Reflection for June 27, Saturday; Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:5-17

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour his servant was healed. Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him.

When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet:

He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

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Reflection:

What is with the roman centurion that we often-times do not have?

 Its faith and humility, very profound faith and humility. The centurion/soldier is the personification of deep faith. He simply believed that Jesus would grant what he wished for and because of his deep faith Jesus healed his servant.

The centurion is also humble enough to beg the Lord for healing for his servant. He personally went to Jesus to ask Him to cure his servant. The Centurion could have simply sent an emissary to Jesus and let his emissary do everything for him. But he did not, in spite of his status as a ranking soldier he still humbled himself before Jesus.  

This is oftentimes what we lack, we don’t have deep faith and we are lacking in humility before the Lord. What if we would have faith if we would be humble before the Lord? He would surely grant us what we want from Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 27, Sabado; Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 8:5-17

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:5-17

5 Pagdating ni Jesus sa Caper­naum lumapit sa kanya ang isang kapitan at nakiusap sa kanya: 6 “Ginoo, nakahiga sa bahay ang aking katulong. Lumpo siya at sobra na ang paghihirap…” 7 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Paroroon ako at paga­galingin ko siya.”

8 Sumagot ang kapitan: “Hindi ako karapat-dapat para tumuloy ka sa bahay ko. Mag-utos ka lang at gagaling na ang aking katulong. 9 May nag-uutos sa akin at may inuutusan din ako, at pag sinabi ko sa isa sa mga kawal na nasa ilalim ko: ‘Pumaroon ka,’ pumaparoon siya. At sinasabi ko naman sa isa pa: ‘Pumarito ka,’ at pumaparito siya; at sa aking katulong: ‘Gawin mo ito,’ at ginagawa niya ito.”

10 Nang marinig ito ni Jesus, humanga siya at sinabi sa mga sumu­sunod sa kanya: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo, wala pa akong natagpuang ganitong paniniwala sa Israel. 11 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: marami ang darating mula sa silangan at sa kanluran para makisalo kina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob sa kaha­rian ng Langit. 12 At itatapon naman sa kadiliman ang mga taga­pag­mana ng Kaha­rian; at doon ang iyakan at pag­nga­ngalit ng mga ngipin.”

13 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kapitan: “Umuwi ka at mangyayari ang pina­niniwalaan mo.” At gumaling ang katulong sa oras ding iyon. 14 Pagpasok naman ni Jesus sa bahay ni Pedro, nakita niya ang biyenan ni Pedro na may lagnat at naka­higa. 15 Hinawakan niya ito sa kamay at nawala ang lagnat nito. Kaya bumangon ito at nagsimulang mag­lingkod sa kanya.

16 Pagkalubog ng araw, dinala nila kay Jesus ang mga taong inaalihan ng masasamang espiritu, at sa isang salita lamang ay napalayas niya ang mga ito. Pinagaling din niya ang mga maysakit. 17 Sa ganitong paraan natupad ang sinabi ni Propeta Isaias: Kinuha niya ang ating mga sakit at pinasan ang ating mga karamdaman.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 26, Friday; Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:1-4

Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean. He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean. His leprosy was cleansed immediately. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

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Reflection:

Who is this leaper who courageously approached Jesus to beg for His healing? We don’t know but one thing is certain the leper is a believer of Jesus. He must have heard about the healing prowess of Jesus. He must have been longing for an opportunity to interact with Jesus for him to be healed also. That’s why when the opportunity presented itself he took advantage of it by approaching Jesus.

Have we also heard about the miracles that Jesus is capable of doing in our life? What would we do now if we heard about it? Should we remain static and do nothing or we become dynamic by hungering and thirsting for Jesus?

The leper even if he was considered as an outcast had that dynamic attitude for he went to see Jesus. He did not allow his dreaded sickness to prevent him from having that personal encounter with his savior and healer.

Do we also want to be healed from our sickness? Whatever our sickness may be let us humbly ask the Lord to heal us. For He would never refuse anyone who sincerely ask for his healing. He will never refuse anyone who would humbly approach Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 26, Biyernes; Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 8:1-4

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:1-4

1 Pagkababa ni Jesus mula sa bundok, maraming tao ang su­mu­­­nod sa kanya. 2 Lumapit sa kanya ang isang may ketong, at paluhod na nagsabi: “Ginoo, kung gusto mo, mapalilinis mo ako.”  3 Iniunat ni Jesus ang kanyang kamay, hinipo siya at sinabi: “Gusto ko, luminis ka!” Nang oras ding iyo’y gumaling ang lalaki sa kanyang ketong. 4 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya: “Mag-ingat ka, huwag mong sasabihin ito kanino man, kundi pumunta ka sa pari para suriin ka niya at ialay ang handog na iniutos ni Moises upang magkaroon sila ng pa­tunay.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 25, Thursday; Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:21-29

Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

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Reflection:

"I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mahatma Gandhi.

It was said that Gandhi was being encouraged to embrace the Christian faith when he said this famous quotation. He admired Christ deeply but he did not admire what he saw on the followers of Jesus, that includes us.

Maybe, Gandhi saw these Christians who only pay lip service to their faith, who are only active on worship but deficient in living their faith. James 2:17 says: “faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

In the gospel Jesus told his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).”

Some of us are active in our church worship we are always there every Sunday for Holy Mass, some are there daily to worship God. But the irony of it all is many of us choose to leave in the church what we hear and learn from it. We don’t bring it home so that we can breathe and practice it.

The will of God is for us to practice and live our relationship with Him through our fellowmen and women specially those who are in need. What is the use of our worship for Jesus if we don’t live it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 25, Huwebes; Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 7:21-29

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 7:21-29

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 21 Hindi lahat ng nagsasabi sa akin ng ‘Panginoon! Panginoon!’ ay papasok sa kaharian ng Langit kundi ang nagsa­sagawa sa kalooban ng Diyos ang siyang papasok sa kaharian ng Langit. 22 Sa araw na iyon, marami ang magsasabing: ‘Pangi­noon, Panginoon, hindi ba kami nagsalita sa ngalan mo? Hindi ba nagpa­layas kami ng mga demonyo at gumawa ng mga himala sa ngalan mo?’ 23 Ngunit sasabihin ko sa kanila nang walang paliguy-ligoy: ‘Hinding-hindi ko kayo kilala; lumayo sa akin kayong mga gumagawa ng masama.’

24 Kaya kung may nakikinig sa mga salita ko at sumusunod dito, matutulad siya sa isang matalinong nagtayo ng bahay sa batuhan. 25 Bumagyo at bumaha ang ilog at humangin nang malakas, ngunit hindi nagiba ang bahay sapagkat itinayo ito sa batuhan. 26 At ang sinumang nakakarinig sa aking mga salita at hindi nagsasagawa nito, matutulad siya sa isang hangal na nag­tayo ng bahay sa buhangin. 27 Bu­mag­yo at bumaha ang ilog at huma­ngin nang malakas, at bumagsak ang bahay at kay laking kapahamakan!

28 Nang matapos si Jesus sa mga pananalitang ito, nagulat ang mga  tao sa kanyang pangangaral 29 sapagkat na­ngaral siya nang may kapangyari­han, hindi gaya ng kanilang mga guro ng Batas.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 24, Wednesday; Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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Reflection:

What’s in a name? It seems that the name of the child of Elizabeth and Zechariah has a big bearing on their future. Was the issue confined in the name only of the child or there was something bigger than the name? The relatives wanted to name the child after his father Zechariah but it was not what God wanted them to name the child.

The Lord wanted to name the child John that’s why Elizabeth and Zechariah insisted that the child be named John. And when they named him John Zechariah was freed from his speech disability. His mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. This took place for the reason that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were faithful to what God wanted them to do.

Faithfulness to God as evidenced with what happened to Zechariah gives us unfathomable blessings. It opens our lives to the abundant graces from God, it makes us whole and it heals us.

What does God ask from us? It’s for us to be faithful to HIS will for us. And what is HIS will for us? It’s for us to live our lives pleasing to HIS eyes alone. The moment we contradict God and we try to live our lives for this temporal world we can expect chaos and complications to follow us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 24, Miyerkules; Pagsilang ni San Juan Bautista: Lucas 1:57-66, 80

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 1:57-66, 80

56 Mga tatlong buwang nanatili si Ma­riang ka­sa­ma ni Elizabeth at saka nagbalik sa kanyang bahay.  57 Nang sumapit na ang panga­­nga­nak ni Elizabeth, isang anak na lalaki ang isinilang niya. 58 Na­rinig ng mga kapit­bahay at mga ka­mag-anakan niya kung gaano nagdalang-awa sa kanya ang Pa­nginoon kayat nakigalak sila sa kanya.

59 Nang ikawalong araw na, duma­­ting sila pa­ra tuliin ang sanggol at pa­nga­­­nga­lanan sana nila itong Zacarias gaya ng kanyang ama. 60 Su­magot naman ang kanyang ina: “Hindi, tatawagin siyang Juan.” 61 Pero sinabi nila sa kanya: “Wala ka na­mang ka­mag-anak na may ganyang pangalan.” 62 Kaya sumenyas sila sa ama ng sang­­gol kung ano ang gusto niyang itawag dito. 63 Humingi siya ng isang sulatan, at sa pagtataka ng lahat ay kanyang isinulat: “Juan ang pangalan niya.” 64 Noon di’y nabuksan ang kanyang bibig at nakalag ang kanyang dila. Na­ka­pagsa­lita siya at nagpuri sa Diyos.

65 Kaya namayani ang banal na pag­katakot sa kanilang mga kapitbahay. At naging usap-usapan ang lahat ng pang­ya­­yaring ito sa buong mataas na lupain ng Juda. 66 Nag-isip-isip ang mga nakarinig at nagtanungan: “Ano na kaya ang mang­yayari sa sanggol na ito?” Dahil suma­sa­kanya ngang talaga ang kamay ng Panginoon.

80 Habang lumalaki ang bata, pinatatag siya ng espiritu. Nanirahan siya sa dis¬yerto hanggang sa araw ng kanyang pagkakahayag sa Israel.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 23, Tuesday; Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces."Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was advised by his mother to stop going out with his friends that only brought troubles and problems into his life. He adamantly defended his friends and he continued with his friendship with his troublesome, drunkards and drug user friends. He continued this until they met an accident which resulted in him being paralyzed.

In the gospel Jesus tells us to enter the narrow gate. What is this narrow gate? The narrow gate is the doorway to righteousness and the doorway to be friends with Jesus. The narrow gate is the well-meaning advices of our relatives and friends which we don’t follow.

We often times refuse to enter this narrow gate because it initially curtails our earthly happiness and desires. We prefer to enter the wide gate because it gives us liberty to follow our earthly desires which only leads us to sin even destruction.

When we decide to go through the narrow gate there surely would be some discomfort for the simple reason that we are not used to it. For example, from a hedonistic life we now decide to turn a new leaf and begin to live a clean life with Jesus. 

We surely would go through some humps and bumps however it’s just temporary. Sooner we will find out that the narrow gate that leads to Jesus will give us true serenity, happiness and peace.

Let us prefer the narrow gate that leads to Jesus no matter how hard and difficult it may seem. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 23, Martes; Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 7:6, 12-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 7:6, 12-14

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Huwag ibigay ang banal sa mga aso o itapon ang inyong perlas sa mga baboy, at baka yapakan nila ito at balikan kayo at lapain.

12 Kaya gawin ninyo sa iba ang gusto ninyong gawin sa inyo, ito ang nasa Batas at Mga Propeta.

13 Pumasok sa makipot na pinto sapagkat malapad ang pintuan at malawak ang daan papunta sa kapariwaraan, at marami ang pumapasok doon. 14 Napa­­kakipot naman ang pintong papunta sa buhay at mabalakid ang daan at kakaunti ang mga naka­ka­tagpo rito.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 22, Monday; Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:1-5

Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye, while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

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Reflection:

What can we get by judging others? Nothing except the accumulation of hatred in our heart which if not corrected could even cause us sickness even death. What if we will not judge or if we are not quick to judge? There would be no hatred within us! As such we are free, we would look younger and sickness will not be our best friend.

We may not know this but we are quick to judge others for the simple reason that we have a very high regard of ourselves. And this is brought about by our feeling of superiority towards others. But why do we feel superior towards others when we are all created by God as equals,  where does this superiority feeling emanates? We have this feeling of superiority because God is not a permanent dweller in our hearts.

There’s a story of a woman who was a regular fixture in church organization. But she was not well liked because she was so judgmental, has a high regard of herself and self-righteous. Are we not sometimes also judgmental, has a high regard of ourselves and self-righteous?

In our gospel for this Monday we hear Jesus telling us to stop judging. Why? This is for the reason that when we judge we already distance ourselves from the person that we judge. We already create a wall that may permanently separate us from that person. If this is so, how can we convert them? How can could they feel the love of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 22, Lunes; Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 7:1-5

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 7:1-5

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 1 Huwag humatol at hindi kayo hahatulan. 2 Kung paano kayo humatol sa inyong kapwa, gayon din kayo hahatulan, at susukatin kayo sa sukatang ginamit ninyo. 3 Bakit mo tini­tingnan ang puwing sa mata ng iyong kapatid? At di mo pansin ang troso sa iyong mata. 4 Paano mo masasabi sa iyong kapatid: ‘Halika, at aalisin ko ang puwing sa iyong mata,’ kung may troso naman sa iyong mata? 5 Mapag­kunwari! alisin mo muna ang troso sa iyong mata, at saka mo makikita kung paano aalisin ang puwing sa mata ng iyong kapatid.

  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday June 21, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:26-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

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Reflection:

Jesus told the apostles as He sends them off to spread the gospel: ““Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:26-28)

This call of Jesus to not be afraid is very timely for us today because many of us are so afraid of getting sick of Covid-19. But why be afraid if Jesus is with us? We have nothing to fear if the Lord is with us we simply have to be careful and we leave everything to Jesus.

It’s so easy to say that we are followers of Jesus but it’s another story when we are called to witness for the Lord no matter what it may cost us. Why? Because our witness for the Lord often times have limitations. We witness for the Lord when it’s comfortable for us to do so. Or when it favors us but when it’s not comfortable and it doesn’t favor us we hide to secure ourselves.  

True followers would find courage to conquer their fears. And this courage they would only find if they have a strong and personal relationship with the Lord. We are therefore called to continue our witness for the Lord in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic. Not to continue carelessly but to continue in a calculated and careful manner.

The enemy is unseen, powerful and can kill us anytime. Believe it not,  this Covid-19 pandemic is obviously an instrument of satan to sow fear within us and to make us afraid to live and share the gospel. But we will forge on because the Lord is telling us not to be afraid.    

Majority of the apostles were the perfect witness for Christ, they feared no one they followed Him championing His teachings until their very last gasp of breath. The Martyrs of the church did the same they shed their blood for the mission of Jesus. They spoke the truth, they were not afraid to die for their love of Jesus and His mission.

This is also the clarion call for us let us not be afraid to continue creatively sharing the gospel of the Lord using social media. Let us conquer our fear of this Covid-19 pandemic and continue to live our faith for the Lord is always with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 21, Ika-12 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:26-33

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:26-33

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 26 Walang tinatakpan na di nabubun­yag at walang natatago na di naha­ha­yag. 27 Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim, ipa­hayag ninyo sa liwanag. Ang narinig ninyo nang pabulong, ipahayag mula sa bubong.

• 28 Huwag matakot sa mga naka­papatay ng katawan ngunit hindi ng kalu­luwa. Matakot kayo sa may ka­pang­yarihang sumira ng kaluluwa pati ng katawan sa impiyerno. 29 Nabi­bili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera, pero wala isa mang buma­bag­sak sa lupa na hindi niloloob ng Ama. 30 At kayo, bilang na pati buhok sa inyong ulo. 31 Kaya huwag ka­yong matakot: mas mahalaga kayo kaysa mga maya.

• 32 Ang sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko sa harap ng aking Ama sa Langit. 33 At ang ayaw kumilala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao ay hindi ko rin kikilalanin sa harap ng aking Ama sa Langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.