Reflection for December 18, Monday of the Third Week of Advent: Matthew 1:18-25

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

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Reflection:

Do you have a devotion to Saint Joseph?

If only all husbands are like Saint Joseph, there would be no broken marriages; there would be no suffering wives, there would be no suffering children that ultimately bear the trauma of their parents’ separation.

Joseph initially planned to divorce Mary quietly until the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-22).”

When Joseph woke up, he humbly did what was commanded of him by the angel of the God. What if Joseph had brushed aside the message of God? The Blessed Mother would have been in a very difficult situation. She could have faced death through stoning—a brutal punishment for those who bore a child out of wedlock during that time.

 There would be no birth of Jesus; therefore, there would be no savior. But thanks to Joseph, who listened to the message of God, with his acceptance of the responsibility, the plan of God was laid out without any more hindrance. 

God has a plan for you also, just like Joseph who listened and obeyed; God wants you also to listen and obey.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Disyembre 18, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 1:18-25

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 1:18-25

Ganito ang pagkapanganak kay Jesu-Cristo. Si Maria na kanyang ina at si Jose ay nakatakda nang pakasal. Ngunit bago sila nakasal, Si Maria'y natagpuang nagdadalang-tao. Ito'y sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Isang taong matuwid itong si Jose na kanyang magiging asawa, ngunit ayaw niyang mapahiya si Maria, kaya ipinasiya niyang hiwalayan ito ng lihim.

Samantalang iniisip ni Jose ito, napakita sa kanya sa panaginip ang isang anghel ng Panginoon. Sabi nito sa kanya, "Jose anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tuluyang pakasalan si Maria, sapagkat siya'y naglihi sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Manganganak siya ng isang lalaki at ito'y panganganlan mong Jesus, sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang bayan sa kanilang mga kasalanan."

Nangyari ang lahat ng ito upang matupad ang sinabi ng Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng propeta:"Maglilihi ang isang dalaga at manganganak ng isang lalaki; at tatawagin itong Emmanuel" ang kahuluga'y "Kasama natin ang Diyos".

Nang magising si Jose, sinunod niya ang anghel ng Panginoon; pinakasalan niya si Maria. Ngunit hindi ginalaw ni Jose si Maria hanggang sa maipanganak nito ang isang sanggol na lalaki na pinanganlan nga niyang Jesus.

Reflection for Sunday December 17, Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, "Who are you?" He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Christ." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'make straight the way of the Lord,'" as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. 

They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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Reflection:

Have you thought of counting the things that you’ve done for God? For example, when you do something for the poor, do you claim it as credit for yourself, or do you do it because it’s for the greater glory of God? In other words, you don’t claim credit for what you do; you’re simply happy and content to become a nameless and faceless channel of God.

John is silently speaking to our hearts through this third Sunday of Advent’s gospel. He tells us, when you do things for the poor always do it for the greater glory of God and not for your own glory. And be content to become a nameless and faceless channel of God. John could have owned to himself his ministry from God but he did not, he pointed to Jesus as the greater power behind him.

Many times we fall into the trap of self-glorification at the expense of God and the poor we seek to help. Many times over we fall into the trap of bringing ourselves to the altar of admiration and glorification, instead of silently fading away in favor of Jesus.     

Due to his life-changing preaching and miraculous deeds, John was questioned by the priests and Levites, "Who are you?" Humbling himself, he responded, "I am not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a prophet" (John 1:20-21). John went on to declare, "One mightier than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals" (John 1:27)

Considering the purpose behind the things you do for God, what if someone were to ask you, "Who are you?" Would you trumpet your qualities and achievements? Or would you simply smile and fade away, becoming a nameless and faceless channel of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Disyembre 17, Ikatlong Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Juan 1:6-8, 19-28

Mabuting Balita: Juan 1:6-8, 19-28

Sinugo ng Diyos ang isang tao na nagngangalang Juan. Naparito siya upang magpatotoo tungkol sa ilaw at manalig sa ilaw ang lahat dahil sa patotoo niya. Hindi siya ang ilaw kundi naparito siya upang magpatotoo tungkol sa ilaw. 

Nang suguin ng mga Judio sa Jerusalem ang ilang saserdote at Levita upang itanong sino siya, sinabi ni Juan ang katotohanan. Sinabi niyang hindi siya ang Mesias. "Kung gayo'y sino ka?" tanong nila. "Ikaw ba si Elias?" "Hindi po." "Ikaw ba ang Propetang hinihintay namin?" Sumagot siya, "Hindi po." "Sino ka kung gayon?" tanong nila uli. "Sabihin mo sa amin para masabi namin sa mga nagsugo sa amin. Ano ang masasabi mo tungkol sa iyong sarili?" 

Sumagot si Juan, "Ako, 'Ang tinig ng isang sumisigaw sa ilang: Tuwirin ninyo ang daraanan ng Panginoon!" (Ang Propeta Isaias ang may sabi nito.) Ang mga nagtanong ay sugo ng mga Pariseo. Muli nilang tinanong si Juan, "Bakit ka nagbabautismo, hindi pala naman ikaw ang Mesias, ni si Elias, ni ang Propeta?" 

Sumagot siya, "Ako'y nagbabautismo sa tubig, ngunit nasa gitna ninyo ang isang hindi ninyo nakikilala. Siya ang susunod sa akin, Subalit hindi ako karapat-dapat man lang magkalag ng tali ng kanyang panyapak." (Ito'y nangyari sa Betania, sa ibayo ng Jordan na pinagbabautismuhan ni Juan.)

Reflection for Saturday December 16, 1st day of Misa de Gallo (Simbang Gabi), in the Philippines; John 5:33-36

Gospel: John 5:33-36

(Jesus said to the Jews,) You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. 

But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.

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Reflection:

Do you know John? 

The people during Jesus’ time thought that John was the promised Messiah, but John humbly told them that he was not. After John was beheaded, Jesus started His three-year public ministry. Jesus called for repentance, healed the sick, gave hope to the hopeless, and the like.

But they still found fault and did not believe. This is due to the scheming of the high priest and those who were in position of authority. In this season of advent Jesus calls us to believe in Him, to learn from Him, to have hope and to give hope on His behalf and to repent from our sins. 

As we witness for Jesus, Satan will tempt us to place ourselves prominently in front, rather than Jesus. Satan will tempt us to claim for ourselves the wisdom that we have. But let us fight these temptations by looking at John, by following his humility and fidelity towards Jesus.

As John has said: 'It is necessary that He must increase and I must decrease' (John 3:30). This must also be our guiding principle; Jesus must always shine brightly in our lives. As for us, let us fade away, allowing Jesus to take the center stage, so that the faith He gave us will continue to grow and bear much fruit. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Sabado Disyembre 16, Simula ng Misa de Gallo (Sa Pilipinas): Juan 5:33-36

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:33-36

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga Judio, “Nagpasugo kayo kay Juan, at nagpatotoo siya tungkol sa katotohanan. Hindi sa kailangan ko ang patotoo ng tao; sinasabi ko lamang ito para maligtas kayo. Si Juan ay parang maningas na ilaw na nagliliwanag noon, at kayo’y sandaling nasiyahan sa kanyang liwanag. 

Ngunit may patotoo tungkol sa akin na higit sa patotoo ni Juan: ang mga gawang ipinagagawa sa akin ng Ama, at siya ko namang ginaganap – iyan ang nagpapatotoo na ako’y sinugo niya.”

Reflection for December 15, Friday of the Second Week of Advent: Matthew 11:16-19

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ 

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

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Reflection:

Whenever biographies of famous personalities are to be written. Publishers would try to make the exterior of the book as attractive as possible so that it would create an immediate exterior attraction to the buying public. Especially to those who have superficial knowledge of the personality involve. 

Jesus was called names such as glutton, drunkard, friend of tax collectors and sinners by the Pharisees and scribes. Because that’s what they saw: Jesus talking and mingling with them, they based their unfair judgements on what they saw from Jesus. If only they knew that the real motive of Jesus was the conversion of tax collectors and sinners they would not have unfairly judged Him. 

The same is true with John he was labelled as someone who was possessed by a demon. Perhaps the reason behind such unfair name calling was based on the physical appearance of John. And John’s preference to live in the desert before coming out to prepare the way for Jesus. 

Oftentimes we are like the Pharisees and the scribes for we judge also based on what we see and hear about others. We base our judgment on the exterior and the superficial. But is this right? Of course not! 

It’s not correct to throw judgment based on what we see or observe for what we see is a scant representation of the whole person. Let us know first the person before judging. And if there’s an opportunity to talk to him/her so that we could have a clearer picture of the person’s personality let us do so. 

Are you sometimes quick to judge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita Disyembre 15, Biyernes sa Ikalawang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon: Mateo 11:16-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:16-19

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao, "Sa ano ko nga ihahambing ang mga tao ngayon? Katulad sila ng mga batang nakaupo sa plasa at sumisigaw sa kanilang mga kalaro, 'Tinugtugan namin kayo ng plauta, ngunit hindi kayo sumayaw! Nanambitan kami, ngunit hindi kayo tumangis!' 

Sapagkat naparito si Juan na nag-aayuno at di uminom ng alak, at sinabi nila, 'Inaalihan siya ng demonyo!' Naparito rin ang Anak ng Tao, na kumakain at umiinom, at sinasabi naman nila, 'Masdan ninyo ang taong ito! Matakaw at maglalasing, kaibigan ng mga publikano at mga makasalanan!' Gayunman, ang karunungan ng Diyos ay napatutunayang tama sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga gawa."

Reflection for Thursday December 14, Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 11:11-15

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

(Jesus said to the crowds) Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

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Reflection:

What does John the Baptist brings to us? John brings to us his faithful witness for Jesus and His teachings. Like the Prophets before him, John gave his life so that evil would not triumph over good. In essence it was the devil against God. John choose God over the devil, John choose righteousness over evil and immorality. 

For these reasons Jesus hailed John as the greatest amongst the prophets, yet Jesus tells us also that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. Who is greater than John the Baptist? It’s Jesus Himself! Jesus came into this world not with power and might. Like John, Jesus was born into this world bereft of worldly opulence. 

Somehow the gospel communicates to us that for us to become great in the eyes of Jesus we have to emulate John. His humble witness for Jesus, his uncompromising stand against evil and so forth. We must not forget also that Jesus is challenging us also to become the least in the eyes of the people of this world. 

 It means that we must not crave for money, power or anything that this fleeting world will offer us. Nevertheless, even without these worldly things we will strive to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of others. For this is the life of Jesus when He walked on this earth. 

Can we emulate the life of John? Are we capable of shunning the trappings of this world and still make a positive difference in the lives of our fellowmen just what Jesus did? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Disyembre 14, San Juan de la Cruz, pari at pantas ng Simbahan (Paggunita): Mateo 11:11-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:11-15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa mga isinilang, walang lumilitaw na higit na dakila kay Juan Bautista; ngunit ang pinakaaba sa mga taong pinaghaharian ng Diyos ay dakila kaysa sa kanya. 

Mula nang mangaral si Juan Bautista hanggang ngayon, ang kaharian ng Diyos ay nagdaranas ng karahasan at inaagaw ng mararahas. Sapagkat ang mga propeta at Kautusan ay nagpahayag tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos hanggang sa dumating si Juan. Kung maniniwala kayo, siya ang Elias na darating. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!” 

Reflection for Wednesday December 13, Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a very rich man who was burdened by his problems. He tried many ways to solve them; he thought his money would help him, but to no avail. He went to his friends, indulging in drinking sessions and vices, yet it did not solve his problems either.

He was living like a ship without a rudder aimlessly drifting to nowhere, he didn’t know it but he was slowly wasting his life. Until he meet a relative who was an active member of their church. He opened up to him and the relative listened. 

At the end the relative had only one advice: “Go and spend time with Jesus in the adoration chapel. Then, don’t miss Sunday Mass and when you are at Mass be attentive and listen to every word being spoken for many of it will speak to you. You also read your bible for Jesus will also speak to you there. To cut short a long story, he made a devotion to the adoration chapel, went to Holy Mass as often as he could. And regularly read his bible. 

After a few weeks he already had a normal life. Yes, from time to time there were still problems that need to be sorted out. But he knew now where to go. Not to his vices, not to his money not even to his friends. But to Jesus in the adoration chapel, to Jesus in the Holy Mass and to Jesus  in the Holy bible. 

In the gospel Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. 

Why does Jesus invites us to go to him? We who are sinful and we who are beset by our many burdens. This is for the reason that Jesus loves us dearly, Jesus doesn’t want us to waste our life by finding earthy solutions to our burdens. 

Take this offer of Jesus by surrendering your life to Him. And see for yourself the miracle that He will create in your life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Disyembre 13, Santa Lucia, dalaga at martir (Paggunita): Mateo 11:28-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:28-30

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, "Lumapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na napapagal at; nabibigatan sa inyong pasanin, at kayo'y pagpapahingahin ko. 

Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok, at mag-aral kayo sa akin; ako'y maamo at mababang-loob, at makasusumpong kayo ng kapahingahan para sa inyong kaluluwa. Sapagkat maginhawang dalhin ang aking pamatok, at magaan ang pasaning ibibigay ko sa inyo."

Reflection for Tuesday December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of the Philippines (M): Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favor! The Lord is with you.' 

She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favor. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end. 

Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.' 

Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.

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Reflection:

Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe. 

The Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico in December 1531, to an indigenous peasant, named Juan Diego. After she had identified herself to him, The Virgin Mary asked that Juan build her a shrine in that same spot, in order for her to show and share her love and compassion with all believers.

 

So, Juan Diego visited Juan de Zumárraga, who was Archbishop of what is now Mexico City. Zumárraga dismissed him in disbelief and asked that Juan Diego provide proof of his story and proof of the Lady’s identity. Juan Diego returned to the hill and encountered the Virgin Mary again. The Virgin Mary told him to climb to the top of the hill and pick some flowers to present to Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga.

 

Even though it was winter and nothing should have been in bloom, Juan Diego found an abundance of flowers of a type he had never seen before. The Virgin Mary bundled the flowers into Juan's cloak, known as tilma. When Juan Diego presented the tilma of exotic flowers to Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga, the flowers fell out and he recognised them as Castilian roses, which are not found in Mexico.

 

What was even more astonishing was the tilma had been miraculously imprinted with a colorful image of the Virgin Mary. This tilma, showing the familiar image of the Virgin Mary with her head bowed and hands together in prayer, represents the Virgin of Guadalupe.

 

In 1990, Pope Saint John Paul II visited Mexico and beatified Juan Diego. 10 years later, in the year 2000, he was declared a Saint.   

Do you always submit to the wisdom God? 

Sometimes there are situations in our lives that would disturb our peace, for example a sudden diagnoses of sickness. This kind of life event will surely bother us. But in the midst of this life disturbances let us not forget that the good Lord is always there for us. To heal us, to give us hope and to assure us that He will always be there for us. 

When the angel Gabriel appeared and greeted Mary she was naturally concerned about it. Perhaps the Blessed Mother asked herself, why did this angel appear to me? What would this angel bring me; a trial that is hard for me to bear? 

But the angel told the Blessed Mother that she would bear a son and His name is Jesus. The angel additionally said that she has nothing to worry because the Lord will take care of her. Thus, the Blessed Mother humbly accepted her destiny and entrusted herself to God. 

Whatever we are going through right now or we might go through in the future. Be it sickness or severe trial that may test our fidelity to Jesus, let us hold on to our deep faith in Jesus. For as long as we have faith there would be hope and deliverance from all of life’s challenges. 

As the Blessed Mother entrusted her fate to the good Lord we too must learn to submit to God’s will for ourselves. Let us never worry for God is always there for us and never will He abandon us. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for December 11, Monday of the Second Week of Advent: Luke 5:17-26

Gospel: Luke 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. 

But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”  

Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 

He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.

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Reflection:

Do you always ask Jesus to increase your faith? 

We all have our own set of sickness: physical and emotional sickness. Whatever sickness that we may have Jesus can cure it, all He ask from us is to have faith.  The same faith as the four men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus and the paralyzed man himself.

Nothing is impossible for Jesus. He can make all things possible including the impossible! What He only asks from us is to have faith, faith that endures and faith that is willing to wait. 

The four men and the paralyzed man had that enduring faith. They braved the crowd and the difficulties before them so that they could go through Jesus. How many of us have that kind of faith and perseverance? 

We therefore must not forget to always ask the Good Lord to increase our faith for the simple reason that we are feeble and weak. In this difficult and tortuous jungle called life there are times that we tend to be overtaken by our own set of life challenges. Nevertheless, we have to have faith, move on, think  and hope that everything will be well soon.  

 Prayer:

O God, we ask you to increase our faith, we are weak and susceptible to the challenges of life. We know that you are always there for us ever ready to help us conquer those challenges. Give us the same faith of the four men who brought the paralytic to you. Give us the same, faith, patience and endurance of the paralytic as well. 

We ask this in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus. Amen. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas