Reflection for October 23, Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means!  

But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. 

So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

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Reflection:

What does sin do to us? It makes our life miserable and problematic but sin does not immediately show its true color. It sugarcoats itself first as pleasure or something that would make life enjoyable for us. Then when we are deep into it already it shows its hideous identity. 

Jesus through our gospel calls us to change our ways and repent from our sinfulness. Jesus has been very patient with us even if we have been offending Him for so many times. He patiently calls us everyday to permanently walk away from our sinfulness while there is still time. Let us listen to His call of repentance. 

When are we going to listen? Should we wait until such time that we are already incapacitated or when we are already on our deathbeds? It might be too late already, let us listen to Him while there is still time, let us listen to Him while we are still in the pink of health. Jesus loves us so dearly that He wants us to be liberated from the enslavement of sin. This liberation will only happen if we would listen to His call of repentance.  

What if we don’t listen to Jesus call of repentance? What would happen to us? We allow ourselves to be continuously enslaved by the devil and we all know that the devil will bring us nothing but misery. Do we want our lives to be miserable? Of course not! Nobody wants to live a miserable life. Let us therefore listen to the call of Jesus for us to repent and walk away from our sinfulness.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 23 Sabado sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:1-9

1Dumating naman ang ilang tao na nagbalita kay Jesus ng  nangyari sa Templo. Ipinapatay nga ni Pilato ang mga taga-Galilea at nahalo ang kanilang dugo sa mga handog nila. 2 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Sa akala ba ninyo’y mas makasalanan ang mga taga-Galileang iyon kaysa lahat ng mga taga-Galilea dahil sila ang nagdusa? 3 Hindi. At sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.  

4 Gayon din naman sa namatay na labing walong taong nabagsakan ng tore sa Siloe, sa akala ba ninyo’y mas may utang sila sa Diyos kaysa lahat ng naninirahan sa Jerusalem? 5 Sinasabi ko: hindi, pero kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.”  

6 At sinabi ni Jesus ang talinhagang ito: “May taong may isang puno ng igos sa kanyang ubasan. At pumunta siya para maghanap ng mga bunga pero wala siyang nakita. 7 Kaya sinabi niya sa nag-aalaga ng ubasan: ‘Tatlong taon na akong pumaparito sa paghahanap ng mga bunga sa punong-igos na iyan at wala akong nakita. Putulin mo iyan at pampasikip lang sa lupa.’ 

8 Ngunit sumagot sa kanya ang tauhan: ‘Ginoo, pabayaan mo na siya ngayong taon. Maghuhukay ako sa paligid nito at lalagyan ng pataba. 9 Baka sakaling mamunga siya ngunit kung hindi’y saka mo siya putulin.”

Reflection for October 22, Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:54-59

Gospel: Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek fortunetellers to know what is your future? 

Fortunetellers make a living by means of predicting the obvious things that will happen in our future. There are those who believe because what they foretold became a reality. So, they make a habit of consulting fortunetellers whenever there are major decisions to be made. 

For some who cannot afford to pay their services. They make do by reading the daily horoscope available for free in some internet sites and other newspapers. And if what is written in their horoscopes are not favorable for them they would be bothered by it.   

If we have faith in Jesus, there’s no need to consult anyone regarding our future. We only have to get closer to Jesus through prayer, by listening to Him who directly speaks to us when we read the bible and through our pious attendance at Holy Mass. 

Jesus is always an ever-present friend who is always there for us. He will not predict our future based on the obvious signs of the times. But He will always be an omnipresent companion as we walk from our present going to our future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 22 Biyernes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:54-59

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:54-59

54 Sinabi rin ni Jesus sa mga tao: “Kapag nakita ninyong tumataas ang ulap sa kanluran, kaagad ninyong sinasabi, ‘Uulan,’ at ganoon nga ang nang­yayari. 55 At kung umiihip naman ang hangin galing timog, sinasabi ninyong ‘Magiging napakainit,’ at nangyayari nga ito. 56 Mga mapagkunwari! Nabi­bigyan ninyo ng ka­hu­lugan ang anyo ng lupa at langit pero bakit hindi ninyo sinusuri kung ano ang panahong ito? 

57 At bakit hindi kayo mismo ang ma­ka­pag­pas­ya kung ano ang tama? 58 Sa pag­punta mo sa mayka­pang­ya­rihan kasama ng kalaban mo, sikapin mong ma­kipag-areglo sa kanya sa daan; baka iharap ka sa hukom, at ibigay ka naman ng hukom sa pulis para ipakulong sa bilangguan. 59 Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hanggang hindi mo nababaya­ran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo.”

Reflection for October 21, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 

From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

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Reflection:

Has there been an instance in your family wherein you created conflict because you tried to correct a wrong behavior? For example, you gently reminded your spouse to go home early and not hangout with his/friends after work for the simple reason that when he arrives late he is a little bit drunk. 

In the gospel we hear Jesus telling us to loudly speak out whenever we observe deviation from normal behavior within family and friendship. If by speaking out we create walls that might temporarily divide us, so be it. 

For example, if we see immorality within the family (The husband/wife is playing with fire) should the wife/husband just ignore this and pretend to see and hear no evil with this blatant show of disrespect to her/him? Of course not! The wife/husband must speak out! 

The problem with some of us is we sometimes have a passive or no concern attitude even if there’s already wrongdoing in the family. We have this attitude because we are afraid that it will create division and enmity. 

This mindset is terribly wrong. What Jesus wants us to do whenever we see a wrongdoing is to denounce the evil inside that wrongdoing. Even if our denouncement would create temporary divisions and enmity. Why? For the simple reason that we cannot correct a wrong behavior by keeping silent.  

So, instead of keeping silent we have to denounce and make noise about the wrong doing until we exorcise the wrongdoing and the wrongdoer.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 21 Huwebes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:49-53

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 49 Dumating ako upang maghagis ng apoy sa lupa, at ganoon na lamang ang pagnanais kong magliyab na sana ito! 50 Ngunit dapat akong mabinyagan ng isang binyag, at ganoon na lamang ang pagkabalisa ko hanggang di ito na­ga­ganap!  

51 Sa akala ba ninyo’y duma­ting ako para magbigay ng kapa­yapaan sa lupa? Hindi, sinasabi ko sa inyo, kundi paghihiwa-hiwalay! 52 Sa­pagkat mula ngayo’y magkakahati-hati ang limang nasa isang sambahayan, tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo; 53 mag­kakahati-hati sila: ama la­ban sa anak na lalaki at anak na lalaki laban sa ama, ina laban sa anak na babae at anak na babae laban sa ina, biyenang babae laban sa kanyang manugang na babae at manu­gang na babae laban sa biye­nang babae.” 

Reflection for October 20, Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:39-48

Gospel: Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 

Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 

That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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Reflection:

Are you a faithful and prudent steward of the Lord?

We are all just stewards of everything that we have right. It’s not ours everything that we have right now is only lent to us God. For example, the power that we have, the intelligence, the material wealth and our spiritual gift and so forth.  As such, we should properly manage and use  what we have in our possession. We should all be worthy stewards; we should put to good use whatever talents that God has given us.

However, if we would not be up to the task that God has given us. We can rest assure that eventually everything that we have will be taken from us because we were not worthy of the blessings that God bestowed on us.

The gospel today talks about the coming of the Son of Man.  The servants who were caught unaware were busy doing their own thing. These servants are like some of us; always very busy with the things of this world. We forget God or God becomes only our second or third priority.

We must put God forward first, before anything else it should be God first. How about the things of this world? It should be secondary. When we put God first and we abhor sin everything else would follow including our need for material things. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 20 Miyerkules sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:39-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:39-48

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 39 Isipin ninyo ito: kung nalaman lamang ng may-ari ng bahay kung anong oras ng gabi ang dating ng magnanakaw, hindi sana niya paba­bayaang looban ang kanyang bahay. 40 Kaya maging han­da kayo sapagkat duma­rating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na hindi ninyo inaakala.” 

41 Sinabi ni Pedro: “Panginoon, ka­nino mo ba sinasabi ang talinhagang ito, sa amin o sa lahat?” 42 Sumagot ang Pangi­noon: “Isipin ninyo ito: may tapat at mata­linong katiwala na panga­nga­siwain ng panginoon sa kanyang mga tauhan para bigyan sila ng rasyon sa tamang oras. 43 Kung sa pagdating ng kan­yang panginoon ay matagpuan siya nitong tumu­tupad nang gayon, mapalad ang lingkod na iyon. 

44 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, panganga­siwain siya nito sa lahat nitong ari-arian. 45 Ngunit maaari namang maisip ng lingkod na iyon: ‘Matatagalan pang dumating ang panginoon ko’ at simulang pagmalupitan ang mga utusang lalaki at babae, at kumain, uminom at maglasing. 46 Ngu­nit darating ang panginoon ng lingkod na iyon sa araw na di niya inaasahan at sa oras na di niya nalalaman. Palala­yasin niya ang katulong na ito at pakiki­tunguhang gaya ng mga di-tapat. 

47 Maraming hampas ang tatang­gapin ng katulong na nakaaalam sa kalooban ng kanyang panginoon pero hindi nag­handa ni sumunod sa kalooban niya. 48 Kaunti lang naman ang tatanggapin ng walang nalalaman sa kalooban niya ngu­nit gumawa ng mga bagay na dapat parusahan. Hihingan nga ng marami ang binigyan ng marami at hihingan nang higit ang pinag­katiwalaan nang higit.

Reflection for October 19, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.  

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

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Reflection:

Why does Jesus tells us to be vigilant? Because we never know when he will come, He may come any day that we least expect. This is how much Jesus loves us! If Jesus doesn’t love us He wouldn’t bother to tell us to be prepared. But in truth and in fact Jesus loves us dearly, are we able to reciprocate this great love of Jesus for us?  

If we continue to do good; if we continue to be humble, if we are able to attend Holy Mass if we continue to bring others closer to Jesus and if we can walk away from sin then we are prepared. Are these already enough preparation for the coming of the Lord? We never know for we don’t have the capacity to read the mind of God.  

Nevertheless, Jesus has already given us the lead on how we can best prepare ourselves for the great coming of the Lord. What if we are not prepared? We have nobody to blame but ourselves for this simply means that we refused to heed the call of Jesus.  

Yet, there are many who live their life as if they own it for themselves, as if they are in control of their lives. But nobody is in control except Jesus that’s why we must always be prepared.  

Life is never permanent we may be in the pink of health today but we never know what may happen to us the next day or even the next minute. We never know if the breath that we will take before we sleep tonight is our last or not, this is how fragile life is.  

This gospel is a wake up call for all of us to always be prepared. Are you always prepared? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 19 Martes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:35-38

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:35-38

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 35 Maghintay kayong bihis at handang maglingkod, na may nakasinding mga lam­para. 36 Maging tulad kayo ng mga taong naghihintay sa kanilang pa­nginoon. Pauwi siya mula sa kasalan at agad nilang mabubuksan ang pinto pag dating niya at pag katok.  

37 Mapalad ang mga lingkod na iyon na matatagpuang naghi­hintay sa panginoon pag­dating niya. Maniwala kayo sa akin, isu­suot niya ang damit pantrabaho at pauupuin sila sa hapag at isa-isa silang pagsisil­bihan. 38 Dumating man siya sa hating­gabi o sa madaling-araw at ma­tagpuan niya silang ganito, mapalad ang mga iyon!

Reflection for October 18, Monday Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household. If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you cure the sick in it and say to them ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus send the seventy-two disciples in pairs? Jesus could have sent them one by one so that they could cover more ground thus the spread of the gospel would be much faster. But Jesus chose them to go in pairs. 

In pairs for the reason that He wanted them to help each other in doing their mission for Him.   Jesus had it already in His mind that to do His mission is realistically not that easy. So, He deemed it right and wise to send them in pairs for them to help each other as they face the many challenges of their mission. 

Why do we exist in this world? Do we exist for ourselves only? Of course not! We exist in this world for a reason. And that reason is to help our fellowmen; we need to extend to them the good news about Jesus. We need to feed the hungry; we need to clothe those who do not have clothes. And we need to give hope to those who are losing hope.   

This is our vocation and mission as followers and missioners of Christ Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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.”