Jesus entered
a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister
named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha,
burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that
my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to
help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and
worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the
better part and it will not be taken from her.
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+ + +
Reflection:
What are you
going to do if you visit a house of a friend and you get the same treatment
that Jesus received from Martha and Mary? Who are you going to favor Martha or
Mary? It actually depends upon you who are you going to favor. But Jesus
obviously preferred the action of Mary who sat down at His feet and faithfully
listened to Him.
What did
Martha do that it did not get the merit of Jesus? Martha was busy preparing
food for Jesus. Why did Jesus not favor Martha when what she was doing was for
His honor also? Jesus is a preacher and perhaps being a preacher he wants
people to listen to Him so that He could impart His wisdom. This was perhaps
the reason why Jesus preferred the reverent act of Mary.
What happens
to us when we listen to Jesus and when we meditate on His words? We gain wisdom
from Jesus himself and we are enlightened by Him no less. But do we still have
time to listen to Jesus? Are we not very busy with our many worldly
undertakings?
Some of us may say that we have to move and be
busy because we have to earn otherwise we’ll get hungry. Yes, this is true, but
what would happen to us if we are all work? If we have no more time to listen
to Jesus or if Jesus is just a minuscule entity in our lives? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus sa isang nayon. Malugod siyang tinanggap ng isang babaing nagngangalang Marta sa tahanan nito. Ang babaing ito'y may isang kapatid na Maria ang pangalan. Naupo ito sa paanan ng Panginoon at nakinig sa kanyang itinuturo.
Alalang-alala si Marta sapagkat kulang ang kanyang katawan sa paghahanda, kaya't lumapit siya kay Jesus at ang wika, "Panginoon, sabihin nga po ninyo sa kapatid kong tulungan naman ako." Ngunit sinagot siya ng Panginoon, "Marta, Marta, naliligalig ka at abalang-abala sa maraming bagay, ngunit isa lamang ang talagang kailangan. Pinili ni Maria ang lalong mabuti, at ito'y hindi aalisin sa kanya."
There was a scholar of the law who stood
up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in
reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your
being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered
correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify
himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell
victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and
beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that
road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite
came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But
a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged
them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and
cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you
spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which
of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He
answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do
likewise.”
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Reflection:
Is there such a word as perfect love? Yes,
there is it’s when we are able to live our love for God and neighbor. To love
God is to worship Him with all our being and to love our neighbor is to
humanize our love for God.
It was very ironic that the priest who was
supposed to love God failed to humanize his love for God same as with the
Levite who was also involved in the service for God. Both the priest and the
Levite failed the test of true love and discipleship because they simply
ignored the man in need of their help.
They might have reasons for ignoring the
man in need but whatever reasons that they might have was not valid at all.
What if the Samaritan did not pass by? The victim may have died due to the
indifference of the two.
It was good that the exemplar of perfect
love (Samaritan) passed by otherwise the victim might have bleed to his death.
Many of us who love and worship God fails
to translate this love to a love for our fellowmen. Some of us are able to
translate this love for God to a love for our neighbor. But we oftentimes limit
our love for our neighbor to those whom we only know and to those who are only
good to us.
If the person in need of our help is not
good to us we may simply pass them by and ignore them just like what the priest
and Levite did. Jesus urges us to follow the example of the Good Samaritan who
exemplified perfect love. He took care of the victim even if he doesn’t know
him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may isang
eskribang lumapit kay Hesus upang siya’y subukin. “Guro,” aniya, “ano ang dapat
kong gawin upang magkamit ng buhay na walang hanggan?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ano
ang nakasulat sa Kautusan? Ano ang nababasa mo roon?” Tumugon siya, “‘Ibigin mo
ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buong puso, nang buong kaluluwa, nang buong
lakas, at nang buong pag-iisip’; at ‘Ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong
sarili.’” “Tama ang sagot mo,” wika ni Hesus. “Gawin mo iyan at mabubuhay ka.”
Sa
hangad ng eskriba na huwag siyang lumabas na kahiya-hiya, tinanong niya uli si
Hesus, “Sino naman ang aking kapwa?” Sumagot si Hesus: “May isang taong
naglalakbay buhat sa Jerusalem, patungong Jerico. Hinarang siya ng mga tulisan,
kinuha pati damit sa katawan, binugbog at halos patay na nang iwan.
Nagkataong
dumaan doon ang isang saserdote at pagkakita sa taong nakahandusay, siya’y
lumihis at nagpatuloy ng kanyang lakad. Dumaan din ang isang Levita, ngunit
tiningnan lamang niya ito at nagpatuloy ng kanyang lakad. Ngunit may isang
Samaritanong naglalakbay na naparaan doon. Nakita niya ang hinarang at siya’y
nahabag. Lumapit siya, binusan ng langis at alak ang mga sugat nito at
tinalian.
Saka
isinakay ang tao sa kanyang sinasakyang hayop, dinala sa bahay-panuluyan, at
inalagaan doon. Kinabukasan, dumukot siya ng dalawang denaryo, ibinigay sa
may-ari ng bahay-panuluyan at sinabi, ‘Alagaan mo siya, at kung magkano man ang
kakulangan niyan, babayaran ko sa aking pagbabalik.’ Sino ngayon sa palagay mo
ang nagpakita ng kanyang pakikipagkapwa sa taong hinarang ng mga tulisan?”
tanong ni Hesus. “Ang nagpakita ng habag sa kanya,” tugon ng eskriba. Sinabi sa
kanya ni Hesus, “Humayo ka’t gayun din ang gawin mo.”
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A blind man fell in love with his neighbor. When he was asked by his parents what made him love the woman, he said, "I can sense her inner beauty, her caring and loving ways. She also has a very gentle and good heart.
Eventually, this man was cured of his blindness and now had a clear picture of the physical appearance of the woman he had fallen in love with. He saw that the woman was not physically beautiful; nevertheless, he still decided to marry her. However, after a few months, the lack of physical beauty somehow diminished his love for her. Soon after, he deserted her for a young and physically attractive woman.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the indissolubility of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. He emphasizes that no one has the right to dissolve this marriage. Jesus himself said, "What God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Mark 10:9).
However, many of us still violate the sanctity of the marriage covenant with impunity. Like the man in the story, we allow ourselves to be captivated by external appearance, even when we are already married. But what is external beauty when it will eventually fade away?
There is something far more important than a person's external appearance, and that is their inner character. Inner beauty is far more valuable than what can be seen with our eyes. A person’s attitude, goodness, and gentleness count far more than physical appearance.
Let us be faithful to our marriage covenant. Let us not give room for Satan to destroy this covenant. Satan, who often comes to us with a beautiful or handsome face and a charming body. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may mga Pariseong lumapit kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masilo siya kaya’t kanilang tinanong, “Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa?” Tugon niya, “Ano ang utos sa inyo ni Moises?” Sumagot naman sila, “Ipinahintulot ni Moises na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa matapos bigyan ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay.”
Ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, “Dahil sa katigasan ng inyong ulo kaya niya inilagda ang utos na ito. Subalit sa pasimula pa, nang likhain ng Diyos ang sanlibutan: ‘Nilalang niya silang lalaki at babae. Dahil dito’y iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa, at sila’y magiging isa.’ Kaya’t hindi na sila dalawa kundi isa. Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao.”
Pagdating sa bahay, ang mga alagad naman ang nagtanong kay Hesus tungkol sa bagay na ito. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Ang sinumang lalaking humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay gumagawa ng masama sa kanyang asawa – siya’y nangangalunya. At ang babaing humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay nangangalunya rin.”
May nagdala ng mga bata kay Hesus upang hilinging ipatong niya sa mga ito ang kanyang kamay; ngunit pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Nagalit si Hesus nang makita ito, at sinabi sa kanila, “Pabayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata, huwag ninyo silang sawayin, sapagkat sa mga katulad nila naghahari ang Diyos.
Ito ang tandaan ninyo: ang sinumang hindi tumatanggap sa paghahari ng Diyos tulad ng isang maliit na bata ay hindi mapapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian niya.” At kinalong ni Hesus ang mga bata, ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanila at pinagpala sila.
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
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Reflection:
What does Jesus require from us so that we could know Him deeply? Childlike trust and confidence in Him. We will not know Jesus deeply if we only rely on ourselves no matter how educated and intelligent we are. No matter the volumes of books that we’ve read about Jesus and our faith. No matter how many degrees we have earned. It would still not be enough because we have no childlike trust in the Lord.
If we have childlike trust before Jesus this simply means that we rely on Him and not on ourselves. And we entrust our lives to Him and not entrust it in our hands. The moment we begin to trust Jesus, He also begins to open and equip our minds with knowledge that is not available to those who do not trust Him no matter how intelligent they may be.
The seventy-two disciples came back from their very fruitful mission of spreading the good news because they had childlike trust. And therefore the power of Jesus reigned upon them.
Do you have a childlike trust in the Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, bumalik na tuwang-tuwa ang pitumpu't dalawa. "Panginoon", sabi nila, "kahit po ang mga demonyo ay sumusunod kapag inutusan namin, sa ngalan ninyo." Sumagot si Jesus, "Nakita ko ang pagkahulog ni Satanas mula sa langit -- parang kidlat. Binigyan ko kayo ng kapangyarihang tumapak sa mga ahas at mga alakdan, at yumurak sa kapangyarihan ng kaaway. Walang makapipinsala sa inyo. Gayunman, magalak kayo hindi dahil sa suko sa inyo ang masasamang espiritu, kundi dahil sa nakatala sa langit ang pangalan ninyo."
Nang oras ding iyon, si Jesus ay napuspos ng galak ng Espiritu Santo. At sinabi niya, "Pinasasalamatan kita, Ama, Panginoon ng langit at lupa, sapagkat inilihim mo sa marurunong at pantas ang mga bagay na ito at inihayag mo sa mga taong ito na ang kalooba'y tulad ng sa bata. Oo, Ama, sapagkat gayon ang ikinalulugod mo. "Ibinigay sa akin ng Ama, at walang nakakikilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at yaong marapating pagpahayagan ng Anak."
Humarap si Jesus sa mga alagad at sinabi, na di naririnig ng iba. "Mapalad kayo, sapagkat nakita ninyo ang inyong nakikita ngayon! Sinasabi ko sa inyo, maraming propeta at mga hari ang nagnasang makakita ng inyong nakikita ngayon ngunit hindi nila nakita. Hinangad din nilang mapakinggan ang inyong naririnig ngunit hindi nila napakinggan."
Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin!
Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done
in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and
ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than
for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens
to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me
rejects the one who sent me.
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Reflection:
Is it possible for us not to sin anymore?
No, as we live here in this world we will continue to
sin for we are mere mortals with frailties. We sin through our thoughts, words
and actions. However, as we keep on sinning God calls us always to repentance
until the time comes that our sins will be diminished.
Amid our humanness and sinfulness God wants us to know
that we need to repent this is why He created the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
For us to humbly submit ourselves and for us to be aware of God’s goodness and
forgiveness. Obviously the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and
Capernaum were stone hearted. They did not listen to the call of Jesus for them
to repent.
There really are people who are like the people of
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. No matter how we try to help them and no
matter how hard we gently speak to them. They will not walk away from
their sinfulness they will really not hear us.
This is perhaps the mystery of human psychology; God comes to us yet we refuse
Him. Or we are given advice by those who are concerned for our welfare yet we
refuse to hear them.
So, for those who refuse to hear the wisdom of God and
the wise counsel of the people around them. Be prepared for the consequences
for there are really consequences for those who refuse to hear. But why wait
for the price of our stubbornness to befall us? Why not listen and walk
away from our sinfulness?
Let us repent while we still have time and let us
humbly ask Jesus to forgive us of all our sins. The best vehicle for us to do
this is to humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Hesus,
“Kawawa ka, Corazin! Kawawa ka, Betsaida! Sapagkat kung sa Tiro at Sidon ginawa
ang mga kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, disin sana’y malaon na silang
nagdaramit ng sako at nauupo sa abo upang ipakilalang sila’y nagsisisi.
Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom, higit na
mabigat ang kaparusahan ninyo kaysa kaparusahan ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon.
At ikaw, Capernaum, Ibig mong mataas hanggang sa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades!
“Ang nakikinig sa inyo’y nakikinig sa akin, ang nagtatakwil sa inyo’y
nagtatakwil sa akin, at ang nagtatakwil sa akin ay nagtatakwil sa nagsugo sa
akin.”
Jesus appointed seventy-two other
disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he
intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers
are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his
harvest.
Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs
among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along
the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it
will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is
offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from
one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is
set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at
hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our
feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is
at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for
that town.”
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Reflection:
Would you be willing to be an ambassador of
Jesus?
It’s hard to respond to this call of Jesus to follow
Him most especially when you see nothing but challenges. For example,
provisions are very scarce, nobody wants to be with you for the simple reason
that they don’t love God as much as you do.
What would you do then? You must carry on! The harder
the challenges in front of you the firmer your resolve to pursue and follow the
Lord. The enemy of God which is no other than the devil will continue to badger
you to give up. It will continue to paint a picture of hopelessness with what
you do for Christ so as to discourage you. But you must not give up. You must
continue to hold on with your desire to partake with the mission of
Jesus.
The statement of Jesus that the harvest is abundant
but the laborers are few is as true as the sunshine today. Each day we see the
decline of the morality and values of many people. Each day we see the
debasement of the sanctity of marriage. Each day we see the disintegration of
families most especially in the so called first world countries. This is the
abundant harvest that Jesus pertains today.
Don’t say that you don’t see any abundant harvest.
Look in your own sphere of environment and you’ll see them. Focus on them;
share Jesus with them thru your words or thru your lifestyle for they are your
abundant harvest. Don’t worry about anything for Jesus is with you, He will
protect you and He will provide for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, ang Panginoon ay
humirang pa ng pitumpu’t dalawa. Pinauna niya sila nang dala-dalawa sa bawat
bayan at pook na patutunguhan niya. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Sagana ang aanihin,
ngunit kakaunti ang mga manggagawa. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari na magpadala
siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang bukirin.
Humayo
kayo! Sinusugo ko kayong parang mga kordero sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat. Huwag
kayong magdala ng lukbutan, supot, o panyapak. Huwag na kayong titigil sa daan
upang makipagbatian kaninuman. Pagpasok ninyo sa alinmang bahay, sabihin muna
ninyo, ‘Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!’ Kung maibigin sa
kapayapaan ang nakatira roon, sasakanila ang kapayapaan; ngunit kung hindi,
hindi sila magkakamit nito.
Manatili
kayo sa bahay na inyong tinutuluyan; kanin ninyo at inumin ang anumang idulot
sa inyo – sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatang tumanggap ng kanyang upa.
Huwag kayong magpapalipat-lipat ng bahay. Kapag tinanggap kayo sa alinmang
bayan, kanin ninyo ang anumang ihain sa inyo; pagalingin ninyo ang mga maysakit
doon at sabihin sa bayan, ‘Nalalapit na ang paghahari ng Diyos sa inyo.’
Ngunit
sa alinmang bayang hindi tumanggap sa inyo, lumabas kayo sa mga lansangan nito
at sabihin ninyo, ‘Pati ang alikabok dito na dumikit sa aming mga paa ay
ipinapagpag namin bilang babala sa inyo. Ngunit pakatandaaan ninyong nalalapit
na sa inyo ang paghahari ng Diyos!’ Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom
ay higit na mabigat ang kaparusahan ng mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng
mga taga-Sodoma!”
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed
it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become
like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles
himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever
receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of
my heavenly Father.”
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Reflection:
Have you tried looking at the face of a child and have
you tried looking at the face of a grown-up person? Which of them give you more
joy? Of course, it’s the face of the child.
Jesus in the gospel gives us the secret on how we can
enter the kingdom of heaven. Which is none other than to become like children
or to be childlike, why? It’s for the reason of the pureness of their thoughts
and their innocence. No wonder being childlike is the key for us to enter
God’s kingdom in heaven.
But are we childlike in terms of the pureness of our
thoughts and absence of sin? Of course we are not! Who among us could say that
our thoughts are as pure as a child? Who among us could say that we are
without sin? Nobody because we are all sinners we sin through our words,
actions and thoughts.
Nevertheless, it’s not yet late for us to go back to
Jesus and be childlike before Him. Jesus through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation is always inviting us to humble ourselves before Him. To be like
a child who humbly runs to his parents with reckless abandon once he sees them
coming home.
Are you humble like a child? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong sandaling iyon, lumapit kay
Hesus ang mga alagad at nagtanong, “Sino po ang pinakadakila sa kaharian ng
langit?” Tinawag ni Hesus 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 mga 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 hamakin ang isa sa
maliliit na ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa langit, ang kanilang mga anghel ay
laging nasa harapan ng aking Ama.”
