1Reflection for March 31, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:31-47

Gospel: John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.  

He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.  

But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. “I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.  

How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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Reflection:

How do we testify our life as a follower of Jesus? The best testimony of a follower is how he/she lives his own life. Does he live his life with forgiveness, humility, simplicity, sacrifice, unconditional love and the like?  Many of us call ourselves follower of Jesus but when it comes to forgiving those who’ve hurt us we cannot forgive.  

If we cannot forgive those who’ve hurt us we then are followers in name only and sad to say many of us are like that: Followers in name only. On the aspect of humility; we can best testify that we are followers of Jesus when we don’t seek prominence and we silently do our work for the lord without any fanfare or publicity.  

On the aspect of simplicity, Jesus is the supreme model of simplicity. He is content with whatever that He has Jesus did not desire expensive things and other appendages. Many of us live complicated lives for the simple reason that we live the life of this world rather than live the life of Jesus.  

So, in the end we will find out that we have been living an empty life because we lived our life testifying for this world instead of testifying for the Lord.  However, it’s not yet late to change this worldly life that we presently have we still can turn it around by living our life for  the Lord and not for this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 31 Huwebes sa Ika-4 Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Juan 5:31-47

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:31-47

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 31 Kung nagpapatunay ako sa aking sarili, di mapanghahawakan ang aking patunay. 32 Ngunit iba ang nagpapa­tunay tungkol sa akin at alam kong mapang­hahawakan ang patunay niya tungkol sa akin. 33 Nagpasugo kayo kay Juan at binigyang-patunay niya ang katotohanan. 34 Ipinaaalaala ko ito para maligtas kayo; ngunit hindi ko hangad ang patunay mula sa tao. 35 Siya nga ang ilaw na may sindi at nagniningning, at ginusto n’yong magalak pansaman­tala sa kanyang liwanag.  

36 May patunay naman ako na higit pa kaysa kay Juan – ang mga gawang bigay sa akin ng Ama upang tuparin ko ang mga iyon. Ang mga gawa mismong ginagawa ko ang nagpapatunay na sinugo ako ng Ama. 37 At nagpapatunay rin sa akin ang Amang nagsugo sa akin. Kailanma’y di ninyo narinig ang kanyang tinig ni    nakita ang kanyang anyo. 38 At hindi rin nama­malagi sa inyo ang kanyang salita dahil hindi kayo naniniwala sa kanyang sinugo. 

39 Sinasaliksik ninyo ang mga Kasu­latan dahil inaakala ninyong doon kayo magkakaroon ng buhay magpa­kailan­man. Nagpapatunay nga sa akin ang mga iyon 40 ngunit ayaw n’­yong luma­pit sa akin para mabuhay. 41 Hindi ko hangad ang papuri mula sa mga tao, 42 ngunit kilala ko kayo: wala sa inyong sarili ang pagmamahal sa Diyos.  

43 Sa ngalan ng aking Ama ako dumating at hindi n’yo ako tinatanggap; kung sakaling may dumating sa sarili niyang ngalan, siya ang inyong tatang­gapin. 44 Paano kayo makapani­niwala kung pa­puri sa isa’t isa ang hangad n’yo at hindi ang papuring galing sa tanging Diyos ang hangad? 45 Huwag n’yong akalain na ako ang mag­sasakdal laban sa inyo sa harap ng Ama. Si Moises ang nagsa­sakdal laban sa inyo, siya na inyong inaasahan.  

46 Kung pinaniwalaan nga nin­yo si Moises, pani­niwalaan din sana ninyo ako sapagkat tungkol sa akin siya nag­sulat. 47 Ngu­nit kung hindi n’yo panini­walaan ang kan­yang mga sinulat, paano n’yo pani­niwa­laan ang aking mga pananalita?

Reflection for March 30, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:17-30

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.  

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.  

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.  

And he gave him power to exercise judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.  

“I cannot do anything on my own;I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus and the Father are one? The critics of Jesus did not believe this oneness of the father and the son. Because their mindset is based on their human understanding which is always subject to limitations.  

What separates us from the critics of Jesus in our gospel? We believe in the oneness of the father and the son, we believe because we have faith. Faith that is not subject to what our eyes and ears can see and hear.  

If our faith is confined to what we could only see and hear this is actually not faith because true faith or deep faith requires believing even without seeing.  Through our faith in both the father and the son we are able to discover the many truths about our catholic faith.  And we are also able to grow more in faith and knowledge about our universal church.  

Perhaps some of us may ask, Why am I not growing in faith? The answer to this is we lack something, perhaps this something is our lack of faithful adherence to the teachings of our universal church.  

Say for example our lack of adherence to the insolubility of the Sacrament of Matrimony, the Sanctity of human life, the healing and cleansing value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the many more teachings of our catholic faith. We will certainly not grow in faith if we don’t believe these teachings.  

Do you believe in the oneness of the Son and the Father and do you also believe and practice the teachings of our catholic faith? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 30 Miyerkules sa Ika-4 Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Juan 5:17-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:17-30

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio: “Gumagawa pa rin ang aking Ama kaya gumagawa rin ako.”  Kaya lalo pang hinangad ng mga Judio na patayin siya dahil dito sapagkat hindi lamang niya nilalabag ang Araw ng Pahinga kundi sariling Ama pa ang tawag niya sa Diyos, at ipinapantay niya ang sarili sa Diyos.  

 Kaya sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi makagagawa ng anuman sa sariling kusa ang Anak maliban sa nakikita niyang ginagawa ng Ama. Anuman ang gawin niya, ganoon din ang paggawa ng Anak. Sapagkat mahal ng Ama ang Anak, at itinuro niya sa kanya ang lahat niyang ginagawa. At mas mahalaga pang mga gawa ang ituturo niya kayat mamamangha kayo.  

Ibinabangon nga ng Ama ang mga patay at binibigyang-buhay; gayundin naman binibigyang-buhay ng Anak ang sinumang loobin niya. At hinding-hindi nga hinahatulan ng Ama ang sinuman kundi ibinigay niya sa Anak ang buong paghatol at pararangalan ng lahat ang Anak gaya ng pagpaparangal nila sa Ama. Ang hindi nagpaparangal sa Anak ay hindi nagpaparangal sa Amang nagpadala sa kanya. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na may buhay magpakailanman ang nakikinig sa aking salita at naniniwala sa nagpadala sa akin. Nakatawid na siya mula sa kamatayan tungo sa buhay, at hindi siya humahantong sa paghuhukom. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na dumarating na ang oras, at ngayon na nga, na maririnig ng mga patay ang tinig ng Anak ng Diyos at mabubuhay ang mga nakaririnig. 26 May Buhay ang Ama sa kanyang sarili, gayundin naman, ibinigay niya sa Anak na magkaroon ng buhay sa kanyang sarili. At ibinigay din niya sa kanya ang kapangyarihang maghukom sapagkat anak siya ng tao.  

Huwag n’yo na itong pagtakhan: dumarating ang oras na maririnig ng lahat ng nasa libingan ang tinig niya at magsisilabas sila: sa pagbangon sa buhay ang mga gumawa ng mabuti, at sa pagbangon naman sa kapahamakan ang mga gumawa ng masama.  

Wala akong magagawa sa sariling kusa. Ayon sa naririnig ko ako naghuhukom. At matuwid ang paghuhukom ko dahil hindi sariling kalooban ang hangad ko kundi ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin.

Reflection for March 29, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.  

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 

After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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Reflection:

Is there a relationship between sickness and sin? Based on the pronouncements of Jesus in the gospel there is.  

The man who had been sick for thirty-eight long years was asked by Jesus, “Do you want to be well (John 5:6)?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk (John 5:7-8).” Then on the latter part of the gospel Jesus said to the healed man: “Look, you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you (John 5:14).” 

We may not know it but many of our sickness are brought about by our sins. For example, the sin of Greed, Anger and Gluttony, in so many ways Greed and Anger are one of the triggers for us to have sickness such as high blood pressure and the like. The same is true with Gluttony, over indulging on any kind of food will eventually make us sick in the long run.  

Let us therefore repent from our sins and avoid it thereafter. The moment we repent by way of the Sacrament of Reconciliation we would be free from any guilt of conscience and surely free from the possession of the devil which sometimes disguises itself as sickness.  

Let us therefore discard sin in our lifestyle so that we would have a much clearer picture of the presence of the Lord in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 29 Martes sa Ika-4 Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Juan 5:1-16

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:1-16

1 Piyesta ng mga Judio at umahon pa-Jerusalem si Jesus. 2 May isang palan­guyan sa Jerusalem na Betzata ang tawag sa Hebreo, ma­lapit sa Pintuan ng mga Tupa. May limang pasilyo ito na may bubong. 3 Nakahandusay sa mga ito ang isang pulutong ng mga may­sakit, mga bulag, mga pilay at mga lumpo (habang naghi­hintay sa pagkilos ng tubig.  

4 Sa­pagkat pa­minsan-minsa’y bumababa sa pala­ngu­yan ang Anghel ng Panginoon at kinakalawkaw ang tubig. At umiigi sa anumang sakit ang unang makalusong matapos makalaw­kaw ang tubig.). 5 At doo’y may taong tatlumpu’t walong taon nang may sakit.  

6 Pagkakita ni Jesus dito na na­ka­han­dusay at pagkaalam niya na mata­gal na ito roon, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Gusto mo bang umigi?” 7 Sumagot sa kanya ang maysakit: “Wala po akong taong maka­paghahagis sa akin sa palanguyan kapag nakalawkaw na ang tubig. Habang paroon pa ako, may lumulusong nang una sa akin.”  

8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buma­ngon ka, buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at maglakad-lakad!” 9 At dagling umigi ang tao, at binuhat niya ang kanyang higaan at naglakad-lakad. Araw nga ng Pahinga ang araw na iyon. 10 Kaya sinabi ng mga Judio sa taong pinaga­ling: “Araw ng Pahinga ngayon at di ipinahihintulot na mag­buhat ka ng higaan. 

11 Su­magot siya sa kanila: “Ang nag­paigi sa akin ang siyang nagsabi sa aking “Buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at lumakad ka.” 12 Tina­nong nila siya: “Sino ang taong nagsabi sa iyong ‘Magbu­hat at mag­lakad-lakad?” 13 Ngu­nit hindi alam ng pinagaling kung sino siya, sapagkat naka­talilis si Jesus dahil maraming tao sa lugar na iyon.   

14 Pagkatapos nito, natagpuan siya ni Jesus sa Templo at sinabi niya sa kanya: “Hayan, maigi ka na. Huwag ka nang mag­­kasala pa, at baka may masa­hol pang mangyari sa iyo.” 15 Uma­lis ang tao at sinabi sa mga Judio na si Jesus ang nagpaigi sa kanya. 16 Dahil dito, inusig ng mga Judio si Jesus sapagkat sa Araw ng Pahinga niya ginawa ang mga ito.

Reflection for March 28, Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.  

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.”  

The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea. 

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Reflection:

How deep is your faith in Jesus? Is your faith limited to what you can perceive and see? Or your faith is not bounded by what you can perceive and see?  

 Sometimes it’s hard to have faith if we don’t see something concrete that would reinforce our faith. But faith that is dependent on what we can see is shallow. Deep faith is something that we hold in our hearts even without visible manifestation.  

The royal official in our gospel has this deep faith. He believed what Jesus told him even without any visible manifestation. He simply believed in the words of Jesus. When Jesus told him to go back home for his sick son will live, he left without asking any question. He held close to his heart the very words of Jesus that his son would live. And upon arriving home his son was indeed healed the very same time that Jesus uttered the miraculous words to him.  

There will come a time that our faith in Jesus will be tested, say for example a severe sickness. What are we going to do when we reach this point of no return? What are we going to do if for example the doctor would tell us that we only have a few months to live?  

We must hold on tightly to our faith in Jesus and never give up no matter what our present circumstances are. This is for the reason that our faith in Jesus is much bigger than any trials or problems that we may face. Our faith in Jesus is far stronger than any sickness that could kill our bodies but not diminish our rock-solid faith in Jesus.  

How strong is your faith in the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 28 Lunes sa Ika-4 Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Juan 4:43-54

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4: 43-54

43 Pagkatapos ng dalawang araw, umalis si Jesus pa-Galilea. 44 Nagpa­tunay nga mismo si Jesus na hindi pina­rarangalan ang isang propeta sa sariling bayan. 45 Gayon pa man, pag­dating niya sa Galilea, tinanggap siya ng mga Galileo dahil nasaksihan nila ang lahat ng ginawa niya sa Piyesta sa Jerusalem. Naroon nga rin sila mismo sa Piyesta.  

• 46 Nagpunta siyang muli sa Kana ng Galilea, doon niya ginawang alak ang tubig. At nangyari, na ang anak na lalaki ng isang opisyal ng hari ay maysakit sa Capernaum. 47 Nang marinig niyang dumating si Jesus sa Galilea galing Judea, pinuntahan niya siya at ipinakiusap na lumusong at pagalingin ang kanyang anak na nasa bingit ng kamatayan.   

48 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Hang­ga’t hindi kayo nakakakita ng mga tanda at mga kababalaghan, hindi kayo maniniwala.” 49 Sinabi naman sa kanya ng opisyal: “Lumusong kayo bago mamatay ang anak ko.” 50 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Makauuwi ka na. Buhay ang anak mo.” Naniwala ang tao sa salitang sinabi sa kan­ya ni Jesus at umuwi siya.   

51 At habang palusong na siya, sinalubong siya ng kanyang mga alipin at sinabing buhay ang anak niya. 52 Ina­lam niya sa kanila ang oras nang magsimula siyang umigi, at sinabi nila: “Kahapon po nang ala-una ng tanghali siya inibsan ng lag­nat.” 53 Kaya nalaman ng ama na ito ang oras nang sabihin sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buhay ang anak mo.” At naniwala siya at ang buo niyang sambahayan. 54 Ginawa ni Jesus ang ikalawang tandang ito pagkarating niya sa Galilea galing Judea.

Reflection for Sunday March 27, Fourth Sunday of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’  

So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.  

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.  

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 

He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

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Reflection:

What if the prodigal son did not decide to go back to his father? What would have happened to him? It’s sure that he could have ended in a very problematic situation. But he returned for he realized his mistake, he returned because he badly wants to once again feel the unconditional love of his father.

This parable is also for us who are like the prodigal son. Jesus is inviting us all to repent from our own sinfulness and go back to Him. He wants us to know that He is there eternally waiting for us. Ever ready to embrace us again with His unconditional love and forgiveness. 

Where would we go if we will not go back to Jesus? We embrace this world? This world will only make us sin.9 This world cannot give us peace of mind for the simple reason that only God can give us peace of mind.

When the prodigal son decided to return, he knew that nothing compares to the love of his father. He knew that his father will still accept him without any questions being asked against him. 

We are the modern-day prodigal sons and Jesus wants to embrace us with His unconditional love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas        

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 27, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

1 Lumapit kay Jesus ang lahat ng ko­lektor ng buwis at mga makasa­lanan para makinig. 2 Kaya nag­bulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at mga guro ng Batas: “Tinatanggap niyan ang mga makasalanan at na­kikisalo sa kani­la.” 3 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus ang ta­linhagang ito sa kanila:

11 “May isang ta­ong may dalawang anak na lalaki. 12 Sinabi ng bunso sa kanyang ama: ‘Itay, ibigay na ninyo sa akin ang parte ko sa mana.’ At hinati sa kanila ng ama ang ari-arian. 13 Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, tinipon ng bun­song anak ang lahat ng kanya at nag­lakbay sa malayong lupain. Doon niya winaldas ang sa kanya sa malu­wag na pamumuhay. 

14 Nang maubos na ang lahat sa kanya, nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa lupaing ’yon at nagsi­mula siyang maghikahos. 15 Kaya pumunta siya at namasukan sa isang tagaroon, at inu­tusan siyang mag-alaga ng mga baboy sa bukid nito. 16 At gusto sana niyang pu­nuin kahit na ng kaning-baboy ang kanyang tiyan pero wala namang magbigay sa kanya.  

17 Noon siya natauhan at nag-isip: ‘Gaano karaming arawan sa bahay ng aking ama na labis-labis ang pagkain at namamatay naman ako dito sa gu­tom. 18 Titindig ako, pupunta sa aking ama, at sasabihin ko sa kanya: ‘Itay, nag­ka­sala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo. 19 Hindi na ako karapat-dapat pang ta­wa­­ging anak mo; ituring mo na akong isa sa iyong mga arawan.’  

20 Kaya tumindig siya papunta sa kanyang ama. Malayo pa siya nang ma­tanaw ng kanyang ama at naawa ito, patakbo nitong sina­lubong ang anak, niyakap at hinalikan. 21 Sinabi sa kanya ng anak: ‘Ama, nagkasala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo; hindi na ako karapat-dapat   pang tawaging   anak  mo.’  

22 Pero sinabi ng ama sa kanyang mga utu­san: ‘Madali, dalhin ninyo ang dati niyang da­mit at ibihis sa kanya; suutan ninyo ng sinsing ang kanyang daliri at ng sapatos ang kanyang mga paa. 23 Dalhin at katayin ang pinatabang guya, kumain tayo at magsaya 24 sa­pag­kat namatay na ang anak kong ito at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan.’ At nagsimula silang mag­diwang.  

25 Nasa bukid noon ang panganay na anak. Nang pauwi na siya at malapit na sa bahay, narinig niya ang tugtugan at sayawan. 26 Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga utusan at tinanong kung ano ang nang­yari. 27 Sinabi nito sa kanya: ‘Nagbalik ang kapatid mo kaya ipinapatay ng iyong ama ang pinatabang guya dahil nabawi niya siyang buhay at di naano.’  

28 Nagalit ang panganay at ayaw puma­sok kaya lumabas ang ama at nakiusap sa kanya. 29 Sumagot naman siya sa ama: ‘Maraming taon na akong nagsisilbi sa inyo at kailanma’y di ko nilabag ang in­yong mga utos pero kailanma’y di ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit na isang kambing na mapagpipiyestahan namin ng aking mga ka­barkada. 30 Ngunit dumating la­mang ang anak ninyong ito na lumustay sa inyong kaya­manan sa mga ba­baeng bayaran, at ipinakatay pa ninyo ang pinatabang guya.’  

31 Sinabi sa kanya ng ama: ‘Anak, lagi kitang kasama at sa iyo rin ang la­hat ng akin. 32 Pero dapat lamang na mag­diwang at magsaya dahil namatay na ang kapatid mo at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan’.”  

Reflection for March 26, Saturday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. 

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Is humility part and parcel of your way of life? 

Aside from Jesus there are two main characters in this Gospel: the Pharisee: he is an educated believer, he seriously observes and teaches God’s law and the Tax collector: he is known to be greedy, corrupt and sinful. They both went to the temple to pray.  

The Pharisee was self-righteous he claims that he is not greedy, unjust, adulterous. He is so sure of his goodness, holiness and maybe of his own salvation he even despised the tax collector.  

There is also this repentant sinner (tax collector) who did not dare to raise his eyes to heaven. He was remorsefully beating his breast and he keeps on asking God for forgiveness.  

Jesus said: “the tax collector went home at peace with God.” and the Pharisee? He did not gain any favor from God because he was self-righteous and proud.  

This Gospel is a good reminder for us all who are self-righteous, who are proud and who are egotist. This is also for those who look down on their fellowmen for the simple reason that they are rich and learned. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 26 Sabado sa Ika-3 Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda: Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

9 Sinabi ni Jesus ang talinha­gang ito tungkol sa ilang taong kumbinsido na mabuti sila at minamata naman ang iba: 10  “Dalawang tao ang umakyat sa Templo para mana­langin: Pariseo ang isa at publikano naman ang isa pa. 11 Nakata­yong nananalanging mag-isa ang Pariseo. Sinabi niya: ‘O Diyos, salamat at hindi ako gaya ng ibang mga tao – mga magnanakaw, mandaraya, nakikiapid, o gaya ng kolektor ng buwis na iyan.  

12 Dalawang beses akong nag-aayuno isang linggo, nagbibigay ako ng ikapu sa lahat kong ari-arian.’  13 Nasa likuran naman ang kolektor ng buwis at hindi man lang makatingala sa langit. Dinadagukan niya ang dibdib sa pagsasabing ‘O Diyos, kaawaan mo ako na isang makasalanan.’  

14 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ito ang umu­wing nasa grasya ng Diyos ngunit hindi ang isa. Sapagkat ibababa ang lahat ng nagpapakataas at itataas naman ang nagpapakababa.”

Reflection for Friday March 25, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."  

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Among many women why was Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus? This is for the reason that Mary was humble and compliant to the will of God. Mary did not say: “I will not submit to the will of God because I have my own agenda for myself.”

The Lord always chooses and uses the humble and the compliant for the realization of His plans in this world. Simply put, Mary humbly submitted her own humanity to the wisdom of our all-knowing God. Like Mary do we always submit to the wisdom of God? Or we only submit when it favors us when it doesn’t favor us, we decline God’s wisdom and submit to our own will.  

God’s wisdom is always for our own betterment. We may initially see it as something that is very hard to follow because we would be pulled out from our own comfort zones or from our own sinful zones. But at the end we will realize that the plan of God is correct and it’s for our own good.  

Today being the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Let us reflect upon the Blessed Mother’s humility, obedience and compliance to the plan and will of God. That the plan of God is always designed for our own good no matter how difficult it may seem for us. We may not understand it now but God’s plan is always for our own good.  

Do you always submit to the will of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

1Reflection for March 24, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons. Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.  

And if Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.  

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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Reflection:

Do you believe in Jesus as your Lord and savior? In our gospel for today, after casting out the demon from a man Jesus was accused to be one with the demons. They obviously did not believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior. They also can’t believe that Jesus is capable of doing this miracle with good intentions in His heart. Otherwise they would have not accused Him as one with the demons.  

Who is one with the demons? Is it Jesus or the ones who refuse to believe in Him? There are only two options that we have in this world to believe in Jesus or not to believe in Jesus. To believe means that we should walk the path of Jesus for we can’t say that we believe yet we don’t walk the path of Jesus. Those who don’t believe are those who are vulnerable to the company and possession of the devil. 

Many of the people of today are like those in the time of Jesus who did not believe in Him. For what reasons? Perhaps they are so obsessed with their own selves. That they regard themselves as somebody who know better than Jesus that’s why they don’t believe. Or they believe but they don’t follow the teachings of Jesus.  

But the consequence of not believing in Jesus is enormous. First and foremost is they invite the devil to possess them. And once they are already possessed by the devil they now are capable of doing evil without any guilt of conscience.  

This is the reason why there are mothers who abort their unborn child without any guilt of conscience. This is the reason why there are married couples who engaged in adulterous relationships without guilt of conscience. They are capable of doing these despicable acts because they’ve allowed themselves to be possessed by the devil.      

But there’s still hope for as long as there are people like you who believe in Jesus. People like you who will stand for the teachings and values of Jesus. People like you who will value the gift of life more than the evil of abortion and wicked convenience. And people like you who will respect the sanctity of the marriage covenant and not succumb to wicked, evil and lustful desires enticed by the devil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas