Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 12 Biyernes ng Ika-14 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:16-23

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:16-23

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Ngayon, sinusugo ko kayo na parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong gubat. Maging matalino kayo, gaya ng mga ahas, at matapat, gaya ng mga kalapati. Mag-ingat kayo, sapagkat may mga taong magkakanulo sa inyo sa mga hukuman; at hahagupitin nila kayo sa mga sinagoga.  

Dahil sa akin, ihaharap kayo sa mga gobernador at mga hari, at magpapatotoo kayo sa harapan nila at ng mga Hentil. Kapag nililitis na kayo, huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa sasabihin ninyo o kung paano ninyo sasabihin. Pagdating ng oras, ito'y ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Sapagkat hindi kayo ang magsasalita kundi ang Espiritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan ninyo.  

"Ipagkakanulo ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang kapatid upang ipapatay; gayon din ang gagawin ng ama sa kanyang anak. Lalabanan ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang, at ipapapatay. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin; ngunit ang manatiling tapat hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas. Kapag inuusig nila kayo sa isang bayan, tumakas kayo sa kasunod. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi pa ninyo napupuntahan ang lahat ng bayan ng Israel ay darating na ang Anak ng Tao."

Reflection for Thursday July 11 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. 

The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. 

Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

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Reflection:

Do we expect to receive something in return for the things that we do for God? We better not expect because when our expectations are not meet we would be disappointed. Let’s just do good and be content with the fact that we’ve done good to our fellowmen. 

Money rules they say, but for those who follow Jesus money does not rule and money doesn’t dictate. It’s Jesus who rules and dictates, when we allow Jesus to rule and dictate our life. We are free from worries that emanates from this world and we are not beholden to anybody in this world.    

When Jesus was sending off his twelve apostles to their mission, one of His specific declarations for them was this: not to let money or anything worldly rule over them. Jesus instead wanted His apostles to let Him rule their lives.

When we let Jesus rule our lives, we no longer care about worldly possessions. Instead, we will be satisfied with what we have, no matter how meager the things that we have. This is because we believe that the essence and fullness of life is not measured by material ownership.

Let us therefore seek Jesus in our lives for when we have Jesus we have everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Hulyo 11 San Benito abad (Paggunita): Mateo 10:7-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga may sakit at buhayin ang mga patay. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga ketongin at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Yamang tumanggap kayo nang walang bayad, magbigay naman kayo nang walang bayad. 

Huwag kayong magdala ng salapi -- maging ginto, pilak, o tanso -- sa inyong mga lukbutan. Huwag din kayong magdala ng supot sa inyong paglalakbay, ni bihisan, pampalit na panyapak, o tungkod; sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatan sa kanyang ikabubuhay. 

"At saanmang bayan o nayon kayo dumating, humanap kayo ng taong karapat-dapat pakituluyan, at manatili kayo roon habang kayo'y nasa lugar na iyon. Pagpasok ninyo sa bahay, sabihin ninyo, 'Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!' Kung karapat-dapat ang mga tao sa bahay na iyon, panatilihin ninyo sa kanila ang inyong bati. 

Ngunit kung hindi, bawiin ninyo ito. At kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa isang tahanan o bayan, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok ng inyong mga paa. Sinasabi ko sa inyo na sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma at taga-Gomorra."

Reflection for July 10 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Reflection:

Where does the Kingdom of Heaven lie?

It lies within us and has been with us since we were baptized. But we may ask, if the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, why is life still full of challenges and problems? This is because we refuse to live our lives according to God’s will for us.

Thus, we live our life according to our own will and not according to God’s will. For example, there is a temptation to sin; instead of confronting that sin so that it would not temp us again we instead allow that temptation to capture us. 

So what happens when we live our life according to our own terms? We open our life to many problems, problems that we could actually avoid if we only live our life according to the will of God. 

It’s not difficult to know God’s will for us, by going to Holy Mass we will begin to discern God’s will for our life. By reading our bible we will discern the will of God for us. By our frequent interactions with Jesus through our prayers we will discern the will of God. And we would have a deeper friendship with the Lord.   

Many of us are lost in this world and lack an awareness of the Kingdom of Heaven because we are not always in touch with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 10 Miyerkules ng Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:1-7

Noong panahong iyon, tinipon ni Jesus ang labindalawang alagad at binigyan ng kapangyarihang magpapalayas ng masasamang espiritu at magpagaling ng mga may karamdaman. 

Ito ang pangalan ng labindalawang apostol: si Simon na tinatawag na Pedro at si Andres na kanyang kapatid; sina Santiago at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo; sina Felipe at Bartolome; si Tomas, at si Mateo na publikano; si Santiago na anak ni Alfeo, at si Tadeo; si Simong Makabayan at si Judas Iscariote, ang nagkanulo kay Jesus. 

Ang labindalawang ito'y sinugo ni Jesus at kanyang pinagbilinan: "Huwag kayong pupunta sa lugar ng mga Hentil, o alinmang bayan ng mga Samaritano. Sa halip ay hanapin ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos."

Reflection for July 9 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Reflection:

How does the gospel speaks to you today? Does it tell us that you need to do something for the kingdom of God? Jesus tells the disciples in the gospel and He tells this to you too. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37)”.

Indeed, the harvest is abundant yet those who venture to volunteer their time for God’s kingdom are still few. We don’t know the reason behind but perhaps we could guess that it’s our worldly preoccupations. So we forget that there is a much greater purpose and glory beyond this world that awaits us and that is the kingdom of God.  

When we are near death already the labors that we have given to this world will not matter anymore. We will not think about how big our bank accounts. We will not think about our many worldly achievements. What we will be thinking about is the status of our soul and where it would be after we die. 

This is what confronts us when we are already near death: the status of our souls after they depart from our bodies. Therefore, to avoid this dilemma, let us do something for the advancement of the kingdom of God in this world.

Any effort that we do today for God no matter how small for so long as we sincerely do it for His greater glory. Will be permanently remembered by God and will become our passport to heaven when our departure time comes. 

We therefore have to do something no matter how insignificant it may seem to help the Lord advance the faith. Let us not worry for the Good Lord will be with us and we would richly be rewarded someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 9 Martes ng Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:32-38

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:32-38

Noong panahong iyon, dinala kay Jesus ang isang piping inaalihan ng demonyo. Pinalayas ni Jesus ang demonyo at nakapagsalita ang pipi. Namangha ang mga tao, at sinabi nila, "Kailanma'y walang nakitang katulad nito sa Israel!" Datapwat sinabi ng mga Pariseo, "Ang prinsipe ng mga demonyo ang nagbigay sa kanya ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng mga demonyo." 

Nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at nayon at nagturo sa mga sinagoga. Ipinangaral niya ang Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos, at pinagaling ang mga maysakit, anuman ang kanilang karamdaman. Nang makita niya ang napakaraming tao, nahabag siya sa kanila sapagkat sila'y lito at lupaypay, parang mga tupang walang pastol. 

Kaya't sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad, "Sagana ang aanihin, ngunit kakaunti ang mag-aani. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari ng anihin na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang aanihin."

Reflection for July 8 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus can cure you of whatever sickness that you have? The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years believed that she would be healed by Jesus. She believed that the moment she touched even the tassel of Jesus cloak she would be healed. What a display of deep faith!  

Sometimes we don’t get what we wish from the Lord because we doubt. We allow the devil to disturb our faith thus we don’t get what we want. We see in the gospel a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve long years she obviously has deep faith. Faith that is willing to overcome whatever obstacles that are put in front of her.  Do you have the same deep faith as this woman in the gospel? 

When Jesus noticed this woman of faith, He told her, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you (Matthew 9:22).” And the result was immediate healing for the woman. 

Are we suffering from any form of sickness right now? Let us pray to the Lord and let us ask Him to heal us. Let us beseech the Lord to give us the same healing that He gave the woman in the gospel. Jesus will surely heal us for He will not refuse anyone who approaches Him with deep faith and humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 8 Lunes ng Ika- 14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:18-26

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:18-26

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang nagsasalita si Jesus, may dumating na isang pinuno ng mga Judio. Lumuhod sa harapan niya at ang sabi, "Kamamatay lang po ng aking anak na babae; ngunit sumama lang kayo sa akin at ipatong ang inyong kamay sa kanya ay mabubuhay siya." Tumindig si Jesus at sumama sa kanya, gayon din ang kanyang mga alagad. 

Sumunod din ang isang babaing may labingdalawang taon nang dinudugo. Lumapit ito sa likuran ni Jesus at hinipo ang laylayan ng kanyang damit. Sapagkat sinabi niya sa sarili, "Mahipo ko lamang ang kanyang damit ay gagaling na ako." Bumaling si Jesus at pagkakita sa kanya'y sinabi, "Anak, lakasan mo ang iyong loob! Pinagaling ka ng iyong pananalig." Noon di'y gumaling ang babae.

Nang dumating si Jesus sa bahay ng pinuno, nakita niya ang mga manunugtog ng plauta at ang maraming taong nagkakaingay. Sinabi niya, "Magsilabas kayo! Hindi patay ang bata; natutulog lang!" At siya'y pinagtawanan nila. Ngunit nang mapalabas na ang mga tao, pumasok siya, hinawakan sa kamay ang bata at ito'y nagbangon. At ang balita tungkol sa pangyayaring ito ay kumalat sa buong lupaing iyon.    

Reflection for Sunday July 7, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? 

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

How do you handle rejection? 

Rejection is very difficult to handle. Just imagine going on vacation to the place where you grew up. Naturally, you expect nothing less than the best reception you could ever have. 

You expect your relatives and friends to treat you affectionately, and you expect everyone to be kind to you. But you were unfortunately rejected, how would you feel? Of course, you would feel bad. Just imagine being rejected in your own native land. 

How did Jesus handle His own rejection from His townspeople in Nazareth? Jesus handled His rejection with humility. He never raised His voice or got angry with anyone there. Though He could have done something sinister, He chose not to. Instead, He continued His ministry by curing a few sick people. Of course, He could have performed more miracles, but He was being insulted. 

The crux of the matter here is Jesus’ humility as opposed to our arrogance when somebody rejects us. Take for example in our own sphere of environment. Don’t we feel bad when we don’t get what we want? 

Let us, therefore, take every rejection we encounter in our lives with humility. Let us never react with anger, as this is not the proper way to respond. Our fellowmen would respect and admire us more if we remain calm and humble in the face of rejection.  

Can we be like Jesus, who took His rejection with calmness and humility? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Linggo Hulyo 7 Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:1-6

Noong panahong iyon, si Jesus at nagtungo sa sariling bayan, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad. Pagdating ng Araw ng Pamamahinga, nagturo siya sa sinagoga, nagtaka ang maraming nakarinig sa kanya at nagtanong, "Saan niya nakuha ang lahat ng iyan? Anong karunungan itong ipinagkaloob sa kanya? Paano siya nakagagawa ng mga kababalaghan? 

Hindi ba ito ang karpinterong anak ni Maria, at kapatid nina Santiago,Jose, Judas, at Simon? Dito nakatira ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae, hindi ba?" At siya'y ayaw nilang kilanlin. Kaya't sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila, "Ang propeta'y iginagalang ng lahat, liban lamang ng kanyang mga kababayan, mga kamag-anak, at mga kasambahay." 

Hindi siya nakagawa ng anumang kababalaghan doon, maliban sa pagpapatong ng kanyang kamay sa ilang maysakit upang pagalingin ang mga ito. Nagtaka siya sapagkat hindi sila sumampalataya. At nilibot ni Jesus ang mga nayon sa paligid upang magturo.

Reflection for July 6 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 

No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What happens when we give our life to Jesus, when we begin to fully trust HIM and leave behind our sinful past? We are introduced to a new life environment with Jesus where everything is new and spotless. 

What is this new life with Jesus all about? This is a new life totally free from our dark past. Yes we all have our own share of dark past that nobody knows except us. We must never look back to this dark past otherwise we may be tempted to mire our lives with sin once again. And this is not good because we would go back to our sinful lives again induced by the devil. 

What will make us permanently free from the temptations of the devil? We must always be connected with Jesus in every second of our lives for this is the only way that we could prevent the devil from destroying us. Just look around, temptations disguised as beautiful things are everywhere tempting us. 

Let us never allow Satan to get hold of us once again, let us remember that Jesus saved us already. We are now the new wine that has already been poured into the fresh wineskin no other than Jesus Himself. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 6 Sabado ng Ika-13 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:14-17

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:14-17

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit kay Hesus ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista at ang wika, “Malimit kaming mag-ayuno, gayun din ang mga Pariseo. Bakit po hindi nag-aayuno ang inyong mga alagad?” Sumagot siya, “Maaari bang magdalamhati ang mga panauhin sa kasalan habang kasama nila ang lalaking ikinasal? Kapag wala na siya, saka pa lamang sila mag-aayuno. 

“Walang nagtatagpi ng bagong kayo sa isang lumang kasuutan; sapagkat mababatak nito ang tinagpian, at lalong lalaki ang punit. Wala ring nagsisilid ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat. Kapag gayon ang ginawa, puputok ang balat, matatapon ang alak, at mawawasak ang sisidlan. Sa halip ay isinisilid ang bagong alak sa bagong sisidlang-balat, at sa gayo’y kapwa nagtatagal.”

Reflection for July 5 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.  

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Do you feel that Jesus is calling you to live a new life, a new life free of sinfulness? 

Aside from Matthew whom Jesus called to follow Him we too are being called by the Lord. We may say that we are not worthy to follow Jesus but who amongst us are worthy? No one for we are all sinful creatures of this world.  

Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him for the precise reason that he was a sinner. This is the character and mission of Jesus to call every sinner to follow Him. But why is it that even if we know that we are called to repentance we still continue to sin? We refuse to leave behind us our sinful ways.  

This is indeed very puzzling, why is it that many of us ignore Jesus’ call for us to follow Him and to leave behind whatever that makes us sin? Does this mean that we love this world more than we love Jesus? Does this mean that Jesus is losing influence over us and the devil is slowly but surely gaining control of our lives that is why we refuse to heed Jesus’ call to a life of renewal and repentance?  

Why did Matthew follow Jesus call? Perhaps somebody had shared to him the love and unfathomable mercy of Jesus. Somebody had lived his faith in Jesus and Matthew heard and saw it, that’s why it was not anymore difficult for Matthew to recognize and follow Jesus. 

The challenge before us is to share and live our faith in Jesus to the many Matthews (Sinners) of our time. They may not have heard yet anything about Jesus that is why they keep on sinning until this very day. Why not share the mercy and love of Jesus? Or if we cannot share Jesus let us live Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas