Reflection for Sunday October 20, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:35-45

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."  

Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." 

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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Reflection:

A young man aspired to become a priest. When he was asked by the person in charge of screening the aspirants why he wanted to become a priest, he said, "I want to serve the people, and I want to be their servant. 

 However, this was not his true motivation. The young man wanted to be a priest because he desired power. He wanted the people of his community to look up to him, and he yearned for their respect and adulation. 

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we have the brothers James and John, who asked to be seated beside Jesus in His kingdom. Why did they ask for this undeserved honor? What were they thinking when they made such a shameful request? Were they truly following Jesus to serve, or were they simply seeking power and adulation? 

We can see that the real intention of James and John was to show the people that they were close to Jesus. In their minds, sitting beside Him symbolized power and influence. They believed that, like Jesus, they too would be revered and adored. 

How many of us truly understand that following Jesus means embracing humility and sacrifice? How many of us realize that being close to Jesus requires letting go of power? How many of us know that being close to Jesus is not about seeking adulation and respect? 

We will never be close to Jesus if we seek power and adulation. True closeness with Jesus requires us to reject these desires. When we turn away from power and adulation, we begin to embrace servanthood and humility, which Jesus embodies. 

Why do you follow Jesus? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita, Linggo Oktubre 20 Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:35-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:35-45

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit kay Hesus sina Santiago at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo, at ang sabi, “Guro, may hihilingin po sana kami sa inyo.” “Ano iyon?” tanong ni Hesus. Sumagot sila, “Sana’y makaupo kami katabi ninyo sa inyong kaharian – isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa.” 

“Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi,” sabi ni Hesus sa kanila. “Mababata ba ninyo ang hirap na babatahin ko? Pabibinyag ba kayo sa binyag na daranasin ko?” “Opo,” tugon nila. Sinabi ni Hesus, “Ang hirap na babatahin ko’y babatahin nga ninyo, at kayo’y bibinyagan sa binyag na daranasin ko. Ngunit wala sa akin ang pagpapasiya kung sino ang mauupo sa aking kanan at sa aking kaliwa. Ang mga luklukang sinasabi ninyo’y para sa mga pinaghandaan.” 

Nang marinig ito ng sampung alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid. Kaya’t pinalapit sila ni Hesus at sinabi, “Alam ninyo na ang mga itinuturing na pinuno ng mga Hentil ay siyang pinapanginoon, at ang mga dinadakila ay siyang nasusunod. Ngunit hindi ganyan ang dapat umiral sa inyo. 

Sa halip, ang sinuman sa inyo na ibig maging dakila ay dapat maging lingkod. At sinumang ibig maging pinuno ay dapat maging alipin ng lahat. Sapagkat ang Anak ng Tao ay naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran kundi upang maglingkod at ibigay ang kanyang buhay sa ikatutubos ng lahat.”

Reflection for October 19 Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.  

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” 

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Reflection:

Do you want to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? 

One of the major requisites for us to have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to first acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then, after that the gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit and everything else about the faith and church would follow. 

The Holy Spirit will open our minds to the various avenues about the majestic history of the church and the many truths about it. We also would start to become more aware of the true purpose of our life in this world. 

As the Holy Spirit opens us to the many truths of the church it simultaneously works in our lives by purifying us. It enlightens us to the gifts of: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3). 

Let us therefore seek out Jesus Christ first by knowing more about Him. Let us be faithful to Him and we surely would feel the outpouring gifts of the Holy Spirit. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 19, Sabado ng Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:8-12

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:8-12

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Sinasabi ko sa inyo, ang sinumang kumikilala sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay kikilanlin din naman ng Anak ng Tao sa harapan ng mga anghel ng Diyos. Ngunit ang magtatwa sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay itatatwa ko rin naman sa harapan ng mga anghel ng Diyos. 

"Ang sinumang magsalita laban sa Anak ng Tao ay mapatatawad; ngunit ang lumait sa Espiritu Santo ay hindi mapatatawad. "Kapag kayo'y dinala nila sa sinagoga, o sa harapan ng mga tagapamahala at ng mga maykapangyarihan upang litisin, huwag ninyong isipin kung paano ninyo ipagtatanggol ang sarili o kung ano ang inyong sasabihin. Sapagkat sa oras na iyon, ang Espiritu ang magtuturo sa inyo kung ano ang dapat ninyong sabihin."

Reflection for Friday October 18 Feast of Saint Luke evangelist: Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two 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 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.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus send the seventy-two disciples in pairs? Jesus could have sent them one by one so that they could cover more ground thus the spread of the gospel would be much faster. But Jesus chose them to go in pairs. 

In pairs for the reason that He wanted them to help each other in doing their mission for Him.   Jesus had it already in His mind that to do His mission is realistically not that easy. So, He deemed it right and wise to send them in pairs for them to help each other as they face the many challenges of their mission. 

Why do we exist in this world? Do we exist for ourselves only? Of course not! We exist in this world for a reason. And that reason is to help our fellowmen; we need to extend to them the good news about Jesus. We need to feed the hungry; we need to clothe those who do not have clothes. And we need to give hope to those who are losing hope.   

This is our vocation and mission as followers and missioners of Christ Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Oktubre 18 Kapistahan ni San Lucas manunulat ng Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:1-9

Noong panahong iyon, ang Panginoon ay humirang pa ng pitumpu't dalawa. Pinauna sila ng 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 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; 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 pagahahari ng Diyos sa inyo.'

Reflection for Thursday October 17 Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. 

Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. 

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Do you listen to those who care for you and to those who give you meaningful advice? Or you don’t care to listen because you want to drive your own life? 

In our lifetime there shall be people who will come into our lives to give us advice and to guide us. Or people who by the example of their lives would make us think to change our lives for the better and live behind sinfulness.  Some of us will care to listen to them but many will simply ignore and continue to live sinfulness. 

Why is it that many don’t care to listen? Stubbornness is already inherent in our mindset that is why we don’t listen. We want to live life the way we want it. And our usual reason is: “This is my life and I’m responsible for my life!” Many of us even get angry with those who give us meaningful advice. What happens to those who don’t listen? They learn their lesson the hard way: their lives become mired in sin and they naturally suffer for it. 

Nevertheless there’s still hope we can reverse the vicious cycle of sinfulness. We just need to change our way of life. Or follow the advices given to us by people whose only desire is for our own good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Oktubre 17, Paggunita kay San Ignacio ng Antioquia, obispo at martir: Lucas 11:47-54

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:47-54

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, "Kawawa kayo! Ipinagtatayo ninyo ng magagarang libingan ang mga propetang pinagpapatay ng inyong mga magulang. Sa ganitong paraan, kayo na rin ang nagpapatunay na sang-ayon kayo sa mga ginawa ng inyong mga magulang; sapagkat sila ang pumatay sa mga propeta at kayo naman ang nagtatayo ng libingang puntod ng mga yaon.  

Dahil rito'y sinabi rin ng Karunungan ng Diyos, 'Magsusugo ako sa kanila ng mga propeta at ng mga apostol; ang iba'y papatayin nila at uusigin ang iba.' Sa gayo'y lalagpak sa lahing ito ang parusa dahil sa pagpatay sa mga propeta buhat nang itatag ang sanlibutan, magmula kay Abel hanggang kay Zacarias na pinatay sa pagitan ng dambanang sunugan ng mga handog at ng gusali ng Templo.  

Sinasabi ko sa inyo, lalagpak sa lahing ito ang parusa dahil sa kanilang ginawa. "Kawawa kayo, mga dalubhasa sa Kautusan! Sapagkat inalis ninyo ang susi ng karunungan. Ayaw na ninyong magsipasok, hinahadlangan pa ninyo ang mga nagnanais pumasok." At umalis si Jesus sa bahay na iyon. Mula noon, tinuligsa na siya ng mga eskriba at mga Pariseo at pinagtatanong tungkol sa maraming bagay, upang masilo siya sa kanyang pananalita.

Reflection for October 16 Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

(Jesus said) “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

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Reflection:

Where does this anger of Jesus toward the Pharisees and the scholars of the law come from? It originates from their hypocrisy! The Pharisees and the scholars of the law are good at creating laws for the people to follow, yet they don’t follow them themselves. 

They use their self-created laws as instruments to beguile and eventually enslave their people. Instead of introducing God to them, they ultimately present themselves as gods to their people. 

Their style of leadership is leadership by deception and many of our Politicians has this kind of leadership. They pretend and project themselves to be leaders. But they have the stomach to corrupt money that is for the poor, how could they do this to the masses that they are supposed to truthfully serve?    

Politicians are not alone in this kind of pharisaic mentality we too are often times guilty of this mentality. We tell others or even our children not to do this and that yet when nobody is watching anymore we are the main violators of the rules that we create. 

The truth hurts, but it is the truth, and we have to accept it. Hopefully, we can use this as a springboard to live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus, rather than the false and self-serving teachings of the Pharisees and the scholars of the law. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 16, Miyerkules ng Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:42-46

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:42-46

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, "Kawawa kayo, mga Pariseo! Ibinibigay ninyo ang ikapu ng yerbabuena, ng ruda, at ng iba pang gulayin, ngunit kinaliligtaan ninyo ang katarungan at ang pag-ibig sa Diyos. Tamang gawin ninyo ito ngunit huwag naman ninyong kaliligtaang gawin ang mga iba. 

"Kawawa kayo, mga Pariseo! Sapagkat ang ibig ninyo'y ang mga tanging luklukan sa mga sinagoga, at ang pagpugayan kayo sa mga liwasang-bayan. Sa aba ninyo! Sapagkat para kayong mga libingang walang tanda, at nalalakaran ng mga tao nang hindi nila nalalaman." 

Sinabi sa kanya ng isa sa mga dalubhasa sa Kautusan, "Guro, sa sinabi mong iyan pati kami'y kinukutya mo." At sinagot siya ni Jesus, "Kawawa rin kayo, mga dalubhasa sa Kautusan! Sapagkat ipinapapasan ninyo sa mga tao ang mabibigat na dalahin, ngunit ni daliri'y ayaw ninyong igalaw sa pagdadala ng mga iyon."

Reflection for Tuesday October 15 Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 11:37-41

Gospel: Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 

The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

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Reflection:

What do you do when you invite people to dine in your home? 

Many of us discreetly observe them especially if our invited guests are few the more that we observe them. We sometimes pretend to be busy but we observe them quietly: How they behave and so forth. 

However, amidst our being observant Jesus wants to tell us something: Let us not judge them based on their behavior. Because our judgment based on what we see do not really represent who they really are. There’s a whole lot more that we could discover from them if we would not be quick on judging them. 

It feeds our ego when we are noticed based on our external appearance: What we do, the clothes that we wear, our physical appearance etc. The more that we are noticed the more that we would reinforce our external actions. These are all superficial, before God these egocentric actions count for nothing before the eyes of God. 

What counts before God are those that are not seen by our eyes. What counts before the Lord is what is inside us not what is outside of us. Those that are not seen such as: Clean conscience, a caring, forgiving and loving heart and a mind that has no place for ill thoughts. 

Perhaps, the Pharisee in the gospel invited Jesus to his house not out of his goodwill and kindness. He invited Jesus because he wants to see if Jesus would subscribe to the many rituals of their Jewish faith. 

Are many of us not like this Pharisee? When friends come to our house we also observe them as to how they would behave. And based on what we saw we would now conjure our unfavorable conclusion towards them. 

But our judgment is often wrong for we don’t know what’s inside the heart of the person. And besides, it’s hard to judge based solely on the few times that we’ve observed them. Let us not judge quickly and let us not judge based on what we see. 

Are you quick to judge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Oktubre 15 Paggunita kay Santa Teresa ng Avila, dalaga at pantas ng Simbahan: Lucas 11:37-41

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:37-41

Noong panahong iyon, pagkatapos magsalita ni Hesus, siya’y inanyayahan ng isang Pariseo upang kumain, kaya’t pumunta siya sa bahay nito. Pagdulog sa hapag, nagtaka ang Pariseo nang makita niyang kumain si Hesus nang hindi muna naghugas ng kamay. 

Sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon, “Kayong mga Pariseo, hinuhugasan ninyo ang labas ng tasa at ng pinggan, ngunit ang loob ninyo’y punong-puno ng kasakiman at kasamaan. Mga hangal! Hindi ba’t ang may likha ng labas ang siya ring may likha ng loob? Ngunit ipamahagi muna ninyo sa mga dukha ang mga laman ng mga sisidlan at magiging malinis ang lahat ng bagay para sa inyo.”   

Reflection for October 14 Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.  

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.  

At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

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Reflection:

How would you react if somebody tells you to mend your ways and repent from all of your sinfulness? Will you not feel insulted and antagonized? Many of us would feel insulted and antagonized because the call for us to mend our ways is prophetic and true.  

We get angry when others tell us to repent and walk away from all of our sinfulness but why get angry when they are telling the truth? Why get angry when those who are telling us to mend our ways are only concerned for our own well-being?   

Many listened to Jesus during His public ministry but a lot more did not listen as well. In fact very few listened to Jesus among the high and mighty because they loved sin more than the wise counsel of Jesus.   Isn’t this happening today? Many of us love sin (disguised as pleasure/s) more than we love Jesus?  

This is the paradox of our social media driven times today. Many of us today give more time to our high-tech gadgets than listen to Jesus by reading His words. Many of us have more time with our earthy undertakings than have our important quite time with Jesus. What will happen to us if we don’t anymore listen to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 14, Lunes ng Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:29-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:29-32

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang dumaragsa ang mga tao, sinabi ni Hesus, “Napakasama ng lahing ito! Naghahanap sila ng palatandaan mula sa langit, subalit walang ipapakita sa kanila maliban sa palatandaang inilalarawan ng nangyari kay Jonas. 

Kung paanong naging isang palatandaan si Jonas sa mga taga-Ninive, gayun din naman, magiging isang palatandaan sa lahing ito ang Anak ng Tao. Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom, titindig ang Reyna ng Timog laban sa lahing ito at sila’y hahatulan niya ng kaparusahan. Sapagkat nanggaling siya sa dulo ng daigdig upang pakinggan ang karunungan ni Solomon; ngunit higit na di-hamak kay Solomon ang naririto! 

Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay titindig ang mga taga-Ninive laban sa lahing ito at hahatulan ng kaparusahan, sapagkat nagsisi sila dahil sa pangangaral ni Jonas; ngunit higit na di-hamak kay Jonas ang naririto!”