Reflection for February 20 Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:27-33

Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. 

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid of suffering? 

When Jesus told the disciples that He would have to endure severe suffering and eventually be killed, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him. Perhaps Peter believed that Jesus was immune to suffering because He is God. However, enduring great suffering was part of Jesus' destiny—He had to go through it to fulfill His salvific mission for us. 

What happened after Jesus' suffering and death on the cross? There was His glorious resurrection, salvation, and, after a few days, His ascension into heaven. What would have happened if Jesus had not suffered? If He had not died on the cross? 

As human beings, we are also bound to suffer. There will be moments of suffering in our lives for as long as we exist. But let us not fear suffering, for it is part of life. Instead, let us see it as a glorious opportunity to draw closer to Jesus. For it is in our suffering that we cultivate a personal relationship with Him. 

If Jesus suffered, who are we to expect a life without suffering? — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 20 Huwebes sa Ika-anim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:27-30

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:27-33

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad, ay nagtungo sa mga nayon ng Cesarea, sakop ni Filipo. Samantalang sila’y naglalakbay, tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad, “Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao?”

Sumagot sila, “Ang sabi ng ilan ay si Juan Bautista kayo; sabi naman ng iba, si Elias kayo; at may nagsasabi pang isa kayo sa mga propeta.” “Kayo naman – ano ang sabi ninyo? Sino ako?” tanong niya. “Kayo ang Kristo,” tugon ni Pedro. “Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman kung sino ako,” mahigpit na utos niya sa kanila.

Mula noon, ipinaalam na ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad na ang Anak ng Tao’y dapat magbata ng maraming hirap. Siya’y itatakwil ng matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga eskriba at ipapapatay. Ngunit sa ikatlong araw, muli siyang mabubuhay. Maliwanag na sinabi niya ito sa kanila.

Kaya’t niyaya siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinimulang pagsabihan. Ngunit humarap si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad at pinagwikaan si Pedro: “Lumayo ka, Satanas! Ang iniisip mo’y hindi sa Diyos Kundi sa tao.”

Reflection for February 19 Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:22-26

Gospel: Mark 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” 

Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

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Reflection:

Have You Led Someone to Jesus? 

When Jesus and His party arrived at Bethsaida, people led a blind man to Him and asked Jesus to cure him. Who were these people who guided the blind man to Jesus? We don’t know who they were. But even if we don’t know them, we know that they believed in Jesus. We also know that they lived their faith; otherwise, they would not have escorted the blind man to Jesus. 

Do you believe in Jesus, and are you living your faith? It’s quite easy to say that we believe in the Lord, but have we led someone closer to Him? Believing in the Lord is not enough—we also have to live our belief in Him. What is the use of saying we believe if we don’t live out our belief? Therefore, we must live this faith by guiding our fellowmen closer to the Lord. 

Jesus wants us to know that there are many more blind men and women out there who badly need to be led to Him. Let us look around our environment, and we will find them. Let us make friends with them by living our faith, and let us share the life-changing words of Jesus with them—because our faith bears more fruit when we lead others closer to Him. 

Have you already led someone closer to Jesus? — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 19 Miyerkules sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:22-26

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:22-26

Noong panahong iyon, dumating sina Hesus at ang mga alagad sa Betsaida. Dinala kay Jesus ng ilang tao ang isang bulag at ipinamanhik na hipuin ito. Inakay niya ito sa labas ng bayan, niluran sa mga mata saka ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay. "May nakikita ka na bang anuman?" tanong niya.  

Tumingin ang lalaki at ang wika, "Nakakakita po ako ng mga taong lumalakad, ngunit sila'y parang punongkahoy." Muling hinipo ni Jesus ang mga mata ng bulag; ito'y tuminging mabuti. Nanumbalik ang kanyang paningin at malinaw na niyang nakita ang lahat. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Umuwi ka na. Huwag ka nang dumaan sa bayan."

Reflection for February 18 Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:14-21

Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread.  

When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?  

They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

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Reflection:

Do you allow the enticements of this world to take your focus off Jesus? For example, the Sunday obligation to attend Holy Mass—many of us today sometimes do not pay much attention to this highest form of worship inside the church. We sacrifice it for our many worldly undertakings, which do nothing but pull us away from Jesus. Do you allow this to happen to you? 

In the Gospel, Jesus admonished His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. He used leaven as a metaphor, warning them not to be swayed by the influence of the Pharisees and Herod, who sought to lead them away from Him. 

Both the Pharisees and Herod represent power—the power of religion and government—which, for all intents and purposes, are worldly and temporary. Jesus was, in essence, telling His disciples not to leave Him for them. He was reminding them not to favor the world over their love for God. 

The secular world offers many inducements: power, money, greed, popularity, lust, ego, self-centeredness, and more. We must be careful of these worldly attachments and not allow ourselves to be deceived by these temporary enticements. 

Instead, let us remain steadfast in our love, fellowship, and fidelity to Jesus through our words and actions. For what do we gain if we have all the things this world can offer but do not have God? — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 18 Martes sa Ika-anim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:14-21

Noong panahong iyon, nalimutan ng mga alagad na magdala ng tinapay, at iisa lang ang kanilang tinapay sa bangka. "Kaiingat kayo! Ilagan ninyo ang lebadura ng mga Pariseo at ang lebadura ni Herodes," babala ni Jesus sa kanila. Nag-usap-usap ang mga alagad, "Wala kasi tayong dalang tinapay kaya niya sinabi iyon." 

Alam ito ni Jesus, kaya't sila'y tinanong niya, "Bakit ninyo pinag-uusapan na kayo'y walang dalang tinapay? Hindi pa ba kayo nakababatid o nakauunawa? Hindi pa ba abot ng inyong isip? Wala ba kayong mata? Wala ba kayong tainga? Nakalimutan na ba ninyo nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang limang tinapay para sa limanlibo? 

Ilang bakol ang napuno ninyo sa mga lumabis na tinapay?" "Labindalawa po," tugon nila. "At nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang pitong tinapay para sa apatnalibo, ilang bakol na malalaki ang napuno ninyo?" tanong niya. "Pitong bakol po," tugon nila. "At hindi pa rin ninyo nauunawaan?" wika niya.

Reflection for February 17 Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.

 

Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

What does it mean when we seek signs from Jesus? It means a weakness of faith. It means that Jesus is not yet enough for us to hold on to for our salvation because we still need signs, miracles, and wonders from Him. A true believer and a person of faith will no longer seek a sign from the Lord. He or she will trust the Lord Jesus, regardless of whether they see signs from Him or not. 

If we truly love the Lord and if we have faith in Him, we would no longer ask for a sign. Why? Because His name alone is more than enough to deliver us from all our fears and doubts. This is why we always feel His abiding presence in our lives. 

The Lord is with us the moment we reverently attend Holy Mass, especially when we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. The Lord speaks to us the moment we read His words in the Bible with reverence. Jesus is with us when we pray the Holy Rosary with devotion. 

If only we would invest time in diving deeper into the life of Jesus and our Catholic faith, we would no longer ask for signs from Him. Because as we dedicate time to Him, we will gradually notice His abiding presence in our lives. 

Let us not ask for signs; instead, let us develop a deeper friendship with Jesus through our faithful and pious presence at Holy Mass, by cultivating a daily habit of reading the Bible, and by setting aside quiet time in prayer with Him. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 17 Lunes sa Ika-anim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:11-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:11-13

Noong panahong iyon, may dumating na mga Pariseo at nakipagtalo kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masilo siya kaya hiningi nila na magpakita si hesus ng isang tanda mula sa langit.  

Napabuntong-hininga nang malalim si Hesus at ang wika, “Bakit naghahanap ng tanda ang lahing ito? Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi sila pagpapakitaan ng anumang tanda.” Iniwan niya sila, at pagkasakay sa bangka ay tumawid sa ibayo. 

Reflection for February 16 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. And raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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 Reflection:

There’s a story of a man in his late thirties who had a successful life in this world. Name it, and he had it—women, riches, power, and the like. It may have seemed that he was enjoying everything he was going through, but deep inside, he was empty. So, he resigned from his high-paying job and subsequently joined a Catholic organization that serves the poor. 

His life there was simple, but he found real happiness and fulfillment. Many of his friends hated and insulted him for what he did. However, he did not mind them because he found Jesus in that organization and subsequently built a deep friendship with the Lord. 

What is the main requirement to get closer to Jesus? It is to suffer for the sake of advancing His kingdom in this world. Without suffering for Christ, there would be no close friendship with Him. 

Many of us are so afraid to suffer for Christ’s sake because it will disturb us. If we have this mentality, we are only thinking of ourselves and not the welfare of others. We are only concerned with what we can get from this present world (wealth, power, and the like) and forget about what awaits us after this life. 

We may be stripped of our riches in our desire to get closer to Jesus. Many will hate us and even distance themselves from us. But what the heck! We must understand that we don’t live in this world to remain in this world. We live here now so that we may go to heaven and be with the Lord someday. 

Our motivation for existing in this world should always be heaven—to be with Jesus. Otherwise, if our motivation is centered solely on this world, we will never have peace. We may have all the things this world offers, but we will still lack peace, for there is an absence of Christ in our lives.

 In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22). 

Therefore, let us not be afraid of the challenges we might face for the sake of advancing the kingdom of God in this world, for this is the very reason for our existence. God created us to exist in this world so that we may bring others closer to Jesus. 

Have you already suffered for Christ? Have you already brought someone closer to Him? If your answer is yes, you are truly blessed! —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 16 Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Noong panahong iyon, bumaba si Hesus, kasama ang Labindalawa, at tumayo siya 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. 

Tumingin si Hesus sa mga alagad at kanyang sinabi, “Mapalad kayong mga dukha, sapagkat ang Diyos ang maghahari sa inyo!” “Mapalad kayong mga nagugutom ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y bubusugin!” “Mapalad kayong mga tumatangis ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magagalak!” 

“Mapalad kayo kung dahil sa Anak ng Tao kayo’y kinapopootan, ipinagtatabuyan at inaalimura ng mga tao, at pati ang inyong pangalan ay kinasusuklaman. Magalak kayo at lumukso sa tuwa kung ito’y mangyari, sapagkat malaki ang inyong gantimpala sa langit — gayun din ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga propeta.”

“Ngunit sa aba ninyong mayayaman ngayon, sapagkat nagtamasa na kayo ng kaginhawahan!” “Sa aba ninyong mga busog ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magugutom!” “Sa aba ninyong nagsisitawa ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magdadalamhati at magsisitangis!”

“Sa aba ninyo, kung kayo’y pinupuri ng lahat ng tao, sapagkat gayun din ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga bulaang propeta.” 

Reflection for February 15 Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.  

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.  

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.  

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of compassion and mercy. Jesus feels our loneliness when we are lonely. He cries with us when we cry. He feels the heavy load we carry when we are burdened by it. 

Does His compassion and mercy stop with mere empathy? No, Jesus never stops thinking of ways to lighten the burdens we carry. 

We see this deep compassion and mercy of Jesus in our Gospel today. When Jesus saw the crowd that had been following Him for days, He had deep compassion for them because they were already hungry and tired. His mercy and compassion led Him to think about how He could feed them. 

So Jesus asked His disciples for whatever food they had, and with seven loaves and a few fish, He miraculously multiplied them to feed almost four thousand. This is how merciful and compassionate Jesus is to those who follow Him.

 What does this Gospel tell us? It tells us that we will never go hungry the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus! Jesus will never let us go hungry, for He will take care of our food and provide for our needs. This may be hard for some to believe, but it is true! Jesus provides for those who faithfully follow Him. 

Are you a faithful follower of Jesus? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 15 Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:1-10

Noong mga araw na iyon, muling nagkatipon ang mga tao. Naubos nila ang kanilang pagkain, kaya’t tinawag ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, at sinabi sa kanila, “Nahahabag ako sa mga taong ito, sapagkat tatlong araw na ngayong kasama ko sila at wala na silang makain. Kung pauuwiin ko nang gutom, mahihilo sila sa daan – galing pa naman sa malayo ang ilan sa kanila.” 

“Saan po tayo kukuha ng tinapay dito sa ilang para magkasya sa ganito karaming tao?” tugon ng mga alagad. “Ilan ang tinapay ninyo riyan?” tanong ni Hesus. “Pito po,” sagot nila. Ang mga tao’y pinaupo ni Hesus sa lupa. Kinuha niya ang pitong tinapay, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Pinagpira-piraso niya ang mga iyon at ibinigay sa mga alagad upang ipamahagi sa mga tao. 

Gayun nga ang ginawa ng mga alagad. Mayroon din silang ilang maliliit na isda. Muli siyang nagpasalamat sa Diyos, at iniutos niyang ibigay din iyon sa mga tao. Kumain ang lahat at nabusog; at nang tipunin nila ang mga pira-pirasong tinapay na lumabis, nakapuno sila ng pitong bakol na malalaki. At may apat na libo ang kumain. Pinayaon ni Hesus ang mga tao, saka siya sumakay sa bangka, at nagtungo sa lupain ng Dalmanuta.

Reflection for Friday February 14 Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. 

He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. 

He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

The story is told of a man who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Of course, he was troubled—who wouldn’t be? But the man had great faith in Jesus, so he earnestly prayed for healing. He attended Mass every day, prayed the rosary regularly, and read his Bible fervently. 

As the days, weeks, and months passed, there was a noticeable decline in his physical appearance. However, those around him also observed a deepening of his faith and confidence in Jesus. They noticed the peacefulness and calmness he exuded—so unlike a dying man. 

In the Gospel, we are presented with a story of physical healing: a deaf man was able to speak again through the healing power of Jesus. With the help of those around him, the deaf man was brought closer to Jesus, after which he begged Him to lay His hand on him. 

Jesus took the man away from the crowd, and in the stillness of the moment, He groaned and said, “Ephphatha!”—which means “Be opened.” The man was immediately healed; he could hear and speak once again. 

Eventually, every one of us will fall ill, and we will all pray for physical healing from Jesus. However, not all of us will experience healing like the deaf man in the Gospel. Some of us will receive deep spiritual healing—the same kind of healing that the terminally ill man in our story received from Jesus. 

Therefore, we must take steps to draw closer to Jesus and build a relationship with Him. Let us take the initiative now, rather than wait until we are in dire need of Him. —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Pebrero 14 Paggunita kay San Cirilo monghe at San Metodio, Obispo: Marcos 7:31-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:31-37

Noong panahong iyon, pagbabalik ni Hesus mula sa lupain ng Tiro, dumaan siya sa Sidon, at nagtuloy sa Lawa ng Galilea, matapos tahakin ang lupain ng Decapolis. Dinala sa kanya ang isang lalaking bingi at utal at ipinamanhik nila na ipatong sa taong ito ang kanyang kamay.  

Inilayo muna siya ni Hesus sa karamihan, at isinuot ang kanyang mga daliri sa mga tainga nito. Tumingala si Hesus sa langit at nagbuntong-hininga, at sinabi sa tao, “Effata,” ibig sabihi’y “Mabuksan!” At nakarinig na ito, nawala ang pagkautal at nakapagsalita na nang malinaw. 

Sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao na huwag ibalita ito kaninuman; ngunit kung kailan sila pinagbabawalan ay lalo naman nilang ipinamamalita ito. sila’y lubhang nanggilalas, at ang wika, “Anong buti ng lahat ng kanyang ginawa! Nakaririnig na ang bingi, at nakapagsasalita ang pipi!”