“Sino ang aking ina at mga kapatid?” ani Hesus. Tumingin siya sa mga nakaupo sa palibot niya at nagwika: “Ito ang aking ina at mga kapatid! Sapagkat ang sinumang tumatalima sa kalooban ng Diyos; ay siya kong ina at mga kapatid.”
Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Monday, January 22, 2024
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 23, Martes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:31-35
Friday, January 19, 2024
Reflection for January 22, Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:22-30
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say
to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but
is guilty of an everlasting sin. For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.
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Reflection:
What comes to your mind when you hear or read about Satan? Is it the usual concept of a dark and frightening figure with horns and tail?
The Satan is real but it doesn’t appear as what we’ve usually conceived it to be. Often times it disguises itself using other means so that we would not be able to identify it. Satan is real, in fact he is always around us taking his time until it sees an opportunity to take control of us.
It disguises itself in the appearance of an attractive woman or an attractive man whom we still crave to covet even if we’re already committed or married. It disguises itself through a friend who wants to bring us to sleazy clubs and other sinful places.
It masquerades as an uncontrollable sexual desire that tries very hard to take control of us. It presents itself in the form of money that will try to enslave and control us until such time that we already make it our God hence it will eventually destroy us.
Who can defeat Satan or the Devil? It’s
Jesus! We therefore have to know more about Jesus by reading the bible most
especially the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and by our frequent
presence at Holy Mass. So that we can easily ward off Satan the moment he
presents himself to us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Enero 22, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:22-30
Kapag naglaban-laban ang nasasakupan ng isang kaharian, hindi
mananatili ang kahariang iyon. At kapag naglaban-laban ang magkakasambahay,
hindi mananatili ang sambahayang iyon. Gayun din naman, kapag naghimagsik si
Satanas laban sa kanyang sarili at naglaban-laban ang kanyang nasasakupan,
hindi magtatagal at darating ang kanyang wakas.
“Walang makapapasok sa bahay ng isang taong malakas at makaaagaw
ng kanyang ari-arian, malibang gapusin muna niya ang taong iyon. Saka pa lamang
niya malolooban ang bahay na iyon.
“Tandaan
ninyo ito: maaaring ipatawad sa mga tao ang lahat ng kasalanan at panlalait
nila sa Diyos, ngunit ang sinumang lumait sa Espiritu Santo ay hindi
mapatatawad. Ang kanyang kasalanan ay hindi mapapawi kailanman.” Sinabi ito ni
Hesus sapagkat ang sabi ng ilan, “Inaalihan siya ng masamang Espiritu.”
Monday, January 15, 2024
Reflection for Sunday January 21, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:14-20
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
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Reflection:
What is the prerequisite for following Jesus? It is repentance and belief in His gospel message, we cannot follow without repentance and firm belief in His gospel message.
When Simon, Andrew, James and John responded to His call they did not simply respond. Along with their response to Jesus came their desire to repent. They also did not only leave behind their livelihood and families they also left behind their sinfulness and anything that made them sin.
When the four of them joined Jesus to become fishers of men, they were already renewed by the Lord. Additionally, Jesus equipped them with everything they would need as they embarked on their mission.
What is the relevance of the gospel to us and to our faith life? We too are being called by Jesus to a life of renewal and repentance. We too are being called by Jesus to follow Him and become fishers of men. Why does Jesus calls us to a life of renewal and repentance? This is for the reason that we are all sinners, no one of us is without sin.
Will you respond to this call of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Enero 21, Ikatlong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:14-20
Samantalang naglalakad si Hesus sa tabi ng Lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya ang magkapatid na Simon at Andres na naghahagis ng lambat, “Sumama kayo sa akin at kayo’y gagawin kong mamamalakaya ng tao.” Pagdaka’y iniwan nila ang kanilang lambat, at sumunod sa kanya.
Nagpatuloy siya ng paglakad, at sa di kalayuan ay nakita niya ang magkapatid na Santiago at Juan, mga anak ni Zebedeo. SIla’y nasa kanilang bangka at naghahayuma ng mga lambat. Tinawag din sila ni Hesus at sumunod naman sa kanya. Iniwan nila sa bangka ang kanilang ama, kasama ng mga taong upahan.
Reflection for Sunday January 21, Feast of the Sto. Nino in the Philippines: Mark 10:13-16
Gospel: Mark 10:13-16
Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
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Reflection:
Today is the Feast of the Santo NiƱo or Holy Child, this is a special feast celebrated by the church here in the Philippines, authorized by the Vatican.
Have you already educated your children about Jesus?
Jesus rebuked the disciples who prevented the children from approaching Him. He said, 'Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these' (Mark 10:14). This is because children are still untainted by sin and they are innocent.
The words of Jesus are timeless, it is always in season. So, when He said, let the children come to me it is also for the parents today. He tells us today, bring your children to me; teach them about me and introduce them to me because if you will not, they will become creatures of this world.
Many modern parents today don’t care to educate their children about Jesus. Yet they care to introduce even teach them how to operate modern gadgets. Such as smartphones and other hi-tech gadgets, which do no good to their eyesight and distract them from developing good study habits.
The mistake of many parents nowadays is this; they forget to educate their children about Jesus. Because they were not brought up that way thus they perpetuate this mistake. Let us correct this error by teaching and bringing closer our children to Jesus. Why? Because, if we do that we are assuring our children of a safe and bright future ahead of them.
Have you educated your children about Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Enero 21 Linggo, Kapistahan ng Santo Nino: Marcos 10:13-16
Ito ang tandaan ninyo: ang sinumang hindi
tumatanggap sa paghahari ng Diyos tulad ng isang maliit na bata ay hindi
mapapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian niya.” At kinalong ni Hesus ang mga bata,
ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanila at pinagpala sila.
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Reflection for January 20, Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:20-21
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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
Reflection for January 19, Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:13-19
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.
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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
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
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.
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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
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
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.
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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