Oo,
Ama, sapagkat gayon ang ikinalulugod mo. "Ibinigay sa akin ng aking Ama
ang lahat ng bagay. Walang nakakikilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama, at walang
nakakikilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at yaong marapating pagpahayagan ng
Anak."
Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go
down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been
done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why do we sin?
We sin because we allow the devil to take control of our lives. Once the devil is in control already sinning becomes an ordinary routine. We don’t anymore have guilt of conscience, we become numb already from the criticism and from the consequences of sinning. We even have the temerity to be angry to those who are criticizing us.
So we enjoy sin since it brings us endless earthly gratification. Until we get caught and so we receive our due punishment. But why keep on sinning and why wait until we get caught? Why don’t we stop sinning, permanently walk away from it and embrace the unconditional love of Jesus?
In our gospel reading for today we notice Jesus reproaching the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. For they refused to hear God’s call for them to permanently walk away from their sinfulness.
Every now and then God will gently nudge us to remind us that there’s no good with sin. That sinning will bring us nothing but problems and misfortunes. We may enjoy the fruits of our sinfulness but this kind of enjoyment is short-lived. Eventually we will be caught and be punished.
Why not walk away from sin and embrace the
forgiveness, mercy and love of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ngunit
sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang sasapitin
ninyo kaysa sasapitin ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, ibig
mong maging mataas kaysa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades! Sapagkat kung sa Sodoma
ginawa ang kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, sana'y nananatili pa ito hanggang
ngayon. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat
ang ipaparusa sa inyo kaysa dinanas ng Sodoma."
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands
to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in
their towns.
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Reflection:
The story is told about a man who was pondering on how he could bring peace to his fractured family. One night he had a dream and on that dream Jesus said to him, you need to become a priest for you to have healing in your family. But the young man was very worldly he loved the hedonistic lifestyle of this world. Yet he also loved dearly his family.
So, he headed the voice of Jesus, he studied for the priesthood and whenever he had a vacation he would always gather his family for a recollection inside their house. To make a long story short, the once factional and fractured family slowly became unified. After a few years he eventually became a priest and true enough his becoming a priest ushered healing in his family.
Jesus tells us in the gospel that HE is a cause of division and disunity inside a family. On the other hand Jesus is also a healing instrument inside a family. How would this happen? If you fight for the teachings of Jesus inside your family naturally there would be initial resistance and division.
Members of the family would initially resist it but for as long as you will not give up. And for as long as you offer to Jesus whatever you do inside your family even if it causes initial division sooner or later there would be healing and reconciliation. Many of us already discount the healing power of Jesus but it has already been proven time and again that Jesus heals families.
Have you tried introducing Jesus to your
family through HIS life story in the bible? Perhaps not yet, now is the
most opportune time, do it slowly and patiently. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
"Ang umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. At ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki o babae nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan nang kanyang krus at sumusunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin ay magkakamit nito."
"Ang
tumatanggap sa inyo ay tumatanggap sa akin, at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay
tumatanggap sa nagsugo sa akin. Ang tumatanggap sa isang propeta dahil sa
siya'y propeta ay tatanggap ng gantimpala ukol sa propeta. At ang tumatanggap
sa isang taong matuwid dahil sa siya'y matuwid ay tatanggap ng gantimpalang
nauukol sa taong matuwid. at sinumang magbigay ng kahit isang basong tubig na
malamig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ito'y alagad ko-- tinitiyak kong
tatanggap siya ng gantimpala." Matapos tagubilinan ang labingdalawang
alagad, umalis si Jesus upang magturo at mangaral sa mga bayang malapit doon.
But because he wished to justify
himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell
victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and
beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down
that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a
Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite
side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came
upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on
his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver
coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way
back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’
victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him,
“Go and do likewise.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A scholar of the law asked Jesus:
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him read what is
written in the law. The scholar said this: “You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all
your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus replied to him, “You have
answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
Then the scholar of the law asked
Jesus who is my neighbor? To drive home His teaching on how to become a good
neighbor Jesus told the man a story pertaining to a man who lays dying by the
roadside.
The first who passed by the dying man
was a priest; being a priest he was expected to embody the teaching of love for
God and neighbor. But he only loved God not his neighbor for he did nothing to
help the dying man. The next one who passed by the dying man was a Levite, a
servant in the temple of God. Unfortunately, he also failed the test of love of
God and neighbor for he also did not mind the dying man.
Then came the Samaritan who
doesn’t serve in the temple of God, yet he showed deep compassion to the dying
man. The Samaritan cleaned the wound of the dying man brought him to a house;
took care of him and ensured that he would fully recover.
Among the three, the Good Samaritan
even if he doesn’t serve God gained favor in the eyes of Jesus for he was
merciful to the dying man. It is very ironic that the priest and levite who
both served God in the temple were lacking in the exercise of their faith. Are
we not also sometimes lacking in the exercise of our faith? Don’t we also
ignore from time to time those who are in need of our help?
Every now and then our faith and love
for God would also be challenged by Jesus through those who are in need of our
help. Let us never turn a blind eye on them or pretend not to see them. Let us
not make an excuse for us not to help, let us help them. Just like
the Good Samaritan who gained favor in the eyes of Jesus.
What do you do when you see someone in need of your help? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small
coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth
more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I
will deny before my heavenly Father.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a dying man who rarely attends Holy Mass and who was very much afraid to die. When his relatives told him that they will call a priest for him to be conferred with the Sacrament of the Anointment of the Sick. He asked them, Am I going to die already?
To make a long story short, the priest arrived, and he was conferred the sacrament. After the priest left, the dying man told his relatives, now I am prepared to die. From being afraid to not being afraid to die and the reason of it all is the courage that Jesus gave him through the anointment of the sick.
Are we not afraid to die? Of course we are, but why are we afraid to die? Perhaps the reason is we have not found Jesus yet and surely Jesus is not yet part of our way of life. This is perhaps the primary reason why many of us are afraid to die. However, once Jesus is already part of your way of life you will not anymore be afraid to die.
When we have Jesus in our life we already have the courage to face anything that may befall us. We are not anymore afraid to stare at earthly death because we now know that soon after we will be with Jesus in heaven.
Are you still afraid to die? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
"Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa kanila. Walang natatago na di malalantad, o nalilihim na di mabubunyag. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim, ulitin ninyo sa liwanag; at ang ibinulong sa inyo ay inyong ipagsigawan. Huwag ninyong katakutan ang pumapatay ng katawan ngunit hindi nakapapatay ng kaluluwa.
Sa halip, ang katakutan ninyo'y ang nakapapatay ng kaluluwa at katawan sa impyerno. Hindi ba ipinagbibili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera? Gayunman, Kahit isa sa kanila'y hindi nahuhulog sa lupa kung hindi kalooban ng inyong Ama. Maging ang buhok ninyo'y bilang na lahat. Kaya, huwag kayong matakot; higit kayong mahalaga kaysa libu-libong maya."
"Ang
sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko rin naman sa
harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit. Ngunit ang magtatwa sa akin sa harapan ng
mga tao ay itatatwa ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit."
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my
name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in
one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of
Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
There was a very corrupt high ranking government official who had a stirring turnabout in his life. From being corrupt he became saintly and from thereon he never engaged in any form of corruption. His saintly lifestyle eventually became his cross because he was maliciously persecuted by his former cohorts in his corruption activities.
Does it pay to leave our sinfulness for the sake of Jesus? Does it pay to leave behind friends who bring us nothing but sinfulness? Of course it pays! It may not be easy, we may be persecuted, scorned and even be harmed. However all of these dangers and earthly imbalances in our life are nothing compared to what Jesus will bring into our life.
We must always expect persecution the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. We should expect to be looked down, expect insulting comments. Nonetheless; let these persecutions strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus.
Almost all of the apostles were severely persecuted for faithfully following Jesus. They were persecuted by this world yet God exalted them for their faithfulness to Jesus.
How about you which would you prefer the
immoral and corrupt enticements of this world or the initially difficult but
eventually rewarding path towards Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Dahil sa akin, ihaharap kayo sa mga gobernador at mga hari, at magpapatotoo kayo sa harapan nila at ng mga Hentil. Kapag nililitis na kayo, huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa sasabihin ninyo o kung paano ninyo sasabihin. Pagdating ng oras, ito'y ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Sapagkat hindi kayo ang magsasalita kundi ang Espiritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan ninyo.
"Ipagkakanulo
ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang kapatid upang ipapatay; gayon din ang gagawin ng
ama sa kanyang anak. Lalabanan ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang, at
ipapapatay. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin; ngunit ang manatiling tapat
hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas. Kapag inuusig nila kayo sa isang bayan,
tumakas kayo sa kasunod. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi pa ninyo napupuntahan ang
lahat ng bayan ng Israel ay darating na ang Anak ng Tao."
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Have you already shared Jesus using social media?
Lady A, is a social media fanatic she would always share anything about herself on facebook. Simply to create an impression about how good her life is. But is it really her real life or it’s simply a facade of her real life?
Some of us are actually like Lady A, we are fond of sharing our every activity even non- essential activities via social media most especially via facebook. But have we shared Jesus or anything that relate to Jesus using the internet?
We have in the gospel the commissioning or sending off of the apostles. They were told by Jesus to share the good news of our salvation. They did their mission by advancing the teachings of Jesus and the many miracles that He did.
The apostles did not share anything about themselves it was always about Jesus and never about themselves. For a change why not think of sharing Jesus instead of sharing yourself using social media? If you share Jesus you would change and bless lives and in the process you would also become a blessing for others.
Would you share Jesus? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Yamang tumanggap kayo ng walang bayad, magbigay naman kayo ng walang bayad. Huwag kayong magdala ng salapi -- maging ginto, pilak, o tanso -- sa inyong mga lukbutan. Huwag din kayong magdala ng supot sa inyong paglalakbay, ni bihisan, pampalit na panyapak, o tungkod; sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatan sa kanyang ikabubuhay.
"At saan mang bayan o nayon kayo dumating, humanap kayo ng taong karapat-dapat pakituluyan, at manatili kayo roon habang kayo'y nasa lugar na iyon. Pagpasok ninyo sa bahay, sabihin ninyo, 'Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!' Kung karapat-dapat ang mga tao sa bahay na iyon, panatilihin ninyo sa kanila ang inyong bati.
Ngunit kung
hindi, bawiin ninyo ito. At kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa isang
tahanan o bayan, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok ng inyong mga paa.
Sinasabi ko sa inyo na sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa
sa mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma at
taga-Gomorra."
Jesus sent out these Twelve after
instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan
town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this
proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can we effectively evangelize? We must always be connected with Jesus in our words and deeds. We can never be effected evangelizers of Jesus' teachings if we only preach it and not live it.
Except for Judas who betrayed Jesus, the other eleven apostles were effective messengers of Jesus’ teachings. For the simple reason that they preached it, they lived it and even gave their lives for it.
They were simple people some were fishermen, they were like us sinners as well. In the eyes of men they may not be worthy to become Jesus apostles but Jesus called them and qualified them.
Jesus is neither a discriminating God nor a condemning God, He is a God of love, mercy and compassion. He therefore calls us all to turn our backs from our sinful lives and become His followers that will help Him advance the good news of His love and compassion.
You may say that you are not worthy to be
called, but who is worthy? Nobody because we are all sinners what Jesus is
after is your yes to His call. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang
labindalawang ito'y sinugo ni Jesus at kanyang pinagbilinan: "Huwag kayong
pupunta sa lugar ng mga Hentil, o alinmang bayan ng mga Samaritano. Sa halip ay
hanapin ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at
ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos."
