Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Disyembre 5 Ikalawang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Lucas 3:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 3:1-6  

 Sa ika-labinlimang taon ng paghahari ni Tiberio Cesar, ang gobernador sa Judea ay si Poncio Pilato. Ang tetrarka sa Galilea ay si Herodes. Ang kaniyang nakakabatang kapatid na si Felipe ay punong tagapamahala sa Iturea at sa lalawigan ng Traconite. Si Lisonias ay punong tagapamahala sa Abilinia. 

² Ang mga pinakapunong-saserdote ay sina Anas at Caifas. Sa panahong iyon, ang salita ng Diyos ay dumating kay Juan na nasa ilang. Si Juan ay anak ni Zacarias. ³ Siya ay pumunta sa lahat ng lupain sa palibot ng Jordan. Ipinapangaral niya ang bawtismo ng pagsisisi para sa ikakapagpatawad ng mga kasalanan. ⁴ Sa aklat ng mga salita ni Isaias, ang propeta, ay ganito ang nasusulat: May tinig na sumisigaw sa ilang. Ihanda ninyo ang daan ng Panginoon. Tuwirin ninyo ang kaniyang mga landas. ⁵ Tatambakan ang bawat bangin at papatagin ang bawat bundok at burol. Ang mga liku-liko ay tutuwirin at ang mga baku-bako ay papantayin. ⁶ Makikita ng lahat ng mga tao ang pagliligtas ng Diyos.

Reflection for December 4, Saturday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.  

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

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Reflection:

Do we hear Jesus speaking to us through this gospel? Jesus commands His disciples to spread His good news this command is for us also. Have we already creatively shared the good news about the transforming words of Jesus by how we live our lives?  

Can we share Jesus without uttering a single word? Yes! By our way of life we can share Jesus. This we can do through humility, through serving others and by living our lives according to the life of Jesus.  

The most powerful method of witness for Jesus and for our faith are not words the most powerful witness are our actions. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is so revered by millions from different faiths because her selfless actions toward the poor speak volumes about her faith. Let us therefore be conscious about how we live our faith because through this we can convert others to become followers of Jesus. 

How do you live? Do you live your life according to the teachings of the Lord? Or you live your life according to the teachings of this world? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 4 Sabado sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

35 Nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at mga nayon; nagtuturo siya sa kanilang mga sinagoga, nagpapahayag ng Mabu­ting Balita ng Kaharian at nagpapagaling ng lahat ng sakit at karamdaman. 36 Nang makita niya ang makapal na tao, naawa siya sa kanila sapagkat hirap sila at lu­pay­pay na parang mga tupang walang pastol. 37 At sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad: “Marami nga ang aanihin at ka­kaunti naman ang mga manggagawa. 38 Ida­langin ninyo sa panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang ani.”  

10: 1 Tinawag ni Jesus ang labindalawa niyang alagad at bi­nigyan sila ng kapangyarihan sa maruruming  espiritu para palayasin ang mga ito at pagalingin ang lahat ng sakit at ka­ram­daman. Sinugo ni Jesus ang labindalawang ito at pinagbilinan: 6 Hanapin ninyo ang nawawalang tupa ng sambayanan ng Israel.  

7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa inyong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaharian ng Langit.’ 8 Pagalingin ang maysakit, buhayin ang patay, linisin ang mga may ketong at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Tinanggap ninyo ito nang walang bayad kaya ibigay rin ninyo nang walang bayad. 

Reflection for December 3, Friday Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (M): Matthew 9:27-31

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

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Reflection:

What causes spiritual blindness? It’s our love affair with this world, love affair means that we are overly concerned about how we look. We are overly concerned of the external impression of our fellowmen about us. And we are overly fixated with chasing material wealth, power and other worldly appendage. All of these cause our spiritual blindness.  

In the gospel, we have two physically blind men who are not blind spiritually because recognized the presence of Jesus who was passing by them.  Thus, they shouted toward Jesus “Son of David, have pity on us!” And very  quickly Jesus did not disappoint them.  

We must not allow this world to rob us of our spiritual vision for the simple reason that this is where we would discover the true essence and meaning of life. We have to understand that life is not about earthly riches, influence and so forth for what is the use of riches and influence if we don’t have Jesus in our lives?  

The moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus our spiritual blindness will be cured and we will see things differently very different from how we see it before. We would be able to discover that nothing matters in this world except the love and light of Jesus.  

Jesus Himself said this: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 3 Biyernes San Francisco Javier, pari (Paggunita): Mateo 9:27-31

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  9:27-31

27 Pag-alis ni Jesus sa lugar na iyon, sumunod sa kanya ang dalawang bulag na lalaki na sumisigaw: “Anak ni David, tulungan mo kami!” 28 Pagda­ting niya sa bahay, inabutan siya ng mga bulag at sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Naniniwala ba kayo na may kapang­ya­rihan ako para gawin ang gusto ninyong mangyari?” At su­magot sila: “Oo, Ginoo!”  

29 Hinipo ni Jesus ang kanilang mga mata at sinabi: “Mangyari sa inyo ang inyong paniwala.” 30 At nabuksan ang kanilang mga mata. Mahigpit naman silang tinagubilinan ni Jesus: “Mag-­ingat kayo at huwag sabihin ito kani­no man.” 31 Ngunit pagkaalis nila, ipinahayag nila siya sa buong bayan.

Reflection for December 2, Thursday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

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Reflection:

Is Jesus the foundation of your life? If you make Him your foundation nothing can bring you down in this world not even the biggest problem that you will encounter. This is the advantage of having Jesus in your life, He is an impregnable rock fortress that is always ever ready to protect and defend you. 

The mistake of many of us is we allow worldliness to be our rock foundation. So what happens when we encounter problems? We crumble and we are soon destroyed by the dilemmas of this world which we could have easily avoided if Jesus is our foundation. 

For example, if we make power and money our life’s foundation these two will not last. Sooner or later it will evaporate from our sight. So what would happen to us? We end up broken, helpless and miserable for the simple reason that we shunned Jesus in favor of this world. 

Jesus is therefore offering Himself to us! For us to make Him the gravitational center of our lives. No need to worry for He will not ask us anything about our sinful past. What is important for Jesus is the here and now and our future with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 2 Huwebes sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 7:21, 24-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  7:21, 24-27

21 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad hindi lahat ng nagsasabi sa akin ng ‘Panginoon! Panginoon!’ ay papasok sa kaharian ng Langit kundi ang nagsa­sagawa sa kalooban ng Diyos ang siyang papasok sa kaharian ng Langit.  

24 Kaya kung may nakikinig sa mga salita ko at sumusunod dito, matutulad siya sa isang matalinong nagtayo ng bahay sa batuhan. 25 Bumagyo at bumaha ang ilog at humangin nang malakas, ngunit hindi nagiba ang bahay sapagkat itinayo ito sa batuhan. 26 At ang sinumang nakakarinig sa aking mga salita at hindi nagsasagawa nito, matutulad siya sa isang hangal na nag­tayo ng bahay sa buhangin. 27 Bu­mag­yo at bumaha ang ilog at huma­ngin nang malakas, at bumagsak ang bahay at kay laking kapahamakan!

Reflection for December 1, Wednesday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 15:29-37

Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37

At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. 

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?" 

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" "Seven," they replied, "and a few fish." He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

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Reflection:

Do you want something from Jesus? If you would believe; whatever you want from Jesus He would give you.  The crowd who were seeking Jesus with their sick in tow believed that Jesus would heal them all and so He did. After healing them Jesus saw that they were all hungry and He fed them all. 

What kind of God is Jesus based on His actions in the Gospel? Jesus is a God of mercy and compassion, a God who heals the broken. A God who gives hope to the hopeless and a God who will never fail those who would decide to come to Him. 

What is it that we are carrying in our hearts right now? A huge problem? A relationship on the edge of being broken? An incurable sickness? Let us bring it all to Jesus and let us ask Him to help us solve our problems. 

Let us ask Him to restore our relationships and ask Him to heal the sickness that has been making life difficult for us. The advent season is the most opportune time for us to go back to Jesus. Life is short anything can happen let us therefore go back to the Lord before He comes.  -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 1 Miyerkules sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 15:29-37

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  15:29-37

29 Umalis doon si Jesus at pumunta sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, at pagka­akyat sa burol ay naupo. 30 Mara­ming tao ang lumapit sa kanya, dala-dala ang mga pipi, bulag, pilay, mga may kapansanan, at mga taong may iba’t ibang karam­daman. Inilagay sila ng mga tao sa pa­a­nan ni Jesus, at  pina­galing niya sila. 31 Ka­ya namangha ang lahat nang makita nilang nagsa­sa­lita ang mga pipi, lumalakad ang mga pilay, guma­galing ang mga may kapansanan at nakakakita ang mga bulag; kaya pinuri nila ang Diyos ng Israel.  

32 Tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: “Labis akong naaawa sa mga taong ito, pangatlong araw ko na silang kasama at wala na silang makain. Ayaw kong paalisin silang gutom at baka mahilo sila sa daan.” 33 Sinabi ng mga alagad sa kan­ya: “At saan naman tayo haha­nap ng sapat na tinapay sa ilang na ito para ipa­kain sa mga taong iyan?” 34 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Ilan bang tinapay meron kayo?” Sumagot sila: “Pito, at kaunting maliliit na isda.”  

35 Pinaupo ni Jesus sa lupa ang mga tao, 36 kinuha niya ang pitong tinapay at ang maliliit na isda, at nag­pasalamat sa Diyos. Hinati-hati niya ang mga ito at ibi­nigay sa kanyang mga alagad, at ibi­nigay rin nila sa mga tao. 37 Kumain silang lahat at nabusog at inipon ang mga natirang pira-piraso – pitong punong bayong.

Reflection for November 30, Tuesday Saint Andrew, Apostle (Feast): Matthew 4:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

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Reflection:

Have you had an experience of being called by your name? 

Anyone who calls your name will surely get your attention. You will stretch your neck to look for that person who called you by your name. Why do you respond? You respond for the simple reason that you assume that the one who called you by your name knows you. 

In the gospel today Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John all of them ordinary fishermen. Did they know Jesus deeply beforehand? No, but Jesus certainly knew the four fishermen otherwise He would not have called them. 

Jesus knew their sinfulness, their weaknesses and even their lack of education He knew yet He called them. What does this call of the apostles tell us? This tells us that notwithstanding our shortcomings whatever these shortcomings are the Lord is still calling us to follow Him. 

Jesus knows about our failings and weaknesses, even our sinfulness He knows also; yet He still calls us to follow Him. And become His partner in His mission to advance the good news of our salvation. Would we respond to His perpetual call? Or we continue to sit idly and be slaves of this material and fleeting world? 

The wisdom filled choice is to always respond and become a follower of Jesus. Why? Because we will never go wrong the moment we follow the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 30 Martes San Andres, apostol (Kapistahan): Mateo 4:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 4:18-22

18 Sa paglalakad ni Jesus sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya ang  mag­kapatid na Simon na tinawag na Pedro at Andres na naghahagis ng mga lambat dahil mga mangingisda sila. 19 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin, at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” 

20 Agad nilang iniwan ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod sa kanya. 21 Nagpatuloy siya sa paglakad at na­kita naman niya ang magkapatid na Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo. Nasa bangka sila kasama ng kani­lang amang si Zebedeo at nagsu­sursi ng kani­lang lambat. Tinawag sila ni Jesus. 22 Agad nilang iniwan ang bangka nila at ang ka­nilang ama, at nag­simulang sumunod sa kanya.  

Reflection for November 29, Monday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 8:5-11

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.  

For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

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Reflection:

Do you have deep faith in the Lord?  

Jesus wanted to go to the house of the centurion to personally cure the centurion’s ailing servant. But the centurion said to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” What a display of deep faith! It was already enough for the roman centurion that he talked to Jesus about his wish for his servant.  

We can’t help but compare the faith of the centurion with our personal faith in Jesus. We can’t help also but compare our concern for the poor with the centurion’s concern for his servant. In both instances many of us pale in comparison for our faith in Jesus is not as strong as the centurion. And our concern for the poor is not as much as his concern for his servant.  

Jesus would certainly want us to have more faith in Him and have more concern for the poor. But how can we increase of faith in Jesus? We must pray often and in our prayers we must include our desire to have an increase of faith.  

Of course our desire for increase of faith must not end with our vocal prayers. We must concretely show it also through our actions of faith. For example if we desire to have something from Jesus we should show Jesus that we want it by doing something to have it. We must not lie idly and just pray, we must act, exert our best effort and let Jesus do the rest.  

This is what the centurion did, he went to Jesus, he saw Jesus, he talked to Jesus and he told Jesus that he wants his ailing servant healed by Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 29 Lunes sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 8:5-11

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:5-11

5 Pagdating ni Jesus sa Caper­naum lumapit sa kanya ang isang kapitan at nakiusap sa kanya: 6 “Ginoo, nakahiga sa bahay ang aking katulong. Lumpo siya at sobra na ang paghihirap…” 7 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Paroroon ako at paga­galingin ko siya.”  

8 Sumagot ang kapitan: “Hindi ako karapat-dapat para tumuloy ka sa bahay ko. Mag-utos ka lang at gagaling na ang aking katulong. 9 May nag-uutos sa akin at may inuutusan din ako, at pag sinabi ko sa isa sa mga kawal na nasa ilalim ko: ‘Pumaroon ka,’ pumaparoon siya. At sinasabi ko naman sa isa pa: ‘Pumarito ka,’ at pumaparito siya; at sa aking katulong: ‘Gawin mo ito,’ at ginagawa niya ito.”  

10 Nang marinig ito ni Jesus, humanga siya at sinabi sa mga sumu­sunod sa kanya: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo, wala pa akong natagpuang ganitong paniniwala sa Israel. 11 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: marami ang darating mula sa silangan at sa kanluran para makisalo kina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob sa kaha­rian ng Langit.

Reflection for Sunday November 28, First Sunday of Advent: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

                           

                 

                                                              

Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Reflection:

A fishing vessel encountered a violent storm in the middle of the ocean. As such the vessel was tossed like a ping-pong ball by the violent storm. The captain of the vessel who was a deeply religious man told his crew, “Let us prepare for the worst and pray as well so that the Lord may come to save us.” While they were praying they suddenly noticed the violent waves calming like a peaceful river.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, what does Advent mean? Advent means coming or arrival and who is going to come? Of course we very well know that the one who is coming is Jesus. Through the coming of Jesus into our lives we will once again find hope, strength and motivation to conquer our many fears about the future.    

But what should we do before the Lord comes? Of course we also have to be worthy of His coming thus we must prepare! How would we prepare or how can we best prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord? 

We can best prepare by having a new life free from sin because sin makes us unworthy for the coming of the Lord.  We can also share what we know about the Lord so that others would know and feel Jesus in their lives as we know and feel Jesus in our respective lives.  

Advent is the coming of the Lord into our lives. The Lord who calms us, who gives us hope and direction in the midst of the uncertainties of life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas