Reflection for Sunday August 14, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What does it mean to be on fire for Jesus? It simply means that we have allowed the Holy Spirit to work in our life by sharing and living the teachings of Jesus. During Pentecost the Blessed Mother, some women and many of the apostles were in the upper room (Acts 1:12-14). While there the Holy Spirit appearing in tongues of fire descended upon each of them (Acts 2:1-3). And from thereon they have allowed themselves to be set on fire by the teachings of Jesus.

During our Baptism we too have received the same fire of the Holy Spirit and the same Holy Spirit was further strengthened within us during our Confirmation. After we have received the Holy Spirit through these two Sacraments, can we now say that we are on fire for Jesus?

Or we have never been on fire even if we have received already the presence of the Holy Spirit. We remain to be timid Catholics for we never share our faith in Jesus. We remain to be  Catholics in name only with our faith always hidden within us. 

Why not try to reverse this attitude of timidity by allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to move us to share the gospel of Jesus? For example, why not try to schedule a monthly or even weekly reading and reflection of the words of Jesus in the bible amongst our family members or friends? 

This may divide families and friends temporarily we may be even be labeled us out of our minds for doing it. But for as long as we do this with humility we have nothing to worry because we are simply living our faith. The division that we create for sharing the gospel will eventually heal and turn into unification and this is caused by the miracle of Jesus.         

Are you on fire for Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Agosto 14, Ika - 20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 12:49-53

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Naparito ako upang magdala ng apoy sa lupa -- at sana'y napagningas na ito! May isang binyag pa na dapat kong tanggapin, at nababagabag ako hangga't hindi natutupad ito! Akala ba ninyo'y pumarito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa?

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi kapayapaan kundi pagkabaha-bahagi. Mula ngayon, ang lima katao sa isang sambahayan ay mababahagi: tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo. Maglalaban-laban ang ama at ang anak na lalaki, ang ina at ang anak na babae, at gayon din ang biyenang babae, at manugang na babae."

 

Reflection for August 13, Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:13-15

Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you bring your children to church for Holy Mass? Do you teach your children about Jesus? Do you read the life of Jesus in bible to your children? All of these questions are ways for all of us to bring our children closer to Jesus. 

What is the importance of bringing our children to Jesus? First and foremost is it assures their good future in this world and beyond this world. This is basically what Jesus does to our children: He assures them of a bright and Godly future not based on the criteria of this world but based on His own criteria. 

Just imagine if we bring our children closer to Jesus, we would have fewer headaches as they grow up. This is for the reason that the more we bring them to Jesus the more that they are being guided by Jesus in everyday of their lives.  

Some parents of today are afraid to bring their children closer to Jesus. For the reason that they are afraid that they children may aspire to become a priest or a nun and their alibi is there’s no money in aspiring for the priesthood or in becoming a nun. Indeed, there’s no money in these vocations but we don’t live for money in this world. We don't live for this world only we live to live the teachings of Jesus, we live to aspire for heaven eventually.  

What would it benefit our children if they have all the money in this world yet they don’t have Jesus? When we bring our children to Jesus we are not only investing in their future we are also investing on our own future in heaven someday. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Agosto 13, Sabado ng Ika-19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:13-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:13-15

Noong panahong iyon, ay nagdala ng mga bata kay Jesus upang hilinging ipatong niya sa mga ito ang kanyang kamay at ipanalangin. Ngunit pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Datapwat sinabi ni Jesus, "Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang hadlangan, sapagkat sa katulad nila naghahari ang Diyos." Ipinatong niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay, saka umalis.

 

Reflection for August 12, Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:3-12

Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, 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, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”  

His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How’s your married life? 

Every marriage relationship has its own imperfections and some passes though the severe test of fire. Ask any married couple and they will silently say that they have their own share of disagreements and issues.  

If they have their problems why do they stay in their marriage covenant and try very hard to make it work? They stay and try hard to make the marriage work because they believe in the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage.  

Problems and issues are part of the marriage journey but notice also that as you move forward with the married journey. You would also discern that problems and issues will start to dissipate until it eventually disappears. Therefore what will remain is your love for each other and your willingness to sacrifice for the marriage to be successful.  

But reality bites, there really are unsuccessful marriages whether we admit it or not. In spite of this sad reality we still have to believe in the sanctity of the marriage covenant. When temptation lurks around like a shark eyeing its prey we have to try our best to avoid it.  

How are we going to avoid being tempted? We have to strongly fight the tempter which is the devil and we have to vividly remember the marriage covenant that we promised before God. Otherwise the marriage might be torn apart.  

Believe in the sanctity of your marriage and avoid the devil like a plague and you’ll have a beautiful and peaceful life ahead of you.  How’s your marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Agosto 12, Biyernes ng Ika-19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:3-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:3-12

Noong panahong iyon, may mga Pariseong lumapit kay Hesus at tinangkang siluin siya sa pamamagitan ng tanong na ito: "Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa sa kahit anong kadahilanan?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi ba ninyo nababasa sa Kasulatan na sa pasimula'y nilalang sila ng Maykapal, lalaki at babae? At sinabi, 'Dahil dito, iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama't ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa; at sila'y magiging iisa.  

kaya't hindi na sila dalawa kundi isa. Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao." Tinanong siya ng mga Pariseo, "Bakit iniutos ni Moises na bigyan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay bago hiwalayan iyon?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Dahil sa katigasan ng inyong ulo kaya ipinahintulot ni Moises na hiwalayan ninyo ang inyong asawa.  

Subalit hindi gayon sa pasimula. Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: sinumang lalaking humiwalay sa kanyang asawa sa anumang dahilan liban sa pakikiapid, at mag-asawa sa iba, ay nangangalunya. At ang mag-asawa sa babaing hiniwalayan ay nangangalunya rin." Sinabi ng mga alagad, "Kung ganyan po ang kalagayan ng lalaki sa kanyang asawa, mabuti pang huwag nang mag-asawa." Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi lahat ay makatatanggap ng simulaing iyan kundi iyon lamang pinagkalooban ng Diyos.  

Sapagkat may iba't-ibang dahilan kung bakit may lalaking hindi makapag-asawa; ang ilan, dahil sa kanilang katutubong kalagayan; ang iba, dahil sa kagagawan ng ibang tao ay nagkagayon sila; mayroon namang hindi nag-aasawa alang-alang sa ikauunlad ng paghahari ng Diyos. Ang makatatanggap ng simulaing ito ay tumanggap nito." 

Reflection for Thursday August 11, Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin: Matthew 18:21-19:1

Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.  

Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full. Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  

He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe. Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!  I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”  

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How do you feel after you’ve been through the Sacrament of Reconciliation? You feel light and free as if a big burden has been taken off from your back. This perhaps was the feeling of the servant in our gospel who asked forgiveness from his master/king.  

But the irony is this: the servant who was forgiven by his master did not forgive a fellow servant who owed him a small amount of money. Something is terribly wrong here because the servant should have also forgiven his fellow servant. But he did not take advantage of the grace of forgiveness that was showered upon him by his master.    

Do you always take advantage of the grace of forgiveness that is graciously given to you by God during the Sacrament of Reconciliation? God’s desire for us is to forgive as we have been forgiven. To forgive and forget the offense/s that is done to us as God has forgiven the countless offenses that we’ve done to Him. Think about if you don’t forgive, you’re imprisoned by your anger and you don’t have peace of mind.  

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose if you will forgive or if you become forgiving. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Agosto 11, Santa Clara, dalaga (Paggunita): Mateo 18:21-19:1

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-19:1

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit noon si Pedro at nagtanong kay Jesus."Panginoon, makailan kong patatawarin ang aking kapatid na paulit-ulit na nagkakasala sa akin? Makapito po ba? Sinagot siya ni Jesus, Hindi ko sinasabing makapito, kundi pitumpung ulit pa nito. Sapagkat ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito ipinasiya ng isang hari na pagbayarin ng kanyang mga lingkod na may utang sa kanya.  

Unang dinala sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung milyong piso. Dahil sa siya'y walang ibayad, iniutos ng hari na ipagbili siya, ang kanyang asawa, mga anak, at lahat ng ari- arian, upang makabayad. Nanikluhod ang taong ito sa harapan ng hari at nagmakaawa. Bigyan pa ninyo ako ng panahon at babayaran ko sa inyo ang lahat. Naawa sa kanya ang hari kaya ipinatawad ang kanyang mga utang at pinayaon siya, Ngunit pagkaalis niya roon ay nakatagpo niya ang isa sa kanyang kapwa lingkod na may utang na limandaang piso sa kanya.  

Sinunggaban niya ito at sinakal sabay wika. 'Magbayad ka ng utang mo!' Naglumuhod iyon at nagmakaawa sa kanya. Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon at babayaran kita. Ngunit hindi siya pumayag, sa halip ipinabilanggo niya ang kayang kapwa lingkod hanggang sa ito'y makabayad. Nang makita ng kanyang mga kapwa lingkod ang nangyari, sila'y labis na nagdamdam; pumunta sila sa hari at isinumbong ang nangyari.  

Kaya't ipinatawag siya ng hari. 'Ikaw--napakasama mo!' sabi niya. 'Pinatawad kita sa utang mo sapagkat nagmakaawa ka sa akin. Nahabag ako sa iyo hindi ba dapat ka ring mahabag sa kapwa mo?' At sa galit ng hari, siya'y ipinabilanggo hanggang sa mabayaran niya ang kanyang utang. Gayon din ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Amang nasa langit kung hindi ninyo patatawarin ang inyong kapatid.  

Pagkatapos sabihin ni Jesus ang mga bagay na ito, siya'y umalis na sa Galilea at nagtungo sa lupain ng Judea, sa kabila ng Ilog Jordan. 

1Reflection for Wednesday August 10, Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (Feast): John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you love your life in this world? 

Jesus gives us today a contradictory statement by saying: “Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” How could this be?  

The simple answer to this paradoxical statement by Jesus is this: We love our life if we love the trappings of this world such as wealth, power and other worldly possession. It also includes other self-centered attitudes such as greed, lust, arrogance, egotism to name a few. We will certainly lose our life if we could identify to any of these characteristics.  

We hate our life in this world but preserve it for eternal life if we have Christ like behaviors such as: Humility, Selflessness, Prayerfulness, Kindheartedness, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion and many more Christ like virtues.  

Therefore we are given two choices: To love our life in this world or two hate it. Surely there would be those who would choose to love their life in this world but for what price? 

The problem of loving our present life for the sake of this world is we are slowly but surely closing the door for Jesus to enter our life. Yet we open it widely for the Devil to enter and eventually drive our life.  

Discover the true meaning of life by serving Christ or by loving Him. Discover the true meaning of life by denying yourself of the many useless and sinful excesses of this world.

Have you already discovered the true meaning of your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Agosto 10 San Lorenzo, diyakono at martir (Kapistahan): Juan 12:24-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:24-26

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Tandaan ninyo: malibang mahulog sa lupa ang butil ng trigo at mamatay, mananatili itong nag-iisa. Ngunit kung mamatay, ito'y mamumunga nang marami.  

Ang taong labis na nagpapahalaga sa kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, ngunit ang napopoot sa kanyang buhay sa daigdig na ito ay siyang magkakaroon nito hanggang sa buhay na walang hanggan. Dapat sumunod sa akin ang naglilingkod sa akin, at saanman ako naroroon ay naroon din ang aking lingkod. Pararangalan ng Ama ang sinumang naglilingkod sa akin."

Reflection for August 9, Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.  

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was labelled as the black sheep of their family by his siblings. As such nobody amongst his siblings want to be associated with him anymore. Who would want to be associated to a so-called black sheep? No one among us want to be associated with a black sheep. Right? 

How about Jesus? Oh, He loves dearly the black sheep and those who stray. He constantly searches for them wherever they may be until He finds them. This is the love of God for us, He will patiently look for us until he finds us. And when He finds us He will stop at nothing to bring us back to His loving embrace.  

We always have to remember that Jesus’ mission is to bring back the lost, misguided and sinners. However, what if those who are lost do not want to renew their life and they want to continue on living their sinful life? What are we going to do?  Should we give up on them and let them live their sinful life?  

 Of course not, because when we give up it’s like we already surrender to the power of the Devil. We let evil triumph over good and this must not be the situation. It must be the other way around, good should always triumph over evil. Thus, we must not give up on the lost we must seek them until we find them and once we find them we forget the past and we introduce Jesus to them.  

Do you also seek out the lost? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Agosto 9, Martes ng Ika-19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Nang mga sandaling iyo'y lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad at nagtanong, "Sino po ang pinakadakila sa kaharian ng langit?" Tinawag ni Jesus ang isang bata, pinatayo sa harapan nila, at sinabi, "Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag hindi kayo nagbago, at tumulad sa mga bata, hinding-hindi kayo mabibilang sa pinaghaharian ng Diyos.  

Ang sinumang nagpapakababa na gaya ng batang ito ay siyang pinakadakila sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos. Ang sinumang tumatanggap sa isang batang ganito dahil sa akin ay ako ang tinatanggap." Ingatan ninyo na huwag ninyong hamakin ang isa sa mga maliliit na ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa langit ang kanilang mga anghel ay laging nasa harapan ng aking Ama. "Ano sa akala ninyo ang gagawin ng isang taong may isang sandaang tupa kung maligaw ang isa sa mga iyon?  

Hindi kaya niya iiwan ang siyanmnapu't siyam na nanginginain sa kaburulan upang hanapin ang naligaw? Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag nasumpungan niya ito, higit niyang ikinagagalak ang isang ito kaysa siyamnapu't siyam na hindi naligaw. Gayon din naman, hindi kalooban ng inyong Amang nasa langit na mapahamak ang isa sa maliliit na ito."

1Reflection for Monday August 8, Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest: Matthew 17:22-27

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.  

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?  

From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

+ + + +  + + +

Reflection:

To pay or not to pay the temple tax, of course Jesus did right when He decided to pay. What if Jesus decided not to pay the temple tax? He would have been a bad example to His followers and He would have given His opponents a window of opportunity to persecute Him earlier than expected.  

 For Jesus to do right is always His top priority to do wrong is never in His mind it’s always to do whatever is good and right. And we must always do good and do right also all the time.  

Although we are not required to give a certain percentage of our income to the church. In hindsight this gospel invites us also to examine our generosity toward our church, how generous are we in giving to our church? For example, during Holy Mass, how generous are we during offertory? Do we give from the heart or we give out from our spare or crumbs?  

We must give generously for whatever we give generously to the church the Good Lord will give  back to us a hundredfold. We can never out give God for the more that we give Him the more that we would receive from Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Lunes Agosto 8, Santo Domingo, pari (Paggunita): Mateo 17:22-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 17:22-27

Nang nagkakatipon sa Galilea, ang mga alagad, sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, "Ang Anak ng Tao ay ipagkakanulo at papatayin, ngunit muling mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw," At sila'y lubhang nagdalamhati. Pagdating nila sa Capernaum, lumapit kay Pedro ang mga maniningil ng buwis para sa templo. Tinanong siya, "Nagbabayad ba ng buwis para sa templo ang inyong Guro?" "Opo," sagot ni Pedro.  

At nang dumating siya sa bahay, tinanong na agad siya ni Jesus: "Ano ba ang palagay mo, Simon? Kanino sumisingil ng bayad sa lisensiya o buwis ang mga hari sa lupa? Sa mga mamamayan ba o mga dayuhan?"  

"Sa mga dayuhan po," tugon niya. sinabi ni Jesus, "Kung gayon, hindi pinagbabayad ang mga mamamayan. Gayunaman, para wala silang masabi sa atin, pumaroon ka sa lawa at ihagis mo ang kawil. Kunin mo ang unang isdang mahuhuli. Ibuka mo ang bibig nito at may makikita kang isang salaping pilak. Kunin mo ito at ibayad mo sa buwis nating dalawa."