Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 22 Sabado ng Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:20-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:20-21

20 Pagkauwi ni Jesus, nagsidating ang mga tao kayat hindi na sila nakakain. 21 Nang mabalitaan ito ng kanyang mga kamag-anak, lumabas sila para hulihin siya. Sinasabi nga nilang “Nababaliw   siya.”

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.

+ + + + + +

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 

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.

+ + + + +  + +

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 

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.

+ + + + + + +

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 

1Reflection 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.”

+ + + + + +

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 

1Reflection 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.”

+ + + + + +

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

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.

+ + + + + + +

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 

1Reflection 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.

 + + + + + +

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    

Reflection for January 15, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.  

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

How can we convert sinners to become followers of Jesus? Of course we should approach them and be friends with them. Then as we become friends with them we also introduce Jesus to them. With the hope that they will eventually become a follower. Let us be patient with them, let us not judge them for what they’ve done and let us pray and hope for their eventual conversion.  

Jesus is a man of interactions He goes to sinners, interacts with them and even dines with them. Jesus always chose to interact with sinners for obvious reasons. How about us, do we interact with sinners? Do we mingle with them? And do we forgive them even if they don’t ask for forgiveness?  

There are people who prefer to stay in their ivory towers. They look down and despise sinners as if they are not sinners also. They quickly judge them as good for nothing and dangerous. But if we avoid sinners how could we convert them?  

If Jesus avoided Levi and the other tax collectors, He could not have converted them. They would have go on sinning until they die. But Jesus chose to interact with them for He knew that this was the only way to convert them. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 14, Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.  

After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Have we already brought someone closer to the Lord?  

The four men who helped the paralytic to be with Jesus were extraordinary men. They have merciful hearts, hearts that are not only concerned for their own wellbeing. We can just imagine the hardship that they have to go through so that they could bring the paralytic to Jesus.  

Surely, the four selfless men went home very happy with the thought in mind that they’ve done something noble and worthy. That feeling of happiness and fulfillment were their reward.  

The greatest reward that we could ever receive in this world is not money or material things for these are passing and temporary. Not even self-serving honors for it will eventually be forgotten. The greatest reward is to help someone who cannot pay us back. Who will simply pray for us and who will silently thank God for the help that they’ve received from us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for January 13, Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”  

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had a kidney failure. To temporarily extend his life he would submit himself to a twice a week dialysis treatment. After two years of searching for a donor he finally found a poor relative who was very willing to donate one of his kidneys.  

To facilitate fast matching and compatibility the donor was invited to stay with the family of the sick man. He was treated well until it was found out during the battery of test that he had AIDS.  Naturally he was not anymore fit to be a donor and fearing contagion all his things were isolated by his relatives including his utensils.  

After the discovery that he has AIDS their behavior towards him radically changed as well. He was not welcome anymore and he felt his relative’s isolation and ill-treatment. After a few days he was asked to leave them permanently.  

In our gospel we have a man with leprosy (a contagious disease) who humbly went to Jesus He knelt and begged Jesus to cure him. Jesus had nothing in His heart but love mercy and compassion for the man. So, He touched him and was immediately made clean.  

By touching the man with leprosy Jesus broke the stereotyped ill-treatment of those who were sick with leprosy. By touching the man with leprosy Jesus shows us that Love, Mercy and Compassion are more powerful than any dreaded disease.      

As we move forward in this journey called life we shall be meeting or will be acquainted with people with contagious disease. Or people who are sinful or who lived wayward and misguided lives. Let us not scorn them, let us not avoid them and let us not judge them.  

Let us help them heal by giving them our Love, Mercy and Compassion. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 13, Huwebes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:40-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:40-45

40 Lumapit kay Jesus ang isang may  ketong at nakiusap sa kanya: “Kung gusto mo, mapalilinis mo ako.” 41 Nahabag si Jesus sa kanya, iniunat ang kanyang kamay, hinipo siya at sinabi: “Gusto ko, luminis ka!” 42 Nang oras ding iyon, iniwan ang lalaki ng kanyang ketong at luminis siya.  

43 Ngunit mahigpit siyang pinagbilinan ni Jesus sa kanyang pag-alis, 44 sinabi niya: “Mag-ingat ka, huwag mo itong sabihin kaninuman, kundi pumunta ka sa pari para masuri ka niya at maialay alang-alang sa pagkalinis sa iyo ang handog na iniutos ni Moises upang magkaroon sila ng patunay.”  

45 Ngunit pagkaalis ng tao, sinimulan niyang ipahayag ito kahit saan at ipamalita ang pangyayaring ito. Dahil dito, hindi na lantarang makapasok sa bayan si Jesus kundi nanatili siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na lugar. Ngunit may dumarating pa rin sa kanya na kung saan-saan galing.

Reflection for January 12, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.  

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.  

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

There are three kinds of sickness that will bother us in our lifetime; one is physical sickness which is very visible and can easily be seen, spiritual sickness (not necessarily possession by an evil spirit). And the other one is emotional sickness this kind of sickness is subtle and not visible unless we talk to the person.   

In our gospel, after healing all who were ill or possessed by demons Jesus rose up early before dawn. He left, went off to an idle place and there He prayed and then went off to other towns to heal and preach.  

However there were still many who were looking for the Lord in the village. Does this mean that Jesus is inconsiderate and He simply abandoned those who were still in need of His healing? No.  

Perhaps, those people who were still looking for His healings were those who were sick emotionally. Emotional sickness is the kind of sickness that can be cured by the person himself.  

With strong faith in Jesus and will power this sickness can easily be defeated by each and everyone of us. So Jesus left them for He must have concluded that their faith on Him was already enough to defeat their emotional sickness.     

This happens to all of us sometimes we feel sick because of certain emotional low-downs. We can easily defeat this through our strong faith in Jesus and through our positive outlook in life.  

Do you feel emotionally sick today or do you have a fever today? Or Do you feel that you are sick of covid-19 omicron variant? Take courage, follow the health protocols and have faith for Jesus will heal you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

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