The disciples of John and of the Pharisees
were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the
disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples
do not fast? Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the
bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they
cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old
cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear
gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the
wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather,
new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is Jesus desire for you? It’s to transform you so
that you could become fresh wineskin that He could pour Himself into you. Jesus
is the new wine and you are the old wineskin but Jesus doesn’t want you to
become an old wineskin any longer which cannot accept His renewing presence. He
wants you to be renewed or to be the fresh wineskin so that He could come into
your life.
What makes us old wineskins or what makes us unworthy
for the presence of Jesus? It’s our many sins, these many sins make us unworthy
before the Lord. Nevertheless, Jesus is also offering Himself to us so that he
could cleanse us and make us new once again.
Will you let Jesus into your life so that He could
make things new for you? Or you will continue to shut your heart to Jesus? The
choice is yours, if you want to remain contained in the old wineskin of sin or
you allow Jesus to renew you and liberate you from sin.
The correct choice is always to allow Jesus entry into
your life and to allow Jesus to make things new in your life once again. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
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Reflection:
What are you looking for in this world? Are you looking for popularity and riches? Are you looking for power and influence? What are you looking for?
We look for so many things in this world to find our happiness and those things that would satisfy us. Only to find out later that it will not satisfy us, so we look again and again. And it seems that the looking for mantra seems endless.
Why? Simply because we are often seeking the wrong things—things that cannot provide lasting satisfaction and contentment. For instance, can money, power, and other earthly pursuits truly satisfy us? These worldly things are incapable of providing the peace and contentment we seek.
In this Sunday’s gospel, Andrew and Simon Peter were looking for something that would not only give them peace, happiness and contentment. They were looking for something that would complete both of them and they found it in Jesus.
Therefore, when Jesus saw the two of them, He said: "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. (John 1:38-39)
If you're searching for that elusive peace, happiness and contentment, if you desire someone who will shield you from the worries of this world, look no further than Jesus. You will undoubtedly find Him if you earnestly seek Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus went out along the sea. All the
crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of
Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he
got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax
collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many
who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that
Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to
them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not
come to call the righteous but sinners.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why did Jesus call Levi to follow Him
notwithstanding his notorious reputation as a corrupt tax collector? This is
for the reason that Jesus loves sinners. He walked on this earth primarily to
save us sinners and to call us all to follow Him.
Jesus is pro-sinners and He loves sinners.
He favors the sinners, He seeks the sinners and He doesn’t judge and
discriminate the sinners. This is what happened to Levi or Matthew. Being a
sinner Jesus went to Levi to express to him that He still loves him
notwithstanding his many sins.
No matter how sinful we are, God is
continuously calling us to conversion and to follow Him just like what He has
done with Levi. He doesn’t judge us by our sins; He rather looks at our desire
to leave behind our sinfulness. The moment we decide to leave our sinful ways
we can always be assured of the Lord’s peace and abiding presence.
It is always us who creates detachment
from Jesus and not Jesus detaching Himself from us. This occurs
when we commit sins and continuously ignore Jesus’ call for repentance. Jesus
is just a prayer away, ever ready to embrace us with His love and forgiveness
the moment we decide to walk-away from our sinful ways.
Would you respond to Jesus’ call of
repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after
some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that
there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he
preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by
four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the
crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they
let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith,
he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were
sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is
blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things
in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the
paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once, and
went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God,
saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Would you be willing to help someone in
need?
We can gain a lot of valuable insights in
today’s gospel reading, insights about faith by the four men who brought to
Jesus the paralytic. Insights about forgiveness of our sins and spiritual as
well as physical healing.
However, there are two more insights that
we can learn in this gospel. Insight on humility; the four that brought the
paralytic to Jesus were so humble that they immediately evaporated after
they’ve brought the sick man to Jesus. They did not care if they would be
recognized for their heroic act. The four men obviously had no bloated egos. So
unlike many of us who always want to be recognized and seen whenever we do good
for our others.
The other insight that we can learn here
is to be more sensitive to the needs of those who are in greater need than us.
Sometimes we are so concerned about our own needs that we tend to forget the
greater need of others. Hence, we become very selfish instead of selfless.
The four humble men were selfless, perhaps
they were also in need of Jesus. But they saw that the paralytic was in greater
need than them and need to be immediately healed by Jesus. They’ve sacrificed
their own need to address the pressing need of the paralytic. They channeled
every ounce of their energies so that they could help the paralytic, even
opening up the roof of the house to bring him down in front of Jesus.
Would you also be willing to help someone
in need? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
A leper came to him and kneeling down
begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean. Moved with pity, he
stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be
made clean. The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then,
warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one
anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what
Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them. The man went away and began to
publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was
impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted
places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who does the leper represent today? It’s all of us who
are sinners. When Jesus was approached by the leper Jesus did not run away from
Him. He instead stayed, had pity on the leper, offered his healing hand to
touch and clean him of his contagious disease.
For the reason of their disease lepers were treated as
outcast they were not allowed to mingle with the people. For fear that they may
pass their sickness to those that they would be in touch with. Sounds familiar?
Yes, very much like those who got sick with Covid-19 during the pandemic they
are also isolated so that they would not be able to infect others. But Jesus
never run from the leper He instead did the contrary by offering His healing
hand and right there the man was immediately healed.
This is Jesus for all of us! Merciful, full of love
and compassion for all of us. Never minding if we are sinners and never
judgmental with the sins that we have committed. What is important for the Lord
is we approach Him with humility, trust and repentance.
We bare ourselves to Him and tell Him, “I strip myself
of anything that makes me unworthy before you O Lord heal me and forgive me.”
Let us remember that nothing is impossible for Jesus, He makes all things
possible including the impossible.
What are the sins that you have committed? Do
you think that you are already unworthy for the reason of your many sins? No,
you are still worthy and precious in the eyes of Jesus. Humbly approach Him and
please tell Him: Heal me O Lord! – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may isang
ketonging lumapit kay Hesus, nanikluhod at nagmakaawa: “Kung ibig po ninyo’y
mapagagaling ninyo ako.” Nahabag si Hesus at hinipo siya, sabay ang wika, “Ibig
ko. Gumaling ka!” Noon di’y nawala ang ketong at gumaling ang tao. Pinaalis
siya agad ni Hesus matapos ang ganitong mahigpit na bilin: “Huwag mong
sasabihin ito kaninuman.
Sa
halip ay pasuri ka sa saserdote. Pagkatapos, maghandog ka ayon sa iniutos ni
Moises, upang patunayan sa mga tao na ikaw ay magaling na.” Ngunit umalis siya
at bagkus ipinamalita ang nangyari, anupat hindi na hayagang makapasok ng bayan
si Hesus. Naroon na lamang siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na pook, at doon
pinagsasadya ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t ibang dako.
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
There’s a story of an arrogant man who would always want to dominate anyone who would be associated with him. Eventually he noticed that he would always be deserted by his friends. He also became aware that even his family would oftentimes avoid being associated with him.
He knew deep in his heart that the reason of their aversion towards him was caused by his dominating and arrogant behavior. So, he prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal him of his arrogance. After a few weeks those around him noticed a change in his behavior.
From being arrogant he became humbler, understanding and not anymore dominating like a dictator. With the sudden change of his behavior he gained more friends and the harmony with his family was restored.
Is prayer for the healing of our mind, body and soul always part of our daily prayers to Jesus? Perhaps not because we oftentimes confine Jesus’ healing to physical sickness. But in reality, Jesus doesn’t only heal physical sickness He can heal everything that ails us. For example, our sickness called arrogance, our sickness called greed, our sickness called lust and so forth. All of these can be healed by Jesus.
We must not confine Jesus healing to physical healing only for the simple reason that Jesus physical healings are but a surface of His infinite power. Jesus can heal everything that ails us, including sickness that nobody knows except us; we simply have to humbly ask Him for this healing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the
Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his
teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In
their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you
to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the
Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The
unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were
amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He
commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere
throughout the whole region of Galilee.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the modern day unclean spirits that could
possess us now? It’s our greed, our lack of concern for others, our arrogance, our
lustful desires and the like. Who can defeat these evil spirits that enslaves
us? It’s Jesus and our faith in him! But the big question isDo we always communicate with Jesus through
our prayers? Do we thirst for Jesus by always desiring to partake of His body
at Holy Mass?
Evil/unclean spirit has no chance to possess us when
we are always in union with Jesus. Those who are possessed by evil spirits are
those who distance themselves from Jesus. Just try to always get connected with
Jesus and you will see that you will always be shielded from the possession of
the evil one.
In today's gospel, Jesus forcefully commanded the evil
spirit that possessed the man to leave him. The evil spirit had no choice but
to obey Jesus' authoritative command. Why? Because Jesus possesses power and
authority over everything, including the numerous modern-day evils that control
us!
But come to think of it, why was the man in our gospel
possessed by an unclean spirit? Why was he among the many people in the
synagogue? He was lacking in faith in Jesus and perhaps he was living his life
in sin otherwise he would have not been possessed.
Let us always strive to always get in touch with Jesus
for He is always there for us and let us always live righteous lives. By doing
so we free ourselves from the possession of the devil and the many modern-day
evils that lurks around us today.
Do you always create time to reach out to Jesus and
are you living a righteous life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sa lungsod ng Capernaum sa Araw ng
Pamamahinga si Jesus ay pumasok sa sinagoga at nagturo. Namangha ang mga tao
sapagkat nagturo siya sa kanila na parang isang may kapangyarihan, at hindi
tulad ng mga eskriba. Bigla namang pumasok sa sinagoga ang isang inaalihan ng
masamang espiritu, at sumigaw: "Ano ang pakialam mo sa amin, Jesus na
taga-Nazaret?
Kilala
kita: Ikaw ang Banal na mula sa Diyos!"
Ngunit
iniutos ni Jesus sa masamang espiritu , "Tumahimik ka! Lumabas ka sa
kanya!" Pinapangisay ng masamang espiritu ang tao, at sumisigaw na
lumabas. Nanggilalas ang lahat, kaya't sila'y nagtanungan. "Ano ito?
Bagong aral? Nauutusan niya pati ang masasamang espiritu. At sinunod naman
siya!" At mabilis na kumalat sa buong Galilea ang balita tungkol kay
Jesus.
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and
loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
It happened in those days that Jesus came from
Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of
the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove,
descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my
beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you still
remember the date of your baptism and the priest that administered your baptism?
Perhaps you don’t remember anymore for the simple reason that it was a long long
time ago. But should we strive to remember the date of our baptism? we
should because it is through our baptism that we became members of the
Catholic/Universal church.
Our Baptism is not only a rite or a Sacrament it
is also a responsibility that we need to fulfill and what is the
responsibility? The responsibility is to help Jesus spread the faith.
Therefore, through baptism we become one with the mission of the church.
In the gospel, Jesus was baptized by John in the
Jordan river it was not a mere ceremonial baptism. It was a baptism that signaled the beginning of the mission of Jesus. Thus, after baptism Jesus
commenced His mission of salvation.
We have to be gently reminded that we always share in
the mission of Jesus by virtue of our baptism. Hence, we have to ask ourselves:
Have I already shared the gospel of Christ and am I living right now the
teachings of the gospel? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinasabi ni Juan
Bautista sa kanyang pangangaral: “Darating na kasunod ko ang isang
makapangyarihan kaysa sa akin: ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng
kanyang mga panyapak. Binibinyagan ko kayo sa tubig, ngunit bibinyagan niya
kayo sa Espiritu Santo.”
Hindi
nagluwat, dumating si Hesus mula sa Nazaret, Galilea, at siya’y bininyagan ni
Juan sa Ilog-Jordan. Pagkaahung-pagkaahon ni Hesus sa tubig ay nakita niyang
nabuksan ang kalangitan, at bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu na gaya ng isang
kalapati. At isang tinig ang nagmula sa langit: “Ikaw ang minamahal kong Anak,
lubos kitang kinalulugdan.”
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in
the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the
scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through
the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the
rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my
people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly and
ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to
Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have
found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their
audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at
its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the
child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on
entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated
themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not
to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who was thinking
of something that he can give Jesus this 2024. So, he was asking himself: What
can I give Jesus this year being the year of Prayer? Then, he immediately
answered his question by saying; “I will be prayerful and I will teach others
how to pray.
The Magi from the East presented extraordinary
gifts to the baby Jesus—Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gold symbolized Jesus'
kingship, Frankincense signified that the child Jesus was to be worshipped, and
Myrrh, traditionally used for anointing the dead, foreshadowed His eventual
death on the cross.
What is the best gift you could give Jesus this
year? Is it your time and strength for the furtherance of the gospel, or is it
your treasure and knowledge? Whatever it may be, give Jesus nothing less than
your very best. Do not mind what it will cost you; you have to give Jesus what
He truly deserves, for He is your Lord and Savior.
Sometimes it is very hard to give especially if
we will not immediately receive something in return. Many of us find it
difficult to give to Jesus because He does not physically reciprocate our
generosity.
But, where can we find Jesus in this era of
social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram and so forth? Can we find
Jesus in these social media platforms? No, we cannot find Jesus there.
Jesus is in the poor you pass by every day, in
the hungry and homeless you always see, and in anyone who desperately needs your
help. Have you ever felt the desire to give them something, but you held back?
Don’t hold back when you see or pass by them
again. Give them something, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to
you. For that something means the world to them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen
the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came
from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up
out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a
dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my
beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What would you do when you’re given the
opportunity to bask in the glory of your achievements? Do you point to yourself
as the sole anchor of your achievements? Or do you point to Jesus as the one
who is responsible for the glory and achievement that you are presently
enjoying right now?
John pointed to Jesus as the one - the
mighty one which he is not even worthy to be compared. This is what John said
about Jesus: I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his
sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit (Mark 1:7-8).”
John had the opportunity to claim the
peoples’ adulation and bask in the limelight but he never did. Why? For the
simple reason that John perfectly knew his role, he is only the precursor. John
knew that he is not the actor which occupies the starring role.
Whatever achievement we have or attain, we
should always learn to point to Jesus as the anchor and the originator of our
achievement. For the simple reason that everything emanates from Him and
without Him in our lives we are nothing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinasabi ni Juan
Bautista sa kanyang pangangaral: “Darating na kasunod ko ang isang
makapangyarihan kaysa sa akin: ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng
kanyang mga panyapak. Binibinyagan ko kayo sa tubig, ngunit bibinyagan niya
kayo sa Espiritu Santo.”
Hindi
nagluwat, dumating si Hesus mula sa Nazaret, Galilea, at siya’y bininyagan ni
Juan sa Ilog-Jordan. Pagkaahung-pagkaahon ni Hesus sa tubig ay nakita niyang
nabuksan ang kalangitan, at bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu na gaya ng isang
kalapati. At isang tinig ang nagmula sa langit: “Ikaw ang minamahal kong Anak,
lubos kitang kinalulugdan.”
