Reflection for Friday July 11 Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.  

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.  

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” 

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Reflection:

There was a very corrupt high-ranking government official who experienced a stirring turnabout in his life. From being deeply entrenched in corruption, he turned toward a saintly life, and from then on, he never engaged in any form of wrongdoing. Yet his saintly lifestyle became his cross, for he was maliciously persecuted by his former companions in corruption. 

Does it pay to leave our sinfulness for the sake of Jesus? Does it pay to walk away from friends who lead us only into sin? Yes, it does! Following Jesus may not be easy. We may face persecution, be scorned, or even be harmed. Yet all these sufferings and earthly imbalances are nothing compared to the peace, joy, and eternal life that Jesus brings into our lives. 

The moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus, we must be ready to face persecution. We should expect to be looked down upon and to receive insulting remarks from those who cannot understand our choice to live for Jesus. Nonetheless, let these trials strengthen our resolve and deepen our faith. 

Almost all of the apostles were severely persecuted because they chose to follow Jesus faithfully. The world persecuted them, but God exalted them and rewarded their faithfulness with eternal glory. 

How about you? Which will you choose: the fleeting, immoral enticements of this world, or the initially difficult but ultimately rewarding path that leads to Jesus and eternal life? 

May we always choose Jesus, no matter the cost, for in Him alone will we find peace, purpose, and salvation. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Hulyo 11 Paggunita kay San Benito abad: Mateo 10:16-23

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:16-23

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Ngayon, sinusugo ko kayo na parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong gubat. Maging matalino kayo, gaya ng mga ahas, at matapat, gaya ng mga kalapati. Mag-ingat kayo, sapagkat may mga taong magkakanulo sa inyo sa mga hukuman; at hahagupitin nila kayo sa mga sinagoga.  

Dahil sa akin, ihaharap kayo sa mga gobernador at mga hari, at magpapatotoo kayo sa harapan nila at ng mga Hentil. Kapag nililitis na kayo, huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa sasabihin ninyo o kung paano ninyo sasabihin. Pagdating ng oras, ito'y ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Sapagkat hindi kayo ang magsasalita kundi ang Espiritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan ninyo.  

"Ipagkakanulo ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang kapatid upang ipapatay; gayon din ang gagawin ng ama sa kanyang anak. Lalabanan ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang, at ipapapatay. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin; ngunit ang manatiling tapat hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas. Kapag inuusig nila kayo sa isang bayan, tumakas kayo sa kasunod. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi pa ninyo napupuntahan ang lahat ng bayan ng Israel ay darating na ang Anak ng Tao."

Reflection for July 10 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.  

Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace.  

If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” 

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Reflection:

Have you already shared Jesus using social media?

Lady A is a social media fanatic. She shares almost everything about herself on Facebook, hoping to create an impression that her life is perfect. But deep inside, is it truly the life she lives, or is it just a facade to cover up the emptiness within?

Many of us are like Lady A. We love to share every detail of our day, even the smallest, non-essential moments, on social media—especially on Facebook and Instagram. But have we ever paused to think: Have I shared Jesus today? Have I shared something that will lead others closer to Him, using the very platform I use daily?

In the Gospel, we see Jesus commissioning the apostles to go and share the Good News of our salvation. They faithfully fulfilled their mission, spreading His teachings and the stories of His miracles wherever they went, no matter the cost.

What is striking is that the apostles never shared about themselves. It was always about Jesus, always about His love, His mercy, and His call to repentance and faith.

For a change, why not consider sharing Jesus instead of yourself on social media? A Bible verse, a reflection, or a simple testimony of how Jesus is working in your life can touch someone who is silently scrolling and searching for hope.

When you share Jesus, you plant seeds of faith in the hearts of others. You become a channel of God’s blessing, and in the process, your own faith deepens as you witness the gentle ways God uses your small act of sharing for His glory.

Will you take that step today? Will you share Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 10 Huwebes sa Ika-14 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:7-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga may sakit at buhayin ang mga patay. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga ketongin at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Yamang tumanggap kayo nang walang bayad, magbigay naman kayo nang walang bayad. 

Huwag kayong magdala ng salapi -- maging ginto, pilak, o tanso -- sa inyong mga lukbutan. Huwag din kayong magdala ng supot sa inyong paglalakbay, ni bihisan, pampalit na panyapak, o tungkod; sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatan sa kanyang ikabubuhay. 

"At saanmang bayan o nayon kayo dumating, humanap kayo ng taong karapat-dapat pakituluyan, at manatili kayo roon habang kayo'y nasa lugar na iyon. Pagpasok ninyo sa bahay, sabihin ninyo, 'Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!' Kung karapat-dapat ang mga tao sa bahay na iyon, panatilihin ninyo sa kanila ang inyong bati. 

Ngunit kung hindi, bawiin ninyo ito. At kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa isang tahanan o bayan, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok ng inyong mga paa. Sinasabi ko sa inyo na sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma at taga-Gomorra."

Reflection for July 9 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” 

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Reflection:

How can we effectively evangelize? We must always stay connected with Jesus in both our words and deeds. We can never be effective evangelizers of Jesus’ teachings if we only preach them but do not live them. Our actions must echo the Gospel we share. 

Except for Judas, who betrayed Jesus, the other eleven apostles were effective messengers of His teachings for a simple reason: they preached them, they lived them, and they even gave their lives for them out of love for the Lord. 

They were simple people—some were fishermen, and like us, they were sinners too. In the eyes of men, they may not have been worthy to become Jesus’ apostles, but Jesus called them, and He qualified them. His grace transformed them into courageous witnesses of His love. 

Jesus is neither a discriminating nor a condemning God. He is a God of love, mercy, and compassion. And because of His love, He calls each of us to turn our backs on our sinful ways and follow Him. He invites us to help Him advance the Good News of His love and compassion in a world that desperately needs Him. 

You may say that you are not worthy to be called, but who is worthy? None of us, for we are all sinners. Yet what Jesus is asking for is your yes to His call. He will take care of the rest, and through His grace, your life will become a living testimony of His love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 9 Miyerkules sa Ika-14 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 10:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:1-7

Noong panahong iyon, tinipon ni Jesus ang labindalawang alagad at binigyan ng kapangyarihang magpapalayas ng masasamang espiritu at magpagaling ng mga may karamdaman. 

Ito ang pangalan ng labindalawang apostol: si Simon na tinatawag na Pedro at si Andres na kanyang kapatid; sina Santiago at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo; sina Felipe at Bartolome; si Tomas, at si Mateo na publikano; si Santiago na anak ni Alfeo, at si Tadeo; si Simong Makabayan at si Judas Iscariote, ang nagkanulo kay Jesus.  

Ang labindalawang ito'y sinugo ni Jesus at kanyang pinagbilinan: "Huwag kayong pupunta sa lugar ng mga Hentil, o alinmang bayan ng mga Samaritano. Sa halip ay hanapin ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos."

Reflection for July 8 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”  

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Reflection: 

Are you quick to hurl accusations without careful thought? 

In today’s Gospel, after Jesus drove out the demon from the man, the Pharisees accused Him of being the prince of demons. A wild accusation with no basis at all, rooted only in their hatred toward Jesus. Why? Because Jesus was becoming popular among the people, and they saw Him as a threat to their authority. 

Perhaps, if we look into our hearts, we will see that we can be like the Pharisees at times. We may throw baseless accusations against others simply because we carry hurts and resentments within us. We may accuse others of wrongdoing simply because we want to get back at someone who has wronged us in the past. 

This tendency to hurl baseless accusations is not limited to church organizations; it also happens among friends, within families, and especially in politics, particularly during elections. But we must ask ourselves: Why throw baseless accusations? Why not choose peace, friendship, and understanding instead? If we truly follow Jesus, we will not seek to destroy the reputation of others but will strive to love and forgive, as Jesus has taught us. 

In the latter part of the Gospel, seeing the great crowd before Him, Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” Indeed, the workers in the Lord’s vineyard remain few even today. Many people still do not know Jesus deeply and personally. We are invited, therefore, to share and live out His teachings so that those who do not know Him may come to know Him through our words, actions, and the way we live our daily lives. 

Would you allow yourself to be God’s instrument today? Would you help advance the teachings of Jesus, beginning by choosing peace over accusation, and love over hatred? 

May we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us so that, instead of tearing others down, we may lift them up and lead them closer to Jesus, our Savior and Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 8 Martes ng Ika-14 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:32-38

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:32-38

Noong panahong iyon, dinala kay Jesus ang isang piping inaalihan ng demonyo. Pinalayas ni Jesus ang demonyo at nakapagsalita ang pipi. Namangha ang mga tao, at sinabi nila, "Kailanma'y walang nakitang katulad nito sa Israel!" Datapwat sinabi ng mga Pariseo, "Ang prinsipe ng mga demonyo ang nagbigay sa kanya ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng mga demonyo." 

Nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at nayon at nagturo sa mga sinagoga. Ipinangaral niya ang Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos, at pinagaling ang mga maysakit, anuman ang kanilang karamdaman. Nang makita niya ang napakaraming tao, nahabag siya sa kanila sapagkat sila'y lito at lupaypay, parang mga tupang walang pastol. 

Kaya't sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad, "Sagana ang aanihin, ngunit kakaunti ang mag-aani. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari ng anihin na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang aanihin."

Reflection for July 7 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.  

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection: 

Do you always complement your faith with actions? Our faith in God is measured not just by what we believe but by how we live out that belief each day. 

In the Gospel, we read about a man who was full of faith and went to Jesus, saying, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live” (Matthew 9:18). His faith moved him to seek Jesus, even in his moment of deepest sorrow. 

There was also a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve long years. She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel on His cloak, saying to herself, “If only I can touch His cloak, I shall be cured” (Matthew 9:21). Her faith led her to reach out to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal her. 

We, too, have our own stories of faith in Jesus. These stories did not happen by accident; they happened for a reason. We supported our faith with actions, and afterward, we entrusted everything to Jesus’ mercy, love, and compassion. 

It is the same mercy, love, and compassion that Jesus gave to the official’s daughter, and the same mercy and compassion He extended to the woman who had been suffering for so long. 

Let us, therefore, continue to have unwavering faith in Jesus. Let us support our faith with our actions—reaching out to Him in prayer, serving others, and trusting in His promises. When we do, God’s mercy, love, and compassion will surely be upon us. 

Do you always support your faith with action? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 7 Lunes ng Ika-14 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:18-26

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:18-26

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang nagsasalita si Jesus, may dumating na isang pinuno ng mga Judio. Lumuhod sa harapan niya at ang sabi, "Kamamatay lang po ng aking anak na babae; ngunit sumama lang kayo sa akin at ipatong ang inyong kamay sa kanya ay mabubuhay siya." Tumindig si Jesus at sumama sa kanya, gayon din ang kanyang mga alagad. 

Sumunod din ang isang babaing may labingdalawang taon nang dinudugo. Lumapit ito sa likuran ni Jesus at hinipo ang laylayan ng kanyang damit. Sapagkat sinabi niya sa sarili, "Mahipo ko lamang ang kanyang damit ay gagaling na ako." Bumaling si Jesus at pagkakita sa kanya'y sinabi, "Anak, lakasan mo ang iyong loob! Pinagaling ka ng iyong pananalig." Noon di'y gumaling ang babae. 

Nang dumating si Jesus sa bahay ng pinuno, nakita niya ang mga manunugtog ng plauta at ang maraming taong nagkakaingay. Sinabi niya, "Magsilabas kayo! Hindi patay ang bata; natutulog lang!" At siya'y pinagtawanan nila. Ngunit nang mapalabas na ang mga tao, pumasok siya, hinawakan sa kamay ang bata at ito'y nagbangon. At ang balita tungkol sa pangyayaring ito ay kumalat sa buong lupaing iyon.   

Reflection for July 6 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." 

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

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Reflection:

Is it hard to follow the way of Jesus? Yes, it’s hard. But will we stop following Him because it’s hard, or will we keep following Him even when the path is difficult? 

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two in pairs to prepare the way for Him, they knew it would not be a walk in the park. They knew there would be challenges and hardships along the way. 

Yet, knowing all these difficulties they would face, they still chose to go. Why? Why move forward when dangers and uncertainties awaited them? They moved forward because they trusted that the abiding presence of Jesus would be with them every step of the way. 

This is what often weakens our resolve as we follow Jesus: our fear of the difficulties and uncertainties ahead. But why should we fear when the abiding presence of Jesus is always by our side? 

If we let fear paralyze us, who will work in the vineyard of the Lord? Who will shepherd, care for, and minister to the abundant harvest that is waiting? 

Why fear when Jesus Himself has promised: "I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) 

Let us continue to follow Jesus, even when the road is hard, trusting that He walks with us, strengthening us, and guiding us as we serve in His vineyard.– Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Hulyo 6, Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 10: 1-12, 17-20

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10: 1-12, 17-20

Noong panahong iyon, ang Panginoon ay humirang pa ng pitumpu’t dalawa. Pinauna niya sila nang dala-dalawa sa bawat bayan at pook na patutunguhan niya. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Sagana ang aanihin, ngunit kakaunti ang mga manggagawa. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang bukirin. 

Humayo kayo! Sinusugo ko kayong parang mga kordero sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat. Huwag kayong magdala ng lukbutan, supot, o panyapak. Huwag na kayong titigil sa daan upang makipagbatian kaninuman. Pagpasok ninyo sa alinmang bahay, sabihin muna ninyo, ‘Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan sa bahay na ito!’ 

Kung maibigin sa kapayapaan ang nakatira roon, sasakanila ang kapayapaan; ngunit kung hindi, hindi sila magkakamit nito. Manatili kayo sa bahay na inyong tinutuluyan; kanin ninyo at inumin ang anumang idulot sa inyo – sapagkat ang manggagawa ay may karapatang tumanggap ng kanyang upa. Huwag kayong magpapalipat-lipat ng bahay. 

Kapag tinanggap kayo sa alinmang bayan, kanin ninyo ang anumang ihain sa inyo; pagalingin ninyo ang mga maysakit doon at sabihin sa bayan, ‘Nalalapit na ang paghahari ng Diyos sa inyo.’ Ngunit sa alinmang bayang hindi tumanggap sa inyo, lumabas kayo sa mga lansangan nito at sabihin ninyo, ‘Pati ang alikabok dito na dumikit sa aming mga paa ay ipinapagpag namin bilang babala sa inyo. 

Ngunit pakatandaaan ninyo nalapit na sa inyo ang paghahari ng Diyos!’ Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang kaparusahan ng mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma!” Bumalik na tuwang-tuwa ang pitumpu’t dalawa. “Panginoon,” sabi nila. “kahit po ang mga demonyo ay sumusunod kapag inutusan namin, sa ngalan ninyo.” 

Sumagot si Hesus, “Nakita ko ang pagkahulog ni Satanas mula sa langit – parang kidlat. Binigyan ko kayo ng kapangyarihang tumapak sa mga ahas at mga alakdan, at yumurak sa kapangyarihan ng kaaway. Walang makapipinsala sa inyo. Gayunman, magalak kayo, hindi dahil sa suko sa inyo ang masasamang espiritu kundi dahil sa nakatala sa langit ang pangalan ninyo.”

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Repleksyon:

Mahirap bang sundan ang daan ni Jesus? Oo, mahirap. Pero titigil ba tayong sumunod sa Kanya dahil mahirap, o ipagpapatuloy pa rin natin ang pagsunod kahit mahirap ang daan? 

Nang isinugo ni Jesus ang pitumpu’t dalawa nang pares upang ihanda ang Kanyang daraanan, alam nila na hindi ito magiging madali. Alam nila na may mga pagsubok at hirap silang haharapin sa kanilang pag mimisyon. 

Gayunpaman, sa kabila ng lahat ng kahirapang ito na kanilang alam na daranasin nila, pinili pa rin nilang tumuloy. Bakit? Bakit pa sila nagpatuloy kung maraming panganib at hindi tiyak ang kanilang kahihinatnan? Nagpatuloy sila dahil nagtitiwala sila na ang presensya ni Jesus ay laging kasama nila sa bawat hakbang ng kanilang pag mimisyon. 

Ito rin ang madalas nagpapahina sa ating loob sa pagsunod kay Jesus: ang ating takot sa mga hirap at hindi tiyak na bukas. Pero bakit tayo matatakot kung ang presensya ni Jesus ay laging nasa ating tabi? 

Kapag hinayaan nating paralisahin tayo ng takot, sino pa ang maglilingkod sa ubasan ng Panginoon? Sino pa ang mag-aalaga, magpapastol, at maglilingkod sa masaganang ani na naghihintay? 

Bakit tayo matatakot kung si Jesus mismo ang nangako: “Ako ay laging kasama ninyo hanggang sa katapusan ng mundo.” (Mateo 28:20) 

Magpatuloy tayong sumunod kay Jesus kahit mahirap ang daan, nagtitiwala tayo na kasama natin Siya, na pinalalakas tayo ni Jesus, at ginagabayan tayo habang tayo ay naglilingkod sa Kanyang ubasan. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 5 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.  

No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” 

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Reflection: 

Do you already have Jesus in your life? 

When you have Jesus in your life, you become like a fresh wineskin—strong, ready, and open to receive the new wine of His love and grace. A new wineskin is sturdy and can withstand the pressure when it is filled. In the same way, when we let Jesus dwell in us, we are able to endure the challenges and burdens of this life with hope and quiet strength. 

This is what happens when we allow Jesus to take His rightful place in our hearts. We become resilient, no matter what problems life may bring. No person and no problem, no matter how heavy, can break us because Jesus is with us. 

But why is it so hard for many of us to feel Jesus’ presence? It is because we often do not give Him our time. We say we are busy, but in truth, we find time for so many other things that do not nourish our souls. We invest countless hours on worldly concerns, scrolling endlessly on our smartphones, chasing temporary pleasures, yet we find it hard to spend even a few quiet moments with Jesus, our life-giver. 

This is the paradox of our modern life: we say we do not have time for Jesus, yet we have time for many things that leave our souls empty. 

If you want to have a fresh and hope-filled outlook on your future and on life itself, let Jesus into your heart today. Do not close your heart to the Lord for the sake of worldly things that will only bring you restlessness and emptiness in the end. Let Jesus, who alone can give true peace and joy, be the center of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 5 Sabado sa Ika-13 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:14-17

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:14-17

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit kay Hesus ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista at ang wika, “Malimit kaming mag-ayuno, gayun din ang mga Pariseo. Bakit po hindi nag-aayuno ang inyong mga alagad?” Sumagot siya, “Maaari bang magdalamhati ang mga panauhin sa kasalan habang kasama nila ang lalaking ikinasal? Kapag wala na siya, saka pa lamang sila mag-aayuno. 

“Walang nagtatagpi ng bagong kayo sa isang lumang kasuutan; sapagkat mababatak nito ang tinagpian, at lalong lalaki ang punit. Wala ring nagsisilid ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat. Kapag gayon ang ginawa, puputok ang balat, matatapon ang alak, at mawawasak ang sisidlan. Sa halip ay isinisilid ang bagong alak sa bagong sisidlang-balat, at sa gayo’y kapwa nagtatagal.”