Reflection for Friday January 21, Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (M): Mark 3:13-19

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

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Reflection:

How do you deal with betrayal? 

Jesus appointed the twelve to be His apostles; it means that they would be His supporter, helper, co-missioners and co-propagators of the gospel. It means also that they would stick it out with Jesus until the very end even at the cost of their lives.

Unfortunately there was one who betrayed Him in exchange for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Betrayal is an unfortunate incident that happens to all of us, sometimes those whom we trust or even love are the very people who would betray us.  

But we must learn from Jesus on how He handled Judas’ betrayal. He did not seek revenge for He knew that nothing good would come out of it. He just let it be and He continued to do His mission and let Judas deal with himself.  

Eventually Judas was bothered by his conscience and had a realization he returned the money to the chief priest. Then, he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).  

There would be those who will betray our trust even love. How should we react if say for example we pass through this betrayal? Should we get back at him/her and get even? Of course not! If we get even we are no different from the person who betrayed us. 

 Let us follow Jesus’ example when he dealt with Judas betrayal. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Biyernes sa Enero 21 Santa Ines (Agnes), birhen at martir (Paggunita): Marcos 3:13-19

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:13-19

13 Umakyat si Jesus sa burol at tinawag ang mga gusto niya. At lumapit sila sa kanya. 14 Sa gayon niya hinirang ang La­bin­­­­-da­lawa (na tinawag din niyang Mga Apos­tol) upang makasama niya at ma­ipadala sila para mangaral 15 at mag­ka­roon ng kapang­yarihan para pa­la­yasin ang mga demonyo.  

16 Kaya itinalaga niya ang Labinda­lawa at tinawag na Pedro si Simon, 17 at  si Jaime na anak ni Zebedeo, at ang kapatid nitong si Juan, at tinawag niya silang Boanerges, na ang ibig sabihi’y “Sina-Parang-Kulog”; 18 at saka si An­dres, at si Felipe, si Bartolome, si Mateo, si Tomas, si Jaimeng anak ni Alfeo, at si Tadeo,  19 si Simong Kananeo, at si Judas Iskariote na magka­kanulo sa kanya. 

Reflection for January 20, Thursday of the Second Week: Mark 3:7-12

Gospel Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.  

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

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Reflection:

Would you always be with Jesus in good times and in bad? 

We normally converge with those who have power: Politicians, powerful government officials and healers. Nothings wrong with it for that’s our nature as humans we gravitate towards the powerful. What if they’re not in power anymore would we still gravitate towards them? 

In our gospel Jesus is treated like a rock star people from all over the place were flocking to Him. For what reason? It was for his healing power. What if He had no power to heal? Of course there would be no pursuers or fans. 

In the infancy of Jesus’ ministry hundreds up to thousands would follow because He had that power to heal, to speak wondrously and the like. But towards the end when He was about to be crucified the thousands evaporated like a dew in the morning.  

It should not be like that with our walk with Jesus, in good times and in bad we should always remain with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 20 Huwebes ng Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:7-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:7-12

Kaya lumayo si Jesus na kasama ang kanyang mga alagad papunta sa dagat. Maraming taga-Galilea ang su­mu­­­nod sa kanya. Mayroon din namang mga taong ga­ling sa Judea 8 at Jerusalem, at sa Idumea at sa kabilang ibayo ng Jordan, at sa Tiro at Sidon. Maraming-marami ang nagpunta sa kanya nang mabalitaan nila ang lahat niyang ginagawa.   

9 Kaya tinagubilinan niya ang kanyang mga alagad na ihanda ang isang bangka para sa kanya dahil maraming tao, at baka nila siya maipit. 10 Marami na siyang pinaga­ling kaya pilit siyang inaabot ng lahat ng may karamdaman para mahipo siya. 11 Sinu­sugod siya ng mga inaalihan ng maruruming espiritu pagkakita sa kanya at pasi­gaw nilang si­na­sabi: “Ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos.” 12 Ngunit tinagubilinan niya silang huwag siyang ibunyag.

Reflection for January 19, Wednesday of the Second Week: Mark 3:1-6

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”  

But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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Reflection:

What would you do if you see a man with a withered hand? 

Jesus had two choices when He saw a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. The first choice was to simply ignore the sick man because it was the Sabbath day. The other choice was to cure the man and in the process ignore the Sabbath day. 

Jesus chose to heal the man and disregarded the Sabbath day. For Jesus it’s the welfare of the sick man first before the observance of the Sabbath law. In that instance Jesus chose to give priority to His ministry of healing rather than observe the Sabbath law.  

Jesus is a healer and His healing power is not bounded by anything be it criticism by His perceived enemies. His healing power is not solely restricted with physical healing; He heals us more spiritually and emotionally.  

But Jesus requires something from us also for us to get cured and that is our faith in Him. The same faith also of this man with a withered hand that was cured by Jesus on the Sabbath.  

Let us therefore hold on to Jesus with faith and never give up on the Lord no matter how hazy the horizon that is in front of us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 19 Miyerkules ng Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:1-6

1 Muling pumasok si Jesus sa sinagoga, at naroon ang isang lalaki na hindi maigalaw ang kamay, at mayroon ding gustong magsumbong tungkol kay Je­sus. 2 Kaya nagmasid sila at baka pa­galingin siya ni Jesus sa Araw ng Pa­hinga.   

3 At sinabi naman niya sa taong hindi ma­igalaw ang kamay: “Tumindig ka sa gitna.” 4 At saka niya sila tina­nong: “Ano ang ipina­hihintulot sa Araw ng Pa­hinga, gumawa ng mabuti o gumawa ng masa­ma, magligtas ng buhay o pumatay?” At di sila umimik.   

5 Nalungkot si Jesus dahil sa kati­gasan ng kanilang puso kaya galit niyang tiningnan silang lahat, at sinabi sa lalaki: “Iunat mo ang iyong kamay.” Iniunat nga ng tao ang kamay at guma­ling ito. 6 Pagkalabas ng mga Pariseo, naki­pag­tipon sila sa mga kakampi ni Hero­des para masiraan nila siya.

Reflection for January 18, Tuesday of the Second Week: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What is a Sabbath? 

Sabbath is a day of rest and worship based on this command: “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may work and do all your occupation, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then.” (Exodus 20:8-10) 

 Whenever there is a rule there is also a valid exception. And this is what Jesus was pointing out to the Pharisees. For Jesus the fulfilment of a valid human need is more important than fulfilling the law in this case the Sabbath law. 

Law/s should always serve the good of humanity, laws are there to serve humanity not to punish or restrict humanity. 

Some of us create restrictive and oppressive laws inside our own respective fields. Not to serve its purpose but to serve our own selfish purpose and interest. At the end, due to our insistence of fulfilling our self-created and self-serving laws. It results to enmity and discord among us. 

And the law that we have created to create order becomes the very reason for disorder, conflict and disunity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 18 Martes ng Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:23-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:23-28

23 Naglakad si Jesus sa mga taniman ng trigo minsang Araw ng Pa­hinga. At ha­bang naglalakad ang kanyang mga alagad, sinimulan nilang alisin sa uhay ang mga butil, at kinain iyon. 24 At sinabi kay Jesus ng mga Pariseo: “Tingnan mo ang ginagawa nila sa Araw ng Pahinga. Hindi ito ipinahi­hintulot.”   

25 Ngunit sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa kailanman ang ginawa ni David nang nangangailangan siya at nagu­gutom – siya at ang kanyang mga kasama? 26 Pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos nang si Abiatar ang Punong-pari, at kinain ang tinapay na inihain para sa Diyos gayong bawal ito kaninuman liban sa mga pari, at binigyan pa niya pati na ang kanyang mga kasama.”   

27 At sinabi pa sa kanila ni Jesus: “Dahil sa tao kaya ginawa ang Araw ng Pa­hinga ngu­nit hindi ang tao dahil sa Araw ng Pahinga. 28 Kung gayon, ang Anak ng Tao ang Panginoon kahit na ng Araw ng Pahi­nga.”

Reflection for Monday January 17, St. Anthony, abbot (M): Mark 2:18-22

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.  

But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

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Reflection:

A renewed catholic had said that his life was never the same since he had a personal relationship with Jesus. He said that since he met Jesus he was always joyful.  And even if there were problems he always ensures that it would never ruin his day. His reason for his newfound joyfulness and happiness is his reenergized faith in Jesus.  

Fasting in the context of our gospel reading for today is connected with self-sacrifice or self-denial. Which is actually not bad because it strengthens a person’s faith and dependence on God. But there is something that is very much supreme than fasting and it’s no other than Jesus! If Jesus is in our life we have to rejoice.  

For the reason that Jesus will teach us to fast without anyone else knowing it and this is the more important form of fasting: fasting that is not for show and fasting that is not seen and known by anyone except Jesus.  

The disciples of John and the Pharisees in our gospel were after the exterior fasting. Fasting that can be seen by the naked eyes and Jesus surely hates this kind of superficiality. If we are already with Jesus we would not be concerned anymore about superficial fasting. For the simple reason that we will fast without broadcasting it for the world to hear and see.  

Nobody will know about this kind of fasting except you and Jesus. And this would surely happen the moment you learn how to surrender your life to the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Enero 17, San Antonio, abad (Paggunita): Marcos 2:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:18-22

18 Nag-aayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan at ang mga Pariseo. Kaya may lumapit sa kanya at nagta­nong: “May araw ng ayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan at ang mga alagad ng mga Pariseo, at wala ba namang pag-aayuno ang iyong mga alagad?”   

19 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Puwede bang mag-ayuno ang mga abay sa kasalan kapag kasama pa nila ang nobyo? 20 Darating ang panahon na kukunin sa kanila ang nobyo; sa araw na iyon sila mag-aayuno.  

21 Walang nagtatagpi ng piraso ng ba­gong tela sa lumang damit. Kung gagawin mo ito, hihilahin ng tagpi ang damit, ng bago ang luma at lalo pang lalaki ang punit. 22 At hindi ka rin naman maglalagay ng bagong alak sa mga lumang sisidlan. Kung gagawin mo ito, papuputukin ng alak ang mga sisidlan at masisira ang alak pati na ang mga sisidlan. Sa bagong sisidlan ang bagong alak!”

Reflection for Sunday January 16, Feast of the Sto. Nino (In the Philippines): Luke 2:41-52

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

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Reflection:

Do you always bring your children to church for Holy Mass before the onset of Covid-19? 

As we celebrate today the feast of Sto. Nino we will obviously not be seeing processions, motorcades and parades in honor of the child Jesus. This acceptable considering the threat brought to us by covid-19. What is important is in the midst of covid-19 we still don’t forget to introduce our children to our faith.

Joseph and Mary absolutely knew the importance of introducing their child to their Jewish faith. That is why they brought the twelve years old Jesus to worship God during the yearly celebration of the feast of Passover. Joseph and Mary completely knew also that their worship for God will help form the young mind of Jesus. By doing so Jesus would learn to love and honor God more than anything else in this world.

The primary duty of parents is to teach their child/children to love and honor God and this they can do by teaching their children about our faith. Because the moment they do so everything that is good and Godly is inculcated in their young minds. And this will become their guiding light as they grow up.

During this pandemic induced times that we are in let us continue to teach our children about our faith and to love and honor God. Because this will serve them very well as they move forward with their young life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 16, Ang Banal na Sanggol o Santo Nino: Lucas 2:41-52

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 2:41-52

41 Pumupunta taun-taon sa Jerusalem ang mga magulang ni Jesus para sa Piyesta ng Paskuwa. 42 Kayat nang maglabindalawang taon na siya, umahon sila tulad ng nakaugalian para sa pagdiriwang. 43 Subalit nang umuwi na sila pagkatapos ng mga araw ng piyesta, naiwan sa Jeru-salem ang batang si Jesus nang hindi namamalayan ng kanyang mga magulang.

44 Sa pag-aakalang kasama siya ng iba pang mga kasamahan, maghapon silang nakipaglakbay at noon nila hinanap ang bata sa mga kamag-anakan nila’t mga kakilala. 45 Nang hindi nila siya matagpuan, bumalik sila sa Jerusalem sa pag-hahanap sa kanya. 46 At sa ikatlong araw, natagpuan nila siya sa Templo, nakaupong kasama ng mga guro at nakikinig at nagtatanong sa kanila. 47 At namangha sa kanyang talino at mga sagot ang mga nakarinig sa kanya.

48 Nagulat ang kanyang mga magulang pagkakita sa kanya, at sinabi sa kanya ng kanyang ina: “Anak, bakit mo naman ito ginawa sa amin? Nagdusa nga ang iyong ama at ako habang hinahanap ka namin.” 49 Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila: “At bakit ninyo ako hinahanap? Hindi ba ninyo alam na dapat ay nasa bahay ako ng aking Ama?” 50 Pero hindi nila naintindihan ang sinabi niya sa kanila. 51 Kaya bumaba siyang kasama nila pa-Nazaret, at patuloy siya sa pagiging masunurin sa kanila. Iningatan naman ng kanyang ina ang lahat ng ito sa kanyang puso. 

• 52 At umunlad si Jesus sa karunungan at edad at kagandahang-loob sa paningin ng Diyos at ng mga tao. 

Reflection for Sunday January 16, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 2:1-11

Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."  

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.  

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

What can we learn out of this first miracle of Jesus in the wedding at Cana? We learn of the enormous influence of his mother Mary over him. In the middle of the wedding banquet they suddenly run out of wine however thanks to Mary who informed Jesus that there was no more wine left.  

Mary went to Jesus to tell Him that they have no more wine. On the surface it appears that Jesus doesn’t care if they have no more wine. However, deep within Him Jesus cared for the simple reason that it was brought to His attention by His mother Mary.  

What if Mary was not in the wedding, who amongst the disciples have the guts to approach Jesus to tell Him that there was no more wine? Perhaps nobody would have dared disturb their Master but thanks to the presence of Mary and her motherly instinct and influence over Jesus.  

Mary is always listened to by Jesus for the simple reason she is His mother. Jesus came into this world through Mary, from His birth up to His death Mary was with Jesus as well. No small wonder that Mary has great influence over Jesus.  

Do you always seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 16, Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 2:1-11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:1-11

1 Sa ikatlong araw, may kasalan sa Kana ng Galilea, at naroon ang ina ni Jesus. 2 Kumbidado rin sa kasalan si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad. 3 Ngunit kinapos ang alak sa kasalan kaya wala na silang alak. Kaya sinabi ng ina ni Jesus sa kanya: “Wala silang alak.” 4 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ano sa akin o sa iyo, O Babae? Hindi pa su­ma­sapit ang oras ko.” 5 Sinabi naman ng kanyang ina sa mga katulong: “Gawin n’yo ang anumang sasabihin niya sa inyo.”

6 May anim na tapayang bato roon para sa sagradong paghuhugas ng mga Judio. Tigwawalumpu o tigsasandaang litro ang laman ng mga iyon. 7 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Punuin n’yo ng tubig ang mga tapayan.” At pinuno nga nila hanggang labi ang mga iyon. 8 At sinabi niya: “Kumadlo kayo ngayon at dalhin sa punong-abala.” At dinala nga nila.

9 Tinikman ng punong-abala ang tubig na naging alak pero hindi niya alam kung saan ito galing, pero alam ng mga katulong ng kumadlo ng tubig. Kaya tinawag ng punong-abala ang nobyo 10 at sinabi sa kanya: “Ang ma­inam na alak muna ang inihahain ng lahat at saka lamang ang mas mahi­nang uri kapag la­sing na ang mga tao. Pero itinabi mo pala ang mainam na alak hanggang ngayon.”

11 Ito ang simula ng mga tanda ni Jesus. Ginawa niya ito sa Kana ng Galilea at ibinunyag ang kanyang luwalhati, at nanalig sa kanya ang kanyang mga alagad.