Reflection for February 12, Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.  

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.  

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.  

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of compassion and mercy, Jesus feels our loneliness when we are lonely. Jesus cries with us when we cry. Jesus feels the heavy load that we carry when we are so burdened by it. Does this feeling of compassion and mercy stops with Jesus empathy? No, Jesus never stops of thinking of ways on how He can lighten the burdens that we carry.  

We see this deep compassion and mercy of Jesus in our gospel today. When Jesus saw the crowd who had been following them for days He had deep compassion for them for they were already hungry and tired. And His mercy and compassion led Him to think on how He could feed them.  

So Jesus asked His disciples for whatever food that they may have and out of seven loaves and few fish Jesus miraculously multiplied it to feed almost four thousand. This is how merciful and compassionate Jesus is to those who follow Him.  

What does this gospel tell us? This tells us that we will never go hungry the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus! Jesus will never let us go hungry for He will take care of our food and He will take care of our needs. This may be hard to believe for others but this is very true! Jesus provides for those who faithfully follow Him.  

Are you a faithful follower of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 12, Sabado ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:1-10

1 Maraming tao ang sumama kay Jesus at wala silang makain. Kaya tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: 2 “Labis akong naaawa sa mga taong ito, pangatlong araw ko na silang ka­sama at wala nang makain 3 at kung paalisin ko silang gutom, baka mahilo sila sa daan. Ga­ling pa sa malayo ang ilan sa kanila.”  

4 Sumagot ang kanyang mga alagad: “At paano naman maka­kakuha ng tinapay para pakainin sila sa ilang na ito?” 5 Tinanong sila ni Jesus: “Ilan bang tinapay meron kayo?” Sumagot sila: “Pito.”   

6 Pinaupo ni Jesus sa lupa ang mga tao, kinuha ang pitong tinapay at nag­pa­salamat sa Diyos. Pinagpira-­piraso niya ang mga ito at ibinigay sa kan­yang mga alagad para ihain; at inihain nila ang mga ito sa mga tao. 7 Meron din silang ilang isda. Binasbasan ito ni Jesus at iniutos na ihain din ang mga ito.  

8 Kumain sila at nabusog at inipon ang mga natirang pira-piraso – pitong bayong. 9 Apat na libo ang naroon, at saka sila pinauwi ni Jesus. 10 Agad siyang sumakay sa bangka kasama ang kanyang mga alagad at pumunta sa lupain ng Dalma­nuta.

Reflection for February 11, Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  

He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was diagnosed to have a terminal sickness, of course he was bothered, who would not be? But the man had great faith in Jesus so he earnestly prayed for his healing.  He went to Mass everyday, he prayed the rosary regularly and he read his bible fervently.   

As the days, weeks and months passed by there was observable decline on his physical appearance. But those around him noticed also the increase in his faith and confidence in Jesus. They’ve noticed the peacefulness and calmness that he exudes so unlikely of a dying man.  

We are presented in the gospel a story of physical healing, a deaf man was able to speak again through the healing power of Jesus.  With the help of those around him the deaf man was brought closer to Jesus. After which he begged Jesus to lay His hand on him. 

Jesus took the man away from the crowd. And in the stillness of the environment Jesus groaned and said, “Ephphatha!” which means be opened. The man was immediately healed, he was able to hear and speak once again.  

Eventually, everyone of us will get sick and everyone of us will also pray for physical healing from Jesus. But not all of us would experience physical healing like what the deaf man experienced in the gospel. Some of us would experience deep spiritual healing, the same spiritual healing that the terminally sick man in our story received from Jesus.  

We must therefore take steps also to get closer and build a relationship with Jesus. Let us take the initiative and do it by ourselves now. Let us not wait for the time to come that we will go to the Lord because we are already in dire need of Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday February 10, Saint Scholastica, Virgin (M): Mark 7:24-30

Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.  

He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Reflection:

What is the key for us to have what we want from Jesus? 

It’s persistence, if we think that Jesus doesn’t hear our prayers, we should continue to beg Him to grant us what want. We should never give up because giving up is a sign of our lack of faith in Jesus. 

The Syrophoenician woman in our gospel never gave up on her prayer request even if she was already being tested by Jesus. She persisted and humbly beg Jesus to cure her daughter possessed by the devil. Eventually her persistence bore fruit for when she went home she found out that her daughter was not anymore possessed by the devil.  

As we continue our journey in this temporal world, we surely will be facing a lot of problematic situations. Let us not let these disappointing events bring us down and let us not let these situations separate us from Jesus. The more we encounter trials in our lives the more that we go persistently to Jesus for help.  

For it’s only Jesus and it’s only through Jesus that we would be able to survive the many trials and tribulations in this world.  What if for example we persistently pray to Jesus for help and he does not help us? What are we going to do? We simply have to continue to pray and have faith, the more that we are ignored by the Lord the more that we have to pray and have faith.  

How’s your faith in the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Pebrero 10, Santa Escolastica, dalaga (Paggunita): Marcos 7:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:24-30

24 Lu­ma­yo si Jesus patungo sa hangganan ng Tiro. Pumasok siya roon sa isang bahay at kahit na ayaw niya itong malaman ninuman, hindi ito nalihim. 25 May isang babaeng nakabalita tung­kol sa kanya. Inaalihan ng maruming espiritu ang kan­yang dalagita kaya pumunta siya at nag­patirapa sa kan­yang paanan. 26 Isa siyang paga­nong taga-Sirofenicia. At ipinaki­usap niya kay Jesus na palayasin ang demonyo sa kanyang anak.  

27 Sinabi naman ni Jesus sa kanya: “Ba­ya­an mo munang mabusog ang mga anak. Hindi tama na kunin ang tinapay sa mga bata at itapon ito sa mga tuta.” 28 Su­ma­got ang babae: “Totoo nga, Ginoo, pero kinakain ng mga tuta sa ilalim ng mesa ang mga nalalaglag mula sa mga bata.” 29 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Dahil sa sinabi mong ito, lumabas na sa iyong anak na babae ang demonyo.” 30 Kaya umuwi ang babae at nakita niya ang bata na naka­higa sa kama; lumabas na nga ang demonyo. 

Reflection for February 9, Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”  

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)  

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

Where does the desire to commit sin emanates? It first emanates from within us. It begins when we think about it and if we don’t stop thinking about our desire to commit sin it slowly progresses. Until we actually give flesh to our desire to sin by actually doing it.  

For example, the desire of a husband/wife to betray their marriage vows. He/she starts by thinking about it and when she/he sees that the situation is conducive to commit the act of sin/betrayal. The spouse will now succumb to commit this immoral sin. Therefore, the desire to commit sin originates from within us first.  

How then could we avoid sin? We pray to Jesus and ask His help to exterminate whatever sinful desires that we have in our minds. Then we also have to do our part by taking action to rid ourselves of the desire to sin and by confronting the sin and stepping on it so that it would die. Because if we pray yet our actions are not according to what we have been praying for we would still commit sin sooner or later. As the saying goes God help those who help themselves. 

But come to think of it, why do we commit sin? The simple answer is we don’t take our faith in Jesus seriously this is the reason why we commit sin when we want to commit it. Are we not tired yet of sinning? Are we not tired yet of mortgaging our lives to the devil? When we continuously mortgage our lives to the devil through sin, there is the danger that we may not anymore be able to get out of it! 

It’s about time that we change this cycle of sin, it’s about time that we rid ourselves of any sinful thoughts and desires. It’s about time that we free ourselves from any problems and complication brought about by sin.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 9, Miyerkules ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:14-23

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:14-23

14 Tinawag ni Jesus ang mga tao at sinabi sa kanila: “Pakinggan ako at unawain sana ninyong lahat. 15 Hindi ang pumapasok sa tao mula sa labas ang nakapagpaparumi sa kanya kundi ang lumalabas sa tao ang nakapagpaparumi sa kanya. 16 Makinig ang may tainga.”   

17 Pagkalayo ni Jesus sa mga tao, nang nasa bahay na siya, tinanong siya ng kanyang mga alagad tungkol sa talin­hagang ito. 18 At sinabi niya: “Wala rin ba kayong pang-unawa? Hindi ba ninyo na­uunawaan na sa bituka pumu­punta ang anumang pumapasok sa tao mula sa labas? 19 Sapagkat hindi sa puso ito puma­pasok kundi sa tiyan at pagkatapos ay itinatapon sa labas.” (Sa gayo’y sinabi niya na malinis ang tanang mga pagkain.)  

20 At idinagdag niya: “Ang luma­labas sa tao ang nagpaparumi sa tao. 21 Sa puso nga ng tao nagmumula ang masa­samang hangarin – kahalayan, pagna­nakaw, pag­patay sa kapwa, 22 pakiki­apid, kasa­kiman, kasamaan, pandaraya, ka­las­waan, pagkainggit, paninira, kapala­luan, kabuktutan. 23 Ang masasamang bagay na ito ang nagpaparumi sa tao.

Reflection for February 8, Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.  

And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are you very strict with the observance of your customs and traditions?  

The Pharisees were very particular of their customs/traditions they follow it to the letter. So, when they saw that Jesus’ disciples ate their meals without washing their hands—they told Jesus about it.  

They said to Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" and Jesus told them: You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He went on to say, "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!  

We see that Jesus puts more weight on the commandments of God more than their traditions the interior rather than the exterior, the inside conversion rather than the fake exterior observance of their laws. 

The conversion that Jesus desires for us is one that involves change of our hearts and mindsets. For example, from indulging in sin we now try our very best to avoid sin. From staying in an environment where we’ve sinned, we now completely walk away from that environment and so on. For Jesus, what matters most is not our external acts but our internal conversion and renewal.   - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 8, Martes ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:1-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:1-13

1 Nagkatipon sa paligid ni Jesus ang mga Pariseo at ilan sa mga guro ng Batas na galing sa Jeru­salem. 2 Napansin nila na kumakain ang ilan sa mga alagad niya nang may maruming ka­may, na hindi naghu­hugas ayon sa sere­monya. 3 Sinusunod nga ng mga Pariseo pati na ng mga Judio ang tra­disyon ng kanilang mga ninuno at hindi sila kumakain nang hindi muna nag­huhugas ng mga kamay. 4 At hindi rin sila kuma­kain ng anumang galing sa palengke nang di muna ito nililinis, at marami pa’ng dapat nilang tuparin, ha­lim­bawa’y ang pag­li­li­nis ng mga inu­man, mga kopa at ping­gang tanso.  

5 Kaya tinanong siya ng mga Pariseo at mga guro ng Batas: “Bakit hindi isi­nasabuhay ng iyong mga alagad ang tra­disyon ng mga ninuno? Hindi nga sila naghuhugas ng kamay bago ku­main.”

6 At sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Tama ang propesiya ni Isaias tungkol sa in­yong mga mapagkunwari. Nasusulat na “Pinararanga­lan ako ng mga ito sa kanilang labi, at ma­layo naman sa akin ang ka­nilang mga puso. 7 Walang silbi ang kani­lang pag­samba sa akin at ka­utusan lamang ng tao ang kanilang itinuturo.”  

8 Pinabayaan nga ninyo ang utos ng Diyos para itatag ang tradisyon ng mga tao.” 9 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Mahusay na pina­walang-bisa ninyo ang salita ng Diyos para tuparin ang inyong tradis­yon. 10 Si­nabi nga ni Moises: ‘Igalang mo ang iyong ama at ina’, at ‘patayin ang sinu­mang sumumpa sa kanyang ama o ina.’ 11 Ngunit ayon sa inyo, masasabi ninuman sa kanyang ama o ina, “Inilaan ko na para sa Templo ang maaasahan ninyo sa akin.” 

12 At hindi na ninyo siya pinapayagang tumulong sa kanyang ama o ina. 13 Kaya pina­walang-bisa ninyo ang salita ng Diyos sa tulong ng sarili ninyong tradisyon. At marami pa ang mga ginagawa ninyong ganito.” 

Reflection for February 7, Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.  

Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was sick with cancer that asked the Lord, “Why am I suffering Lord”? I can’t bear my sickness anymore and I can’t bear the pain of going through the procedure of chemotherapy anymore.”      

In the gospel, those who were able to touch the tassel of Jesus’ cloak were very fortunate for they received healing in return.  It speaks volumes of their faith and the power of Jesus.  

But not everyone who has faith is healed. There are those who have faith but they continue to suffer from their sickness. Sometimes it may baffle us why they physically suffer considering that they also have faith that they also love Jesus. 

The healing that Jesus gives us is not always physical, oftentimes its spiritual which means that we're given the grace to accept our physical sickness and the grace to completely surrender our life to the great power and mercy of Jesus.  

There are people who are still happy in spite of their physical sickness for they’ve learned to offer to God their suffering. They’ve learned that the suffering that they’re undergoing is nothing compared to the suffering that Jesus went through.  

There will come a time that we will also get sick and will suffer as well. Let us never forget to offer our suffering/s to Jesus. Let us ask Jesus to help us endure our suffering/sickness. Though it may be difficult, let us learn to accept it and continue to have that enormous faith in the Lord. 

How’s your faith in the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 7, Lunes ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:53-56

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:53-56

53 Pagkatawid ni Jesus at ng kanyang mga alagad, dumating sila sa pampang ng Genesaret at doon nila           isi­nadsad ang bangka. 54 Paglunsad nila ng bangka, nakilala si Jesus ng mga taga­­roon 55 at pa­takbo nilang ipinama­lita ito sa lupaing iyon.   

Kaya dinala nila ang mga maysakit na nasa higaan kung saan nila mabalitaang naroon siya. 56 At saanman siya lumakad, sa mga nayon man o sa bayan o sa bukid, inilalagay nila sa mga liwasan ang mga maysakit at nakikiusap sa kanya na mahipo man lamang sana nila ang laylayan ng kanyang damit, at gumaling ang lahat ng humipo rito.

Reflection for Sunday February 6, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:1-11

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a middle-aged man who wanted to follow Jesus. But he would always have second thoughts if he would proceed with his desire because he was sinful. Thus, the feeling of unworthiness always creeps into him. However, there was always that inner voice that whispers to him to follow the Lord no matter his sinfulness.

Who among us are worthy to become a follower of Jesus? Nobody for all of us are sinful, all of us have offended the Lord one way or another. Yet, in spite of our unworthiness we are always being called by Jesus to follow Him so that He can purify us of our sins no matter how dark those sins are. 

The Lord does not call us to condemn us of the countless sins that we have committed. The Lord calls us so that He could restore us of our dignity which we lost through our sinfulness. He calls us to tell us that His love for us can overcome whatever sins that we have committed.

All He wants from us is our yes and our firm commitment to walk away from our sins! When we say yes to the Lord, we also would be willing to leave behind the environment that made us sin. We leave behind those people who influenced us to sin. In other words, there’s no turning back or looking back the moment we decide to follow the Lord. Because the Lord is not anymore interested in our sinful past what matters to Jesus is our present and future with Him.

In the gospel, after Jesus performed the miracle of the great catch of fish before the very eyes of Simon and the other fishermen (Luke 5:6). Simon Peter kneeled before Jesus and he begged Jesus to leave them for they were all sinful. And therefore unworthy of His presence and the miracle that he did for them (Luke 5:8). 

However, Jesus with all the love, mercy and forgiveness told Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:10).” After bringing their boats to the shore, Simon and the other fishermen left everything to follow the Lord. (Luke 5:11)

Regardless of your sins and your dark past Jesus is calling you as well to begin a new life with Him. Would you respond to this call of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 6, Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon (K): Lucas 5:1-11

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:1-11

Noong panahong iyon 1 Dinagsa si Jesus ng napakaraming taong nakikinig sa salita ng Diyos at nakatayo naman siya sa baybayin ng Lawa ng Genesaret. 2 Nakita niya noon ang dalawang bangka sa baybay. Kaba­baba pa lamang ng mga mangi­ngisda mula sa mga ito para hugasan ang mga lambat. 3 Kaya suma­kay siya sa isa rito na pag-aari ni Simon at hiniling dito na lumayo nang kaunti mula sa dalampasigan. Umupo siya at mula sa bangka’y sinimulang turuan ang maraming tao.   

4 Matapos siyang magsalita, sinabi niya kay Simon: “Pumalaot ka at ihulog ninyo ang inyong mga lambat para hu­muli.” 5 Ngunit sumagot si Simon: “Guro, buong magdamag kaming nagpagod at wala kaming nakuha pero dahil sinabi mo, ihuhulog ko ang mga lambat.” 6 At nang gawin nila ito, naka­huli sila ng napaka­raming isda kaya halos mag­kandasira ang kani­lang mga lambat. 7 Kaya kinawayan nila ang kanilang mga kasamahang nasa kabilang bang­ka para lumapit at tulungan sila. Du­mating nga ang mga ito at pinu­no nila ang dalawang bangka hang­gang halos lumu­bog ang mga iyon.  

8 Nang makita ito ni Simon Pedro, nag­pa­tirapa siya sa harap ni Jesus at sinabi: “Lumayo ka sa akin, Panginoon, sapagkat taong makasalanan lamang ako.” 9 Tala­ga ngang nasindak siya at ang lahat niyang kasama dahil sa huli ng mga isda na nakuha nila. 10 Gayundin naman ang mga anak ni Zebedeo na sina Jaime at Juan na mga kasama ni Simon.  

Ngunit sinabi ni Jesus kay Simon: “Huwag kang matakot; mula ngayo’y mga tao ang huhulihin mo.” 11 Kayat nang ma­dala na nila ang mga bangka sa lupa, iniwan nila ang lahat at sumu­nod sa kanya.

Reflection for Saturday February 5, Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr (M): Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.  

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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Reflection:

To whom can we compare Jesus in this world?  

We can somehow compare Jesus to our parents. Let us try recalling how patient our parents were in teaching us the basics about life. Let us try recalling how hard they’ve tried to provide the very best for us.  

Let us try recalling the many family bondings that they’ve planned to further strengthen the family’s union. Let us try to recall the countless shepherding or guiding moments that we’ve received from them. And let us try to recall the countless times they’ve comforted and motivated us when we were feeling weary and tired.    

In essence Jesus is like a parent to the apostles and to those who followed Him He was a unifying factor for them. He motivated them, He bonded with them, He guided them, He healed them, He empathized with them and most of all He was a good shepherd to them.  

In our gospel, after doing their mission and after telling Jesus what they have done the apostles were naturally exhausted. Jesus told them to go to a deserted place to rest for a while to recharge their weary bodies and minds. Perhaps Jesus also wanted to give an inspirational talk to His apostles so that He could further strengthen their resolve to continue their mission. Isn’t this what worthy parents would normally do the moment they see their children tired and weary from doing something commendable and important?   

Finally, when Jesus arrived on the supposed to be deserted place the vast crowd who have been following Him were already there waiting for Him. Instead of telling them to go away because He wants privacy. He was moved with pity for them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And being a good shepherd himself Jesus began to teach them many things.  

The shepherding that Jesus gave to His apostles and followers during that time is still very much alive up to this very moment and He is offering it to us right now. If we are tired and weary with the challenges and burdens of life. Let us go to Jesus for He will always be there to tell us to come let us go to a quiet place and let us rest, there for I (Jesus) will be there to shepherd and strengthen you.  

You have in Jesus the personification of a good parent and shepherd who has nothing but the very best for you. Always go to Him and always desire to be with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas