Reflection for October 31 Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:31-35

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ 

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to die for your faith? Perhaps you will immediately say yes with an exclamation point! But when the actual time comes that you will be killed for defending  your faith you might renounce your faith to save your life. Many of our saints died for our faith they could have renounced it to save themselves but they chose to be faithful until the very end. 

When Jesus was told by the Pharisees to go away because King Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus did not budge a bit He courageously stared the challenge in the eye and faced it notwithstanding the threat to His life. 

Do we recognize that to be a follower of Jesus is no joke? This is for the reason that like Jesus, the prophets before Him and the saints we are also called to stand up for what is right. To face anyone and courageously stare them eyeball to eyeball so that we could advance the teachings of Jesus. 

To be a follower in name only is easy but to be a committed follower until the very last gasp of our breath is never easy. For it will require us to get out of our own comfort zones or to even sacrifice our very own lives so as to preserve and advance the teachings of Jesus.    

What kind of follower are you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 31, Huwebes ng Ika-30 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:31-35

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:31-35

Dumating noon ang ilang Pariseo. Sinabi nila kay Hesus, “Umalis ka rito, sapagkat ibig kang ipapatay ni Herodes.” At sumagot siya, “Sabihin ninyo sa alamid na iyon na nagpapalayas ako ngayon ng mga demonyo at nagpapagaling, bukas ay gayun din; sa ikatlong araw, tatapusin ko ang aking gawain. 

Ngunit dapat akong magpatuloy sa aking lakad ngayon, bukas at sa makalawa; sapagkat hindi dapat mamatay sa labas ng Jerusalem ang isang propeta! “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Pinapatay mo ang mga propeta at binabato ang mga sinugo ko sa iyo! Makailan kong sinikap na kupkupin ang iyong mga mamamayan, gaya ng paglukob ng isang inahin sa kanyang mga sisiw, ngunit ayaw mo. 

Kaya’t lubos kang pababayaan. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, hindi mo na ako makikita hanggang sa dumating ang oras na sasabihin mo, ‘Pagpalain nawa ang dumarating sa pangalan ng Panginoon!’”

Reflection for October 30 Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 

Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 

And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

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Reflection:

A lady who was very obedient to her catholic faith was asking herself this question: “What should I do to be in heaven someday”? She herself answered her question by saying, I need to be at the Eucharistic celebration every Sunday, I need to pray the rosary everyday and I need to humbly submit myself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year. 

She did all of these acts of piety for she believed that this would be her passage to heaven. When she died she was confident of having a hassle-free passage towards the door of heaven. However when she was about to enter an angel prevented her from passing through the door. Therefore her acts of piety were not enough to enter heaven. What is the secret ingredient that is lacking in her recipe to enter heaven? 

In the gospel for this Sunday someone asked Jesus, "Lord will only a few people be saved?" Jesus said strive to enter the narrow gate, for many I tell you will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough (Luke 13:23-24). 

Our acts of piety and worship for God are good for it will lead us to know more about God and it will surely deepen our relationship with Him. But we still need to take that extra step to complete the recipe to enter the narrow gate that leads to heaven.  

We need to put flesh to our acts of piety. In other words we need to translate our worship for God to living acts of mercy, love, compassion, humility and the like. 

What is the use of going to Holy Mass every Sunday if we don’t allow it to transform us? What is the use of reading the bible if we don’t live the teachings of Jesus in the bible? What is the use of praying the Holy Rosary if we don’t live the humility of the Blessed Mother? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 30, Miyerkules ng Ika-30 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:22-30

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:22-30

Noong panahong iyon, nagpatuloy si Hesus sa kanyang paglalakbay. Siya’y nagtuturo sa bawat bayan at nayon na kanyang dinaraanan patungong Jerusalem. May isang nagtanong sa kanya, “Ginoo, kakaunti po ba ang maliligtas?” Sinabi niya, “Pagsikapan ninyong pumasok sa makipot na pintuan. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, marami ang magpipilit na pumasok ngunit hindi makapapasok.

“Kapag ang pinto’y isinara na ng puno ng sambahayan, magtitiis kayong nakatayo sa labas, at katok nang katok. Sasabihin ninyo, ‘Panginoon, papasukin po ninyo kami.’ Sasagutin niya kayo, ‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo!’ At sasabihin ninyo, ‘Kumain po kami at uminom na kasalo ninyo, at nagturo pa kayo sa mga lansangan namin.’ Sasabihin naman ng Panginoon, ‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo!

 Lumayo kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na nagsisigawa ng masama!’ Tatangis kayo at magngangalit ang inyong ngipin kapag nakita ninyong nasa kaharian ng Diyos sina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob, at ang lahat ng propeta, at kayo nama’y ipinagtabuyan sa labas! At darating ang mga tao buhat sa silangan at kanluran, sa hilaga at timog, at dudulog sa hapag sa kaharian ng Diyos. Tunay ngang may nahuhuling mauuna, at may nauunang mahuhuli.”

Reflection for October 29 Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:18-21

Gospel: Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” 

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

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Reflection:

Where does the kingdom of God begin in your life? 

The Kingdom of God starts small in your heart like a tiny mustard seed. If you would nurture it, it will have life until it grows big. Where others could benefit from it thus you become God’s instrument of blessing for others. 

But others don’t allow God’s Kingdom to take root in their hearts. They prefer the things of this world than God. They choose the temporary over what is eternal, the worldly over Godly.  We must not commit the same mistake. 

We should allow God to have His dwelling in our heart no matter how small, then we have to nurture it so that it could grow. Nurture it with prayers, reading the bible and other books that would help us grow in faith. 

We should also strive to be present at Holy Mass whenever we could, most especially during Sundays. And of course, we should live our faith. If we would do all of these the kingdom of God would surely be upon us and it would grow and benefit others.

Will you allow the kingdom of God to have a permanent dwelling in your life so that God could bless others through you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 29, Martes ng Ika-30 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:18-21

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus, "Ano ang katulad ng paghahari ng Diyos? Saan ko ihahambing ito? Katulad ito ng isang butil ng mustasa na itinanim ng isang tao sa kanyang halamanan. Ito'y lumaki hanggang sa maging punongkahoy at namugad ang mga ibon sa mga sanga nito." 

Sinabi pa ni Jesus, "Saan ko itutulad ang paghahari ng Diyos? Katulad ito ng lebadurang inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, anupa't umalsa ang buong masa." 

Reflection for Monday October 28 Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles: Luke 6:12-16

Gospel: Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. 

When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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Reflection:

Do you have the habit of prayer? 

Before making the crucial decision to appoint the twelve apostles Jesus prayed first for guidance from God. Perhaps Jesus also asked the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this is how it should always be for us also. Whenever we will make a crucial decision or any decision in our life we must pray first and ask guidance from God. 

After praying, Jesus went on to choose the twelve apostles. They were ordinary people like us—some were fishermen who became fishers of men, and they were sinners like us. What does this Gospel tell us? It tells us that every one of us can be a partner of Jesus in His mission of evangelization. 

We are now in the era of social media thus evangelization is not anymore limited to face to face evangelization. We can evangelize using the cyberspace:  write about Jesus, post on your social media accounts anything about Jesus and your Christian faith.  

We can all now be cyber missionaries. The avenues for effective evangelization in cyberspace are unlimited. Let us, therefore, take advantage of the technology that is available in the palms of our hands. 

Be not afraid to respond to this call of Jesus. Because He will empower you, He will guide you and He will be there for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Lunes Oktubre 28, Kapistahan nila San Simon at San Judas Tadeo mga apostol: Lucas 6:12-16

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:12-16

Noong mga araw na iyon, umahon si Jesus sa isang burol at magdamag doong nanalangin. Kinaumagahan, tinawag niya ang kanyang mga alagad, at pumili siya ng Labindalawa sa kanila, na tinawag niyang mga apostol: Si Simon na pinangalanan niyang Pedro, at si Andres na kanyang kapatid; sina Santiago, Juan, Felipe, Bartolome, Mateo, Tomas, at Santiago na anak ni Alfeo, si Simon, ang Makabayan; si Judas na anak ni Santiago, at si Judas Iscariote na naging taksil. 

Bumaba si Jesus, kasama sila, at tumayo sa isang patag na lugar. Naroon ang marami sa kanyang mga alagad. At ang napakaraming tao buhat sa Judea at Jerusalem, at sa mga bayan sa baybaying-dagat ng Tiro at Sidon. Pumaroon sila upang makinig sa kanya at mapagaling sa kanilang karamdaman.

Pinagaling rin niya ang mga pinahihirapan ng masamang espiritu. At sinikap ng lahat ng tao na mahipo siya sapagkat may taglay siyang kapangyarihang makapagpagaling ng lahat.

Reflection for Sunday October 27, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:46-52

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 

But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”  

The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

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Reflection:

What would happen if you don’t give up on something that you truly desire? Sooner or later you will have what you want. What would happen if you have strong faith? You will never lose hope no matter the difficulties and challenges that you face in your life. 

In the gospel, we hear of a blind man named Bartimaeus. Due to his blindness, there was no way for him to go to Jesus to ask for His healing touch. Therefore, upon hearing that Jesus was passing by, he shouted his prayer to the Lord: 'Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.

He was told to keep quiet by those around him, but he did not obey them. Instead, he shouted even louder: 'Son of David, have pity on me.' His persistence immediately bore fruit, as Jesus heard him. The Lord subsequently called him, and after a brief conversation with Jesus, the blind man regained his sight and became His follower.

The healing of the blind man Bartimaeus shows us that there is hope even if we are in the darkest episodes of our lives there is hope. What is important is we do not give up no matter the difficulties so that we keep the fire of hope burning.  

What if Bartimaeus had easily given up? He would not have been healed by the Lord, nor would he have become His follower. Our prayers can move mountains, as long as we never give up on our faith in the Lord.

Do you have a prayer before the Lord? Don’t give up, continue to be persistent and continue to have faith because the good Lord will soon hear you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Linggo Oktubre 27 Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:46-52

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:46-52

Noong panahong iyon, dumating si Hesus sa Jerico, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad at marami pang iba. Nang umaalis na sila roon, may naraanan silang isang bulag na nakaupo sa tabi ng daan at namamalimos. Siya’y si Bartimeo, anak ni Timeo. Nang marinig niyang naroon si Hesus na taga-Nazaret, sumigaw siya ng ganito: “Hesus, Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin!” 

Pinagsabihan siya ng mga tao at pinatatahimik, ngunit lalo pa siyang nagsisigaw, “Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin!” Tumigil si Hesus at kanyang sinabi, “Tawagin ninyo siya.” At tinawag nga nila ang bulag. “Lakasan mo ang iyong loob,” sabi nila. “Tumindig ka. Ipinatatawag ka niya.” 

Iniwaksi niya ang kanyang balabal, paluksong tumayo at lumapit kay Hesus. “Ano ang ibig mong gawin ko sa iyo?” tanong sa kanya ni Hesus. Sumagot ang bulag, “Guro, ibig ko po sanang makakita.” Sinabi ni Hesus, “Humayo ka; magaling ka na dahil sa iyong pananalig.” Noon di’y nakakita siya, at sumunod kay Hesus.

Reflection for October 26 Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! 

But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

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Reflection:

Why is there a need for us to repent now? The simple answer is because we are all sinners. We sin almost every day through ours words, actions and thoughts. 

What if we suddenly die and we are not able to repent for the reason that we keep on delaying our repentance? We miss the golden opportunity to be with Jesus in heaven and we have nobody to blame but us. 

Repentance frees us from the burden of sin and guilt. It frees our souls and it opens the door of God’s blessings for us. What if we refuse to repent and instead continue on sinning? We then have to be prepared for the consequence/s of our stubbornness and sinfulness. 

In the church complete repentance occurs the moment we decide to humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here we humbly ask forgiveness from the Lord, here we allow God to heal us from the wounds of sin. 

When was your last Confession? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 26, Sabado ng Ika-29 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:1-9

Dumating noon ang ilang mga tao at ibinalita kay Hesus na ipinapatay ni Pilato ang ilang Galileo samantalang ang mga ito’y naghahandog sa Diyos. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Akala ba ninyo, higit na makasalanan ang mga Galileong ito kaysa ibang mga taga-Galilea dahil sa gayun ang sinapit nila? Hindi! Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag hindi ninyo pinagsisihan at tinalikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, mapapahamak din kayong lahat. 

At ang labingwalong namatay nang mabagsakan ng tore sa Siloe – sa akala ba ninyo’y higit silang makasalanan kaysa ibang naninirahan sa Jerusalem? Hindi! Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag hindi ninyo pinagsisihan at tinalikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.” 

Sinasabi sa kanila ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito: “May isang tao na may puno ng igos sa kanyang ubasan. Minsan, tiningnan niya kung may bunga ito, ngunit wala siyang nakita. Kaya’t sinabi niya sa tagapag-alaga ng ubasan, ‘Tatlong taon na akong pumaparito at naghahanap ng bunga sa punong ito, ngunit wala akong makita. 

Putulin mo na! Nakasisikip lang iyan!’ Ngunit sumagot ang tagapag-alaga, ‘Huwag po muna nating putulin sa taong ito. Huhukayan ko ang palibot at lalagyan ng pataba. Kung mamunga po ito sa darating na taon, mabuti; ngunit kung hindi, putulin na natin!’” 

Reflection for October 25 Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:54-59

Gospel: Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

Do you consult fortunetellers to learn about your future?

Fortunetellers make a living by means of predicting the obvious things that will happen in our future. There are those who believe because what they foretold became a reality. So, they make a habit of consulting fortunetellers whenever there are major decisions to be made. 

For some who cannot afford to pay their services. They make do by reading the daily horoscope available for free in some internet sites and other newspapers. And if what is written in their horoscopes is not favorable for them they would be bothered by it.   

If we have faith in Jesus, there’s no need to consult anyone regarding our future. We only have to get closer to Jesus through prayer, by listening to Him who directly speaks to us when we read the bible and through our pious attendance at Holy Mass. 

Jesus is always an ever-present friend who is always there for us. He will not predict our future based on the obvious signs of the times. But He will always be an omnipresent companion as we walk from our present going to our future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Oktubre 25, Biyernes ng Ika-29 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:54-59

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:54-59

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao, "Kapag nakita ninyong Makapal ang ulap sa kanluran, sinasabi ninyong uulan, at gayon nga ang nangyayari. At kung umiihip ang hanging timog ay sinasabi ninyong iinit, at nagkakagayon nga. Mga mapagpaimbabaw! Marunong kayong bumasa ng palatandaan sa lupa't sa langit, bakit hindi ninyo mabasa ang mga tanda ng kasalukuyang panahon?  

"Bakit hindi ninyo mapagpasiyahan kung alin ang matuwid? Kapag isinakdal ka sa hukuman, makipag-ayos ka sa nagsakdal habang may panahon; baka kaladkarin ka niya sa hukuman, at ibigay ka ng hukom sa tanod, at ibilanggo ka naman nito. Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hangga't hindi mo nababayaran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo."