Sumagot si Hesus, “Ibigin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buong puso, nang buong kaluluwa, at nang buong pag-iisip. Ito ang pinakamahalagang utos. Ito naman ang pangalawa: “Ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Sa dalawang utos na ito nakasalalay ang buong Kautusan ni Moises at ang turo ng mga propeta.”
Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 23, Biyernes sa Ika-20 na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22-34-40
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Reflection for Thursday August 22 Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:26-38
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called
Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his
father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and of his Kingdom there
will be no end.
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I
have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold,
Elizabeth, your relative has also conceived a son in her old age and this is
the sixth month for her who was called barren for nothing will be impossible
for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May
it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her.
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Reflection:
Do you bow in humility to the will of the Lord? For
example, you want to focus on something that you want to become your lifelong
career. Yet, in your heart you also feel that the Holy Spirit is leading you to
something which is for God. Do you listen to this leading of the Holy Spirit or
you listen only to what you want for yourself?
Mary listened to the voice of God coursed through the
Angel Gabriel, Mary listened to the Holy Spirit who spoke to her heart. Mary
had her own plan yet she subordinated her plan for God’s plan for her which is
to become the mother of Jesus.
When we obey the voice of God who is continuously
speaking to us, our life will change for the better not according to the desire
of this world. We may not gain the material wealth that many of us want this
world to offer us but the moment we say yes to the voice of God. We would gain
peace in our life; peace that we have never experienced before and peace that
no material wealth could give us.
The Blessed Mother did this, she listened to the voice
of God thru the angel Gabriel and she listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit
which was already speaking to her heart. Thus, she gained peace and serenity in
her life.
Let us therefore listen to the voice of God and listen
to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It may be telling us to reconcile with
someone close to us. It may be telling us to reach out in humility to a friend
or it may be telling us to forgive and forget an offense done against us. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Agosto 22 Paggunita sa Pagka-reyna ng Mahal na Birheng Maria: Lucas 1:26-38
"Matuwa ka! Ikaw ay kalugud-lugod sa Diyos," wika niya.
"Sumasaiyo ang Panginoon!" Nagulumihanan si Maria sa gayong
pangungusap, at inisip niyang mabuti kung ano ang kahulugan niyon. Kaya't
sinabi sa kanya ng anghel, "Huwag kang matakot, Maria, sapagkat
kinalulugdan ka ng Diyos. Makinig ka! Ikaw ay maglilihi at manganganak ng isang
lalaki, at siya'y tatawagin mong Jesus.
Magiging dakila siya, at tatawaging Anak ng Kataas-taasan.
Ibibigay sa kanya ng Panginoong Diyos ang trono ng kanyang amang si David.
Maghahari siya sa angkan ni Jacob magpakailanman, at ang kanyang paghahari ay
walang hanggan." "Paanong mangyayari ito, gayong ako'y dalaga?"
tanong ni Maria. Sumagot ang anghel, "Bababa sa iyo ang Espiritu Santo, at
lililiman ka ng kanyang kapangyarihan ng Kataas-taasan.
Kaya't
banal ang ipanganganak mo at tatawaging Anak ng Diyos. Natatandaan mo ang iyong
kamag-anak na si Elisabet? Alam ng lahat na siya'y baog, ngunit naglihi siya sa
kabila ng kanyang katandaan. At ngayo'y ikaanim na buwan na ng kanyang
pagdadalantao -- sapagkat walang hindi mapangyayari ang Diyos." Sumagot si
Maria, "Ako'y alipin ng Panginoon. Mangyari sa akin ang iyong sinabi."
At nilisan siya ng anghel.
Reflection for Wednesday August 21 Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope: Matthew 20:1-16
Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing
around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered,
‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the
laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the
first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received
the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would
receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it
they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one
hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the
heat.’
He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not
cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is
yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not
free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
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Reflection:
Do you sometimes think that God is not treating you
fairly? For example, you are faithful to Him, you follow the commandments and
you always try to do your best to do good. But you still encounter trials and
problems in your life.
The ways of God are unfathomable there are times that
HIS decisions are hard for us to comprehend. But that’s how God is; HE does not
think the way we think. HE doesn’t decide the way we decide. God is infinite
and we are simply finite beings of this world.
We will not be able to comprehend the ways of God no
matter how hard we try to comprehend it, we will not. But come to think of it,
who are we to question God’s decisions and infinite goodness? We are
mere mortals with a very limited shelf life in this world. Instead of
questioning the mysterious ways of God in our lives, why not simply work hard,
be a good and faithful follower and trust HIM our lives no matter what may
befall us?
In the gospel Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to
a landowner who invited workers to work in his vineyard. Many were invited to
work at different hours during that day. Some were invited presumably at 8 in
the morning, some during 9 in the morning. And then the last group of workers
that were invited was during 5 pm the last hour of work
already.
When evening came every worker was summoned to receive
their wages for their day’s work. The first batch that received their wages
were those who came at 5 pm the last hour of work and to their surprise they
received the full wage for the day.
Therefore those who reported to work the first hour of
the morning were expecting a bigger wage. But to their disappointment they
received the same wage with those who worked at 5 pm. So, they complained to
the landowner for what they perceived to be an injustice that was done to them.
However, the landowner told them that there was no injustice and cheating on
the wages that was paid because they agreed to be paid with that amount from
the outset.
There may be times that we may feel that God is not treating us fairly. For the reason of the many challenges and trials that we face in our lives. But that feeling is wrong because God is always good and fair to us. It is rather us who fail to discern the goodness, wisdom and infinite mercy and generosity of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Agosto 21 Paggunita kay San Pio X, papa: Mateo 20:1-16
Sinabi nya sa kanila, 'Pumaroon din kayo at magtrabaho sa aking
ubasan, at bibigyan ko kayo ng karampatang upa. At pumaroon nga sila. Lumabas
na naman siya nang mag-iikalabindalawa ng tanghali at nang mag-iikatlo ng
hapon, at gayon din ang ginagawa niya. Nang mag-iikalima ng hapon, siya'y
lumabas uli at nakakita pa ng mga ibang wala ring ginagawa. Sinabi niya sa
kanila, 'Bakit kayo tatayu-tayo lang dito sa buong maghapon?' 'Wala pong
magbigay sa amin ng trabaho, e!' sagot nila. At sinabi niya, 'Kung gayun,
pumaroon kayo at gumawa sa aking ubasan.'
"Pagtatakip-silim, sinabi ng may-ari ng ubasan sa kanyang
katiwala, 'Tawagin mo na ang mga manggagawa at sila'y upahan, magmula sa huli
hanggang sa unang nagtrabaho.' Ang mga nagsimula ng mag-iikalima ng hapon ay
tumanggap ng tig-iisang denaryo. At nang lumapit ang mga nauna, inakala nilang
tatanggap sila ng higit doon; ngunit ang bawat isa'y tumanggap din ng isang
denaryo.
Pagkatanggap nito, nagreklamo sila sa may-ari ng ubasan. Sabi
nila, 'Isang oras lang pong gumawa ang mga huling dumating, samantalang
maghapon kaming nagpagal at nagtiis ng nakapapasong init ng araw. Bakit naman
po ninyo pinagpare-pareho ang upa sa amin?' At sinabi niya sa isa sa kanila,
'Kaibigan, hindi kita dinadaya. Hindi ba't nagkasundo tayo sa isang denaryo?
Kunin
mo ang ganang iyo, at umalis ka na. Maano kung ibig kong upahan ang nahuli nang
tulad ng upa ko sa iyo? Wala ba akong karapatang gawin ang aking maibigan sa
ari-arian ko? O naiinggit ka lang sa aking kabutihang loob?' Kaya't ang
nahuhuli ay mauuna, at ang nauuna ay mahuhuli."
Monday, August 19, 2024
Reflection for Tuesday August 20 Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 19:23-30
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Reflection:
What have we given up for our love of Jesus? Have we given up our vices, sinfulness and other ungodly behaviors?
In the gospel Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Perhaps this is also our question before Jesus, What will there be for us your followers? Ah, Jesus would probably say, there would be peace in your life, there would be less human created stress and the like.
But judging from the life of Jesus and of those who faithfully followed Him there will be hardships, sacrifices, poverty and even martyrdom. Now that we have an idea, would we still follow? We must still follow Jesus even if people would persecute us for following Him and even if there would be hardships and sacrifices. For this is the true measure of our discipleship.
Before gold becomes a magnificent piece of jewelry it passes through severe purifying by fire. And before a diamond is made it goes through several painful processes that involves crushing, cutting and refining.
So is our life with Jesus, there would be humps and bumps here and there. But nothing to worry about these humps and bumps for its just part of the testing of our faith and certainly part of our purification.
Would we still faithfully follow Jesus from now on notwithstanding the purification that we have to go through? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Agosto 20 Paggunita kay San Bernardo, abad at pantas ng Simbahan: Mateo 19:23-30
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Reflection for Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:16-22
He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement,
he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
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Reflection:
Would you give up all your material riches for the sake of the Lord?
The young man did all of the commandments except for one, to sell all his materials treasures and give the proceeds to the poor. This was the stumbling block to his desire to follow Jesus - not being able to do what Jesus wanted him, he walked away sad for he was rich.
This is a sad ending to a promising story of discipleship all because of material possessions. The man failed to discern what is temporary and what is eternal. He didn’t discern that his riches were temporary and following Jesus was everlasting. If only he knew it he would have abandoned everything for the sake of following Jesus.
We are being challenged by the gospel to be more discerning than the rich young man. We are being challenged by Jesus to look deeply into our hearts for the reason that we may be slaves already of this material world.
In hindsight, why is it that many of us are very much willing to become slaves of this world when all that is in this world are passing? For example, power, riches and other worldly comforts there will come a time that we will leave it behind.
There will come a time that everything
that we have will not matter anymore except our relationship with Jesus. So, we
have to follow the Lord than be slaves of this world. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita: Agosto 19, Lunes sa Ika-20 na Linggo sa ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:16-22
"Alin-alin po?" tanong niya. Sumagot si Jesus, "Huwag kang papatay; huwag kang mangangalunya; huwag kang magnanakaw; huwag kang magsisinungaling sa iyong pagsaksi; igalang mo ang iyong ama at ina; at ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa, gaya nang pag-ibig mo sa iyong sarili."
Sinabi ng binata, "Tinutupad ko na pong lahat iyan. Ano pa po ang dapat kong gawin?" "Kung ibig mong maging ganap, humayo ka, ipagbili mo ang iyong ari-arian at ipamahagi sa mga dukha ang pinagbilhan. Kapag ginawa mo iyan, magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa langit. Pagkatapos, bumalik ka at sumunod sa akin." sagot ni Jesus. Pagkarinig nito, malungkot na umalis ang binata, sapagkat siya'y napakayaman.
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Reflection for Sunday August 18, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:51-58
Gospel: John 6:51-58
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.
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Reflection:
St. Catherine of Genoa was a daily communicant. It was said that during the seasons of Advent and Lent, she lived without food, being nourished solely by receiving Jesus daily through Holy Communion.
During the thirteenth century in Italy, there was a priest who almost lost his faith in the reality of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist. Right before the 'Lamb of God,' where the priest breaks the host to put a small part of it into the chalice, the host in his hands began to bleed profusely. It bled over his hands, onto the corporal, and onto the altar cloths.
There are many more written and unwritten Eucharistic miracles that have happened and will continue to happen in the future. But how about us? Have we personally experienced any form of miraculous Eucharistic occurrence? Perhaps we have not yet experienced it, or maybe we’re simply unaware that Jesus, through His Body and Blood, is actually transforming us into the person He wants us to be.
Is it possible that something miraculous could happen to us if we reverently receive Jesus at Mass? If we faithfully and piously receive Jesus in every Holy Mass, it is not impossible that He will transform us into the person He wants us to become.
Take, for example, a man who is a chain smoker and an alcoholic—what will happen to him if he doesn’t stop smoking and drinking? He will likely suffer from serious health issues related to cigarettes and alcohol. On the other hand, consider a health-conscious man who exercises regularly and only eats healthy food and vegetables. Naturally, he will look good and be healthy because of his consistent regimen.
The same is true if we faithfully attend Holy Mass and receive Jesus regularly during Holy Communion. There will be a transformation within us; we may not notice it ourselves, but others will become aware of it. This is the miracle that we often are not aware of.
The Body and Blood of Jesus that we receive during Holy Communion makes a significant difference in our lives because Jesus comes into us. We become one with Jesus during Holy Communion, and if we allow it, He will transform us into the person He wants us to be.
Do you always receive Jesus with reverence during Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita, Linggo Agosto 18 Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 6:51-58
Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:51-58
Kaya't sinabi ni Jesus, "Tandaan ninyo: malibang kanin ninyo ang laman ng Anak ng Tao at inumin ang kanyang dugo, hindi kayo magkakaroon ng buhay. Ang kumakain ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay may buhay na walang hanggan, at muli ko siyang bubuhayin sa huling araw. Sapagkat ang aking laman ay tunay na pagkain, at ang aking dugo, tunay na inumin.
Ang kumakain ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay nananahan sa akin, at ako sa kanya. Buhay ang Amang nagsugo sa akin, at ako'y nabubuhay dahil sa kanya. Gayon din naman, ang sinumang kumakain sa akin ay mabubuhay dahil sa akin.
Ito ang pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit; ang kumakain nito'y mabubuhay magpakailanman. Hindi ito katulad ng kinain ng inyong mga magulang sa ilang; namatay sila bagamat kumain sila niyon."
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Reflection for August 17 Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:13-15
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Reflection:
In a faraway village lived two families
with five children each. Family number one is a devout catholic; they always
attend Sunday Holy Mass. The parents lead their children in reflecting the
words of Jesus in the bible and they regularly pray the Holy Rosary. On the
other hand, family number two is the complete opposite of family number
one.
Twenty years after, the children of family number one
were all successful and respected in their respective communities. The children
of family number two were again the opposite of the children of family number
one.
Many parents today forget the primacy of God over
everything that this world offers us. They are always very busy with their
worldly undertakings. They don’t gather their children during Sundays to attend
Holy Mass. They forget to share to their children the words of Jesus in the
bible. They forget to teach their children about the faith.
We all know that as children grow up they would
encounter their own share of problems. Where would they go to unburden their
problems if they don’t know God?
In the gospel, Jesus tells us, “Let the children come
to me (Matthew 19:14)”. Why? For the simple reason that the Good Lord wants to
ensure a Bright, Good and Godly future for our children.
Have you already introduced your children to the Lord
and are they friends with Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 17, Sabado sa Ika-19 na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:13-15
Ngunit pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Datapwat sinabi ni Jesus, "Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang hadlangan, sapagkat sa katulad nila naghahari ang Diyos." Ipinatong niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay, saka umalis.
Reflection for August 16 Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:3-12
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore,
what God has joined together, man must not separate. They said to him, “Then
why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss
her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed
you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries
another commits adultery.
His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a
man with his wife, it is better not to marry. He answered, “Not all can accept
this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of
marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of
heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.
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Reflection:
How’s your married life?
From the beginning up until this very moment
separation is never in the agenda of God. God’s desire for married couples is
to remain married until death. Yet, some contradict this agenda of God by
introducing separation in the marriage. Some contradict this agenda of God by
betraying the sacred marriage vows, not once, not twice but many
times.
But come to think of it, why do married couples
separate? They separate because there is an absence of God in their marriage.
They separate because they allow the temptations of the devil to overpower God
and His command to make marriage Sacred and Holy. This is the primary
reason otherwise they wouldn’t separate if there’s an active presence of God in
their marriage.
When God is left out of the marriage or the teaching
of God is not taken seriously. The devil is given the opportunity to create
havoc in the couple’s married life. And the devil will never stop until it
finally destroys the marriage covenant of the couple.
Therefore, make Jesus an active player in your
marriage. How are you going to do this? Have time for Holy Mass as a
family. Have time for prayer as a family and have time for reading and
afterwards reflection of the words of Jesus in the bible as a
family.
Is Jesus an active member in your marriage? – Marino
J. Dasmarinas