Isang Araw ng
Pamamahinga, naparaan sina Jesus sa triguhan. Ang kanyang mga alagad ay
nangitil ng uhay, at kanilang kinain ang mga butil matapos ligisin sa kanilang
mga kamay. "Bakit ninyo ginagawa sa Araw ng Pamamahinga ang ipinagbabawal
ng Kautusan?" tanong ng ilang Pariseo.
Sinagot sila ni Jesus, "Hindi ba ninyo nabasa ang ginawa ni
David nang magutom siya at ang kanyang mga kasama? Pumasok siya sa bahay ng
Panginoon, kumuha ng tinapay na handog sa Diyos at kumain nito. Binigyan pa
niya ang mga kasama, bagama't ayon sa Kautusan, ang mga saserdote lamang ang
may karapatang kumain niyon." At sinabi pa niya sa kanila, "Ang Araw
ng Pamamahinga ay nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Anak ng Tao.
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the
disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus
answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is
with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is
taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them
a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old
cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the
skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And
no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is
good.’”
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Reflection:
The story is told about a lady who was giving her
personal testimony on how Jesus made a big impact in her life and how Jesus
filled her life with joy and contentment. She said further that now that Jesus
is in her heart. She now will always ask Jesus to take care of her sadness and
other trials.
Whether we admit or not sadness and other lonesome
emotions will once in a while visit us. Most especially right now wherein so
life is hard and many also are suffering - but this is normal for we are all
beings with emotions. However if we have Jesus, we have nothing to worry even
if these lonesome feelings will come to us.
We would know how to handle it for the simple reason
that we already have Jesus in our life. We have nothing to worry about anything
that may come to us. Thus, we continue to move ahead with hope because Jesus is
by our side.
Assuring us that no human affliction and emotion no
matter how severe could bring us down anymore. Not even the saddest moment in
our lives for we have already been renewed and poured into the fresh wineskin
which is no other than Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ng mga
Pariseo at mga eskriba kay Jesus: "Ang mga alagad ni Juan ay malimit
mag-ayuno at manalangin. Gayon din ang alagad ng mga Pariseo. Ngunit ang mga
alagad mo'y patuloy ang pagkain at pag-inom."
Sumagot si Jesus, "Pag-aayunuhin ba ninyo
ang mga panauhin sa kasalan samantalang kasama pa nila ang lalaking ikinasal?
Kung wala na ang ikinasal, saka pa lamang sila mag-aayuno."
Sinabi rin niya sa kanila ang isang talinghaga; "Walang
pumiraso sa bagong damit upang itagpi sa luma. Kapag ginawa ito, masisira ang
bagong damit at ang tagping bago ay hindi babagay sa damit na luma. Wala ring
nagsisilid ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat. Kapag gayon ang ginawa,
papuputukin ng bagong alak ang balat, matatapon ang alak, at masisira ang
sisidlan.
Sa
bagong sisidlang-balat dapat ilagay ang bagong alak. at walang magkakagustong
uminom ng bagong alak kapag nakainom na ng inimbak, sapagkat sasabihin niya,
'Masarap ang inimbak.' "
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch. Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
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Reflection:
What is it with Jesus that He can make ordinary fishermen to become fishers of men? This is for the reason that all things are possible with our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.
The encounter of Simon Peter and the other fishermen with Jesus by the lake of gennesaret is a magical and whirlwind encounter. It was an encounter that transformed their very lives! An encounter that moved them out of their own comfort zones so that they could follow Jesus.
We too have our own encounter/s with our Lord. We encounter Him through the celebration of the Eucharist/ Holy Mass. We encounter Him when we take time to read His very words in the bible. We encounter the Lord when we pray and there are many more encounters that occurs between us and the Lord. But sad to say, many of these encounters with the Lord we fail to discern.
All of these encounters with Jesus are specifically designed to transform us. So that like Simon Peter and his companions of fishermen we too could be converted and become Jesus’ followers. Our every encounter with Jesus is always life-changing, transformative and enlightening.
Do you want to have an encounter with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nakatayo si Hesus sa baybayin ng Lawa ng Generaset. Pinagkalipumpunan siya ng napakaraming tao na ibig makarinig ng salita ng Diyos. May nakita siyang dalawang bangka sa baybayin; nakalunsad na ang mga mangingisda at naghuhugas ng kanilang mga lambat. Lumulan siya sa isa sa mga bangka at hiniling kay Simong may-ari nito, na ilayo nang kaunti sa tabi. Naupo siya sa bangka at nangaral sa mga tao.
Pagkatapos niyang magsalita ay sinabi niya kay Simon, “Pumalaot kayo at ihulog ang mga lambat upang manghuli.” Sumagot si Simon, “Guro, magdamag po kaming nagpagod at wala kaming nahuli! Ngunit dahil sa sinabi ninyo, ihuhulog ko ang mga lambat.” Gayun nga ang ginawa nila at sa dami ng kanilang huli ay halos magkansisira ang kanilang mga lambat.
Kaya’t kinawayan nila ang kanilang mga kasamahang nasa ibang bangka upang patulong, at lumapit naman ang mga ito. Napuno ang dalawang bangka na halos lumubog. Nang makita iyon ni Simon Pedro, siya’y nagpatirapa sa paanan ni Hesus at nagsabi, “Lumayo po kayo sa akin, Panginoon, sapagkat ako’y makasalanan.”
Nanggilalas siya at ang kanyang mga kasama dahil sa dami ng kanilang huli; gayun din sina Santiago at Juan, mga anak ni Zebedeo, na mga kasosyo ni Simon. At sinabi ni Hesus kay Simon, “Huwag kang matakot. Mula ngayo’y mamamalakaya ka ng mga tao.” Nang maitabi na nila ang kanilang mga bangka, iniwan nila ang lahat at sumunod kay Hesus.
After Jesus
left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was
afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood
over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited
on them.
At sunset,
all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his
hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many,
shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them
to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak,
Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and
when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said
to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the
synagogues of Judea.
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Reflection:
Have you
asked Jesus to heal somebody close to you? Have you brought to Jesus a relative
or a friend? Your faith and relationship with Jesus becomes more meaningful
when you are able to bring/introduce someone to Him. Because this means that
your faith has already matured and is bearing fruit already.
In today's
gospel, Simon humbly asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law, who was sick with a
fever. Immediately, Jesus went to her and healed her. What if Simon had not
asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law? Of course, she would not have been
healed, but she was, thanks to Simon’s prayerful and humble intercession.
Simon’s act
of asking Jesus to heal his mother-in-law is a very good reminder for us. We
too must make sure that we pray to Jesus to heal and enlighten others,
especially those who are close to us. Many people are in great need of enlightenment
and healing from Jesus. Let us not take for granted the power of our prayerful
intercession for others, especially for the sick and for those who have not yet
been enlightened about the love of Jesus.
This is for
the reason that our prayerful intercession for them can heal and change them.
For example, Saint Monica (the mother of Saint Augustine) she was forced to
marry a non-believer but through her unceasing prayer she was able to convert
her husband to the catholic faith.
Saint Monica
also unceasingly prayed for 17 long years for the conversion of her son
Augustine who was living a life of sin at that time. And through her humble and
persevering prayers she was eventually heard by God.
Have you
already prayed for someone's enlightenment and healing? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, umalis si Jesus sa sinagoga at nagtungo sa bahay ni Simon.
Mataas noon ang lagnat ng biyenan ni Simon, kaya't ipinamanhik nila kay Jesus
na pagalingin siya. Tumayo si Jesus sa tabi ng higaan ng babae at iniutos na
maalis ang lagnat, at nawala nga ito. Noon di'y tumindig ang maysakit at
naglingkod sa kanila.
Paglubog ng araw, ang lahat ng maysakit -- anuman ang karamdaman
-- ay dinala ng kanilang mga kaibigan kay Jesus. Ipinatong niya ang kanyang mga
kamay sa bawat isa sa kanila at pinagaling sila.
Nagsilabas sa marami ang mga demonyo, sabay sigaw, "Ikaw ang
Anak ng Diyos!" Ngunit sinaway sila ni Jesus at hindi pinahintulutang
magsalita, sapagkat nakikilala nila na siya ang Mesias.
Nang mag-uumaga na, umalis si Jesus at nagpunta sa isang ilang na
pook. Hinanap siya ng mga tao, at nang matagpuan ay pinakiusapang huwag munang
umalis. Subalit sinabi niya, "Dapat ko ring ipangaral sa ibang bayan ang
Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos; sapagkat iyan ang layunin ng pagkasugo
sa akin." At nangaral siya sa mga sinagoga sa Judea.
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of
Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his
teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with
the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have
you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who
you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out
of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him
without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What
is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean
spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding
region.
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Reflection:
Do we have
time to read the words of Jesus in the bible, do we have a regular prayer life
and do we give time to Jesus at Holy Mass? Many of us do not have time but when
it comes to worldly things we create time.
If only we would give time to Jesus we would certainly
feel His authority and power working within us. How does the authority and
power of Jesus work in us? For example, if during the time that we still don’t
know Jesus we were temperamental. After discovering Jesus in our life we will
now become calm and peaceful.
If before we are easily affected by sad events that
come our way. Not so much anymore now, for the simple reason that we already
learned to surrender our life to Jesus. There are other true stories of
transformed lives all because of Jesus. These are example of Jesus power and
authority at work in our life.
But many have not yet experienced the power and
authority of Jesus in their lives. So, what are we going to do? We who have
already experienced the transforming power and authority of Jesus have to lead
them to Jesus. We have to encourage them to open and read the bible, we have to
teach them to pray and we have to encourage them to go to Holy
Mass.
We certainly will be blessed by Jesus if we do so.
Perhaps not material blessing for it’s temporal and fleeting anyway. What Jesus
will give us is His friendship and His abiding presence in our life. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nagpunta si
Jesus sa Capernaum, Galilea. Nagturo siya sa mga tao sa Araw ng Pamamahinga at
nagtaka sila sa kanyang pagtuturo, sapagkat may kapangyarihan kung siya'y
magsalita.
Naroon sa sinagoga ang isang lalaking
inaalihan ng demonyo o isang masamang espiritu. Sumigaw siya nang malakas:
"Ano ang pakialam mo sa amin, Jesus na taga-Nazaret?
Naparito
ka ba upang puksain kami? Alam ko kung sino ka -- ikaw ang Banal ng
Diyos." Subalit pinagwikaan siya ni Jesus, "Tumahimik ka! Lumayas ka
sa taong iyan!" At sa harapan ng lahat, ang tao'y inilugmok ng demonyo at
iniwan nang hindi man lamang sinaktan.
Nanggilalas
silang lahat at nagsabi sa isa't-isa, "Anong uri ng pangungusap ito?
Makapangyarihan at mabisa! Pinalalayas niya ang masasamang espiritu, at
sumusunod naman sila!" At kumalat ang balita tungkol kay Jesus sa buong
lupaing iyon.
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown
up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He
stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the
scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the
oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back
to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked
intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in
your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious
words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of
Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me
this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native
place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “Amen, I
say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed
for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It
was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in
the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of
Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the
Syrian. When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with
fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl
him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
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Reflection:
Do you always want to be respected? A
person who thinks highly of himself would always want to be respected.
Respect and acceptance is something that
we all want we desire it deep in our hearts. However, there would be times that
we will not be respected and accepted. If this happens to us let us be calm,
take it in stride and humbly accept the humiliation. Then, let us charge
everything to experience and let us quietly walk away from the people who
disrespect us.
When Jesus returned to Nazareth (the place
where He had grown up) He got an unpleasant welcome.He was disrespected and was not accepted by
his town mates. But instead of hating them back Jesus calmly heard their insulting
remarks. Instead of getting back at His town mates Jesus chose to take the road
less travelled which is the great virtue of humility.
They even drove Him out of their town with
the intent of killing Him. But instead of getting back at them He walked away
from them to avoid a troublesome situation. This is Jesus for us, calm under
duress, always humble and peaceful but how about us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, umuwi si Jesus sa Nazaret na kanyang nilakhan. Gaya ng kanyang kinagawian, pumasok siya sa sinagoga nang Araw ng Pamamahinga. Tumindig siya upang bumasa; at ibinigay sa kanya ang aklat ni Propeta Isaias. Binuksan niya ang aklat sa dakong kinasusulatan ng ganito:
"Sumasaakin ang Espiritu ng Panginoon, Sapagkat hinirang niya ako upang ipangaral sa mga dukha ang Mabuting Balita. Sinugo niya ako upang ipahayag sa mga bihag na sila'y lalaya. At sa mga bulag na sila'y makakikita; Upang bigyang-kaluwagan ang mga sinisiil, At ipahayag ang pagliligtas ng Panginoon."
Binalumbon niya ang Kasulatan, at matapos na isauli sa tagapaglingkod, siya'y naupo. Nakatitig sa kanya ang lahat ng nasa sinagoga. At sinabi niya sa kanila: "Natupad ngayon ang bahaging ito ng Kasulatan samantalang nakikinig kayo." Pinuri siya ng lahat, at namangha sila sa kanyang napakahusay na pananalita. "Hindi ba ito ang anak ni Jose?" tanong nila.
Kaya't sinabi ni Jesus, "Walang pagsalang babanggitin ninyo sa akin ang kawikaang ito: 'Doktor, gamutin mo ang iyong sarili!' Sasabihin din ninyo sa akin, "Gawin mo naman sa iyong sariling bayan ang mga nabalitaan naming ginawa mo sa Capernaum.' " At nagpatuloy ng pagsasalita si Jesus, "Tandaan ninyo: walang propetang kinikilala sa kanyang sariling bayan.
Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: maraming babaing balo sa Israel noong kapanahunan ni Elias nang hindi umulan sa loob ng tatlong tao't kalahati at nagkaroon ng taggutom sa buong lupain. Subalit hindi sa kaninuman sa kanila pinapunta si Elias kundi sa isang babaing balo sa Sarepta, sa lupain ng Sidon.
Sa dinami-dami ng ketongin sa Israel noong kapanahunan ni Eliseo, walang pinagaling isa man sa kanila; si Naaman pang taga-Siria ang pinagaling." Galit na galit ang lahat ng nasa sinagoga nang marinig ito. Nagtindigan sila, at ipinagtabuyan siyang palabas, sa taluktok ng burol na kinatatayuan ng bayan, upang ibulid sa bangin. Ngunit dumaan siya sa kalagitnaan nila at umalis.
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
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Reflection:
A middle-aged wife was always seen by her husband every morning carefully fixing herself, especially her makeup, before going to work. One morning, the husband inquired, “Why are you so particular about your physical appearance?” The wife retorted, “I need to look good so that I always look fresh and young.”
In the Gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding His followers who were not observing the external traditions. However, Jesus would have none of it because, for Him, external observance is simply a façade. What is important to Jesus is what is in our hearts.
Many of us are like this middle-aged woman, very particular about our external appearance and the impression we convey. However, what is the use of an external impression if we don’t follow the commands of the Lord? What is the use of a pretty or handsome appearance if we are spewing expletives and scorn?
Physical appearance is useless, for it is passing and temporary. What is important is what is inside us, like the goodness and purity of our hearts, which we translate into actual acts of love, mercy, and compassion. What matters is that we do good without seeking recognition, honor, or adulation.
What is important is that we follow the commands of the Lord and not the temptations and commands of the devil. The commands of the devil are always disguised as attractive and tempting, yet they lead us to emptiness, nothingness, and brokenness in the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may mga Pariseo at ilang eskribang galing sa Jerusalem, na lumapit kay Hesus. Nakita nila na ang ilan sa mga alagad ni Hesus ay kumain nang hindi muna naghugas ng kamay sa paraang naaayon sa turong minana nila.
Ang mga Judio, lalo na ang mga Pariseo, ay hindi kumakain hangga’t hindi nakapaghuhugas ng kamay ayon sa mga turong minana nila sa kanilang mga ninuno. Hindi rin sila kumakain ng anumang galing sa palengke nang hindi muna ito hinuhugasan. At marami pang ibang minanang turo ang kanilang sinusunod, tulad ng tanging paraan ng paghuhugas ng mga inuman, ng mga saro, ng mga sisidlang tanso, at mga higaan.
Kaya’t tinanong si Hesus ng mga Pariseo at mga eskriba, “Bakit hindi sumusunod ang mga alagad mo sa mga turo ng ating mga ninuno? Kumain sila nang hindi man lamang naghugas ng kamay ayon sa paraang iniutos!” Sinagot sila ni Hesus, “Tama ang hula ni Isaias tungkol sa inyo. Mapagpaimbabaw nga kayo, gaya ng kanyang isinulat:
‘Paggalang na handog sa ‘kin ng bayan ko’y paimbabaw lamang, sapagkat sa bibig at hindi sa puso ito bumubukal. Pagpuri’t pagsambang ginagawa nila’y walang kabuluhan, ang utos ng tao ay itinuturong utos ng Maykapal.’ Niwawalang-kabuluhan nga ninyo ang utos ng Diyos, at ang sinusunod ninyo’y ang turo ng tao.”
Muling pinalapit ni Hesus ang mga tao at sinabi sa kanila, “Makinig kayong lahat, at unawain ang aking sasabihin! Hindi ang pumapasok sa bibig ng tao ang nakapagpaparumi sa kanya sa mata ng Diyos kundi ang mga nagmumula sa kanya.
“Sapagkat sa loob – sa puso ng tao – nagmumula ang masasamang isipang nag-uudyok sa kanya na makiapid, magnakaw, pumatay, mangalunya, mag-imbot, at gumawa ng lahat ng kabuktutan, tulad ng pagdaraya, kahalayan, pagkainggit, paninirang-puri, kapalaluan, at kahangalan. Ang lahat ng ito’y nanggagaling sa puso ng tao, at siyang nagpaparumi sa kanya.”
Jesus told
his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants
and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another,
two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability.
Then he went
away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But
the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his
master’s money.
After a long
time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The
one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He
said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His
master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were
faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share
your master’s joy.’
Then the one
who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me
two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my
good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will
give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one
who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were
a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you
did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the
ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy
servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I
did not scatter?
Should you
not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with
interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the
one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow
rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And
throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be
wailing and grinding of teeth.’”
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Reflection:
The story is
told about an elderly woman who died. While her soul was on a journey he saw
two portals which were near each other. One portal had the markings of heaven and
the other had hell, the elderly woman chose the heavenly portal of course. When
she was about to enter the heavenly portal she was asked by an angel about the
things that she did while she was alive. And he rattled off her impressive
worldly achievements.
Then, the
angel asked her again, “How about regarding your faith what have you done? The
elderly woman said: “I went to Holy Mass every day” then, the angel said: “Have
you shared your Catholic faith and have you helped those who were in need?” The
elderly woman said: No.
Do we
recognize that the Lord has given us talent/s to help Him advance His teachings
in this world? Many of us are not aware of it because we are busy investing our
God given talents for this world alone. But truth be told, we are mandated by
God to use whatever talents that we have not for this world alone. The Lord
mandates us also to use our talents to grow and propagate our faith.
Whether we
like it or not our day of reckoning will eventually come. When it comes God
will ask us this question: What have you done to the talent/s that I had given
you? Did you properly use it to help those who were in need? Did you use it to
advance my teachings?
Some of us
will answer in the affirmative. Others will be on the negative for the reason
that they only used their God given talents for their own self interest: To
earn a living, to fulfill a lifelong ambition, to get busy online and so on.
Others would
even have excuses like: How can I use my talents for the church when I don’t
know anybody there? How can I give my talents for the church when I don’t even
have enough time for my family? However, if there’s a will to be of service to
God there would be a way. God will find that way for us. We simply have to initiate
it first and God will be there to see us through.
Someday God
will ask you: What have you done to the talent/s that I gave you? How will you
answer God during that time? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
