Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad ng kayamanang nakabaon sa isang bukid. Nahukay ito ng isang tao at tinabunan uli. Sa laki ng tuwa, siya'y humayo at ipinagbili ang lahat ng ari-arian niya at binili ang bukid na iyon.
"Gayon din naman, ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang mangangalakal, na naghahanap ng isang mamahaling perlas. Nang makakita ng isang perlas na napakahalaga, siya'y humayo at ipinagbili ang lahat ng kanyang ari-arian at binili iyon."
"Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad din ng isang malaking lambat na inihahagis sa dagat at nakahuli ng sari-saring isda. Nang mapuno ay hinila ito sa pampang. At naupo ang mga tao upang pagbukod-bukurin ang mga isda: tinipon nila sa mga sisidlan ang mabubuti, ngunit itinapon ang mga walang kwenta.
Gayon din ang mangyayari sa katapusan ng daigdig. Darating ang mga anghel at ihihiwalay ang mga makasalanan sa mga banal, at ihahagis ang mga makasalanan sa maningas na pugon. Doo'y mananangis sila at magngangalit ang kanilang ngipin."
"Nauunawaan na ba ninyo ang lahat ng ito?" tanong ni Jesus. "Opo," sagot nila. At sinabi niya sa kanila, "Kaya nga, ang bawat eskriba na kumikilala sa paghahari ng Diyos ay tulad ng isang puno ng sambahayan na kumukuha ng mga bagay na bago at luma sa kanyang taguan."
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and
Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha
heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha
said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask
of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha
said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus
told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if
he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?” She said to him,
“Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the
one who is coming into the world.
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Reflection:
Who is Jesus to you? Is He your best
friend that you always go to whenever you are disturb by the many worries of
this world? Jesus is the best friend of Martha and Mary they have that close
interaction with Him.
When Jesus was going to their house
to comfort them about the death of their brother Lazarus. Martha went to meet
Jesus while He was still on His way to their house. Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:21).
If Jesus was an ordinary friend
Martha would not have bothered to meet Jesus, she would simply wait for Jesus
to arrive in their house. But Jesus was their close friend, thus Marta met Him
while He was on His way to their house.
How could we have a close friendship with
Jesus? We have to become prayerful. We have to ask Jesus to increase our faith.
We have to attend Holy Mass as frequent as we can and we have to give time to
read the bible about the life of Jesus.
The best thing that could ever happen to our
life is not to have the riches of this world. For it will fade away and we will
leave it someday. The best thing that could ever happen to us is to have the
friendship of Jesus. For He will always be there for us forever. This is the
best thing that could ever happen to us in this world.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the
parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word
of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one
who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and
lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of
the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who
hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the
word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty
or thirtyfold.”
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Reflection:
Do you allow the words of Jesus to
transform you? For example, you attend Holy Mass or you read the bible after
doing it what happens to you? Do you allow these sacred experiences to slowly
transform you to become a better follower of the Lord? Or nothing happens
for it is just a passing experience that you did not treasure.
When you encounter the words of Jesus you
must always allow it to create a transformation within you. It doesn’t matter
how slow the transformation what is important is you are being transformed to
become a better and productive followers of Jesus.
God would always want to connect Himself
with us yet it’s us who creates distance from God. We don’t respond to God’s
desire to connect because we fear that God would restrict our movement and
behaviors. But this is who God is the moment you get serious with Him. If
you allow Him, He will truly restrict your movements and behaviors but you have
nothing to worry because this is for your own good.
For example, God will restrict you from doing bad, God will restrict you from
continuing with your vices. Vices that do nothing to you except to destroy you and your loved ones. But you need not worry about these
restrictions because these restrictions are for your own good. Not for anyone’s
good but for our own good!
When you allow the words of God to grow
and bear fruit in your heart you become like the seed sown on rich soil. Do you
allow the words of God to transform you? Do you allow it to bear good and
useful fruits in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Pakinggan nga ninyo ang
kahulugan ng talinghaga tungkol sa manghahasik. Ang mga nakikinig ng Salita
tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos ngunit hindi nakauunawa nito ay katulad ng mga
binhing nahasik sa tabi ng daan.
Dumarating
ang Masama at inaagaw ang nahasik sa kanilang puso. Inilalarawan ng binhing
nahasik sa kabatuhan ang nakikinig ng Salita at masayang tumatanggap nito
kaagad. Ngunit hindi ito tumitimo sa puso nila kaya’t hindi sila nananatili.
Pagdating ng mga kapighatian o pag-uusig dahil sa Salita, agad silang
nanlalamig.
Inilalarawan
naman ng naghasik sa dawagan ang nakikinig ng Salita, ngunit naging abala sa
mga bagay ukol sa mundong ito, at naging maibigin sa mga kayamanan anupat ang
Salita’y nawalan na ng puwang sa kanilang puso, kaya’t hindi makapamunga. At
inilalarawan ng naghasik sa matabang lupa ang mga nakikinig ng Salita at
nakauunawa nito. Sila’y namumunga: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu, at may
tigtatatlumpu.”
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?" He said to them in
reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of
heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been
granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from
anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to
them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen
or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them,
which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but
never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their
ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with
their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because
they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets
and righteous people longed 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:
Do you discern the intervention of Jesus
in your life through real life stories that you go through?
The disciples were discerning of these
stories coursed through parables. However, the fickle crowd was not
discerning. Why? This is for the reason that they only follow because of their
need of Jesus. After they’ve gotten what they want they once again detach
themselves from Jesus in other words the fickle crowd were followers in need
only.
There are still many nowadays who are like
the fickle crowd they go to Jesus because they are in need. For instance, those
who are carrying many burdens. After they’ve been relieved of their burdens
they somewhat distance themselves once again until their next need comes
around.
We must follow Jesus the way the disciples
followed Him they were not followers in need only, they were always there for
Him; in good times and in bad. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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:
Why does Jesus sometimes tell parables?
Jesus often tells parables to His disciples for them to have something to reflect, ponder and think about. These parables are also for us to reflect and discover the lesson that it tries to convey to us.
The sower in the gospel parable is actually God, the seeds that He sowed were His teachings and the environments which the seeds fell are us. Obviously the first three environments on which the seeds fell were not ideal because the seeds did not grew and bear fruit as it should be.
We become the first three environments when we intentionally turn a deaf ear to God’s teachings. For example, in matters of sin, we all know that sin is evil. But sad to say many of us shun God in favor of sin. Many of us favor sin because we love this world than God.
No matter how much God wants us to know more about Him if we are not willing to listen He cannot do anything about it. He will not be able to take root and grow in our hearts because we simply don’t want it. We want more to get busy with the things of this world which is oftentimes sinful than the things of God.
The last environment: The rich soil could also be us. This happens when we open our whole being to God’s teachings. We listen to it, we imbibed it, we live it and we share it. It grows within us and in that process we bear fruit. In bearing fruit God uses us to touch lives thus we become an instrument of His blessings for others. The desire of God is for us to always become the rich soil wherein we touch lives and make a positive difference in the lives of our fellow human beings.
God wants us to be transformed to become the rich, productive and responsive soil. So that we can touch lives and be a force for good towards others. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
The mother of the sons of Zebedee
approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for
something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that
these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in
your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what
you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said
to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at
my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it
has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant
at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said, “You
know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make
their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather,
whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to
be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to
be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
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Reflection:
What does it mean to be a follower of
Jesus? Does it mean to wield power and influence? Does it mean to be popular in
your community? None of the above actually, to be a follower is to be
ready to serve without any hidden agenda. To be a follower is not to
desire greatness or any form of influence and popularity.
The mother of the sons of Zebedee desired
her two sons to sit beside Jesus in His kingdom. Why did she ask for this? She
asked because she did not know the real essence of a follower of Jesus. If only
she knew that a follower must be the epitome of humility she would have not
asked for that exalted position.
The mother of the two sons is the typical
representation of the many modern parents of today. They want their children to
be in the spotlight. To be in front and have all the attention that they could
gather.
But if this is the mindset of many parents
today, what are they teaching their children? They’re teaching their children
to have an arrogant mindset instead of a mindset of humility. Their teaching
their children to seek prominence whenever they do good instead of simply
fading away.
If we want to grow in faith and if we want
to be exalted by Jesus we have to learn to be humble. We have to learn not to
desire greatness in whatever forms and shapes. Because in due time greatness
will naturally come to those who are as humble as Jesus. –Marino J. Dasmarinas
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to
Jesus, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An
evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given
it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of
the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart
of the earth three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will
arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the
judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it,
because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and
there is something greater than Solomon here.”
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Reflection:
The story is told about a woman who was in
her early forties and was getting desperate already for she was getting old yet
she couldn’t find the right man for her. So while at church she said to the
Lord, “Lord give me a sign so that I’ll have the man for my lifetime.”
Then she said to the Lord: “The first man
that I see who wears a red tee shirt is the one for me Lord.” Lo and behold, a
well built and handsome man wearing a red tee shirt suddenly entered the
church. But to her dismay the handsome man was with his wife and children. The
desperately seeking woman said to the Lord, this is not my day Lord, until next
time.
Many of us ask for signs and wonders from
the Jesus, isn’t our faith more than enough to carry us through in our journey
with Jesus? If our faith in Jesus is rock solid we would never ask for any sign
whatsoever. Because signs is of no use if we have rock solid faith in Jesus.
Our faith is more than enough to carry us
through our journey with Jesus in this world. Our faith is more than enough to
conquer all our fears. We will be able to survive whatever may come to us
because we have faith. And we believe that our faith in God will carry us
through than any dreadful signs, disease and pandemic from this world.
Let us not be like the scribes and
Pharisees in our gospel who asked Jesus for a sign. Let us rather continue to
hold on to our faith in Jesus. Let us continue to strengthen this faith in
Jesus by our consistent prayer life. By our consistent presence at Holy Mass,
by our frequent visitation at the Adoration Chapel. And by daily reading the
bible most specially the life of Jesus if we do these acts of faith we would
never anymore ask for a sign. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world. Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
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Reflection:
What is the meaning of Jesus’ parables? It’s a short story that imparts moral lessons about life which we can use for us to become more effective and productive followers of God.
The first parable is about a man who sowed good seeds. While they were asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds. The owner just let both the good seeds and weeds grow side by side. However, during harvest time the weeds were pulled first, after that they were tied in bundles and were burned. After which they carefully gathered the wheat and they put it into the owner’s barn.
If our lives will end now, where would we end up? Would it be in hell to burn like the weeds? Or would it be in heaven like the wheat that ended up in the owner’s barn?
The second parable is about the tiny mustard seeds that were sowed in the field. It grew big where birds found rest. When we were baptized the seed of our catholic faith was also sowed by Jesus to us. Has it risen as big as a mustard seed? Have we become instrument of Jesus’ compassion and mercy in words and in deeds? Have we been a safe refuge for those who are in distress?
The third parable is about the yeast that influenced a mass of dough to rise. Have we become yeast for those who are not properly acquainted with Jesus? For example, we introduce Jesus to them in that process we become the yeast that influenced the growth of their faith in Jesus.
These three parables invite us to ask these three questions to ourselves. How am I as a follower of Jesus? Am I like the weeds or the wheat? Is my faith now as big as the mustard seed whereby my fellowmen can take refuge and solace? Have I already become yeast to my fellowmen by way of helping them know Jesus in a much deeper sense? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, inilahad ni Jesus ang talinghagang ito sa mga tao. "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang taong naghasik ng mabuting binhi sa kanyang bukid. Isang gabi, samantalang natutulog ang mga tao, dumating ang kanyang kaaway at naghasik ng masasamang damo sa triguhan.
Nang tumubo ang trigo at magkauhay, lumitaw rin ang masasamang damo. Kaya't lumapit ang mga alipin sa puno ng sambahayan at sinabi rito, 'Hindi po ba mabuting binhi ang inihasik ninyo sa inyong bukid? Bakit po may damo ngayon?' Sumagot siya, 'Isang kaaway ang may kagagawan nito.' Tinanong siya ng mga utusan, 'Bubunutin po ba namin ang mga iyon?'
'Huwag!' sagot niya. 'Baka mabunot pati trigo. Hayaan na ninyong lumago kapwa hanggang sa anihan. Pag-aani'y sasabihin ko sa tagapag-ani: Tipunin muna ninyo ang mga damo at inyong pagbigkis-bigkisin upang sunugin, at ang trigo'y inyong tipunin sa aking kamalig.' "
Isa na namang talinghaga ang inilahad ni Jesus sa kanila. "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang taong nagtanim ng isang butil ng mustasa sa kanyang bukid. Pinakamaliit ito sa lahat ng binhi, ngunit kapag natanim na at lumago ay nagiging pinakamalaki sa lahat ng puno ng gulay. Ito'y nagiging punongkahoy, anupat napamumugaran ng mga ibon ang mga sanga nito."
Nagsalaysay pa siya ng ibang talinghaga, "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad ng lebadura na inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, at umalsa ang buong masa." Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao ang lahat ng ito sa pamamagitan ng talinghaga at wala siyang sinabi sa kanila nang hindi gumagamit ng talinghaga. Ginawa niya ito upang matupad ang sinabi ng propeta: "Magsasalita ako sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga, ihahayag ko sa kanila ang mga bagay na nalilihim mula nang likhain ang sanlibutan."
Pagkatapos, iniwan ni Jesus ang mga tao at pumasok sa bahay. Lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya, "Ipaliwanag po ninyo sa amin ang tungkol sa masasamang damo sa bukid." Ito ang tugon ni Jesus, "Ang Anak ng Tao ang naghahasik ng mabuting binhi. Ang bukid ay ang sanlibutan. Ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng Diyos ang mabuting binhi at ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng diyablo ang masasamang damo.
Ang kaaway na naghasik ng mga iyon ay walang iba kundi ang mga diyablo. Ang pag-aani ay ang katapusan ng daigdig, at ang mga anghel ang mga tagapag-ani. Kung paanong iniipon ang mga damo at sinusunog, gayon din ang mangyayari sa katapusan ng daigdig.
Susuguin ng Anak ng Tao ang kanyang mga anghel, at iipunin nila mula sa kanyang pinaghaharian ang lahat ng nagiging sanhi ng pagkakasala at ang lahat ng gumagawa ng masama, at ihahagis sa maningas na pugon. Doo'y mananangis sila at magngangalit ang kanilang ngipin. At magliliwanag na parang araw ang mga matuwid sa kaharian ng kanilang Ama. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!"
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Repleksyon:
Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng mga talinghaga ni Jesus? Ito ay isang maikling kwento na puno ng aral.
Ang unang talinghaga ay tunkol sa isang taong naghasik ng mabuting binhi sa kanyang bukid. Ang ikalawa ay tungkol sa isang taong nagtanim ng butil ng mustasa. Ang ikatlo ay patungkol sa lebadura na inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, at umalsa ang buong masa.
Ang tatlong talinhagang ito ay nag a-anyaya sa atin na tanugin ang ating sarili ng ganito: Sino ako bilang tagasunod ni Jesus? Ako ba ay naghahasik ng mabuting binhi ng aking pananampalataya? Ang aking bang pananampalataya ay kasing laki na ng butil ng mustasa?
Ako ba ay naging isang lebadura na nag papapalago ng pananampalataya ng mga taong nakakikila sa akin? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
On the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and
saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and
to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the
Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And
as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting
there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They
have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around
and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman,
why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener
and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and
I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in
Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary
Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then
reported what he told her.
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Reflection:
Do we agree that we are all sinners?
All of us are like Mary Magdalene for like
her we too are sinners. Nevertheless, we too are always being called by Jesus
to conversion and to follow Him for the rest of our life.
But unlike Mary Magdalene who was
compliant to Jesus call for her to repent. We oftentimes are not; we follow the
many deceiving dictates of this world rather than follow the desire of Jesus
for us.
What would we gain if we follow the many
sinful dictates of this world? Nothing but emptiness and sin, has our cravings
for the things of this world gave us peace? This world will never give us peace
and contentment only Jesus will give it to us.
What if like Mary Magdalene we respond to
Jesus’ call and faithfully follow the Lord for the rest of our life? We will
have a foretaste of heaven while we are still in this world. What if we are
like Mary Magdalene who never gave up on searching for the risen Christ until
she found Him? We will have peace, serenity and contentment in our life.
Like Saint Mary Magdalene let us also
search for the Lord until we find Him for the Lord makes Himself available to
anyone who search for Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
