Reflection for Thursday December 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Principal Patroness of the Philippines: 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:

Do you always accept the will of the Lord for your life or you sometimes contradict it? 

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This was defined by Pope Pius IX in Ineffabilis Deus and was promulgated on December 8, 1854, it states that Mary, through God's grace, was conceived free from the stain of original sin through her role as the Mother of God.  

The Gospel tells us that God thru the Angel Gabriel had chosen the Blessed Mother to be the Mother of Jesus, of all women why the Blessed Mother? We don’t know the answer but the Blessed Mother’s humility, docility and abandonment to the will of God speaks volumes about her.  

The Blessed Mother humbly followed God’s desire and will when she said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38)." Like the Blessed Mother, are you willing to humble yourself before the Lord? Are you willing to abandon your life to the will of God? And do you always discern the desire of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Wednesday December 7 Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

Are you sometimes feeling weary and burdened by the daily challenges/problems of life? You‘re not alone for all of us are burdened by our challenges and problems. However these burdens the we carry are miraculously made light the moment we learn to submit it to Jesus and when we invite Jesus to help us carry it. 

Why do you endure to carry the burden of someone you love or to suffer for someone you love? This is for the reason that you are already yoked or made one with this person that you love. For example, in married life if your spouse is sick you would sacrifice to take care of your spouse until he/she gets well. Or you may even wish that you’re the one that is sick and not your spouse. 

Why is this so? This is for the reason that Jesus bonded the two of you to become one through the Sacrament of Matrimony.  Remember the words of your marriage vows that says: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." If marriage made you one with your spouse, through your Baptism you became one with Jesus or you are already yoked with Jesus. 

Let us therefore always respond to this invitation of Jesus; we who are often times burdened by the difficulties of life for we will always find healing and strength in HIM. Are you burdened by your problems right now? Bring it to Jesus and humbly ask him to help you carry it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Miyerkules Disyembre 7 San Ambrosio, Obispo at pantas ng Iglesya (Paggunita): Mateo 11:28-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:28-30

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, "Lumapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na napapagal at; nabibigatan sa inyong pasanin, at kayo'y pagpapahingahin ko. 

Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok, at mag-aral kayo sa akin; ako'y maamo at mababang-loob, at makasusumpong kayo ng kapahingahan para sa inyong kaluluwa. Sapagkat maginhawang dalhin ang aking pamatok, at magaan ang pasaning ibibigay ko sa inyo." 

Reflection for December 6 Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent: Matthew 18:12-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”

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Reflection:

Can we measure God’s love for us? No for God’s love is not bound by any kind of measurement or limited by time and space. God will continue to love us even if we are the most sinful person in this world. 

The Parable of the lost sheep in our gospel is a showcase of this infinite love of God. Who is the man who looked for the lost sheep? He is our loving and merciful God! Who is the lost sheep that went astray?  It’s us we who are sinful and we who oftentimes love sin more than God.  

Nevertheless, even if we love to sin and even if we run away from the love of God. He is always there looking for us. Ever ready to forgive and forget all the sins that we have committed. Let us all be cognizant of this infinite love of God and let us also not be quick to judge our brothers and sisters who sin. 

Instead of judging those who sin let us rather emulate God who looked for and reached out to the lost sheep. Instead of judging let us help them get up on their feet so that they could free themselves from the bondage of sin. There are sinners because no one is willing to reach out to them, no one is willing to pay forward the infinite love of God. 

Are you quick to judge those who sin? Would you care to reach out to them so that they could feel the infinite love of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Disyembre 6 Martes sa Ika-2 Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 18:12-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:12-14

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ano sa akala ninyo ang gagawin ng isang taong may isang daang tupa kung maligaw ang isa sa mga iyon? Hindi kaya niya iiwan ang siyamnapu'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 kaloob ng inyong Amang nasa langit na mapahamak ang isa sa maliliit na ito."

Reflection for December 5 Monday of the Second Week of Advent: Luke 5:17-26

Gospel: Luke 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.

But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” 

Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 

He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

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Reflection:

How far are you willing to go to help a person in need? We have in our gospel a paralytic who was brought to Jesus by selfless men. Men who did not think of their own safety so that they could help. Men who did everything so that they could bring somebody to Jesus. 

What if there were no selfless men who dared to help the paralytic? The paralytic would have remained paralytic for the rest of his life. But he was very blessed that he encountered these men who help him go near Jesus. 

When we help someone in need we are opening ourselves to enormous blessings from God. This is what happened to the men who brought the paralytic to Jesus. They were blessed by Jesus and was forgiven of their many sins (Luke 5:20). 

As we continue our journey in this world we will continue to encounter those who are in need. Let us never let go of these opportunities to help be it material or spiritual help. If it would require us to momentarily forget our own selves so that we could extend a helping hand, let us help by all means. 

Every effort that we do for others is always rewarded by Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Disyembre 5 Lunes sa Ika-2 Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Lucas 5:17-26

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:17-26

Minsan nang nagtuturo si Hesus, naroon din ang mga Pariseo at mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan na mula sa mga bayan ng Galilea at Judea, at sa Jerusalem. At sumasakanya ang kapangyarihan ng Panginoon upaang magpagaling ng mga maysakit. May dumating na ilang tao, dala ang isang paralitikong nasa higaan.  

Nagpipilit silang makapasok sa bahay upang mailagay sa harapan ni Hesus ang maysakit, subalit wala silang maraanan dahil sa dami ng tao. Kaya’t umakyat sila sa bubungan at binutas iyon, saka inihugos sa harapan ni Hesus ang paralitikong nasa higaan. Nang makita ni hesus kung gaano kalaki ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko, “Kaibigan, pinatatawad ka na sa iyong mga kasalanan.”  

Sa loob-loob ng mga eskriba’t Pariseo: “Sino itong nagsasalita ng kalapastanganan sa Diyos? Hindi ba’t Diyos lamang ang makapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan?” Ngunit batid ni Hesus ang kanilang iniisip, kaya’t sinagot niya sila, “Bakit kayo nag-iisip ng ganyan? Alin ba ang lalong madali: ang sabihin sa paralitiko ‘Pinatatawad ka na sa iyong mga kasalanan’ o ang sabihing ‘Tumindig ka at lumakad’? Patutunayan ko sa inyo ang Anak ng Tao ay may kapangyarihan dito sa lupa na magpatawad ng mga kasalanan.”  

At sinabi niya sa paralitiko, “Iniuutos ko: tumindig ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at umuwi ka!” Pagdaka’y tumindig ang tao sa harapan ng lahat, binuhat ang kanyang higaan at umuwing nagpupuri sa Diyos. Nanggilalas sila at tigib ng takot na nagpuri sa Diyos. “Nakakita kami ngayon ng mga kahanga-hangang bagay!” wika nila.

Mga salita na puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 6

 

Reflection for Sunday December 4, Second Sunday of Advent: Matthew 3:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. 

Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a mother who had a wayward son. The mother would always plead to her son to change his ways and repent. However, the son would always turn a deaf ear to her mother’s pleadings.  The mother eventually died without seeing her son’s repentance.  After a few years the son also died brought about by his living a life of sin. 

During the time of John the Baptist he called also for repentance because the people of Judea were living in sin. John was a Prophet who lived his life in utter simplicity and humility. He wore clothing made of camel’s hair his food was locust and wild honey. 

Many listened to his call because he was worthy of his advocacy, he showed the people of his time that he was walking his talk; he lived according to what he was preaching. 

We can endlessly preach repentance to our fellowmen but if we do not live what we preach. And if we do not walk what we talk nobody would listen to us. That’s what separate’s John the Baptist from us, he was a worthy herald for Jesus simply because he walked his talk. He supported his call of repentance by living it and by shunning the trappings and comforts of his environment. 

This second week of Advent let us ask ourselves these two questions: have I called for repentance to people who are within my circle of influence? And am I currently living John the Baptist’s life of simplicity and humility? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Disyembre 4 Ikalawang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon : Mateo 3:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 3:1-12

Noong panahaong iyon, si Juan Bautista’y dumating sa ilang ng Judea at nagsimulang mangaral. Sinabi niya, “Pagsisihan ninyo’t talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, sapagkat malapit nang maghari ang Diyos!” Si Juan ang tinutukoy ni Propeta Isaias nang sabihin nito, “Ito ang sabi ng isang sumisigaw sa ilang: ‘Ihanda ninyo ang daraanan ng Panginoon, tuwirin ninyo ang kanyang mga landas!”

Hinabing balahibo ng kamelyo ang damit ni Juan, at balat ang kanyang pamigkis. Ang kanya namang pagkai’y balang at pulot-pukyutan. At pumunta sa kanya ang mga taga-Jerusalem, taga-Judea, at mga naninirahan sa magkabilang panig ng Jordan. Ipinahayag nila ang kanilang mga kasalanan, at sila’y bininyagan ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan.

Ngunit nang makita niyang marami sa mga Pariseo at mga Saduseo ang lumalapit upang pabinyag, sinabi niya sa kanila, “Kayong lahi ng mga ulupong! Sino ang nagbabala sa inyo upang tumakas sa parusang darating? Ipakilala ninyo sa pamamagitan ng inyong pamumuhay na kayo’y nagsisisi. At huwag ninyong ipangahas na kayo’y anak ni Abraham.

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: Ang Diyos ay makalilikha ng mga tunay na anak ni Abraham mula sa mga batong ito. Ngayon pa’y nakaamba na ang palakol sa ugat ng punungkahoy; ang bawat punungkahoy na hindi mabuti ang bunga ay puputulin at ihahagis sa apoy. Binibinyagan ko kayo sa tubig bilang tanda ng pagsisisi ninyo’t pagtalikod sa inyong mga kasalanan; ngunit ang dumarating na kasunod ko ang magbibinyag sa inyo sa Espiritu Santo at sa apoy.

Siya’y makapangyarihan kaysa akin, hindi ako karapat-dapat kahit tagadala ng kanyang panyapak. Hawak niya ang kanyang kalaykay upang alisin ang dayami. Titipunin niya sa kamalig ang trigo, ngunit ang ipa’y susunugin sa apoy na di mamamatay kailanman.”

Reflection for Saturday December 3 St. Francis Xavier, priest: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

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Reflection:

Have you done something to bring others to the Lord? For example, you asked a friend to go with you to the church to attend Holy Mass. Or you counseled a friend to read the Bible so that he/she could know Jesus deeply.   

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).” These words of Jesus rings loudly to our ears today than ever before. Indeed this is very true and very relevant for our times. We just need to look around our environment and we would see the sad reality that there’s are many more who don’t know Jesus.  

Our labor for God must not be limited to our vocation in the church as Preist, Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion, as Catechist, as Lectors/commentators and as members of other church ministries. We must put more flesh in our involvement in our church by going out to those who are hungry, who are physically/emotionally sick. We need to bring Jesus out to the poor of our society for they too need Jesus and surely they need Jesus to guide them.  

Even if we are ordinary parishioners by virtue of our baptism we too are called to share Jesus. A faith that grows is a faith that is shared. Beginning this Advent season and onwards let us allow Jesus to use us as His instrument of healing by helping the poor and the deprived.  

But there are those who follow Jesus based on their own terms and standards. They impose their own rule and not the rule of Jesus they follow Christ based on their own self-rule.  Thus, instead of embracing humility they choose to embrace arrogance. Instead of winning converts and followers they become the main reason why others walk away from the faith.  

A good follower has rock solid faith, is neither self seeking nor arrogant. Always humble and content to silently do his mission for the greater glory of God. Are you this kind of follower? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Sabado Disyembre 3 San Francisco Javier, pari: Mateo 9:35-10, 1. 6-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:35-10, 1. 6-8

Noong panahong iyon, nilibot ni Hesus ang mga bayan at nayon at nagturo sa mga sinagoga. Ipinangaral niya ang Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos, at pinagaling ang mga may sakit, anuman ang kanilang karamdaman. Nang makita niya ang napakaraming tao, nahabag siya sa kanila sapagkat sila’y lito at lupaypay, parang mga tupang walang pastol.  

Kaya’t sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad, “Sagana ang anihin, ngunit kakaunti ang mag-aani. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari ng anihin na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang anihin.” Tinipon ni Hesus ang labindalawang alagad at binigyan ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng masasamang espiritu at magpagaling ng mga may karamdaman.  

Sila’y pinagbilinan ni Hesus: “Hanapon ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga maysakit at buhayin ang mga patay. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga ketongin at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Yamang tumanggap kayo nang walang bayad, magbigay naman kayo nang walang bayad.”

Reflection for December 2 Friday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 9:27-31

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us! When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith. And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this. But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

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Reflection:

What are you willing to do to receive healing from God? Are you willing to humble yourself and kneel before God and ask Him to give you the gift of healing? Healing is a gift that Jesus freely gives to those who have faith. Even if you will not ask for it Jesus will give it to you for as long as you humble yourself and have faith in front of Him. 

In the gospel for this Friday we have two humble blind men with rock-solid faith who cried to the Lord for healing.  Why did they cry when they could have shouted at Jesus to get His attention? They cried because they felt hope, mercy and healing from Jesus. For the two blind men Jesus was their only hope to have the gift of sight. 

Let us also ask Jesus to give us the gift of Healing for nothing is impossible for those who believe and humble themselves before God. Even the impossible is very much possible for as long as we have faith. 

Whatever that you’re going through right now, believe that Jesus will heal you. And believe that He will answer your prayers for nothing is impossible for Jesus. This is best exemplified by the two incredible blind men of deep faith in our gospel.  

How’s your faith in the Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 2 Biyernes sa Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 9:27-31

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:27-31

Noong panahong iyon, pag-alis ni Hesus sa lugar na iyon, sinundan-sundan siya ng dalawang lalaking bulag. Sumisigaw sila na ang wika, “Anak ni David, mahabag kayo sa amin!” Pagpasok ni Hesus sa bahay, lumapit sa kanya ang mga bulag. Tinanong sila ni Hesus, “Naniniwala ba kayo na magagawa ko ito?” “Opo, Panginoon,” sagot nila. 

At hinipo niya ang kanilang mga mata, at sinabi, “Mangyari sa inyo ang ayon sa inyong paniniwala.” At hinipo niya ang kanilang mga mata at sinabi, “Mangyari sa inyo ang ayon sa inyong paniniwala.” At nakakita na sila. Mahigpit na ipinagbilin sa kanila ni Hesus na huwag sasabihin ito kaninuman. Ngunit nang sila’y makaalis, ibinalita nila sa buong lupaing yaon ang ginawa sa kanila ni Hesus.