Reflection for July 18, Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “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 in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 

And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was being bothered by his many sins, he would think of it every now and then and it would always give him guilt of conscience. He had no peace of mind; a friend noticed his uneasy behavior so he was asked what was bothering him. After telling his friend what was bothering him, he was advised to repent from all of his sins through the Sacrament of Confession. So he did and he finally had peace of mind. 

The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida were reprimanded by Jesus for they refused to repent from their evil ways. Why do we refuse to repent and why do we love to sin? The reason perhaps is we love Satan more than Jesus, we love this world more than we love to be eventually in heaven with Jesus. Otherwise if we love Jesus we would repent and this repentance will reach its apex once we submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. 

This is who many of us are, we love to sin yet we don’t want to be in hell. But what we don’t know is as we continue to sin we also slowly walk towards hell. Are Satan and hell real? Of course,they are! Observe those who continue to sin or who continue to live sinful lives. They live without peace. 

They may be rich and powerful but the reality is they have no peace of mind often times their family also is in turmoil. And the reason for this is their refusal to walk away from sin. Therefore we will be with the evil one and we will feel hell here and now if we will not walk away from sin. 

Jesus will surely want us all to repent and to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. This is for the reason that Jesus wants us to be cleansed from all of our sins that have been enslaving us for so long. Nevertheless, Jesus also gave us the freedom of choice to do what we want to do in this world.  

The choice is ours to make, should we continue to live in the darkness of sin that has been making life so miserable for us? Or we embrace the guiding light of Jesus through HIS offer of repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 18, Martes ng Ika-15 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 11:20-24

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:20-24

Noong panahong iyon, sinumbatan ni Jesus ang mga bayang ginawan niya ng maraming kababalaghan sapagkat hindi sila nagsisi't tumalikod sa kanilang mga kasalanan. "Kawawa ka, Corazin! Kawawa ka Betsaida!Sapagkat kung sa Tiro at Sidon ginawa ang mga kababalaghang ginawa sa inyo, malaon na sanang nagdaramit ng sako at nauupo sa abo ang mga tagaroon upang ipakilalang sila'y nagsisisi.  

Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang sasapitin ninyo kaysa sasapitin ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, ibig mong maging mataas kaysa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades! 

Sapagkat kung sa Sodoma ginawa ang kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, sana'y nananatili pa ito hanggang ngayon. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa inyo kaysa dinanas ng Sodoma."

Reflection for July 17, Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:34 -11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34—11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

There’s a saying that goes, “No pain no gain”. But how could there be gain in pain? Why not gain without pain? When we gain something without pain what we gain can easily fly away and it can easily be forgotten. But when we gain something that is accompanied with pain, sweat and sacrifice we will treasure it and properly take care of it. 

Would you be able to know Jesus more deeply without going through life’s many pains? No, you will not gain Jesus and you will not have an up close and personal encounter with Him if you would not go through life’s many pains. For there’s no easy way going to Jesus. 

 you have to pass through the many painful obstacles of life in order to find Jesus. You may even have to give up every inch of your worldliness in order to find Jesus. Therefore self-sacrifice is an important ingredient in finding and knowing Jesus. 

Would you be willing to go through pains and sufferings so that you could experience an encounter with Jesus? If you really desire an encounter with Jesus in your life you have to embrace suffering/s and pains. 

But worldly life has already conditioned us to veer away as much as we could from our crosses and pains. No small wonder that many if not majority has not yet found Jesus in their lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 17, Lunes ng Ika-15 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:34 – 11:1

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:34 – 11:1 

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Huwag ninyong isiping naparito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa; naparito ako upang magdala ng tabak, hindi kapayapaan. Sapagkat naparito ako upang papaglabanin ang anak na lalaki at ang kanyang ama, ang anak na babae at ang kanyang ina, ang manugang na babae at ang kanyang biyenang babae. at ang kaaway ng isang tao'y ang kanya na ring kasambahay.  

"Ang umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. At ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki o babae nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan nang kanyang krus at sumusunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin ay magkakamit nito."   

"Ang tumatanggap sa inyo ay tumatanggap sa akin, at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay tumatanggap sa nagsugo sa akin. Ang tumatanggap sa isang propeta dahil sa siya'y propeta ay tatanggap ng gantimpala ukol sa propeta. At ang tumatanggap sa isang taong matuwid dahil sa siya'y matuwid ay tatanggap ng gantimpalang nauukol sa taong matuwid. 

At sinumang magbigay ng kahit isang basong tubig na malamig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ito'y alagad ko-- tinitiyak kong tatanggap siya ng gantimpala." Matapos tagubilinan ang labingdalawang alagad, umalis si Jesus upang magturo at mangaral sa mga bayang malapit doon.

Alam Mo ba ang mga Benepisyo ng Pagkain ng Okra?/Do You Know the Health Benefits Of eating Lady Finger (Okra)?

 

Reflection for Sunday July 16, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

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Reflection:

Do you give time to listen to Jesus?

Whenever Jesus speaks everyone listens because whatever Jesus talks about is always wisdom filled. Who would not want to listen to someone who imparts wisdom? We all want to listen to a person whose words are full of wisdom. 

But how could we listen to Jesus in this smart phone and social media dominated times? First, is we listen to HIM by reading and reflecting on HIS life and teachings in the bible. Many of us have no more time to open the bible even for a brief moment. Yet we have time for other worldly things that often times bring no value to our life.

Second is we listen to Jesus through our solemn presence at Holy Mass. Because of our many self-created distractions there are times that it’s so hard to allocate time to this Holy and Sacred Celebration. Nevertheless, if we really desire to give time for this holy and sacred celebration we would be able to do it and in return receive unfathomable blessings from it.

Third is we go to the Adoration Chapel to stay there to be with Jesus and allow Him to speak to us. If we can spend time daily using our smart phones,  why can’t we give time for the Lord? There’s an enormous blessings that awaits us whenever we give time to the Lord. 

If only we would care to give time to the Lord we would be like the seed that fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Let us spend more time with Jesus, let us listen more to Him and let us be prepared for the spiritual blessings that will come our way. 

Do you give time for the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Linggo Hulyo 16, Ika – 15 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 13:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 13:1-9

Noon ding araw na iyon, si Hesus ay lumabas ng bahay at naupo sa tabi ng lawa. Pinagkalipumpunan siya ng makapal na tao, kaya sumakay siya sa isang bangka at doon naupo. Nasa dalampasigan naman ang mga tao. At nagturo siya ng maraming bagay sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga.  

“May isang magsasakang lumabas upang maghasik. Sa kanyang paghahasik ay may binhing nalaglag sa tabi ng daan. Dumating ang mga ibon at tinuka ang mga iyon. May binhi namang nalaglag sa kabatuhan. Sapagkat manipis lang ang lupa roon, sumibol agad ang binhing iyon, ngunit nang mapabilad sa matinding sikat ng araw ay natuyo, palibhasa’y walang gaanong ugat.  

May binhi namang nalaglag sa dawagan; lumago ang mga dawag at ininis ang mga iyon. Ngunit ang binhing nalaglag sa mabuting lupa ay nag-uhay: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu, at may tigtatatlumpung butil ang bawat uhay. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!”

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Repleksyon:

Palagi po ba tayo naglalaan ng oras para makinig kay Jesus?

Dapat tayo po ay nakikinig kay Jesus dahil lahat ng kanyang mga sinasabi ay puno ng mga aral na nagbibigay sa atin ng liwanag at kapanatagan.  

Kung tayo lamang po ay mag lalaan ng oras para makinig sa Panginoon. Tayo ay magiging katulad ng binhing nalaglag sa mabuting lupa na nag-uhay: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu, at may tigtatatlumpung butil ang bawat uhay. 

Pag maglaaan po tayo ng oras para kay Jesus tayo ay makakatangap ng maraming biyaya mula sa kanya at magkakaroon ng tamang dereksyon ang ating mga buhay. 

Reflection for Saturday July 15, Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M): Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore do not be afraid of them. 

Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

What is the mark of a true and faithful follower of Jesus? It’s the mark of obedience, a true follower will obey the command of Jesus to share His good news. But we  may say that sometimes it’s hard to share Jesus because the environment is not conducive for sharing Jesus. If this is the case when are we going to share Jesus? 

If we wait for the right environment to share Jesus that right environment may not come at all.  As the apostles were commissioned by Jesus to share the gospel we too are tasked to do the same. Let us not wait for the right environment to share Jesus because Jesus Himself will guide us going to that environment which is safe and ripe for evangelization. 

No harm will fall upon us if we share Jesus because we are sharing the good news of humanity’s salvation. If we share Jesus we would be able to change lives and we will be able to give hope which many badly needs today. 

The apostles treated with sacredness their commissioning from Jesus and as a result of it they became very successful in their mission. How about us? When are we going to share Jesus? Would we still wait for the right time and environment? 

Why not share Jesus now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Sabado Hulyo 15, San Buenaventura, Obispo at pantas ng Simbahan (Paggunita): Mateo 10:24-33

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:24-33

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Walang alagad na higit kaysa kanyang guro, at walang aliping higit sa kanyang panginoon. Masiyahan ang alagad na matulad sa kanyang guro, at ang alipin na matulad sa kanyang panginoon. Kung ang puno ng sambahayan ay tinawag nilang Beelzebul, lalo na nilang aalimurahin ang kanyang mga kasambahay!"   

"Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa kanila. Walang natatago na di malalantad, o nalilihim na di mabubunyag. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim, ulitin ninyo sa liwanag; at ang ibinulong sa inyo ay inyong ipagsigawan. Huwag ninyong katakutan ang pumapatay ng katawan ngunit hindi nakapapatay ng kaluluwa.   

Sa halip, ang katakutan ninyo'y ang nakapapatay ng kaluluwa at katawan sa impyerno. Hindi ba ipinagbibili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera? Gayunman, Kahit isa sa kanila'y hindi nahuhulog sa lupa kung hindi kalooban ng inyong Ama. Maging ang buhok ninyo'y bilang na lahat. Kaya, huwag kayong matakot; higit kayong mahalaga kaysa libu-libong maya."   

"Ang sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit. Ngunit ang magtatwa sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay itatatwa ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa Langit."

 

 

Do You Know the Health Benefits of Eating Water Spinach (Kangkong)?/Alam mo ba ang mga Benepisyo ng pagkain ng Kangkong?

 

Reflection for July 14, Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

(Jesus said to the twelve Apostles) “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. 

You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

How far would we go for our love for Jesus? Would we be willing to give our life so that HIS teachings would continue to live and spread in the hearts of our fellowmen? 

Jesus needs us today more than any other time because today we see the world being slowly enveloped by the culture of secularization. What are we going to do about this tilting shift toward secularization? Are we just going to stand idly, do nothing and be indifferent to the mission of Jesus? 

If we do nothing because we are afraid to embrace sacrifice and persecution, what will happen to this world? This world will eventually be ruled and populated by people who are not anymore worshippers of God. 

Just look and observe, abortion is prevalent even legal in many countries same as with divorce. Why are these incidents happening now? Because many are afraid to give their life in the service of Jesus many of us now have the mindset of apathy (I am only concerned with my family and my own welfare). 

Our indifference towards the mission of Jesus contributes to the degeneration of the value formation of the people of this world. We therefore must wake up and do our part (No matter how small) to continue to spread the values and teachings of Jesus in this world. We do this not for our own sake anymore we do this for the sake of the future generation which now belongs to our children. 

Just imagine children growing up with a scant idea of who Jesus is? What would happen to them when they grow up and have their own family? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Hulyo 14, Biyernes ng Ika-14 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:16-23

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:16-23

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Ngayon, sinusugo ko kayo na parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong gubat. Maging matalino kayo, gaya ng mga ahas, at matapat, gaya ng mga kalapati. Mag-ingat kayo, sapagkat may mga taong magkakanulo sa inyo sa mga hukuman; at hahagupitin nila kayo sa mga sinagoga.  

Dahil sa akin, ihaharap kayo sa mga gobernador at mga hari, at magpapatotoo kayo sa harapan nila at ng mga Hentil. Kapag nililitis na kayo, huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa sasabihin ninyo o kung paano ninyo sasabihin. Pagdating ng oras, ito'y ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Sapagkat hindi kayo ang magsasalita kundi ang Espiritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan ninyo.  

"Ipagkakanulo ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang kapatid upang ipapatay; gayon din ang gagawin ng ama sa kanyang anak. Lalabanan ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang, at ipapapatay. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin; ngunit ang manatiling tapat hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas. Kapag inuusig nila kayo sa isang bayan, tumakas kayo sa kasunod. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi pa ninyo napupuntahan ang lahat ng bayan ng Israel ay darating na ang Anak ng Tao."

Reflection for July 13, Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.   

Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace.   

If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” 

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Reflection:

The story is told about a righteous man who was thinking about the kingdom of God, he was asking himself, when will I feel the kingdom of God? Then, suddenly he had a heart attack and he died after which his soul was ushered by an angel into heaven to be with Jesus. 

The kingdom of God comes to us through the many avenues of life and one of these avenues is though our death. Are we already prepared for death? Many if not all of us would say, not yet for we still have our many preoccupations in life. 

We are so busy with many earthly things but have we been busy with the heavenly things, with the things for God? The things which will bring us to close friendship with Jesus; such as doing good toward others? 

The instruction of Jesus for the apostles is HIS marching order for us as well. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. In other words Jesus is telling us to make a difference in the lives of others most especially the poor. Let us not be selfish, let us rather be sensitive to their needs and we help them for in doing so we bring ourselves closer to the Lord. 

Would we gain financial windfall for doing Jesus mission in this world? No we will not but let us not be afraid to follow the instruction of Jesus. Because when we follow we are already preparing our eternal dwelling in heaven someday. 

What would we gain lf we have all the wealth in this world if we would be hellbound someday?  And if we don’t have God in our heart?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Hulyo 13, Huwebes ng Ika-14 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:7-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga may sakit 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. 

Huwag kayong magdala ng salapi -- maging ginto, pilak, o tanso -- sa inyong mga lukbutan. Huwag din kayong magdala ng supot sa inyong paglalakbay, ni bihisan, pampalit na panyapak, o tungkod; sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatan sa kanyang ikabubuhay. 

"At saanmang bayan o nayon kayo dumating, humanap kayo ng taong karapat-dapat pakituluyan, at manatili kayo roon habang kayo'y nasa lugar na iyon. Pagpasok ninyo sa bahay, sabihin ninyo, 'Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!' Kung karapat-dapat ang mga tao sa bahay na iyon, panatilihin ninyo sa kanila ang inyong bati. 

Ngunit kung hindi, bawiin ninyo ito. At kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa isang tahanan o bayan, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok ng inyong mga paa. Sinasabi ko sa inyo na sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma at taga-Gomorra."