Reflection for Monday July 15 Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

What is this sword that Jesus speaks about in the gospel? 

It’s the sword of truth and righteousness! Jesus came into this world to bring the sword of truth and righteousness and this sword of truth and righteousness pierces anyone who stands in the way. 

Man against his father? Daughter against her mother? Indeed, if anyone stands in the way even if they are our relatives we should not be afraid to speak in the name of truth and righteousness. We should not be afraid to voice out what we think is right no matter who gets hurt. In the same manner that we should not be afraid to voice out our sentiments even if the person whom we are going to address has the money, influence and power. 

Sometimes we have second thoughts if we are going to speak our mind in the name of Jesus. We ought not to think twice we must have the courage to say what’s in our minds in the name of the sword of Jesus’ truth and righteousness. 

The church always speaks out its mind whenever there are issues or policies that hurt the people of God. The church is not afraid to contradict anyone in power even if it creates temporary enmity. Why? For the simple reason that the mission of the church is to speak for God and to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Lunes Hulyo 15 San Buenaventura, obispo at pantas ng simbahan (Paggunita): Mateo 10:34 – 11:1

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:34 – 11:1

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Huwag ninyong isiping naparito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa; naparito ako upang magdala ng tabak, hindi kapayapaan. Sapagkat naparito ako upang papaglabanin ang anak na lalaki at ang kanyang ama, ang anak na babae at ang kanyang ina, ang manugang na babae at ang kanyang biyenang babae. at ang kaaway ng isang tao'y ang kanya na ring kasambahay.

"Ang umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. At ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki o babae nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan nang kanyang krus at sumusunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin ay magkakamit nito."  

"Ang tumatanggap sa inyo ay tumatanggap sa akin, at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay tumatanggap sa nagsugo sa akin. Ang tumatanggap sa isang propeta dahil sa siya'y propeta ay tatanggap ng gantimpala ukol sa propeta. At ang tumatanggap sa isang taong matuwid dahil sa siya'y matuwid ay tatanggap ng gantimpalang nauukol sa taong matuwid. at sinumang magbigay ng kahit isang basong tubig na malamig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ito'y alagad ko-- tinitiyak kong tatanggap siya ng gantimpala." Matapos tagubilinan ang labingdalawang alagad, umalis si Jesus upang magturo at mangaral sa mga bayang malapit doon. 

Reflection for Sunday July 14, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 

He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So, they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

What were the apostles thinking when they were sent to their mission by Jesus without bringing any provisions? Perhaps they were worried, so questions arose like, "What are we going to eat?" and "Would we be able to survive this difficult mission?" But eventually their questioning minds were overwhelmed by their faith and trust in Jesus. And so, they move ahead and became successful missioners of Jesus.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how God will sustain us or how we can survive the difficulties of life, until we learn to hold on to our faith and give our full trust and confidence to the almighty hand of Jesus. Many of us fail in our endeavors because we lack faith and trust in the Lord. Instead of trusting the Lord, we rely on ourselves. So we fail, and the main culprit is our feeble faith.

Trust and faith were the two main ingredients that made the twelve apostles successful in their mission. Trust and faith in Jesus must also be our guiding light as we move on to do our mission for Christ, or as we move on to live our life for Jesus.

Let us not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the challenges that may confront us, no matter how difficult. Why? Because the Lord will always be with us to help us as we help Him advance His teachings.

In hindsight, has God forsaken anyone who helped Him spread His teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Linggo Hulyo 14 Ika-15 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:7-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:7-13

Noong panahong iyon Tinawag niya ang Labindalawa, at sinugong daladalawa. Binigyan niya sila ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng masasamang espiritu, at pinagbilinan: "Sa inyong paglalakbay, huwag kayong magdala ng anuman, maliban sa tungkod. 

Ni pagkain, balutan, salapi sa inyong lukbutan o bihisan, ay huwag kayong magdala. Ngunit magsuot kayo ng panyapak." Sinabi rin niya sa kanila, "At sa alinmang tahanan na inyong tuluyan-- manatili kayo roon hanggang sa pag-alis ninyo sa bayang iyon. Kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa isang dako, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ninyo ang alikabok ng inyong mga paa bilang babala sa mga tagaroon." 

Kaya't humayo ang Labindalawa at nangaral sa mga tao na pagsisihan nila at talikdan ang kanilang mga kasalanan. Pinalayas nila ang maraming demonyo sa mga inaalihan nito; pinahiran nila ng langis at pinagaling ang maraming maysakit.

Reflection for July 13 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 

“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who suddenly died in an accident. While on his way to heaven St. Peter suddenly stopped him, he asked the man: “What have you done for Jesus when you were still alive?” The man wasn’t able to answer because he was solely devoted to his many earthly concerns. 

Someday in the foreseeable future, our lives shall come to an end as well, and perhaps God will ask us, "What have you done for me? Have you acknowledged me before others? Have you lived and shared my teachings?" How would you answer God during that time? 

While we are still in our life’s journey let us not forget the importance of acknowledging Jesus and the importance of sharing and living our faith in Him. If so far we have been solely concerned with the things of this world we are therefore being gently reminded that this world is temporary and passing. 

Only God is everlasting. We will not be able to escape our appointment with death someday. And when that day comes, our fervent hope is that we will be allowed entry by Saint Peter into the pearly gates because we’ve done something for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 13 Sabado ng Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:24-33

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:24-33

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Walang alagad na higit kaysa kanyang guro, at walang aliping higit sa kanyang panginoon. Masiyahan ang alagad na matulad sa kanyang guro, at ang alipin na matulad sa kanyang panginoon. Kung ang puno ng sambahayan ay tinawag nilang Beelzebul, lalo na nilang aalimurahin ang kanyang mga kasambahay!"  

"Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa kanila. Walang natatago na di malalantad, o nalilihim na di mabubunyag. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim, ulitin ninyo sa liwanag; at ang ibinulong sa inyo ay inyong ipagsigawan. Huwag ninyong katakutan ang pumapatay ng katawan ngunit hindi nakapapatay ng kaluluwa.  

Sa halip, ang katakutan ninyo'y ang nakapapatay ng kaluluwa at katawan sa impyerno. Hindi ba ipinagbibili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera? Gayunman, Kahit isa sa kanila'y hindi nahuhulog sa lupa kung hindi kalooban ng inyong Ama. Maging ang buhok ninyo'y bilang na lahat. Kaya, huwag kayong matakot; higit kayong mahalaga kaysa libu-libong maya."  

"Ang sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit. Ngunit ang magtatwa sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay itatatwa ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit."

Reflection for July 12 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.  

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  

Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

Are you ready to give your life for the mission of Jesus? This is a very hard question to answer but there are many already who dared to willingly give their lives for the mission of Jesus. What fuels them to give their lives when they have a choice not to give it?  

 It’s their burning desire to witness for Jesus. The same Jesus who strengthens them to endure and continue with their mission even at the cost of their lives. To be a real follower of Jesus is easier said than done. It’s easy to say I am a Christian but to live this Christian pronouncement is another story altogether. How about you? Are you willing to give your life for the mission of Jesus?    

When you give your life to Jesus you will face persecution as well. But what is consoling here is the midst of your trials and persecution you also will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in your life. For the reason that Jesus has never abandoned anyone who gave their lives  for His mission in this world.  

Be not afraid to give your life for the mission of Jesus. For when you decide to do so you will soon after find the real purpose of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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."