Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 10, Ang Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon (Kapistahan): Marcos 1:7-11

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:7-11

7 Ito ang sinabi ni Juan Bautista 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.” 

9 Nang panahong iyon, dumating si Jesus mula sa Nazaret ng Galilea at binin­yagan siya ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan. 10 At pagkaahon niya mula sa tubig, nakita niyang nahawi ang langit at parang kalapating bumababa sa kanya ang Espi­ritu ng Diyos. 11 At narinig mula sa langit: “Ikaw ang aking Anak, ang Minamahal, ikaw ang aking Hinirang.”

Reflection for January 9, Saturday after Epiphany: John 3:22-30

Gospel: John 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. 

So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him.  

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to decrease so that Jesus should increase? Would you be willing to remain as a faceless worker in the vineyard of the Lord? 

John had no insecurities whatsoever towards Jesus for he knew where he stood in the plan of salvation. When he was told that Jesus was baptizing and everyone was coming to Him. He calmly said: “You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him (John 3:28).  

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice (John 3:29). So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease (John 3:30).” 

John was never tempted to upstage Jesus even if there was an inviting opportunity to do so. John perfectly knew that his role was to be the best man for the bridegroom that is Jesus. John knew that his role is to simply prepare the way for Jesus. He therefore did it with utmost humility; John even said: “He must increase and I must decrease.” 

Are you like John?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 8, Friday after Epiphany: Luke 5:12-16

Gospel: Luke 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said “I do will it. Be made clean. And the leprosy left him immediately. 

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them. The report about him spread all the more and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

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Reflection:

Why was the man with leprosy cured by Jesus? He was cured because he humbled himself before Jesus. The man sick with leprosy humbly pleaded to Jesus to heal him of his dreaded and contagious disease (Luke 5:12). What else did the sick man do? He was also crying while pleading Jesus to heal him. 

In His humanity perhaps Jesus was also wary of the man’s contagious disease. But when He saw the humility of the sick man Jesus suddenly throw cautions to the wind. Jesus stretched His hand and touched the man and during that instance he was instantly healed by Jesus. His act of humility facilitated the grace of healing from Jesus.  

There shall be time that we will also get sick for this is the reality of life. As we grow old we become more vulnerable to sickness. Would we also humble ourselves before Jesus? Would we also cry while pleading Jesus to heal us?  Of course we will do these so that we would be healed by Jesus. 

However it will not be all the time that we will receive healing from Jesus. Time will come that we will reach the end point of our temporary journey in this world. We will eventually cease breathing, what are we going to do by then? Should we stop praying? Of course not! For as long as we have consciousness we continue to plead Jesus. 

Not anymore for healing but for mercy and for forgiveness of our many sins. Let us not wait for that time for it may be years from now. Let us do it right now while we are still healthy, let us beg Jesus for His mercy and forgiveness for He will surely give it to us. This we could best do if we humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation.     

Will you submit yourself to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for January 7, Thursday after Epiphany: Luke 4:14-22

Gospel: Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. 

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

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Reflection:

Do you always see to it that the words that you say are always motivating and remarkable? For example, in your house, do you always see to it that you avoid negative words or words that creates stigma to those who hear and receive it? 

Your words are very powerful it can build or destroy a person or a child. If your words are always words that condemns or words that brings down the dignity of a person or a child. You can be sure that this person or child will have an inferiority complex. He will lose confidence in himself which is very important for a person growth and development. 

When Jesus preached in their synagogue He spoke words that builds, words that gently informs and words that heals and motivates. Why? Because this is the innate character of Jesus, He would always see to it that when He speaks His words would be forever treasured in the hearts of those who receive it. And up until today when His words are read in the bible or at Holy Mass those who read and hear it are moved and changed toward a better life.   

In our gospel, after Jesus preached in the synagogue those who’ve heard Him had nothing but respect and admiration toward Him (Luke 4:22). This is for the fact that Jesus words are always healing and motivating. Never words that curses, never words than injures the feelings and never words that downgrades the human dignity. 

What are the usual words that emanates from you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 6, Wednesday after Epiphany: Mark 6:45-52

Gospel: Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. 

When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. 

But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

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Reflection:

Do you have the habit of isolating yourself everyday to pray? 

Due to the busyness and the hassle and bustle of life many of us have no more time to pray. Or if we have time we rarely pray with solemness and reflection we simply pray because we have to pray and it simply becomes routine and mechanical for many of us. 

After feeding the more than five thousand people Jesus went to the mountain by himself to pray. Even if He is the Son of God, Jesus recognized the importance of prayer in His life; Jesus perfectly knew that life without prayer is empty, without direction and shallow. 

So He went to the mountain to pray and there He asked God for guidance and strength as He continues His ministry. Do you always prayerfully ask for guidance and strength from the Lord God as you face your daily challenges? 

Everything that you do in this world no matter how important will pass you by. You will leave it behind even be forgotten someday. But the prayers that you do everyday will carry you through as you proceed with the daily grind of life. 

Then the same daily prayers made in isolation with the Lord will become the key to your passage to the doorway of heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 5, Tuesday after Epiphany: Mark 6:34-44

 

Gospel: Mark 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat. 

He said to them in reply Give them some food yourselves. But they said to him “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat? He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they had found out they said “Five loaves and two fish. So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. 

The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

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Reflection:

What impels us to do extraordinary things for our fellowmen? For example, to give food to the hungry or to do something especial for somebody without expecting anything in return. It’s love, the root of our extraordinary actions for our fellowmen is love. When we love somebody we would be willing to give something of ourselves for the people or person that we love.   

In our gospel the many that have been following Jesus has nowhere to go for it was getting late and there was no food available for them. Jesus knew about this and He could have simply told the crowd to disperse. And look for their own food and then comeback on the next day. But He did not for He dearly loved them, thereafter Jesus asked His disciples, how much food do you have?  

The disciples told Him five loaves and two fish.  And the five loaves and two fish suddenly were multiplied by Jesus to become hundreds and were able to feed more than five thousand. Jesus did the miracle of loaves out of His infinite love for them all. 

You too are dearly loved by Jesus for He supplies you food everyday. You may think that the food that you have on the table is courtesy of your own hard work. No, it’s not from your hard work it’s actually given to you by the Lord out of His great love for you.       

What have you given Jesus in return for His love? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 4, Monday Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet  might be fulfilled: 

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. 

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. 

His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

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Reflection:

When does the Kingdom of heaven comes to you? It’s when you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Personal relationship with Jesus means that He becomes your friend, your savior and the rock solid foundation of your life. When Jesus is an integral part of your lives the Kingdom of heaven is already within you even while you are still in this world. 

To many of us heaven is the literal heaven that we all know about. It’s upstairs in the skies where God, His angels and other Holy companions are located. And we would only be able to go there after we die. But it’s very much possible for all of us to have a taste of heaven while we are still alive in this world if only we would learn to abide by the teachings of Jesus.   

Jesus in our gospel preached to the people of His time to repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. And who is the Kingdom of Heaven that is at hand? That Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is talking about is no other than Himself. Jesus was literally offering Himself to the people of His time to have heaven. 

Many listened to this call of repentance by Jesus that’s why they followed Him and their lives were never the same again. They felt heaven in the company of Jesus, they were fed by Jesus, they were healed by Jesus they were given hope by Jesus; they were forgiven of their many sins and the like. 

How about you? Will you listen to this call of repentance by Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday January 3, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: Matthew 2:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” 

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.  

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

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Reflection:

What can you give Jesus this 2021? 

Perhaps the best gift you could give Jesus is your complete trust and faith in Him.  Another gift that you can give Jesus is your continuous hunger for Him. You may say that you already know Him but it’s not enough. So long as you live you must endlessly continue to search and hunger for Jesus. This is for the reason that the more that you hunger for Him the more that you would discover more about Him.  And the more that you hunger for Him the more that you become closer to Him. 

The Magi did not stop their search for the baby Jesus until they found Him. Surely, there were obstacles but it did not deter them. And upon finding Him, they did Him homage and prostrated themselves before Him and offered Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. 

Continue your search for Jesus until you find Him and when you find Him let Him dwell in your heart forever. You will surely find Him if you would search for Him. Then when you find Jesus, give the best that you could ever give Him. Do it in silence and humility, see to it that nobody will know about it except you and Jesus only. 

If you’re a parent, what is the best gift that you could give Jesus? The best gift that you could give Jesus is to direct your children towards Him. Bring them all to the celebration of the Holy Mass and help them encounter Jesus through the Bible; teach them also how to pray the Holy Rosary. 

What else can you give Jesus? You can give Jesus your time and your treasures by helping the poor, the troubled and the unwanted for Jesus is always with them. What else can you give Jesus? You can offer Jesus your life by walking away from your sins and from anything that makes you sin. What else can you do for Jesus? You can also bring others to Him by sharing Him and by living His teachings.   

What else can you do and give to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 2, Saturday Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (M): John 1:19-28

Gospel: John 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 

So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”  

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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Reflection:

Are you sometimes tempted to assume honor that is not for you? John had the opportunity to assume who he was not but he did not succumb to the temptation of fleeting power, adulation and popularity. 

We cannot compare to John the Baptist in every aspect of his virtuous life. His humility is beyond question; his steadfastness to fight for what is right and moral is worthy of our emulation. John remained true to his mission as the humble precursor of Jesus. 

How about you? Are you humble enough to let others take credit for an endeavor which was partly realized with your help? Are you humble enough to simply be on the sideline when you have all the opportunity to be in the frontline? 

 It’s very tempting to ego trip and take credit for something that is not for us. But the gospel is telling us that we must be humble at all times. We must not bestow upon ourselves our own achievements we should rather let others bestow it upon us and humbly accept it. 

John teaches us that true greatness before the Lord is only possible through humility no other way but through humility only. Never mind the adulation or praises of the crowd for these are intoxicating, temporary and passing. 

Never mind if others are taking credit for the good that you’ve done for God is not sleeping anyway. God sees everything that we do we cannot hide anything from Him. Not only that God sees us; He also knows our hidden motives. 

Always be humble if you want to be close to Jesus, always be humble if you want to grow in faith and always be humble if you want others to respect you.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for January 1, Friday Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God: Luke 2:16-21

 

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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Reflection:

Today is the first day of the year 2021! We celebrate today the Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God, this is also a holiday of obligation here in the Philippines. Thus we are all required to attend Holy Mass today but due to the Covid-19 pandemic many of us will not be able to be at Holy Mass personally. However, there’s a remedy for the time being and that is our pious attendance in an online Holy Mass. 

Amidst the joy of the people around her the Blessed Mother just kept silent and she deeply reflected on the miracle that has unfolded before her. Surely, one of the things being reflected by the Blessed Mother was her being chosen as the Mother of God. 

 Perhaps she was asking herself: “Why was I given this great honor to become the mother of the Messiah?” Perhaps this is also what is in our minds; among the many women during her time why Mary and not other women? 

God works in mysterious ways; He does things by His will. 

Sometimes this also happens to us, for example in our career pathing or in our personal lives. We may wonder why we are in a certain arena of life when we did not even consider being in that field, not even in our wildest dreams. God has put us in our vocation or God has put us where we are today for a good reason. Therefore we need to do right and make a big difference in the lives of others. 

Upon deep reflections the Blessed Mother realized her enormous responsibilities. Thus she lived and imbibed it with all her heart and she therefore raised Jesus to become a Man for others and not a man only for himself. 

We may be in different field of endeavors in the vineyard of the Lord or in other field of life. However like the Blessed Mother we too are called to realize our enormous responsibilities. We are called to live and imbibe this not with arrogance and brashness but with humility, obedience and gentleness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 31, Thursday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord: John 1:1-18

Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.  

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. 

John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

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Reflection:

Who is the word that is mentioned in the gospel? 

Jesus is the word that became flesh that dwelt amongst us and He became one with us. This is the mystery of the Incarnation: Jesus the word became like us with flesh and blood. 

This word that became flesh and blood which is Jesus shares with our pains and sufferings; He cures us from our sickness. He lightens our burdens because He walks with us and helps us carry our loads no matter how heavy. But in spite of His incarnation there are still many who don’t know him. Some of us know Jesus but we refuse to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We continue to ignore His call of conversion. 

So what happens is we are beset with problems; we don’t have peace of mind and we continue to be enslaved by money, worries and other worldly things. This coming year, let us learn to lean and have hope in Jesus the word that became flesh. Let us allow Him to be our guiding light this 2021. 

The moment we allow Jesus to dwell into our hearts our lives this 2021 will be full of hope, positivity and we would be able to survive the many challenges that we would be facing this 2021 including the current Covid-19 pandemic. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for December 30, Wednesday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord: Luke 2:36-40

Gospel: Luke 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

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Reflection:

Do you observe that those who are always at church for prayers and Holy Mass are women most especially senior citizens and retired but not tired women? These women of faith are always at church offering their humble prayers before God. I think they are always at church not anymore to pray for themselves but to pray for those whom they love and care.  

What lesson do these women of faith convey to us? They convey to us that we too have to be prayerful, we too have to be present at church most especially during Holy Mass and we too have to always pray for those whom we love and care. 

In the gospel, we read about the prophetess Anna, a widower and well advance in her years; she’s eighty four years old (84) to be exact. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. Why did Anna worship night and day with fasting and prayer? Because our prayers bring us closer to God, the God that is distant to us becomes the God that is within us. When we are prayerful we have this unique awareness of the presence of God within us. 

Anna’s prayers were also coupled with fasting. Why? Because fasting makes us more reliant on God and not on ourselves, fasting opens ourselves to the many graces that God wants to shower us. Fasting also shields us from the many evils of this world. Why? Because when we fast we focus our whole beings to God alone and we shut ourselves to whatever earthly, self-centered and evil disturbance.  

Are you always prayerful and do you often practice fasting? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for December 29, Tuesday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord: Luke 2:22-35

Gospel: Luke 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” 

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

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Reflection:

Are you a parent? 

Parents play a very vital role in the formation of values of their children, where the parents go so their child. 

For example, if the parents seldom brings to church for Holy Mass their children there’s a big chance that when they grow up they will also rarely go to church for Holy Mass. If parents do not lead worthy lives there’s a big chance as well that children would be also. In other words the fruit would almost be the same with the tree. 

In our gospel, Mary and Joseph both devoted to their Jewish faith brought the child Jesus to the temple in compliance with their Jewish law. They were leading by example on how it is to be faithful to the laws of God; they were forming the child Jesus to be like them. 

It always pays to be good and godly parents because it helps mold the mind of the child to be good and to be godly as he/she matures. On the other hand we can just imagine a child being brought up by irresponsible parents and parents who do not recognize the vital role of God in their life. 

Though it does not assure 100%  that the fruit will always be like the tree. Yet when we always model good and godly behavior to our children we are already conditioning their minds to always do what is good and godly. 

Therefore this modelling of good behavior will surely help them become good and law abiding individuals in the future. But the big question mark is, are we good role models to our children? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 29, Martes; Ikalimang Araw sa Pagdiriwang ng Pasko: Lucas 2:22-35

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 2:22-35

22 Nang dumating na ang araw ng paglilinis nila ayon sa Batas ni Moises, dinala ang sanggol na si Jesus sa Jerusalem para iharap sa Panginoon – 23 tulad ng nasu­sulat sa Batas ng Panginoon: Lahat ng panganay na lalaki ay ituturing na banal para sa Panginoon. 24 Dapat din silang mag-alay ng sakripisyo tulad ng binabanggit sa Batas ng Panginoon: isang pares na batubato o dalawang inakay na kalapati. 

25 Ngayon, sa Jerusalem ay may isang taong nagngangalang Simeon; totoong matuwid at makadiyos ang taong iyon. Hinihintay niya ang pagpapaginhawa ng Panginoon sa Israel at sumasakanya ang Espiritu Santo. 26 Ipinaalam naman sa kanya ng Espi­ritu Santo na hindi siya mamamatay hangga’t hindi niya naki­kita ang Mesiyas ng Pangi­noon. 27 Kaya pumunta siya ngayon sa Templo sa pag­tutulak ng Espiritu, nang dalhin ng mga magulang ang batang si Jesus para tu­parin ang kaugaliang naa­ayon sa Batas tungkol sa kanya. 

28 Kinalong siya ni Simeon sa kanyang mga braso at pinuri ang Diyos, at sinabi: 29 “Mapayayaon mo na ang iyong utusan, Panginoon, nang may kapayapaan ayon na rin sa iyong wika; 30 pagkat nakita na ng aking mga mata ang iyong pagliligtas 31 na inihanda mo sa paningin ng lahat ng bansa, 32 ang liwanag na ibubunyag mo sa mga bansang pagano at ang luwalhati ng iyong bayang Israel.” 

33 Nagtataka ang ama at ina ng bata sa mga sinasabi tungkol sa kanya. 34 Pinag­pala naman sila ni Simeon at sinabi kay Mariang ina ng bata: “Dahil sa kanya, ba­bagsak o babangon ang mga Israelita at magiging tanda siya sa harap nila at ka­nilang sasalungatin. 35 Kaya mahaha­yag ang lihim na pag-iisip ng mga tao. Ngu­nit paglalagusan naman ng isang pun­yal ang puso mo.”