Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 18 Lunes; San Lucas ebanghelista (Kapistahan) Lucas 10:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:1-9

1 Pagkatapos nito, humirang ang Panginoon ng iba pang pitumpu’t dalawa at isinugo silang dala-dalawa na mauna sa kanya sa bawat ba­yan at lugar na takda niyang pun­tahan. 2 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Marami nga ang aanihin at kakaunti naman ang mga mang­gagawa; idalangin ninyo sa panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang ani. 3 Lumakad na kayo. Isinusugo ko ka­yong parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat. 4 Huwag kayong magdala ng pitaka, bag o mga sandalyas. At huwag ninyong ba­tiin ang sinuman sa daan. 

5 Saanmang bahay kayo pumasok, sa­bihin muna ninyo: ‘Mapasatahanang ito ang kapayapaan!’ 6 Kung mapaya­pang tao ang naroon, sasakanya ang inyong kapayapaan. Kung hindi’y mag­babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal. 7 At sa bahay na iyon kayo manatili; kumain kayo at umi­nom na kasalo nila sapag­kat may karapatan ang manggagawa sa kanyang sa­hod. Huwag kayong magpapapalit-palit ng bahay. 

• 8 Saanmang bayan kayo pumasok at tanggapin nila kayo, kanin ninyo anu­mang ihain sa inyo. 9 Pagalingin din ninyo ang mga maysakit doon at sabihin ninyo sa kanila: ‘Palapit na sa inyo ang kaha­rian ng Diyos.’

 

Reflection for Sunday October 17, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:35-45

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.  

Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.  

Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.  

For 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 young man who saw the arrival of their bishop in their parish church. The young man was so overwhelmed by the respect that was being given by the parishioners to the bishop. Many were bowing to him; some were holding his right hand so that they could put it on their forehead for them to be blessed.  Others were lining up to kiss the bishop’s ring. The young man was so impressed by what he saw that he said to his parents, I want to become a bishop someday so that I will also be admired and respected. 

James and John were also after respect and admiration this is the reason why they asked Jesus if they could sit beside Him in His kingdom. They wanted those who would see them to be  in awe by the influence that they have. Imagine sitting beside the Lord, it is a badge of honor; it is something that will make any believer proud. But Jesus rebuked them by saying, “You do not know what you are asking.” 

Why do we aspire for respect and admiration? Do we want it because it enhances our self-worth and ego? Do we want it for the reason that we want others to look up to us and perceive us as someone who is influential? It is all of the above and more, whether we admit it or not many of us are craving for self-centered honor to be bestowed upon us for we hunger and love it.       

But in Jesus’ viewpoint self-centered honor, egotism, and every kind of action for us to be adored and exalted amounts to nothing. Because Jesus himself shunned all of these exaltation, Jesus avoided it like a plague. What is important for Jesus is to follow the will of God and that is none other than humble service to His people. This eventually led Him to suffer and eventually sacrifice His very own life on the cross.   

We ask ourselves now: Why do we aspire to be great, to be popular and to be admired. The answer is no brainer: Many of us simply want to increase our temporal human value, we want to feed our hungry egos. But all of these are self-promotion which does not count in the eyes of the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Octobre 17 Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:35-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:35-45

35 Lumapit noon kay Jesus sina Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo, at sinabi sa kanya: “Guro, gusto sana naming gawin mo ang hihingin namin sa iyo.” 36 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Ano ang gusto ninyong gawin ko?” 37 Su­magot sila: “Ipagkaloob mo sa amin sa iyong kaluwalhatian na maupo ang isa sa amin sa kanan mo, at ang isa naman sa kaliwa mo.”

38 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Talagang hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang hinihingi ninyo. Maiinom ba ninyo ang kopang iinumin ko at mabi­bin­yagan sa binyag na ibinin­yag sa akin?” 39 Su­magot sila: “Kaya namin.” Sumagot si Jesus: “Totoong iinom din kayo sa kopang iinumin ko at mabi­binyagan sa binyag na ibi­binyag sa akin. 40 Ngu­nit wala sa akin ang pag­papaupo sa aking kanan o kaliwa. Ini­handa ito para sa  iba.”

41 Nang marinig ito ng sampu, nagalit sila kina Jaime at Juan. 42 Kaya tinawag sila ni Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Nalalaman ninyo na sinusupil ng mga naghahari ang kanilang mga bansa at inaapi ng mga nasa kapang­yarihan. 43 Huwag namang ganito sa inyo: ang may gustong maging dakila, siya ang maging lingkod ninyo; 44 ang may gustong mauna sa inyo, siya ang maging alipin ninyo.

