Ngunit
pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Datapwat sinabi ni Jesus, "Hayaan ninyong
lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang hadlangan, sapagkat sa katulad
nila naghahari ang Diyos." Ipinatong niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay,
saka umalis.
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate. They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.
His disciples said to him, “If that is the
case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry. He answered, “Not all
can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are
incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made
so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the
Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.
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Reflection:
How’s your married life?
From the beginning up until this very moment separation is never in the agenda of God. God’s desire for married couples is to remain married until death. Yet, some contradict this agenda of God by introducing separation in the marriage. Some contradict this agenda of God by betraying the sacred marriage vows, not once, not twice but many times.
But come to think of it, why do married couples separate? They separate because there is an absence of God in their marriage. They separate because they allow the temptations of the devil to overpower God and His command to make marriage Sacred and Holy. This is the primary reason otherwise they wouldn’t separate if there’s an active presence of God in their marriage.
When God is left out of the marriage or the teaching of God is not taken seriously. The devil is given the opportunity to create havoc in the couple’s married life. And the devil will never stop until it finally destroys the marriage covenant of the couple.
Therefore, make Jesus an active player in your marriage. How are you going to do this? Have time for Holy Mass as a family. Have time for prayer as a family and have time for reading and afterwards reflection of the words of Jesus in the bible as a family.
Is Jesus an active member in your
marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
4 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa na sa simula’y ginawa sila ng Maykapal na lalaki at babae, 5 at sinabi rin nitong iiwanan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at pipisan sa kanyang asawa, at magiging iisang katawan ang dalawa? 6 Kung gayo’y hindi na sila dalawa kundi iisang katawan lamang; kaya huwag paghiwalayin ng tao ang pinagbuklod ng Diyos.”
7 At sinabi nila: “Kung gayon, bakit iniutos ni Moises na bigyan ang babae ng kasulatan ng diborsiyo bago siya paalisin?” 8 Sinabi naman niya sa kanila: “Alam ni Moises na matigas ang inyong puso kaya pinayagan kayong diborsiyuhin ang inyong mga asawa, ngunit hindi ganito sa simula. 9 At sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang asawa, maliban kung dahil sa pagtataksil, at saka magpakasal sa iba, nakiapid na siya.”
10 Sinabi
naman ng mga alagad: “Kung iyan ang itinatadhana para sa lalaking may-asawa,
walang pakinabang sa pag-aasawa.” 11 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Hindi
matatanggap ng lahat ang salitang ito, kundi ng mga pinagkalooban lamang nito.
12 May ilang ipinanganak na hindi makapag-aasawa. May iba namang
ipinakapon ng tao. At may iba ring tumalikod sa pag-aasawa alang-alang sa
kaharian ng Langit. Tanggapin ito ng puwedeng tumanggap.”
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 the fellow servant 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 his brother from his heart.”
When Jesus finished these words, he left
Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
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Reflection:
The story is told about a philandering husband who was finally caught by his wife. The husband realized his mistake so he asked for forgiveness. After days of contemplation the wife finally forgave his unfaithful husband.
In the gospel, Jesus talks about forgiveness. Jesus forgiveness is a wholesale kind of forgiveness a forgiveness without trace of bitterness and hatred. A forgiveness that is ever willing to erase our dark past and replace it with bright and pastel colors for the future.
But in hindsight, are we capable of forgiving like Jesus? Perhaps many of us would say that we are not capable. But why? For the simple reason that we are only humans and Jesus is God, we are finite and Jesus is infinite. However, if this is our argument we have to remember that He not only forgave us, Jesus even gave His very life for us.
Who is your role model when it comes to
forgiveness is it Jesus or the unforgiving servant in the gospel? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
26 At nagpatirapa sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at ba¬bayaran 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, nasa¬lu¬bong ni¬ya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Si¬nung¬gaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo!’ 29 Nagpa¬tirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nag¬sabi: ‘Big¬yan mo pa ako ng panahon, at baba-yaran kong lahat ang utang ko sa iyo.’ 30 Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipina¬kulong ito hanggang maka¬bayad ng utang.
31 Labis na nalungkot ang iba nilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nang¬yari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kani¬lang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pang¬yayari. 32 Ipinatawag naman niya ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat ng iyong utang nang maki¬usap 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 tagapag¬pa¬hirap hang¬gang mabaya¬ran nito ang lahat ng utang.”
35 Idinagdag ni Jesus: “Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi pata-tawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.” 19 1 Nang tapos na si Jesus sa mga aral na ito, umalis siya sa Galilea at pu¬munta sa probinsya ng Judea sa kabilang ibayo ng Ilog Jordan.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on
earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by
my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
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Reflection:
The story is told about a mother who would always shout at her daughter whenever she commits mistake. This was her behavior until her child grew up, eventually the child learned to answer back. Thus, whenever the mother would shout at her, she would shout at her also to reciprocate the insult. When the daughter matured she became aloof and distant toward her mother.
What is the importance of having a one on one talk with someone who offended you or someone who is at fault? You signify your sincerity to correct the person who is at fault. And you send a message that you want to immediately contain and solve the problem without grandstanding and without offending anyone. By doing so you create a sincere message that you want to build bridges and not walls.
Many of us commit the mistake of correcting a person in front of a crowd but this will not help heal a wayward behavior. This would only create a deeper emotional injury to the person who is at fault. Hence, instead of bringing him/her closer to correction, healing and reconciliation we instead are creating an emotional wound that may permanently injure the person.
This teaching of Jesus on how to privately correct a person is very useful for all of us. For the reason that there are times that we let ourselves be taken over by our arrogance rather than our kindness and gentleness. What is the use of power if it will only divide and create deeper emotional injury? What is the use of correcting a person in full view of the public if it would only create deep-seated feeling of hatred that might result to something untoward?
The way of Jesus in solving conflict is always the way of diplomacy, fraternal correction and gentleness. Never through arrogance and power tripping to propel one’s authority and influence.
How do you exercise your power and authority? – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
18 Talagang
sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang talian ninyo sa lupa ay matatali rin sa Langit, at ang
kalagan ninyo dito sa lupa ay kakalagan din sa Langit. 19 Sinasabi ko rin
sa inyo: kung dito sa lupa ay may dalawa sa inyo na nagkakaisang humihingi
ng anuman, gagawin ito para sa kanila ng aking Amang nasa Langit.
20 Sapagkat kung saan may dalawa o tatlong nagkakatipon sa Ngalan ko,
kapiling nila ako.”
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his
life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must
follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor
whoever serves me.”
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Reflection:
What does it mean to hate your life in this world?
It’s to give your life in the service of Jesus so that through you others may know Jesus. When you do not give your life for the mission of Jesus and just keep it to yourself you will not grow in wisdom and faith. Yes, you will grow in worldliness and perhaps riches but eventually your life will come to a halt and that’s basically the end of it.
When you choose to give your life for the mission of Jesus you will not anymore enjoy this world as you enjoyed it before. Yet you will also discover a more profound and deeper meaning in your life that only Jesus can give you.
Why? Because you chose to give your life for the mission of Jesus. You chose to throwaway your life away from worldliness going to the direction of Jesus so that you could walk hand in hand with Him.
As Jesus gave away His very own life on the cross so that God’s kingdom in this world could grow and flourish. We too should not be afraid to give away our life for the sake of the kingdom of God for this is where we can find the true essence and meaning of life.
Have you already found the true essence and meaning of
life with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
25 Nagpapahamak
ng kanyang sarili ang umiibig dito ngunit iingatan naman ito para sa buhay
magpakailanman ng napopoot sa kanyang sarili sa mundong ito. 26 Patuloy
akong sundan ng naglilingkod sa akin at kung nasaan ako, naroon din ang aking
lingkod. Kung may naglilingkod sa akin, pararangalan siya ng Ama.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said,
“From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that
we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish
that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple
tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
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Reflection:
Do you generously give to the church? Because of the covid-19 pandemic the church’s finances and its charitable projects have also been affected that’s why we need to be generous to the church.
The gospel speaks about the payment of the temple tax. Even if they were exempted from paying the temple tax Jesus still instructed Peter to pay the temple tax. Perhaps Jesus did this for the reason that He wants to contribute something for the maintenance of the church and its facilities.
This generous payment of the temple tax by Jesus invites us to examine our generosity to our church as well. Are we generous to our church? Do we give generously during offertory?
We have to be generous to our church so that it can have funds not only for the maintenance of its facilities. But also for the welfare of those who are working for the church. The money that we give to the church is not only for the church it is also for the poor.
We may not know this but the church takes care of the poor, the church doesn’t blare it but it silently helps the poor and those who are in need. Therefore, we have to generously give to our church and whatever we give to our church will come back to us a hundredfold.
What may come back to us may not necessarily be through financial rewards. It can be peace and harmony in the family; it can be good health and many more blessings that do not involve money. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
24 Nang makapasok na sila ng Capernaum, lumapit kay Pedro ang mga tagakolekta sa Templo at tinanong nila siya: “Nagbabayad ba ng buwis ang guro ninyo?” 25 Sumagot siya: “Siyempre.”At pumasok si Pedro sa bahay ngunit agad siyang tinanong ni Jesus: “Ano sa palagay mo, Simon? Sino ang nagbabayad ng buwis o parangal sa mga hari ng mundo: ang mga anak ba o ang iba?”
26 Sumagot si Pedro:
“Ang iba.” At sinabi ni Jesus: “Kung gayon, di-saklaw ang mga anak.
27 Ngunit hindi rin natin dapat saktan ang mga taong ito kaya pumunta ka
sa dagat, maghagis ng bingwit at buksan
ang bibig ng unang isdang iyong mahuhuli. May pera kang matatagpuan doon,
kunin mo iyon at magbayad ka para sa iyo at sa akin din.”
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
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Reflection:
What were the Jews murmuring all about?
The bone of contention of their murmuring was the statement of Jesus that He is the bread that came down from heaven. Perhaps they were murmuring this: “How can it be that He is the bread that came down from heaven when he is just human like us?” The Jews find it hard to understand or accept what Jesus was saying to them for the reason that they were full of unbelief and scorn towards Jesus.
Unbelief or unstable faith is the wall that prevents us from truly understanding the real identity of Jesus. On the other hand our firm faith in Jesus is the catalyst that will open our minds regarding HIS true identity. And it is thru the grace of the Holy Spirit that we begin to comprehend the real Jesus: HIS Humanity and Divinity.
Without a doubt Jesus is the true bread that came down from heaven. He is the same bread that we receive during Holy Communion when we are at Holy Mass. He is the same Bread that is always in the tabernacle. We need to believe this because our belief is the key that would open the door of infinite enlightenment from God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
43 Sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Huwag na kayong magbulung-bulungan pa sa isa’t isa. 44 Walang makalalapit sa akin kung hindi siya aakitin ng Amang nagpadala sa akin. At itatayo ko siya sa huling araw. 45 Nasusulat sa Mga Propeta: Tuturuan nga silang lahat ng Diyos. Kaya lumalapit sa akin ang bawat nakarinig at tinuruan ng Ama.
46 Wala ngang nakakita sa Ama liban sa kanya na galing sa Diyos; siya ang nakakita sa Diyos. 47 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, may buhay magpakailanman ang naniniwala. Katawan ni Kristo, tinapay ng buhay • 48 Ako siyang tinapay ng buhay. 49 Kumain nga ng manna sa disyerto ang inyong mga ninuno at nangamatay pa rin.
50 Narito
naman ang tinapay na pumapanaog mula sa Langit, upang makakain nito ang
sinuman at di mamatay. 51 Ako siyang tinapay na buhay, na pumanaog mula
sa Langit. Kung may kakain ng tinapay na ito, mabubuhay siya magpakailanman.
At ang laman ko ang tinapay na aking ibibigay alang-alang sa ikabubuhay ng
mundo.
Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen,
I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to
this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you.”
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Reflection:
What can your faith in Jesus do to you? It will move you to have hope and it will move you to hold on to Jesus no matter how difficult the situation. The man in our gospel who asked Jesus to cure his son had faith in Jesus. Otherwise he would not have dared approach Jesus and asked for the healing of his son.
In contrast to the faith of the man was the lack of faith of Jesus’ disciples. What was the cause of the disciples’ lack of faith? Perhaps, they treated Jesus as an ordinary mortal like them. Perhaps their reverence for Jesus was little by little being eroded by the trials of their discipleship.
If we treat Jesus as an ordinary mortal we too are susceptible to a spiritual disease called erosion of faith. And the result of this is we will be lukewarm towards Jesus. There would be less motivation on our part to continue to pursue Jesus. We would be more susceptible to doubts and spiritual apathy.
What then is the cure if our faith is dwindling? We should pray and ask Jesus for the gift of increase of faith. We should be present and always paying attention to the Eucharistic Celebration (Holy Mass). We should partake of His Body as often as possible and we should give time for reading the words of Jesus in the bible.
If we would have time to do all of these, we surely
would always have rock solid faith in Jesus. Thus, no problems and life
challenges no matter how difficult can defeat us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
