Sa lungsod ng
Capernaum sa Araw ng Pamamahinga si Jesus ay pumasok sa sinagoga at nagturo.
Namangha ang mga tao sapagkat nagturo siya sa kanila na parang isang may
kapangyarihan, at hindi tulad ng mga eskriba. Bigla namang pumasok sa sinagoga
ang isang inaalihan ng masamang espiritu, at sumigaw: "Ano ang pakialam mo
sa amin, Jesus na taga-Nazaret?
Kilala kita:
Ikaw ang Banal na mula sa Diyos!" Ngunit iniutos ni Jesus sa masamang
espiritu , "Tumahimik ka! Lumabas ka sa kanya!" Pinapangisay ng
masamang espiritu ang tao, at sumisigaw na lumabas. Nanggilalas ang lahat,
kaya't sila'y nagtanungan. "Ano ito? Bagong aral? Nauutusan niya pati ang
masasamang espiritu. At sinunod naman siya!" At mabilis na kumalat sa
buong Galilea ang balita tungkol kay Jesus.
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the
Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from
the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the
heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
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Reflection:
Why was there a need for Jesus to be baptized
considering that he is God the Son? Jesus went through his own baptism as an
act of solidarity with us sinful humanity.
Jesus’ Baptism is an expression of the
Lord’s great desire to be one with us. The Lord could have avoided baptism but
he went through it also as an expression of his immense love for us. Love that
culminated in the Lord’s death on the cross at Calvary.
Having been baptized too and being of age
already we partake of Jesus’ mission to spread the good news of the faith,
that’s why we have to live our faith. We have to bring people to God, we have
to do acts of mercy and compassion and we have to follow and live the life of
the Lord. The Lord’s life of self-sacrifice, life of love and forgiveness and
the like.
By celebrating the Baptism of Jesus today
we don’t only recall and remember Jesus baptism. We are also reminded that we
have our very own baptismal mission which we have to live and fulfill.
Are we able to live and fulfill our own
Baptismal mission? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, si Hesus ay dumating naman sa Jordan mula sa Galilea, at lumapit
kay Juan upang pabinyag. Sinansala siya ni Juan na ang wika, "Ako po ang
dapat binyagan ninyo, at kayo pa ang lumalapit sa akin!" Ngunit tinugon
siya ni Hesus, "Hayaan mo itong mangyari ngayon; sapagkat ito ang
nararapat nating gawin upang matupad ang kalooban ng Diyos."
At
pumayag si Juan. Nang mabinyagan si Hesus, umahon siya sa tubig. Nabuksan ang
langit at nakita niya ang Espiritu ng Diyos, bumababa sa kanya, ang isang
kalapati. At isang tinig mula sa langit ang nagsabi, "Ito ang minamahal
kong Anak na lubos kong kinalulugdan!"
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King
Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the
newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him
homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He
inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you,
Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the
time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and
search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I
too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the
star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped
over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and
on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened
their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And
having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their
country by another way.
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Reflection:
The story is told about an old woman who was living alone in her
house. A neighbor noticed her and she asked the old woman, “Why are you alone?
Don’t you have children? The old woman replied, “I have children however
they have their respective family already but they still visit me every once in
a while.”
She further said: I used to be lonely but I’m okay now because a
relative introduced me to Jesus: Jesus is in my life now. I go to Mass
everyday, I read my bible and I’m all
right: I submit my life to Jesus because Jesus cured my loneliness, depression
and emptiness.
The Magi were in search for Jesus to give Him homage and to offer
Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But come to think of it, was
it the sole purpose why they were in desperate search of the baby Jesus?
There might have been loneliness and emptiness also in their hearts. That is
why they were searching for Jesus for they knew that it was only Jesus who
would cure their hidden loneliness and emptiness.
In our fast moving and technology driven world today wherein
social media connects and drives everyone of us. Many of us are still lonely,
depressed and empty deep inside us. Up to this time we are longing for that something that would inwardly cure our
loneliness and emptiness. This something that we are longing for is none other
than Jesus. We also have to diligently search for Jesus as the Magi diligently
searched for the baby Jesus.
Do you search for the Lord?
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to
the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They
have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers, “Do
whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish
ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water
that had become wine, without knowing where it came from — although the servers
who had drawn the water knew —, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said
to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk
freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did
this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his
glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
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Reflection:
How influential is your mother to you? Do
you always listen to her whenever she speaks to you? Influence is
something that Mary has over her son Jesus not only that she exercised
influence over Jesus. She also has the listening ear of Jesus.
The backdrop of Jesus’ first miracle is
the wedding at Cana that run out of wine. The wedding feast could have already
been over in that instance but Mary was there to save the day. She went to
Jesus for the reason that she knows that she exercised influence over her son.
Mary also knows that she has the listening ear of Jesus.
What does Mary teach us? She teaches us
that we always have to go to Jesus when we have issues in our life. We have to
let Jesus take over the driver seat not us taking over it, we have to be
patient and not be demanding toward Jesus.
This simply means that we have to let
Jesus answer our prayers on His own time and terms. Not us dictating the time
and terms of our prayers before our Lord. Mary is also silently teaching us
about humility, patience and acceptance of the will of God for our life. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen
the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came
from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up
out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a
dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my
beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
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Reflection:
What does baptism signify? It signifies
the beginning of our faith life journey with Jesus. It also signifies our
humility and our willingness to become member of the church that Jesus founded
through Peter.
When we were brought to church by our
parents for Baptism our parents did this from their own freewill. Nobody told
them to bring that newly born child to church so that it could be baptized.
They did this because they want their child to become a member of the church
and a certified follower of Jesus.
Unfortunately to many parents this desire
for their child to become a member of the church and a follower of Jesus begins
and ends with the child’s baptism. They fail to recognize that after their
child’s baptism comes the responsibility to bring the child to church for Holy
Mass every Sunday.
When the child is at the right age already
it is also the responsibility of the parents to teach the growing child about
the teachings of the catholic faith. And it is also the responsibility of the
parents to open their bible to the growing child so that the child could be
familiar with the teachings of God.
So what happens to the child? He/she grows
without any awareness about his/her responsibilities as a baptized catholic.
He/she becomes a follower of this world than a follower of Jesus and the church
that He founded. Would you want your child to become a follower of this world
than become a follower of Jesus? Of course not!
The Baptism of the Lord is a timely
reminder for all parents that their faith obligation to their child doesn’t end
with his/her baptism. Baptism is only the beginning after baptism the parents
are tasked to form this child about the importance of God, Jesus, the Holy
Spirit and the church in their faith life. So that this child would
eventually become a good son or a good daughter and a productive citizen of
this world and fruitful follower of Jesus.
How are you raising your child after
his/her baptism or how did your raise your children after they were baptized? -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinasabi ni Juan Bautista sa kanyang pangangaral: “Darating na
kasunod ko ang isang makapangyarihan kaysa sa akin: ni hindi ako karapat-dapat
magkalag ng tali ng kanyang mga panyapak. Binibinyagan ko kayo sa tubig, ngunit
bibinyagan niya kayo sa Espiritu Santo.”
Hindi
nagluwat, dumating si Hesus mula sa Nazaret, Galilea, at siya’y bininyagan ni
Juan sa Ilog-Jordan. Pagkaahung-pagkaahon ni Hesus sa tubig ay nakita niyang
nabuksan ang kalangitan, at bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu na gaya ng isang
kalapati. At isang tinig ang nagmula sa langit: “Ikaw ang minamahal kong Anak,
lubos kitang kinalulugdan.”
Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he
found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from
Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the
prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him, "Can
anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and
see." 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 the sky opened and the angels of
God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
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Reflection:
Do you believe that Jesus knows everything
about you? Yes, Jesus knows everything about you! Your thoughts, your actions,
your sinful past and your future with Him if you would choose to journey with
Him for your future.
Jesus in the gospel tells Nathanael that
he knows about him even if they had just met for the first time. This is how
powerful Jesus is, He is all knowing but how come very few are following Him?
This is for the reason that only a few wants to work under His vineyard.
What a paradox of life; quite a few wants
to volunteer their time for the advancement of the teachings of Jesus. For what
reason? For the reason that we will not earn a windfall of money under Jesus?
But money is temporary, in fact it easily slips from our hands.
However, if we would choose to do work for
Jesus we are already assured of life beyond this world. We are assured of His
lifetime guidance, we are assured that Jesus will walk with us even in the most
difficult times. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Kinabukasan,
minabuti ni Jesus na pumunta sa Galilea. Nakita niya si Felipe, at sinabi rito,
"Sumunod ka sa akin." (Si Felipe'y taga-Betsaida, tulad nina Andres
at Pedro.) Hinanap ni Felipe si Natanael, at sinabi rito, "Natagpuan namin
si Jesus na taga-Nazaret, ang anak ni Jose. Siya ang tinutukoy ni Moises sa
kanyang sinulat sa Kautusan, at gayon din ng mga propeta."
"May
magmumula bang mabuti sa Nazaret?" tanong ni Natanael. Sumagot si Falipe,
"Halika't tingnan mo." Nang malapit na si Natanael ay sinabi ni
Jesus. "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 Falipe, nakita na
kita 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, "Nanampalataya ka ba dahil sa sinabi ko sa iyong nakita kita sa
ilalim ng puno ng igos? Makakikita ka ng bagay ng 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.!"
John was standing with two of his
disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of
God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus
turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking
for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which
translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them,
"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew,
the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed
Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and
told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon
the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
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Reflection:
Would you respond to Jesus if He calls you?
The call of Jesus comes in so many ways. He would indirectly call you using a
friend, a written commentary, an event in your life and there are many more
ways when the Lord calls.
We have to respond when Jesus calls us, we
must not ignore His call. What is the centerpiece of Jesus call? It’s always to
walk away from sinfulness. Therefore, when God calls us it’s an offer to take
away our problems, problems that we create for ourselves brought about by our
sinfulness.
Let us respond to this call of Jesus and
we would see that little by little there will be less sin related problems in
our life. Problems that we create for ourselves because we refuse to hear the
call of Jesus.
What else would happen when we respond to
Jesus call? We will know more about Jesus and His life. There would be
strengthening of our faith and we will have a sturdy wall to lean on whenever
we pass through the many challenges of life.
In our gospel when Andrew and his
companion heard John said: “Behold the Lamb of God.” The phrase uttered by John
struck a chord in them that they decided to follow Jesus. As they were
following they asked Him: Where are you staying?” And Jesus gave them a very
meaningful response by saying: “Come and you will see.” (John 1:39)
This is also what Jesus is telling us,
come because you will discover more of me. Come because I am here to help you
carry whatever burdens that you have. Come for I will walk with you from now
on. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward
him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He
is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came
baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying, “I saw the
Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. I did not know
him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you
see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the
Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
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Reflection:
When John was asked by the priest and
Levites to confirm if he is the messiah he instead said: “I am not the messiah”
(John 1:20). It never came to the thought of John to assume and pretend that he
was the messiah. From the very start John knew his role, he knew that he was
just the precursor. That’s why he said: “I must decrease and He must increase”
(John 3:30).
Let us take a closer look at the life of
John, he lived a simple life, he shunned publicity, he was humble, he never
took credit for the things that was attributed to him. He instead always
pointed to Jesus.
John is the epitome of a self-assured
humble man who is content to do the role that was given to him by God. Fame,
power even fortune was within his reach but he was never tempted to grab it.
John is so unlike with many of us who will always take hold of every
opportunity to gain credit.
By virtue of our baptism each and everyone
of us especially those who know something about our faith are called by God to
be like John. To let God shine at all times, and never be tempted to upend God
for our own personal gains.
We must not use God for us to become
popular and powerful. For true service for God and His people are not about
popularity or about power. True service for God happens when we silently and
humbly do our task. And we do it for the greater glory of God and not for our
own glory!
John chose humility and simplicity; he
chose to highlight Jesus more than himself. Let us also choose humility
and simplicity and let us also bring to light Jesus in our lives. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
This is the testimony of John. When the
Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted “I am not the Christ.” So they
asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah? And he said, “I am not. “Are you
the Prophet? He answered, No. So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give
an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the
desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said. Some
Pharisees were also sent. They asked him “Why then do you baptize if you are
not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet? John answered them “I baptize with
water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize the one who is
coming after me whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. This happened in
Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
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Reflection:
How would we start this New Year as
followers of the Lord?
Let us start the year right by emulating
the humility of John; he purposely decreased as Jesus increased. John was not
publicity hungry and he shunned honor even if he richly deserved it. John
instead deflected the honor being given to him in favor of Jesus.
A glass that is full of water will not
anymore be able to contain the water that is being poured into it. But the
glass that is half-full will still be able to accommodate water.
This is basically the same with those who
are so full of themselves they will not anymore grow in faith. For the simple
reason that they think that they already know everything but those who are
humble will still grow in faith. This is for the reason that they are like the
half-full glass that yearns for more water.
If we want to grow in faith; we must at
all times be humble because humility is the password for us to further grow in
faith. And this great virtue of humility was lived by John in favor of Jesus. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
