Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 21 Paghahari ni Kristo sa Sanlibutan (Dakilang Kapistahan): Juan 18:33b-37

Mabuting Balita: Juan 18:33b-37

33 Muling pumasok si Pilato sa palasyo, tinawag si Jesus at sinabi sa kanya: “Ikaw ba ang hari ng mga Judio?” 34 Sumagot si Jesus: “Mula ba sa ’yo ang salitang ito o may nagsabi sa ’yo tungkol sa akin?” 35 Sumagot si Pilato: “Ako ba’y Judio? Ipinaubaya ka sa akin ng mga kalahi mo at ng mga punong-hari. Ano ba’ng ginawa mo?”

36 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi sa mun¬dong ito galing ang pagkahari ko. Kung sa mundong ito galing ang pagkahari ko, makikibaka sana ang mga tauhan ko upang hindi ako maipaubaya sa mga Judio. Ngunit hindi nga dito galing ang pagkahari ko.”

37 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Pilato: “Eh di hari ka nga?” sumagot si Jesus: “Sinabi mong hari nga ako. Para dito ako isinilang at dahil dito kaya ako dumating sa mundo: upang magpa¬tunay sa katoto¬ha¬nan. Nakikinig sa tinig ko ang bawat makatotohanan.”  

Reflection for November 20, Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 20:27-40

Gospel: Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. 

Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” 

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. 

That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well. And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

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Reflection:

Do you believe in the afterlife? 

The afterlife/everlasting life is very different from this present life where we are in. Our life here has an eventual ending. The life everlasting has no ending there shall be no more suffering for us there. 

It will be a heavenly experience for all of us there. But the sad reality is this: Not all of us will have that divine experience. Some will go to the other side where it will endlessly be hot; where there exist eternal suffering. 

In the gospel, Jesus was asked by the Sadducees (who did not believe in the resurrection) regarding a woman who married seven brothers in different time period. They said: “In the afterlife whose wife will that woman be?” 

Jesus gave them a glimpse of what it is in the resurrection when He said: “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. 

We should strive to be in that place someday by doing good and by following the way of Jesus. How about the married life relationship that we have in this world can we still have it in heaven? Nobody knows only God knows. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 20 Sabado sa Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 20:27-40

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 20:27-40

27 Lumapit noon ang ilang Sadduseo na mga taong tutol sa pagkabuhay. 28 At itinanong nila kay Jesus: “Guro, isinulat ni Moises para sa amin: ‘Kung may magkakapatid na lalaki at mamatay na walang anak ang isa sa kanila, kailangang kunin ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang asawa para magpasibol ng supling sa kanyang kapatid.’  

29 Ngayon, may pitong magkakapatid na lalaki. Nag-asawa ang panganay at namatay na walang anak. 30 Kinuha ng pangalawa ang biyuda, 31 at pagkatapos ay ng pangatlo naman, pero hindi nagkaanak ang pito. Namatay sila 32 at sa bandang huli’y namatay rin ang babae. 33 Sa pagkabuhay, kanino sa pito siya maituturing na asawa? Ang pito nga ang umangkin sa kanya.” 

34 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Nag-aasawa ang mga taong nasa daigdig na ito, lalaki man o babae. 35 Ngunit hindi na mag-aasawa ang mga ituturing na karapat-dapat sa kabilang-buhay at sa pagkabuhay ng mga patay, lalaki man o babae. 36 Hindi na nga sila mamamatay. 

Kapantay na sila ng mga anghel at mga anak sila ng Diyos matapos silang ibangon. 37 Tiyak na may pagkabuhay ng mga patay; ipinahiwatig ito kahit na ni Moises sa kabanata ng palumpong nang tawagin niyang Diyos ni Abraham, Diyos ni Isaac at Diyos ni Jacob ang Panginoon. 38 Hindi siya Diyos ng mga patay kundi ng mga buhay, at buhay na kasama niya silang lahat.” 

39 Nagsalita ang ilang guro ng Batas: “Guro, talaga ngang tama ang iyong sinabi.” 40 Mula noo’y wala nang nangahas na magtanong pa sa kanya.

Reflection for November 19, Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:45-48

Gospel: Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”  

And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

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Reflection:

Do you cling to the words of Jesus as if your very life depends on it? Is your day not complete without reading and reflecting on His words? In the gospel the chief priest, the scribes and the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus. But they couldn’t execute it because they were afraid of the people most especially the ordinary people. For the reason that they treasure every word and pronouncement of Jesus.  

The chief priest, the scribes and the leaders of the people are considered as intellectual or learned yet they did not believe Jesus. But the common folks, they believe Jesus and they cling to His every word.

Many of the people of today don’t anymore treasure the words of Jesus they instead value more this world than Jesus. They let the hedonistic language of this world dictate upon them. And the words of Jesus? It has no more use for them, no wonder many people most especially the young ones live misguided and misdirected lives.    

Let us revisit once again the words of Jesus which we can easily find in the bible and let us read it everyday. Let us allow it to direct our lives instead of this world shaping our lives. 

Someday when we are already old and sickly we will find out that the passion that we’ve devoted for this world amounts to nothing. For the simple reason that whatever we’ve earned and done in this world we will leave behind. And the things that we’ve done in this world may also be our ticket to hell . The only treasure that we can bring with us onto the afterlife going to heaven is our faith and love for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 19 Biyernes sa Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 19:45-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:45-48

45 Pumasok si Jesus sa patyo ng Templo at pinalayas ang mga nagtitinda, 46 at sinabi niya: “Nasusulat: ‘Magiging bahay-dalanginan ang aking bahay,’ pero ginawa ninyong pugad ng mga magnanakaw!”

47 Araw-araw na nangangaral si Jesus sa Templo. Hangad siyang patayin ng mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas, kasama ang mga Matatanda ng bayan. 48 Ngunit wala silang magawa dahil taimtim na nakikinig sa kanya ang buong bayan.

Reflection for November 18, Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:41-44

Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.  

They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

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Reflection:

Do you obey Jesus when He tells you to stop sinning or to avoid those people who only make you sin? Jesus does this to you using people close to you, for example Jesus may use a relative, a friend or a life incident to tell you to walk away from sin.   

During the time of Jesus, He directly called for repentance, some listened to His call. But many of them did not listen, they instead continued with their sinful way of life. In so doing they wrapped themselves with problems that they could have easily avoided if they only listened to Jesus.  

Come to think of it, in our own personal lives there are also many instances that we are advised to live a clean life. To renew our lives and walk away from all our sinfulness, but do we listen? Often times we don’t listen because we love to follow our own sinful desires, we allow the devil to possess us instead of Jesus. 

Jesus is the best friend that we could ever have, He is our best adviser therefore it is a must that we always listen to Him. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose if we always listen to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 18 Huwebes sa Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 19:41-44

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:41-44

41 Nang malapit na siya at kita na ang lunsod, iniyakan ito ni Jesus: 42 “Kung nalalaman mo lamang sana sa araw na ito ang daan sa kapaya­paan!  

Ngunit ngayo’y hindi mo ito nakikita. 43 Sasapit sa iyo ang mga araw na magka­kampo sa pa­ligid mo ang iyong mga kaaway, ku­kubkubin ka at sisikilin sa lahat ng da­ko. 44 Igu­guho ka nila sa iyong mga anak, at walang iiwang magkapatong na bato sa iyo. Sapagkat hindi mo na­laman ang panahon ni ang pagdalaw ng iyong Diyos.”

Reflection for November 17, Wednesday Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (M): Luke 19:11-28

Gospel: Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. 

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. 

The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ 

Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. 

You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ 

But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” 

After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

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Reflection:

We are taught by our faith that all blessings that come our way are God given. Thus, we have a responsibility to pay it forward specially to those who are in need. Whatever these blessings are, be it material blessings or intellectual blessings we have to share it. We should not keep it to ourselves only we have to share it. For its only in sharing what we have that we would receive more blessings from the Lord.   

What are you presently doing with the talent/s that the good Lord has given you? Are you using to advance God’s kingdom in this world or you’re only using it to advance your own interest in this world? 

The third servant was not productive like the first and second because he was fearful of the nobleman. Not only that he was fearful; He was also lazy and selfish that’s why he simply stored the gold coin in a handkerchief and left it there until it was taken back by the nobleman. 

