Reflection for Sunday January 15, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 1:29-34

Gospel: John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’

I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel. John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. 

I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

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Reflection:

Would we be willing to give our life so that others may live? Jesus did that for us, He gave His very life on the cross so that we may live and have life. What have we given Jesus in return? Have we thought of silently helping the poor and unwanted which Jesus always represent? 

We often have this me and myself mentality; me first, myself first before the wellbeing of others. But Jesus did not think of Himself first, it was us first and never Himself otherwise He would not have freely given His life on the cross.  

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world as John the Baptist referred Him to be in our gospel. Let us not simply forget this ultimate sacrifice of Jesus by doing nothing, by not helping the poor and unwanted. We have to do something good for them no matter how small or insignificant for this is our responsibility. 

Just imagine the good that we will be doing if we would help the poor and unwanted. What we do to the poor and unwanted we do to Jesus. We help the poor we help Jesus, we give water and food to the poor and unwanted we give it to Jesus. Let us never worry for whatever help that we silently give to the poor Jesus will give back to us in manifold ways. 

Have you silently given help to the poor? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 14, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me. And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard this and said to them “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Are we sometimes quick to judge those who sin? For example, we judge somebody as sinner because of his/her sinful lifestyle. 

However, the moment we judge we also begin to distance ourselves from the person that we judge. And in doing so we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to convert this person.

Those who sin are not permanent sinners there comes a certain point in their lives that they want to change. This change is facilitated when they are not judged for the things that they’ve done. Instead, they are listened, forgiven and given the freedom to live a new life.  

Jesus in our gospel reading did not judge Levi a tax collector and labeled as a sinner by those who know him. What did Jesus do? Instead of judging or even condemning Levi; He went to Levi talked to him and told Levi to come and follow Him. And immediately Levi left whatever that he was doing and followed Jesus.

What if Jesus judged Levi as sinner and told Levi that that he deserves to be roasted in hell? There would have been no conversion and healing on the part of Levi. These acts of mercy, compassion and forgiveness of Jesus should serve as a lesson for all of us.

If we want conversion from sinners, we should not judge them. Because who are we to judge when we are also sinners like them? We should instead help them live a new life permanently away from their former sinful lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for January 13, Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.  

After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Reflection:

What would you do if a sick person who is poor will ask you for help? Will you bring him to a hospital or would you simply ignore and move on with your life?  

The gospel for today gives us direction on what to do whenever somebody asks us for help regardless of who this somebody is. We must help in whatever way the person in need this was the deed that was done by the four men who went to the roof of the house where Jesus was staying.  

The four men brought the paralytic to Jesus. They did not care if they have to open the roof of the house so that they could bring the paralytic in front of Jesus. What was important for them was to extend help to the paralytic in whatever forms and ways.    

What happened to the four men after the paralytic was healed and forgiven of his sins by Jesus? They simply fade away into the sunset; they did not receive any words of appreciation from the crowd and from the man that they’ve helped.  

But certainly, as they walked away and mingled with the crowd. They carried in their hearts this unexplainable happiness. Happiness that no human could give them, happiness that no amount of money could satisfy them and happiness that only Jesus can give them.  

This unexplainable happiness was given to them by Jesus for a job well done. And for getting out of their own comfort zones so that they could give comfort and help to someone in need.  

How about us, what would we do if a sick person who is poor would ask us for help? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for January 12, Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.  

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Reflection:

What moves you to go to Jesus? 

The leper went to Jesus knelled down and begged Jesus by saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” And immediately the leper was healed by Jesus. You may ask, what moved the leper to ask Jesus to heal him?  

Was it his grave sickness? No, his leprosy was not the driving force that moved him to seek the help of Jesus. It was something far bigger than his sickness and it was the leper’s deep reservoir of faith in Jesus! Otherwise if he did not have faith he wouldn’t have gone to Jesus.  And what drove Jesus to heal the leper? Was it His leprosy? No it was not his leprosy that moved Jesus to heal him. It was the leper’s great faith in Him!  

What brings us to Jesus and why do we pray to Jesus? Do we pray to Jesus because of our problems? Are we doing this because of our sickness? Our sickness and our problems must not be the primary reason why we go in prayer to Jesus. It must always be our deep faith in Him!  

Let us always see to it that our faith is always the main driving force why we want to commune with Jesus. For the reason that the more that we are driven by faith to go to Jesus. The bigger our chance of being heard by Him. 

What moves you to pray to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 12, Huwebes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:40-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:40-45

Noong panahong iyon, may isang ketonging lumapit kay Hesus, nanikluhod at nagmakaawa: “Kung ibig po ninyo’y mapagagaling ninyo ako.” Nahabag si Hesus at hinipo siya, sabay ang wika, “Ibig ko. Gumaling ka!” Noon di’y nawala ang ketong at gumaling ang tao. Pinaalis siya agad ni Hesus matapos ang ganitong mahigpit na bilin: “Huwag mong sasabihin ito kaninuman.  

Sa halip ay pasuri ka sa saserdote. Pagkatapos, maghandog ka ayon sa iniutos ni Moises, upang patunayan sa mga tao na ikaw ay magaling na.” Ngunit umalis siya at bagkus ipinamalita ang nangyari, anupat hindi na hayagang makapasok ng bayan si Hesus. Naroon na lamang siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na pook, at doon pinagsasadya ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t ibang dako.

Reflection for January 11, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”  So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a family who had a bedridden mother. Being in such situation her husband and children confined her to a room within their house. The mother was wondering, why they isolated her when she doesn’t have a contagious sickness? Deep in her heart she was wishing for a daily small talk with her family or even a quick peek from her husband and children. But they rarely did she eventually died not from her sickness but from her loneliness. 

When Jesus was told that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever, He immediately approached her and grasp her hand. As if to say that I’m here for you and I’m concerned with your wellbeing.  Then she was healed by Jesus before they left her. 

What is Jesus telling us in this gospel? Jesus is telling us that we have to visit the sick. We have to talk to them and we have to let them know that we are here for them. Many of us don’t visit the sick because we are so busy with our daily undertakings. Or we don’t visit the sick because we have no money to help them. 

But there’s more to life than our daily undertakings and there’s certainly more to life than having money. Life is all about touching lives! It’s making a person feel special more so if she/he is sick. Just imagine if a sick person would see us, it certainly would brighten the  face and boost the sagging morale of the sick person. 

Nevermind, if we cannot give financial help since our mere presence is more than enough to help her get well. Our mere presence is like saying, I’m here for you, you can count on me and I love you more than words can say.  

We must never underestimate the power of a visit or even a quick visit to a sick relative or friend. It could do wonders for their wellness of course we are not Jesus thus we would not be able to cure them physically, but who knows? Nonetheless, it still can do wonders for them on the level of their emotions and morale.  

Jesus is showing us the way on what to do when somebody is sick we therefore have to follow the way of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 10, Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”  

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a married man who succumb to an adulterous relationship with his  equally married officemate. The man would always attend Holy Mass with his wife every Sunday. Yet, he still surrendered to the enticement of the devil acting through his married officemate by jumping with reckless abandon into that adulterous relationship.   

Why was he overpowered by the woman who was doing it on behalf of the devil? This is for the simple reason that he had superficial faith, he did not allow Jesus to take control of his life. He instead allowed the devil through the woman who was ostensibly nice and accommodating to her to seduce, control and manipulate him.  

When Jesus went to the synagogue He encountered a man with an unclean spirit or a man possessed by a demon. Then after conversing with the unclean spirit Jesus drove it away from the man. 

Everyone, of us is susceptible to be possessed by a demon that is if our faith in Jesus is weak and if we don’t live our faith. Therefore, we are easily tempted by the devil to commit sin no matter how severe without guilt of conscience. This is what the evil one does to us he uses people to probe our faith. And if it’s weak and shallow it would never stop until it capture, ravage and destroy us.  

Unclean spirit and evil spirit are very real it hides deep in our being it only comes out when the environment is conducive for it to come out. For example, when there’s temptation for us to do something immoral, adulterous and sinful. When the opportunity presents itself the demon that hides within us would now suddenly take control of us until it accomplishes its evil will for us.  

Why does the presence of the evil one hide within us? It hides for the reason that we give it space, in other words it hides within us because we consent to it. Most especially when the situation to sin and do evil is favorable.  

However, if we really desire to completely extricate ourselves from any form of evil possession and unclean spirit. We actually can with the help of Jesus, how would we do it? We must get closer to Jesus we must always ask Jesus to weed out and to completely overpower, defeat and eliminate the evil that resides within us.  

And of course we also have to do our part. We have to confront, permanently avoid and distance ourselves from the human representative of the devil which ostensibly appear to be nice and accommodating to us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 10, Martes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:21b-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:21b-28

Sa lungsod ng Capernaum sa Araw ng Pamamahinga si Jesus ay pumasok sa sinagoga at nagturo. Namangha ang mga tao sapagkat nagturo siya sa kanila na parang isang may kapangyarihan, at hindi tulad ng mga eskriba. Bigla namang pumasok sa sinagoga ang isang inaalihan ng masamang espiritu, at sumigaw: "Ano ang pakialam mo sa amin, Jesus na taga-Nazaret? 

Kilala kita: Ikaw ang Banal na mula sa Diyos!" Ngunit iniutos ni Jesus sa masamang espiritu , "Tumahimik ka! Lumabas ka sa kanya!" Pinapangisay ng masamang espiritu ang tao, at sumisigaw na lumabas. Nanggilalas ang lahat, kaya't sila'y nagtanungan. "Ano ito? Bagong aral? Nauutusan niya pati ang masasamang espiritu. At sinunod naman siya!" At mabilis na kumalat sa buong Galilea ang balita tungkol kay Jesus.

Reflection for Monday January 9, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Matthew 3:13-17

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.  

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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Reflection:

Why was there a need for Jesus to be baptized considering that he is God the Son? Jesus went through his own baptism as an act of solidarity with us sinful humanity.    

Jesus’ Baptism is an expression of the Lord’s great desire to be one with us. The Lord could have avoided baptism but he went through it also as an expression of his immense love for us. Love that culminated in the Lord’s death on the cross at Calvary. 

Having been baptized too and being of age already we partake of Jesus’ mission to spread the good news of the faith, that’s why we have to live our faith. We have to bring people to God, we have to do acts of mercy and compassion and we have to follow and live the life of the Lord. The Lord’s life of self-sacrifice, life of love and forgiveness and the like. 

By celebrating the Baptism of Jesus today we don’t only recall and remember Jesus baptism. We are also reminded that we have our very own baptismal mission which we have to live and fulfill. 

Are we able to live and fulfill our own Baptismal mission? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Lunes Enero 9 Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon (Kapistahan): Mateo 3:13-17

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 3:13-17

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus ay dumating naman sa Jordan mula sa Galilea, at lumapit kay Juan upang pabinyag. Sinansala siya ni Juan na ang wika, "Ako po ang dapat binyagan ninyo, at kayo pa ang lumalapit sa akin!" Ngunit tinugon siya ni Hesus, "Hayaan mo itong mangyari ngayon; sapagkat ito ang nararapat nating gawin upang matupad ang kalooban ng Diyos."  

At pumayag si Juan. Nang mabinyagan si Hesus, umahon siya sa tubig. Nabuksan ang langit at nakita niya ang Espiritu ng Diyos, bumababa sa kanya, ang isang kalapati. At isang tinig mula sa langit ang nagsabi, "Ito ang minamahal kong Anak na lubos kong kinalulugdan!"

Words of Wisdom - 5

 

Mga salita na puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 7

 

Reflection for Sunday January 8, Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord: Matthew 2:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” 

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” 

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. 

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

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Reflection:

The story is told about an old woman who was living alone in her house. A neighbor noticed her and she asked the old woman, “Why are you alone? Don’t you have children? The old woman replied, “I have children however they have their respective family already but they still visit me every once in a while.” 

She further said: I used to be lonely but I’m okay now because a relative introduced me to Jesus: Jesus is in my life now. I go to Mass everyday, I read my bible and  I’m all right: I submit my life to Jesus because Jesus cured my loneliness, depression and emptiness. 

The Magi were in search for Jesus to give Him homage and to offer Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But come to think of it, was it the sole purpose why they were in desperate search of the baby Jesus?

There might have been loneliness and emptiness also in their hearts. That is why they were searching for Jesus for they knew that it was only Jesus who would cure their hidden loneliness and emptiness. 

In our fast moving and technology driven world today wherein social media connects and drives everyone of us. Many of us are still lonely, depressed and empty deep inside us. Up to this time we are longing for that something that would inwardly cure our loneliness and emptiness. This something that we are longing for is none other than Jesus. We also have to diligently search for Jesus as the Magi diligently searched for the baby Jesus.

Do you search for the Lord?  - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 7, Saturday before Epiphany: John 2:1-11

Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.  

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from — although the servers who had drawn the water knew —, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

How influential is your mother to you? Do you always listen to her whenever she speaks to you?  Influence is something that Mary has over her son Jesus not only that she exercised influence over Jesus. She also has the listening ear of Jesus. 

The backdrop of Jesus’ first miracle is the wedding at Cana that run out of wine. The wedding feast could have already been over in that instance but Mary was there to save the day. She went to Jesus for the reason that she knows that she exercised influence over her son. Mary also knows that she has the listening ear of Jesus.  

What does Mary teach us? She teaches us that we always have to go to Jesus when we have issues in our life. We have to let Jesus take over the driver seat not us taking over it, we have to be patient and not be demanding toward Jesus.  

This simply means that we have to let Jesus answer our prayers on His own time and terms. Not us dictating the time and terms of our prayers before our Lord. Mary is also silently teaching us about humility, patience and acceptance of the will of God for our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas