Reflection for Sunday October 2, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:5-10

Gospel: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. 

You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

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Reflection:

What is the character of a good and faithful servant? He submits to his master. And whatever lawful orders that his master tells him to do he does it even if it’s very difficult.  Therefore a servant is always obedient and faithful to his Lord and master. 

Who are we in this fleeting world? We are mere servants! Who do we serve? Many of us are serving this world, for example when we work and work and we sacrifice our faith and love for God in favor of our work and other worldly preoccupations this world becomes our lord and master. 

We become obedient and slaves to the dictates of this world. Whatever this world would tell us we obey it without question sacrificing even our faith and love for God.  However, the problem is, this world is not a good lord and master. In fact this world is the worst lord and master that we could ever have.

The moment we allow this world to be our Lord and master it will hold us by our necks and never let go of us until it brings us to a life devoid of purpose. 

Who then is the Lord and Master that we must follow? The same Lord and Master of the apostles whom they humbly asked to increase their faith, none other than Jesus. 

Who is your Lord and Master? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Oktubre 2, Ika - 27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 17:5-10

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:5-10

Sinabi ng mga apostol sa Panginoon, "Dagdagan po ninyo ang aming pananalig sa Diyos!" Tumugon ang Panginoon, "Kung maging sinlaki man lamang ng butil ng mustasa ang inyong pananalig sa Diyos, masasabi ninyo sa puno ng sikomorong ito, 'Mabunot ka, at matanim sa dagat!' at tatalima ito sa inyo."

"Ipalagay nating kayo'y mga aliping nag-aararo, o nagpapastol kaya ng tupa. Pagkagaling niya sa bukid, sasabihin ba ninyo sa kanya, 'Halika at nang makakain ka na'? Hindi! Sa halip ay ganito ang sinasabi ninyo: 'Ipaghanda mo ako ng hapunan, magbihis ka, at silbihan mo ako habang ako'y kumakain.

Kumain ka pagkakain ko.' Pinasasalamatan ba ang alipin dahil sa ginawa niya ang iniutos sa kanya? Gayon din naman kayo; kapag nagawa na ninyo ang lahat ng iniutos sa inyo, sabihin ninyo, 'Kami'y mga aliping walang kabuluhan; tumupad lamang kami sa aming tungkulin.

Reflection for Saturday October 1, Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 10:17-24

Gospel: Luke 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

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Reflection:

Long time ago there was a religion that had a penchant for arrogantly showing their influence. They would boast that they are the true religion and that nobody would go to heaven except their members. Instead of attracting others to join them they were instead shunned by those they thought could be their future members. Eventually this religion stopped growing until it died a natural death. 

What could attract people to join a religion? It’s certainly not arrogance but childlike humility. Arrogance is disliked by many as opposed to humility which is very much liked by the majority. Humility is like a magnet that attracts and gains the sympathy of people. 

For example, would you prefer to belong to a religion that arrogantly flaunts its misplaced influence? Of course not! Would you prefer to befriend an arrogant person or a humble person? Of course, you would prefer to befriend the humble one. 

In like manner, we could bring more people to our faith and we would become more effective fishers of men. If we live humility and if we become breathing example of Jesus’ humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday September 30, Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Luke 10:13-16

Gospel: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  

But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus angry with the people of Chozarin and Bethsaida? Because they did not hear His call of repentance, they refused His offer of love and renewal for them. 

It’s sometimes puzzling why we refuse to heed this call of Jesus when we have nothing to lose but everything to gain. For example, if we are living in sin right now and we decide to hear this call for renewal of Jesus. A big burden would immediately be taken off from our shoulders but so many of us still refuse to walk away from sin. Why? 

 What does sin offer us that we can’t walk away from it? Does sin offer us heaven? Does sin offer us a quiet and contentment filled life? Why do many of us cling to sin as if our lives hinges upon it when it doesn’t offer us anything good? Should we wait until something unfortunate happens to us before we listen?     

Let us all have a fresh start in our lives by refusing to commit any form of sin even for a few weeks or a month. And we compare our lives previously lived in sin and a life lived free from sin and with the guiding light of Jesus. We surely would love this new life with Jesus than the old life burdened by sin. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Biyernes Setyembre 30, San Geronimo, pari at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Lucas 10:13-16

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:13-16

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Hesus, “Kawawa ka, Corazin! Kawawa ka, Betsaida! Sapagkat kung sa Tiro at Sidon ginawa ang mga kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, disin sana’y malaon na silang nagdaramit ng sako at nauupo sa abo upang ipakilalang sila’y nagsisisi. 

Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom, higit na mabigat ang kaparusahan ninyo kaysa kaparusahan ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, Ibig mong mataas hanggang sa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades! “Ang nakikinig sa inyo’y nakikinig sa akin, ang nagtatakwil sa inyo’y nagtatakwil sa akin, at ang nagtatakwil sa akin ay nagtatakwil sa nagsugo sa akin.”

Reflection for Thursday September 29, Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels (Feast): John 1:47-51

Gospel: John 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  

Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe in angels? In the bible/scriptures there are many passages that tell us of the reality of angels. For example Hebrews 1:13-14 tells us; 13 God never said to any of his angels: Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet. 14 For all these spirits are only servants, and God sends them to help those who shall be saved. Psalm 91:11 tells us this as well; 11 For he will command his angels to guard you in all your ways. Angels are real and it’s not necessarily a winged messenger of God. An angel can be a friend, a relative or a complete stranger who will bring you closer to God. God sends them to you to direct your ways toward Him. But many of us refuse to listen to the voice of angels we instead listen to what this world dictates upon us. Notice for example the aggressive advertising being employed by companies to announce their new product/s. These advertisers dictate upon us to buy their new hi-tech gadget/s and so forth. But come to think about it, do we really need it? Often times we don’t actually need it we simply listen to the aggressive and enticing advertisement. We must be careful because this is the reality of our world right now. This world uses many devious methods for us to be enslaved by it. Let us not be discouraged nonetheless because God sends us His angels to point our ways to Him. And to let us know that the infinite love of God is always there for us. In hindsight, is it also possible for you to become an angel to somebody in need of spiritual direction? To somebody in need of encouragement, motivation or even material help? Yes it is very much possible that you could become God’s living and walking angel in this world today. Do you want to become an angel of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Huwebes Setyembre 29, San Miguel, San Gabriel at San Rafael, mga arkanghel (Kapistahan): Juan 1:47-51

Mabuting Balita: Juan 1:47-51

Noong panahong iyon, nang makita ni Jesus si Natanael, ay kanyang sinabi, "Masdan ninyo ang isang tunay na Israelita; siya'y hindi magdaraya!" Tinanong siya ni Natanael, "Paano ninyo ako nakilala?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Bago ka pa tawagin ni Felipe, nakita na kita nang ikaw ay nasa ilalim ng puno ng igos,"  

"Rabi, kayo po ang Anak ng Diyos! Kayo ang Hari ng Israel!" wika ni Natanael. Sinabi ni Jesus, "Nananampalataya ka ba dahil sa sinabi ko sa iyong nakita kita sa ilalim ng puno ng igos? Makakikita ka ng mga bagay na higit kaysa rito!" At sinabi niya sa lahat, "Tandaan ninyo: makikita ninyong bukas ang langit, at ang mga anghel ng Diyos ay manhik-manaog sa kinaroroonan ng Anak ng Tao!"

Reflection for Wednesday September 28, Memorial of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions, martyrs: Luke 9:57-62

Gospel: Luke 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 

But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

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Reflection:

What does it require to follow Jesus? It requires us to leave everything behind that could hamper our faithful and enduring discipleship. Is it not possible to follow Jesus and then remain attached to the things that we have? No, it’s never possible to follow and remain attached with what we have. 

Can we follow and at the same time continue to sin? Can we follow and at the same time be attached with material things? Can we follow yet still love the hedonistic lifestyle of this world? No we can’t, when we decide to follow Jesus this simply means that we are ready to leave everything behind us most especially our own sinfulness for the sake of our discipleship. 

To follow Jesus is initially difficult no question about it for it requires a radical change of our lifestyles! But fear not to follow because as we decide we would learn also to depend not on ourselves but on Jesus alone.  We will have the enlightenment to bring and trust our everything  including our very lives to Jesus. It’s like you have somebody who is always there for you when you decide to follow Him. 

What if we are very sinful? Would Jesus still call us to follow Him? Yes absolutely, the more sinful we are the more that Jesus calls us to follow Him. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Miyerkules Setyembre 28, San Lorenzo Ruiz at mga kasama, mga martir (Paggunita): Lucas 9:57-62

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:57-62

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang naglalakad sina Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad, may taong nagsabi kay Hesus, “Susunod po ako sa inyo kahit saan.” Sumagot si Hesus, “May lungga ang asong-gubat at may pugad ang ibon, ngunit ang Anak ng Tao’y wala man lamang matulugan o mapagpahingahan.” Sinabi ni Hesus sa isa, “Sumunod ka sa akin.” Ngunit sumagot ang tao, “Panginoon, hayaan po muna ninyo akong umuwi upang ipalibing ang akin ama.” 

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Ipaubaya mo na sa mga patay ang paglilibing ng kanilang mga patay. Ngunit ikaw, humayo ka at ipahayag mo ang tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos.” Sinabi naman ng isa, “Susunod po ako sa inyo, Panginoon, ngunit magpapaalam muna ako sa aking mga kasambahay.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Ang sinumang nag-aararo at palaging lumilingon ay hindi karapat-dapat sa paghahari ng Diyos.”

 

Reflection for Tuesday September 27, Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest: Luke 9:51-56

Gospel: Luke 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

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Reflection:

What is your attitude when somebody rejects you? Do you feel bad and offended or you simply shrug it off, move on and treat rejection as simply part of life. 

Jesus was refused entry into the Samaritan village but instead of sulking and harboring resentment towards the Samaritan people. Jesus simply walked away without harboring any ill will against them. 

Perhaps Jesus was silently saying: “You refused me entry into your village so I move on without any ill feelings against you people of Samaria. In that negative reception Jesus had a positive reaction: Let’s move on and go forth with our mission.   

Every now and then there would also be people who will try to offend us or bait us to stoop to their level of arrogance. So what are we going to do? We must not bite their bait, we instead should keep calm and not allow ourselves to be offended.   

We simply have to take the higher road and squeeze whatever positive lessons that we could take amidst the negative situation.  We have to remember that nobody is in charge of how we would react in any situation that is thrown to us except us. 

Being so, we should not forget to look at the positive in every negative situation that is thrown our way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 26, Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:46-50

Gospel: Luke 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”  

Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

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Reflection:

What does a child represent? It represents humility and obedience. 

The disciples were arguing who among them is the greatest. Therefore Jesus brought in a child to impart to them lessons about humility and obedience to the will of God. When a person is humble he doesn’t care about who is the greatest. What he only cares for is to serve never mind if there is no recognition for as long as he is able to serve.  

In the vineyard of the Lord to be the greatest must not be an objective of anyone. The objective that a person should rather have is to be the servant of everyone. When a person aims to be a star in his discipleship for the Lord he also strips himself of the right to serve the Lord. Because how can he be authentic in his discipleship if his motives are not? How can he truly serve the Lord if his objective is to be the star of his group/ministry?  

It’s not for anyone to seek greatness when he is serving in the vineyard of the Lord. It’s for God to bestow greatness and God always bestows greatness generously to those who are humble. Never He bestows it to those who seek it to serve their selfish agendas. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday September 25, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:19-31

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

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Reflection:

Imagine that you are the rich man in the gospel and the poor man Lazarus is also at your door. How would you react? Will you do the same as the rich man did in the gospel? Or you will give food to the poor man Lazarus? 

You would surely answer that you will give food because this is the right action to do. And your decision to give food would also be influenced by the misfortune of the rich man after he died for he end up in hell. 

But is this who we really are? Do we really help the poor most especially when nobody is watching us? Often times we do good because we are influenced by the circumstances that surrounds us. For example, in the gospel we read the rich man ended up in hell. Of course this is the circumstance that will influence us to do good for we don’t want to be in hell after we die. 

What if the rich man knew that he would be in hell if he mistreats the poor Lazarus? He surely would have treated Lazarus favorably because he would not want to be in hell after he dies. But the rich man did not know that his apathy towards Lazarus will result in his confinement to hell. 

The gospel is an invitation for all of us to reflect on our attitude towards the poor most especially when no one is watching us. For example, we may have a poor relative or a poor neighbor. How do we treat them when no one is watching us? Do we always treat them with respect and love even if they are poor? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Ika 25 ng Setyembre, Ika - 26 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 16:19-31

Mabuting Balita: 

Lucas 16:19-31Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Pariseo: "May isang mayamang nagdaramit ng mamahalin at saganang-sagana sa pagkain araw-araw. At may isa namang pulubing nagngangalang Lazaro, tadtad ng sugat, na nakalupasay sa may pintuan ng mayaman upang mamulot kahit mumong nahuhulog mula sa hapag ng mayaman. At doo'y nilalapitan siya ng aso at dinidilaan ang kanyang mga sugat. 

Namatay ang pulubi, at dinala ng mga anghel sa piling ni Abraham. Namatay rin ang mayaman, at inilibing. Sa gitna ng kanyang pagdurusa sa Hades, tumingala ang mayaman at kanyang natanaw sa malayo si Abraham, kapiling si Lazaro. At sumigaw siya: 'Amang Abraham, mahabag po kayo sa akin. Utusan ninyo si Lazaro na isawsaw sa tubig ang dulo ng kanyang daliri at palamigin ang aking dila, sapagkat naghihirap ako sa apoy na ito.' 

Ngunit sinabi sa kanya ni Abraham, 'Anak, alalahanin mong nagpasasa ka sa buhay sa ibabaw ng lupa, at si Lazaro'y nagtiis ng kahirapan. Ngunit ngayo'y inaaliw siya rito, samantalang ikaw'y nama'y nagdurusa. Higit sa lahat, inilagay sa pagitan natin ang isang malaking bangin upang ang mga narini ay hindi makapariyan at ang mga nariyan ay hindi makaparini.' At sinabi ng mayaman, 'Kung gayon po, Amang Abraham, ipinamamanhik ko sa inyong papuntahin si Lazaro sa bahay ng aking ama, sapagkat ako'y may limang kapatid na lalaki. Paparoonin nga ninyo siya upang balaan sila at nang hindi sila humantong sa dakong ito ng pagdurusa.' 

Ngunit sinabi sa kanya ni Abraham, 'Nasa kanila ang mga sinulat ni Moises at ng mga propeta; pakinggan nila ang mga iyon.' 'Hindi po sapat ang mga iyon,' tugon niya, 'Ngunit kung pumunta sa kanila ang isang patay na muling nabuhay, tatalikdan nila ang kanilang mga kasalanan.' Sinabi sa kanya ni Abraham, 'Kung ayaw nilang pakinggan ang mga sinulat ni Moises at ng mga propeta, hindi rin nila paniniwalaan ang isang patay na muling nabuhay.'"

Reflection for September 24, Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:43b-45

Gospel: Luke 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand the ways of the Lord in your life? Everyone of us perhaps experience this kind of dilemma. For example, when you pass through severe testing in your life that may lead you to question God. Some may even say this question before Jesus: “Why do I have to go through this difficulty in my life when I follow you?”  

When we pass through these kinds of trials in our life. We simply have to remember that we are created beings of God with finite minds. As such our intellect is limited no matter how intelligent some of us may be. Thus, we really won’t be able to comprehend the ways of God. We simply have to submit to the will of God and we simply have to firmly hold on to our faith in our infinite God.  

Therefore when we go through some episodes in life that may seem difficult for us to understand. Let us never be afraid to question God, “Why do we have to go through this trial.” Yet after questioning God let us firmly hold on to our faith in Him and continue to believe that He has a purpose why we’re going through this kind of trial/s. – Marino J. Dasmarinas