Reflection for June 13, Saturday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:33-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”

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Reflection:

Do we stand by our word?

Our words are one of the essential showcase of our character. For example, if we are prone not to fulfill what we say we would eventually loss our credibility. No one will believe us anymore because the minds of those who know us have already been conditioned that we don’t stand up for what we say.

But the moment we start to value word of honor and the moment we only say what is true. Our moral value and credibility will never be questioned for the simple reason that we have word of honor and we always say the truth.

Many of us do not value anymore word of honor. Lying or to tell lies is just ordinary thing for many of us. We are not anymore bothered about its negative impact on our reputation. And the harm that it can create to our fellowmen and women, this is who some of us are today.  

To have integrity and word of honor is something that we have to imbibe and live. We have to discard any form of lying and manipulation. Because a person who is a congenital liar is a secret follower of Satan the king of lies and master manipulator.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 13, Sabado; San Antonio de Padua, pari at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Mateo 5:33-37

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:33-37

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang nga alagad, 33 Narinig na rin ninyo na sinabi sa inyong mga ninuno: Huwag kang sisira sa iyong sinumpaan. Tuparin mo ang sinumpaang pangako sa Pangi­noon. 34 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: huwag kayong manumpa sa ngalan ng Langit pagkat naroon ang trono ng Diyos, 35 ni sa ngalan ng lupa pagkat ito ang tuntungan ng kanyang mga paa, ni sa ngalan ng Jerusalem pagkat ito ang lunsod ng Dakilang Hari.

36 Huwag kang manumpa ni sa ngalan ng iyong ulo pagkat ni hindi mo kayang paputiin o paitimin ni isang hibla ng iyong buhok. 37 Sabihin mong oo kung oo at hindi kung hindi. Ano pa mang sasabihin mo’y sa demonyo na galing.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon. 

1Reflection for June 12, Friday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a husband who got involved in an adulterous relationship. Eventually the husband was caught. So, the wife asked him why did  he do it? The husband simply, “I don’t know.” This is the culture nowadays; the sacredness of marriage is not anymore being respected by married couples. Adultery and divorce are always a tempting despicable avenue for them.

Why do couples succumb to the temptation of satan? For the simple reason that they don’t value their faith in Jesus anymore. Yes, they worship Jesus at church for Holy Mass but they purposely leave Jesus inside the four walls of the church after Holy Mass. 

They don’t bring Jesus along with them and they don’t allow Jesus to live in their hearts.  If they live the teachings of Jesus they would be afraid to even think of doing such evil. Much less commit and plunge their very selves into it.

But all is not lost yet, there is still hope and He is no other than Jesus. Let us bring Jesus with us, let us live His teachings and let us make Him our armor. So that we can easily protect ourselves from the scheming of the devil who always seeks to destroy the sanctity of the Marriage Covenant. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 12, Biyernes; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 5:27-32

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:27-32

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang nga alagad, 27 Narinig na ninyo na sinabing: Huwag kang makiapid. 28 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: ang sinumang tumingin nang may pagnanasa sa isang babae ay nakiapid na rin sa kanyang puso.

29 Kaya kung ang iyong kanang mata ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasa­lanan, alisin mo ito at itapon! Makabu­buti pa sa iyo na mawalan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno. 30 Kung ang iyong kanang kamay naman ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasalanan, putulin mo ito at ita­pon! Mas makabubuti sa iyo ang mawa­lan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno.

• 31 Sinabi rin namang: Kung may ma­kikipagdiborsiyo sa kanyang maybahay, bigyan niya ito ng katibayan. 32 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa iyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang maybahay sa ibang dahilan maliban sa kawalang-katapatan, pinapakiapid niya ito. At naki­kiapid din ang nagpapakasal sa babaeng diborsiyada.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 11, Thursday; Memorial of Saint Barnabas, apostle and martyr: Matthew 10:7-13

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-13

(Jesus said to the twelve disciples) As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. 

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who can’t seem to dispose the old things in her house. According to her she will not dispose anything because each one has a sentimental value. After two years her house was already full of clutter and dirt brought about by the many unnecessary things that she owned. Don’t we also love to own unnecessary things that only complicate and add clutter to our life?

Simple life equals simple problems, complicated life equals complicated problems. Do we live simple lives?

Jesus is an advocate of simple living no doubt about it. This is proven in our gospel today when He told the twelve apostles as they were to be commissioned: “Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick.” (Matthew 10:9-10)

The best way to live our life is to live it simply. And as we go ahead with our simple living we would also notice that there’s less pressure and stress on us there are also less human created problems. 

Yet not all of us are aware that many of the problems that we face now are created by our complicated lifestyles. The life that we have right now is our personal choice if we are living a problematic life it is certainly brought about by our complicated lifestyle.

Let us be like Jesus who lived the simple and uncomplicated life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 11, Huwebes; San Barnabas, apostol at martir: Mateo 10:7-13

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-13

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa in­yong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaha­rian ng Langit.’ 8 Pagalingin ang maysakit, buhayin ang patay, linisin ang mga may­ketong at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Tinanggap ninyo ito nang walang bayad kaya ibigay rin ninyo nang walang bayad. 9 Hu­wag magdala ng ginto, pilak o pera sa inyong mga bulsa. 10 Huwag magdala ng balutan o sobrang damit o sandal­yas o tungkod, sapagkat may kara­patan ang mang­gagawa sa kanyang ikabubuhay.

11 Pagdating ninyo sa isang bayan o baryo, maghanap ng isang taong karapat-dapat at makituloy sa kanya hanggang sa inyong pag-alis. 12 Pagpasok ninyo sa isang tahanan, dasalan ito ng kapayapaan. 13 Kung kara­pat-dapat ang sambahayang ito, sasa­kanila ang kapayapaang dinasal ninyo; kung hindi naman karapat-dapat, babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 10, Wednesday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

Do we obey, teach and live the laws of the Lord?

Jesus in our gospel for today speaks about Himself as the fulfillment of the law. In effect Jesus was telling the disciples I am now the fulfilment of those commandments from the Old Testament.

For example, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) which God gave to Moses in the mountain of Sinai. Jesus summarized these ten to become the two greatest commandments which states: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).”

Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments thus it became the two greatest commandments of love. Indeed, if we really have Jesus in our lives there would be no room for hatred, condemnation, self-righteousness, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

What would remain in our hearts is love for love is the advocacy and language of Jesus. Jesus love for us is so unlike the love that we have. This is for the reason that Jesus’ love is not a selective kind of love but love for everyone of us no matter who we are. 

This is therefore the exercise of love that we have to emulate: To love everyone no matter how they loved us and no matter the sins that they’ve committed against us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 10, Miyerkules; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: 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 June 9, Tuesday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young doctor who topped the board exam. Being a board topnotcher  he was offered by a multinational pharmaceutical company to work for them. She was presented with a big signing bonus, offered a huge salary and to top it all was also offered further studies abroad. Yet she refused the very attractive financial windfall and benefits.

When asked why? Her simple but very meaningful reply was this: I intend to go back to my home province and make a big positive difference in the lives of my poor province mates where I also belong once upon a time.

Jesus in our gospel tells us: You are the salt of the earth and you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14). What does it mean to become salt and light of this world? It simply means that we need to live a meaningful life in this world! A life that is not lived for oneself alone but a life to be lived for others most especially the poor.

Often times we get so fixated on ourselves. We have this me first mentality everything that we do is for ourselves first. Then when the time comes that we are able to achieve our objectives and goals. We think now of giving back to our community, church and the poor.

When Jesus said that you are the salt and light of this world. He did not say fullfil first your dreams to be successful and rich. And then you think now of giving back to your community, church and the poor.

We need to become salt and light for others not tomorrow and certainly not in the future. We need to become salt and light in the lives of others today, during this very moment. Why? Because many are going hungry caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 9, Martes; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 5:13-16

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:13-16

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 13 Kayo ang asin ng mundo. Ngunit kung mawalan ng lasa ang asin, paano pa ito mapaaalat na muli? Wala na itong silbi. Itatapon na lamang at tatapakan ng mga tao.

14 Kayo ang ilaw ng mundo. Hindi maitatago ang lunsod na itinayo sa tuktok ng bundok. 15 Hindi rin sinisindihan ang ilaw para takpan ng kahon,  sa halip ay ini¬lalagay ito sa isang lampara at tu¬matanglaw sa lahat ng nasa bahay. 16 Ga¬yundin naman ang inyong liwanag sa paningin ng mga tao; at makikita nila ang inyong mabubuting gawain at pupurihin nila ang inyong Amang nasa langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 8, Monday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

                                                           

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.

Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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Reflection:

A man thought that he could find his happiness in this world so he went after the things of this world. Only to find out later that worldly happiness was not the key to real happiness.

Jesus in our gospel gives us the eight Beatitudes, what is the meaning of beatitude? It means happiness, not according to the definition of this world. But happiness according to the interpretation of Jesus.

How do we interpret happiness? Do we interpret it according to the standards of this world? For example, many of us have this mindset of finding happiness in the accumulation of money, power and having everything that this world can offer. But these are not the key to real happiness.

Let us seek our happiness and fulfilment in Jesus and according to the eight beatitudes which He gave us and we will surely find it. For Jesus has not refused anyone who seek to find his/her happiness in Him and His teachings.  

Let us try to reflect on these pronouncements of Jesus about the beatitudes. For in Jesus and His beatitudes we will find real happiness. Where does our happiness lies right now?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 8, Lunes; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 5:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:1-12

1 Nang makita ni Jesus ang makapal na tao, umahon siya sa bundok. Naupo siya roon at lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga alagad. 2 At nag­simula siyang magturo sa kanila:

3 “Mapapalad ang mga may diwa ng dukha sapagkat sa kanila ang Kaha­rian ng Langit.

4 Mapapalad ang mga nagluluksa sapagkat pagiginhawahin sila.

5 Mapapalad ang mga di-marahas sa­pagkat mapapasakanila ang lupain.

6 Mapapalad ang mga nagugutom at nauuhaw sa katarungan sapagkat bubu­sugin sila.

7 Mapapalad ang mga maawain sapagkat kaaawaan sila.

8 Mapapalad ang mga may busilak na puso sapagkat makikita nila ang Diyos.

9 Mapapalad ang mga nagpupun­yagi para sa kapayapaan sapagkat tatawagin silang mga anak ng Diyos.

10 Mapapalad ang mga pinag-uusig dahil sa katarungan sapagkat kanila ang Kaharian ng Langit.

11 Mapapalad kayo kung iniinsulto kayo at pinag-uusig at sinisiraang-puri dahil sa akin. 12 Magsaya kayo at maga­lak sa­pagkat malaki ang gantim­palang nasa Diyos para sa inyo. Ganito rin pinag-usig ang mga propetang nauna sa inyo.

 Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday June 7, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: John 3:16-18

Gospel: John 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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Reflection:

Can we fathom the mystery of the Blessed Trinity? No we cannot it is beyond our human understanding to comprehend the mystery of the three persons in one God.

As we journey with our Catholic faith we will be introduced to mysterious dogmas/doctrines such as the Blessed Trinity. No matter how hard we try to understand it we will not be able to understand it. We simply have to believe it and this is part of the mystery of our catholic faith. That’s why for us to further grow in our catholic faith we must always journey with our faith and not with our sight.

The Blessed Trinity is the mysterious fusion of God the Father, the creator (Genesis 1:31-2:4), God the Son that is Jesus (Luke 3:22) and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). What is the binding agent that mysteriously put together these three persons to become one God? It’s their selfless love for each other. The Holy Trinity is also the best model of humility for the reason that there’s no ego amongst them, this is primarily the reason why they were able to fuse and love flawlessly.

The challenge before us is this: We must exercise love towards our fellowmen as the Three Divine Persons in one God exercised love for us and amongst themselves. We must be humble and loving as the Three Divine persons in one God are humble and loving. Do we love as the Holy Trinity exercised love? Do we have humility like the humility of the Holy Trinity?

The gospel talks about the love of God for all of humanity. God sent His only begotten Son to save humanity in exchange for what? God asks us nothing in exchange except that we believe in His beloved Son Jesus. And the moment we believe in Jesus we are already saved. This is another mystery of our Catholic faith that we have to embrace with faith.

Why are we already saved the moment we believe in the Lord? Because the beginning of our salvation starts also when we begin to believe in Jesus. Do we believe in Jesus and do we accept Him as our Lord and Savior? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 7, Banal na Santatlo (Dakilang Kapistahan) Juan 3:16-18

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:16-18

Sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo 16 Ganito nga kamahal ng Diyos ang mundo! Kayat ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak upang hindi na ma­wala ang bawat nananalig sa kanya kundi magkaroon ng buhay magpa­kailanman.

17 Hindi nga sinugo ng Diyos sa mundo ang Anak upang hukuman ang mundo kundi upang maligtas ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya. 18 Hindi hinuhukuman ang nananalig sa kanya. Ngunit hinu-kuman na ang hindi nana­nalig pagkat hindi siya nananalig sa Ngalan ng bugtong na Anak ng Diyos.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.