Do You Know the Health Benefits of eating Young Coconut?/Alam Mo ba ang mga Benepisyo ng Pagkain ng Buko?

 

Reflection for August 12, Saturday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 17:14-20

Gospel: Matthew 17:14-20

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? 

How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

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Reflection:

Jesus tells us today: “Nothing will be impossible for us (Matthew 17:20).” In the midst of our many doubts Jesus is whispering to us that nothing is impossible for us because all things are possible for those who have faith in Him. 

Faith is something that we should all strive very hard to have, can we all have faith? Isn’t faith only for the select few? Jesus already gave us faith when we were Baptized and He hoped that as we grow the faith that He gave us would grow as well. 

But it did not happen because as we grow our faith was left out, even forgotten. Who is to blame for this faith that was left out? Our parents? The people of the church?  But all is not lost yet because we still have the chance to rejuvinate this faith that has been left out. 

All we need to do is to ask Jesus to give us once again the gift of faith that He so generously showered upon us when we were baptized. Lest we forget, faith is important in a person’s journey in this world. Without it we are simply like zombies roaming around without direction and purpose. 

Prayer:

Oh Dear Jesus we humbly pray that you make alive our dormant faith. For without it we are like zombies roaming around without any direction and purpose. Give us faith so that we’ll have hope, give us faith so that we’ll have purpose and give us faith so that we would withstand whatever problems that we may encounter in this world. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 12, Sabado ng Ika-18 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 17:14-20

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 17:14-20

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit ang isang lalaki, lumuhod sa harapan ni Hesus at ang sabi, “Ginoo, mahabag po kayo sa anak kong lalaki! Siya po’y himatayin at lubhang nahihirapan kung sinusumpong, sapagkat madalas siyang mabuwal sa apoy o kaya’y mahulog sa tubig. 

Dinala ko na siya sa inyong mga alagad, ngunit hindi nila mapagaling.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Lahing walang pananampalataya at matigas ang ulo! Hanggang kailan dapat akong manatiling kasama ninyo? Hanggang kailan ko kayo pagtitiisan? Dalhin ninyo rito ang bata!” Pinagwikaan ni Hesus ang demonyo at lumabas ito, at ang bata’y gumaling agad. 

Pagkatapos ay lumapit ang mga alagad kay Hesus at nagtanong nang walang ibang nakaririnig, “Bakit hindi po namin mapalayas ang demonyo?” Sumagot siya, “Dahil sa kaliitan ng inyong pananalig. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung maging sinlaki man lamang ng butil ng mustasa ang inyong pananalig sa Diyos, masasabi ninyo sa bundok na ito, ‘Lumipat ka roon!’ at lilipat ito. Walang bagay na hindi ninyo mapangyayari.”

Reflection for Friday August 11, Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin: Matthew 16:24-28

Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, “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 will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 

Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

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Reflection:

What does the cross signify to you? Does it signify hardship and burden? During the time of Jesus the cross was a sign of judgment and suffering. 

By saying to the disciples that they have to take up their own cross if they desire to follow Him. Jesus was telling them that they have to be ready to be oppressed, ready to face hardships and ready to be unfairly judged. Many of the disciples took this challenge of Jesus and in so doing they found the real meaning of life. 

Many of us seek the life of ease and comfort thinking that this is what life is all about. But life of ease and comfort are not the real essence of life. Could you find your life by living a worldly life? Could you find purpose in this world by living the lifestyle of the rich and famous? Many rich and famous personalities in this world committed suicide because they struggled to find the purpose of their lives. 

It is only through following Jesus and carrying His cross that we would find the true meaning of our life. Therefore, we have to be ready to carry our cross for us to be called  true followers of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Do you know the health benefits of guava leaves?/Alam mo ba ang benepisyo ng dahon ng bayabas?

 

Reflection for Thursday August 10, Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr: John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.   

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

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Reflection:

What does it mean to hate our life in this world?   

It’s to give our life in the service of Jesus so that through us others may know Jesus. When we do not give our life for the mission of Jesus and just keep it to ourselves we will not grow in wisdom and faith. Yes, we will grow in worldliness and perhaps riches but eventually our life will come to a halt and that’s basically the end of it.   

When we choose to give our life for the mission of Jesus we will not anymore enjoy this world as we enjoyed it before.  Yet we will also discover a more profound and deeper meaning in our life that only Jesus can give us.   

 Why? Because we chose to give our life for the mission of Jesus. We chose to throwaway our life away from worldliness going to the direction of Jesus so that we could walk hand in hand with the Lord.   

As Jesus gave away His very own life on the cross so that God’s kingdom in this world could grow and flourish. We too should not be afraid to give away our life for the sake of the kingdom of God for this is where we can find the true essence and meaning of life.   

Have you already found the true essence and meaning of your life with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Agosto 10, San Lorenzo, diyakono at martir (Kapistahan): Juan 12:24-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:24-26

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Tandaan ninyo: malibang mahulog sa lupa ang butil ng trigo at mamatay, mananatili itong nag-iisa. Ngunit kung mamatay, ito'y mamumunga nang marami.   

Ang taong labis na nagpapahalaga sa kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, ngunit ang napopoot sa kanyang buhay sa daigdig na ito ay siyang magkakaroon nito hanggang sa buhay na walang hanggan. Dapat sumunod sa akin ang naglilingkod sa akin, at saanman ako naroroon ay naroon din ang aking lingkod. Pararangalan ng Ama ang sinumang naglilingkod sa akin."

 

Reflection for August 9, Wednesday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 15:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” 

He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 

Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

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Reflection:

What is faith for you? Faith is when you believe without seeing what you believe. Faith is when you persist to ask the Lord even if it seems that He is not listening to you. 

The Canaanite woman had this kind of faith, she never gave up on her prayer request for Jesus to heal her daughter tormented by a demon. There were many obstacles against her foremost of this was her being not a Jew but it did not matter to her. She persisted and she even argued with Jesus until she passed Jesus’ examination of her faith on Him. After which her daughter was healed by Jesus. 

This gospel relates with our own journey of faith with Jesus also. We could be that Canaanite woman who badgered Jesus no end until she got the healing that she wanted for her daughter.

 However, unlike the woman from Canaan who persisted until the very end we may not have the will to badger Jesus. We may have quit already and said to ourselves, “I give up on my prayer for Jesus because He seems to be deaf.” What we do not know is it's just a part of the testing of our faith. 

Every trial that we go through is our own test of faith; we may be going through some trials right now. We may be asking ourselves, why am I going through these difficulties? Let us not give up and let us continue to have faith for the Lord will soon answer our persistent prayer/s. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 9, Miyerkules ng Ika-18 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 15:21-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 15:21-28

Umalis doon si Jesus at nagpunta sa lupaing malapit sa Tiro at Sidon. Lumapit sa kanya ang isang Cananeang naninirahan doon at malakas na sinabi, "Panginoon, Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin! Ang anak kong babae ay inaalihan ng demonyo at masyadong pinahihirapan.   

Ngunit gaputok ma'y di tumugon si Jesus. at lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya. "Pagbigyan na nga po ninyo at nang umalis. Siya'y nag-iingay at susunod-sunod sa atin." Sumagot si Jesus, "Sa mga tupang naliligaw ng sambahayan ng Israel lamang ako sinugo." Ngunit lumapit sa kanya ang babae, lumuhod sa harapan at ang sabi, "Tulungan po ninyo ako, Panginoon."   

Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta." "Tunay nga po, Panginoon," tugon ng babae, "ngunit ang mga tuta man ay nagsisikain ng mumong nalalaglag sa hapag ng kanilang panginoon." Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Napakalaki ng iyong pananalig! Mangyayari ang hinihiling mo." At noon di'y gumaling ang kanyang anak.  

 

Reflection for Tuesday August 8, Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest: Matthew 14:22-36

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 

He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

Do you have a diminishing faith?

The gospel for today introduces us to a disciple who has diminishing faith. That disciple is Peter; he wanted to go to Jesus and walk on water as well. He was actually able to do it but after a few moments he started to sink because he lacked faith. What prompted Peter to doubt? It was the big waves that were coming onto him.

On the latter part of the gospel we also see the huge faith of the people of Gennesaret. After hearing of the information that Jesus is in their town they brought all of their sick to HIM. Jesus never failed them; all of their sick were cured.

If we would reflect deeply on the gospel today; we may see ourselves in the person of Peter whose faith is diminishing. We may also see ourselves as one of the nameless people of Gennesaret who never wavered on their faith in Jesus. We need to have faith in the midst of the many problems that threatens us everyday otherwise we may end up like Peter who was nearly swallowed by the sea.  

If your faith is diminishing humbly ask the Good Lord to increase your faith for He doesn’t fail anyone who humbly ask for His help. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 7, Monday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:13-21

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 

But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

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Reflection:

What will happen to us if we are generous? 

We would never run out of things to give be it money, goods, intellect or anything that we are generous of giving. Everything flows back in return a hundredfold.  Why is this so? The reason behind is, the moment we give; we don’t only give to the person who needs it we also give to Jesus. And Jesus whom we can never outdo in generosity gives back to us many times over what we give Him. 

The crowd in the gospel who were following Jesus had nothing more left in them, they were hungry. And Jesus saw this that’s why He graciously did the miracle of loaves and fish. With five loaves and two fish He feed the nearly five thousand people not including women and children. After all of them had eaten they had an excess of twelve wicker baskets. 

The simple message of the gospel for us is we must be generous at all times. This is for the reason that we will never run out of anything to give and the more that we give the more that we would receive. 

We just have to look at what is happening during Holy Mass which is very similar to what happened with the feeding of the five thousand people in our gospel. Inside every Holy Mass Jesus generously gives to us His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity during Holy Communion. Has Jesus stopped giving Himself to us during Holy Mass? No, Since HE instituted the Eucharist up until this very moment Jesus has been generously giving Himself to us through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. 

As Jesus is merciful and generous most especially to the poor so we must be also. Let us not worry if our pockets will hurt from our being merciful and generous. For Jesus will always see to it that we will be filled with anything that we need. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday August 6, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord: Matthew 17:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. 

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

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Reflection:

Do you want to be in heaven when your time in this world is over? Of course you want to be in heaven. However, would you be willing to sacrifice something of yourself for you to go to heaven?

The episode of the Transfiguration of the Good Lord clearly tells us that there is heaven. And we must aspire to be heavenbound someday. However, there is no free ride going to heaven we have to do some sacrifices for us to go to heaven. 

Many of us may be afraid to do some sacrifices for the simple reason that doing so would require us to give something of ourselves. But, what is sacrifice in exchange for heaven? What is sacrifice in exchange for everlasting life? And what is sacrifice when it assures us of the kingdom of God?

"After the heavenly experience of Peter, James, and John at the Mount of Transfiguration,"  They descended back to this world to face their respective share of sacrifices for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. 

They could have easily avoided those sacrifices by detaching themselves from their Lord and Master. But they chose to be with Jesus despite all the hardships and trials. Why? Because they know that they would go to heaven someday.

Let us not be afraid of the crosses that we would be carrying for the advancement of the teachings of Jesus and our faith for there surely will be a reward for us someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Do You Know the Health Benefits of eating avocado?/Alam Mo ba ang Benepisyo ng Pagkain ngAvocado?

 

Reflection for August 5, Saturday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him. Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him “It is not lawful for you to have her. 

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. 

Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

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Reflection:

There is a saying that, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” King Herod is an example of a man who was corrupted by his absolute power. He allowed his power to rule over him and not him ruling over his power. Otherwise if King Herod were in control of his power he would have not ordered the beheading of John.

When a leader allows his power to get into his head he would do many foolish things. For example, he may act as if he is more powerful than God by saying words and doing things that are inconceivable for a normal person to say and do.

In the gospel we have a character named King Herod he is a perfect example of a leader who is drunk with power. His power made him arrogant and it made him act as if he were more powerful than God for the reason that he ordered the killing of John. But we also know that those who arrogantly abuse power suffers defeat in the end.    

So what is the lesson for us here? Simple, we should not abuse the power that we hold otherwise we will have to pay for it someday. As they say, “What goes around comes around.” In other words this simply tells us that whatever evil that we do today we will pay severely someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas