Reflection for January 20, Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:20-21

Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

There is a story about an intelligent young man who decided to enter the seminary against the will of his parents. Being poor and the only child his parents wanted him to be a doctor so that he’ll become rich and eventually take care of them when they become old. But he was adamant in his desire thus he was labelled as someone who is out of His mind by his relatives and friends. 

Jesus too was called as someone who is out of his mind by his relatives because He chose to live the life of an itinerant preacher and healer. He chose to fight for the poor and oppressed, he chose to go against some of the Jewish laws specifically the law of the Sabbath. Thus earning the ire of the powerful Jewish elite. 

Be not afraid to tread the less travelled road of Jesus. Follow it for so long as you are not steeping on the toes of anyone and you’re not doing any wrong. They may oppose it now but in God’s time they surely would be enlightened and they will understand you. 

The voice of God is much superior than any worldly voice. You therefore have to hear it and follow it notwithstanding the contradiction and opposition. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 20, Sabado sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:20-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:20-21

Noong panahong iyon, pag-uwi ni Jesus, muling nagkatipon ang napakaraming tao, anupa't hindi man lamang makuhang kumain ni Jesus at ng kanyang mga alagad. Nang mabalitaan ito ng kanyang mga kasambahay, sila'y pumaroon upang kaunin siya, sapagkat ang sabi ng mga tao, "Nasisiraan siya ng bait!"

Reflection for January 19, Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:13-19

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: 

He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is your responsibility as a follower of Jesus? 

Your responsibility is to help Jesus spread the faith; to share it with humility through your words and actions.  This is what the twelve apostles did and we must follow it. Every now and then God constantly reminds us of this responsibility. That we need to do something in our lifetime to spread our faith for the simple reason that it’s not hard anymore to do this now. 

We have the technology at our disposal to make a difference and reach out to those who are not properly schooled about our faith. We have our family (Our domestic church) to share our faith and we have our extended relatives and close friends to share it with.   

What have we done so far to be like the apostles who fearlessly shared the faith? Are we living the faith with humility? Have we invited our dormant catholic family and friends to reignite the fire of their faith by shepherding them to church for Mass? 

we have to do something to spread the faith for us to live a meaningful life in this world. Enough of chasing the riches of this world for it will not give us contentment. Enough of living a worldly and sinful life for it will never ever give us peace and peace of mind. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 19, Biyernes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:13-19

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:13-19

Noong panahong iyon, umahon si Hesus sa kaburulan, kasama ang kanyang mga pinili. Humirang siya ng labindalawa na tinawag niyang mga apostol upang maging kasa-kasama niya, suguing mangaral, at bigyan ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng mga demonyo.  

Ito ang labindalawang hinirang niya: Si Simon na tinagurian niya ng Pedro, Si Santiago at si Juan, na mga anak ni Zebedeo, sila’y tinagurian niyang Boanerges, na ibig sabihi’y mapupusok; sina Andres, Felipe, Bartolome, Mateo, Santiago na anak ni Alfeo, at Tadeo; si Simon na makabayan, at si Judas Iscariote na siyang nagkanulo sa kanya.

Reflection for January 18, Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:7-12

Gospel: Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. 

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Are you a follower of Jesus? 

 Everyone from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre and Sidon want to have a glimpse of Jesus. During this gospel episode Jesus was like a popular celebrity who attracts people from different places. 

What was the moving force of their attraction to Jesus? It was Jesus’ miracles and healings. But when Jesus stopped doing miracles and was already being tortured, made fun of and then killed by the roman soldiers. Only a few dared to follow Him until the end majority of them evaporated like a dew in the morning.

Such is life, almost everyone wants to be attached to us and to know us if we are powerful and popular. But notice also that when we do not have power anymore, when we grow old and get sick. Only a few will remember us, those who would stay by our side will be the few true relatives and friends. 

Jesus is not concerned as to who will be staying by His side. What is primordial in His mind is to help.  In like manner we too are being urged to help without any discrimination. No matter who they are no matter if they would be loyal to us until the end or not. What is always important is we do good and we live the teachings of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 18, Huwebes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:7-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:7-12

Noong panahong iyos, umalis si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad at nagpunta sa tabi ng lawa. Sinundan siya ng maraming tao buhat sa Galilea. Nagdatingan din naman ang napakaraming tao mula sa Judea, sa Jerusalem, sa Idumea, sa ibayo ng Jordan, at sa palibot ng Tiro at Sidon nang mabalitaan nila ang lahat ng ginawa ni Jesus.  

Nagpahanda si Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad ng isang bangkang magagamit niya, upang hindi siya maipit ng mga taong dumaragsa. Marami na siyang pinagaling, kaya't pinagdumugan siya ng lahat ng maysakit upang mahipo man lamang nila. Bawat inaalihan ng masamang espiritu na makakita sa kanya ay nagpapatirapa sa harapan niya at sumisigaw, "Ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos!" At mahigpit silang pinagbawalan ni Jesus; ayaw niyang ipasabi kung sino siya.

Reflection for Wednesday January 17, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot: Mark 3:1-6

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 

Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you strictly observe the law or  you  sometimes bend the law so that the mercy, love and compassion of Jesus could be seen through you? 

The question of observing the Sabbath day crops up again in the gospel. And  Jesus proves once again that it is far more important for Him to make a big difference in the lives of the people. Than observe the Sabbath day as what He did when He cured a man with a withered hand amidst the protestation of the Pharisees. 

The gospel is silent if the sick man had faith but he was obedient, when Jesus told him: “Come up here.” He simply followed without question. Our obedience to the teachings of the good Lord can do us a lot of good if only we would learn to follow it. 

Jesus was also aware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He knew that they were there to watch and denounce His every move. For the simple reason that He was slowly becoming a threat to their dominance in their society. 

In the same manner, Jesus is also aware of our own hypocrisy towards Him. If we are only using His name to gain dominance and popularity in our respective field of influence. And if we are only using His name to advance our own selfish interest. – Marino J. Dasmarinas         

Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Enero 17, San Antonio Abad (Paggunita): Marcos 3:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:1-6

Noong panahong iyon, muling pumasok si Jesus sa sinagoga, at naratnan niya roon ang isang lalaking patay ang isang kamay. Kaya't binantayan si Jesus ng ilang taong naroon upang tingnan kung pagagalingin niya ang lalaking iyon sa Araw ng Pamamahinga, para may maiparatang sila sa kanya.  

Tinawag ni Jesus ang lalaking patay ang kamay: "Halika rito sa unahan!" Tinanong niya pagkatapos ang mga tao, "Alin ba ang ayon sa Kautusan: ang gumawa ng mabuti o gumawa ng masama sa Araw ng Pamamahinga? Magligtas ng buhay o pumatay?"Ngunit hindi sila sumagot.  

Habang tinitingnan ni Jesus ang mga nasa paligid niya, galit at lungkot ang nabadha sa kanyang mukha, dahil sa katigasan ng kanilang ulo. Bumaling siya sa lalaki at sinabi, "Iunat mo ang iyong kamay." Iniunat naman ng lalaki ang kanyang kamay at ito'y gumaling. Umalis ang mga Pariseo at nakipagsabwatan sa mga kampon ni Herodes upang ipapatay si Jesus.

Reflection for January 16, Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath? He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?  

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest  and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions? Then he said to them “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Why was Jesus so popular with the common people? This is for the reason that He violates some religious norms of the Pharisees for the greater good of the people that He loves so dearly.  For example, the picking of grain during Sabbath day, doing this was prohibited based on the Jewish religion. But Jesus dared to violate this law for the good of His disciples. 

Laws or religious norms are good for the reason that it teaches us obedience and discipline. But there are times that we have to violate it so that it could serve a higher and nobler purpose. In the gospel the nobler or higher purpose why Jesus violated the Sabbath law was to feed the hungry stomachs of His disciples.  

Jesus violated the Sabbath law because humans are more important that laws. We  can amend a law or extinguish the life of a law but would we be willing to extinguish the life of a human being to serve the law?  

In a deeper sense Jesus is teaching us that the important need of a person (In this case the need for food) is far more important than any law. For Jesus it’s always the good of the people than the observance of any kind of religious law/s.  

This norm of Jesus stands until today we are His priority more than any other rule/law in this world. How about you? Is Jesus your priority more than any other undertaking in this world? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 16, Martes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:23-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:23-28

Isang Araw ng Pamamahinga, naparaan si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad sa tabi ng triguhan. Habang daa'y nangingitil ng uhay ang mga alagad, Kaya't sinabi ng mga Pariseo kay Jesus, "Tingnan mo ang ginagawa ng iyong mga alagad. Bawal iyan kung Araw ng Pamamahinga!"  

Sinagot sila ni Jesus, "Hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa ang ginawa ni David noong si Abitar ang pinakapunong saserdote? Nang siya at kanyang mga kasama'y magutom at walang makain, pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos at kumain ng tinapay na handog sa Diyos. Ayon sa Kautusan, ang mga saserdote lamang ang may karapatang kumain niyon, ngunit kinain iyon ni David, at binigyan pa ang kanyang mga kasama.  

Sinabi pa ni Jesus, "Itinakda ang Araw ng Pamamahinga para sa kabutihan ng tao; hindi nilikha ang tao para sa Araw ng Pamamahinga. Kaya't maging ang Araw ng Pamamahinga ay nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Anak ng Tao."    

Reflection for January 15, Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:18-22

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

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  

Ang Mabuting Enero 15, Lunes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:18-22

Noong panahong iyon, nag-aayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista at mga Pariseo. May lumapit kay Jesus at nagtanong, "Bakit po nag-aayuno ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista at ang mga alagad ng mga Pariseo, ngunit ang mga alagad ninyo'y hindi?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Makapag-aayuno ba ang mga panauhin sa kasalan samantalang kasama nila ang lalaking ikinasal? Hindi! Kapag wala na ang ikinasal, saka pa lamang sila mag-aayuno. 

"Walang nagtatagpi ng bagong kayo sa lumang kasuutan; pag urong ng bagong kayo, mababatak ang luma at lalong lalaki ang punit. Wala rin namang nagsisilid ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat. Kapwa masasayang ang alak at ang sisidlan. Bagong alak, bagong sisidlang-balat!"

Reflection for Sunday January 14, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 1:35-42

Gospel: John 1:35-42

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.

 + + + + + +

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

Ang Mabuting Balita para Enero 14, Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 1:35-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 1:35-42

Noong panahong iyon, naroon uli si Juan at ang dalawa sa kanyang mga alagad. Nakita niya si Jesus na nagdaraan, at kanyang sinabi, "Ito ang Kordero ng Diyos!" Narinig ng dalawang alagad ang sinabi niya, at sumunod sila kay Jesus. Lumingon si Jesus at nang makitang sumusunod sila ay kanyang tinanong, "Ano ang hinahanap ninyo?"  

Sumagot sila, "Saan po kayo nakatira, Rabi?" Ang kahulugan ng salitang ito'y Guro. "Halikayo at tingnan ninyo," ani Jesus. Sumama sila at nakita nila ang kanyang tinitirhan; at tumuloy sila roon ng araw na yaon. Noo'y mag-iikaapat na ng hapon. Ang isa sa dalawang nakarinig kay Juan at sumunod kay Jesus ay si Andres na kapatid ni Simon Pedro. 

Una niyang hinanap ang kapatid niyang ito, at kanyang sinabi sa kanya, "Natagpuan namin ang Mesias!" Ang kahulugan ng salitang ito'y Cristo. At siya'y isinama ni Andres kay Jesus. Tiningnan ni Jesus si Simon at sinabi sa kanya, 'Ikaw si Simon na anak ni Juan. ang ipangangalan sa iyo'y Cefas." Ang katumbas ng pangalang ito'y Pedro.