One who sent me.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the most important virtue of a follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking anything in return. He doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to be known, to be powerful and to be popular.

While Jesus and His disciples were passing through Galilee, He was discussing to them about the things that will happen to Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention for the reason that they were preoccupied discussing who among them was the greatest. What an ego trip for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus they were burnishing among themselves their own self-image. They were discussing who among them is the greatest.

During that instance the desire to humbly follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly raise up their own self-image. And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this world.    

If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to occupy the starring role. We have to be humble and simple at all times for this is the only way whereby we can bring others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Monday February 24, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:14-29

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How strong is your faith in Jesus?

In the gospel, a boy was possessed by an evil spirit, his father asked the disciples for help but they were unable to drive it out. Then the father saw Jesus who just came from the mountain. The father asked for help, he told Jesus: “I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

 Jesus said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Jesus was quite exasperated with his disciples because they were not able to drive out the evil spirit.

Jesus was also frustrated with the Father because he told him: “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Jesus was frustrated with both the disciples and the father of the boy and the reason behind was their lack of faith! If only the disciples had faith they could have easily drove out the evil spirit but they had weak faith.

Are we not like the father and the disciples once in a while? We petition God to grant us our prayers yet we easily get impatient when He doesn’t reply immediately. And the reason for this impatience is our lack of faith.

Let us continue to bear in mind these words of Jesus: “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” (Mark 9:23) – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Pebrero 24, Ikapitong Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 9:14-29

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:14-29

14 Pagbalik nila Jesus, Pedro, Jaime at Juan sa mga alagad, nakita nila ang napakaraming tao na nakapa­libot sa mga ito at nakikipag­talo naman sa kanila ang mga guro ng Batas. 15 Na­mangha ang lahat pagka­kita sa kanila, at tumakbo sila para batiin siya.

16 Itinanong naman niya sa kanila: “Bakit kayo nakikipagtalo sa mga ito?” 17 At sina­got siya ng isang lalaki mula sa mga tao: “Guro, dinala ko sa iyo ang aking anak na lalaki na inaalihan ng isang piping espiritu. 18 At kung hina­ha­gip siya nito, inilulugmok siya sa lupa; nagbubula ang kanyang bibig, nagnga­ngalit ang mga ngipin at nani­nigas. Hi­ningi ko sa iyong mga alagad na pa­la­yasin ito pero hindi nila kaya.”

19 Sumagot si Jesus: “Mga walang pa­na­­­­nampalataya! Gaano pa katagal akong ma­nanatili sa piling ninyo? Hang­gang ka­ilan ako mag­titiis sa inyo? Dalhin siya rito sa akin.”

• 20 At pinalapit nila siya kay Jesus. Pag­kakita sa kanya ng espiritu, pina­ngatog nito ang bata at inilugmok sa lupa kaya nagpa­gulung-gulong siya at bumu­bula ang bibig. 21 Tinanong na­man ni Jesus ang ama: “Gaano na ka­tagal na nangyayari ito sa kanya?” 22 At sumagot ang ama: “Mula pa sa pagka­bata at ma­dalas nga siyang inihahagis sa apoy o sa batis para patayin. Ngu­nit kung kaya mo, maawa ka sa amin at pakitulungan kami.”

23 Sinagot siya ni Jesus: “Ano itong ‘kung kaya mo’? Lahat ay posible sa sumasam­pa­lataya.” 24 At agad na sumigaw ang ama ng bata sa pagsa­sabing “Sumasampalataya ako pero tulungan mo ang maliit kong pana­nam­palataya.”

25 Nakita ni Jesus na nagsisitakbo at luma­lapit na ang mga tao kaya iniutos niya sa masamang espiritu: “Pipi at binging espiritu, inuutusan kitang lu­ma­­bas sa kanya at huwag nang bu­malik.”

26 Nagsisigaw ang espiritu at ini­lugmok ang bata sa lupa bago luma­bas. At ani­mo’y patay ang bata kaya marami ang nagsabing “Na­matay.” 27 Ngunit pagkahawak ni Jesus sa ka­may nito, pinaba­ngon niya ito at pina­tindig.

28 Pagkapasok ni Jesus sa bahay, ti­na­nong siya ng mga alagad nang sari­linan: “Bakit hindi namin napalayas ang espiritu?” 29 Sinabi ni Jesus sa ka­nila: “Sa panalangin lamang mapala­layas ang ganitong klaseng espiritu.”

  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday February 23, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a wife who discovered that her husband was engaged into an adulterous relationship. The wife calmly told her husband, “You have to stop it otherwise I will live a quite life by myself.” The adulterous and arrogant husband did not stop and continued living his sinful life.  So, the woman left and she lived a quiet and righteous life by herself until she died.  

Jesus in our gospel gives us a blueprint on how we would act to those who did us wrong and to those who continue to do us wrong. Don’t get even and don’t fight fire with fire. Why? Because when we get even and when we fight fire with fire we are sucked into the sinful lifestyle of those people who do us wrong. We simply become like them; we embrace evil as they’ve embraced evil.

When we don’t fight fire with fire we always occupy the moral high ground and we refuse to be brought down to the gutter that they are in. We also give them an option to redeem themselves by inviting them to reflect on how we responded to the wrong that they’ve done. Thus, they might decide to renew their lives and permanently walk away from anything that make them sin.

The way of Jesus is always the right way it maybe hard to walk on that way but that is the right way. The way of the Lord is the way of non-violence to fight evil. The way of turning the other cheek to be slapped all over again. With the prayer in mind that those who did us wrong and who continue to do us wrong will have a conversion experience before it’s too late. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 23, Ikapitong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:38-48

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:38-48

38 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad narinig na ninyo na sinabi: Mata sa mata at ngipin sa ngipin. 39 Ngunit sina­sabi ko sa inyo: Huwag ninyong laba­nan ng masama ang masama. Kung sam­palin ka sa kanang pisngi, ibaling ang mukha at iharap ang kabilang pisngi. 40 Kung may magdemanda sa iyo para kunin ang iyong sando, ibigay mo pati ang iyong kami­seta. 41Kung may pumilit sa iyong suma­ma sa kanya nang  isang  kilometro,  dala­wang kilometro ang la­ka­rin mong kasama niya. 42 Bigyan ang nanghi­hingi at huwag talikuran ang may hinihiram sa iyo.

43 Narinig na ninyo na sinabi: Ma­ha­lin mo ang iyong kapwa at kamuhian ang iyong kaaway. 44 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: Mahalin ninyo ang inyong ka­away, at ipagdasal ang mga umuusig sa inyo. 45 Sa ganito kayo magi­ging mga anak ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Sa­pagkat pinasisikat niya ang araw sa kap­wa ma­sama at mabuti, at pinapapatak niya ang ulan sa kapwa makatarungan at di-maka­tarungan.

46 Kung mahal ninyo ang nagma­mahal sa inyo, bakit kayo gagantim­palaan? Di ba’t ginagawa rin ito ng mga kolektor ng buwis? 47 At kung ang mga kapatid ninyo lamang ang inyong bina­bati, ano ang na­iiba rito? Di ba’t gina­gawa rin ito ng mga pagano? 48 Kaya maging ganap kayo gaya ng pagiging ganap ng inyong Amang nasa langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday February 22, Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle: Matthew 16:13-19

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you know Saint Peter?

We celebrate today the feast of the chair of Saint Peter. Peter is the most prominent apostle; Jesus built and founded the church thru him, he was also the leader of the twelve. Peter unwaveringly spread the gospel of Jesus even at the expense of his own life. 

If someone would ask us this question: “Who is Jesus to you?” I am sure that our answer would depend on how well we know Jesus. Some of us may answer that Jesus is a friend who’s always there for us a friend who walks with us and ever ready to hear us.

This was the question posed by Jesus to His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” the people were unsure for they don’t know Jesus that well. Then Jesus asked the apostles: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. Peter knew Jesus well because more than any other apostle he was always prominently with Jesus (Matthew. 10:2; 14:28; 15:15; 17:24; 19:27; Luke 8:51; 12:41).  

Peter also initially did not want Jesus to wash his feet, (John 13:7-9). When Jesus was about to be arrested by the roman soldiers it was Peter who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the soldier, (John 18:10) Peter was the first apostles to enter the empty tomb of Jesus, (Luke 24:12), Peter was the first apostles to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection, (Luke 24:34)

Like Peter, are we always prominently with Jesus through our prayers, through the Sacraments and by always being present during Sunday Mass? Like Peter, do we have that desire to know Jesus fully well by regularly reading the Bible specially the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

If Jesus would ask us this question today: “Who do you say that I am?” will He also be satisfied with our reply? – Marino J. Dasmarinas