Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Agosto 13 Ika-19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Nang mga sandaling iyo'y lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad at nagtanong, "Sino po ang pinakadakila sa kaharian ng langit?" Tinawag ni Jesus ang isang bata, pinatayo sa harapan nila, at sinabi, "Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag hindi kayo nagbago, at tumulad sa mga bata, hinding-hindi kayo mabibilang sa pinaghaharian ng Diyos.  

Ang sinumang nagpapakababa na gaya ng batang ito ay siyang pinakadakila sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos. Ang sinumang tumatanggap sa isang batang ganito dahil sa akin ay ako ang tinatanggap." Ingatan ninyo na huwag ninyong hamakin ang isa sa mga maliliit na ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa langit ang kanilang mga anghel ay laging nasa harapan ng aking Ama. "Ano sa akala ninyo ang gagawin ng isang taong may isang sandaang tupa kung maligaw ang isa sa mga iyon?  

Hindi kaya niya iiwan ang siyanmnapu't siyam na nanginginain sa kaburulan upang hanapin ang naligaw? Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag nasumpungan niya ito, higit niyang ikinagagalak ang isang ito kaysa siyamnapu't siyam na hindi naligaw. Gayon din naman, hindi kalooban ng inyong Amang nasa langit na mapahamak ang isa sa maliliit na ito." 

Reflection for Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 17:22-27

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.  

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?  

From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”  

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 Reflection:

To pay or not to pay the temple tax, of course Jesus did right when He decided to pay. What if Jesus decided not to pay the temple tax? He would have been a bad example to His followers and He would have given His opponents a window of opportunity to persecute Him earlier than expected.  

For Jesus, doing right is always His top priority; doing wrong is never in His mind. His focus is always on doing what is good and right. We must also strive to do good and do right at all times. 

Although we are not required to give a certain percentage of our income to the church. In hindsight this gospel invites us also to examine our generosity toward our church, how generous are we in giving to our church? For example, during Holy Mass, how generous are we during offertory? Do we give from the heart or we give out from our spare or crumbs?  

We must give generously for whatever we give generously to the church the Good Lord will give  back to us a hundredfold. We can never outgive God because the more that we give Him the more that we would receive from Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Ang Mabuting Balita: Agosto 12, Lunes sa Ika-19 na Linggo sa ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 17:22-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 17:22-27

Noong panahong iyon, nang nagkakatipon sa Galilea, ang mga alagad, sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, "Ang Anak ng Tao ay ipagkakanulo at papatayin, ngunit muling mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw," At sila'y lubhang nagdalamhati. Pagdating nila sa Capernaum, lumapit kay Pedro ang mga maniningil ng buwis para sa templo. Tinanong siya, "Nagbabayad ba ng buwis para sa templo ang inyong Guro?" "Opo," sagot ni Pedro.  

At nang dumating siya sa bahay, tinanong na agad siya ni Jesus: "Ano ba ang palagay mo, Simon? Kanino sumisingil ng bayad sa lisensiya o buwis ang mga hari sa lupa? Sa mga mamamayan ba o mga dayuhan?"  

"Sa mga dayuhan po," tugon niya. sinabi ni Jesus, "Kung gayon, hindi pinagbabayad ang mga mamamayan. Gayunaman, para wala silang masabi sa atin, pumaroon ka sa lawa at ihagis mo ang kawil. Kunin mo ang unang isdang mahuhuli. Ibuka mo ang bibig nito at may makikita kang isang salaping pilak. Kunin mo ito at ibayad mo sa buwis nating dalawa."

Reflection for Sunday August 11, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:41-51

Gospel: John 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven, ” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 

Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 

Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

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Reflection:   

How can Jesus be the bread that gives life? This is very hard to believe for a non-believer. But for those who have faith, they know that Jesus is indeed the Bread of Life.

The Jews were protesting Jesus’ pronouncement that He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven (John 6:41). They knew Jesus well as the son of Joseph and Mary, and some of them perhaps grew up with Him. How, then, could He become the Bread of Life?

Faith and actual experience are what move us to believe in Jesus' sacred declaration that He is the Bread that gives life. Why do we yearn to receive Jesus during Holy Communion? It is because our love and faith in Him compel us to do so.

Every time we submit to our faith's desire to partake of Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion/Eucharist, we also obey His desire to dwell in us and be with us. The Jews did not submit to this desire of Jesus, which is why they did not believe in Him.

Each and every one of us undergoes an extraordinary experience whenever we partake of Jesus' Body and Blood. However, many of us no longer notice this because we have begun to treat this profound experience as something ordinary.  

Whenever we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, it is not just our desire to be one with our Lord and Master, but rather it is Jesus who desires us to be one with Him. It is Jesus who calls each and every one of us to receive Him so that He may dwell in us, transforming and blessing us in the process.

So, what is your responsibility? You must share the miracle of the Bread of Life, share what you know about Jesus, even if it is limited, and allow Jesus to transform you according to His will. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Linggo Agosto 11 Ika-19 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 6:41-51

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:41-51

Noong mga panahong iyon, nagbulung-bulungan ang mga Judio dahil sa sinabi ni Hesus, “Ako ang pagkaing bumaba, mula sa langit.” Sinabi nila, “Hindi ba ito si Hesus na anak ni Jose? Kilala natin ang kanyang ama’t ina. Paano niya ngayong masasabi: ‘Bumaba ako mula sa langit’?”

Kaya’t sinabi ni Hesus, “Huwag kayong magbulung-bulungan. Walang makalalapit sa akin malibang dalhin siya ng Amang nagsugo sa akin. At ang lalapit sa akin ay muli kong bubuhayin sa huling araw. Nasusulat sa aklat ng mga propeta, ‘At silang lahat ay tuturuan ng Diyos.’ Ang bawat nakikinig sa Ama at natututo ay lalapit sa akin. Hindi ito nangangahulugang may nakakita na sa Ama; yaong nagmula sa Diyos ang tanging nakakita sa Ama.

“Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa akin ay may buhay na walang hanggan. Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay-buhay. Kumain ng manna ang inyong mga ninuno nang sila’y nasa ilang, gayunman’y namatay sila. Ngunit ang sinumang kumain ng pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit ay hindi mamamatay. Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay-buhay na bumaba mula sa langit. Mabubuhay magpakailanman ang sinumang kumain nito. At ang pagkaing ibibigay ko sa ikabubuhay ng sanlibutan ay ang aking laman.”

Reflection for Saturday August 10 Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr: John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

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Reflection:

Do you love your life in this world? 

Jesus gives us today a contradictory or baffling statement by saying: “Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” How could this be?  

The simple answer to this paradoxical statement by Jesus is this: We love our life if we love the trappings of this world such as wealth, power and other worldly possession. It also includes other self-centered attitudes such as greed, lust, arrogance, egotism to name a few. We will certainly lose our life if we could identify to any of these characteristics.  

We hate our life in this world but preserve it for eternal life if we have Jesus like behaviors such as: Humility, Selflessness, Prayerfulness, Kindheartedness, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion and many more Jesus like virtues.  

Therefore we are given two choices: To love our life in this world or two hate it. Surely there would be those who would choose to love their life in this world but for what price? 

The problem of loving our present life for the sake of this world is we are slowly but surely closing the door for Jesus to enter our life. Yet we open it widely for Satan to enter and eventually drive our life.  

Discover the true meaning of life by serving Christ and by loving Him. Discover the true meaning of life by denying yourself of the many useless and sinful excesses of this world.

Have you already discovered the true meaning of your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita, Sabado Agosto 10 Kapistahan ni San Lorenzo diyakono at martir: Juan 12:24-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:24-26

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Tandaan ninyo: malibang mahulog sa lupa ang butil ng trigo at mamatay, mananatili itong nag-iisa. Ngunit kung mamatay, ito'y mamumunga nang marami.  

Ang taong labis na nagpapahalaga sa kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, ngunit ang napopoot sa kanyang buhay sa daigdig na ito ay siyang magkakaroon nito hanggang sa buhay na walang hanggan. Dapat sumunod sa akin ang naglilingkod sa akin, at saanman ako naroroon ay naroon din ang aking lingkod. Pararangalan ng Ama ang sinumang naglilingkod sa akin."

Reflection for August 9 Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 16:24-28

Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

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Reflection:

During the fifteenth century a rich and educated man named Bernadino Realino left everything for Christ. At 26 he was already a lawyer,  a doctor and a town mayor, he had everything that a young man could ever ask for. 

When he was 34, he went to attend a retreat and during that retreat he felt an overwhelming call from Jesus to become a priest. Thus, he left everything to become a priest and from that moment onwards he devoted his life to serve the poor.     

This saint found the real meaning of his life by leaving all of his earthly riches and attachments in favor of Jesus. He found his heavenly wealth by leaving behind his earthly wealth. He knew that nothing compares to Jesus. 

This is an eye opener for all of us who are so very enamoured by material wealth and earthly power. Many of us are so taken by the things of this world that we take Jesus for granted in favor of this world. But everything from this world is passing and temporary, someday we will leave it behind. 

We will have neither earthly influence nor riches if we decide to follow Jesus. We would be losing many of our friends if we follow Jesus. But all of these earthly trappings are immaterial compared to the life that awaits us if we decide hear the call of Jesus. 

To hear the call of Jesus is to be willing to leave behind our sinfulness, our arrogance and egotism. To hear the call of Jesus is to be willing to be present at Holy Mass and read the bible. To hear the call of Jesus is to have the courage to leave behind friends who do nothing to us except to influence us to sin. To hear the call of Jesus is to desire to serve the poor and downtrodden without expecting anything in return.  

Are you willing to leave everything for the sake of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 9, Biyernes sa Ika-18 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 16:24-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 16:24-28

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa akin. Ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito; ngunit ang mag-alay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa akin ay siyang magkakamit noon.  

Ano nga ang mapapala ng isang tao, makamtan man niya ang buong daigdig kung ang katumbas naman nito’y ang kanyang buhay? Ano ang maibabayad ng tao para mabalik sa kanya ang kanyang buhay? Sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao na taglay ang dakilang kapangyarihan ng kanyang Ama at kasama ang kanyang mga anghel.  

Sa panahong yao’y gagantihan niya ang bawat tao ayon sa kanyang ginawa. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: may ilan sa inyo rito na hindi mamamatay hangga’t di nila nakikita ang Anak ng Tao na pumaparito bilang Hari.”

Reflection for Thursday August 8 Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest: Matthew 16:13-23

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

Many years ago I used to visit a former Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion for his Sunday nourishment of the Body of Christ. He was frail and bed ridden already but whenever he noticed that I was in their house. He would muster enough strength so that he could sit down for Holy Communion. Until the time came that he was so weak already that he couldn’t anymore sit down. 

One important thing that I noticed about him was he never complained why he was poor and suffering. As I go to him every Sunday never did I hear him complain about anything. He carried his suffering without questioning God until he eventually died. Perhaps he knew that to suffer was part of his discipleship with Jesus. 

When Jesus told Peter and the disciples that He must undergo sufferings for the accomplishment of His mission. Peter reacted with indignation, perhaps Peter couldn’t accept the fact that this powerful and charismatic man would suffer. Perhaps because of the power of Jesus peter thought that Jesus was already immune of suffering/s. But Jesus was not exempted from suffering HE had to go through it for it was part of His destiny and mission. 

How about us, don’t we question Jesus why we have to go through sufferings?  Don’t we question Jesus, why me Lord considering that I am your follower? Perhaps Jesus would tell us this: Take courage my child, your suffering/s is a reminder that I am always here for you call on me because I am ever ready to help you carry your suffering. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 8 Huwebes Paggunita kay Santo Domingo, pari: Mateo 16:13-23

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 16:13-23

Noong panahong iyon, nang dumating si Hesus sa lupain ng Cesarea ng Filipos, tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad, “Sino raw ang Anak ng Tao, ayon sa mga tao?” At sumagot sila, “Ang sabi po ng ilan ay si Juan Bautista kayo. Sabi naman ng iba, si Elias kayo. 

At may nagsasabi pang si Jeremias kayo o isa sa mga propeta.” “Kayo naman, ano ang sabi ninyo? Sino ako?” tanong niya sa kanila. Sumagot si Simon Pedro, “Kayo po ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay.” 

Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Mapalad ka, Simon na anak ni Jonas! Sapagkat ang katotohanang ito’y hindi inihayag sa iyo ng sinumang tao kundi ng aking Amang nasa langit. At sinasabi ko naman sa iyo, ikaw ay Pedro, at sa ibabaw ng batong ito ay itatayo ko ang aking simbahan, at hindi makapananaig sa kanya kahit ang kapangyarihan ng kamatayan. 

Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang mga susi ng kaharian ng langit: ang ipagbawal mo sa lupa ay ipagbabawal sa langit, at ang ipahintulot mo sa lupa ay ipahihintulot sa langit.” At mahigpit niyang tinagubilin ang kanyang mga alagad na huwag sasabihin na siya ang Kristo.  

Mula noon ay ipinaalam na ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad na dapat siyang magtungo sa Jerusalem at magbata ng maraming hirap sa kamay ng matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga eskriba, at kanilang ipapapatay siya. Ngunit sa ikatlong araw siya’y muling mabubuhay. 

Niyaya siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at pinagsabihan ng ganito: “Panginoon, huwag namang itulot ng Diyos! Hindi po dapat mangyari ito sa inyo.” Ngunit hinarap siya ni Hesus at sinabihan, “Lumayo ka, Satanas! Hadlang ka sa aking landas. Ang iniisip mo’y hindi sa Diyos kundi sa tao.”

Reflection for August 7 Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 15:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” 

But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

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Reflection:

How do you define your faith in Jesus? It’s when you don’t give up on what you want from Jesus. You continuously badger Him with your prayers until He answers it.  

The Canaanite woman had this kind of faith, she never gave up on her prayer request for Jesus to heal her daughter tormented by a demon. There were many obstacles stacked against her, foremost of this was her being not a Jew but it did not matter to her. She persisted and she even argued with Jesus until she passed Jesus’ examination of her faith. After which her daughter was healed by Jesus. 

This gospel relates with our own journey of faith with Jesus also. Anyone of us could be that Canaanite woman who badgered Jesus no end until she got the healing that she wants for her daughter.

 However, unlike the woman from Canaan who persisted until the very end we may not have the will to badger Jesus. We may have quit already and said to ourselves, “I give up on my prayer for Jesus because He seems to be deaf.” What we do not know is the delay is just part of the testing of our faith. 

Every trial that we go through is our own test of faith. For example, the harshness of life that many of us are presently going through this is just a test of our faith and will to survive. Let us therefore not give up and let us continue to pray to the Lord for He will soon hear our prayers. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 7 Miyerkules sa Ika-18 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 15:21-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 15:21-28

Umalis doon si Jesus at nagpunta sa lupaing malapit sa Tiro at Sidon. Lumapit sa kanya ang isang Cananeang naninirahan doon at malakas na sinabi, "Panginoon, Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin! Ang anak kong babae ay inaalihan ng demonyo at masyadong pinahihirapan.   

Ngunit gaputok ma'y di tumugon si Jesus. at lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya. "Pagbigyan na nga po ninyo at nang umalis. Siya'y nag-iingay at susunod-sunod sa atin." Sumagot si Jesus, "Sa mga tupang naliligaw ng sambahayan ng Israel lamang ako sinugo." Ngunit lumapit sa kanya ang babae, lumuhod sa harapan at ang sabi, "Tulungan po ninyo ako, Panginoon."   

Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta." "Tunay nga po, Panginoon," tugon ng babae, "ngunit ang mga tuta man ay nagsisikain ng mumong nalalaglag sa hapag ng kanilang panginoon." Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Napakalaki ng iyong pananalig! Mangyayari ang hinihiling mo." At noon di'y gumaling ang kanyang anak.  

Reflection for Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:13-21

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 

But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over–twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a poor woman who got sick with a serious sickness being poor she naturally cant afford the expensive medication process. So, she said to Jesus: “O my Lord I have nothing except my faith, I will go to the nearest hospital and simply entrust everything to you.” 

And she went to the hospital, upon arriving a kind hearted doctor asked her: “What can I do for you.” The woman said: “I’m very sick please help me and the doctor said: “Don’t worry I will help you get healed.” While she was being assisted by the doctor the woman saw a gleaming pin of the sacred heart of Jesus attached to the doctor’s coat.    

When we have faith the impossible becomes possible, the faraway becomes within reach and the unbelievable becomes believable.

In the gospel, when Jesus saw the vast crowd waiting for Him, His heart was moved with pity for them. Thus, Jesus cured those who were sick (Matthew 14:14). When evening came the disciples told Jesus to let go of the vast crowd so that they can buy their food. But Jesus would have nothing of His disciples’ suggestion.

He instead told His disciples to feed them but there was no food except for the five loaves and two fish. So, Jesus asked for the five loaves and two fish and it was all what Jesus needed to feed the vast crowd.

Because of the harshness of life, many are losing hope. However, there is hope, and it is offered to us by Jesus in the gospel. All Jesus asks of us is to continue to have faith. The same faith of the crowd who waited for Jesus’ healing and the same faith of the crowd who were fed by Jesus by means of the multiplication of the five bread and two fish.

Let us never doubt the power of Jesus to see us through out of our difficult situation. Let us continue to pray and have faith in the power of Jesus. Let us continue to have faith that Jesus will make a way when there seems to be no way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas