Reflection for March 9 Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.  

When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.  

Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe. Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you? Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Do you easily forgive?  

In our gospel there is a servant who asked to be forgiven for the huge amount that he owed from his lord, so he was forgiven. Yet when he met the person who owed him a much lesser amount, he demanded for the debt to be paid back to him.  

Perhaps many of us are like this servant who asked for forgiveness from his Lord and Master. We ask for forgiveness from Jesus from all of our sins, yes we submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But do we truly live this forgiveness that we have received from Jesus? Do we pay forward this forgiveness that we have received from Jesus?  

When we forgive we free ourselves from the imprisonment of anger and hatred. Just imagine if we have anger in our hearts we carry this burden that does no good to us except to heighten our blood pressure. Why not let bygones be bygones and forgive and forget and move on without carrying a heavy burden in our hearts?  

We only are punishing ourselves if we don’t forgive. And we only leave a devious space for the devil to dwell when we don’t forgive. Let us always learn from Jesus who is always forgiving. Let us learn from Jesus who doesn’t keep any record of wrong in His heart.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 9 Martes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 18:21-35

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-35
21 Nagtanong naman si Pedro: “Pa­nginoon, gaano kadalas ko naman dapat patawarin ang mga pagku­kulang ng aking kapatid? Pitong be­ses ba?” 22 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi, hindi pitong beses kundi pitumpu’t pitong beses.
 
23 Tungkol sa kaharian ng Langit ang kasaysayang ito. Isang hari ang nag­pasyang pagbayarin ng utang ang kanyang mga utusan. 24 Nang simulan niyang suriin ang kuwenta, ini­harap sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung libong baretang ginto. 25 Dahil walang ma­ibayad sa kanya ang tao, iniutos ng panginoon na ipagbili at maging alipin siya kasama ng kan­yang asawa, mga anak at mga ari-arian bilang bayad-utang.
 
26 At nagpatirapa sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at ba­bayaran kong lahat ang utang ko.’ 27 Naawa sa kanya ang hari at hindi lamang siya pinalaya kundi kinansela pa ang kanyang utang. 28 Pagkaalis ng opisyal na ito, nasa­lu­bong ni­ya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Si­nung­gaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo!’
 
29 Nagpa­tirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nag­sabi: ‘Big­yan mo pa ako ng panahon, at baba­yaran kong lahat ang utang ko sa iyo.’ 30 Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipina­kulong ito hanggang maka­bayad ng utang. 31 Labis na nalungkot ang iba nilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nang­yari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kani­lang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pang­yayari. 32 Ipinatawag naman niya ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat ng iyong utang nang maki­usap ka sa akin. 33 Di ba dapat ay naawa ka rin sa iyong kasamahan gaya ng pagkaawa ko sa iyo?’ 34 Galit na galit ang panginoon kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang utusan sa mga tagapag­pa­hirap hang­gang mabaya­ran nito ang lahat ng utang.”
 
35 Idinagdag ni Jesus: “Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi pata­tawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.”

1Reflection for March 8 Monday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.  

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection: 

How does God give His blessings?  God gives His blessings to anyone that He pleases and He surely doesn’t play the game of favoritism.  

If God has favorites among us because we are prayerful or because we attend Holy Mass and do noble acts. Our worship for God would now be motivated by our actions focused to get His favor.  Therefore our worship for God is not anymore motivated by our love for Him. It’s now rather motivated by the result that we want from Him.   

In our gospel Jesus shared the story of a Syrian named Naaman who was sick with leprosy. There were also many lepers in Israel around that time but God chose to heal a non Israelite named  Naaman. 

Jesus cited the story of Naaman to send a strong message to those who were listening to Him in the synagogue. That they cannot gain God’s favor by means of their self-serving acts of piety 0r worship for God that has selfish motivations.  

This is a good point of reflection for all of us for we may be doing things for God with selfish motives. Or we do things for God and our fellowmen because we want something in return from God.  

For example we would say to God, I will serve you but I request you to bless my family in return. But this is not how it is because our ways is not God’s ways, we cannot force God to do something because we want Him to do it for us.   

When we do acts for God let us make sure that we primarily do it because of our deep love for God. No other motives than our deep love for God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 8 Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 4:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 4:24-30

Pagdating ni Jesus sa Nazaret sinabi niya sa lahat ng mga taong nasa sinagoga24 “Talagang sinasabi ko: walang propetang katanggap-tanggap sa sarili niyang bayan. 25 Tinitiyak ko sa inyo na maraming babaeng balo noon sa kapana­hunan ni Elias nang sarhan ang langit sa loob ng tatlo’t kala­hating taon at nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa buong lupain. 26 Gayon pa ma’y hindi ipinadala si Elias sa isa man sa kanila kundi sa baba­eng balo ng    Sarepta sa may Sidon. 27 Marami ring may­ketong sa Israel sa kapana­hunan ni Propeta Eliseo pero wala sa kanilang pinaga­ling kundi ang Siriong si Naaman.”  

28 Napuno ng galit ang lahat sa sinagoga pagkarinig dito, 29 tumindig sila at ipinagtulakan siya sa labas ng bayan. Dinala nila siya sa gilid ng burol na ki­na­­­ta­tayuan ng kanilang bayan para ihu­log. 30 Ngunit du­maan siya sa gitna nila at umalis.

Reflection for Sunday March 7, Third Sunday of Lent: John 2:13-25

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace. 

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews said “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. 

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

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Reflection:

Is it OK to get angry? Yes, when there is a valid reason for that anger. Anger is not bad per se when you focus your anger to the act and not to the person. Anger should not also last for a long time it should only have a very limited life in our system of thinking so that it will not control us. 

In the gospel, the temple area was not anymore being used according to its purpose which is for  worship of God. It was not OK to have business there for the temple area was intended for the worship of God and nothing else but for the worship of God only. But the people used the temple for business and other unworthy things that defiled its sacredness.   

Therefore Jesus had no other choice but to create order and in the process He got angry but for a very limited time only. Anger that was justified for it reminded the people that the temple area and the temple itself must be free from anything outside of the worship of God. And from anything that is fraudulent, deceitful and immoral. The temple area and the temple itself must always be free from any form of desecration for it is the house of God. 

This is a good reminder for all of us when we go to church to worship God. We should go there only to worship God and not do anything that would defile the church. The defilement or desecration that we do is not limited to physical defilement. We also defile the church when we think of anything that is not good and ungodly while we are in the church. 

So, we go to church for the primary reason of worshipping God at Holy Mass. There should be no other reason but to worship God only. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 7, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 2:13-25

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-25

13 Malapit na noon ang Paskuwa ng mga Judio, at umahon si Jesus pa-Jerusalem. 14 Natagpuan niya sa patyo ng Templo ang mga nagtitinda ng mga baka, mga tupa at mga kalapati, at ang mga nakaupong tagapalit ng pera. 15 Kaya gumawa siya ng panghagupit mula sa mga lubid, at ipinagtabuyan ang lahat mula sa Templo, pati ang mga tupa at mga baka, at isinabog ang pera ng mga tagapalit at ipinagtataob ang mga mesa. 

16 At sinabi niya sa mga nagtitinda ng mga kalapati: “Alisin n’yo ang mga ito! Huwag n’yong gawing palengke ang Bahay ng aking Ama.” 17 Naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na nasusulat: “Tinutupok ako ng mala­sakit sa iyong Bahay.” 18 Kaya sumagot ang mga Judio: “Anong tanda ang maipapakita mo sa amin at ginagawa mo ito?” 19 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Gibain n’yo ang templong ito, at ibabangon ko ito sa tatlong araw.” 

20 Sinabi naman ng mga Judio: “Apat­­-napu’t anim na taon nang itina­tayo ang templong ito, at ibabangon mo ito sa tatlong araw?” 21 Ngunit and templong katawan niya ang kanyang tinutukoy. 22 Nang iba­ngon siya mula sa mga patay, naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad ang sinabi niyang ito. Kaya naniwala sila sa Kasulatan at sa salitang sinabi ni Jesus. 

23 Nang nasa Jerusalem siya sa Piyesta ng Paskuwa, maraming nanalig sa kanyang Pangalan nang mapansin nila ang mga tandang ginagawa niya. 24 Ngunit hindi naman nagtiwala si Jesus sa kanila dahil kilala niya ang lahat. 25 Hindi niya kailangang may magpatunay tungkol sa isang tao dahil alam niya mismo kung ano nga ang nasa tao.

Reflection for March 6 Saturday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.  

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers. So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.  

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.  

The servant said to him ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. He became angry and when he refused to enter the house his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.  

But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

Would you return and ask forgiveness to someone you’ve hurt? 

After wasting his money on his vices and other sinful cravings the younger son decided to humbly return to his father. He swallowed his pride; he braved the insults and ridicule that might come his way just to be home again with his father who unconditionally loved him.  

There is also a stretch in our lives that we drift away from God; we personally take command of our lives. We indulge in different worldly vices and sins thinking that it would make us happy. Then we realize that there is still this void that has not been filled by our worldly and sinful cravings. 

So  where would we go? We humbly go back to Jesus and ask for His mercy and forgiveness. Jesus will surely not refuse a repentant sinner like us. What we only have to do is to go back to Him. Never mind the many sins that we have committed for Jesus doesn’t count the sins that we have committed.    

He is always looking at our humble and repentant hearts. Therefore, we have to go back to Him for Jesus is eagerly waiting to embrace us once again. WE should not look back at our dark past anymore what is important for Jesus is our now and our future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 6 Sabado sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

1 Lumapit kay Jesus ang lahat ng ko­lektor ng buwis at mga makasa­lanan para makinig. 2 Kaya nag­bulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at mga guro ng Batas: “Tinatanggap niyan ang mga makasalanan at na­kikisalo sa kani­la.” 3 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus ang ta­linhagang ito sa kanila: 

11 Sinabi pa rin ni Jesus: “May isang ta­ong may dalawang anak na lalaki. 12 Sinabi ng bunso sa kanyang ama: ‘Itay, ibigay na ninyo sa akin ang parte ko sa mana.’ At hinati sa kanila ng ama ang ari-arian. 13 Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, tinipon ng bun­song anak ang lahat ng kanya at nag­lakbay sa malayong lupain. Doon niya winaldas ang sa kanya sa malu­wag na pamumuhay. 

14 Nang maubos na ang lahat sa kanya, nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa lupaing ’yon at nagsi­mula siyang maghikahos. 15 Kaya pumunta siya at namasukan sa isang tagaroon, at inu­tusan siyang mag-alaga ng mga baboy sa bukid nito. 16 At gusto sana niyang pu­nuin kahit na ng kaning-baboy ang kanyang tiyan pero wala namang magbigay sa kanya. 

17 Noon siya natauhan at nag-isip: ‘Gaano karaming arawan sa bahay ng aking ama na labis-labis ang pagkain at namamatay naman ako dito sa gu­tom. 18 Titindig ako, pupunta sa aking ama, at sasabihin ko sa kanya: ‘Itay, nag­ka­sala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo. 19 Hindi na ako karapat-dapat pang ta­wa­­ging anak mo; ituring mo na akong isa sa iyong mga arawan.’ 

20 Kaya tumindig siya papunta sa kanyang ama. Malayo pa siya nang ma­tanaw ng kanyang ama at naawa ito, patakbo nitong sina­lubong ang anak, niyakap at hinalikan. 21 Sinabi sa kanya ng anak: ‘Ama, nagkasala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo; hindi na ako karapat-dapat   pang tawaging   anak  mo.’ 

22 Pero sinabi ng ama sa kanyang mga utu­san: ‘Madali, dalhin ninyo ang dati niyang da­mit at ibihis sa kanya; suutan ninyo ng sinsing ang kanyang daliri at ng sapatos ang kanyang mga paa. 23 Dalhin at katayin ang pinatabang guya, kumain tayo at magsaya 24 sa­pag­kat namatay na ang anak kong ito at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan.’ At nagsimula silang mag­diwang. 

25 Nasa bukid noon ang panganay na anak. Nang pauwi na siya at malapit na sa bahay, narinig niya ang tugtugan at sayawan. 26 Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga utusan at tinanong kung ano ang nang­yari. 27 Sinabi nito sa kanya: ‘Nagbalik ang kapatid mo kaya ipinapatay ng iyong ama ang pinatabang guya dahil nabawi niya siyang buhay at di naano.’ 

28 Nagalit ang panganay at ayaw puma­sok kaya lumabas ang ama at nakiusap sa kanya. 29 Sumagot naman siya sa ama: ‘Maraming taon na akong nagsisilbi sa inyo at kailanma’y di ko nilabag ang in­yong mga utos pero kailanma’y di ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit na isang kambing na mapagpipiyestahan namin ng aking mga ka­barkada. 30 Ngunit dumating la­mang ang anak ninyong ito na lumustay sa inyong kaya­manan sa mga ba­baeng bayaran, at ipinakatay pa ninyo ang pinatabang guya.’ 

31 Sinabi sa kanya ng ama: ‘Anak, lagi kitang kasama at sa iyo rin ang la­hat ng akin. 32 Pero dapat lamang na mag­diwang at magsaya dahil namatay na ang kapatid mo at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan’.”

1Reflection for March 5 Friday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?  

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

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Reflection:

What is your mission as far as your faith life in this world is concerned? It’s to pay forward or share whatever you know about your faith. It’s to give life to your faith by not keeping it to yourself. And it’s to generously share whatever you know about your faith.  

 In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us the parable of the tenants who were entrusted by the landowner of his property. Before the landowner left them he first ensured that they already have all that they would need to make them productive. And so the landowner left and when harvest time came the landowner was demanding his share from the tenants.  

We are the tenants which Jesus is speaking about in the gospel.  The land or property that Jesus has entrusted to us is no other than our faith. What have we done so far to the gift of faith that He has entrusted us? Have we already shared it? Or we are still up to now keeping it to ourselves?  

If we want to grow in faith we have to humbly share it for it is in sharing our faith that we would grow in faith. It is in sharing our faith that would make us productive followers of Jesus. Many are still not properly educated as far as their faith life is concerned and many are Catholics in name only. And who is to blame for this lack of education of our catholic faith? We are partly to be blamed because many of us have not yet shared the gift of faith that Jesus has entrusted us.  

But it’s not yet late for you still have time.  Therefore you have to do something, start first by inviting your family to attend Holy Mass. Then gently teach them with whatever you know about the Bible and your catholic faith.  

Have courage to do this for God’s blessings will be upon you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 5 Biyernes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 21:33-43, 45-46

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21:33-43, 45-46

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga punong pari at matatanda ng mga Judio 33 Makinig kayo sa isa pang halim­ba­wa: May isang may-ari ng bahay na nag­tanim ng ubasan; binakuran ang paligid nito, humukay para sa pisaan ng ubas, at nagtayo ng toreng bantayan. Pina­upahan niya ang ubasan sa mga magsa­saka at naglakbay sa ma­layo. 34 Nang malapit na ang panahon ng anihan, pina­punta ng may-ari ang kanyang mga katu­long sa mga mag­sasaka para kubrahin ang kanyang bahagi sa ani. 35 Ngunit si­nung­gaban ng mga magsasaka ang kanyang mga katulong, binugbog ang isa, pinatay ang iba at binato ang ilan.  

36 Nagpadala uli ang may-ari ng ma­rami pang katulong pero ganoon din ang ginawa ng mga magsasaka sa kanila. 37 Sa bandang huli, ipinadala na rin niya ang kanyang anak sa pag-aaka­lang ‘Igagalang nila ang aking anak.’ 38 Ngunit nang makita ng mga magsa­saka ang anak, inisip nilang ‘Ito ang taga­pag­mana. Patayin natin siya at mapapasaatin ang kanyang mana.’ 39 Kaya sinunggaban nila siya, at pina­layas sa ubasan at pinatay.  

40 Ngayon, pagdating ng may-ari ng ubasan, ano ang gagawin niya sa mga magsasaka?” 41 Sinabi nila sa kan­ya: “Hindi niya kaaawaan ang masasamang taong iyon; pupuksain niya ang mga iyon at pauupahan ang ubasan sa ibang magsasakang magbibigay ng kanyang kaparte sa anihan.”  

42 At sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa sa Kasu­latan? ‘Naging panulu­kang bato ang tinanggihan ng mga taga­pagtayo. Gawa ito ng Pangi­noon; at ka­hanga-hanga ang ating nakita.’ 43 Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: aagawin sa inyo ang kaharian ng Diyos at ibibigay sa isang bayang makapag­papalago nito.  

45 Nang marinig ng mga punong-pari at mga Pariseo ang mga talin­hagang ito, naunawaan nila na sila ang pinatutungkulan ni Jesus. 46 Huhulihin na sana nila siya ngunit natakot sila sa mga tao na kumikilala sa kanya bilang propeta. 

Reflection for March 4 Thursday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 16:19-31

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.  

The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’  

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. ’Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who did not believe in God and in the afterlife. He wantonly wasted his life by living a life of sinful pleasures.   It was always a life of immoral satisfaction for him: drugs, sex, and other sinful things, in other words he had no time for God. This became his life because he did not believe in the existence of the afterlife much less God.  

Is there really an afterlife or a life which will immediately replace our present life after our life in this world is over and done with already? The answer is a resounding yes! The gospel shows us that there is an afterlife which is very different from the life that we have today. There in the afterlife exist two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of satan where he  and his minions dwell.  

In the gospel, we see the characters of the unnamed rich and indifferent man and the poor man named Lazarus. The rich man perhaps did not believe in the afterlife or was not aware that there is an afterlife that’s why he did not mind the poor man Lazarus who was in dire need of his help. He nonchalantly ignored Lazarus as if the poor man did not exist.  

When both of them died there was a reversal of places: The poor man Lazarus who endured a difficult life when he was still alive was in the kingdom of God and the rich man who savored earthly life was in the dark kingdom of the devil.  

Why was there a reversal of places? Because the rich man was indifferent to the crying need of the poor man Lazarus. If he only knew that Lazarus was very close to God. If he only knew that Lazarus could have been God in disguise. The lesson for us is very simple, we should not ignore the crying need of the poor and we should always be sensitive to their plight.      

Do we callously ignore the poor when we encounter them or we help them by giving them something or by praying for them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 4 Huwebes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 16:19-31

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 16:19-31

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga pariseo 19 May isang mayaman na naka­bihis ng magarang damit at pinong linen at parang piyesta ang kanyang buhay sa araw-araw. 20 Na­ka­handusay naman sa may pintuan niya ang isang dukhang nag­ngangalang Lazaro. Tadtad siya ng mga sugat 21 at gusto sana niyang ka­inin ang mumong nahuhulog sa hapag ng mayaman; sa halip ay mga aso ang luma­lapit sa kanya at hinihi­muran ang kanyang mga sugat.  

22 At na­matay ang dukha at dinala siya ng mga anghel sa piling ni Abraham. Na­matay rin na­man ang maya­man at ini­libing. 23 Nang nasa impiyerno na siya, tumingala siya sa kanyang pagdurusa at natanaw sa malayo si Abra­ham at si Lazaro sa piling nito. 24 Kaya sumigaw siya: ‘Amang Abraham, maawa ka sa akin at utusan mo naman si Lazaro na isawsaw niya sa tubig ang dulo ng kan­yang daliri para paginhawahin ang aking dila dahil lubha akong naghi­hirap sa la­gablab na ito.’  

25 Sumagot si Abraham: ‘Anak, alala­hanin mong tinanggap mo na sa buhay mo ang ma­buti sa iyo at kay Lazaro na­man ang masasama. Kaya siya ngayon ang nasa ginhawa at ikaw ang nagdu­rusa. 26 At isa pa’y malawak na kabundukang di matatawid ang itinakda sa pagitan natin. Kaya hindi makatatawid ang mga may gustong pumunta riyan galing dito, at hindi rin naman makatatawid ang mula riyan papunta rito.’  

27 Sumagot ang mayaman: ‘Kaya ipina­kiki­usap ko sa iyo, Ama, na pa­puntahin mo si La­zaro sa bahay ng aking ama, 28 kung saan na­roon ang lima kong kapatid para babalaan sila upang di sila mapunta sa lugar na ito ng pagdu­rusa.’ 29 Sumagot si Abraham: ‘Nasa kanila si Moises at ang mga propeta, makinig sila sa mga ito.’ 30 Sinabi niya: ‘Hindi gayon, Amang Abraham; kung isa sa mga patay ang pupunta sa kanila, mag­si­sisi sila.’  

31 Sinabi ni Abraham: ‘Kung hindi   nila paki­kinggan si Moises at ang mga propeta, buma­ngon man ang isa sa   mga patay ay hindi pa rin sila mani­niwala’.”

1Reflection for March 3 Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 20:17-28

Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” 

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

 They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who wanted to serve in their parish church as a catechist. So she went to the church and had a conversation with the parish priest about her desire. The priest told her, would you be willing to do volunteer work without expecting anything in return?  And the woman said yes, from thereon she volunteered her time in the service for the church without expecting anything in return.  

In the gospel we read about a woman who is acting like a stage mother for her two sons to be seated at the right and left side of the Lord. She was asking for the grandest position for her two sons but Jesus said to her: “You do not know what you are asking for.” (Matthew 20:22)  

Do you also sometimes aspire for the grandest position in your church, in your community and in your workplace? Do not aspire for those lofty positions let it come to you instead. How would it come to you without aspiring for it? It will just be at your doorstep when you work hard without expecting anything in return.  

The most gratifying rewards that will come to you are those that you don’t expect these kinds of rewards come from the Lord and are born out of your selfless and tireless work. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 3 Miyerkules sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 20:17-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 20:17-28

17 Nang umakyat si Jesus sa Jerusalem, isinama niya ang Labindalawa, at habang nasa daan ay sinabi niya sa kanila: 18 “Papunta na tayo sa Jerusalem. Doon ibibigay ang Anak ng Tao sa mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas na maghahatol sa kanya ng kama­tayan. 19 Kaya ibibigay nila siya sa mga pagano para pagtawanan, hagupitin at ipako sa krus. Ngunit babangon siya sa ikatlong araw.”  

• 20 Lumapit noon kay Jesus ang ina nina Jaime at Juan kasama ng dalawa niyang anak, at lumuhod sa harap niya para makiusap. 21 Tinanong siya ni Jesus: “Ano ang ibig mo?” At sumagot siya: “Narito ang dalawa kong anak. Iutos mong maupo ang isa sa iyong kanan at ang isa naman sa iyong kaliwa sa iyong Kaharian.”  

22 Sinabi ni Jesus sa magkapatid: “Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi. Ma­iinom ba ninyo ang kalis na iinumin ko?” Sumagot sila: “Kaya namin.” 23 Suma­got si Jesus: “Totoong iinom din kayo sa aking kalis, ngunit wala sa akin ang pag­papaupo sa aking kanan o kaliwa. Para sa mga hinirang ng Ama ang mga lugar na iyon.”  

24 Nang marinig ito ng sampu, nagalit sila sa magka­patid. 25 Kaya tinawag sila ni Jesus at sinabi: “Alam ninyo na sinusupil ng mga naghahari ang kani­lang mga bansa at inaapi ng mga nasa kapang­yarihan. 26 Hindi naman ganito sa inyo: ang may gus­tong maging dakila, siya ang maging lingkod ninyo; 27 ang may gustong mauna sa inyo, siya ang maging alipin ninyo. 28 Gayun­din naman, duma­ting ang Anak ng Tao hindi para pag­ling­kuran kundi para mag­lingkod at ibigay ang kanyang buhay bilang pantubos sa marami.”