Noong panahong iyon, inilahad ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito sa mga
tao, “Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang taong naghasik ng
mabuting binhi sa kanyang bukid. Isang gabi, samantalang natutulog ang mga tao,
dumating ang kanyang kaaway at naghasik ng masasamang damo sa triguhan.
Nang
tumubo ang trigo at magkauhay, lumitaw rin ang masasamang damo. Kaya’t lumapit
ang mga alipin sa puno ng sambahayan at sinabi rito, ‘Hindi po ba mabuting
binhi ang inihasik ninyo sa inyong bukid? Bakit po may damo ngayon?’ Sumagot
siya, ‘Isang kaaway ang may kagagawan nito.’
Tinanong siya ng mga utusan,
‘Bubunutin po ba namin ang mga iyon?’ ‘Huwag,’ sagot niya. ‘Baka mabunot pati
trigo. Hayaan na ninyong lumago kapwa hanggang sa anihan. Pag-aani’y sasabihin
ko sa mga tagapag-ani: Tipunin muna ninyo ang mga damo at inyong
pagbigkis-bigkisin upang sunugin, at ang trigo’y inyong tipunin sa aking
kamalig.’”
Jesus said to his disciples: "Hear
the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the
word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals
away what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one
who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and
lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of
the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who
hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the
word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty
or thirtyfold."
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Reflection:
Would we allow Jesus to bear fruit in our
life so that we would become the seed sown on rich soil?
Four seeds were sown on four different
surfaces: the path, rocky ground, among thorns, and on rich soil. The seeds
represent the word of God, and the disciples represent the four environments.
Jesus wanted the disciples to be the rich
soil at all times (to hear the word, understand it, and live it). However, God
has also given them the freedom to choose which surface they would be.
The parable of the sower is a parable that
depicts our individual response to Jesus’ call for us to follow Him. Many
of us don’t give this call serious thought. Quite a few embrace this call;
thus, they let it grow in their hearts by means of sharing their faith through
their words and actions. Jesus obviously wants us all to become the rich soil
so that we could be fruitful and useful followers.
We all have the freedom of choice to
choose where we would be among the four environments. However, as far as Jesus
is concerned He always wants us to be the rich soil. We may ask for what
reason? Because God wants us to be at His bosom in heaven when our earthly
journey is over someday.
Let us begin to become fruitful by sharing
and living our faith and the words of Jesus. Let us take courage and not be
afraid of the obstacles. We simply follow Jesus’ desire for our lives, for He
will take care of everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus
sa kanyang mga alagad, “Pakinggan nga ninyo ang kahulugan ng talinghaga tungkol
sa manghahasik. Ang mga nakikinig ng Salita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos
ngunit hindi nakauunawa nito ay katulad ng mga binhing nahasik sa tabi ng
daan.
Dumarating ang Masama at inaagaw ang nahasik sa kanilang puso.
Inilalarawan ng binhing nahasik sa kabatuhan ang nakikinig ng Salita at
masayang tumatanggap nito kaagad. Ngunit hindi ito tumitimo sa puso nila kaya’t
hindi sila nananatili. Pagdating ng mga kapighatian o pag-uusig dahil sa
Salita, agad silang nanlalamig.
Inilalarawan
naman ng naghasik sa dawagan ang nakikinig ng Salita, ngunit naging abala sa
mga bagay ukol sa mundong ito, at naging maibigin sa mga kayamanan anupat ang
Salita’y nawalan na ng puwang sa kanilang puso, kaya’t hindi makapamunga. At
inilalarawan ng naghasik sa matabang lupa ang mga nakikinig ng Salita at
nakauunawa nito. Sila’y namumunga: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu, at may
tigtatatlumpu.”
The mother of the sons of Zebedee
approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for
something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that
these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in
your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can
you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.”
He replied, “My chalice you will indeed
drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is
for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones
make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather,
whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to
be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to
be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Reflection:
Who is an exemplary leader?
An exemplary leader leads by example. He
does not aspire to a position of leadership to be popular, to be seen, or to
give orders while enjoying the trappings of the position. He ascends to a
position of leadership because he wants to be a person for others and to serve,
even at the cost of his life.
In the gospel today we see a mother asking
a favor from Jesus (If her two sons could seat beside Jesus) but the mother had
no full comprehension of the destiny that awaits Jesus. If only she knew she
would not have asked Jesus that favor.
Why is it that many are attracted to serve
in the church? They want to serve because it’s an opportunity for them to
be seen, to be in the spotlight. However, after they are given their assigned
task they have a sudden realization that this is not what they wanted to do
because it involves sacrifice and humility. And for obvious reasons they don’t
last in their ministry.
To serve in the church alongside Jesus
always involves sacrifice and humility. We don’t serve because we want to be
influential, to be popular and powerful. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, lumapit kay
Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo, kasama ang kanyang mga anak. May ibig siyang
hingin, kaya't lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Jesus. "ano ang ibig mo?"
tanong ni Jesus. Sumagot siya, "Sana'y ipagkaloob ninyo sa dalawa kong
anak na ito ang karapatang makaupong katabi ninyo sa inyong kaharian -- isa sa
kanan at isa sa kaliwa."
"Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi," sabi ni
Jesus sa kanila. "Mababata ba ninyo ang hirap na babatahin ko?"
"Opo," tugon nila. Sinabi ni Jesus, "Ang hirap na babatahin ko'y
babatahin nga ninyo. Ngunit wala sa akin ang pagpapasiya kung sino ang mauupo
sa aking kanan at sa aking kaliwa. Ang mga luklukang sinasabi ninyo'y para sa
pinaghandaan ng aking Ama."
Nang
marinig ito ng sampung mga alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid. Kaya't pinalapit
sila ni Jesus at sinabi sa kanila, "Alam ninyo na ang mga pinuno ng mga
Hentil ay naghahari sa kanila, at ang mga dinadakila ang siyang nasusunod.
Ngunit
hindi dapat ganyan ang umiral sa inyo. Sa halip, ang sinuman sa inyo na ibig
maging dakila ay dapat maging lingkod. At sinumang ibig maging pinuno ay dapat
maging alipin ninyo, tulad ng Anak ng Tao na naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran
kundi upang maglingkod at iaalay ang kanyang buhay upang matubos ang
marami.
On that day, Jesus went out of the house
and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into
a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.
And he spoke
to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he
sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on
rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil
was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for
lack of roots.
Some seed
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on
rich soil and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has
ears ought to hear."
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Reflection:
Do you listen
to Jesus when He speaks to you?
Jesus is
always sowing the seeds of the gospel to you. With the hope that His sown seeds
would eventually grow in our hearts and bear countless fruits
through our words and actions. Some of us don’t even care to listen or we
listen but after listening we completely forget it.
But there are
also those who listen, imbibe and let the seeds of the gospel bear fruit in
their lives by living and sharing it. In that process they allow themselves to
be God’s channel to bless other people’s
lives.
We all have
this liberty on how we would receive these seeds of the gospel that God
generously sows upon us. However let us not abuse this liberty by choosing to
ignore it. Let us listen to it, let us allow it to take root in our
hearts.
Let us allow
these very same words of God to transform us therefore we would become the seed
sown on rich soil. As such we will share it to as many people as possible
and we will also give life to the same words of God by living it.
Do you want a
new perspective in your life? A perspective that is free from worldliness,
sinfulness and other forms of worries brought about by this world? If yes, open
your bible, read and reflect on the words of Jesus and allow it to sink deep
into you. So that it would take root, grow and bear much fruit. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noon ding araw na iyon, si Hesus ay
lumabas ng bahay at naupo sa tabi ng lawa. Pinagkalipumpunan siya ng makapal na
tao, kaya sumakay siya sa isang bangka at doon naupo. Nasa dalampasigan naman
ang mga tao. At nagturo siya ng maraming bagay sa pamamagitan ng mga
talinghaga.
“May isang magsasakang lumabas upang maghasik. Sa kanyang
paghahasik ay may binhing nalaglag sa tabi ng daan. Dumating ang mga ibon at
tinuka ang mga iyon. May binhi namang nalaglag sa kabatuhan. Sapagkat manipis
lang ang lupa roon, sumibol agad ang binhing iyon, ngunit nang mapabilad sa
matinding sikat ng araw ay natuyo, palibhasa’y walang gaanong ugat.
May
binhi namang nalaglag sa dawagan; lumago ang mga dawag at ininis ang mga iyon.
Ngunit ang binhing nalaglag sa mabuting lupa ay nag-uhay: may tigsasandaan, may
tig-aanimnapu, at may tigtatatlumpung butil ang bawat uhay. Ang may pandinig ay
makinig!”
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking
to speak with you.”
But he said in reply to the one who told
him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand
toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever
does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can we become relatives of Jesus?
Jesus Himself reveals the secret to us:
“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and
mother." And what is the will of the heavenly Father for us? It’s for us
to do good always and to be collaborator of Jesus in spreading the good news.
Jesus also cited the disciples as His
mother and brothers for they were all faithful followers. We do not know the
personal background of each disciple but surely some of them were sinners like
us. But notwithstanding their sins they still chose to follow Jesus and
completely left behind their sinful past. Thus, Jesus called them His mother
and brothers.
Therefore, the moment we choose to follow
Jesus we already are called His relatives. What does to follow Jesus mean? It’s
to follow Jesus by immersing our feet in the river of sacrifice, love,
forgiveness, mercy, compassion and so forth.
How about you? Have you already immersed your
feet in the river of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, compassion and the like?
Have you finally decided to follow Jesus and leave behind your
sinful past?
Jesus yearns for you to become his
relative too! – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, samantalang
nagsasalita pa si Hesus, dumating ang kanyang ina at mga kapatid. Naghihintay
sila sa labas at ibig siyang makausap. May nagsabi sa kanya, “Nasa labas po ang
inyong ina at mga kapatid, at ibig kayong makausap.”
Ngunit
sinabi ni Hesus, “Sino ang aking ina, at sinu-sino ang aking mga kapatid? Itinuro
niya ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi, “Ito ang aking ina at mga kapatid!
Sapagkat ang sinumang sumusunod sa kalooban ng aking Amang nasa langit ang siya
kong ina at mga kapatid.”
On the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and
saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to
the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord
from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed
outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw
two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where
the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid
him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did
not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are
you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you
carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Jesus said to
her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,“Rabbouni,” which means
Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended
to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and
your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the
disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.
+ + + +
+ +
Reflection:
Do you search
for Jesus?
If you search
for Jesus you will find Him. If you attend Holy Mass Jesus is there, if you
open your bible and read the first four gospels of the New Testament you will
find Jesus there and if you pray the Rosary Jesus is there as well.
Mary
Magdalene intensely searched for Jesus, she went to the tomb while it was still
dark and was so distressed when she did not find the body of the Lord. However
she did not stop looking for HIM she went on with her search until Jesus
appeared to her.
The sole
secret to find Jesus and to develop closeness with Him is to continuously
thirst for HIM like we thirst for water. As water quenches our thirst and
invigorates our bodies the Lord also does this to us and more. HE will quench
our thirst and HE will invigorate our weary bodies.
HE will do
many more incredible things for us provided we continuously search and thirst
for HIM. After finding Jesus we will now have to share Him so that our
fellowmen will be blessed as we’ve been blessed by Jesus. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Madilim-dilim pa nang araw ng Linggo,
naparoon na si Maria Magdalena sa libingan. Naratnan niyang naalis na ang
batong panakip sa pinto ng libingan. Dahil dito, patakbo siyang pumunta kay
Simon Pedro at sa alagad na mahal ni Hesus, at sinabi sa kanila, “Kinuha sa
libingan ang Panginoon at hindi namin alam kung saan dinala!”
Si Maria’y nakatayong umiiyak sa labas ng libingan; yumuko siya at
tumingin sa loob. May nakita siyang dalawang anghel na nakaupo sa pinaglagyan
ng bangkay ni Hesus, ang isa’y sa gawing ulunan at ang isa nama’y sa paanan.
Tinanong nila si Maria, “Ale, bakit kayo umiiyak?”
Sumagot siya, “Kinuha po nila ang aking Panginoon, at hindi ko
alam kung saan nila dinala.” Lumingon siya pagkasabi nito, at nakita niya si
Hesus na nakatayo roon, ngunit hindi niya nakilalang si Hesus iyon. Tinanong
siya ni Hesus, “Bakit ka umiiyak? Sino ang hinahanap mo?”
Akala ni Maria’y siya ang tagapag-alaga ng halamanan, kaya’t
sinabi niya, “Ginoo, kung kayo po ang kumuha sa kanya, ituro ninyo sa akin kung
saan ninyo dinala at kukunin ko.” “Maria!” ani Hesus. Humarap siya at kanyang
sinabi, “Raboni!” — ibig sabihi’y “Guro.” “Huwag mo akong hawakan, sapagkat
hindi pa ako nakapupunta sa Ama,” wika ni Hesus.
“Sa
halip, pumunta ka sa king mga kapatid at sabihin mong aakyat ako sa aking Ama
at inyong Ama, sa aking Diyos at inyong Diyos.” Kaya’t si Maria Magdalena’y
pumunta sa mga alagad at sinabi, “Nakita ko ang Panginoon!” At tuloy sinabi sa
kanila ang bilin ni Hesus.
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and
reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by
yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”People were coming and going
in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a
deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They
hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before
them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his
heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a
shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
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Reflection:
A woman went to her neighbor to seek advice for
her many problems. The neighbor asked the troubled woman this question: “Is
Jesus an integral part of your life? For example, do you always pray to the
Lord? Do you always attend Holy Mass?” The woman said no, and then the neighbor
advised her to make time for Jesus.
In the Gospel, a
vast crowd was running after Jesus (Mark 6:34) because they knew that Jesus
would straighten out their lives. They were not only after Jesus because they
wanted to be cured and fed. Some perhaps were pursuing Jesus because they
wanted to simply see Him and that would be enough for them to heal their body
and soul.
The vast crowd who was following Jesus wherever
he goes saw in Jesus a good shepherd who will not only feed and heal them. They
also saw in Jesus someone who will give them precious advice and guidance.
What does this mean to you?
This means that whenever you have issues and
concerns in life that seem difficult to resolve, you have to go to Jesus in
prayer. You need to bend your knees before Him and ask for His help and
guidance. Because Jesus is always there for you ever ready to guide and help
you as you encounter the many challenges of your life.
Do you always pray to the Lord? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, bumalik kay Hesus ang mga apostol at iniulat ang lahat ng kanilang naisagawa at naituro. Napakaraming taong dumarating at umaalis, anupat hindi na makuhang kumain ni Hesus at ng kanyang mga alagad. Kaya’t sinabi niya sa mga ito, “Magtungo tayo sa isang ilang na pook upang malayo sa karamihan at makapagpahinga kayo nang kaunti.” Umalis silang lulan ng bangka, at nagpunta nga sa isang ilang na dako.
Ngunit maraming nakakita sa kanilang pag-alis at nakilala sila. Kaya’t mula sa lahat ng bayan, ang mga tao’y patakbong tumungo sa dakong pupuntahan nina Hesus at nauna pang dumating doon kaysa kanila. Paglunsad ni Hesus, nakita niya ang napakaraming tao; nahabag siya sa kanila sapagkat para silang mga tupang walang pastol. At sila’y tinuruan niya ng maraming bagay.
The Pharisees went out and took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from
that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them
not to make him known.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken
through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved
in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim
justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear
his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering
wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name
the Gentiles will hope.
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Reflection:
What are you going to do if you know that
powerful people are after your life? Of course you would do what Jesus did: You
will also withdraw to a place where you will be safe. But unlike Jesus who
continued to do HIS acts of mercy even if HIS life was already in danger. You
may not do anything except hide and protect your life, this is what separate
Jesus from all of us.
For Jesus the greater good is not to
protect HIS life but to continue to serve the people that HE dearly loved. This
love for HIS people eventually culminated in HIS death on the cross.
But not all of us are afraid to give our
very life for the sake of our fellowmen. There are others who selflessly gave
their lives so that others may live and be free. This is best exemplified by
our heroes who selflessly gave their lives for our sake.
Let us therefore be like Jesus, let us not
be afraid to give our time, treasure and even our life for His mission. Because
someday we will be able to harvest our reward from the Good Lord. We may not
receive it in our lifetime.
But will certainly receive it eventually
when our journey in this world is over and that is already in heaven.
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
