But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of
the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed
from her.
+ + + + + + +
Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This was defined by Pope Pius IX in Ineffabilis Deus and was promulgated on December 8, 1854, it states that Mary, through God's grace, was conceived free from the stain of original sin through her role as the Mother of God.
The Gospel tells us that God thru the Angel Gabriel had chosen the Blessed Mother to be the Mother of Jesus, of all women why the Blessed Mother? We don’t know the answer but the Blessed Mother’s humility, docility and abandonment to the will of God speaks volumes about her.
The Blessed Mother humbly followed God’s desire and will when she said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38)."
Like the Blessed Mother, are you willing
to humble yourself before the Lord? Are you willing to abandon your life to the
will of God? And do you always discern the desire of the Holy Spirit in your
life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? 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 said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then
astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they
said, “We have seen incredible things today.
+ + + + + + +
We all have our own set of sickness: physical and emotional sickness. Whatever sickness that we may have Jesus can cure it all, all He ask from us is to have faith. The same faith as the four men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus.
We always have to remember that nothing is impossible for Jesus. He can make all things possible including the impossible! What He only asks from us is to have faith, faith that endures and faith that is willing to wait.
The four men and the paralyzed man had that enduring faith. They braved the crowd and the difficulties before them so that they could go through Jesus. How many of us have that kind of faith?
We therefore must not forget to always ask the Good Lord to increase our faith for the simple reason that we are feeble and weak. In this difficult and tortuose jungle called life there are times that we tend to be overtaken by our own set of life challenges. Nevertheless, we have to move on and think and hope that everything will be over well soon.
We ask this in the mighty and powerful
name of Jesus. Amen. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinikap nilang dalhin siya at ilagay sa harapan ni Jesus. 19 Nang hindi nila makita kung paano nila madadala ang paralitiko dahil sa dami ng tao, umakyat sila sa bubungan at sa bubong nila siya idinaan pababa na nasa kanyang papag hanggang sa gitna sa harap ni Jesus.
20 Nang makita niya ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya: “Kaibigan, pinatatawad ka sa iyong mga kasalanan.” 21 Nagsimula noong mag-isip-isip ang mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo: “Talagang iniinsulto ng taong ito ang Diyos. Sino ba ang may kapangyarihang magpatawad ng mga kasalanan? Di ba’t ang Diyos lamang?”
22 Ngunit alam ni Jesus ang kanilang mga pag-iisip kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ano ang mga kaisipan ninyong ito? 23 Ano ba ang mas madaling sabihin: ‘Pinatatawad ka sa iyong mga kasalanan’ o ‘Tumayo ka’t lumakad’?
24 Dapat ninyong malaman na may kapangyarihan sa lupa ang Anak ng Tao na magpatawad ng mga kasalanan.” At sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Sinasabi ko sa iyo: bumangon ka, dalhin ang iyong higaan at umuwi.” 25 At kapagdaka’y tumayo siya sa harap nila, kinuha ang kanyang higaan at umuwing nagpupuri sa Diyos.
26 Namangha ang lahat at nagpuri sa
Diyos. Nasindak nga sila at sinabi: “Nakakita tayo ng mga kagila-gilalas na
bagay sa araw na ito!”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: "One
mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the
thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit."
+ + + + + + +
So, his neighbors asked him: “Why do you choose to live a simple life considering that you have the wealth to live an affluent life?” The man replied, “I choose to live a simple life because I want you all to know that there is more to life than all the trappings that surrounds it and that is your faith, friendship and personal relationship with God.”
In the gospel for the second Sunday of advent we read about John who lived a simple life. John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. John also fed on locusts and wild honey. Before descending to be with the people John lived a simple life or even a hermit’s life in the desert.
As a result of living a simple life John became an effective herald/messenger for the coming of the Lord. What if John chose to live his life in affluence and worldliness? Would he still become an effective herald for the coming of the Lord? Of course not! Why? Because it’s only in the simplicity of our lives that we become effective heralds/messengers of the Lord.
How are you living
your life during this time of covid-19 and are you already an effective
herald/messenger for the coming of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
4 Kaya may nagbibinyag sa disyerto – si Juan – at ipinahahayag niya ang binyag na may kasamang pagsisisi para sa kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan. 5 Nagpuntahan sa kanya ang lahat ng taga-Judea at mga naninirahan sa Jerusalem. Inamin nila ang kanilang mga kasalanan at bininyagan sila ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan.
6 May balabal na
balahibong-kamelyo at pang-ibabang damit na katad si Juan, at mga balang at
pulot-pukyutang-gubat ang kinakain. 7 At ito ang sinabi niya sa kanyang
pangangaral: “Parating na kasunod ko ang gagawa nang higit pa sa akin. Hindi
nga ako karapat-dapat yumuko para magkalag ng tali ng kanyang panyapak.
8 Sa tubig ko kayo bininyagan, at sa Espiritu Santo naman niya kayo bibinyagan.”
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after
instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 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.
+ + + + + + +
To amass wealth and to have power is already a fulfillment for many of us. Some even make it their life’s mission but this is not our fulfilment neither this is our life’s mission. True fulfillment and true mission in life is when we make a positive difference in the lives of our fellow men and women. We become this when we are able to share and introduce Jesus to them.
When Jesus summoned His twelve disciples He did not instruct them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and make money out of them. He rather told them: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and drive out demons.” In other words make a big difference in their lives without expecting anything in return.
Material things come and go but the help that we make in the lives of our fellowmen creates a lasting impact that they will forever remember. However, some of us will say: “Life is hard right now, how can I help when I have barely enough for me?”
We must not restrict the word help with money or anything that is material. For the reason that we can give help even without using money. For example, we can share Jesus, we can listen to emotional burdens and we can always share the gentleness and love of God.
When was the last time that you extended
help to someone who was emotionally burdened?– Marino J. Dasmarinas
10: 1 Tinawag ni Jesus ang labindalawa niyang alagad at binigyan sila ng kapangyarihan sa maruruming espiritu para palayasin ang mga ito at pagalingin ang lahat ng sakit at karamdaman. Sinugo ni Jesus ang labindalawang ito at pinagbilinan: 6 Hanapin ninyo ang nawawalang tupa ng sambayanan ng Israel.
7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa inyong
paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaharian ng Langit.’ 8 Pagalingin ang maysakit,
buhayin ang patay, linisin ang mga may ketong at palayasin ang mga demonyo.
Tinanggap ninyo ito nang walang bayad kaya ibigay rin ninyo nang walang bayad.
Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let
it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus
warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and
spread word of him through all that land.
+ + + + + + +
Faith is the healing balm that we receive from God, but not everyone has this faith yet. Therefore, those who have faith must do something so that those who do not have faith will have it. And this we can do best if we learn to share our faith in Jesus and the many miracles that He has done in our life.
The two blind men in our gospel obviously had faith for they shouted to Jesus, “Son of David have pity on us!” Who gave them faith? It was somebody who shared to them Jesus and in sharing Jesus with them they slowly but surely gained faith.
Let us also have the courage to share our faith and friendship with Jesus. For it’s in sharing our faith that we grow in faith and it’s in sharing our faith that we make a positive difference in the lives of our fellow men and women.
Have you already shared your faith? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
29 Hinipo ni Jesus ang kanilang mga
mata at sinabi: “Mangyari sa inyo ang inyong paniwala.” 30 At nabuksan ang
kanilang mga mata. Mahigpit naman silang tinagubilinan ni Jesus: “Mag-ingat
kayo at huwag sabihin ito kanino man.” 31 Ngunit pagkaalis nila,
ipinahayag nila siya sa buong bayan.
“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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who do you listen to in this world? Do you listen to Jesus and shut out what this world is trying to dictate upon you? When you always listen to Jesus you have an impregnable wall that nobody can destroy. Even the strongest of calamities will not be able to destroy much less discourage you for the simple reason that you have Jesus in your life.
Often times we are defeated by our problems, worries and sickness because Jesus plays no role in our life. What rules our life are the many worldly attachments which only make our life in this world burdensome, problematic and heavy. So when we encounter trials many of us are not able to withstand it.
Indulgence with the pleasures of this world makes us fragile physically and emotionally; it could even make us suicidal. We will be left with nothing except emptiness which will quickly lead us to nothingness.
Try making Jesus the anchor of your life and you will see that not even the worst of problems can defeat you or bring you down. Even the worst sickness will not be able to conquer you, yes it may conquer your physical being but your spiritual being will remain strong. And this is for the reason that Jesus is the rock solid foundation of your life.
Is Jesus the foundation of your life? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
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!
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My
heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for
three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for
fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we
ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus
said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few
fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven
loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the
disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were
satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
+ + + + + + +
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.”
Try closing your eyes and imagine that you’re with the disciples and meditate on these profound words of Jesus, imagine that the Lord is saying these words to you. Did you discern that Jesus is telling you to be His instrument in feeding and helping those who have nothing in life?
In these hard times where hunger is commonplace because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jesus is also telling us that: “Your heart should also be moved with pity for those who are poor and hungry. For those who have nothing in life, for those who are being oppressed and for those who are weak and abandoned.
It’s easy to say I will help or do something to help the poor and hungry. But the real test of discipleship is not with words. The real test is when we act and do something which are concrete and tangible. Let us not be afraid to help because this is what the Lord wants us to do. Let us also not worry because whatever help we give for as long as we give it from the heart will come back to us in manifold ways.
Have you already extended help to the poor
and hungry during this time of Covid-19 pandemic? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
32 Tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: “Labis akong naaawa sa mga taong ito, pangatlong araw ko na silang kasama at wala na silang makain. Ayaw kong paalisin silang gutom at baka mahilo sila sa daan.” 33 Sinabi ng mga alagad sa kanya: “At saan naman tayo hahanap ng sapat na tinapay sa ilang na ito para ipakain sa mga taong iyan?” 34 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Ilan bang tinapay meron kayo?” Sumagot sila: “Pito, at kaunting maliliit na isda.”
35 Pinaupo ni Jesus sa lupa ang mga
tao, 36 kinuha niya ang pitong tinapay at ang maliliit na isda, at nagpasalamat
sa Diyos. Hinati-hati niya ang mga ito at ibinigay sa kanyang mga alagad, at
ibinigay rin nila sa mga tao. 37 Kumain silang lahat at nabusog at inipon
ang mga natirang pira-piraso – pitong punong bayong.
