Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 1 Martes ng Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:28-31

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:28-31

28 Noong panahong iyon nagsalita si Pedro kay Jesus at si­nabi: “Iniwan namin ang lahat para su­munod sa iyo.” 29 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Talagang sina­sabi ko sa inyo: walang nag-iwan ng tahanan, mga kapatid, ina at ama at mga anak at mga bukid alang-alang sa akin at sa Ebanghelyo 30 na walang gantimpala.  

Tatanggap nga siya ngayon ng makasandaang beses ng mga tahanan, mga kapatid, mga ina at mga anak at mga bukid sa gitna ng mga pag-uusig, at sa pana­hong darating nama’y makakamit niya ang buhay na walang hanggan.  

31 May mga una ngayon na mahuhuli at may mga huli naman na mauuna.”

Reflection for February 28, Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:17-27

Gospel: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.”  

He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

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Reflection:

Do you cling to your wealth as if your life hangs upon it?  

The man who asked Jesus as to what must he do to have eternal life was at the threshold of eternal life. But when Jesus asked him to part ways with his wealth and give it to the poor. His face fell, after which he walked away from Jesus for he couldn’t obey the request of Jesus.  

Many of us are like this man, very possessive and in love with wealth that we are not willing to give it away. But what we don’t know is it is when we give away our wealth that we will receive more wealth. Perhaps Jesus was just testing this man if he could still accept more wealth. But the man failed the prosperity test of Jesus.  

If we want to attract wealth we must always be willing to give because it’s only in giving that we would receive more blessings. Never in not giving that we would receive more wealth. Let us look around and see who are those who are prosperous they are the people who are generous. Let us therefore pray to have the grace to become more generous so that we could bless others.  

What if we continue to cling to our wealth and refuse to become generous?  We therefore shut the door of blessings from God and we distance ourselves from His kingdom. But all is not lost yet, we still can change our mind because we still have time to turn things around and hear the call of Jesus for us to become generous. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 28 Lunes ng Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:17-27

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:17-27

Noong panahong iyon, nang paalis na si Hesus ay may isang lalaking patakbong lumapit, lumuhod sa harapan niya at nagtanong, “Mabuting Guro, ano po ang dapat kong gawin upang magkamit ng buhay na walang hanggan?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Bakit mo ako tinatawag na mabuti? Walang mabuti kundi ang Diyos. 

Alam mo ang mga utos: ‘Huwag kang papatay; huwag kang mangangalunya; huwag kang magnanakaw; huwag kang magsisinungaling sa iyong pagsaksi; huwag kang magdadaya; igalang mo ang iyong ama’t ina.’” “Guro,” sabi ng lalaki, “ang lahat po ng iya’y tinutupad ko na mula pa sa aking pagkabata.” Magiliw siyang tiningnan ni Hesus, at sinabi sa kanya, “Isang bagay pa ang kulang sa iyo. Humayo ka, ipagbili mo ang iyong ari-arian at ipamigay sa mga dukha ang pinagbilhan, at magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa langit.  

Pagkatapos, bumalik ka at sumunod sa akin.” Namanglaw ang lalaki nang marinig ito, at malungkot na umalis, sapagkat siya’y napakayaman. Tiningnan ni Hesus ang mga nasa paligid niya at sinabi sa kanyang mga alagad, “Napakahirap mapabilang ang mayayaman sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos.” Nagtaka ang mga alagad sa pananalitang ito.  

Muling sinabi ni Hesus, “Mga anak, talagang napakahirap mapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos! Madali pang makaraan ang kamelyo sa butas ng karayom kaysa pasakop sa paghahari ng Diyos ang isang mayaman.” Lalong nagtaka ang mga alagad, kaya’t sila’y nagtanungan, “Kung gayo’y sino ang maliligtas?” Tinitigan sila ni Hesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Hindi ito magagawa ng tao, ngunit hindi ito mahirap sa Diyos. Magagawa ng Diyos ang lahat ng bagay.” 

LET US PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

 LET US PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

Reflection for Sunday February 27, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-45

Gospel: Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?  

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.  

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

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Reflection:

A woman saw a handsome man. The handsome man sensing that the woman was looking at him looked as well to the woman. Their eyes met and she immediately fell in love with the handsome man. After a few weeks they got married, but two months after their marriage the domineering and arrogant behavior of the man started to unravel.  

Are you easily swayed by outward appearance? For example, you saw a handsome man or a beautiful woman and you were immediately attracted to that person.  An attractive outward appearance is very deceiving. Why? For the simple reason that we will not fully know the true character of the person based on what we see.  

What we see is simply a façade it can be faked. The exterior is not the true color or true character of the person. The true color or character lies hidden in the heart of the person. And we can only discover this hidden character once we get to know the person better.  

Many young people today are easily hooked to this trap of outward appearance. This is what attracts them to their future wife or husband. However, after marriage the hidden, dark and devious character of their spouse will begin to show.  

This also applies in relationship concerning friendship. We must not make friends with someone simply because the person is rich or influential. We should be friends with a person because of the good character of that person. It doesn’t matter if the person is poor what is important is the character and the goodness that emanates from that person’s heart.     

In our first reading according to the book of Sirach it says: one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind (Sirach 27:6). And in our gospel Jesus tells us: “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).”  

Hence, what are we going to do so that we would not fall into this false impression based on the exterior appearance? We have to know the person better by way of speaking to that person. By carefully discerning his/her utterances or the words that he/she speaks.  

Because what he/she speaks comes from the heart and what originates from the heart is the measure of a person’s true character. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 27, Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 6:39-45

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:39-45

Noong panahong  iyon, 39 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad ang isang talinhaga: “Puwede nga kayang akayin ng isang bulag ang isa pang bulag? Di ba’t kapwa sila mahuhulog sa kanal? 40 Hindi higit sa kanyang guro ang alagad. Magiging katulad ng kanyang guro ang ganap na alagad.  

41 Bakit mo tinitingnan ang puwing sa mata ng iyong kapatid? At di mo pansin ang troso sa iyong mata. 42 Paano mo masasabi sa iyong kapatid: ‘Kapatid, pahintulutan mong alisin ko ang puwing sa mata mo,’ gayong hindi mo nga makita ang troso sa mata mo? Mapag­kunwari! Alisin mo muna ang troso sa mata mo, at saka ka makakakitang mabuti para alisin ang puwing sa mata ng kapatid mo.  

43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masa­ma ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi maka­pa­mumu­nga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang ba­wat puno sa bunga nito. Hindi makapi­pitas ng igos mula sa tinikan ni maka­aani ng ubas mula sa dawagan. 45 Nag­lalabas ang taong mabuti ng mabuting bagay mula sa yaman ng kabutihan sa kanyang puso; ang masama nama’y naglalabas ng ma­sa­mang bagay mula sa kanyang kasamaan. At sinasabi nga ng bibig ang uma­apaw mula sa puso.

Reflection for February 26, Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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Reflection:

We trust Children more than adults, don’t we?  

Jesus doesn’t only trust children; he also loves them dearly because children’s trust in Jesus is pure. A child’s humility is untainted with deceit and a child’s trust in Jesus is without question. Just look at a child when he/she prays and you can see how pure his/her faith and prayer before Jesus.  

We need to be childlike in our trust in Jesus and in our humility. So that when our retirement from this world comes we will be able to enter the kingdom of God and see Jesus there ever ready to embrace us. 

All of us are mere passersby in this finite world and someday we will leave this place for another place. Let us therefore see to it that we trust and love Jesus like a child. We humble ourselves before Jesus and our fellowmen like a child. And our faith in Jesus is like that of a child.  

Are you always childlike in your love and trust in Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 26 Sabado ng Ikapitong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:13- 16

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:13-16

Noong panahong iyon 13 May nagdala kay Jesus ng mga bata para hipuin niya sila. Ngunit pinagalitan ng mga alagad ang mga taong may dala sa kanila. 14 At pagkakita ni Jesus, nagalit siya at sinabi sa kanila: “Pabayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang pigilan. Sa mga tulad nga nila ang kaharian ng Diyos.  

15 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi papasok sa kaharian ng Diyos ang di tumatanggap dito gaya ng isang maliit na bata.” 16 At pagka¬kalong sa kanila ni Jesus, ipinatong niya sa ka¬nila ang kanyang mga kamay para basbasan sila.

Reflection for February 25, Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”  

They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  

So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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Reflection: 

How is your married life?  

Many marriages are successful, it last a lifetime. If we would ask the couples about the secret of their successful marriage they would normally tell us that God is at the center of their marriage lives. When God is present in the lives of couples the chance of betrayal is nil. There is also the equal presence of Humility, Forgiveness, Patience and Love between husband and wife.  

From the very start the plan of God for married couples is to stay forever together. But the sad reality is some couples are separated and separating and some couples are betraying their vows of marriage.  

 Why is this happening? This is brought about by weak faith in God. There’s no fear and love for God anymore that is why married couples betray their sacred vows of marriage. Many are not even anymore afraid of the negative consequence of separation to their children.  

We may not know this but we are actually hurting ourselves and those we love whenever we betray the sacred vows of marriage. We give ourselves and those we love undeserved stress and problems. We also disturb the innocent minds of our children, try asking a child if he wants his parents to separate he/she surely would say no!   

Whenever we are tempted to betray our vows of marriage let us carefully think of the many aftershocks that it will create in our lives and in the lives of those that we love. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 25 Biyernes ng Ikapitong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:1-12

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus ay nagtungo sa lupain ng Judea, at nagtuloy sa ibayo ng Ilog Jordan. Muli siyang pinagkalipumpunan ng mga tao, at tulad ng dati’y nagturo sa kanila. May mga Pariseong lumapit kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masilo siya kaya’t kanilang tinanong, “Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa?”  

 Tugon niya, “Ano ang utos sa inyo ni Moises?” Sumagot naman sila, “Ipinahintulot ni Moises na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa matapos bigyan ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay.” Ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, “Dahil sa katigasan ng inyong ulo kaya niya inilagda ang utos na ito. Subalit sa pasimula pa, nang likhain ng Diyos ang sanlibutan: ‘Nilalang niya silang lalaki at babae. Dahil dito’y iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa, at sila’y magiging isa.’ Kaya’t hindi na sila dalawa kundi isa. Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao.”  

Pagdating sa bahay, ang mga alagad naman ang nagtanong kay Hesus tungkol sa bagay na ito. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Ang sinumang lalaking humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay gumagawa ng masama sa kanyang asawa – siya’y nangangalunya. At ang babaing humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay nangangalunya rin.”

Reflection for February 24, Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:41-50

Gospel: Mark 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.  

“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.” 

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Reflection:

What makes us sin? It’s the absence of Jesus in our lives and not taking seriously His teachings. What will make us avoid sin? It’s the presence of Jesus in our lives and it’s in carefully observing His teachings.  

In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us the grave punishment of sin. It involves maiming and cutting off of body parts. Of course these are just figures of speech but this conveys a message to all of us that there are many punishments for sin.   

If we will not repent for our sinfulness we have to pay for it, there’s no free ride as far as sin is concerned we have to pay for our sins somewhere along our journey. However, if we repent as soon as possible our punishment will forever be forgotten by God.  

But come to think of it, why do we sin and why are we not averse to sin? The answer is very simple, we love this world more than we love God thus there’s a void of the presence of God in our hearts.  

Yes, we know God and yes we go to church to worship Him. But it ends there; we leave Jesus in our church. We don’t bring Him home, we don’t   allow Jesus to have a permanent home in our hearts and we don’t live His teachings.  

Would you allow Jesus to have a permanent home in your heart? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 24 Huwebes ng Ikapitong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:41-50

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:41-50

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Kung may magpainom sa inyo ng malamig na tubig alang-alang sa aking pangalan dahil kay Kristo kayo, ta­lagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na hindi siya mana­natiling walang gantimpala. 42 Ngunit kung may tumisod at mag­padapa sa isa sa maliliit na ito na nananalig, mas ma­kabubuti pa para sa kanya na itapon siya sa dagat na may taling malaking bato sa kanyang leeg.  

43 Kung ang kamay mo ang nagtutulak sa iyo sa kasalanan, putulin mo ito. Mas mabuti pa sa iyo ang pumasok na ping­kaw sa buhay kaysa matapon sa walang hang­gang apoy ng impiyerno na may dalawang kamay. 45 At kung ang paa mo ang nagtutulak sa iyo sa kasalanan, putulin mo ito. Mas mabuti pa sa iyo ang pumasok na pilay sa bu­hay kaysa matapon sa impiyerno na may dalawang paa. 47 At kung ang mata mo ang nagtutulak sa iyo sa kasalanan, itapon mo ito. 

Mabuti pa sa iyo ang pumasok sa kaharian ng Diyos na may isang mata kaysa matapon sa impiyerno na may dalawang mata, 48 kung saan walang tigil ang mga uod sa kanila at walang kamatayan ang apoy. 49 Buburuhin nga ng apoy ang lahat. 50 Mabuti ang asin ngunit kung tuma­bang ang asin, paano ninyo ito mapaa­alat uli? Magkaroon kayo ng asin sa inyong sarili at mabuhay sa kapa­ya­paan sa isa’t isa.”

Reflection for Wednesday February 23, Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr (M): Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

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Reflection:

Have you encountered and arrogant and intolerant person?  

Arrogance and intolerance are often times what prevents us from becoming effective followers of Jesus. For example if we see a group of sinners, should we avoid them? Or should we be friends with them and live the teachings of Jesus through them? The best course of action to take is to be friends with them with the hope in mind that by doing so we would be able to eventually convert and enlighten them.  

When John saw someone who was not in their group driving out demons in the name of Jesus he tried to prevent them. Perhaps, John thought that they only have the monopoly of power and authority to drive out demons. So what did Jesus do when John told Him about this incident? He told John let him do what he was doing for whoever is not against them is for them also. 

To be arrogant, intolerant and judgmental is not good. It prevents us from faithfully doing the mission of Jesus, it prevents us from bringing people closer to Jesus. Lest we forget Jesus became man not only for those who are good but also for sinners.  

Let us avoid to be arrogant, to be intolerant and judgmental. Let us instead always show the mercy, humility and love of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Pebrero 23 San Policarpio, Obispo at martir (Paggunita): Marcos 9:38-40

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:38-40

Noong Panahong iyon sinabi ni Juan kay Jesus: “Guro, nakita namin ang isang di natin kasama na nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo sa bisa ng iyong pangalan. Ngunit pinigil namin siya dahil hindi natin siya kasama.” 39 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Huwag ninyo siyang pigilan. Wala ngang gumagawa ng himala sa bisa ng aking pangalan na agad na magsasalita laban sa akin. 40 Ang hindi laban sa atin ay kampi sa atin.