45 Gayun­din naman, dumating ang Anak ng Tao hindi para paglingkuran kundi para mag­lingkod at ibigay ang kanyang buhay bilang pantubos sa ma­rami.”

Reflection for October 16, Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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Reflection:
Are you proud with your relationship with Jesus? Do you own it like a badge of honor? Of course you will say that you are proud. However, this not always true because there are instances that you betray Jesus for the fleeting things of this world.

The sad truth is our profession of love for Jesus is often times lip service only. When we are faced with temptation we oftentimes give up Jesus in favor of the fleeting temptation. When we are put on the spot to make a stand for Jesus we betray Him easily just like how Judas betrayed Jesus.

If we say that we love Jesus we must be proud of it and we must live it, we must not betray Jesus for the things of this world. For what is this world compared to having a relationship with our Lord and Savior?

What would it do us if we acquire all the things and cravings of this temporary world but in the process we lose our relationship with the Lord? Nothing except misery and problems! We always have to remember that what we presently own and have we will leave or it will leave us.

How about Jesus? He will never leave us, in good times and in bad, in our sorrows and triumphs and in life in this world and beyond this world. He will always be there for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 16 Sabado sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 12:8-12

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:8-12

1 Nang magkatipon ang libu-libong tao hanggang magkatapakan na sila, sinimulang sabihin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Mag-ingat muna kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo, na walang iba kundi ang pag­ku­kunwari.  

2 Walang tinatakpan na di mabu­bun­yag, walang natatago na di malalaman. 3 Kaya naman, ang sinabi ninyo sa dilim, sa liwanag maririnig; at ang ibi­nulong ninyo sa mga kuwarto, sa bu­bu­­ngan ipahahayag. 

4 Sinasabi ko naman ito sa inyo na mga kaibigan ko: huwag ninyong kata­kutan ang mga nakapapatay sa katawan at wala nang magagawa pa. 5 Ituturo ko sa inyo kung sino ang dapat ninyong katakutan: matakot kayo sa may kapangyarihang pumatay at may ka­pangyarihan pang mag­bulid sa impiyer­no. 

Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, ito ang kata­kutan ninyo. 6 Di ba’t ipinag­bibili nang dala­wang pera ang limang maya? Subalit isa man sa kanila’y di nalilimutan ng Diyos. 7 Bilang na pati ang lahat ng buhok sa inyong ulo. Huwag ka­yong matakot; mas maha­laga pa kayo kaysa maraming maya.

Reflection for October 15, Friday Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 12:1-7

Gospel: Luke 12:1-7
At that time so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear.

Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
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Reflection:
Does God know everything about us?

Yes, God knows everything about us; including those sins that we think are known only to ourselves He knows too! What is the proof that God knows about it? The proof is our conscience which bothers us whenever we sin. These sins would continue to bother us until we ask forgiveness or we make amends to the person whom we have hurt.

God is an all-knowing and all-pervading God. We therefore have to shape up and walk away from sin while we still have the luxury of time. We also have to do away with the sinful thoughts that we keep in our minds.

It would be much better if we always align all our thoughts and actions with God. So that when our time to leave this world comes we would be ready. Thus, from here we go straight to the eternal dwelling of God.

However, we are weak human beings we often times sin but we can overcome this weakness if ask the Lord to help us overcome it and if we would strongly resolve to overcome it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 15 Biyernes Santa Teresa de Jesus, dalaga at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita) Lucas 12:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:1-7

1 Nang magkatipon ang libu-libong tao hanggang magkatapakan na sila, sinimulang sabihin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Mag-ingat muna kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo, na walang iba kundi ang pag¬ku¬kunwari.

2 Walang tinatakpan na di mabu¬bun¬yag, walang natatago na di malalaman. 3 Kaya naman, ang sinabi ninyo sa dilim, sa liwanag maririnig; at ang ibi¬nulong ninyo sa mga kuwarto, sa bubungan ipahahayag.

4 Sinasabi ko naman ito sa inyo na mga kaibigan ko: huwag ninyong kata¬kutan ang mga nakapapatay sa katawan at wala nang magagawa pa. 5 Ituturo ko sa inyo kung sino ang dapat ninyong katakutan: matakot kayo sa may kapangyarihang pumatay at may ka¬pangyarihan pang mag¬bulid sa impiyerno.

Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, ito ang kata¬kutan ninyo. 6 Di ba’t ipinag¬bibili nang dala¬wang pera ang limang maya? Subalit isa man sa kanila’y di nalilimutan ng Diyos. 7 Bilang na pati ang lahat ng buhok sa inyong ulo. Huwag ka¬yong matakot; mas maha¬laga pa kayo kaysa maraming maya. 

Reflection for October 14, Thursday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. 

Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building.

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Why were the Pharisees and scribes angry with Jesus? It was for the reason that Jesus was telling the truth about their hypocrisy and double speak.  The truth hurts but Jesus doesn’t mince words He tells it as He sees it.  So Jesus tells it directly to them without fear because He wants them to open their minds about their pretentions and double standard. 

When somebody corrects us and tells negative things about us; let us accept it as a constructive criticism and let us look at it on a positive way.  Where we can learn and further improve, if we close our minds to criticism it’s like saying that we don’t want to improve. And those who do not want to improve and those who refuse correction would never become better individuals.   

Let us remember that nobody is perfect except God. We all have our own flaws and shortcomings and these are natural for we are imperfect humans. We all are subject to our own frailties and weakness.  What is important is we accept corrections and we make it as our reference point for us to become better and useful citizens of this fleeting world.   

Let us therefore always be humble let us be open to advice, let us always be open to corrections and let us make these as a springboard for us to become better citizens of this world and eventually beyond this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 14 Huwebes sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:47-54

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:47-54

Sinabi ni Jesus, 47 Sawimpalad kayong nagtatayo ng mga puntod sa mga prope­tang pinatay ng inyong mga ama. 48 Sa gayon ninyo inaamin at sinasang-ayunan ang mga ginawa ng inyong mga ama; iniligpit nila ang mga propeta, at maka­pagta­tayo na kayo ngayon. 

49 Nagsusugo ako sa kanila ng mga propeta at mga apostol ngunit uusigin nila at papatayin ang ilan sa ka­nila. 50 Ka­yat papapanagutin ang salin­lahing ito sa dugo ng lahat ng propeta, sa dugong na­buhos mula pa sa pagka­tatag ng mundo, 51 mula sa dugo ni Abel hanggang sa dugo ni Zacarias na nasawi sa pagitan ng altar at ng san­tuwaryo. Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, pa­pa­pa­nagutin ang salinlahing ito. 

52 Sawimpalad kayong mga guro ng Batas na umagaw sa susi ng kaalaman. Hindi na kayo pumasok at hinadlangan pa ninyo ang mga ma­kapapasok.” 53 Pagkatapos ay umalis si Jesus at sinimulan naman ng mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo na mahigpit na maki­pagtalo sa kanya. Pinapagsa­lita nila siya tungkol sa maraming bagay 54 at pilit na sinisilo sa anumang sinasabi niya.

  

Reflection for October 13, Wednesday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

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Reflection:

Do you live what you say? For example you will say to your children that they should live simply yet your lifestyle is not simple because you want expensive things. How will your children follow and believe what you say? 

Jesus is angry with the Pharisees because many of them were full of pretension their external actions were very much different from their internal thought. They command the people to do this and that yet they themselves were not willing to do it. 

What Jesus wants for the Pharisees then and for us now is to lead by example; let us mean what we say and live what we say. This is where we are often lacking, yes we go to church and yes we worship God. But do we translate these to living acts of faith? 

Let us not be like the Pharisees and the scholars of the law who are very good only in giving orders. Let us be like Jesus who put into action every word and phrase that He said.

 Jesus lived every word that He preached, for example Jesus preached simplicity of lifestyle, He therefore lived this simple lifestyle. Jesus preached about forgiveness, mercy and love and He lived His preaching of forgiveness, mercy and love as well.

Do you live a simple lifestyle and are you forgiving, merciful and loving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 13 Miyerkules sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:42-46

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:42-46

Sinabi ni Jesus, Sawimpalad kayong mga Pariseo! Nagba­bayad nga kayo ng ikapu ng yerbabuena at ng ruda at ng lahat ng gulay, at pinababayaan naman ninyo ang kataru­ngan at ang pag-ibig sa Diyos. Ito nga ang dapat gawin nang di kinaliligtaan ang mga iyon. 43 Sawimpalad kayong mga Pa­riseo! Gusto ninyong mabigyan ng pa­nguna­hing upuan sa mga sinagoga at mabati sa mga liwa­san. 44 Sawimpalad kayo, na parang mga naka­tagong libi­ngan, na inaapakan ng mga tao at di man lang nila namamalayan.” 

45 Nagsalita ang isang guro ng Batas: “Guro, iniinsulto mo rin kami sa pagsa­sabi mo ng mga ito.” 46 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Sawimpalad din ka­yong mga guro ng Batas! Ipinapapasan ninyo sa mga tao ang mga napakabibigat na pasanin, ngunit ni isang daliri ay ayaw ninyong igalaw para tulungan sila.

Reflection for October 12, Tuesday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:37-41

Gospel: Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 

The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

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Reflection:

What do you do when you invite people to dine in your home? 

Many of us discreetly observe them especially if our invited guests are few the more that we observe them. We sometimes pretend to be busy but we observe them quietly: How they behave and so forth. 

However, amidst our being observant Jesus wants to tell us something: Let us not judge them based on their external behavior. Because our judgment based on what we see do not really represent who they really are. There’s a whole lot more that we could discover from them if we would not be quick on judging them. 

It feeds our ego when we are noticed based on our external appearance: What we do, the clothes that we wear, our physical appearance etc. The more that we are noticed the more that we would reinforce our external actions. These are all superficial, before God these egocentric actions count for nothing before the eyes of God. 

What counts before God are those that are not seen by our eyes. What counts before the Lord is what is inside us not what is outside of us. Those that are not seen such as: Clean conscience, a caring, forgiving and loving heart and a mind that has no place for ill thoughts. 

Perhaps, the Pharisee in our gospel invited Jesus to his house not out of his goodwill and kindness. He invited Jesus because he wants to see if Jesus would subscribe to the many rituals of their Jewish faith. 

Are many of us not like this Pharisee? When friends come to our house we also observe them as to how they would behave. And based on what we saw we would now conjure our unfavorable conclusion towards them. 

But our judgment is often wrong for we don’t know what’s inside the heart of the person. And besides, it’s hard to judge based solely on the few times that we’ve observed them. Let us not judge quickly and let us not judge based on what we see. 

Are you quick to judge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 12 Martes sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:37-41

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:37-41

37 Matapos magsalita si Jesus, inan­yaya­han siya ng isang Pariseo na kumain sa bahay nito. Pumasok siya at dumulog sa hapag. 38 At nagtaka ang Pariseo nang makitang hindi muna siya naghugas ng kamay bago kumain. 

39 Ngu­nit sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon: “Kayong mga Pariseo, ugali ninyong linisin ang labas ng mga baso’t pinggan pero nag-uumapaw naman sa kasa­kiman at kasamaan ang inyong loob! 40 Mga hangal! Di ba’t ang maygawa ng labas ang siya ring maygawa ng loob? 41 Pero naglilimos lamang kayo at sa akala ninyo’y malinis na ang lahat.

Reflection for October 11, Monday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. 

At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

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Reflection:

Do you ask for signs before you decide about an important decision? For example, if you’re a woman, would you ask for a sign if the man courting you is the right one for you? And based on that sign you now would decide to say yes or no to that man? 

Jesus is much bigger than the signs that we ask for from God. If we have Him in our hearts we need not ask anymore for signs. But do we allow Jesus to have a special place in our hearts? Jesus has a simple request for all of us for Him to dwell in our hearts. The simple request is our repentance from all of our sins. This is His simple request for all of us, so that He could dwell in our hearts. 

During the time of Jonah, the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah’s call of repentance. Otherwise there would be destruction upon them. So they listened, they’ve put on sackcloth to show God that they are sorry for the many sins that they’ve committed and they are ready to walk away from it. 

Why do we continue to embrace sin when it will not do us any good? Why do we continue to embrace sin when we know for a fact that sin is evil and it eventually will destroy us? We continue to sin because the devil gives us generous incentives to commit it. But there is always a time of reckoning and we will be destroyed eventually because we decided to embrace the devil. 

If we will love this world more than we love God we certainly will continue to sin. However, God is always there for us no matter how sinful we are, ever ready to embrace us with His infinite love, mercy and forgiveness. 

Prayer:

We are sinful creatures of this world O Lord and we are tired of sinning for it has not brought anything good into our lives. We seek your forgiveness O Lord and we seek your love, this we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas