Herod the tetrarch heard about all that
was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has
been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still
others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then
is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.
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Reflection:
Are you sometimes being haunted by a wrong
which you’ve done in the past?
The wrongs that we’ve done will continue
to haunt us for so long as there is no closure to it. It happened to Herod the
tetrarch when he ordered his soldiers to kill John at the behest of the woman
who lustfully danced in front of them.
We need to be careful of the
actions/decisions that we make in our lives. Impulsive or spur of the moment
decisions are usually wrong. Like when Herod to impress his friends impulsively
decided to kill John.
These thoughtless decisions that we’ve
made or we’ll make in the future will bother us, in will constantly pop in our
minds until we do something to close it. So what is the cure to this dilemma?
We have to seek closure, if we have to walk
an extra mile for us to obtain closure so be it. We obtain closure by making
amends with the person concerned. And then we walk away ready to live a new
life with Christ Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nabalitaan ni Herodes na tetrarka ng Galilea ang lahat ng
ginagawa ni Jesus. Nagulo ang kanyang isip, sapagkat may nagsasabing muling
binuhay si Juan Bautista. May nagsasabi namang lumitaw si Elias, at may
nagsasabi pang muling nabuhay ang isa sa mga propeta noong una.
Kaya't
ang sabi ni Herodes, "Pinapugutan ko si Juan; ngunit sino ang
nababalitaang ito? Marami akong naririnig tungkol sa kanya." At
pinagsikapan niyang makita si Jesus.
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them
power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to
proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take
nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and
leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that
town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set
out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing
diseases everywhere.
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Reflection:
When Jesus said to the twelve,
'Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor
money, and let no one take a second tunic,' He was espousing absolute
detachment from any kind of worldly things. He was telling them to rely on no
one except Himself, for He would provide for them.
This is how Jesus also lived His
ministry—He relied on no one except the providence of God. God provided for Him
because He entrusted His life to Him. In our present, materially driven world,
it’s difficult to solely trust in God. For example, how can we advance His
teachings without any material provisions? How can we keep going without financial
help? These are valid questions that are difficult to ignore.
Nevertheless, if we truly have rock-solid
faith, we would let go of our worldly worries and rely on no one but God alone.
This is the challenge for all of us believers: to rely on no one except God.
Often, we fail to recognize how God is moving in our lives because we don’t
fully rely on Him. We tend to rely more on ourselves and those around us rather
than on God.
We would not be able to feel the presence
of Jesus in our lives if we continue to rely on ourselves. Let us continue to
have faith, for Jesus has not forsaken anyone who follows Him. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, tinawag ni Jesus
ang Labindalawa at binigyan sila ng kakayahan at kapangyarihang magpalayas ng
mga demonyo at magpagaling ng mga karamdaman. At sinugo niya sila upang
ipahayag ang paghahari ng Diyos at magpagaling ng mga maysakit.
Sila'y
pinagbilinan niya: "Huwag kayong magbaon ng anuman para sa inyong
paglalakbay -- kahit tungkod, supot, tinapay, salapi o bihisan. Makituloy kayo
sa alinmang bahay na tumanggap sa inyo, at manatili roon hanggang sa pag-alis
ninyo sa bayang iyon.
At
sakaling hindi kayo tanggapin, umalis kayo roon, at ipagpag ninyo ang alikabok
ng inyong mga paa bilang babala sa kanila." Kaya't humayo ang mga alagad
at naglakbay sa mga nayon, na ipinangangaral ang Mabuting Balita at
nagpapagaling ng mga maysakit sa lahat ng dako.
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came
to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your
mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”
He
said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word
of God and act on it.”
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Reflection:
Who would not want to become a relative of Jesus? Of
course we all want to become His relatives. But Jesus has one important
requirement for all of us so that we could become His relatives: Hear His word
and act on it (Luke 8:21).
Do we hear the word of God and act upon it? For
example the commandment of Jesus to love our enemies and to do good to those
who hurt us (Matthew 5:44). Do we love our enemies and do good to them?
Or we immediately follow our natural instinct not to love those who don’t love
us and hurt those who hurt us.
But what would happen if we follow our selfish human
instinct? There would be more hatred and hurt, more walls than bridges. Mahatma
Gandhi once said: An Eye for an eye would only make the whole world
blind.
It’s not easy to become a relative of Jesus if we
place too much value on ourselves. If we hold ourselves in such high regard, we
may quickly despise those who have hurt or disrespected us. However, Jesus
himself forgave those who hurt, persecuted, and killed Him.
Though it’s difficult to become a relative of Jesus
for it requires humility and forgetting of ourselves. Nevertheless, we must
aspire to become a relative of Jesus and not aspire to become a lover of
unforgiveness, ego and pride. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, dumating ang ina at kapatid ni Jesus, ngunit hindi sila
makalapit dahil sa dami ng tao. May nagsabi sa kanya, "Nasa labas po ang
inyong ina at mga kapatid; ibig nilang makipagkita sa inyo."
Ngunit sinabi
ni Jesus, "Ang mga nakikinig ng salita ng Diyos at tumutupad nito ang siya
kong ina at mga kapatid."
Jesus said to
the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under
a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the
light.
For there is
nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not
be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has,
more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have
will be taken away.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is
told about a long dormant lighthouse that was revived and brightly lighted by
the community around it. The voyagers
and fishermen were very happy to see its light once again. For it gave them
direction and it made their life easier at sea.
By virtue of
our faith and what we know about Jesus we also have the potential to become a
bright lighthouse. That gives direction, inspiration and hope to our fellowmen.
This could happen provided we have the courage to live and share Jesus through
our words and actions.
But how many
of us have become the living light of Jesus to our fellowmen? How many of us
have dared to live and share the teachings of Jesus? If we don’t dare live and
share Jesus we simply become an unlighted lighthouse. A lighthouse that is
overcome by darkness it doesn’t give hope, inspiration and direction.
Let us never
forget to remember that we can always become a lighted lamp that is placed on a
lampstand that Jesus mentions in the gospel. In that way we can bless others by
sharing and living our faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao, “Walang taong nagsisindi ng ilaw at
pagkatapos ay tatakluban ng banga o ilalagay kaya sa ilalim ng higaan. Sa
halip, inilalagay ito sa talagang patungan upang makita ng mga pumapasok ang
liwanag.
Walang natatago na di malalantad, at walang lihim na di malalaman at
mabubunyag. Kaya
pagbutihin ninyo ang inyong pakikinig; sapagkat ang mayroon ay bibigyan pa,
ngunit ang wala ay aalisan pati ng inaakala niya nasa kanya.”
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who heard an announcement in their parish church about its need for those who would be interested to volunteer for parish work. Thus, he volunteered and he went through the formation process.
However, he had this thought that his volunteer parish work was an opportunity to become popular and influential in the community. He was already imagining that his newfound popularity would lead him into politics.
In the Gospel, while journeying through Galilee, Jesus heard His disciples arguing. When they were in a house in Capernaum, He asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' (Mark 9:33). They were unable to answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest among them.
Who is the greatest in the eyes of the Lord? For Jesus, the greatest is the one who is willing and ready to serve and not be served. The greatest is the one who humbles himself despite the temptation to boast and be arrogant. The greatest are those who quietly fulfill their vocation for the Lord without expecting anything in return.
Many of us love to project power and feel superior because we hold exalted positions in our work, church, or community. However, this is of no importance in the eyes of the Lord. What matters to Jesus is our childlike humility and our willingness to follow Him without expecting anything in return.
Are you ready to humbly follow the Lord without expecting anything in return? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nagdaan sa Galilea. Ayaw ni Hesus na malaman ito ng mga tao, sapagkat tinuturuan niya ang kanyang mga alagad. Sinabi niya: “Ang Anak ng Tao ay ipagkakanulo at papatayin, ngunit muling mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw.” Hindi nila naunawaan ang sinabi niya, ngunit natatakot naman silang magtanong sa kanya. At dumating sila sa Capernaum.
Nang sila’y nasa bahay na, tinanong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, “Ano ba’ng pinagtatalunan ninyo sa daan?” Hindi sila kumibo, sapagkat ang pinagtatalunan nila’y kung sino sa kanila ang pinakadakila. Naupo si Hesus, tinawag ang Labindalawa at sinabi, “Ang sinumang nagnanais maging una ay dapat maging huli sa lahat, at maging lingkod ng lahat.”
Tinawag niya ang isang maliit na bata, at pinatayo sa harapan nila. Pagkatapos, kinalong niya ito at sinabi, “Ang sinumang tumanggap sa isang maliit na batang tulad nitong alang-alang sa akin ay tumatanggap sa akin; at sinumang tumanggap sa akin – hindi ako ang kanyang tinatanggap kundi ang nagsugo sa akin.”
As Jesus
passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to
him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his
house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his
disciples.
The Pharisees
saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not
need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I
desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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Reflection:
Does Jesus
have a soft spot for sinners? Yes, Jesus has a soft spot for all of us sinners.
For example, in the Gospel, He called a tax collector and a sinful man named
Matthew. After calling Matthew, Jesus went to Matthew’s house to dine with tax
collectors and sinners.
All of us are
sinners, and Jesus is continuously calling us to leave our sinful lives for
good and follow Him. The gravity of our sins is no longer important to Jesus.
What matters to Him is that we respond to His call, just as Matthew did in the
Gospel.
Perhaps we
may ask, why is Jesus calling us to follow HIM? Among many other reasons Jesus
wants us to be freed from the bondage of sin; HE wants us to be enlightened by
HIS grace. And Jesus wants to save us from hell where Satan holds court. These
are the reasons why Jesus is calling us to follow HIM.
Our lives
will never be the same again the moment we accept this call of Jesus. There will
be healing in the family; we will now become averse to commit any form of sin
and we will be freed from its bondage. We
have nothing to lose if we would follow the Lord in fact we gain everything
including our future dwelling in heaven someday.
Would you
respond to the Lord’s call? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, umalis si Jesus
sa lugar na iyon. Sa kanyang paglalakad, nakita niya ang isang taong ang pangala'y
Mateo; nakaupo ito sa paningilan ng buwis. Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya,
"Sumunod ka sa akin." Tumindig si Mateo at sumunod sa kanya.
Nang si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nasa bahay ni Mateo,
dumating ang maraming publikano at mga makasalanan. At sila'y magkakasalong
kumain. Nang makita ito nang mga Pariseo, tinanong nila ang kanyang mga alagad,
"Bakit sumasalo sa mga publikano at sa mga makasalanan ang inyong
guro?"
Narinig
ito ni Jesus at siya ang sumagot, "Ang mga maysakit ang siyang nangangailangan
ng manggagamot, hindi ang mga walang sakit. Humayo kayo at unawain ang
kahulugan nito, 'Habag ang ibig ko at hindi hain.' Sapagkat naparito ako upang
tawagin ang mga makasalanan, hindi ang mga banal."
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who are the majority crowd during Sunday Holy Mass or daily Holy Mass for that matter? The majority are women, who are the majority who volunteers for church work? It’s women again! During the time of Jesus and as it is today the silent workers and supporters of Jesus and His church are women.
When Jesus was dying on the cross the majority of those who remained loyal to Him are women too (Luke 23:49)! The same when Jesus resurrected, the loyal woman supporters of Jesus saw Him first (Luke 24:9–11).
The gospel this Friday mentions Jesus, the twelve apostles and a number of women with different backgrounds. Some are sinners, some are rich and some are poor also. What brought these women with diverse background together? What made them silently support Jesus?
It’s their love and loyalty to Jesus. The same love and loyalty to Jesus that fuels the many women of today who silently support Jesus and the church that He founded through peter.
Like the women in the gospel who followed and provided help for Jesus. We too are being challenged to humbly follow Jesus and provide support for the church that He founded through Peter.
What can you contribute to Jesus and the church today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at nayon. Nangaral siya at nagtuturo ng Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos.
Kasama niya ang Labindalawa, at ilang babaing pinagaling niya sa masasamang espiritu at mga karamdaman: si Maria na tinatawag na Maria Magdalena mula sa kanya'y pitong demonyo ang pinalayas; si Juanang asawa ni Cusa na katiwala ni Herodes; si Susana at marami pang iba. Ang ari-arian nila ang itinustos nila sa pangangailangan ni Jesus at ng kanyang mga alagad.
