Reflection for Saturday August 20 Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 

All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Do you lead by example? 

The principle of leadership by example is one wherein the leader set the standards to be followed and he himself leads the way in following the said standards. In the same manner parents should set the benchmark in their homes as they live to the hilt this benchmark for their children to emulate.   

On the other hand bad or lousy leaders would tell their people to do this and that but they will not do what they command. They preach the standards but they do not practice what they preach. Same as with irresponsible parents; they would tell their children to observe this and that discipline but the irony is they themselves do not do what they tell their children.  

The Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus were the religious leaders and they were supposed to lead by example. But they did not; they were only good on giving commands/orders but when it comes to living it they were badly deficient.  

Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the common people of that time started to gravitate towards Jesus. Because they saw in Jesus someone who leads by example someone who empathized with them. Someone who is approachable and humble, someone who ate and mingled with them; in other words Jesus lived what He preached.  

What is the lesson of our gospel for us?  We must always be true with our words and actions. We must not be like the Pharisees and scribes in our gospel: For they were only good at preaching but very deficient in practicing and living what they preach.   

We must always be like Jesus; for He lived what He preached in other words Jesus is always true to His words and actions. Jesus leads by example and He walked His talk. 

Do you always live what you preach and are you always true to your words? – Marino J. Dasmarinas        

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Sabado Agosto 20, San Bernardo, abad at pantas ng Iglesya (Paggunita): Mateo 23:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 23:1-12

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao at sa kanyang mga alagad, "Ang mga eskriba at ang mga Pariseo ang kinikilalang tagapagpaliwanag ng Kautusan ni Moises. Kaya't gawin ninyo ang itinuturo nila at sundin ang kanilang iniuutos. Ngunit huwag ninyong tularan ang kanilang gawa, sapagkat hindi nila isinasagawa ang kanilang ipinangangaral.  

Nagbibigkis sila ng mabibigat na dalahin at ipinapasan sa mga tao; ngunit ni daliri ay ayaw nilang igalaw upang tumulong sa pagdadala ng mga iyon. Pawang pakitang-tao ang kanilang mga gawa, Nilalaparan nila ang kanilang mga pilakterya at hinahabaan ang palawit sa laylayan ng kanilang mga damit. Ang ibig nila'y ang mga upuang pandangal sa mga piging at ang mga tanging luklukan sa mga sinagoga. Ang ibig nila'y pagpugayan sila sa mga liwasang bayan, at tawaging guro.  

Ngunit kayo-- huwag kayong patawag na guro, sapagkat iisa ang inyong Guro, at kayong lahat ay magkakapatid. At huwag ninyong tawaging ama ang sinumang tao sa lupa, sapagkat iisa ang inyong Ama, ang Amang nasa langit. Huwag kayong patawag na tagapagturo, sapagkat iisa ang inyong Tagapagturo, ang Mesias. Ang pinakadakila sa inyo ay dapat maging lingkod ninyo. Ang nagpapakataas ay ibababa, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas."

Reflection for August 19, Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:34-40

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

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Reflection:

A wife discovered that her husband had a second family. The very angry wife left her husband however the husband begged for forgiveness and second chance. After deeply pondering about it she eventually forgave her repentant husband.  

When she was asked by her mother why she forgave and restored everything as if nothing happened. She said: “I deeply love God and I would be betraying my love for God if I will not forgive and heal my marriage.  

Conflict is something that happens in marriage every now and then. This conflict usually emanates from the following: Betrayal of trust, behavioral incompatibility and financial disagreements among others. Every married couple goes through these episodes in their married lives.  

But how come that notwithstanding the conflict there are couples who choose to forgive and remain married until the end of their lives? The simple answer is both of them love the Lord God first. And this love for God is the driving force that makes them forgiving and loving.   

Their love for each other is always preceded by the blessing of their love for God. This is the reason why married couples who truly loved God first can forgive, forget and have long term healing. They can start afresh once again as if nothing happened.  

So the greatest commandment is to love God first and after that everything else would follow. We would be capable of loving anyone else even those who’ve deeply hurt us because we first loved God. 

If you don’t forgive and if you continue to harbor hidden sentiments against your spouse or anyone for that matter. And you still say that you love God it’s safe to say that your profession of love for God is superficial.  

Therefore, the challenge that confronts you is to think deeply if your love for God is really authentic. – Marino J. Dasmarinas          

Reflection for August 18, Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”  

Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  

Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.  

He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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Reflection:

Do you always honor the invitation given to you? 

Jesus compared The Kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. When it was the day of the wedding feast none of the invited guest arrived for they all had their preoccupations. How could they refuse the graciousness of the king?  

The kingdom of heaven and the wedding feast that Jesus speaks about is within our midst which is the celebration of the Holy Mass.  And just like the king who invited guest, Jesus is inviting us also to be present at Holy Mass most especially during Sundays. But do we make time for Holy Mass? 

Like going to a wedding banquet where the invited guests prepare their most elegant clothes. Do we prepare ourselves before going to Holy Mass by having prior knowledge of the gospel and the other readings?  

In our gospel, the expected guest refused the invitation of the king so the king was disheartened by their refusal. The king then instructed his servants to go out again and invite anyone (bad and good alike) they could find and many came to the wedding banquet and ate to their hearts content.      

Perhaps, many of us do not also honor this invitation of Jesus to be present at Holy Mass. Why? Is it because we are also busy like the invited guest in the gospel? We are missing heaven on earth when we refuse to honor this invitation of Jesus for us to go to His wedding banquet which is none other than the celebration of Holy Mass. 

Do you always honor this invitation of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Agosto 18 Huwebes ng Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:1-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22:1-14

Muling nagsalita sa kanila si Jesus sa pamamagitan ng talinghaga. Sinabi niya, "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: naghandog ng isang piging ang isang hari sa kasal ng kanyang anak na lalaki. Sinugo niya ang kanyang mga alipin upang tawagin ang mga inanyayahan ngunit ayaw nilang dumalo. 

Muli siyang nagsugo ng ibang mga alipin at kanyang pinagbilinan, 'Sabihin ninyo sa mga inanyayahan na naihanda ko na ang aking piging: napatay na ang aking mga baka at mga pinatabang guya, at handa na ang lahat ng bagay. Halina kayo sa piging!' Ngunit hindi ito pinansin ng mga inanyayahan. Humayo sila sa kani-kanilang lakad; ang isa'y sa kanyang bukid at sa kanyang pangangalakal naman ang isa.  

Sinunggaban naman ng iba ang mga alipin hinamak at pinatay. Galit na galit ang hari, Pinaparoon niya ang kanyang mga kawal, ipinapuksa ang mga mamamatay-taong iyon at ipinasunog ang kanilang lunsod. Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alipin, 'Nakahanda na ang piging, ngunit hindi karapat-dapat ang inanyayahan.  

Kaya't pumunta kayo sa mga lansangang matao, at inyong anyayahan sa kasalan ang lahat ng makita ninyo.' Lumabas nga sa mga pangunahing lansangan ang mga alipin at isinama ang lahat ng natagpuan, masasama't mabubuti, anupa't napuno ng mga panauhin ang bulwagang pangkasalan.  

"Pumasok ang hari upang tingnan ang mga panauhin, at nakita niya roon ang isang taong hindi nakadamit pangkasalan. 'Kaibigan, bakit ka pumasok dito nang hindi nakadamit pangkasalan?' tanong niya. Hindi nakaimik ang tao. Kaya't sinabi ng hari sa mga katulong, 'Gapusin ninyo ang kanyang kamay at paa at itapon siya sa kadiliman sa labas. Doo'y mananangis siya at magngangalit ang kanyang ngipin.' Sapagkat marami ang tinatawag, ngunit kakaunti ang nahihirang."

Reflection for August 17, Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’   

So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’  

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’  

He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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Reflection:

Can we measure the breadth and width of God’s love for us? No, because God’s love for us is not bound by any form of measurement. God loves us infinitely no matter who we are and no matter the sins that we have committed. 

The landowner in our gospel which represents God solicitously invited in so many instances workers to work in His vineyard. He did not care about the time that they present themselves for work. What was important for the landowner was they respond to His invitation to work for Him in His vineyard. 

The love of God for us is so immense that He wants us to go to Him irrespective of who we are. He continuously invites us to a new life with Him. We are precious to God we are dearly loved by God that’s why His invitation is always there for us, it’s ours to take anytime! 

Many of us may say that we are not anymore worthy of this immense love of God because of our sinfulness. No, the more sinful we are the more that we become worthy of this great love of God. We must therefore respond to this invitation of God for us to go to His vineyard so that we could renew our lives and walk away from all of our sinfulness. 

Would you respond to this invitation of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday August 16, St. Rock (Roque), healer (Memorial): Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:“ Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”  

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”  

Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

Is there a reward for following Jesus? Yes there is! What then is the reward, material riches? No, it’s something more profound than anything in this world. It’s something that no worldly riches no matter how enormous could buy.  

Many of us may quantify through material riches the reward that Jesus will give us the moment we decide to follow Him. This is a big lie for Jesus is not a God of materialism yet there is a God of materialism named Satan or the devil. The devil would normally entice his prospects to be greedy with material wealth. Then as the devil takes control of his prospects he slowly destroys the person and his/her family.  

So what is the reward of following Jesus? It’s eternal life (Matthew 19:29). Eternal life that we would even feel while we are still living in this world. For example, those who faithfully follow Jesus have this certain feeling of peace and serenity in their lives. They are always peaceful and not afraid no matter the challenges that they may encounter. This is so because they already gave their faith and confidence to the Lord.       

Then, when these faithful followers finally depart this world, they will be like seeds planted beneath fertile soil. They will once again rise and have new life. Not in this temporal world anymore but in heaven in the company of God and His holy angels.  

Would you follow the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Agosto 16 San Roque, mangagamot (Paggunita): Mateo 19:23-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:23-30

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: napakahirap mapabilang ang mayayaman sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos! At sinasabi ko rin sa inyo: madali pang makaraan ang kamelyo sa butas ng karayom kaysa pasakop sa paghahari ng Diyos ang isang mayaman.” Nagtaka ang mga alagad nang marinig ito, kaya’t naitanong nila. “Kung gayun, sino po ang maliligtas?” Tinitigan sila ni Hesus at sinabi, “Hindi ito magagawa ng tao, ngunit magagawa ng Diyos ang lahat ng bagay.”  

At nagsalita si Pedro, “Tingnan po ninyo: iniwan namin ang lahat at kami’y sumunod sa inyo. Ano po naman ang para sa amin?” Sinabi sa kanila ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag nakaluklok na ang Anak ng Tao sa kanyang maringal na trono sa bagong daigdig, kayong sumunod sa akin ay luluklok din sa labindalawang trono upang hukuman ang labindalawang lipi ng Israel.  

At ang sinumang magtiis na iwan ang tahanan, mga kapatid na lalaki at babae, ama, ina, mga anak, o mga lupain alang-alang sa akin ay tatanggap ng makasandaang ibayo, at pagkakalooban ng buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit maraming una na magiging huli, at maraming huli na magiging una.”

Reflection for Monday August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.  

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”  

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This dogma was defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1 1950. It states that the immaculate Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, after completing her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory. 

Would you exert effort to give a relative a surprise visit? Many of us are very busy that we hardly have time for this kind of noble undertaking. But if many of us have no time to reach out to our relatives the Blessed Mother always has time. 

Just imagine the Blessed Mother travelling for days on a donkey while pregnant just to give cheer to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Who among us would do that? Perhaps only a few because many of us have no time.  

We have already allowed this world to dictate upon us to always get busy with things of this world. Get busy at the expense of strengthening our bond with our friends and relatives? Yes, when we allow ourselves to become overly busy with worldliness. The tie that binds us to our friends and relatives take a backseat and this is not good.  

But not the Blessed Mother for she is an extra ordinary Blessed woman who is always full of love, care and compassion towards her relatives and to us also. The Blessed Mother never thought of her own safety and her own predicament (Because she was also pregnant at that time). She braved the long distance and the stress on herself just to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  

How many of us are still willing to forget ourselves just to visit our relatives and friends to make them happy with our presence? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Agosto 15, Ang Pag-aakyat sa Langit sa Mahal na Birheng Maria (Dakilang Kapistahan): Lucas 1:39-56

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 1:39-56

Si Maria'y nagmamadaling pumunta sa isang bayan sa kaburulan ng Juda. Pagdating sa bahay ni Zacarias, binati niya si Elisabet. Nang marinig ni Elisabet ang bati ni Maria, naggagalaw ang sanggol sa kanyang tiyan. Napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elisabet, at buong galak na sinabi, "Pinagpala ka sa mga babae, at pinagpala rin ang dinadala mo sa iyong sinapupunan! Sino ako upang dalawin ng ina ng aking Panginoon? Sapagkat pagkarinig ko ng iyong bati ay naggagalaw ang sanggol sa tuwa sa aking tiyan. Mapalad ka sapagkat nanalig kang matutupad ang ipinasasabi sa iyo ng Panginoon!"  

At sinabi ni Maria, "Ang puso ko'y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, at nagagalak ang aking espiritu dahil sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagkat nilingap niya ang kanyang abang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako'y tatawaging mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi. Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan -- Banal ang kanyang pangalan!  

Kinahahabagan niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng sali't-saling lahi. Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang mga bisig, pinangalat niya ang mga palalo ang isipan. ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang trono, at itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan.  

Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom, at pinalayas niyang wala ni anuman ang mayayaman. Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel, bilang pagtupad sa pangako niya sa ating mga magulang, kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi, magpakailanman!"  

Tumira si Maria kina Elisabet nang may tatlong buwan, at saka umuwi.

Reflection for Sunday August 14, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

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Reflection:

What does it mean to be on fire for Jesus? It simply means that we have allowed the Holy Spirit to work in our life by sharing and living the teachings of Jesus. During Pentecost the Blessed Mother, some women and many of the apostles were in the upper room (Acts 1:12-14). While there the Holy Spirit appearing in tongues of fire descended upon each of them (Acts 2:1-3). And from thereon they have allowed themselves to be set on fire by the teachings of Jesus.

During our Baptism we too have received the same fire of the Holy Spirit and the same Holy Spirit was further strengthened within us during our Confirmation. After we have received the Holy Spirit through these two Sacraments, can we now say that we are on fire for Jesus?

Or we have never been on fire even if we have received already the presence of the Holy Spirit. We remain to be timid Catholics for we never share our faith in Jesus. We remain to be  Catholics in name only with our faith always hidden within us. 

Why not try to reverse this attitude of timidity by allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to move us to share the gospel of Jesus? For example, why not try to schedule a monthly or even weekly reading and reflection of the words of Jesus in the bible amongst our family members or friends? 

This may divide families and friends temporarily we may be even be labeled us out of our minds for doing it. But for as long as we do this with humility we have nothing to worry because we are simply living our faith. The division that we create for sharing the gospel will eventually heal and turn into unification and this is caused by the miracle of Jesus.         

Are you on fire for Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Agosto 14, Ika - 20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 12:49-53

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Naparito ako upang magdala ng apoy sa lupa -- at sana'y napagningas na ito! May isang binyag pa na dapat kong tanggapin, at nababagabag ako hangga't hindi natutupad ito! Akala ba ninyo'y pumarito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa?

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi kapayapaan kundi pagkabaha-bahagi. Mula ngayon, ang lima katao sa isang sambahayan ay mababahagi: tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo. Maglalaban-laban ang ama at ang anak na lalaki, ang ina at ang anak na babae, at gayon din ang biyenang babae, at manugang na babae."

 

Reflection for August 13, Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:13-15

Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

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Reflection:

Do you bring your children to church for Holy Mass? Do you teach your children about Jesus? Do you read the life of Jesus in bible to your children? All of these questions are ways for all of us to bring our children closer to Jesus. 

What is the importance of bringing our children to Jesus? First and foremost is it assures their good future in this world and beyond this world. This is basically what Jesus does to our children: He assures them of a bright and Godly future not based on the criteria of this world but based on His own criteria. 

Just imagine if we bring our children closer to Jesus, we would have fewer headaches as they grow up. This is for the reason that the more we bring them to Jesus the more that they are being guided by Jesus in everyday of their lives.  

Some parents of today are afraid to bring their children closer to Jesus. For the reason that they are afraid that they children may aspire to become a priest or a nun and their alibi is there’s no money in aspiring for the priesthood or in becoming a nun. Indeed, there’s no money in these vocations but we don’t live for money in this world. We don't live for this world only we live to live the teachings of Jesus, we live to aspire for heaven eventually.  

What would it benefit our children if they have all the money in this world yet they don’t have Jesus? When we bring our children to Jesus we are not only investing in their future we are also investing on our own future in heaven someday. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Agosto 13, Sabado ng Ika-19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:13-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:13-15

Noong panahong iyon, ay nagdala ng mga bata kay Jesus upang hilinging ipatong niya sa mga ito ang kanyang kamay at ipanalangin. Ngunit pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Datapwat sinabi ni Jesus, "Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang hadlangan, sapagkat sa katulad nila naghahari ang Diyos." Ipinatong niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay, saka umalis.