Mga salita na puno ng aral at karunungan - 2

 

Reflection for December 1 Thursday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.  

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.  

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

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Reflection:

What would happen to us if we always pray yet we don’t live our faith? For example, we always pray the Holy Rosary every day or we go to Holy Mass every Sunday yet we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to change us? We would easily succumb to worldly temptations and we render useless our acts of worship for God. 

The Philippines is a catholic country, in fact more than eighty percent (80%) of us are Catholics and the majority of our leaders in government are Catholics. However,  corruption is still deeply rooted in our government. Why is this so? This is for the reason that we are only good at worshipping God but we don’t allow our worship for God to transform us. 

What does Jesus want from all of us? He wants us to worship Him and allow this same worship for Him to transform us. So that we could become His true and faithful followers, it’s very easy to pray so that others would see us. However, the real qualification for us to be called a follower of Jesus is when we allow our worship for Him to transform us.  

What will happen to us if we let our prayers to transform us according to the will of God?  We would be like the wise man in the gospel who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock (Luke 7:24-25).  

Do you allow your worship for God to transform you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 1 Huwebes sa Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 7:21, 24-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 7:21, 24-27

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Hindi lahat ng tumatawag sa akin, ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ ay papasok sa kaharian ng langit, kundi yaon lamang sumusunod sa kalooban ng aking Amang nasa langit.  

“Kaya’t ang bawat nakikinig at nagsasagawa ng mga salita kong ito ay matutulad sa isang taong matalino na nagtayo ng kanyang bahay sa ibabaw ng bato. Umulan nang malakas, bumaha, at binayo ng malakas na hangin ang bahay na iyon, ngunit hindi nagiba sapagkat nakatayo sa ibabaw ng bato.  

Ang bawat nakikinig ng aking mga salita at hindi nagsasagawa nito ay matutulad sa isang taong hangal na nagtayo ng kanyang bahay sa buhanginan. Umulan nang malakas, bumaha, at binayo ng malakas na hangin ang bahay. Bumagsak ang bahay na iyon at lubusang nawasak.”

Reflection for Wednesday November 30 Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle: Matthew 4:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

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Reflection:

Are you ready to respond to Jesus’ call? 

Jesus called ordinary fishermen to help Him advance the gospel, ordinary folks just like you and me. What is striking in the gospel reading was their immediate response to the call of the Lord. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew they immediately left their nets (their livelihood) and they both became a follower of Jesus. 

The same occurrence happened when Jesus called the brothers Zebedee and John. Upon hearing the call of Jesus they left their boat and their father to immediately become a follower. 

Let us take a closer look at the gospel for today because this is for us also. The four of them were ordinary fishermen, they were expert in their craft but they had no formal education about the faith.  

What does this mean to us? This simply means that a formal education about the faith is not a requirement to become an effective follower. What is important is the desire, humility and willingness to respond to Jesus. For as long as we are ready to respond we all can have a role in the mission of Jesus.  

Let us not worry if we have no formal education about our faith because this is not the requirement of Jesus. What Jesus wants from us first is for us to respond to His call, this is perhaps the first requirement responsiveness to His call.  

Jesus is always calling us to follow Him every second, every minute and hour that passes by. Let us respond to this call of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Miyerkules Nobyembre 30 San Andres, apostol (Kapistahan): Mateo 4:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 4:18-22

Noong panahong iyon, sa paglalakad ni Hesus sa tabi ng Lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya ang dalawang mangingisda, si Simon na tinatawag na Pedro, at ang kapatid niyang si Andres. Sila’y naghahagis ng lambat. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Sumunod kayo sa akin, at gagawin ko kayong mamamalakaya ng mga tao.” Noon di’y iniwan nila ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod kay Hesus.  

Nagpatuloy siya ng paglakad at nakita rin niya ang magkapatid na Santiago at Juan, mga anak ni Zebedeo. Sila’y nasa bangka, kasama ang kanilang ama, at naghahayuma ng lambat. Tinawag din sila ni Hesus. Agad nilang iniwan ang bangka at ang kanilang ama, at sumunod kay Hesus. 

Reflection for November 29 Tuesday of the First Week of Advent: Luke 10:21-24

Gospel: Luke 10:21-24

Jesus 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:

What do we need to do to fully grasp the grace of the Holy Spirit in our life? We need to be humble, we need to be childlike for such is the life of Jesus: full of humility and full of childlike trust. 

The Holy Spirit would reveal itself to us once we become humble and childlike. Thus, the Holy Spirit will give us something that others don’t have and that is the enlightenment to discern the workings of God in our life. 

Notice the childlike excitement of those who volunteer their time to serve during Holy Mass or to do volunteer work for the church. Observe their readiness to submit themselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But not everyone has this gift of feeling the profound presence of God in their lives. This is given free without any cost by the Holy Spirit to those who strive to dive deeper into our Catholic faith. 

We impede the grace of the Holy Spirit into our lives when we trust more on our wealth instead of God. When we don’t attend Holy Mass When we are self-righteous, when we are corrupt, when we curse, when we say profanities and swearwords. When we seek pornography and other sins of the flesh. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Nobyembre 29 Martes sa Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Lucas 10:21-24

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:21-24

Nang oras ding iyon, si Hesus ay napuspos ng galak ng Espiritu Santo. At sinabi niya, “Pinasasalamatan kita Ama. Panginoon ng langit at lupa, sapagkat inilihim mo sa marurunong at pantas ang mga bagay na ito at inihayag mo sa mga taong ang kalooba’y tulad ng sa bata. 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.” Humarap si Hesus sa mga alagad at sinabi, na di naririnig ng iba: “Mapalad kayo, sapagkat nakita ninyo ang inyong nakikita ngayon! Sinasabi ko sa inyo, maraming propeta at mga hari ang nagnasang makakita ng inyong nakikita ngunit hindi nila nakita. Hinangad din nilang mapakinggan ang inyong naririnig ngunit hindi nila napakinggan.”

Reflection for November 28 Monday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 8:5-11

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.  

For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

Do you ask Jesus to give you the gift of faith? 

What brought the centurion to Jesus? It was his great faith, when the centurion went to Jesus to ask for help for his servant he had nothing except his great faith. He firmly believed in Jesus power to heal and he used his great faith to convince Jesus to cure his servant.  

Who is this centurion? He is a roman officer and he has people under his command, he also is not a follower yet he has great faith in Jesus. Don’t we want this kind of faith as well? Of course, we all want our faith to be like the centurions. Therefore, we must prayerfully ask Jesus to give us the same faith. But do we ask Jesus to give us the gift of faith? Is the gift of faith always part of our prayer request to Jesus?  

If Jesus could give that great faith to a non-follower like the centurion why can’t He give us the same faith considering that we are his followers? Faith is a gift that Jesus freely and generously gives to anyone who humbly ask for it.  

What is our usual prayer to Jesus? Is it always to have the things of this world? Let us not forget that the things of this world are passing and temporary. While faith will not pass it will always be with us. Faith will be with us until the end, it will accompany us in our journey beyond this world going to the eternal Kingdom of the King of Kings no other than Jesus Himself. 

Give us your gift of faith O Lord Jesus, most especially the person who is reading this reflection right now. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Nobyembre 28 Lunes sa Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 8:5-11

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:5-11

Noong panahong iyon, pagpasok ni Jesus sa Capernaum, lumapit ang isang kapitang Romano at nakiusap sa kanya: "Ginoo, ang alipin ko po'y naparalisis. Siya'y nararatay sa amin at lubhang nahihirapan." "Paroroon ako at pagagalingin siya," sabi ni Jesus. Ngunit sumagot sa kanya ang kapitan, "Ginoo, hindi po ako karapat-dapat na puntahan pa ninyo sa aking bahay. Sabihin po lamang ninyo at gagaling na ang aking alipin. 

Ako'y nasa ilalim ng nakatataas na pinuno, at ako man ay may nasasakupang mga kawal. Kung sabihin ko sa isa, 'Humayo ka!' siya'y humahayo; at sa iba, 'Halika!' siya'y lumalapit; at sa aking alipin, 'Gawin mo ito!' at ginagawa niya." Namangha si Jesus nang marinig ito, at sinabi niya sa mga taong sumusunod sa kanya, "Sinasabi ko sa inyo, na hindi ako nakatagpo kahit sa Israel ng ganito kalaking pananalig. Tandaan ninyo: marami ang darating buhat sa silangan at kanluran at dudulog na kasalo nina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob sa kaharian ng Langit."

Reflection for Sunday November 27, First Sunday of Advent: Matthew 24:37-44

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. 

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

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Reflection: 

What was going on at the time of Noah? 

During the time of Noah Yahweh saw the wickedness of men that’s why He decided to destroy them. However, Noah was a blameless and righteous man and because of his righteousness he and a handful of his relatives and a few animals were saved by Yahweh.

From the time of Noah let as move fast forward to our present time. Is there still wickedness and evil today? The answer is a resounding yes!  Evil and wickedness are still prevalent today, it’s actually everywhere. For example, the unfortunate human sufferings being experienced by the people of Ukraine brought about by Russia’s aggression. Another example, whether we admit it or not many of us also continue to harbor evil and wickedness in our hearts.

On this first Sunday of advent the Lord is calling us to leave behind our sinful lives. This is best exemplified by the call of Saint Paul to the Romans in our second reading, he tells us. “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:12-14 ).

This call of renewal is also echoed by the prophet Isaiah in our first reading. He called for all people to go to the mountain of the Lord and walk with the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:3 ).  

On this first Sunday of Advent we are also reminded about the uncertainty of life. That it may end anytime that’s why we must seriously hear God’s message for us to repent and walk away from our sins and embrace goodness, forgiveness and love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 27 Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon : Mateo 24:37-44

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 24: 37-44

Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Ang pagdating ng Anak ng Tao ay matutulad sa pagdating ng baha noong panahon ni Noe. Noon, ang mga tao’y nagsisikain, nagsisiinom at nag-aasawa, hanggang sa araw na pumasok sa daong si Noe. 

Dumating ang baha di nila namalayan at tinangay silang lahat. Gayun din ang mangyayari sa pagdating ng Anak ng Tao. Sa panahong iyon, may dalawang lalaking gumagawa sa bukid kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang isa. May dalawang babaing magkasamang gumigiling; kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang isa.

Kaya magbantay kayo, sapagkat hindi ninyo alam kung anong araw paririto ang inyong Panginoon. Tandaan ninyo ito: kung alam lamang ng puno ng sambahayan kung anong oras ng gabi darating ang magnanakaw, siya’y magbabantay at hindi niya pababayaang pasukin ang kanyang bahay. Kaya maging handa kayong lagi, sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na di ninyo inaasahan.” 

Reflection for November 26 Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:34-36

Gospel: Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.  

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

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Reflection:

What will happen to us if we are so much busy with our worldly activities that we forget our intimacy with God?  We become worldly beings that exist only for this temporal world thus we cutoff any contact with God in favor of this world.  

This is dangerously happening now for example there are countries that prohibit the saying of prayers in schools. There are countries that proudly promote abortion and other anti-life measures. We must be watchful and try every possible way to counter this anti-life and anti-Christian policies and mindset espoused by the liberal minds of today. 

Where would we start? We start inside our respective families, so we bring our children to Mass, we pray the Holy Rosary and worship God as a family. We teach them the basics of our faith; we teach them how to read the Bible. And we read to them the words of God in the bible and reflect on it as a family. 

By doing so we would be deeply implanting the roots of our faith in their young minds and they will imbibe it as they grow. Therefore, they would be able to withstand whatever worldly tribulations and temptation that may come their way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Nobyembre 26 Sabado sa Ika-34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 21:34-36

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:34-36

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Mag-ingat kayo na huwag magumon sa katakawan at paglalasing at mabuhos ang inyong isip sa mga intindihin sa buhay na ito; baka abutan kayo ng Araw na iyon ng hindi handa. 

Sapagkat darating iyon ng di inaasahan ng tao sa buong daigdig. Kaya't maging handa kayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi ninyong idalangin na magkaroon kayo ng lakas upang makaligtas sa lahat ng mangyayaring ito at makaharap sa Anak ng Tao."

 

Reflection for November 25 Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:29-33

Gospel: Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.  

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

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Reflection:

Do you have an awareness of the kingdom of God in your life? 

Many of us are only aware today of the kingdom of this world. Thus, we are very busy to earn for our own survival and self-gratification. We allow ourselves to be eaten by the rat race culture of this world. For example, in other countries where the presence of Jesus is almost non-existent in their people. Once they encounter major failures in their life some people don’t think twice of committing suicide. 

Why is this so? Perhaps the reason behind this is they’ve already focused themselves on this world only. Every aspect of their life revolves around this world. There is no illumination of the presence of Jesus in their life. Here lies the danger of not having God in one’s life. It’s like always the end times whenever they encounter failures/problems in their life.  

We are therefore very fortunate that we know Jesus because we always have this fortress of hope and protection where we can always hold on. Whatever personal problems that we may have and no matter how bleak the future may seem. We remain hopeful and this hope is always given to us by Jesus. 

Let us therefore share the gift of Jesus with our fellowmen let us not keep this to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas