Reflection for Sunday February 19, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. 

Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

Are we capable of not keeping hatred in our heart? For example, when somebody hurts us, are we capable of not taking revenge? When someone strikes us on the right cheek could we turn the other side as well? Are we capable of not refusing somebody who wants to borrow from us? Can we love our enemy and can we still pray for those who’ve been persecuting and hurting us?

Jesus in the gospel gives us teachings that are very difficult for many of us to follow. We may wonder, why these teachings are very hard for us to follow? This is so for the reason that we are humans and as such we respond because this is the normal human instinct to respond accordingly to what is done to us. 

But if we respond to an evil act done to us we only permit the cycle of evil to continue until the same cycle of evil destroys us. However, if we don’t respond to an evil act we immediately kill the evil act and we eventually convert the person who did us evil.

We also normally compartmentalize our fellowmen. For example we label them as those we hate and those we do not hate. Those we love and those we do not love, those who are good to us and those who are not good to us. Therefore, we respond to them according to what they give us.

Jesus invites us today to discard our mindset of compartmentalization and retaliation. He invites us to treat everyone equally regardless if this and that person is good or not good to us. He invites us to throw away our mindset of revenge. And finally the Lord invites us all to be humble, to be loving and forgiving. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 19, Ikapitong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:38-48

 

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:38-48

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Narinig ninyo na sinabi, ‘Mata sa mata at ngipin sa ngipin.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: huwag ninyong labanan ang masamang tao. Kung may sumampal sa iyo sa kanang pisngi, iharap mo pa sa kanya ang kabila.

Kung ipagsakdal ka ninuman upang makuha ang iyong baro, ibigay mo sa kanya pati ang iyong balabal. Kung sapilitang ipapasan sa iyo ng manlulupig ang kanyang dala nang isang kilometro, pasanin mo ito nang dalawang kilometro. Magbigay ka sa naghihingi sa iyo, at huwag mong pahindian ang nanghihiram sa iyo.

“Narinig na ninyong sinabi, ‘Ibigin mo ang iyong kaibigan at kapootan mo ang iyong kaaway.’ Ngunit ito naman sabi ko: ibigin ninyo ang mga umuusig sa inyo, upang kayo’y maging tunay na anak ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Sapagkat pinasisikat niya ang araw sa masasama at sa mabubuti, at pinapapatak niya ang ulan sa mga banal at sa mga makasalanan.

Kung ang mga umiibig sa inyo ang siya lamang ninyo iibigin, ano pang gantimpala ang inyong hihintayin? Hindi ba’t ginagawa rin ito ng mga publikano? At kung ang binabati lamang ninyo’y ang inyong mga kapatid, ano ang nagawa ninyong higit kaysa iba? Ginagawa rin iyon ng mga Hentil! Kaya, dapat kayong maging ganap, gaya ng inyong Amang nasa Langit.”

Reflection for February 18, Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:2-13

Gospel: Mark 9:2-13

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. Then they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He told them, "Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him."

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Reflection:

Do you want to be in heaven with the Lord when your journey in this world is already over? 

Jesus showed to the three apostles what heaven was like; He gave them a fleeting taste of heaven. But then, He said not yet; let us go down first and continue my mission of salvation. By doing so He would go through severe hardship, pain and betrayal. But at the end of these all Jesus rose up triumphantly to defeat the wickedness of evil.     

Before we achieve success, we must toil in the sun and sacrifice. Before we go to heaven, we have to do something for the Lord and His church. And this will surely entail sacrifice even hardship. 

Why? Because that’s how it is, there are no shortcuts to triumph. We must go through the eye of the needle so to speak to fully enjoy the sweetness of our victory and success. Free riders and freeloaders have no place in the mission for Christ. 

We have to sacrifice if we want to be with the Lord in heaven someday. We have to sweat it out if we want to taste success in this world. There are no shortcuts.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 18, Sabado, ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:2-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:2-13

Noong panahong iyon, umakyat si Hesus sa isang mataas na bundok. Wala siyang isinama kundi sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan. Samantalang sila’y naroon, nakita nilang nagbagong-anyo si Hesus, nagningning ang kanyang kasuutan na naging puting-puti, anupat walang sinumang makapagpapaputi nang gayun.  

At nakita ng tatlong alagad si Moises at si Elias, na nakikipag-usap kay Hesus. Sinabi ni Pedro kay Hesus, “Guro, mabuti pa’y dumito na tayo. Gagawa po kami ng tatlong kubol: isa sa inyo, isa kay Moises at isa kay Elias.” Hindi nalalaman ni Pedro ang kanyang sinasabi sapagkat masyado ang takot niya at ng kanyang mga kasama.  

At nililiman sila ng isang alapaap at mula rito’y may tinig na nagsabi, “Ito ang minamahal kong Anak. Pakinggan ninyo siya!” Pagdaka, tumingin ang mga alagad sa paligid nila at nakitang wala na silang kasama roon kundi si Hesus. Habang bumababa sila sa bundok ay mahigpit na itinagubilin sa kanila ni Hesus: “Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman ang inyong nakita hangga’t hindi muling nabubuhay ang Anak ng Tao.”  

Sinunod nila ang tagubiling ito, ngunit sila-sila’y nagtanungan kung ano ang kahulugan ng sinabi niyang muling pagkabuhay. At tinanong nila si Hesus, “Bakit po sinasabi ng mga eskriba na dapat munang pumarito si Elias?” Tumugon siya, “Paririto nga si Elias upang ihanda ang lahat ng bagay. 

Kung gayo’y bakit sinasabi ng Kasulatan na ang Anak ng Tao’y hahamakin at magtitiis ng maraming hirap? Sinasabi ko sa inyo na pumarito na si Elias, at ginawa sa kanya ng mga tao ang gusto nila, ayon sa sinasabi ng Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya.”

Si Jesus at ang kanyang Makapangyarihang mga Pananalita - 4

 

Jesus’ Powerful and Life-Changing Words - 4

 

Reflection for February 17, Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:34-9:1

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.  

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”  

He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a middle aged man who was newly retired from politics. When he was still active he amassed a lot of dubious wealth. Having a feeling of financial security already, he said to himself now I can enjoy all of my money. 

 However, in spite of his wealth he didn’t have peace of mind he was always being hounded by the questionable deals that he made while he was still in power. Then he had a heart attack and he died immediately without enjoying his stolen wealth. 

When he was about to enter the pearly gates, Saint Peter refused him entry and told him that he’s not welcome because of the things that he did when he was still alive. 

What will it profit us if we gain the riches of this world if we will not be able to gain entry in heaven? What will it profit us if we will continue to steal dubious money if we will not have peace of mind? 

Unfortunately, this is the mentality of a lot of us; we are so short-sighted that we focus on the here and now even if it’s sinful. We continuously neglect to do good, we purposely shut God out of our system to enjoy worldly life. 

All of us are temporary travellers passing through this world. In God’s time we will leave this world. Where would we be by then?  Would we be in heaven with Jesus or in the other side? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 17, Biyernes, ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:34-9:1

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:34-9:1

Noong panahong iyon, pinalapit ni Hesus ang mga tao, pati ang kanyang mga alagad, at sinabi, “Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa akin. Ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito; ngunit ang mag-alay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa akin at sa Mabuting Balita ay siyang magkakamit niyon. 

Ano nga ang mapapala ng isang tao, makamtan man niya ang buong daigdig kung ang katumbas naman nito’y ang kanyang buhay? Ano ang maibabayad ng tao para mabalik sa kanya ang kanyang buhay? Kapag ang sinuman ay nahiyang kumilala sa akin at sa aking mga salita sa harapan ng lahing ito na makasalanan at hindi tapat sa Diyos, ikahihiya rin siya ng Anak ng Tao, pagparito niya na taglay ang dakilang kapangyarihan ng kanyang Ama, at kasama ang mga banal na anghel.”  

Sabi pa ni Hesus sa kanila, “Tandaan ninyo: may ilan sa inyo rito na hindi mamamatay hangga’t di nila nakikitang naghahari ang Diyos nang may buong kapangyarihan.”

Reflection for February 16, Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:27-33

Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.  

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

Have you suffered for someone you love? 

Suffering is part and parcel of loving, there’s no real love without suffering for that love. For so long as you love you should expect some big and little sufferings along the way. Why? Because suffering perfects and purifies love, love without suffering is not love it’s simply lust or a shallow object of attraction.  

For example, a man and a woman decided to marry. So, after their marriage they move to a place to be together.  After a few months the man found out that his partner is sick of cancer so he decided to leave her.  It was not real love that attracted the man to the woman. It was simply lust for he was not willing to suffer for his beloved.  

Jesus in the gospel gives us the best example of perfect love when He said that the Son of man must suffer greatly. To whom did Jesus suffer? For us, He suffered out of His great love for us; He could have avoided going thru intense suffering for He was God too. But He chose to tread the road of suffering so that we can be redeemed from our sinfulness.  

Would you be willing to suffer for someone you love? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 16, Huwebes, ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:27-33

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:27-33

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad, ay nagtungo sa mga nayon ng Cesarea, sakop ni Filipo. Samantalang sila’y naglalakbay, tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad, “Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao?” Sumagot sila, “Ang sabi ng ilan ay si Juan Bautista kayo; sabi naman ng iba, si Elias kayo; at may nagsasabi pang isa kayo sa mga propeta.” “Kayo naman – ano ang sabi ninyo? Sino ako?” tanong niya. “Kayo ang Kristo,” tugon ni Pedro. “Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman kung sino ako,” mahigpit na utos niya sa kanila.

Mula noon, ipinaalam na ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad na ang Anak ng Tao’y dapat magbata ng maraming hirap. Siya’y itatakwil ng matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga eskriba at ipapapatay. Ngunit sa ikatlong araw, muli siyang mabubuhay. Maliwanag na sinabi niya ito sa kanila. Kaya’t niyaya siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinimulang pagsabihan. Ngunit humarap si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad at pinagwikaan si Pedro: “Lumayo ka, Satanas! Ang iniisip mo’y hindi sa Diyos Kundi sa tao.”

Reflection for February 15, Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:22-26

Gospel: Mark 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?”  

Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who was a come and go Catholic who suddenly decided to leave the church in favor for another Christian denomination. When she was asked why she decided to leave, she said: “The protestant faith opened my eyes to the real Christian church.”  

Perhaps we know of Catholics who are not well versed about the basic teachings of the church. They are also vulnerable to abandon the faith. What should we do? We must be the vehicle for their enlightenment about the truths of the catholic faith.  

Let us open their eyes and let them know that we don’t worship the saints. Let us open their eyes and let them know that the Catholic church was founded by Jesus through Peter. Let us open their eyes and let them know that the Holy Bible is the book of the church that we must always read.  

There are many more truths about the church that our fellow Catholics do not know yet. Let us allow ourselves to be Jesus’ vehicle so that their eyes of faith will be opened. So that they will not anymore be blinded to decide to leave the church which Jesus founded through Peter. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 15 Miyerkules, ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:22-26

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:22-26

Noong panahong iyon, dumating sina Hesus at ang mga alagad sa Betsaida. Dinala kay Jesus ng ilang tao ang isang bulag at ipinamanhik na hipuin ito. Inakay niya ito sa labas ng bayan, niluran sa mga mata saka ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay. "May nakikita ka na bang anuman?" tanong niya.  

Tumingin ang lalaki at ang wika, "Nakakakita po ako ng mga taong lumalakad, ngunit sila'y parang punongkahoy." Muling hinipo ni Jesus ang mga mata ng bulag; ito'y tuminging mabuti. Nanumbalik ang kanyang paningin at malinaw na niyang nakita ang lahat. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Umuwi ka na. Huwag ka nang dumaan sa bayan."

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Words of Wisdom - 6