Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 20, Lunes; Ika-16 na LInggo ng Taon: Mateo 12:38-42

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 12:38-42

38 Sinabi noon ng ilang guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo: “Guro, gusto naming makakita ng tanda mula sa iyo.” 39 Su­magot si Jesus: “Isang palatandaan ang hinihiling ng masama at di-tapat na lahing ito ngunit walang palatandaang ibibigay sa kanila, maliban sa palatandaan ni Propeta Jonas. 40 Kung paanong tatlong araw at tatlong gabing nasa tiyan ng balyena si Jonas noon, gayundin naman tatlong araw at tatlong gabing mananatili sa ilalim ng lupa ang Anak ng Tao.

41 Sa paghuhukom, babangon ang mga taga-Ninive kasama ng mga taong ito at hahatulan ang salinlahing ito sapagkat nagpanibagong-buhay sila sa pangangaral ni Jonas, at dito’y may mas dakila pa kay Jonas. 42 Sa paghu­hukom, babangon ang Reyna ng Timog, kasama ng mga taong ito at hahatulan sila. Sapagkat dumating siya mula sa kabilang dulo ng mundo para masak­sihan ang karunungan ni Solomon, at dito’y may mas dakila pa kay Solomon.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Sunday July 19, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:24-30

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from? He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a priest who performed an exorcism rite to a lady possessed by the devil. After hours of struggle the priest was able to cure the possessed lady and he drove away the devil from her. Following a few days the priest manifested signs of being possessed and it turned out that the devil whom he banished from the lady silently crept into him. The priest went through the same exorcism rite and was eventually freed from the possession of the devil.    

The devil is a reality it is always around us waiting for the perfect moment to possess us whomever we may be. It may not be anymore like a diabolical possession and it may not anymore appear like a Diablo. Oftentimes the devil stealthy hides beneath lustful intentions, the absence of humility, greed for money and power. It’s always there hovering ever ready to temp us to commit sin.

The weeds mentioned by Jesus in the gospel parable are the many temptations that the devil sows in our way. Many of us succumb to these many temptations and we therefore sin. But even if we sin God will not immediately condemn us to eternal damnation God will still be patient with us. Because God is hoping that we would see light and completely walkaway from darkness before it envelopes us.

We therefore have to hurry and discard whatever sinfulness that we are committing right now. Because our many sins will eventually catch up with us and when it happens we have to be prepared for the punishment that would befall us.

But why wait for that punishment when we still have time to completely walk away from sin? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hulyo 19, Ika-16 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 13:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 13:24-30

24 Binigyan sila ni Jesus ng isa pang talinhaga. “Naihahambing ang kaha­rian ng Langit sa isang taong naghasik ng mabuting buto sa kanyang taniman. 25 At samantalang natutulog ang mga tauhan, dumating ang kaaway. Hinasikan nito ng masamang damo ang taniman ng trigo at saka umalis.

26 Nang tumubo ang mga tanim at nag­simulang mamunga ng butil,  naglitawan din ang masasamang damo. 27 Kaya lumapit sa may-ari ang mga katulong at sinabi: ‘Ginoo, di ba’t mabu­buting buto ang inihasik mo sa iyong bukid, saan galing ang mga damo?’

28 Sinagot niya sila: ‘Gawa ito ng ka­away.’ At tinanong naman nila siya: ‘Gusto mo bang bunutin namin ang mga damo?’ 29 Sinabi niya sa kanila: ‘Huwag, at baka sa pagbunot ninyo sa mga damo e mabunot pati ang trigo. 30 Hayaan ninyo na sabay silang tumubo hanggang ani­han. At doon ko sasabihin sa mga mag-aani: Bunutin muna ninyo ang mga damo, at bigkisin para sunugin; at saka kunin ang lahat ng trigo at tipunin sa aking kamalig.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 18, Saturday; Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:14-21

Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

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Reflection:

What do we do when there is a threat to our safety?

When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were planning to kill Him. He simply withdrew from the place to avoid them. Why did Jesus withdraw? Because it was not yet time for Him to face His accusers and it was never in the nature of Jesus to be violent. Jesus is a man of peace, love and compassion. Never is He a hothead or a troublemaker.

If we avoid trouble we may be accused of being a coward but the truth is, it’s not cowardice to avoid trouble. A person who avoids trouble is a prudent person a person filled with wisdom, discernment and wise judgment.

What would we get if we confront a troublesome person or we confront trouble with trouble? Nothing except another troublesome situation! There are many ways to solve a troublesome person/situation. And surely confronting it head on is not the way.

 This action of Jesus of avoiding those who are running after Him simply tells us that prudence is the better part of valor. What does this mean? This means that it’s better to be careful or better to be safe than take risk. War is not always won through brute force war is won through wisdom filled decisions and strategies.

What do we do when we are faced with a troublesome person? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 18, Sabado; Ika-15 na LInggo ng Taon: Mateo 12:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 12:14-21

14 Pagkalabas ng mga Pariseo, nag-usap-usap sila kung paano nila siya masi­siraan. 15 Nalaman ito ni Jesus kaya luma­yo siya sa lugar na iyon. Mara­ming tao ang sumunod sa kanya. Pina­galing niya ang lahat ng maysakit 16 ngunit inutusan niya sila na huwag siyang ipamamalita.

17 Kaya natupad ang sinabi ni Isaias, ang propeta: 18 “Narito ang utusan ko na aking pinili, ang mahal ko na siya kong kina­lulugdan. Ilalagay ko sa kanya ang aking Espiritu at siya ang magpapahayag sa mga bansa ng aking mga pasya. 19 Hindi siya makikipagtalo o sisigaw, hindi mari­rinig sa mga liwasan ang kan­yang tinig. 20 Hindi niya babaliin ang sugatang tangkay o papatayin ang aandap-andap na mitsa. Hindi siya titigil hang­gang magwagi ang kata­rungan. 21 Ang kanyang pangalan ang inaasa­han ng lahat ng bansa.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 17, Friday; Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

Are we quick to judge?

When Pope Francis was asked about homosexuals he said this: "Who am I to judge them if they're seeking the Lord in good faith? They shouldn't be marginalized. This comment by the Pope evoked countless positive comments all over the world. Why? Because it broke barriers, it erased the usual stigma that homosexuals are sinful.

When the disciples eat during the Sabbath the Pharisees told Jesus, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:2).” But Jesus justly defended HIS disciples by saying: “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent (Matthew 12:3-5)?

Like the Pharisees, it’s so easy for us to judge based only on what we see but what we see is often a false representation a person’s identity. Unlike us who easily judge, Jesus does not, what is important for Jesus is mercy, what is important for Jesus is the pureness of the intention.

How are we going to spread the goodness of Jesus if we are overly strict and judgmental? The Pharisees in our gospel were judgmental they want their laws to be strictly followed. But the irony of it all is they were also the silent violators of the laws that they have self-servingly created. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 17, Biyernes; Ika-15 na LInggo ng Taon: Mateo 12:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 12:1-8

1 Naglakad noon si Jesus sa mga taniman ng trigo minsang Araw ng Pahinga. Nagutom ang kanyang mga alagad at sinimulan nilang alisin sa uhay ang mga butil, at kinain iyon. 2 Nang mapansin ito ng mga Pariseo, sinabi nila kay Jesus: “Tingnan mo ang iyong mga alagad, guma­gawa sila ng ipinagba­bawal sa Araw ng Pahinga!”

3 Ngunit sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa ang ginawa ni David noong magutom siya at ang kan­yang mga kasama? 4 Pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos at kinain ang tinapay na inihain para sa Diyos gayong bawal sa kanya o sa kanyang mga kasama na kainin ito liban sa mga pari. 5 At hindi ba ninyo nabasa sa Ba­tas na sa Araw ng Pahi­nga, walang pahinga ang mga pari sa Templo pero wala silang kasalanan dahil dito?

6 Sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: Dito’y may mas dakila pa sa Templo. 7 Kung nau­u­nawaan ninyong talaga ang salitang ito, ‘Awa ang gusto ko, hindi handog,’ hindi sana ninyo hinatulan ang walang-sala. 8 At isa pa’y ang Anak ng Tao ang Pangi­­noon ng Araw ng Pahinga.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 16, Thursday; Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: “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:

A single parent was suddenly rendered out of job because of the business disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He was therefore worried where he would earn the money to feed his family. So, he prayed to the Lord for help to find a new job. After only three days a neighbor who knows about his predicament asked him if he would be willing to work as a family driver and he immediately said yes!   

Are we going through a difficult stage in our life right now caused of the Covid-19 pandemic? Do we want to be refreshed? Jesus has an offer for us! In the gospel Jesus tells us this: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Why does Jesus want us to go to Him? Because Jesus wants to help us carry whatever that burdens us right now. He wants to ease our pains and sufferings; Jesus wants to help us in carrying whatever that suffering might be.

Let us respond to this call of Jesus and we will never regret making that decision. What would happen to us if we respond now? The sufferings that we carry will become lighter this is for the reason that Jesus will help us carry our suffering.

We will have hope and there will be many more positive things that will happen to our life if you would respond to this offer of Jesus. Let us respond now and see for ourselves the miracle that will unfold in our life.  We have everything to gain and nothing to lose if we would respond to this offer of Jesus.

Would we respond to this offer of the Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 16, Huwebes; Ika-15 na LInggo ng Taon: Mateo 11:28-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:28-30

Sinabi ni Jesus 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.

Reflection for July 15, Wednesday; Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

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 the childlike. 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.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was very serious in his desire to know God. So, what he did was he read every book that deals about God. But he was wondering how come that the more that he read books about God the more that God becomes distant to him?

So he seek the advice of a wise man for enlightenment thus he was told by the wise man: Your dilemma is simple. You need to become more humble as you become more learned about God. You should put into your heart and not into your head whatever learning that you obtain from your readings.

Do we want to discover more about the movement of God in our life? The secret word is humility: childlike humility; this is for the reason that the more childlike we become in front of God the more that we open ourselves to His many graces.

What is the demeanor of Jesus when He prays to God? Jesus is always humble before God, He doesn’t brag or boast anything about Himself. So, we too should always be humble for this is the secret for us to know more about God. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 15 , Miyerkules; San Buenaventura, Obispo at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Mateo 11:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:25-27

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.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for July 14, Tuesday; Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was being bothered by his many sins, he would think of it every now and then and it would always give him guilt of conscience. He had no peace of mind; a friend noticed his uneasy behavior so he was asked what was bothering him. After telling his friend what was bothering him, he was advised to repent from all of his sins through the Sacrament of Confession. So he did and he finally had peace of mind.

The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida were reprimanded by Jesus for they refused to repent from their evil ways. Why do we refuse to repent and why do we love to sin? The reason perhaps is we love the devil one more than Jesus, we love this world more than we love to be eventually in heaven with Jesus. Otherwise if we love Jesus we would repent and this repentance will reach its apex once we submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession.

This is who many of us are, we love to sin yet we don’t want to be in hell. But what we don’t know is as we continue to sin we also slowly walk towards hell. Are Satan and  hell real? Of course they are! Observe those who continue to sin or who continue to live sinful lives.

They may be rich and powerful but the reality is they have no peace of mind often times their family also is in turmoil. And the reason for this is their refusal to walk away from sin. Therefore we will be with the evil one and we will feel hell here and now if we will not walk away from sin.

Jesus will surely want us all to repent and to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. This is for the reason that Jesus wants us to be cleansed from all of our sins that have been enslaving us for so long. Nevertheless, Jesus also gave us the freedom of choice to do what we want to do in this world. 

The choice is ours to make, should we continue to live in the darkness of sin that has been making life so miserable for us? Or we embrace the guiding light of Jesus through HIS offer of repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hulyo 14 , Martes; Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 11:20-24

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:20-24

20 Sinimulang tuligsain ni Jesus ang mga bayang ginawan niya ng kara­mihan sa kanyang mga himala, sapagkat hindi sila nagpanibagong-buhay: 21 “Sawimpalad kayong mga bayan ng Corozain at Betsaida! Kung sa Tiro at Sidon nang­yari ang mga himalang naganap sa piling ninyo, matagal na sana silang nagsisi nang may abo at sako.

22 Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: Mas magiging magaan pa ang sasapitin ng Tiro at Sidon sa araw ng paghuhukom kaysa inyo. 23 At ikaw naman, Caper­naum, itataas ka ba sa langit? Hindi, ita­tapon ka sa kaharian ng mga patay! Sapagkat kung sa Sodom nang­yari ang mga himalang naganap sa iyo, nana­na­tili pa sana ngayon ang Sodom. 24 Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: mas magi­ging ma­gaan pa ang sasapitin ng lupain ng Sodom sa araw ng paghuhukom kaysa inyo.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for July 13, Monday; Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

What is this sword that Jesus speaks about in the gospel?

It’s the sword of truth and righteousness! Jesus came into this world to bring the sword of truth and righteousness and this sword of truth and righteousness pierces anyone who stands in the way.

Man against his father? Daughter against her mother? Indeed, if anyone stands in the way even if they are our relatives we should not be afraid to speak in the name of truth and righteousness we should not be afraid to voice out what we think is right no matter who gets hurt. In the same manner that we should not be afraid to voice out our sentiments even if the person whom we are going to address has the money, influence and power.

Sometimes we have second thoughts if we are going to speak our mind in the name of Jesus. We ought not to think twice we must have the courage to say what’s in our mind in the name of the sword of Jesus’ truth and righteousness.

The church always speaks out its mind whenever there are issues or policies that hurt the people of God. The church is not afraid to contradict anyone in power even if it creates temporary enmity. Why? For the simple reason that the mission of the church is to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas