Reflection for January 11, Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"  

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told of a man who was trying very hard to straighten his life. He would often say to himself that he would not sin anymore. But he would always succumb to the enticement of the devil. This became a vicious cycle for him: He would promise to himself not to sin once again repeatedly.  

Evil possession is a reality of life it is always there hovering around waiting for the right moment to pounce on us. Evil possession is also not solely limited through diabolical possession. It now hides itself through our ego or high sense of self and through our other undesirable motives, thoughts and actions.  

Very clearly we have in the gospel the one who can defeat the devil and it’s no other than Jesus. By His authority Jesus drove out the evil spirit possessing the man. And it is also surprising that the evil spirit knew who Jesus was.  This simply means that Jesus was marked as their number one enemy for He alone can defeat them permanently.  

Jesus is still the same today as He was yesterday and as He shall be in the future. The evil spirit still trembles before His presence; He is our sole cure to Satan’s evil scheming. Let us therefore hear His voice crying out for us and let us not harden our hearts for Him. Instead let us open our hearts to Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 11, Martes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:21-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:21-28

21 Pumunta si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad sa Capernaum. At nagturo siya sa sinagoga sa mga Araw ng Pahinga. 22 Nagulat ang mga tao sa kanyang pangangaral sapagkat nangaral siya nang may kapang­yari­han, hindi gaya ng mga guro ng Batas.   

• 23 May isang tao sa sinagoga na ina­alihan ng isang maruming espiritu. 24 Su­migaw ito: “Ano ang kailangan mo sa akin, Jesus na taga-Nazaret? Para ipahamak kami kaya ka dumating. Alam ko kung sino ka: ang Banal ng Diyos.”   

25 Ngunit iniutos sa kanya ni Jesus: “Tumahimik ka’t lumabas sa kanya.” 26 Matinding niyugyog ng espiritu ang taong iyon at pagkasigaw nang malakas ay saka lumabas. 27 Talagang takang-taka ang lahat at nag-usap-usap sila: “Ano ito? Isang ba­gong pagtuturo na may kapang­ya­rihan! Inuutusan niya kahit maru­ruming espi­ritu at sinusunod nila siya.” 28 At luma­ganap ang katanyagan niya saan man sa buong lupain ng Galilea.

Reflection for January 10, Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:14-20

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel. As he passed by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

There’s a saying that death is like a thief in the night it comes to us when we least expect it. What if for example death surprisingly visits us tonight? What would happen to our soul? Where would we end up? We don’t know when death will come to us, we don’t also know what will happen to us and where would we be. Only God with His infinite wisdom knows about it.  

In the gospel Jesus calls for repentance and belief in His gospel message. What is the relationship of death to Jesus call of repentance and fidelity to the gospel? Since death is unpredictable Jesus prepares us for this eventuality anytime by calling for our repentance and belief in His gospel message. 

This call of repentance of Jesus is not a once in a lifetime call. This is a lifetime call of Jesus for us. He calls us to repentance for as long as we live. For He knows all about our sinfulness; even the sin/s that nobody knows except us, Jesus knows about it also! 

What if we don’t heed this call of repentance of Jesus? We then continue to sin we continue to allow the devil to get hold of us and this is very frightening! For the devil will not bring us any good, we may enjoy the enticements of the devil for a period of time. However, time will come that it will eventually destroy us.  

Therefore, we must listen to this call of repentance of Jesus and we must also read, live and believe His gospel message. Our life will turn for the better the moment we decide to repent and embrace the gospel message of Jesus. 

If you listen to Jesus’ call and leave behind whatever sins that you have committed. You will begin to live a new life, a new life with peace, a new life with contentment and a new life of hope in the Lord.  

Are you willing to repent and embrace Jesus’ gospel message?  -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 10, Lunes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:14-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:14-20

14 Pagkadakip kay Juan, pumunta si Jesus sa Galilea. Doon niya ipina­hayag ang magandang balita ng Diyos sa pagsa­sabing 15 “Sumapit na ang panahon; mag­bagong-buhay at mani­wala sa magandang balita; lumapit na nga ang Kaharian ng Langit.”   

16 Sa pagdaan ni Jesus sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya si Simon ka­sama si Andres na kapatid niya na naghahagis ng mga lambat sa lawa; mga mangingisda sila. 17 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” 18 Agad nilang iniwan ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod sa kanya.  

19 Nagpatuloy pa siya nang kaunti, nakita naman niya ang magkapatid na Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo; nasa bangka sila at nagsusursi ng kani­lang lambat. 20 Tinawag sila ni ­Jesus. Agad nilang iniwan sa bangka ang kanilang amang si Zebedeo kasama ang mga tauhan nito, at umalis silang kasunod niya.

Reflection for Sunday January 9, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A newly ordained priest was so proud of his vocation that he invited everyone in their place to announce to them that he is now a priest. He was not content with that kind of publicity so he told those who were gathered that he became a priest because he wanted it for so long. And according to him, no one influenced him to become a priest but himself.  

What separates John from this priest? John is humble and this priest is not, John pointed to Jesus as the greater power in his ministry while the priest pointed to himself as the power behind his priesthood.

We celebrate today the feast of the baptism of the Lord. What message does it convey to us?  It reminds us of our own baptismal date and baptismal mission; it reminds us that we have a responsibility to do as baptized Christians. Our baptismal mission is to share and live our faith and in sharing and living our faith we also have a responsibility to do: None other than to share our faith with humility. And to let the virtue of humility become an integral part of our lives so that we can bring our fellowmen closer to the Lord. What if we do not have the virtue of humility? We will not become effective bearers and sharers of the teachings of Jesus. We will not also become successful in our mission to bring others to Jesus. 

We can only convince others to follow Christ if we would always be humble and simple. We can only develop the curiosity of our fellowmen to be interested in our faith if we live it with humility and simplicity. As Jesus and John were humble evangelizers of the faith during their time, so must we.

Because it is only through the way of humility and simplicity that we can effectively live our baptismal mission. There is no other way but the way of humility and simplicity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 9, Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon: Lucas 3:15-16, 21-22

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 3:15-16, 21-22

Nananabik noon ang mga tao at nag-isip-isip ang lahat kung hindi nga kaya si Juan ang Mesiyas. 16 At sumagot si Juan sa pagsasabi sa kanilang lahat: “Nagbibinyag ako sa inyo sa tubig pero dumarating na ang isang mas makapang-yarihan sa akin. Ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng kanyang mga panyapak. Sa Espiritu Santo at apoy niya kayo bibinyagan.  

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.”

Reflection for January 8, Saturday after Epiphany: John 3:22-30

Gospel: John 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.  

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.”

+ + + + +  + +

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

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:22-30

22 Pagkatapos nito, pumunta si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad sa lupain ng Judea, at tumigil siya roong kasama nila at nagbinyag. 23 Nagbi­binyag din noon si Juan sa Ainon na malapit sa Salim dahil maraming tubig doon, at may mga nag­sisidating at nagpapabinyag. 24 Hindi pa nabi­bilanggo noon si Juan.  

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

Gospel: Luke 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  

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.

+ + + + + +

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

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:12-16

12 Nang nasa isang bayan si Jesus, may isang taong tadtad ng ketong doon. Nang makita niya si Jesus, nagpatirapa siya at nakiusap sa kanya: “Ginoo, kung gusto mo, mapalilinis mo ako.”   

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

Gospel: Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 

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.

+ + + + + +

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

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 4:14-22

14 Nagbalik si Jesus sa Galilea na taglay ang kapangyarihan ng Espiritu at lumaganap sa buong kapaligiran ang balita tungkol sa kanya. 15 Kina­ugalian niyang magturo sa kanilang mga sinagoga, at pinupuri siya ng lahat.  

• 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?”

Reflection for January 5, Wednesday after Epiphany: Mark 6:45-52

Gospel: Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.  

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

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:45-52

45 Agad na pinilit ni Jesus na sumakay sa bang­ka ang mga alagad at pinauna sa Betsaida sa kabilang ibayo habang pinaaalis niya ang mga tao. 46 At pagka­paalis niya sa kanila, mag-isa siyang lumayo papunta sa kaburulan para ma­nalangin.  

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.