The feelings of fear, being lazy and selfish are the qualities that paralyze a person from becoming a useful citizen of this world and a more productive servant of the Lord. If we want to serve and share in the mission of Jesus we need to discard these negative traits. We also need to always have a connection with the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 17 Miyerkules Santa Isabel ng Hungria, relihiyosa (Paggunita): Lucas 19:11-28

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:11-28

11 Malapit na ngayon si Jesus sa Jerusalem at akala ng mga taong kasama niya’y agad na ipakikita ang kaharian ng Diyos. Kaya sa kanilang pakikinig ay isa pang talinhaga ang inilahad sa kanila ni Jesus. 12 Sinabi niya: “May isang maharlikang tao na pu­munta sa malayong lupain para mahirang na hari at saka siya babalik. 13  Tinawag niya ang sampu niyang katulong at binigyan sila ng tig-iisang bar­yang ginto at sinabi sa kanila: ‘Ipagnegosyo ninyo ito hanggang sa aking pag­balik.’  

14 Namumuhi sa kanya ang kanyang mga kaba­ba­yan kaya nagsugo sila ng ilang kinatawan para sa­bihin: ‘Ayaw na­ming maghari sa amin ang taong ito.’ 15 Gayon pa ma’y bumalik siya pag­kahirang bilang hari. Ipinatawag niya ang mga katulong na bi­nigyan niya ng bar­yang ginto para malaman kung mag­kano ang tinubo ng bawat isa. 16 Humarap ang una at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng sampu pa ang barya mong ginto.’  

17 Sumagot siya: ‘Magaling, mabu­ting utusan; dahil naging matapat ka sa ma­liit na bagay, mapamamahala kita sa sam­pung lunsod.’ 18 Dumating ang ika­lawa at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng lima pa ang iyong baryang ginto.’ 19 Si­na­bi nito sa kanya: ‘Mamamahala ka sa limang lun­sod.’  

20 Dumating ang isa pa at sinabi: ‘Pangi­noon, narito ang iyong bar­yang ginto. Binalot ko ito sa isang panyo at itinago. 21 Natatakot ako sa iyo dahil mapaghanap kang tao, kinu­kuha mo ang di mo idineposito at inaani ang di mo inihasik.’  

22 Sinabi sa kanya ng panginoon: ‘Masamang utusan, sa sarili mong mga salita kita hahatulan. Alam mo palang mapaghanap ako, na kinu­ku­ha ko ang di ko idineposito at ina­ani ang di ko inihasik, 23 bakit di mo idi­neposito sa bang­ko ang aking bar­yang ginto? At maku­kubra ko sana iyon pati na ang interes pagbabalik ko.’ 24 At sinabi niya sa mga naroon: ‘Kunin sa kanya ang baryang ginto at ibigay sa may sampu.’ 25 Sumagot sila: ‘E, Panginoon, may sampung baryang ginto na siya.’  

26 ‘Sinasabi ko sa inyo: bibigyan ang meron pero aalisan ang wala, kahit na ang meron siya ay kukunin sa kanya. 27 Ngunit dalhin ninyo rito ang aking mga kaaway na ayaw akong maghari sa kanila at pata­yin sa harap ko’.” 28 Pagkasabi nito, umuna si Jesus sa kanila pa-Jerusalem.

Reflection for November 16, Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:1-10

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

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Reflection:

Why did Zacchaeus exert so much effort to see Jesus? Because Zacchaeus was already tired of living a sinful life. He wanted to live a new life so to speak, a life free from sin and the guilt of sin!

So, when Zacchaeus a sinner and a wealthy tax collector heard that Jesus would be passing through their town. He immediately planned to see Him and consequently he immediately went to see Jesus. But because of the big crowd and because he was a small man there was no way for him to see Jesus personally.

But the desire to mend his ways was so strong that Zacchaeus even climb a sycamore tree so that he would see Jesus. Surely, Jesus knew that there’s this repentant sinner named Zacchaeus who badly wants to see HIM.

When Jesus was about to pass by the sycamore tree. Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And so he did and brought Jesus to his house and right there in his house Zacchaeus repented. And from his repentance Jesus gave him salvation.  

We all are sinner and being so we are all called to follow the action of Zacchaeus. We are called by Jesus to repent as well. Not tomorrow not next week and certainly not next month but today.

This very minute that you’re reading this. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 16 Martes sa Ika-33 Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 19:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:1-10

1 Pumasok si Jesus sa Jerico at dumaan sa siyudad. 2 At may isang taong nagngangalang Zakeo. Pinuno siya ng mga kolektor ng buwis at napakayaman. 3 Sinikap niyang makita kung sino si Jesus pero pandak siya at hindi niya magawa dahil sa dami ng mga tao. 4 Kaya patakbo siyang umuna at umakyat sa isang punong-malaigos para makita si Jesus pagdaan doon. 5 Pagdating ni Jesus sa lugar na iyon, tumingala siya at sinabi sa kanya: “Zakeo, bumaba ka agad. Sa bahay mo nga ako dapat tumigil ngayon.”  

6 Nagmamadali siyang bumaba at tuwang-tuwang tinanggap si Jesus. 7 Inireklamo naman sa isa’t isa ng lahat ng nakakita rito: “Sa bahay ng isang lalaking makasalanan siya nakituloy.” 8 Ngunit tumayo si Zakeo at sinabi sa Panginoon: “Panginoon, ibibigay ko sa mga dukha ang kalahati ng aking mga ari-arian; at kung may nadaya ako, apat na beses ko siyang babayaran.” 9 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Dumating ngayon ang kaligtasan sa sambahayang ito dahil anak nga ni Abraham ang taong ito. 10 At dumating ang Anak ng Tao para hanapin at iligtas ang nawawala.”  

Reflection for November 15, Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:35-43

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”  

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

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Reflection:

What is the most important qualification for those who wants to be healed by Jesus? It’s faith! Our faith in Jesus can make the impossible possible.  

The blind man in our gospel has this exceptional faith. It was his faith in Jesus that drove him to call upon Jesus to heal him. It was his deep faith in Jesus that moved him to continuously shout Son of David even if he was already being admonished to keep quite.  

This man is blind yes, but his faith in Jesus is not blind and his faith is incredibly bigger than his blindness. For sure he knew Jesus beforehand somebody told him who Jesus was and without question he immediately believed.  

And after believing he started thinking more about Jesus, perhaps Jesus was always in his mind. Perhaps the blind man was already imagining what he would do if Jesus would pass by him. Our faith in Jesus is always affirmed and strengthened when we always think of Him. And when we always ask Him to give us the gift of faith.  

The gospel for today used the blind man to show us all what deep faith in Jesus can do for us. The gospel tells us also that nothing is impossible for those who believe and for those who always pray with faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday November 14, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 13:24-32

Gospel: Mark 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

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Reflection:

A rich man in dire straits was contemplating of ending his own life. Yes he had material wealth and could practically buy everything that he wants. But there was still a deep void within him and he was yearning for something that would give meaning to his life.

Have you been through this kind of experience wherein you yearn for something meaningful in your life? You yearn for meaning because you can’t find relevance in your present life in this world anymore? We all go through this period of emptiness in our lives as if this is already our own version of end times experience.   

What should we do when we walk through this experience of spiritual barrenness? When everything before us seems dark and hopeless?  We have to look up to the man on the cross for our salvation and deliverance. We have to ask Jesus to fill our barren and empty lives and we have to ask Him to give our lives substance and meaning.

Many of us think that the meaning of life can be found in the things of this world: Wealth, Power and all the pre-occupations that we have. We think that these are the be-all and end-all of life. But the things of this world are not the be-all and end-all of life these are all meaningless unless our lives are centered on God. Why? Because God is the true be-all and end-all of life. 

If our lives are centered on God we have nothing to fear even the end times we would not fear. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 14 Ika-33 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 13:24-32

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 13:24-32

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Sa mga araw na iyon, pagkatapos ng mga napakalaking kapighatian, magdidilim ang araw, hindi magliliwanag ang buwan, malalaglag mula sa langit ang mga bituin, at mayayanig ang mga kapangyarihan sa kalawakan. At makikita ang Anak ng Tao na nasa alapaap, dumarating na may dakilang kapangyarihan at malaking karangalan. Susuguin niya ang kanyang mga anghel sa apat na panig ng daigdig at titipunin nila ang mga hinirang ng Diyos, mula sa lahat ng dako.

“Unawain ninyo ang aral mula sa puno ng igos: kapag sumisipot na ang mga dahon sa sanga nito, alam ninyong malapit na ang tag-araw. Gayun din naman, kapag nakita ninyong nangyayari na ang mga bagay na ito, malalaman ninyong malapit na ang panahon ng pagparito niya – nagsisimula na. Tandaan ninyo: magaganap ang mga bagay na ito bago mamatay ang mga taong nabubuhay sa ngayon. Mawawala ang langit at ang lupa, ngunit ang mga salita ko’y hindi magkakabula.

“Ngunit walang nakaaalam ng araw o oras ng pagsapit niyon, kahit ang mga anghel sa langit o ang Anak man – ang Ama lamang ang nakakaalam nito.”