Reflection for July 17 Saturday of the 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 fulfill 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:

Are we peace loving people? Or we are lovers of conflict and chaos? If we follow Jesus it is a must for us to be peace loving.  Jesus was a peaceful man He abhorred any form of violence for He knew that no one wins with violence.  

When the Pharisees were looking for Jesus to arrest Him and put Him to death He peacefully withdrew out of their sight. Not because He was afraid of them but because Jesus was a peaceful man and besides, it was not yet time for Him to face them.  

Withdrawal from a conflict is not always a sign of cowardice in fact it is a sign of bravery. We are brave enough to withdraw from a conflict because we know that we have a higher purpose in life than those who wants to engage us with violence.    

What will happen if we face violence with violence? We all become losers for nobody wins with violence. Mahatma Gandhi once said: “An eye for an eye makes everyone blind."  

Let us always take the high road when there are provokers of anger by not stooping down to their level. Instead of confronting anger with anger why not offer peace and love? Why not   humbly walk away? If we do so it would surely save us from a troublesome situation.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Hulyo 17, Ika-15 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.”

1Reflection for July 16 Friday of the 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 the 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:

What is in the heart of Jesus? It’s mercy and compassion for His people. Mercy and compassion that is ever ready to transgress sacred laws such as the Sabbath law. 

Being God the Son Jesus perfectly knew that what He was doing was right. But the Pharisees did not know the true identity of Jesus. So they questioned the decision of Jesus to allow His disciples to pick and eat the grains on a Sabbath day. 

Do you know Jesus deeply? Do you feel His presence in your life? If you don’t know Jesus deeply and if you don’t feel His presence in your life. You will also question some events or trial/s that occurs in your life. 

For instance when you go through severe trials such as financial difficulty, sickness and the like . You might also question the Lord Jesus and ask Him this question: Why am I going through this trial or why did you allow me to go through this episode in my life? 

But if you know Jesus and if you feel His presence in your life. You will never question Jesus thus you will simply bow to His will and trust Him. Why bow to His will? This is for the reason that you know that something greater is in store for you. That you don’t see and know yet now but you will certainly see and feel in your life in the future.   

Ask Jesus therefore to give you the gift of knowing Him deeply and the gift of His living presence in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Hulyo 16, Ika-15 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.”

1Reflection for July 15 Thursday Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M): 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:

The story is told about a young man who was struggling to find his place in this world.  He was already at the point of surrender. He murmured to himself, “I am a total failure” in the abyss of his frustration he thought of ending his life.  

Until he was advised by a friend to seek God and surrender every burdens that he has in his heart. So, he went to Holy Mass regularly and he read his bible, after a few weeks he developed a deep friendship with Jesus and he surrendered his everything to Him. 

Many of us have this tendency to allow ourselves to be eaten up by the frenetic pace and materialism of this world. We get too busy in fact very busy because we want to satisfy our many temporal wants. But come to think of it, why are we punishing ourselves too much just to satisfy our worldly desires? Why are many of us favoring this world when what we earn from this world can actually be taken from us anytime? 

In our gospel for today, Jesus invites us all to go to Him. We who are so busy with this world, we who tend to forget the primacy of God over this world. When are we going to open our hearts to this invitation of Jesus? When we are already old and sickly? Let us not wait for that time to come. Let us build a relationship with Jesus now and let us respond to His invitation now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Hulyo 15, San Buenaventura, Obispo at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Mateo 11:28-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:28-30

Sinabi ni Jesus 28 Lumapit sa akin, lahat kayong nahi¬hirapan at may pinapasan, at pagiginhawahin ko kayo. 29 Kunin ninyo ang aking pamatok at matuto sa akin, akong mahinahon at mababangloob, at makakatagpo kayo ng ginhawa para sa inyong kaluluwa. 30 Sapagkat mahusay ang aking pamatok at magaan ang aking pasanin.”  

1Reflection for July 14 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

What is the key to know Gods will for you? It’s humility.  a humble person is ever ready to listen to the voice and will of God. He/she doesn’t go against the will of God he/she rather allows God’s will to work in his/her life. In the process of allowing God’s will to rule his/her life he/she discovers more about God. 

When we are humble we open ourselves to the countless blessings that emanates from God. We may ask, how am I going to be humble before God? We have to follow the rules of the church which Jesus founded through St. Peter.   

For example the teaching of Sunday Holy Mass obligation, a humble person would always see to it that he/she is always present in this sacred celebration. Another example is our humble submission to the sacraments most especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A humble person would always find time to confess his/her sins to a priest who acts in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus always looks kindly to those who are childlike and humble. Why? Because this is the nature of God: He loves those who are humble and He reveals Himself more to the childlike and humble.  

Do you want to know more about God? And do you want to have a deeper friendship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Hulyo 14, Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 11:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:25-27

25 Nagsalita si Jesus sa pagkaka¬taong iyon: “Pinu¬puri kita Amang Panginoon ng Langit at lupa, sapag¬kat 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 wa¬lang nakakakilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at ang sinu¬mang gustuhing pagbun¬yagan ng Anak.

1Reflection for July 13 Tuesday of the 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 netherworld. 

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:

Do you get frustrated or even get angry every once in a while? It’s ok for as long as your frustration and anger is for a good reason. And for as long as your anger doesn’t stay for long in your heart.  For example, you advice a relative or a friend to mend his/her ways but she/he doesn’t listen to you.   

In his humanity Jesus also gets frustrated like us and it is shown in the gospel. When He reproached the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida due to their refusal to repent. Jesus wanted the inhabitants of the two towns to change their wicked ways and accept His good news. 

Some of us are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts. 

Sin in whatever shapes and forms is a clear and present danger in our lives. We must not only avoid sin let us also confront sin so that it will permanently banish from our system of existence. Sin is the devil in disguise and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Hulyo 13, 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.”

Reflection for July 12 Monday of the 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:

The story is told about a very generous man who was envied by his friend. Because he does not seem to run out of money even if he constantly give money and food to his poor neighbors. So the friend asked this very generous man: “What is your secret that you don’t seem to run out of money? The generous man said, no secret at all I just give because I want to give. 

Whatever that we generously give will come back to us a hundred fold if we don’t believe this let us try to be generous even for a week and see the reward that will be ploughed back to us. Reward that is not only limited with money, we may receive reward by way of good health, peace of mind, friendships in the neighborhood and the like. 

Jesus in our gospel mentions reward for those who do good no matter how small the act of goodness and generosity. Why? This is for the reason that it’s in giving that we would always receive and the more that we give the more that we would receive. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Hulyo 12, Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:34-11:1

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:34-11:1

Sinabi ni Jesus sa labindalawa:  34 Huwag ninyong isipin na duma­ting ako para magdala ng kapa­yapaan sa lupa. Hindi kapayapaan ang dala ko kundi tabak. 35 Dumating akong taglay ang pag­hihiwalay: ng tao laban sa kanyang ama, ng anak na babae sa kanyang ina, ng ma­nugang sa kanyang biyenan. 36 At ma­giging kaaway ng bawat isa ang kan­yang mga kasam­bahay. 

37 Ang mas nagmamahal sa kan­yang ama o ina kaysa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang mas nag­ma­­­mahal sa kanyang anak kaysa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. 38 At ang hindi nag­pa­pasan ng kanyang krus at sumu­sunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. 39 Ang nagpa­pa­­halaga sa kanyang sarili ang siyang mawa­walan nito, at ang nawawalan naman ng kanyang sarili ang siyang maka­katagpo nito. 

40 Kung may tumatanggap sa inyo, tinatanggap din niya ako; at kung may tumatanggap sa akin, tinatanggap din niya ang nagsugo sa akin. 41 Kung may tumanggap sa isang propeta dahil pro­peta ito, tatanggapin niya ang gantimpa­lang bagay sa isang propeta; kung may tumanggap sa isang ma­buting tao dahil marangal ito, tatang­gapin niya ang gantimpalang bagay sa isang ma­buting tao. 42 Kung may mag­painom ng malamig na tubig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ala­­gad ko ito, sinasabi kong hindi siya mana­natiling wa­lang gantimpala.” 

1 Nang matapos si Jesus sa pagtuturo sa Labindalawa niyang alagad, umalis siya roon para magturo at mangaral sa mga bayan doon.

Reflection for Sunday July 11, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. 

So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a newly ordained priest who was so idealistic that he wished to be assigned in the farthest and un-evangelized place. He got what he wished for. During the time that he was about to go there he brought nothing with him except for the clothes and his priestly things. 

He said to himself: “I will not bring anything with me because Jesus had said that in going to your mission do not bring anything with you (Mark 6:8). He believed that God would provide for his needs. He eventually reached his place of assignment and his parishioners were sensitive enough to notice his needs so they provided him with what he needed. 

In the gospel, Jesus demanded trust from the apostles. He wanted them to trust him as they go about their mission for He would provide for their needs. Jesus said to them: “Bring nothing with you except your walking stick and sandal (Mark 6:8-9). In saying this Jesus wanted them to depend on Him and not on themselves. 

Due to the modernity of our times trust or faith in God is a word that is somewhat lacking in our lives today. Because we tend to trust more on ourselves rather than God. We long for our smart phones more rather than long for God. We check on our smart phones first upon waking up in the moring rather than check on God by way of our prayers.  It seems that it’s very hard to live now without smart phones and other gadgets but so easy to live without God.

Sad that this is happening but this is the reality of our gadgets driven times. But there’s hope for as long as we don’t give up on our mission to evangelize. Let us not lose heart because the Lord is always there for us. He only asks us one thing and that is to never give up on our mission of evangelization and to continue to trust Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hulyo 11 Ika – 15 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:7-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:7-13

Naglibot naman si Jesus sa mga nayon sa paligid sa kanyang pagtu¬turo. 7 At tinawag niya ang Labin¬dalawa at sinimulang isugo sila nang dala-¬dalawa. Binigyan niya sila ng kapang¬yarihan sa mga maruming espiritu. 8 At sinabihan niya silang huwag magdala ng anuman para sa paglalakbay kundi tungkod la¬mang. Walang pagkain, wa¬lang pitaka o pera sa sinturon. 9 Nakasandalyas at may isang damit lang.  

10 At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Pagtuloy ninyo sa isang bahay, manatili kayo roon hanggang sa pag-alis ninyo mula roon. 11 Kung may lugar na hindi tatang¬gap o makikinig sa inyo, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok sa inyong mga paa bilang sakdal sa ka¬nila.” 

12 At pag-alis nila, ipinangaral nila ang pagbabalik-loob. 13 Maraming demonyo ang kanilang pinalayas at marami ring maysakit ang pinagaling nila sa pagpapahid ng langis.