1Reflection for Decembe 21 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Luke 1:39-45

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about an adopted man who wanted to find out who was his real mother. So he asked his adoptive parents about the whereabouts of his biological mother. He was told that she lives in a faraway place. He told his parents; even if she lives in a faraway place I will go and find her for I owe my life to her. 

 So he went to the faraway place and there he found his mother, already very old and sickly. The son told his mother, I am your son, I am here to take care of you and I will never leave you alone from now on. The mother unabashedly cried and said, thank you for finding me and for bringing joy and hope into my life. 

Mary and Elizabeth must have been very close relatives and both may have known each other since childhood. Otherwise Mary would have not endeavored to go to a faraway place to visit and stay for six months with her cousin Elizabeth. 

In her visit to her cousin Elizabeth Mary imparts to us the importance of having concern for the welfare of others. Mary imparts to us that we should learn to forget our own needs in favor of those who are in great need of our help and care. 

Mary imparts to us the importance of reaching out and building bridges instead of walls. And last but certainly not the least Mary shows us the importance of giving Jesus to others. For this is the greatest gift of love that Mary brought to her cousin: She brought and gave Jesus to her. 

Let us think of our relatives or friends whom we have not seen or been in touch with for a long time. Why don’t we reach out to them? If our physical presence is not possible. We can reach out by communicating via the internet. A simple hello or how are you will surely lift their morale. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 21 Martes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Adbiyento: Lucas 1:39-45

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 1:39-45

39 Nang mga araw ring iyo’y nag­mamadaling naglakbay si Maria pa­punta sa isang bayan sa mataas na lupain ng Juda. 40 Pumasok siya roon sa bahay ni Zacarias at binati si Eli­zabeth. 41 Nang marinig ni Elizabeth ang bati ni Maria, sumikad ang sanggol sa si­na­pupunan niya, at napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elizabeth 42 at mala­kas siyang sumigaw at sinabi: “Lubos kang pi­nagpala sa mga kababaihan. 

Pinag­pala rin ang bunga ng iyong sina­pu­punan! 43 Sino nga ba naman ako’t na­parito sa akin ang ina ng aking Pa­ngi­noon? 44 Nang umabot sa aking pan­dinig ang iyong pagbati, sumikad sa tuwa ang sanggol sa aking sina­pu­punan. 45 Pinagpapala ang naniniwa­lang magaganap ang mga sinabi sa kanya ng Pa­nginoon.”

Reflection for December 20, Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favor! The Lord is with you.' 

She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favor. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end. 

Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.' 

Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.

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Reflection:

Do you always submit to the wisdom God? 

Sometimes there are situations in our lives that would disturb our peace, for example a sudden diagnoses of sickness. This kind of life event will surely bother us. But in the midst of this life disturbances let us not forget that the good Lord is always there for us. To heal us, to give us hope and to assure us that He will always be there for us. 

When the angel Gabriel appeared and greeted Mary she was naturally concerned about it. Perhaps the Blessed Mother asked herself, why did this angel appear to me? What would this angel bring me; a trial that is hard for me to bear? 

But the angel told the Blessed Mother that she would bear a son and His name is Jesus. The angel further said that she has nothing to worry because the Lord will take care of her. Thus, the Blessed Mother humbly accepted her destiny and entrusted herself to God. 

Whatever we are going through right now or we might go through in the future. Be it sickness or severe trial that may test our fidelity to Jesus, let us hold on to our deep faith in Jesus. For as long as we have faith there would be hope and deliverance from all of life’s challenges. 

As the Blessed Mother entrusted her fate to the good Lord we too must learn to submit to God’s will for ourselves. Let us never worry for God is always there for us and never will He abandon us. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday December 19, Fourth Sunday of Advent: Luke 1:39-45

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to forgo your own welfare for the welfare of others? 

Aside from the birth of the Lord, one of the enduring and relevant messages of Christmas is self- emptying of ourselves. Self-emptying means to look less on our personal needs and focus it on the needs of others. 

Considering that she was also pregnant at that time. Mary did not focus on her own needs and safety. She looked outside of herself or emptied herself to make an impact on the life of her cousin Elizabeth: This is what we must always emulate every Christmas time and even every day, to empty and make ourselves available for others. 

Children usually focus their Christmas celebrations and expectations for themselves. That's why during Christmas they ask for gifts from their parents and god parents. Nothing is wrong with this but in a deeper sense Christmas is not about ourselves. 

Christmas is about the self-emptying of God’s only begotten son for our sake. Therefore, it is inherent upon us to continue Jesus selfless act of self-emptying by making others happy this Christmas. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Disyembre 19 Ikaapat na Linggo ng Adbiyento: Lucas 1:39-45

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 1:39-45

39 Nang mga araw ring iyo’y nag­mamadaling naglakbay si Maria pa­punta sa isang bayan sa mataas na lupain ng Juda. 40 Pumasok siya roon sa bahay ni Zacarias at binati si Eli­zabeth. 41 Nang marinig ni Elizabeth ang bati ni Maria, sumikad ang sanggol sa si­na­pupunan niya, at napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elizabeth 42 at mala­kas siyang sumigaw at sinabi: “Lubos kang pi­nagpala sa mga kababaihan. 

Pinag­pala rin ang bunga ng iyong sina­pu­punan! 43 Sino nga ba naman ako’t na­parito sa akin ang ina ng aking Pa­ngi­noon? 44 Nang umabot sa aking pan­dinig ang iyong pagbati, sumikad sa tuwa ang sanggol sa aking sina­pu­punan. 45 Pinagpapala ang naniniwa­lang magaganap ang mga sinabi sa kanya ng Pa­nginoon.”

Reflection for December 18, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent: Matthew 1:18-25

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.  

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.  When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son and he named him Jesus.

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Reflection:
Do you always follow the will of the Lord?

Upon learning that Mary was already pregnant Joseph decided to quietly divorce her. But an Angel of the Lord appeared through his dream. And intervened and told him not to divorce Mary for the reason that the child in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

After waking up Joseph obeyed what the angel told him. He stayed with Mary, He protected her and saw to it that she would receive the best love and care that she could ever have. Such is Saint Joseph, righteous, humble, docile and obedient to the will of the Lord.  

In this time wherein, the Sacrament of Matrimony is not given much importance by some liberated minds and is treated as a simple paper contract by many of us. We have Saint Joseph reminding us about the sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage. We have Saint Joseph reminding us that we must not stray and we must not betray it no matter the temptation. We have Saint Joseph reminding us that Marriage is not only a paper contract. It is in fact a covenant between the couple and Jesus.  

Let us examine ourselves on how we put value on the Sacrament of Marriage. And let us follow the example of Saint Joseph on how he deeply loved the Blessed Mother. And how he sacrificed his own will to follow the will of God. 

Do you always follow the will of the Lord for your marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for December 17, Friday of the Third Week of Advent: John Matthew 1:1-17

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. 

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. 

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

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Reflection:

How is your family tree? 

The family tree of Jesus is not what we expect it to be some were sinners like us, for example King David committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba. There were other sinners in His family tree but God chose to imbed Jesus in that lineage.  

The incarnate God our Emmanuel wants to dwell in us too it doesn’t matter who we are or how sinful we are. The Lord wants to be with us so that we could find peace and contentment in our lives. Peace and contentment that are lacking in our lives today. 

As we trace back the members of our own family tree we surely would find imperfect personalities amongst them. But it should not dishearten us for the simple reason that nobody is perfect in this world. So, we have to accept the imperfect ones and we have to let them know that God’s love is always there for them.   

Advent is the coming of the Lord in our own respective lives. The Lord who comes to us no matter how sinful we are, the Lord who doesn’t look at our sinful past. The Lord who is only interested in our present and future.   -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for December 16, Thursday of the Third Week of Advent: John 5:33-36 (1st day of Simbang Gabi)

Gospel: John 5:33-36

Jesus said to the Jews: “You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.”

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Reflection:

Do you have a personal testimony about Jesus? For example an instance in your life wherein Jesus changed you to become a gentler and loving person or you were brought out of a sinful life by the Lord or any experience that you have about Jesus. 

If you have this one of a kind life changing experience with Jesus you have to share it, don’t just keep it to yourself.  This is for the reason that when you share your life experience with Jesus you can change another life courtesy of Jesus through you. 

However we have to remember that we have to share Jesus with humility and gentleness. For the simple reason that this is where we could become more effective heralds of our savior. If we share Jesus with bombast we may never be able to bring others close to Him because people normally gravitate toward the humble and gentle.  

If we are afraid of sharing Jesus through the spoken word let us not be afraid to share Jesus through our actions. Actions of love, humility and gentleness for the simple reason that these acts are the best testament that Jesus is alive and has an active part in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for December 15, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent: Luke 7:18b-23

Gospel: Luke 7:18b-23

At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” 

At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

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Reflection:

The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus, are you the one who is to come? Jesus did not directly answer this question from the messengers of John the Baptist. Instead of directly admitting that He was it Jesus told them about the miracles that He does for the people. 

We can only guess the reason why Jesus did not directly admit that He was the messiah. Perhaps we can attribute this to Jesus’ desire to maintain a low profile so that he could silently do His mission for the greater glory of God. 

Jesus could have easily admitted it and told the messengers that He is the awaited messiah. But He never did, Jesus simply mentioned the things that He does for the people. What if we are in the shoes of Jesus? How would we react to the tempting question? 

When we are faced with the same situation let us always follow what Jesus did. Let us never take advantage of the chance to be popular. Let us continue to be self-effacing, humble and always ready to fadeaway  for the greater glory of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 15 Miyerkules sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Adbiyento: Lucas 7:18b-23

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 7:18b-23

Ibinalita ng mga alagad ni Juan ang lahat ng ito sa kanya kaya tinawag ni Juan ang dalawa sa kanyang mga alagad 19 at sinugo sila sa Panginoon para sabihin sa kanya: “Ikaw na ba ang Dumarating o maghihintay pa kami ng iba?” 20 Pagdating ng mga taong iyon kay Jesus, sinabi nila: “Ipinasasabi sa iyo ni Juan Bautista: Ikaw na ba ang Dumarating o maghihintay pa kami ng iba?” 

21 Nang mga sandali namang iyo’y marami siyang pinagaling sa mga sakit, mga karamdaman at masasamang  espiritu, at binigyan niya ng paningin ang mga bulag. 22 Kaya sumagot siya sa kanila: “Bumalik kayo at ibalita kay Juan ang inyong nakita at narinig: nakakakita ang mga bulag, nakakalakad ang mga pilay, lumilinis ang mga ketongin at nakakarinig ang mga bingi, nagigising ang mga patay, may mabuting balitang ipinahahayag sa mga dukha. 23 At napaka-palad niyang hindi natitisod dahil sa akin.”

Reflection for December 14, Tuesday Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (M) Matthew 21:28-32

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. 

Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

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Reflection:

What would you do when you hear the voice of God calling you to walk away from sin? 

Do you simply hear it? Or you hear and then act and live your life once again worthy in the eyes of God. Many of us might be dismissive of this call of God to repentance, we might simply brush it aside and dismiss it as nothing or insignificant to our lives in this world. 

But God did not only create us for this world alone there is something higher that exist beyond this world. There is something that follows after our existence in this world is over and this is none other than heaven or hell.  

In our gospel there is this son who was asked by his father to work in his vineyard (Matthew 21:28). The son initially said that he will not go to his father’s vineyard but upon pondering about the order of his father. The son had a change of heart and went to the vineyard to work there (Matthew 21:29).   

God  is inviting us to conversion. We who are all sinners are being encouraged by God to go through a metanoia or change of heart so that we could walk away from our sinfulness. 

Let us not worry if for so many times we said no to the Lord’s offer of conversion. For He will not count the many times that we refused Him what is important for the Lord is the here and now and our yes to Him now. 

Are we all not yet tired of committing sin? Are we not tired yet of a noisy life, life without peace and serenity? The reality is sin has not brought us anything good except more problems and a life without peace of mind. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 14 Martes San Juan dela Cruz, pari at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Mateo 21:28-32

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21:28-32

28 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga saserdote at matatanda ng bayan: “Ano sa palagay ninyo? May dalawang anak ang isang tao. Lumapit siya sa isa at sinabi: ‘Anak, pumunta ka ngayon at magtrabaho sa aking ubasan.’ 29 Sumagot ang anak: ‘Ayoko.’ Ngunit pagkatapos ay nagbagong-isip siya at pumunta.  

30 Pinuntahan din ng ama ang pangalawang anak at gayundin ang sinabi. Sumagot naman ang anak: ‘Opo.’ Pero hindi siya pumunta.” 31 At itinanong ni Jesus: “Sino sa dalawang anak ang tumupad sa gusto ng ama?” Sumagot sila: “Ang una.” At sinabi ni Jesus: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: mas nauuna sa inyo patungo sa kaharian ng Langit ang mga publi-kano at mga babaeng bayaran.  

32 Dumating nga si Juan para ipakita sa inyo ang daan ng kabutihan pero hindi kayo naniwala sa kanya, samantalang naniwala naman ang mga publikano at mga babaeng bayaran. Nakita ninyo ito at hindi kayo nagsisi o naniwala sa kanya.

Reflection for December 13, Monday Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr (M) Matthew 21:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. 

Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him? But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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Reflection:

Do you know of someone who is afraid to lose his authority? 

When our authority is threatened by someone else we normally resist those who threaten it.  We will do everything just to save our position of authority.  

The chief priest’s authority was being threatened by Jesus’ popularity among the masses. Naturally they wanted to keep their position of authority to protect their own interest so they plotted to kill Jesus.  

Why would we be threatened to lose our authority if we are not concealing something? Why would we be threatened if we are honest in our position of authority? Those who cling like leaches to their position of authority are those whose greed for power is insatiable.   

And why do they have that insatiable greed for power? Because they have done wrong hence they want to continuously have the authority to hide their wrongdoing. Otherwise, they would not be afraid to lose their authority.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 13 Lunes Santa Lucia , dalaga at martir (Paggunita): Mateo 21:23-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21:23-27

23 Pagpasok ni Jesus sa Templo, luma­pit sa kanya ang mga punong-pari, mga guro ng Batas at mga Matatanda ng mga Judio, at nagtanong: “Ano ang karapa­tan mong gawin ang mga ito? Sino ang nagtalaga sa iyo?” 24 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Tatanungin ko rin kayo ng isang tanong. At kung may sagot kayo, sasagutin ko ka­yo kung sino ang nagtalaga sa akin para sa mga ito.  

25 Sa­an galing ang pagbi­binyag ni Juan, sa Diyos ba o sa tao?” At nag-isip-isip sila: “Kung isasagot nating galing sa Diyos, sasabihin niya: ‘Bakit di kayo naniwala sa kanya?’ 26 At kung sasabihin naman nating ‘Galing lamang sa tao ang pagbibinyag ni Juan,’ dapat tayong matakot sa bayan sapagkat akala nila’y tunay na propeta si Juan.” 27 Kaya sinabi nila kay Jesus: “Hindi namin alam.” At sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Hindi ko rin sasabihin sa inyo kung sino ang nagtalaga sa akin na gumawa ng mga ito.”