Reflection for October 23 Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:39-48

Gospel: Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 

Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 

That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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Reflection:

Are you a faithful and prudent steward of the Lord?

We are all just stewards of everything that we have. It’s not ours everything that we have right now is only lent to us by God. For example, the power that we have, the intelligence, the material wealth and our spiritual gift and so forth.  As such, we should properly manage and use  what we have in our possession. We should all be worthy stewards; we should put to good use whatever talents that God has given us.

However, if we would not be up to the task that God has given us. We can rest assure that eventually everything that we have will be taken from us because we were not worthy of the blessings that God bestowed on us.

The gospel today talks about the coming of the Son of Man.  The servants who were caught unaware were busy doing their own thing. These servants are like some of us; always very busy with the things of this world. We forget God or God becomes only our second or third priority.

We must put God forward first, before anything else it should be God first. How about the things of this world? It should be secondary. When we put God first and we abhor sin everything else would follow including our needs for daily living. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 23, Miyerkules ng Ika-29 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:39-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:39-48

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Tandaan ninyo ito: kung alam lamang ng puno ng sambahayan kung anong oras darating ang magnanakaw, hindi niya pababayaang pasukin ang kanyang bahay. Kayo ma'y dapat humanda, sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na hindi ninyo inaasahan." 

Itinanong ni Pedro, "Panginoon, sinasabi po ba ninyo ang talinghagang ito para sa amin o para sa lahat?" Tumugon ang Panginoon, "Sino nga ang tapat at matalinong alipin? Hindi ba siya ang pamamahalain ng kanyang panginoon sa sambahayan nito, upang magbigay sa ibang mga alipin ng kanilang pagkain sa karampatang panahon? Mapalad ang aliping iyon, kapag dinatnan siyang gumagawa ng gayon pagbabalik ng kanyang panginoon. 

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: pamamahalain siya ng kanyang panginoon sa lahat ng ari-arian nito. Ngunit kung sabihin sa sarili ng aliping iyon, 'Matatagalan pa bago magbalik ang aking ppanginoon,' at simulan niyang bugbugin ang ibang aliping lalaki at babae, at kumain, uminom, at maglasing, darating ang panginoon ng aliping yaon sa araw na hindi niya inaasahan at sa oras na hindi niya alam. Buong higpit na parurusahan siya ng panginoon, at isasama sa mga di-tapat. 

"At ang aliping nakaaalam ng kalooban ng kanyang panginoon ngunit hindi naghanda ni sumunod sa kalooban nito ay tatanggap ng mabigat na parusa. Ngunit ang aliping hindi nakaaalam ng kalooban ng kanyang panginoon at gumawa ng mga bagay na nararapat niyang pagdusahan ay tatanggap ng magaang na parusa. Ang binigyan ng maraming bagay ay hahanapan ng maraming bagay; at ang pinagkatiwalaan ng lalong maraming bagay ay pananagutin sa lalong maraming bagay."

Reflection for October 22 Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. 

Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.

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Reflection:

Are you afraid to die?

The thought of death is something that we always dread; we never want to speak about it. But death is one reality of life that will come to each one of us. No one is exempted, rich or poor, educated or not educated, whoever we are it will eventually come to us. 

Jesus in our gospel is calling us to prepare for the unannounced coming of the Lord in our lives. It’s sad that the coming of the Lord comes to many of us through our death only. But do we need to be sad? For example if we are given by our doctor a month to live, should we be sad with this heart wrenching news? Of course we are entitled to be sad for this is part of our being human. 

But after a while the sadness should be replaced by our confidence and faith in God. For the reason that we actually have nothing to fear about death if we have strong faith in the Lord. For some, death is even welcome news for them. How could this be?

Ahh, the reason is very simple; they have long prepared for this by their obedience and closeness to Jesus. As such they are not afraid to die and meet God who by the way is the author of our lives. 

Therefore, it’s always imperative for us to take seriously the advice of Jesus to the disciples. To always be prepared for the coming of the Lord for we don’t know when it will be. 

Are you already prepared for the Lord’s coming into your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 22, Martes ng Ika-29 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:35-38

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:35-38

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Maging handa kayo at sindihan ang inyong mga ilawan. Tumulad kayo sa mga taong naghihintay sa pag-uwi ng kanilang panginoon mula sa kasalan, para pagdating niya ay mabuksan agad ang pinto. Mapalad ang mga alipin na abutang nagbabantay pagdating ng kanilang panginoon.  

Sinasabi ko sa inyo, maghahanda siya, padudulugin sila sa hapag, at maglilingkod sa kanila. Mapapalad sila kung maratnan niya silang handa, dumating man siya ng hatinggabi o madaling-araw siya dumating.” 

Reflection for October 21 Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:13-21

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest? And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry! 

But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

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Reflection:

What will be the scenario when we are a few inches away from the doorway of death? Would we still be concerned about our wealth? No, not anymore what would be of prime importance during that time are the relationships that we’ve built. 

The first that will matter is the relationship that we’ve built with God, the next is the relationship that we’ve built with our relatives and friends. Our wealth no matter how enormous will not occupy a space in our minds. 

Why is this so? Because wealth will not count as our ticket to heaven, what will count is the relationship that we have created with God. What will count are the good deeds that we’ve done to those who are in need. 

 But the paradox is so many of us today who are alive and healthy are actively in pursuit of wealth and power. That we don’t anymore care how many lives would we be stepping on just to have it. We don’t anymore care if we will be called greedy or corrupt just to have it. 

In our gospel for this Monday, Jesus is teaching us not to live our lives for the accumulation of wealth, He teaches us to be generous and not greedy. Jesus teaches us instead to build a relationship with Him and to spread and share our blessings.

What occupies most of your time right now, is it still the accumulation of wealth and other  worldly things? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 21, Lunes ng Ika-29 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:13-21

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:13-21

Sinabi kay Jesus ng isa sa mga naroon, "Guro, iutos nga po ninyo sa kapatid ko na ibigay sa akin ang bahagi ko sa aming mana." Sumagot siya, "Ginoo, sino ang naglagay sa akin bilang hukom o tagapaghati ng mana ninyo?" At sinabi niya sa kanilang lahat: "Mag-ingat kayo sa lahat ng uri ng kasakiman; sapagkat ang buhay ng tao ay wala sa laki ng kayamanan.

" At pagkatapos ay isinaysay ni Jesus ang talinghaggang ito: Ang bukirin ng isang mayaman ay umani nang sagana. Kaya't sinabi niya sa sarili, 'Ano ang gagawin ko? Wala na akong paglagyan ng aking ani! A, gigibain ko ang aking mga kamalig, at magtatayo ako ng lalong mas malalaki. Doon ko ilalagay ang aking ani at ari-arian. At sasabihin ko sa aking sarili, Ayan! marami na akong ari-arian! 

Hindi na ako kukulangin habambuhay! Kaya't mamamahinga na lang ako, kakain, iinom, at magsasaya!' Ngunit sinabi sa kanya ng Diyos, 'Hangal! Sa gabing ito'y babawian ka ng buhay. Kanino mapupunta ang mga bagay na inihanda mo?' Ganyan ang sasapitin ng nagtitipon ng kayamanan para sa sarili, ngunit dukha naman sa paningin ng Diyos."

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.