21 Nang
mabinyagan ang lahat ng tao, nabinyagan din si Jesus. At nabuksan ang langit
habang siya’y nananalangin. 22 Bumaba sa kanya ang Espiritu Santo sa
pangkatawang hugis ng isang kalapati at narinig mula sa langit ang isang tinig:
“Ikaw ang aking Anak, ang aking Minamahal, ikaw ang aking Hinirang.”
Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Thursday, January 06, 2022
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 9, Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon: Lucas 3:15-16, 21-22
Tuesday, January 04, 2022
Reflection for January 8, Saturday after Epiphany: John 3:22-30
So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the
bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at
the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must
increase; I must decrease.”
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Reflection:
Are you not insecure when someone is given more importance than you?
The followers of John and a Jew went to him to say that somebody was also baptizing. And He was attracting crowd more than that of John. As if they were urging John to go to that man (who was actually Jesus) and rebuke Him.
But John told them that the man (Jesus) who was also baptizing was far more greater than himself. John knew where his place in the plan of God, he perfectly knew that he was not the anointed one.
By John’s acceptance of his role in the plan of God, he accelerated Jesus’ mission of evangelization and salvation. He gave way to Jesus for the common good of the people God.
Rivalry is an ever-present issue among church workers, among siblings and even married couples. But come to think of it, instead of having rivalry, why don’t we learn to accept our roles? Why not cooperate and build bridges instead of walls?
In this gospel episode we learn from John’s humility. John is humble enough to accept his role in the plan of God. John knew where his rightful place in the plan of God. John is ever ready to give way to Jesus anytime because he was humble and self-effacing.
Are we humble and self-effacing as well?
And are we ready to simply fade away for the greater good? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 8, Sabado kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Juan 3:22-30
25 At nagkaroon ng pagtatalo ang mga alagad ni Juan at ang isang Judio tungkol sa paghuhugas. 26 Pinuntahan nila si Juan at sinabi sa kanya: “Rabbi, ang kasa-kasama mo sa ibayo ng Jordan, na pinatunayan mo, nagbibinyag siya ngayon at sa kanya pumupunta ang lahat.” 27 Sumagot si Juan: “Walang anumang makukuha ang isang tao malibang ibigay ito sa kanya ng Langit.
28 Kayo
mismo ang makapagpapatunay na sinabi kong ‘Hindi ako ang Mesiyas kundi
sinugo akong manguna sa kanya.’ 29 Sa nobyo ang nobya. Naroon naman ang
abay ng nobyo para makinig sa kanya at galak na galak siya sa tinig ng nobyo.
Ganito ring lubos and aking kagalakan. 30 Dapat siyang humigit at ako
nama’y lumiit.”
Reflection for January 7, Friday after Epiphany: Luke 5:12-16
And the leprosy left him immediately. Then
he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and
offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen
to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted
places to pray.
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Reflection:
How do you pray to Jesus when you want something from Him?
In today’s gospel we have a man sick with leprosy; he told the Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean (Luke 5:12).” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately (Luke 5:13).
The man sick with leprosy got what he wanted from Jesus for the reason that he humbled himself before Him. He did not only humble himself before Jesus, he also mustered enough courage to approach Jesus even if he was sick with a very contagious disease.
To have leprosy during that time was to have a dreaded disease, a sickness that isolate’s a person from the company of others. But it did not prevent the man sick with leprosy from going to Jesus, his sickness even fuelled him to go to Jesus. Where do we go when we are sick? Do we first go in prayer to Jesus and ask for His healing before going to somebody who could cure us?
Sickness is part and parcel of our life, for as long as we live we will also get sick. Therefore when we are sick let us not forget to first go in prayer to Jesus. Let us approach Jesus with humility and total surrender.
In sickness and in health in good times
and in bad let us always humbly go to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 7, Biyernes kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Lucas 5:12-16
13 Kaya iniunat ni Jesus ang kanyang kamay at hinipo siya at sinabi: “Gusto ko, luminis ka!” Nang oras ding iyo’y iniwan ng ketong ang lalaki. 14 Iniutos sa kanya ni Jesus: “Huwag mo itong sabihin kanino man kundi pumunta ka sa pari para masuri ka niya at maialay alang-alang sa iyo ang handog na iniutos ni Moises para magkaroon sila ng patunay.”
15 Ngunit
lalo namang kumalat ang balita tungkol sa kanya at pumunta sa kanya ang maraming
tao para makinig at mapagaling sa kanilang mga karamdaman. 16Kaya madalas na
mag-isang pumupunta si Jesus sa mga ilang na lugar para manalangin.
Reflection for January 6, Thursday after Epiphany: Luke 4:14-22
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back
to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked
intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in
your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious
words that came from his mouth.
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Reflection:
Are you living and fulfilling your baptismal mission?
We have a mission for our existence, we are not mere vapors in this world we are human beings. We were anointed by God thru the Sacrament of Baptism to share in the mission of Jesus. Have we shared His words in the bible, have we already helped the poor, the hungry the oppressed and the homeless?
It is very important that from time to time we have a self-evaluation of our lives in this world. For we may just be living our lives according to what this world dictates us to do. For example, the dictum of this world about self-gratification and wanton accumulation of material wealth.
What would happen to us if we embrace this world and we purposely forget the teaching of Jesus? We would end up walking and breathing in this world without a purpose.
God did not create us to become creatures of this world. He created us not to accumulate wealth! He created us so that we could share whatever material and intellectual wealth that we have. God did not create us to live our life according to the dictates of this world. God created us to live our life according to the life of Jesus.
Let us therefore live the life of Jesus, let us spread His teachings. There are more rewards in doing this than embracing the dictates of this world. Worldly satisfactions are short-lived and problem filled that is sugar coated with enticing pleasures.
Pleasures that do not last, pleasures that
only plunge us to deeper enslavement of the devil and pleasures that will
eventually destroy us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 6, Huwebes kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Lucas 4:14-22
• 16 Pagdating niya sa Nazaret, kung saan siya lumaki, pumasok siya sa sinagoga sa Araw ng Pahinga ayon sa kanyang kinaugalian. Tumindig siya para bumasa ng Kasulatan, 17 at iniabot sa kanya ang aklat ni Propeta Isaias.
Sa paglaladlad niya sa rolyo, natagpuan niya ang lugar kung saan nasusulat: 18 “Sumasaakin ang Espiritu ng Pangi-noon kayat pinahiran niya ako upang ihatid ang mabuting balita sa mga dukha. Sinugo niya ako upang ipahayag ang paglaya sa mga bilanggo, sa mga bulag ang pagkabawi ng paningin, upang bigyang-ginhawa ang mga api, 19 at ipahayag ang taon ng kabutihang-loob ng Panginoon.”
20 Binilot ni
Jesus ang aklat, ibinigay ito sa tagapaglingkod at naupo. At nakatuon sa kanya
ang mga mata ng lahat ng nasa sinagoga. 21 Sinimulan niyang magsalita sa kanila:
“Isinakatuparan ang Kasulatang ito ngayon habang nakikinig kayo.” 22 At
sumang-ayon silang lahat sa kanya habang nagtataka sa gayong pagpapahayag ng
kabutihang-loob ng Diyos na nanggaling sa kanyang bibig. At sinabi nila:
“Hindi ba’t ito ang anak ni Jose?”
Monday, January 03, 2022
Reflection for January 5, Wednesday after Epiphany: Mark 6:45-52
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He
got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely
astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary,
their hearts were hardened.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What do you do when you encounter turbulent storms in your life?
Each one of us encounters storms in our life, some of us are able to survive these life storms and bounce back. Some unfortunately are not able to get up again they wallow in self-pity and they live problematic lives for so long as they live.
What is the secret of those who are able to survive and bounce back? It’s not their money; it’s not their friends not even their strong family support. They’re able to survive and bounce back because of their faith that is strongly anchored on Jesus.
All of the possessions and power that we see and grasp will eventually pass us by. But there’s one that will be with us until eternity and that is Jesus. In this internet, facebook and social media driven world that we are in right now, Jesus seems to be irrelevant already for many. Let us not make that mistake of consigning Jesus to irrelevancy because we need Jesus today more than ever.
Get to know the Lord deeply, try reading
the first four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible (New
Testament) for the life story of Jesus is there. And be a regular presence in
the celebration of the Holy Mass for Jesus is also there. So that you’ll
survive whatever storms that you may encounter in your life. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 5, Miyerkules kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Marcos 6:45-52
47 Nasa laot na ang bangka nang gumabi at nag-iisa naman siyang nasa lupa. 48 Nakita niya silang nahihirapan sa pagsagwan sapagkat pasalungat ang hangin. Kaya nang madaling-araw na, pinuntahan sila ni Jesus na naglalakad sa dagat at waring lalampas sa kanila. 49 Nang makita nila siyang naglalakad sa dagat, akala nila’y multo siya. Kaya sumigaw sila. 50 Nakita nga siya nilang lahat at nasindak sila. Ngunit agad niya silang kinausap: “Lakasan ang loob! Ako ito, huwag kayong matakot.”
51 Nang
nakasakay na siya sa bangka kasama nila, tumigil ang hangin kaya lalo pa
silang namangha. 52 Hindi nga nila naunawaan ang tungkol sa mga tinapay,
kundi sarado ang kanilang isip.
Reflection for January 4, Tuesday after Epiphany: Mark 6:34-44
He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in
groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and
by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to
heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all
ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of
fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five
thousand men.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you believe that Jesus can make the impossible possible? The disciples who were with Jesus in the gospel did not believe that Jesus can make the impossible possible. The disciples were worried that the vast crowd who were following Jesus would go hungry. So they told Jesus to dismiss the vast crowd for it was already getting late.
Yet, Jesus made the impossible possible, He fed the five thousand men and those who were with them. He fed them all and there were many more loaves and fish which they were not able to consume.
The disciples who were with Jesus during
that time forgot the enormous power of Jesus. They were unable to remember that
Jesus can make all things possible including the impossible. Why did the disciples
suddenly failed to remember the power of Jesus? Because they allowed themselves
to be overwhelmed by the enormous number of people that were in front of them.
What does this miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish tell us? It tells us that miracles are always possible with Jesus. It tells us that the impossible is always possible for Jesus. It tells us that there’s always a miracle waiting to happen for us if we would believe in the power of Jesus.
Do you believe in the power of Jesus to
make the impossible possible? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 4, Martes kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Marcos 6:34-44
37 Ngunit
sumagot si Jesus sa kanila: “Kayo ang magbigay sa kanila ng makakain.” Sinabi
naman nila: “At kami pa pala ang bibili ng tinapay – dalawandaang denaryo, di
ba? At bibigyan namin sila.” 38 Ngunit sinabi niya: “Ilang tinapay meron
kayo? Sige, tingnan ninyo.” At pagkatingin nila ay kanilang sinabi: “Lima at
may dalawa pang isda.”
39 Kaya
iniutos niya sa kanila na paupuin nang grupu-grupo ang ma-kapal na tao sa
berdeng damuhan. 40 At naupo silang grupu-grupo, tigsasandaan at
tiglilimampu. 41 Kinuha niya ang limang tinapay at dalawang isda, tumingala
sa langit, nagpuri, hinati ang mga tinapay at ibinigay sa kanyang mga alagad
para ibigay din nila sa mga tao. Gayundin naman, hinati niya ang dalawang
isda. 42 At kumain silang lahat at nabusog, 43 at inipon nila ang mga
natirang pira-piraso – labindalawang punong basket ang mga piraso ng tinapay
pati na ang mga piraso ng isda. 44 Mga limanlibong lalaki ang napakain.
Sunday, January 02, 2022
Reflection for January 3, Monday after Epiphany: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He went around all of Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every
disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and
they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with
pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from
beyond the Jordan followed him.
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Reflection:
Do we know that we would be joyful and we would feel complete if we decide to follow Jesus?
The gospel tells us that great crowds followed Jesus for His healings, miracles and life changing words. And it is still the same today in our time: many of us follow Jesus to be healed by Him, to experience His miracles and to hear His life changing words. This is only the other side or the other half of Jesus.
The other side/half of Jesus is Jesus who suffered for us. Yes He is God and He could have avoided sufferings yet He chose to suffer out of His love for us. In His humanity there were times that He was praying to God that He be steered out of sufferings. But God prevailed upon Him. Therefore, Jesus humbly followed the mission given to Him by God and that is to die on the cross for our salvation.
WE should not only follow Jesus for our own selfish interest, we also follow Jesus because we want to partake of His sufferings too! By doing so we would be deepening our friendship and communion with Him. We have to continue to follow Jesus in good times and in bad.
Go on with your journey with Jesus through
your pains, heartaches and sufferings. In His own perfect time He surely will
make things right for you. In His own perfect time He will cure all your pains,
your heartaches and sufferings. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 3, Lunes kasunod ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon: Mateo 4:12-17, 23-25
16 Nakakita na ng malaking liwanag ang mga lugmok sa kadiliman. Sumikat na ang liwanag sa mga nasa anino ng kamatayan.” 17 At magmula noon, sinimulang ipahayag ni Jesus ang kanyang mensahe: “Magbagong-buhay; lumapit na nga ang Kaharian ng Langit.” 23 Nagsimulang maglibot si Jesus sa buong Galilea. Nagturo siya sa kanilang mga sinagoga, ipinahayag ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaharian at pinagaling ang kung anu-anong klase ng sakit at kapansanan ng mga tao.
24 Lumaganap
sa buong Siria ang balita tungkol sa kanya. Kaya dinala sa kanya ang mga may
karamdaman, ang lahat ng naghihirap dahil sa sakit, ang mga inaalihan ng
demonyo, ang mga nasisiraan ng bait, ang mga paralitiko, at pinagaling niya
silang lahat. 25 Sinundan siya ng maraming taong galing sa Galilea, sa Sampung
Lunsod, sa Jerusalem, sa Judea at sa kabilang ibayo ng Jordan.
Saturday, January 01, 2022
Reflection for Sunday January 2, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: Matthew 2:1-12
Assembling all the chief priests and
the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through
the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the
rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my
people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to
Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have
found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their
audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had
seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place
where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering
the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves
and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return
to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a mother who
was on the verge giving up on her wayward son until she was advised by her
friend to continue to be persevering with him. In addition she was told to
bring her son closer to Jesus through her prayers and not to give up on praying
for his conversion. The mother heeded the advice of her friend and true enough
after years of patiently praying and guiding her son. Her son finally found
Jesus and had a conversion.
Today is the Solemnity of the
Epiphany of the Lord; Jesus’ manifestation to the gentiles represented by the Magi.
These three wise men diligently looked for Jesus to honor Him with their
presence and gifts. With their diligence they found Him in a house with His
mother Mary and offered their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
These three wise men from the
east meticulously searched for Jesus until they finally found Him. Let us also
continue to search and thirst for Jesus in our life. If we say that we’ve
already found Him and that He is already in our hearts let us not be content
with this. Let us dig deeper into the life of Jesus and let us discover more
about Him. Jesus will never disappoint anyone who diligently searches for Him;
He will make Himself available to them.
As the Magi were very diligent in their search for the Lord. We are also challenged to continuously search for the Lord and to continue to thirst and hunger for Him. Let us look for Jesus in the poor and homeless, let us look for Jesus in the oppressed and in those many that are neglected. For He is always with them and let us give them the best that we could give them. - Marino J. Dasmarinas