Reflection for September 18, Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:1-10

Gospel: Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. 

They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.

Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 

When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

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Reflection:

Do you always favor your rich relatives and friends?

The concern of the centurion/military officer for his slave was very admirable; just imagine he went to Jesus to ask for healing for his very sick slave. The centurion/military officer’s concern for his slave was very pleasing to Jesus that’s why Jesus granted his pleading.

To whom can we compare the slave today? The slaves of our time are the poor people that we know, whose status in life is way, way below us. Oftentimes our concern for the poor is very different from those who are rich.

In fact, many of us have two sets of standards of concern for our friends who are poor and rich. Many of us lean towards our rich relatives and friends for this are what is normal for us: go for the rich relatives and friends first.

Jesus would always want us to help and pray for those who are in need specially the poor for they are closest to His heart. This doesn’t mean that we neglect the rich but if there would be a choice to whom would we extend help first.

 It’s no brainer that we go to the poor first, we have to prioritize them over the rich. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 17, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,“ Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.  

When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.  

Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe. 

Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you? Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Are you forgiving?  

In the gospel, a servant asked to be forgiven for the huge amount he owed his king, and he was granted forgiveness. However, when he encountered someone who owed him a smaller amount, he demanded repayment of the debt.

Perhaps many of us would be able to relate to this servant who asked for forgiveness from his Lord and Master. We ask for forgiveness from Jesus for all our sins; yes, many of us even submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But do we truly live out this forgiveness that we have received from Jesus? Do we forgive those who have wronged us as we have been forgiven by the Lord?

When we forgive, we free ourselves from the imprisonment of anger and hatred. Just imagine, if we harbor anger in our hearts, we carry this burden that does no good to us except to raise our blood pressure. 

Why can't we let bygones be bygones, or forgive and forget, and move on without harboring a heavy burden in our hearts? We are only punishing ourselves if we don't forgive. And we are only leaving a space for Satan to dwell when we don't forgive.

We, therefore, have to be forgiving because forgiveness is not just for those who wronged us; forgiveness is primarily for us, the ones who have been wronged. Forgiveness heals our whole being it makes us emotionally and mentally strong and it ushers us to a new avenue of life for us to begin anew without the burden of hatred. 

Let us always learn from Jesus, who is always forgiving. Let us learn from Jesus, who doesn't keep any record of wrong in His heart. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Setyembre 17, Ika-24 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 18:21-35

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-35

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit si Pedro at nagtanong kay Hesus, “Panginoon, makailan kong patatawarin ang aking kapatid na paulit-ulit na nagkakasala sa akin? Makapito po ba?” Sinagot siya ni Hesus, “Hindi ko sinasabing makapito, kundi pitumpung ulit pa nito. 

Sapagkat ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: ipinasiya ng isang hari na pagbayarin ang kanyang mga lingkod na may utang sa kanya. Unang dinala sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung milyung piso. Dahil sa siya’y walang ibayad, iniutos ng hari na ipagbili siya, ang kanyang asawa, mga anak, at lahat ng ari-arian, upang makabayad. 

Nanikluhod ang taong ito sa harapan ng hari at nagmakaawa: ‘Bigyan pa ninyo ako ng panahon, at babayaran ko sa inyo ang lahat.’ Naawa sa kanya ang hari kaya ipinatawad ang kanyang mga utang at pinayaon siya. “Ngunit pagkaalis niya roon ay nakatagpo niya ang isa sa kanyang kapwa lingkod na may utang na limandaang piso sa kanya. 

Sinunggaban niya ito at sinakal, sabay wika: ‘Magbayad ka ng utang mo!’ Naglumuhod iyon at nagmakaawa sa kanya: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon at babayaran kita.’ Ngunit hindi siya pumayag; sa halip ipinabilanggo niya ang kanyang kapwa lingkod hanggang sa ito’y makabayad. Nang makita ng kanyang mga kapwa lingkod ang nangyari, sila’y labis na nagdamdam; pumunta sila sa hari at isinumbong ang nangyari. 

Kaya’t ipinatawag siya ng hari. ‘Ikaw – napakasama mo!’ Sabi niya. ‘Pinatawad kita sa utang mo sapagkat nagmakaawa ka sa akin. Nahabag ako sa iyo; hindi ba dapat ka ring mahabag sa kapwa mo?’ At sa galit ng hari, siya’y ipinabilanggo hanggang sa mabayaran niya ang kanyang utang. Gayun din ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Amang nasa langit kung hindi ninyo patatawarin ang inyong kapatid.

Reflection for Saturday September 16, Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs: Luke 6:43-49

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 

That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

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Reflection:

Why do many Catholics embrace other Christian faiths? The reason is their very weak foundation on the basics of the faith like the catechism and apologetics.

If only they know of the rich history of this church that was founded by Jesus through Saint Peter. If only they know that we don’t worship anyone in the church except God. 

If only they know the critical roles of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints in the advancement of our faith. If only they know that images of the saints are allowed and has biblical basis. I’m sure that they would have not dared leave the church which Jesus Himself founded.

Perhaps those who left the church are like the person in the gospel who built his house without foundation, when the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.

We must build our faith on a rock solid foundation; we must not solely rely on the learnings that we hear from the Priest’s Homily during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Through our own initiative we must have that hunger to learn more about our faith.

We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us become more enlightened of the many truths of our church. By doing so we would have a very strong foundation about our church. And we will choose to remain no matter the many controversies and scandals that it may encounter. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Sabado Setyembre 16, San Cornelio, papa at San Cipriano, obispo, mga martir (Paggunita): Lucas 6:43-49

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:43-49

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Walang mabuting punongkahoy na namumunga ng masama, at walang masamang punongkahoy na namumunga ng mabuti. Nakikilala ang bawat punongkahoy sa pamamagitan ng kanyang bunga.

Sapagkat hindi nakapipitas ng igos sa puno ng aroma, at di rin nakapipitas ng ubas sa puno ng dawag. Ang mabuting tao ay nakapagdudulot ng mabuti sapagkat tigib ng kabutihan ang kanyang puso; ang masamang tao ay nakapagdudulot ng masama, sapagkat puno ng kasamaan ang kanyang puso. Sapagkat kung ano ang bukambibig siyang laman ng dibdib.   

“Tinatawag ninyo ako ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ ngunit hindi naman ninyo ginagawa ang sinasabi ko. Ipakikilala ko sa inyo kung kanino natutulad ang bawat lumalapit sa akin, nakikinig ng aking mga salita, at nagsasagawa ng mga ito. Katulad siya ng isang taong humukay nang malalim at sa pundasyong bato nagtayo ng bahay.

Bumaha, at ang tubig ay bumugso sa bahay na iyon, ngunit hindi natinag, sapagkat matatag ang pagkakatayo. Ngunit ang nakikinig ng aking mga salita at hindi nagsasagawa nito ay katulad ng isang taong nagtayo ng bahay na walang pundasyon. Bumaha, nadaanan ng tubig ang bahay na iyon at pagdaka’y bumagsak. Lubusang nawasak ang bahay na iyon!”

Reflection for Friday September 15, Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows: John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

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Reflection:

How can we put flesh to the command of Jesus to John: “Behold your mother.” It’s to respect and take care of our universal mother and our biological mother. The Blessed Virgin Mary  must be respected and venerated by all of us, in what way? By giving her honor the way the church honors her. 

We must follow what the church teaches us about the veneration and respect that we must give the Blessed Mother. For example in the praying of the Holy Rosary, the church encourages us to make the rosary as our family prayer because this will keep the family together. And this is true! 

How about the love, respect, and care that are due to our own mothers? Do we give them love, respect, and care? Many mothers are silently suffering because they are not properly taken care of; they are not respected and loved anymore. 

We must always give our mothers what is due them, we must always express our love for them while they’re still here in this world. We all know that they are in the twilight of their years already so we must give to them what they truly deserve. 

Let your mother feel that you love her, you respect her and you care for her. Be patient also with her for she is in the twilight of her years. Be forgiving also to her because she commits mistakes every now and then for she is getting old. 

When will you give your love, respect and care for your mother? When she’s not anymore able to hear it, feel it and respond to it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Biyernes Setyembre 15, Ang Mahal na Birheng Nagdadalamhati (Paggunita): Juan 19:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Juan 19:25-27

Nakatayo sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae nitong si Maria, na asawa ni Cleopas. Naroon din si Maria Magdalena. 

Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina, at ang minamahal niyang alagad sa tabi nito, kanyang sinabi, "Ginang, narito ang iyong anak!" At sinabi sa alagad, "Narito ang iyong ina!" Mula noon, siya'y pinatira ng alagad na ito sa kanyang bahay.

Reflection for Thursday September 14, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

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Reflection:

Do you ever wonder why the cross in the church’s sanctuary is always situated higher than anyone else inside the church? Do you ever wonder why many of us take time to look up to Jesus on the cross?

The cross inside the church is above all of us for because it’s meant to be looked up and reverenced by us. For without the cross with Jesus upon it there would have been no salvation for all of us. This is the reason why we deeply respect the cross of Jesus. On that same cross of Jesus, we find healing, we find forgiveness and we freely unburden our heavy loads on that cross of Jesus. 

Sometimes it’s very intimidating to look up to the cross of Jesus for it literally means suffering and supreme sacrifice. Nevertheless, we have to look up to that cross because it’s our source of strength and salvation as well. This is the paradox of Jesus’ cross it’s a symbol of hardship and sacrifice yet it’s also a symbol of strength and salvation.

If you are carrying your cross right now whatever that cross may be, close your eyes and say a prayer. Then offer your cross to Jesus and humbly ask Jesus to help you carry it for He will never forsake you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday September 13, Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M): Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

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Reflection:

Imagine Jesus reading to you the gospel for today. How would you feel? Would you feel blessed? 

The poor, hungry, weeping, hated and insulted are blessed by Jesus. No matter what others may say about them they are blessed by Jesus. But human as we are we hunger for the luxuries of life, who would not want worldly luxuries? 

But if these luxuries would bring us away from Jesus and would bring us to embrace this world and eventually sin. What benefit would it give us? Would we still embrace it?  We must be discerning at all times because the devil is always actively seeking us to snatch us away from the love of Jesus through worldly things. 

If you are poor in the eyes of this world yet you have Jesus in your heart, then you’re the richest and most blessed person in this world. Why? Because you choose to center your life in Jesus —the same Jesus who will bring you to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 12, Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:12-19

Gospel: Luke 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus call the twelve to be His apostles? 

There was a reason why Jesus called the twelve disciples to be His apostles and that is to help Him spread the good news of our salvation. Looking back on the lives of these apostles except for Judas all were faithful servants and co-missioners of the Lord. They were His eyes and ears they were His collaborators in His mission. 

The apostles did not lead lives of ease and comfort; in fact, except for Judas, almost all of them were martyred in carrying out the mission that Jesus bestowed upon them. What is the significance of this call on the apostles in our lives? 

By virtue of our Baptism we too are called to collaborate with Jesus and the apostles to spread the good news of our salvation. We are called to lead Holy lives so that others may see Jesus in us; we are called to be patient, to persevere and to be enduring in our discipleship. 

If we say that we love Jesus it amounts to saying that we are always ready to suffer and to be humiliated for the sake of the advancement of His kingdom. This is the mark of a true and faithful disciple/apostle. 

Are you ready to sacrifice for Lord? You will be rewarded someday when you do so. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 11, Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:6-11

Gospel: Luke 6:6-11

On a certain Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. 

But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” 

Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

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Reflection:

What is the Sabbath day? It is a sacred day for the Jews, it’s their day for the Lord. We can compare the Sabbath day to our observance of Sunday our own day of rest and day for the Lord also.

The question that arose from the minds of the scribes and Pharisees is this: Would Jesus cure on a Sabbath day? Which was prohibited by their Jewish religion? When Jesus cured the hand of the man with a withered hand it did not mean that He was disrespecting the Sabbath day.

Jesus simply saw an opportunity to show His infinite compassion and love for the sick man. Thus Jesus healed the man with a withered hand even if it was prohibited by their religion. Jesus is showing us that if we want our faith to be effective we have to show compassion and love too!

Jesus attracts people because He is always ever ready to show His compassion and love to anyone who seeks it. His love and compassion does not choose what time or day. He would always be there for so long as there’s someone in need of His help or if there’s someone who is seeking His help. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday September 10, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 18:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 

If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a church ministry leader who would always shout at his members whenever they commit mistakes. Eventually, the members had enough of his domineering behavior, so they decided to leave the church ministry which he leads. 

It is always very tempting to show off our authority and power. But what many of us don’t know is that the more authoritarian we become, the more we alienate ourselves from the people we love and lead. The more domineering we become, the faster we hasten our downfall. 

Whenever there is conflict, the devil would always tell us to harness our domineering behavior and arrogance through the exercise of our authority. But this kind of behavior will never heal conflict; it will even exacerbate conflict. 

In our gospel for this Sunday, Jesus has an advice for all of us on how to deal with those with whom we have issues to settle. Jesus advises us to always choose the path of humility, love, and fraternal correction, never the path of power tripping, arrogance and dominance. 

In other words, we have to sit down and talk, we have to extend our patience to the limit, and not to get angry—this is the way to restore and heal a broken person and a damaged relationship.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Linggo Setyembre 10, Ika-23 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 18:15-20

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:15-20

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kung magkasala sa iyo ang kapatid mo, puntahan mo siya at kausapin nang sarilinan. Kapag nakinig siya sa iyo, ang pagsasama ninyong magkapatid ay napanauli mo sa dati at napapanumbalik mo siya sa Ama.   

Ngunit kung hindi siya makinig sa iyo, magsama ka pa ng isa o dalawang tao upang ang lahat ng pinag-uusapan ninyo ay mapatunayan ng dalawa o tatlong saksi. Kung hindi siya makinig sa kanila, sabihin mo ito sa pagtitipon sa simbahan.   

At kung hindi pa siya makinig sa natitipong simbahan, ituring mo siyang isang Hentil o isang publikano." "Sinasabi ko sa inyo: anumang ipagbawal ninyo sa lupa ay ipagbabawal sa langit, at anumang ipahintulot ninyo sa lupa ay ipahihintulot sa langit. 

"Sinasabi ko pa rin sa inyo: kung ang dalawa sa inyo dito sa lupa ay magkaisa sa paghingi ng anumang bagay sa inyong panalangin, ipagkakaloob ito sa inyo ng aking Amang nasa langit. Sapagkat saanman may dalawa o tatlong nagkakatipon dahil sa akin, naroon akong kasama nila."

Reflection for September 9, Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:1-5

Gospel: Luke 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a loving and caring God. He will always ensure that His people are properly taken care of, no matter what the circumstances are. For Jesus, the needs of His people always take precedence over the observance of laws and traditions.

When Jesus defended His disciples from the rebuke of the Pharisees (From picking and eating grains on a Sabbath day) He was simply saying that the need of His disciples always take precedence over any observance of the Jewish law/s. 

Jesus was indirectly saying to His critics that they sometimes have to be flexible also for the greater good. The disciples were hungry and that was it, they simply have to satisfy a valid human physiological need. 

Here we see what kind of God Jesus is, He properly takes care of His people. Jesus is willing to violate the sacred Sabbath law for as long as there is a valid reason. We may not be faithful to our Lord all the time. Nevertheless, His unconditional love, care and concern are always there for us in all the seasons of our life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas