Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 3 Miyerkules sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 14:25-33

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 14:25-33

25 Habang naglalakad ang napa­kara­ming tao na kasama ni Jesus, hu­marap siya sa kanila at sinabi: 26 “Kung may dumating sa akin na di nagtatakwil sa pag-ibig sa kanyang ama at ina, at asawa at mga anak, at mga ka­patid na lalaki at babae, at maging sa kanyang sarili, hindi siya puwedeng maging alagad ko. 27 At hindi puwedeng maging alagad ko ang di nagpapasan ng kan­yang krus sa pag­su­nod sa akin. 

28 At paano kung may magbalak mag­­­tayo ng silungan ng bantay sa bukid? Di ba’t uupo muna siya at tatantyahin ang gastos para ma­laman kung may sapat siya para maipatapos iyon? 29 Sapagkat kung mailagay niya ang pundasyon at hindi naman niya iyon ma­ipa­tapos, pagtatawanan lamang siya ng lahat: 30 ‘Hayan ang nagsimu­lang magtayo at hindi na maipa­tapos.’ 

31 At paano kung may haring ma­ki­kipag­harap sa ibang hari? Di ba’t uupo muna siya para mag-isip kung kaya niya at ng sampung libong kasama niya  na harapin ang dumarating na may dala­wam­­pung libo? 32 At kung hindi naman, malayo pa ang isa ay magpapadala na siya ng mga sugo para maki­pag-areglo. 33 Gayon din sa inyo. Hindi puwedeng maging alagad ko ang di tumatalikod sa lahat ng kanya.

When I'm Gone ( A Poem for all Souls' Day)

 When I'm Gone

By: Lyman Hancock

When I’ve come to the end of my journey and I have traveled my very last mile Forget if you can that I’ve frowned Remember only my smile...

Forgive unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget I ever had heartache
And remember only our fun...

Forget that I've stumbled and fumbled
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember: I fought some hard battles
But had you at the close of my day...

Do not grieve for my going
I would not have you sad this day
But in time gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay...

Perhaps in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the West
Come stand a few moments above me
Remembering only the best...

 

1Reflection for November 2, Tuesday; Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day): John 14:1-6

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 * And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 

4 Where [I] am going you know the way. 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth* and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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Reflection:

Do you know where would you go after your journey in this world is over? 

Perhaps many of us may lose sleep by mere mention of death, we don’t want to die at this point because we are not yet prepared. But who is prepared to die? Nobody, we are not prepared to die. Why? For the simple reason that majority of us still love to be in this world and enjoy whatever it can still offer us.

Nevertheless, Jesus is telling us in our gospel not to be troubled. For as long as we have faith in Him we would be OK even if we die. For our faith and friendship with Jesus is more than enough to conquer our fear of death. 

Therefore, we have to do our part to get close to Jesus for as long as we live. If we are close to Jesus we have nothing to fear, even death we will not fear. Jesus Himself assures us with these words: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places (John 14:1-2). 

Let us not only remember our dear departed loved ones today, let us also light a candle and offer prayers for them. If there is no more covid-19 related restriction let us attend Holy Mass and offer Holy Mass for the intention of their souls. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 2 Martes Paggunita sa lahat ng mga Pumanaw na Kristiyano: Juan 14:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:1-6    Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 1 Huwag mabagabag ang inyong mga puso. Manalig kayo sa Diyos, at manalig din kayo sa akin. 2 Mara¬ming silid sa bahay ng aking Ama. Kung hindi’y hindi ko sana sinabi sa inyong: “Pupunta ako upang ipag-handa kayo ng lugar.” 3 At pag pumunta na ako at naipag¬handa kayo ng lugar, muli akong darating at dadalhin ko kayo sa akin upang kung saan ako naroon, gayon din naman kayo. 

4 At alam n’yo ang daan sa pupun¬tahan ko.” 5 Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas: “Pangi-noon, hindi namin alam kung saan ka pu¬punta. Paano namin malalaman ang daan?” 6 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siyang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang nakalalapit sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.  

Reflection for November 1, Monday Solemnity of All Saints: Matthew 5:1-12a

 

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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Reflection:

How does one become a saint in his/her own little way? To be saint is to embody the character of Jesus. To be saint is to embody the words of Jesus in our gospel today.

We can be saints in our own little way for as long as we aspire to follow the life of Jesus and for as long as we live the words of Jesus in the gospel. For example, if you’re a parent and you try your very best to rear your children according to the teachings of Jesus you are already a saint for them. If you’re a son or daughter and you try your very best to take care of your parents, you are already a saint for them. 

In our gospel Jesus mentions nine blessed situations. The first is poor in spirit; how does one become poor in spirit? Does this mean that we are blessed because we lack the necessary spiritual vitality? No, the poor in spirit are those who are lacking in material possessions and whose reliance is in God. 

To be poor in spirit means that we continuously hunger for Jesus. Nobody could fill this hunger than the words of Jesus in the gospels, we rely on Jesus more than we rely on ourselves and this world. 

Do you always hunger and thirst for the Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 1 Lunes Lahat ng mga Banal: Mateo 5:1-12a

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:1-12a

1 Nang makita ni Jesus ang makapal na tao, umahon siya sa bundok. Naupo siya roon at lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga alagad.

2 At nag¬simula siyang magturo sa kanila:

3 “Mapapalad ang mga may diwa ng dukha sapagkat sa kanila ang Kaha¬rian ng Langit.

4 Mapapalad ang mga nagluluksa sapagkat pagiginhawahin sila.

5 Mapapalad ang mga di-marahas sa¬pagkat mapapasakanila ang lupain.

6 Mapapalad ang mga nagugutom at nauuhaw sa katarungan sapagkat bubu¬sugin sila.

7 Mapapalad ang mga maawain sapagkat kaaawaan sila.

8 Mapapalad ang mga may busilak na puso sapagkat makikita nila ang Diyos.

9 Mapapalad ang mga nagpupun¬yagi para sa kapayapaan sapagkat tatawagin silang mga anak ng Diyos.

10 Mapapalad ang mga pinag-uusig dahil sa katarungan sapagkat kanila ang Kaharian ng Langit.

11 Mapapalad kayo kung iniinsulto kayo at pinag-uusig at sinisiraang-puri dahil sa akin. 12 Magsaya kayo at maga¬lak sa¬pagkat malaki ang gantim¬palang nasa Diyos para sa inyo.

1Reflection for Sunday October 31, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:28b-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  

The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God. And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a pastor who was preaching about love for God and neighbor. Across his church was a man who would always create noise whenever he was preaching. And he would naturally be distracted by that man. One morning the pastor went to that man and angrily told him that he is disturbing him. The man said to the pastor: “Why are you angry with me, don’t you know that I am just testing you if you live what you are preaching?” 

Do you love God? Surely you do. How about your neighbor?  It’s easy to say I love God but to live this love of God is a different story altogether. Because if we would live this love of God. Then, we would be willing to love even our unlovable neighbor. 

But who is this neighbor? He/she could be anyone that you know who’ve hurt you. He/she could be your spouse, your relative, your friend or your literal house neighbor. The supreme test of our love for God is when we are willing to love even our unlovable neighbor.  

If we say we love God yet we hold deep resentment toward somebody who has hurt us badly. Then, our love of God is simply superficial. It becomes authentic when we hold no bitterness toward those who’ve hurt us no matter how deep the hurt they’ve inflicted upon us.  

What is the use of going to church, of giving offerings and doing other forms of sacrifices as an expression of our faith and love for God. Yet, we hold a grudge against someone? Thus, we are still wanting in our profession of our love for God. True love for God is when we are capable of forgetting and forgiving the hurt that had been inflicted upon us.  

What if the hurt is consistently being made afresh, there is no sign of remorse from that neighbor. Perhaps it’s about time to completely walk away from that neighbor. We walk away not because we don’t love that neighbor and God. We walk away because that is the most ethical act to do.  

In the gospel, Jesus talks about the two greatest commandments: Love for God and neighbor. These two expressions of love should always be together and it should not be separated. Does this mean that there’s always a happy ending when we love God and neighbor?     

Not always, there are also sad endings when we express and live our love for God and neighbor. However, these sad endings are temporary eventually there would be a happy ending. Why? Because we never give up on loving our God and our neighbor. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Octobre 31 Ika-31 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 12:28b-34

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:28b-34

28 May isang guro ng Batas na nakarinig sa pagtatalo ni Jesus at ng mga Sadduseo. Nang mapansin niyang tama ang sagot ni Jesus sa mga Sadduseo, lumapit siya at nagtanong kay Jesus: “Ano ang una sa lahat ng utos?”

29 Sumagot si Jesus na “Ito ang una: Makinig nawa, O Israel! Iisa lang ang Panginoong ating Diyos. 30 At mamahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kaluluwa, nang buo mong pag-iisip at nang buo mong lakas. 31At pangalawa naman ito: Mamahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Wala nang utos na mas mahalaga pa kaysa mga ito.” 

32 Kaya sinabi ng guro ng Batas: “Mabuti, Guro, totoo ang sinabi mong isa Siya at wala na maliban sa kanya. 33 At ang mahalin siya nang buong puso at nang buong kaluluwa at nang buong lakas, at mahalin din ang kapwa gaya ng sarili ay mas mahalaga kaysa mga sinu¬nog na handog at mga alay.”

34 Nakita ni Jesus na tama ang sinabi nito kaya sinabi niya: “Hindi ka malayo sa kaharian ng Diyos.” At wala nang nanga¬has magtanong sa kanya.

1Reflection for October 30, Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1, 7-11

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor.  

A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.  

Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." 

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Reflection:

The story is told about a wise man who shunned publicity. He would speak every once in a while and when he speaks everyone listens to him. After speaking he would immediately hide away into his own private place. There would be rare times that he grant interviews and when he does he would always point to God as the giver of whatever wisdom that he possesses.  

Many of us may be tempted to own to ourselves the wisdom or material wealth that we presently have. But we should not allow ourselves to be possessed by that temptation, for who are we to own to ourselves what we have? We have to always remember that we are mere vessels of God, whatever we have comes from God.     

In the gospel, Jesus highlights the great virtue of humility. Jesus tells us to always be humble and not to crave for attention and adulation. Why? For the simple reason that the humbler we are the more that Jesus is seen within us. The humbler we are the more the we become His effective vessels in this world. 

The humbler you are the more that you allow Jesus’ light to shine upon you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 30 Sabado sa Ika-30 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 14:1, 7-11

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 14:1, 7-11

Isang Araw ng Pamamahinga, si Hesus ay inanyayahang kumain sa bahay ng isang pinuno ng mga Pariseo; at binabantayan nilang mabuti ang kanyang mga kilos.

Napansin ni Hesus na ang pinipili ng mga inanyayahan ay ang mga upuang nakalaan sa mga piling panauhin. Kaya’t sinabi niya ang talinghagang ito: “Kapag inanyayahan ka ninuman sa isang kasalan, huwag mong pipiliin ang tanging upuan. 

Baka may inanyayahang lalong tanyag kaysa iyo. At lalapit ang nag-anyaya sa inyong dalawa at sasabihin sa iyo, ‘Maaari bang ibigay ninyo ang upuang iyan sa taong ito?’ Sa gayo’y mapapahiya ka at doon malalagay sa pinakaabang upuan. 

Ang mabuti, kapag naanyayahan ka, doon ka maupo sa pinakaabang upuan, sapagkat paglapit ng nag-anyaya sa iyo ay kanyang sasabihin, ‘Kaibigan, dini ka sa kabisera.’ Sa gayun, nabigyan ka ng malaking karangalan sa harapan ng mga panauhin. Sapagkat ang nagpapakataas ay ibababa, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas.”

Reflection for October 29, Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1-6

Gospel: Luke 14:1-6

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” 

But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

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Reflection:

To cure or not to cure on a Sabbath day? Sabbath day is supposed to be a day of rest and worship for the Jews. But here is Jesus not following the rules of their Jewish religion. Did Jesus deliberately disregard His Jewish faith? Or there is something more important for Jesus than mere observance of His Jewish faith?   

Jesus doesn’t choose a special place, occasion or time to help and to heal as what is shown in the gospel. As long as Jesus’ sees a need He would do something about it regardless if it’s a Sabbath day or not. 

The Pharisees and the scholars of the law were those who faithfully observe the Sabbath law. However, Jesus by His action simply told them that there’s an exception. That the law of the Sabbath can be violated also for as long as there is a valid reason to violate it. Therefore the observance of the Sabbath law should be superseded by a more important need. In this instance the need to heal the man sick with dropsy. 

What would you do for instance if you were in the situation of Jesus? Would you simply let the man suffer from his severe sickness even if you can actually do something to help him? 

Our faith in God is made more real, alive and dynamic when we are able to live it. And when we are able to translate it to living acts of love, mercy and kindness even during a Sabbath day.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 29 Biyernes sa Ika-30 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 14:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 14:1-6

1 Isang Araw ng Pahinga, pumasok si Jesus sa bahay ng isang pinuno ng mga Pariseo para ku­main, at minamanmanan naman nila siya. 2 Nasa harap niya roon ang isang taong mina­manas 3 kaya nag­tanong si Jesus sa mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo: “Puwede bang magpagaling sa Araw ng Pahinga o hindi?” 4 Hindi sila umi­mik kaya hinawakan ni Jesus ang maysakit, pinaga­ling ito at saka pi­na­uwi.  

5  Pagkatapos ay sinabi niya sa kanila: “Kung mahulog sa balon ang anak o ang baka ng isa sa inyo, di ba’t agad niya itong iniaahon kahit na Araw ng Pahi­nga?” 6 At hindi nila siya nasa­got.

Reflection for October 28, Thursday Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles: Luke 6:12-16

Gospel: Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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Reflection:

Do you have a habit of prayer or is prayers part of your daily life?  

Jesus is a man of prayer, He always makes it a point to pray and commune with God. Prayer is an important part of His life. 

There are many of us who only remember to pray when there’s a need for it or when we have problems. And sometimes the intensity of our prayers varies also. Serious problem equals intense prayers, not so serious problem equals not so intense prayers. 

There are even many of us who treat prayer like a thing in the house that we just use when there’s a need. When there’s no need for it we just keep it somewhere. Until a new problem jolts us out of our comfort zones and therefore we are forced to pray once again.  

Our active prayer life is one of the primary food for our souls. We beseech Jesus when we pray and we humbly open ourselves before Him. We ask the Lord to be with us, to strengthen us and to listen to us. We also develop a deeper intimacy with Jesus when we always pray and prayer makes us peaceful.  

In the gospel, before choosing the twelve apostles that would help Him advance the faith. Jesus went first to the mountain to pray (Luke 6:12). Jesus went to the mountain to seek God’s guidance. He had a dialogue in the mountain with God and Jesus was there all night praying (Luke 6:12). After which He went down from the mountain and He chose the twelve apostles (Luke 6:13). 

Do you always have your daily prayer moments with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 28 Huwebes San Simon at San Judas Tadeo, mga apostol (Kapistahan): Lucas 6:12-16

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:12-16

12 Nang panahong iyon, umakyat si Jesus sa bundok para manalangin at mag­palipas ng magdamag sa pagdarasal sa Diyos. 13 Nang nag-umaga na, tinawag niya ang kanyang mga alagad at pumili siya ng labindalawa sa kanila na tinawag niyang apostol: 

14 si Simon na pinanga­lanan niyang Pedro, si An­dres na kapatid nito; si Jaime, si Juan, si Felipe, si Bartolome, 15 si Mateo, si To­mas, si Jaimeng anak ni Alfeo, si Simon na tinataguriang Zelota, 16 si Judas na kamag-anak ni Jaime, at si Judas Iska­riote na naging tagapagka­nulo.