Reflection for July 6, Monday; Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do we have prayer request for Jesus? Let us not worry for as long as we have faith our prayer will be realized. Why is it that we don’t usually get what we wish for from Jesus? Because we doubt,  and we don’t work for what we want from HIM.

Some of us would pray but there’s no conviction in our prayers we just pray for the sake of praying. The most powerful prayer is when we pray with conviction and we pray without any sign of doubt in our hearts. And the moment we pray without any doubts we could expect something in return from Jesus for Jesus is a gracious and merciful God.

We have two stories of prayers with actions and faith in our gospel. Both the man and the woman had prayer request before Jesus and both of them were granted by Jesus for it was prayers with faith and actions.

Let us therefore always go to Jesus, in good times and in bad, even if we are not in need of HIM let us still go to HIM. This is for the reason that the more we get in touch with Jesus the more that our friendship and faith in HIM is strengthened.

How are we going to be friends with Jesus? We regularly read HIS life story in the Bible, we ensure our regular presence at Holy Mass and we regularly visit HIM in the Adoration chapel.  But because of the Covid-19 pandemic many of us are not able to be present at Holy Mass. So what are we going to do? We ensure that we are able to attend online Holy Mass.

Are we taking action to deepen our friendship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 6, Lunes; Ika-14 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 9:18-26

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:18-26

18 Habang nagsasalita si Jesus sa kanila, lumapit sa kanya ang isang pangulo ng sinagoga at paluhod na sinabi: “Kamamatay nga lamang ng aking anak na babae, pero halika at ipatong ang iyong mga kamay at siya’y mabubuhay.” 19 Kaya tumayo si Jesus at sumama sa kan­ya, pati na ang kanyang mga alagad.

20 Nilapitan naman siya mula sa likuran ng isang babaeng labindalawang taon nang dinudugo, at hinipo nito ang layla­yan ng damit ni Jesus. 21 Sapagkat naisip niya: “Kung mahi­hipo ko lamang ang lay­la­yan ng kan­yang damit, gagaling na ako.” 22 Lumi­ngon naman si Jesus, nakita niya siya at sinabi: “Lakasan mo ang iyong loob, anak ko, pinagaling ka ng iyong pananalig.” At gumaling ang babae sa sandaling iyon.

23 Pagdating ni Jesus sa bahay ng pangulo, nakita niya ang mga tumutugtog ng plauta at ang maraming taong nagkakaingay. 24 At sinabi niya: “Umalis kayo! Hindi patay ang dala­gita kundi tulog.” Pinagtawanan nila siya. 25 Ngunit pagkaalis ng mga tao, puma­sok siya, hina­wakan ang bata sa kamay at buma­ngon ito. 26 Luma­ganap ang balitang ito sa buong lupa­ing iyon.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday July 5, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:25-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

What is the key to the heart of Jesus? Its humility, this means that we trust Jesus like children trust their parents and we surrender to HIM our everything including our life. Humility is the gateway to the heart of Jesus that is rarely discovered by the wise and the learned.

Some wise and learned people have the tendency to trust more on themselves rather than trust Jesus. They do things without asking for the guidance of the Lord. Because they think that what they know and have is more than enough for them to achieve what they want in this world.

However, life without God is empty and barren. We may have all the riches, power and knowledge in this world but if we don’t have God and if we don’t trust God, it amounts to nothing. If we don’t have God we are mere irrelevant specks in this world no matter how rich, learned and powerful we are.   

Many learned, powerful and rich individuals ended up with nothing because they did not have Jesus in their lives. They even ended up being detested because they leaned on themselves rather than God. They used their power, wealth and influence to advance themselves and not God. They allowed their wealth and self-serving wisdom to pull them away from God, they trusted more on themselves rather than God. 

The call for us is to humble ourselves before God and to go near Him. To trust God rather than trust on anything that we have and to find rest in God rather than find rest in this fleeting world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hulyo 5, Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 11:25-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:25-30

25 Nagsalita si Jesus sa pagkaka­taong iyon: “Pinu­puri kita Amang Panginoon ng Langit at lupa, sapag­kat itinago mo ang mga bagay na ito sa matatalino at marurunong, at ipinamulat mo naman sa mga karaniwang tao. 26 Oo, Ama, ito ang ikinasiya mo. 27 Ipinagkatiwala sa akin ng aking Ama ang la­hat. Walang nakakakilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama, at wa­lang nakakakilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at ang sinu­mang gustuhing pagbun­yagan ng Anak.

28 Lumapit sa akin, lahat kayong nahi­hirapan at may pinapasan, at pagi­gin­hawahin ko kayo. 29 Kunin ninyo ang aking pamatok at matuto sa akin, akong mahinahon at ma­babang-loob, at maka­ka­tagpo kayo ng ginhawa para sa inyong kaluluwa. 30 Sapagkat mahu­say ang aking pamatok at magaan ang aking pasanin.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for July 4, Saturday; Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

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. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What happens when we give our life to Jesus, when we begin to fully trust HIM and leave behind our sinful past? We are introduced to a new life environment with Jesus where everything is new and spotless.

What is this new life with Jesus all about? This is a new life totally free from our dark past. Yes we all have our own share of dark past that nobody knows except us. We must never look back to this dark past otherwise we may be tempted to mire our lives with the enticement of the devil once again. And this is very dangerous for it could completely destroy us.

What will make us permanently free from the temptations of the devil? We must always be connected with Jesus in every second of our lives for this is the only way that we could prevent the devil from destroying us. Just look around, temptations disguised as beautiful things are everywhere tempting us.

Let us never allow satan to get hold of us once again, let us remember that Jesus saved us already. We are now the new wine that has already been poured into the fresh wineskin no other than Jesus Himself. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 4, Sabado; Ika-13 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 9:14-17

Mabuting Balita: Matthew 9:14-17

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.

16 Walang magtatagpi ng bagong pirasong tela sa lumang balabal sapagkat uurong ang tagpi at lalo pang lalaki ang punit. 17 At hindi ka rin naman maglalagay ng bagong alak sa mga lumang sisidlan. Kung gagawin mo ito, puputok ang mga sisidlan at matatapon ang alak at masisira rin ang mga sisidlan. Sa bagong sisidlan dapat ilagay ang bagong alak; sa gayo’y pareho silang tatagal.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 3, Friday; Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle: John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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Reflection:

Do we sometimes need an affirmation of our faith in Jesus? That is perfectly OK because it show signs of our growing faith. If we want our faith in Jesus to be affirmed we simply have to be sensitive to the movement of Jesus in our life.

For example, the new life that is given to us every morning. It’s not a routinary  flow of life that we wake up every morning. It’s Jesus giving us a new life every morning! If we are sensitive to the movement of Jesus in our life we would discover that the dawning of a new day that we experience every morning is a miracle from Jesus.

Thomas needed an affirmation of his faith from his Lord and Master (John 20:25). He wanted to see first the wounds of Jesus before he believes. He wanted to touch it and put his finger into the very wounds of Jesus before he believes that Jesus has resurrected (John 20:25).  

Are we not like Thomas too? We often times want our faith in Jesus to be affirmed by His signs? Jesus has been giving us signs that He moves in our life everyday, we simply have to be sensitive and thankful for these signs. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 3, Biyernes; Santo Tomas, apostol (kapistahan): Juan 20:24-29

Mabuting Balita: Juan 20:24-29

24 Hindi nila kasama si Tomas na tina­guriang Kambal, na isa sa Labin­dalawa, nang du­mating si Jesus. 25 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ng iba pang mga alagad: “Nakita namin ang Pangi­noon!” Sinabi naman niya: “Maliban lamang na ma­kita sa kanyang mga kamay ang tatak ng mga pako at maipasok ang aking daliri sa pinag­lagusan ng mga pako at maipasok ang aking kamay sa tagiliran niya, hinding-hindi ako mani­niwala!”

26 Makaraan ang walong araw, mu­ling nasa loob ang kanyang mga ala­gad at kasa­ma nila si Tomas. Dumating si Jesus ha­bang nakasara ang mga pinto at puma­gitna. At sinabi niya: “Kapa­yapaan sa inyo!” 27 At sinabi niya kay Tomas: “Ilapit mo rito ang daliri mo at tingnan ang aking mga kamay. At ilapit ang kamay mo at ipasok sa aking tagiliran at huwag tumangging maniwala kundi ma­niwala!”

28 Sumagot si Tomas sa kanya: “Pangi­noon ko at Diyos ko – ikaw!” 29 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Dahil ba sa nakita mo ako kaya ka naniniwala? Mapapalad ang mga hindi nakakita at naniniwala.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 2, Thursday; Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, :Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"–he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Who brought the paralytic to Jesus?

Nobody knows because their names were not mentioned by Jesus in the gospel. Jesus knew that those who brought the paralytic to Him were very humble and not very concerned with the credit that they would receive. It was enough for them that they’ve helped this paralytic go to Jesus.

 After they were through with their mission to bring the paralytic to Jesus they simply blended away with the multitude of people. Not concerned of their good deed and not concerned of the accolade that they could receive.

How many of us are like those who brought the paralytic to Jesus? They were very humble, very selfless not concerned of the credit and publicity that is rightly due them. 

In our world today where we can easily publicize via social media every good deed that we do. The gospel is teaching us be silent when we do good for the simple reason that every acts of goodness that we do in secrecy and silence is appreciated more by the Lord.

 Let us therefore help without any expectation of something in return. Let us help without trumpeting the good deeds that we do because God is more pleased by this kind of attitude. And certainly God rewards more those who help and those who do good in silence and secrecy.

What is our mentality when we help?– Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 2, Huwebes; Ika-13 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 9:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:1-8

1 Muling sumakay sa bangka si Jesus, tumawid sa lawa at bu­malik sa sariling bayan. 2 Dinala sa kanya roon ang isang paralitikong nakahiga sa papag. Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Lakasan mo ang iyong loob, anak! Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan.”

3 Noo’y inisip ng ilang guro ng Batas: “Iniinsulto ng taong ito ang Diyos.” 4 Alam ni Jesus ang kanilang mga niloloob, at sinabi niya: “Bakit kayo nag-iisip ng masama? 5 Ano ba ang mas madaling sabihin: ‘Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan’ o ‘Tumayo ka at lumakad’? 6 Dapat n’yong mala­man na may kapang­yarihan sa lupa ang Anak ng Tao na mag­pa­tawad ng kasalanan.” At sinabi niya sa parali­tiko: “Buma­ngon ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at umuwi.” 7 At buma­ngon ang tao at umuwi. 8 Nang makita naman ito ng mga tao, napuno sila ng pagkamangha at nagpuri sa Diyos sa pagbibigay ng gayong kapangyarihan sa mga tao.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 1, Wednesday; Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:28-34

Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who believed in that satan can defeat God. Her belief in satan slowly but surely eroded her belief in God. After a period of time this woman was eventually possessed by satan.

Do we believe that satan can defeat God also? Better that we not believe because the moment we believe we somehow allow the power of satan to slowly seep into our life. Satan begins to become a reality in our life the moment we begin to believe in its power to defeat God.

In our gospel we read about the power of Jesus over demons they were actually no match to Jesus because they cowered before the Lord’s presence. What does this tell us? It tells us that Jesus is the supreme power.

Evil exist within us because we allow it to exist; we give it freedom to dwell in us. How does this transpire? This transpire when we commit sin even if we know that what we are doing is sinful.

Thus, we give freedom for satan to have an influence in our life. As it stays with us it also slowly but surely controls our minds that we start to begin of thinking of evil things also.

But all is not lost yet, If we know and have faith in Jesus and if we start to take Him and His teachings seriously. Satan will run away from us, evil or anything that is evil will have no place anymore in our value system and in our life.

Why? For the simple reason that Jesus is the supreme power. And when we are always connected with Jesus evil will not be able to become an influence in our life.– Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 1, Miyerkules; Ika-13 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 8:28-34

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:28-34

Pagdating ni Jesus sa lupain ng Gadara sa kabilang ibayo, sinalubong siya ng dalawang lalaking inaalihan ng demonyo, na galing sa mga libingan. Napakabangis nila kayat walang maka­­­­daan doon. 29 Bigla silang sumi­gaw: “Ano ang kailangan mo sa amin, ikaw na Anak ng Diyos! Puma­rito ka ba para pahirapan kami bago sumapit ang panahon?”

30 Sa may di-kalayua’y maraming baboy na nanginginain. 31 Kaya hiniling sa kanya ng mga demonyo: “Kung palala­yasin mo kami, ipadala mo kami sa mga baboy.” 32 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Umalis kayo.” Kaya pagka­layas ng mga demonyo’y pumasok ang mga ito sa mga baboy – at hayun! nahulog sa bangin ang lahat ng baboy papuntang dagat, at nalunod na lahat.

33 Tumakas naman ang mga nagba­bantay sa mga baboy. Pagdating nila sa bayan, ipinamalita nila ang lahat at kung ano ang nangyari sa mga ina­alihan ng mga demonyo. 34 Kaya luma­bas ang buong bayan para salubungin si Jesus; at pagkakita nila sa kanya, hiniling nilang umalis siya sa kanilang lugar.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for June 30, Tuesday; Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young man who was on the verge of giving-up on his life so he thought of hanging himself to end it all. But before doing it he said this silent prayer, Jesus if you are really alive let somebody come into my house and I will not push through anymore with my desperate plan. Lo and behold, after a few seconds a neighbor was knocking on his door inviting him to join their bible study.

We must always remember that God is alive. He is always a prayer away but often times we forget about this. Because of our worldliness we always focus on our struggles rather than our triumps in life. Thus, we forget that there’s a God who is ever ready to help and listen to us. A God who is always there to lift us up whenever we are feeling down and weary.     

In our gospel for today the disciples encountered a violent storm and in that desperate moment they had nothing to hold on but Jesus. So they said, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” After which there was great calm because Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea.

Whatever that we’re going through right now we have to always remember that Jesus is just a prayer away. Let us therefore Seek Him, Pray to Him and Invite Him to come into our life for He would surely be there for us.

Do we regularly pray to the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 30, Martes; Ika-13 Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 8:23-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:23-27

23 Sumakay si Jesus sa bangka at sumunod sa kanya ang mga alagad niya. 24 Walang anu-ano’y nagkaroon ng mala­kas na bagyo sa lawa at parang matata­bunan na ng mga alon ang bangka. Ngunit tulog si Jesus.

25 Ginising siya nila na sumisigaw: “Panginoon, saklolo! Mamamatay tayo!” 26 At sinabi ni Jesus:  “Ba’t kayo natatakot, kayong napakaliit ng paniwala?” Buma­ngon siya at inutusan ang mga alon at hangin, at tumahimik ang lahat. 27 Nagulat ang mga tao at sinabi nila: “Anong klaseng tao ito? Sumusunod sa kanya pati mga hangin at dagat.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.