Reflection for March 8, Friday of the Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

How do we manifest our love for God? 

To love God is to discover more about Him, thus we need to thirst and hunger for Him. We need to always be present at Holy Mass and feel His presence there.  We need to read the bible and be faithful to its teachings. 

If we would read the first four gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we would have a better appreciation of the true to life story of Jesus.  To love God is to live His teachings as well. 

After we have fully expressed our love for God the next commandment will automatically set in (We shall love our neighbor as ourselves). What is this love for our neighbor? Is this a selective kind of love or an encompassing love? 

The love for our neighbor should always be an encompassing love and not a selective love. This means that we have to love our neighbor whoever that neighbor might be and whatever offense/s that our neighbor has committed against us.

Sometimes, this is where we are deficient because we only choose the neighbor that we love. Hence, we obviously choose the neighbor who gives us love, and those who don’t give us love, we also don’t love them. But this has to change so we would also love this neighbor who doesn’t love us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 7, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons. Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.  

And if Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.  

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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Reflection:

Do you believe in Jesus as your Lord and savior? In the gospel for today, after casting out the demon from a man, Jesus was accused of being one with the demons. They obviously did not believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior. They also can’t believe that Jesus is capable of performing this miracle with good intentions in His heart. Otherwise, they would not have accused Him of being one with the demons.

Who is one with the demons? Is it Jesus or the ones who refuse to believe in Him? There are only two options that we have in this world to believe in Jesus or not to believe in Jesus. To believe means that we should walk the path of Jesus for we can’t say that we believe yet we don’t walk the path of Jesus. Those who don’t believe are those who are vulnerable to the company and possession of the devil. 

Many of the people of today are like those in the time of Jesus who did not believe in Him. For what reasons? Perhaps they are so obsessed with their own selves. That they regard themselves as somebody who know better than Jesus that’s why they don’t believe. Or they believe but they don’t follow the teachings of Jesus.  

But the consequence of not believing in Jesus is enormous. First and foremost is they invite the devil to possess them. And once they are already possessed by the devil they now are capable of doing evil without any guilt of conscience.  

This is the reason why there are mothers who abort their unborn child without any guilt of conscience. This is the reason why there are married couples who engaged in adulterous relationships without guilt of conscience. They are capable of doing these despicable acts because they’ve allowed themselves to be possessed by the devil.      

But there’s still hope for as long as there are people like you who believe in Jesus. People like you who will stand for the teachings and values of Jesus. People like you who will value the gift of life more than the evil of abortion and wicked convenience. 

And people like you who will respect the sanctity of the marriage covenant and not succumb to wicked, evil and lustful desires enticed by the devil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas                

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 7, Huwebes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 11:14-23

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:14-23

Noong panahong iyon, pinalayas ni Jesus ang isang demonyong sanhi ng pagkapipi ng isang lalaki, at ito'y nakapagsalita na mula noon. Nanggilalas ang mga tao, ngunit may ilan sa kanila ang nagsabi, "Si Beelzebul na prinsipe ng mga demonyo ang nagbigay sa kanya ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng mga demonyo." 

May iba namang nais siyang subukin, kaya't nagsabi, "Magpakita ka ng kababalaghang magpapakilala na ang Diyos ang sumasaiyo. Ngunit batid ni Jesus ang kanilang iniisip, kaya't sinabi sa kanila, "babagsak ang bawat kahariang nahahati sa magkakalabang pangkat at mawawasak ang mga bahay roon. 

Kung maghimagsik si Satanas laban sa kanyang sarili, paano mananatili ang kanyang kaharian? Sinasabi ninyong nagpapalayas ako ng demonyo sapagkat binigyan ako ni Beelzebul ng kapangyarihang ito. Kung ako'y nagpapalayas ng demonyo sa pamamagitan ni Beelzebul, sino naman ang nagbigay ng kapangyarihan sa inyong mga tagasunod na magbigay na makagawa ng gayon? 

Sila na rin ang nagpapatunay na maling-mali kayo. Ngayon, kung ako'y nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos, nangangahulugang dumating na sa inyo ang paghahari ng Diyos. 

"Kapag ang isang taong malakas at nasasandatahan ay nagbabantay sa kanyang bahay, malayo sa panganib ang kanyang ari-arian. Ngunit kung salakayin siya at talunin ng isang taong higit na malakas, sasamsamin nito ang mga sandatang kanyang inaasahan at ipamamahagi ang ari-ariang inagaw. 

"Ang hindi panig sa akin ay laban sa akin, at nagkakalat ang hindi tumutulong sa aking mag-ipon.

Reflection for March 6, Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.   

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

What will happen to us if we would always observe the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17) and the two greatest commandments that Jesus gave us (Matthew 22:36-40)? We surely would move closer to Jesus, we would grow in faith and there would be peace in our lives.    

This is the price that awaits those who would observe the laws of God. Without close observance of God’s commandments there would also be no close relationship with God. Observe those who don’t follow the commandments of God or observe your very own self when you don’t follow God’s commandments. What kind of life do you have? Isn’t a life of chaos, disturbance and endless problems?   

Therefore the key to friendship with God is our faithful observance of His commandments. But human as we are we are subject to our own frailties. We fall and sin every once in a while and thus we are temporarily separated from the love of God.    

However Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that whenever we sin we have a recourse out of sin. But even if we have a recourse let us not abuse it by saying that, we will sin because there is the Sacrament of Reconciliation anyway.   

Let us always be conscious that sin separates us from the love of God. We therefore have to endeavor to always remain within the ambit of the love of God. Hence, we always have to despise sin in whatever forms and shapes because this is the only path for us to live a peaceful life in this world.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 6, Miyerkules sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 5:17-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-19

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Huwag ninyong akalaing naparito ako upang pawalang bisa ang Kautusan at ang aral ng mga propeta. Naparito ako, hindi upang pawalang-bisa kundi para ipaliwanag at ganapin ang mga iyon. Tandaan ninyo ito: magwawakas ang langit at ang lupa, ngunit ang kaliit-liitang bahagi ng Kautusan ay di mawawalan ng bisa hangga't hindi nagaganap ang lahat. 

Kaya't sinumang magpawalang-halaga kahit sa kaliit-liitang bahagi nito, at magturo nang gayon sa mga tao, ay ibibilang na pinakamababa sa kaharian ng Diyos. Ngunit ang gumaganap ng Kautusan at nagtuturo na tuparin iyon ay ibibilang na dakila sa kaharian ng Diyos."

Reflection for March 5, Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: 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:

Why is it that many of us are not able to forgive? This is for the reason that we think highly of ourselves and we think that we are superior than the person who sinned against us. Unforgiveness also emanates from our arrogance, pride and lack of humility. Unforgiveness is also a sign that we love ourselves more than we love Jesus.  

If we truly love Jesus and if we really are humble we would be forgiving no matter how deep the wound that had been inflicted upon us. For example, if a wayward spouse would ask for forgiveness we would think deeply upon it and would eventually forgive.  

If we continue to harbor hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts, we are only creating an invisible prison cell within ourselves—a prison cell that perpetually punishes and enslaves us.

In the gospel, Peter asked Jesus: “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 (Matthew 18:21-22). This simply means that forgiveness should be never-ending or limitless.  

Those who are humble, compassionate and those who deeply love Jesus are the only ones capable of unlimited forgiveness. Are you forgiving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 5, Martes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: 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 March 4, Monday of the Third Week in Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.  

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection: 

How does God give His blessings?  God gives His blessings to anyone that He pleases and He surely doesn’t play the game of favoritism.  

If God has favorites among us because we are prayerful or because we attend Holy Mass and do noble acts. Our worship for God would now be motivated by our actions focused to get His favor.  Therefore our worship for God is not anymore motivated by our love for Him. It’s now rather motivated by the result that we want from Him.   

In the gospel Jesus shared the story of a Syrian named Naaman who was sick with leprosy. There were also many lepers in Israel around that time but God chose to heal a non Israelite named  Naaman. 

Jesus cited the story of Naaman to send a strong message to those who were listening to Him in the synagogue. That they cannot gain God’s favor by means of their self-serving acts of piety or worship for God that has selfish motivations.  

This is a good point of reflection for all of us for we may be doing things for God with selfish motives. Or we do things for God and our fellowmen because we want something in return from God.  

For example we would say to God, I will serve you but I request you to bless my family in return. But this is not how it is because our ways is not God’s ways, we cannot force God to do something because we want Him to do it for us.   

When we do acts for God let us make sure that we primarily do it because of our deep love for God. No other motives than our deep love for God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 4, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 4:5-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4:5-42

Noong panahong iyon: Dumating si Hesus sa isang bayan sa Samaria, na tinatawag na Sicar, malapit sa bukid na ibinigay ni Jacob sa kanyang anak na si Jose. Dito matatagpuan ang balon ni Jacob. Umupo si Hesus sa tabi nito, sapagkat siya’y napagod sa paglalakbay. Halos katanghaliang-tapat na noon.

May isang Samaritanang dumating upang umigib. SInabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Maari bang makiinom?” Wala noon ang kanyang mga alagad sapagkat bumili ng pagkain sa bayan. Sinabi sa kanya ng Samaritana, “Kayo’y Judio at Samaritana ako! Bakit kayo humihingi sa akin ng inumin?” Sapagkat, ‘hindi nakikitungo ang mga Judio sa mga Samaritano. Sumagot si Hesus, “Kung alam lamang ninyo kung ano ang ipinagkakaloob ng Diyos, at kung sino itong humihingi sa inyo ng inumin, marahil ay kayo ang hihingi sa kanya, at kayo nama’y bibigyan niya ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay.” 

“Ginoo,” wika ng babae, “malalim ang balong ito at wala man lamang kayong panalok. Saan kayo kukuha ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay? Higit pa ba kayo kaysa aming ninunong si Jacob, na nagbigay sa amin ng balong ito? Uminom siya rito, pati ang kanyang mga anak, at ang kanyang mga hayop.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ang uminom ng tubig na ito’y muling mauuhaw. Ito’y magiging isang bukal sa loob niya, babalong, at magbibigay sa kanya ng buhay na walang hanggan.” 

Sinabi ng babae, “Ginoo, kung gayun po’y bigyan ninyo ako ng tubig na sinasabi ninyo, Nang hindi na ako mauhaw, ni pumarito pa upang sumalok. Ginoo, sa wari ko’y propeta kayo. Dito sa bundok na ito sumamba sa Diyos ang aming mga magulang, ngunit sinasabi ninyong mga Judio, na sa Jerusalem lamang dapat sambahin ang Diyos.” Tinugon siya ni Hesus, “Maniwala ka sa akin, Ginang, dumarating na ang panahon na sasambahin ninyo ang Ama, hindi lamang sa bundok na ito o sa Jerusalem. 

Hindi ninyo nakikilala ang inyong sinasamba, ngunit nakikilala namin ang aming sinasamba, sapagkat ang kaligtasan ay galing sa mga Judio. Ngunit dumarating na ang panahon – ngayon na nga – na ang mga tunay na sumasamba sa Ama ay sasamba sa kanya sa espiritu at sa katotohanan. Sapagkat ito ang hinahanap ng Ama sa mga sumasamba sa kanya. Ang Diyos ay Espiritu kaya dapat siyang sambahin sa espiritu at sa katotohanan.”

Sinabi ng babae, “Nalalaman ko pong paririto ang Mesiyas, ang tinatawag na Kristo. Pagparito niya, siya ang magpapahayag sa atin ng lahat ng bagay.” “Akong nagsasalita sa iyo ang tinutukoy roon,” sabi ni Hesus. Maraming Samaritano sa bayang yaon ang sumampalataya kay Hesus. Kaya’t paglapit ng mga Samaritano kay Hesus, hiniling nila na tumigil muna siya roon; at nanatili siya roon nang dalawang araw.

At marami pang sumampalataya nang mapakinggan siya. Sinabi nila sa babae, “Nananampalataya kami ngayon, hindi na dahil sa sinabi mo kundi dahil sa narinig namin sa kanya. Nakilala naming siya nga ang Tagapagligtas ng sanlibutan.”

Reflection for Sunday March 3, Third Sunday of Lent: John 2:13-25

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. 

He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace. 

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. 

The Jews said “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a father who would always tell his children to pray and observe silence when they are at church for Holy Mass. In turn, the children would also ask their father, 'Why do we need to be silent at church?' 

Their father would right away tell them, because the church is a temple of worship for God. Therefore, when you are at church, you always need to focus on Jesus, be silent, and prayerful.

When Jesus went to the temple for the Feast of Passover, He saw that it was not being used as it was supposed to be. Jesus expected that the temple would be used with solemnity and reverence simply because it is the temple of God.

But to His dismay, the temple was converted into a marketplace where people were wheeling and dealing to earn a living. Perhaps the temple was not only being used for business; perhaps it was being used for other sordid activities. Therefore, Jesus had to intervene; He had to restore order and discipline so that the temple would be fit for worship again.

Every Sunday, or even every day, we go to our respective places of worship which is the church for Holy Mass. How do we behave when we are at church? Do we create noise by chit-chatting with friends and relatives while we wait for the Holy Mass to commence? Or do we begin to connect with God by praying and listening to Him without uttering a single word?

When we are at church, we have to ensure that we only use it for one purpose alone: to worship and connect with God silently. No noise whatsoever, for this is how it must be. Otherwise, if we create noise, we become akin to those who transformed the temple into a marketplace, which provoked anger from Jesus.

How are you when you are at church? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para Marso 3, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 2:13-25

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-25

Malapit na ang Paskuwa ng mga Judio, kaya't pumunta si Jesus sa Jerusalem. Nakita niya sa templo ang mga nagbibili ng mga baka, mga tupa, at mga kalapati, at mga namamalit ng salapi. Gumawa siya ng isang panghagupit na lubid at ipinagtabuyang palabas ang mga mangangalakal, pati mga baka at tupa. 

Isinabog niya ang salapi ng mga namamalit at pinagtataob ang kanilang mga hapag. Sinabi niya sa mga nagbibili ng kalapati, "Alisin ninyo dito ang mga iyan! Huwag ninyong gawing palengke ang bahay ng aking Ama!" Naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na sinabi sa Kasulatan,"Ang aking malasakit sa iyong bahay ay parang apoy na nag-aalab sa puso ko." 

Dahil dito'y tinanong siya ng mga Judio, "Anong tanda ang maibibigay mo upang patunayang may karapatan kang gawin ito?" Tumugon si Jesus, "Gibain ninyo ang templong ito at muli kong itatayo sa loob ng tatlong araw." Sinabi ng mga Judio, "Apatnapu't anim na taon na ginawa ang templong ito at itatayo mo sa loob lamang ng tatlong araw?" Ngunit ang templong tinutukoy ni Jesus ay ang kanyang katawan. Kaya't ng siya'y muling mabuhay, naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na sinabi niya ito; at naniwala sila sa Kasulatan at sa sinabi ni Jesus. 

Nang Pista ng Paskuwa, nasa Jerusalem si Jesus. Marami ang sumampalataya sa kanya ng makita nila ang mga kababalaghang ginawa niya. Subalit hindi nagtiwala sa kanila si Jesus, sapagkat kilala niya silang lahat.  Hindi na kailangang may magsalita pa sa kanya tungkol sa kaninuman, sapagkat talastas niya ang kalooban ng lahat ng tao.

Reflection for March 2, Saturday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So to them Jesus addressed this parable. 

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers. So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. 

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house he heard the sound of music and dancing. 

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. He became angry and when he refused to enter the house his father came out and pleaded with him. 

He said to his father in reply ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of encompassing love, mercy and forgiveness, what does this mean? This simply means that nobody is beyond reach of the love of God. No matter how sinful we are and no matter who we are still loved dearly by our God. 

But there’s one quality that we must have to experience God’s love mercy and forgiveness. And this is repentance, we have to realize first our own sinfulness and have the desire to walk away from our sinfulness and be one again with God. 

After wasting his inheritance to debauchery and sinfulness the younger son in the gospel parable had a humbling experience. He had nowhere to go, he lived a life of a beggar so to speak. 

 So different from his life of comfort when he was still with his father.  He therefore said to himself, instead of suffering this difficult situation why not go back home and ask for forgiveness from my father? And he did, to make a long story short his father forgave him.     

Let us think and reflect about our own sinfulness and the many offenses that we’ve done that created distance between us and Jesus. Let us heal that distance by humbly asking for His forgiveness. This we can do best if we would humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Would you submit yourself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas             

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 2, Sabado sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15: 1-3, 11-32

Noong panahong iyon, ang mga publikano at ang mga makasalanan ay nagsisilapit upang makinig kay Hesus. Nagbulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at ang mga eskriba. Ang sabi nila: “Ang taong ito’y nakikisalamuha sa mga makasalanan at nakikisalo sa kanila.”

Kaya’t sinabi sa kanila ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito: “Isang tao ang may dalawang anak na lalaki. Ang wika ng bunso, ‘Ama, ibigay na po ninyo sa akin ang mamanahin ko.’ At binahagi sa kanila ng ama ang kanyang ari-arian. Pagkalipas ng ilang araw, ipinagbili ng bunso ang kanyang ari-arian at nagtungo sa malayong lupain, taglay ang buo niyang kayamanan, at doo’y nilustay na lahat sa di wastong pamumuhay.  

Nang malustay na niya ang kanyang kayamanan, nagkaroon ng matinding taggutom sa lupaing yaon, at nagdalita siya. Kaya’t namasukan siya sa isang mamamayan ng lupain yaon. Siya’y pinapunta nito sa bukid upang mag-alaga ng baboy. Ibig sana niyang punan ang kanyang pagkain kahit ng mga bungang-kahoy na ipinakakain sa mga baboy ngunit walang magbigay sa kanya.  

Nang mapag-isip-isip niya ang kanyang ginawa, nasabi niya sa sarili, ‘Ang mga alila ng aking ama ay may sapat na pagkain – at lumalabis pa – samantalang ako’y namamatay ng gutom dito! Babalik ako sa kanya, at sasabihin ko, “Ama, nagkasala po ako sa Diyos at sa inyo. Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong anak; ibilang na lamang ninyo akong isa sa inyong mga alila.”, At tumindig siya at pumaroon sa kanyang ama. 

“Malayo pa’y natanawan na siya ng ama at ito’y labis na nahabag sa kanya, kaya’t patakbo siyang sinalubong, niyakap, at hinagkan. Sinabi ng anak, ‘Ama, nagkasala po ako sa Diyos at sa inyo. Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong anak.’ Ngunit tinawag ng ama ang kanyang mga alila, ‘Madali! Dalhin ninyo rito ang pinakamahusay na damit at isuot sa kanya.  

Suutan siya ng singsing at panyapak. Kunin ang pinatabang guya at patayain; kumain tayo at magsaya! Sapagkat namatay na ang anak kong ito; ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala, ngunit nasumpungan.’ At sila’y nagsaya. 

"Nasa bukid noon ang anak na panganay. Umuwi siya, at nang malapit na sa bahay ay narinig niya ang tugtugan at sayawan. Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga alila at tinanong: 'Bakit? May ano sa atin?' Dumating po ang inyong kapatid!' tugon ng alila. 'Ipinapatay ng iyong ama ang pinatabang guya, sapagkat nagbalik siyang buhay at walang sakit.' 

Nagalit ang panganay at ayaw itong pumasok sa bahay. Kaya't lumabas ang kanyang ama at inamu-amo siya. Ngunit sinabi nito, 'Pinaglingkuran ko po kayo sa loob ng maraming taon, at kailanma'y hindi ko kayo sinuway. Ngunit ni minsa'y hindi ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit isang bisirong kambing para magkatuwaan kami ng aking mga kaibigan. 

Subalit nang dumating ang anak ninyong lumustay ng inyong kabuhayan sa masasamang babae, ipinagpatay pa ninyo ng pinatabang guya!' Sumagot ang ama, 'Anak, lagi kitang kapiling. Lahat ng ari-arian ko'y sa iyo. Ngunit dapat tayong magsaya at magalak, sapagkat namatay na ang kapatid mo, ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala, ngunit nasumpungan. 

Reflection for March 1, Friday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?  

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

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Reflection:

What is your mission as far as your faith life in this world is concerned? It’s to pay forward or share whatever you know about your faith. It’s to give life to your faith by not keeping it to yourself. And it’s to generously share whatever you know about your faith.  

 In the gospel for today, Jesus gives us the parable of the tenants who were entrusted by the landowner of his property. Before the landowner left them he first ensured that they already have all that they would need to make them productive. And so the landowner left and when harvest time came the landowner was demanding his share from the tenants.  

We are the tenants which Jesus is speaking about in the gospel.  The land or property that Jesus has entrusted to us is no other than our faith. What have we done so far to the gift of faith that He has entrusted us? Have we already shared it? Or we are still up to now keeping it to ourselves?  

If we want to grow in faith we have to humbly share it for it is in sharing our faith that we would grow in faith. It is in sharing our faith that would make us productive followers of Jesus. Many are still not properly educated as far as their faith life is concerned and many are Catholics in name only. And who is to blame for this lack of education of our catholic faith? We are partly to be blamed because many of us have not yet shared the gift of faith that Jesus has entrusted us.  

But it’s not yet late for we still have time.  Therefore we have to do something, let us start first by attending Holy Mass as a family. Then to those members of the family who are uninformed yet we have to gently teach them with whatever we know about the Bible and our catholic faith.  

Let us take courage to do this for God’s blessings and guidance will be upon us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas