Reflection for Sunday March 22, Fourth Sunday of Lent: John 9:1-41

Gospel: John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is, " but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am." So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." And they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know."

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said,"He is of age; question him."

So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen. 

Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" They ridiculed him and said, "You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from." The man answered and said to them, "This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. 

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." They answered and said to him, "You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind."

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains.

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Reflection:

In a faraway place lived an arrogant king who was advised by his people to prepare for an incoming dreaded disease. The king arrogantly told his people that they need not worry because he will immediately kill the dreaded disease the moment it arrives in his kingdom.  Soon after, the dreaded disease arrived and because of his arrogance and laxity his kingdom was ravaged by the dreaded disease.   

Arrogance is a spiritual sickness that blinds a person of the power of God. When a person is arrogant he thinks that he is bigger than God as such he belittles the power of God. But we all know that when a person belittles the power of God that person sooner or later will eventually be brought down to his knees by God.

In the gospel, we read about a blind man who was cured by Jesus but some Pharisees did not believe the man. Considering that the former blind man was personally witnessing about the power of Jesus the Pharisees should have believed but they did not. 

Why is it that some of the Pharisees did not believe the personal witness of the former blind man cured by Jesus? It was simply because of their arrogance! The Pharisees were powerful Jews; they were strict observers of their Jewish laws and tradition. And it happened that the blind man was cured by Jesus on the day of Sabbath which was a day of rest for the Jews. As such no healing activity should happen on that day.

So, some of the Pharisees did not believe Jesus and they also belittled the former blind man cured by Jesus. What if they believed in the power of Jesus and what if they did not belittle the former blind man? They too could have benefited from the power of Jesus and they could have learned valuable lessons from the former blind such as lesson about humility, lesson about obedience to the Lord and lesson about faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 22, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 9:1-41

Mabuting Balita: Juan 9:1-41

1 Sa kanyang pagdaan, nakita niya ang isang taong ipina­nganak na bulag. 2 Tinanong siya ng kanyang mga alagad: “Rabbi, sino ang nagkasala at ipinanganak siyang bulag: siya ba o ang kanyang mga ma­gu­lang?”

3 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi dahil nag­kasala ni ang kanyang mga magulang kundi upang mahayag ang mga gawa ng Diyos sa kanya. 4 Kailangan nating gawin ang mga gawa ng nagpadala sa akin sa­man­­talang araw pa. Duma­rating ang gabi at wala nang maka­gagawa. 5 Habang nasa mundo ako, liwanag ako ng mundo.”

6 Pagkasabi niya ng mga ito, lumura siya sa lupa at gumawa ng putik mula sa lura at nilagyan ng putik ang mga mata ng tao. 7 At sinabi sa kanya: “Pumunta ka’t at mag­hilamos sa pala­nguyan ng Siloam (na kung isasalin ay sinugo).” Kaya pumunta siya at nag­hilamos at umalis na naka­ka­kita.

8 Kaya sinabi ng kanyang mga kapit-bahay at ng mga dating nakakapansin sa kanyang nagpapalimos: “Di ba’t ito ang nakaupo at namamalimos?” 9 Si­nabi ng ilan: “Ito nga siya!” At sinabi naman ng iba: “Hindi! Kamukha lamang siya.” Ngunit sabi niya: “Ako siya!” 10 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Paano napadilat ang iyong mga mata?”

11 Sumagot siya: “Gumawa ng putik ang taong tinatawag na Jesus at pina­hiran ang aking mga mata at sinabi sa akin, ‘Pumunta ka sa Siloam at mag­hilamos.’ Kaya umalis ako at naghi­la­mos at naka­kita ako.” 12 Sinabi nila sa kanya: “Nasaan siya?” Aniya: “Hindi ko alam.”

13 Dinala nila siya sa mga Pariseo, siya na dating bulag. 14 Araw ng Pahi­nga noon nang gumawa ng putik si Jesus at nagpa­dilat sa kanyang mga mata. 15 Kaya muli siyang tinanong ng mga Pariseo kung paano siya nakakita. At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Nilagyan niya ng putik ang aking mga mata at naghi­lamos ako at naka­ki­ta.”

16 Kaya sinabi ng ilan sa mga Pariseo: “Hindi mula sa Diyos ang taong iyon dahil hindi niya ipinangingilin ang Araw ng Pahinga.” Ngunit sinabi naman ng iba: “Paanong magagawa ng taong maka­salanan ang ganitong mga tanda?” At nahati sila. 17 Kaya sinabi nilang muli sa bulag: “Ikaw, ano’ng masasabi mo tungkol sa kanya pagkat mga mata mo ang pinadilat niya?” At sinabi niya: “Siya ang Propeta!”

18Hindi nga naniwala ang mga Judio na dati siyang bulag at nakakakita na, hang­gang ipatawag nila ang mga ma­gulang ng taong nakakita. 19 At tina­nong nila sila: “Ito ba ang inyong anak na sinasabi n’yong ipinanganak na bulag? Paano’t nakakakita siya ngayon?”

20 Kaya sumagot ang kanyang mga magulang: “Alam naming ito ang aming anak at ipinanganak siyang bulag. 21 Pero hindi namin alam kung paano’t ngayo’y nakakakita siya, at wala kaming kaalam-alam kung sino ang nagpadilat sa kan­yang mga mata. Siya ang tanungin n’yo. May edad na siya at makapangungusap mismo tungkol sa kanyang sarili.”

22Sinabi ito ng kanyang mga magu­lang dahil takot sila sa mga Judio. Sapagkat napagkasunduan na ng mga Judio na itiwa­lag sa sinagoga ang sinumang kikilala sa kanya bilang Kristo. 23 Dahil dito kaya sinabi ng kan­yang magulang: “May edad na siya. Siya ang inyong tanu­ngin.” 24 Kaya makalawa nilang tinawag ang taong dating bulag at sinabi sa kanya: “Umamin ka sa harap ng Diyos. Alam naming makasalanan ang taong ito.”

25 Kaya sumagot siya: “Kung maka­salanan siya, hindi ko alam. Iisa ang alam ko: bulag ako noon at ngayo’y nakaka­kita.” 26 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Ano’ng ginawa niya sa iyo? Paano niya pinadilat ang mga mata mo?” 27 Sinagot niya sila: “Sinabi ko na sa inyo at ayaw n’yong makinig. Ano’t gusto n’yo na namang marinig? Hindi kaya gusto n’yo ring maging mga alagad niya?”

28 At nilait nila siya: “Alagad ka niya pero mga alagad kami ni Moises. 29 Alam naming kay Moises nangusap ang Diyos pero hindi namin alam kung saan galing ang taong ito.” 30 Sumagot ang tao sa kanila: “Ito nga ang kataka-taka: hindi n’yo alam kung saan siya galing at pinadilat niya ang aking mga mata. 31 Alam natin na hindi dinidinig ng diyos ang mga maka­salanan pero kung merong maypitagan sa Diyos at ang kalooban niya ang ginagawa, dinidinig niya ito.

32 Kailan­ma’y wala pang narinig na may naka­pagdilat sa mga mata ng isang ipina­nganak na bulag. 33 Kung hindi siya galing sa Diyos, wala siyang anumang magagawa.” 34 Sumagot sila sa kanya: “Tinu­tu­ruan mo ba kami, ikaw na ipina­nganak na tagos ng mga kasalanan?” At ipi­nagta­buyan nila siya palabas.

35 Narinig ni Jesus na ipinagtabuyan nila siya palabas. At pagkatagpo niya sa kanya, sinabi niya: “Nananalig ka ba sa Anak ng Tao?” 36 Sumagot siya: “Sino po siya upang manalig ako sa kanya?” 37 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Naki­kita mo siya at siya ang nakikipag-usap sa iyo. (38 Aniya: “Nananalig ako, Pangi­­­noon.” At nagpa­tirapa siya sa kanyang pa­anan. At sinabi ni Jesus:) 39 Sa paghatol ako dumating sa mun­dong ito: makakakita ang mga walang paningin, at magiging bulag ang mga nakakakita.”

40 Narinig ito ng ilang Pariseo na nasa tabi ni Jesus at sinabi nila sa kanya: “E di bulag din kami?” 41 Suma­got sa kanila si Jesus: “Kung sakaling bulag kayo, wala sana kayong kasa­lanan. Ngunit ngayong sinasabi n’yong ‘Nakakakita kami,’ nama­ma­lagi ang inyong kasalanan.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday March 21, Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Is humility the weakness of God?

We see in the gospel the humility of the tax collector. He humbly admitted to God his own sinfulness. He was very much aware that before God he was nothing and deserves nothing. This was the reason why the tax collector went home possessing the favor of God.

The secret therefore to gain the favor of God is humility and awareness of our own shortcomings and limitations. The tax collector who gained the favor of God was truly aware of his own sinfulness. He did not attempt to hide it from God, did he know that God knows everything about him? Perhaps he did not know, what he was sure of was his own sinfulness that’s why he humbly asked mercy from God.

It is a given fact that the humble has the eyes and ears of God. The humble doesn’t only gain the favor of God he also gains the respect of his fellowmen. Many of us do not want to be humble because we see it as weakness. But humility is not a weakness it’s actually a strength! For the simple reason that those who are humble are more respected than those who are not. 

However, to become humble before Jesus and our fellowmen is not easy. For the reason that this entails sacrifice and swallowing of our bloated egos. This entails awareness that we have nothing to be proud of before the presence of God.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton once said: “The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain entry to heaven. We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain the favor and guidance of God. And we therefore have  to be humble if we want to gain the respect of our fellow men and women. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Marso 21, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

9 Sinabi ni Jesus ang talinha­gang ito tungkol sa ilang taong kumbinsido na mabuti sila at minamata naman ang iba: 10  “Dalawang tao ang umakyat sa Templo para mana­langin: Pariseo ang isa at publikano naman ang isa pa. 11 Nakata­yong na­na­na­la­nging mag-isa ang Pari­seo. Si­nabi niya: ‘O Diyos, salamat at hindi ako gaya ng ibang mga tao – mga magnanakaw, mandaraya, nakikiapid, o gaya ng ko­lek­tor ng buwis na iyan. 12 Da­­lawang beses akong nag-aayuno isang linggo, nagbibigay ako ng ikapu sa lahat kong ari-arian.’

13 Nasa likuran naman ang kolektor ng buwis at hindi man lang makatingala sa langit. Dinadagukan niya ang dibdib sa pagsasabing ‘O Diyos, kaawaan mo ako na isang makasala­nan.’

14 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ito ang umu­wing nasa grasya ng Diyos ngunit hindi ang isa. Sa­pagkat ibababa ang la­hat ng nagpapakataas at itataas naman ang nagpapakababa.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Friday March 20, Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

How do we manifest our love for God?

To love God is to discover more about Him, thus we need to thirst and hunger for Him. We need to always be present at Holy Mass and feel His presence there.  We need to read the bible and be faithful to its teachings.

If we would read the first four gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we will have a better appreciation of the true to life story of Jesus.  To love God is to live His teachings as well.

After we have fully expressed our love for God the next commandment will automatically set in (We shall love our neighbor as ourselves). What is this love for our neighbor? Is this a selective kind of love or an encompassing love?

The love for our neighbor should always be an encompassing love and not a selective love. Sometimes this is where we are deficient because we only choose the neighbor that we love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Marso 20, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Marcos 12:28-34

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:28-34

28 May isang guro ng Batas na na­ka­­rinig sa pagtatalo ni Jesus at ng mga Sadduseo. Nang mapansin niyang tama ang sagot ni Jesus sa mga Sadduseo, lumapit siya at nagta­nong kay Jesus: “Ano ang una sa lahat ng utos?”

29 Sumagot si Jesus na “Ito ang una: Makinig nawa, O Israel! Iisa lang ang Panginoong ating Diyos. 30 At mamahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kalu­luwa, nang buo mong pag-iisip at nang buo mong lakas. 31At pangalawa naman ito: Mamahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Wala nang utos na mas mahalaga pa kaysa mga ito.” 

32 Kaya sinabi ng guro ng Batas: “Mabuti, Guro, totoo ang sinabi mong isa Siya at wala na maliban sa kanya. 33 At ang mahalin siya nang buong puso at nang buong kaluluwa at nang buong lakas, at mahalin din ang kapwa gaya ng sarili ay mas mahalaga kaysa mga sinu­nog na handog at mga alay.”

34 Nakita ni Jesus na tama ang sinabi nito kaya sinabi niya: “Hindi ka malayo sa kaharian ng Diyos.” At wala nang nanga­has magtanong sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Thursday March 19, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

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Reflection:

Do you always obey the will of the Lord for your marriage? For example the will of God for the marriage covenant to be forever and not to be stained by any hint of infidelity. Are you ever faithful to this marriage covenant in your thoughts and actions?

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Aside from being responsible father and husband to Jesus and Mary, what else makes Saint Joseph so especial? Joseph humbly and quietly followed the will of the Lord.

Saint Joseph accepted without question what God wanted him to do. Yes he was planning to quietly divorce Mary. However, the moment the angel appeared in his dream to convey God’s message for him. He never questioned the will of the Lord. He humbly and quietly followed what the angel told him to do, he loved Mary and Jesus deeply and he responsibly took care of them.

Let us reflect on the humility of Saint Joseph and compare it with our humility before God and our fellow human beings. Let us reflect on the submissiveness of Joseph to the will of the Lord and compare it with our own submissiveness to the will of the Lord regarding our fidelity with the marriage covenant. 

Let us reflect on the sacrificial and deep love of Joseph towards Mary and Jesus and compare it with our love for our respective wives and children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Marso 19, Dakilang Kapistahan ni San Jose, kabiyak ng Mahal na Birheng Maria: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

16 Si Jacob ang ama ni Jose – ang asawa ni Maria na siyang pinagmulan ni Jesus na tinawag na Kristo.

18 Ganito ipinanganak si Jesucristo. Ipinag­kasundo na kay Jose ang kanyang inang si Maria pero bago sila nagsama bilang mag-asawa, nagdadalantao na siya gawa ng Espiritu Santo. 19 Kaya binalak ni Jose na hiwalayan nang lihim ang kanyang asawa. Matuwid nga siya at ayaw niya itong mapahiya.

20 Habang iniisip-isip niya ito, napa­kita sa kanya sa panaginip ang Anghel ng Panginoon at sinabi: “Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tang­ga­pin si Maria bilang iyong asawa. Gawa ng Espi­ritu Santo kaya siya naglihi, 21 at ma­nga­nganak siya ng isang sanggol na lalaki, na panga­ngalanan mong Jesus sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang samba­yanan mula sa kanilang mga kasa­lanan.”

24 Kaya pagka¬gising ni Jose, ginawa niya ang sinabi ng Anghel ng Panginoon at tinang¬gap niya ang kanyang asawa.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 18, Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus? It’s barren, chaotic and without peace. What is life without following the laws of God? It’s the same as well.  Jesus comes into our lives to make it meaningful and productive. Not meaningful and productive in the eyes of this world but meaningful and productive in His eyes.

When we break the laws of God we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. For example if a politician shows in his public image that he is a follower of Jesus. He will not break the law by stealing money from the coffers of the government, etc.

 He will not break the law of God by siding with those who are espousing anti poor laws such as death penalty. Otherwise he is only using Jesus to serve his own hidden agenda. Same goes for a spouse who professes to follow Jesus. He/she should not break the law by betraying the marriage covenant.

There’s always a reward that awaits those who follow the laws of God. And there’s always a reward that awaits those who follow Jesus and His commandments. It may not be the reward that we expect it to be but there would certainly be a reward.

Do you always follow the laws of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Marso 18, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 5:17-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-19

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 17 Huwag ninyong akalain na napa­rito ako para pawalang-bisa ang Batas at Mga Propeta. Naparito ako hindi para magpa­walang-bisa kundi upang mag­bigay-kaganapan. 18 At talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: habang hindi naba­bago ang langit at lupa, hindi maba­bago ni isang kudlit o kuwit ng Batas: lahat ay matu­tupad. 

19 Kung may lumabag sa pinakamaliit na ipinag-uutos ng Batas at magturo ng ganoon sa mga tao, ituturing din siyang pinakamaliit sa Kaharian ng Langit. Ngu­nit kung may magsagawa at magturo ng mga ito sa mga tao, magiging dakila siya sa Kaharian ng Langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 17, Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Why is it that many of us are not able to forgive? This is for the reason that we think highly of ourselves and we think that we are superior than the person who sinned against us. Unforgiveness also emanates from our arrogance, pride and lack of humility. Unforgiveness is also a sign that we love ourselves more than we love Jesus. 

If we truly love Jesus and if we really are humble we would be forgiving no matter how deep the wound that had been inflicted upon us. For example, if a wayward spouse would ask for forgiveness we would think deeply upon it and would eventually forgive. 

If we would continue to provide safe harbor for hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts, we are only creating an invisible prison cell within ourselves. Prison cell that perpetually punish and enslave us.

In our gospel, Peter asked Jesus: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). This simply means that forgiveness should be never-ending or limitless.

Those who are truly humble and those who truly love Jesus are the ones capable of unlimited forgiveness. Otherwise we simply are great pretenders: Pretenders to be humble and lovers of Jesus.

Are you forgiving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Marso 17, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 18:21-35

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-35

21 Nagtanong naman si Pedro: “Pa­nginoon, gaano kadalas ko naman dapat patawarin ang mga pagku­kulang ng aking kapatid? Pitong be­ses ba?” 22 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi, hindi pitong beses kundi pitumpu’t pitong beses.

23 Tungkol sa kaharian ng Langit ang kasaysayang ito. Isang hari ang nag­pasyang pagbayarin ng utang ang kanyang mga utusan. 24 Nang simulan niyang suriin ang kuwenta, ini­harap sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung libong baretang ginto. 25 Dahil walang ma­ibayad sa kanya ang tao, iniutos ng panginoon na ipagbili at maging alipin siya kasama ng kan­yang asawa, mga anak at mga ari-arian bilang bayad-utang.

26 At nagpatirapa sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at ba­bayaran kong lahat ang utang ko.’ 27 Naawa sa kanya ang hari at hindi lamang siya pinalaya kundi kinansela pa ang kanyang utang. 28 Pagkaalis ng opisyal na ito, nasa­lu­bong ni­ya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Si­nung­gaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo!’

29 Nagpa­tirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nag­sabi: ‘Big­yan mo pa ako ng panahon, at baba­yaran kong lahat ang utang ko sa iyo.’ 30 Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipina­kulong ito hanggang maka­bayad ng utang. 31 Labis na nalungkot ang iba nilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nang­yari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kani­lang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pang­yayari. 32 Ipinatawag naman niya ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat ng iyong utang nang maki­usap ka sa akin. 33 Di ba dapat ay naawa ka rin sa iyong kasamahan gaya ng pagkaawa ko sa iyo?’ 34 Galit na galit ang panginoon kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang utusan sa mga tagapag­pa­hirap hang­gang mabaya­ran nito ang lahat ng utang.”

35 Idinagdag ni Jesus: “Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi pata­tawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 16, Monday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. When the people in the synagogue heard this they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Do we expect Jesus to bless us abundantly because we always pray and do good? How would we feel if our expectation is not meet by Jesus with the same expectation that we have?  Would we now be indifferent to Jesus?

We cannot fathom the mind of God, there are times that His decisions will not fit our own comprehension. We nevertheless should continue to be faithful to Him even if His will is often times not attuned to our own will. In His own time God would eventually give us what we want. We simply have to be patient.

In our gospel the people of Nazareth is angry with Jesus for the simple reason that what Jesus said did not fit their expectation. Their minds were already conditioned to believe their own expectations. But we cannot read the mind of Jesus and we cannot put Jesus in a box because His decisions and His answers to our prayers are often times out of the box.

We simply have to believe and hold on to our faith in Jesus no matter what happens. Even if sometimes or even often times His decisions doesn’t fit our own selfish expectations. Who knows one of these days Jesus will suddenly give us what we want. During these times when we least expect Him to give it to us.

Let us continue to have faith in Jesus even if He is not meeting our expectations for He knows what is best for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Marso 16, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 4:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 4:24-30

Pagdating ni Jesus sa Nazaret sinabi niya sa lahat ng mga taong nasa sinagoga24 “Talagang sinasabi ko: walang propetang katanggap-tanggap sa sarili niyang bayan. 25 Tinitiyak ko sa inyo na maraming babaeng balo noon sa kapana­hunan ni Elias nang sarhan ang langit sa loob ng tatlo’t kala­hating taon at nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa buong lupain. 26 Gayon pa ma’y hindi ipinadala si Elias sa isa man sa kanila kundi sa baba­eng balo ng    Sarepta sa may Sidon. 27 Marami ring may­ketong sa Israel sa kapana­hunan ni Propeta Eliseo pero wala sa kanilang pinaga­ling kundi ang Siriong si Naaman.”

28 Napuno ng galit ang lahat sa sinagoga pagkarinig dito, 29 tumindig sila at ipinagtulakan siya sa labas ng bayan. Dinala nila siya sa gilid ng burol na ki­na­­­ta­tayuan ng kanilang bayan para ihu­log. 30 Ngunit du­maan siya sa gitna nila at umalis.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.