Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
My Youtube: Pls. Subscribe, Like and Share. Thanks and God Bless You!!!
Thursday, June 06, 2024
Reflection for Friday June 7 Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: John 19:31-37
Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Hunyo 7 Kamahal-mahalang Puso ni Hesus (Dakilang Kapistahan): Juan 19:31-37
Naparoon
nga ang mga kawal at binali ang mga binti ng dalawang ipinakong kasabay ni
Jesus.Ngunit pagdating nila kay Jesus at makitang patay na siya, hindi na nila
binali ang kanyang binti. Subalit inulos ng sibat ng isa sa mga kawal ang
tagiliran ni Jesus, at biglang dumaloy ang dugo at tubig.
Ang nakakita nito ang nagpapatotoo -- tunay ang kanyang patotoo at alam niyang katotohanan ang sinabi niya -- upang kayo'y maniwala. Nangyari ang mga ito upang matupad ang sinasabi ng Kasulatan, "Walang mababali isa man sa kanyang mga buto." At sinabi naman ng ibang bahagi ng Kasulatan, "Pagmamasdan nila ang kanilang inulos."
Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Reflection for June 6 Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:28-34
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. The scribe said to
him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no
other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your
understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is
worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with
understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God. And no
one dared to ask him any more questions.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a pastor who was preaching
about love for God and neighbor. Across his church was a man who would always
create noise whenever he was preaching. And he would naturally be distracted by
that man. One morning the pastor went to that man and angrily told him that he
is disturbing him. The man said to the pastor: “Why are you angry with me,
don’t you know that I am just testing you if you live what you are preaching?”
Do you love God? Surely you do. How about your
neighbor? It’s easy to say I love God but to live this love of God is a
different story altogether. Because if we would live this love of God. Then, we
would be willing to love even our unlovable neighbor.
But who is this neighbor? He/she could be anyone that
you know who’ve hurt you. He/she could be your spouse, your relative, your
friend or your literal house neighbor. The supreme test of our love for God is
when we are willing to love even our unlovable neighbor.
If we say we love God yet we hold deep resentment
toward somebody who has hurt us badly. Then, our love of God is simply
superficial. It becomes authentic when we hold no bitterness toward those
who’ve hurt us no matter how deep the hurt they’ve inflicted upon
us.
What is the use of going to church, of giving
offerings and doing other forms of sacrifices as an expression of our faith and
love for God? Yet, we hold a grudge against someone? Thus, we are still wanting
in our profession of our love for God. True love for God is when we are capable
of forgetting and forgiving the hurt that had been inflicted upon
us.
What if the hurt is consistently being made afresh,
there is no sign of remorse from that neighbor. Perhaps it’s about time to
completely walk away from that neighbor. We walk away not because we don’t love
that neighbor and God. We walk away because that is the most ethical act to
do.
In the gospel, Jesus talks about the two greatest
commandments: Love for God and neighbor. These two expressions of love should
always be together and it should not be separated. Does this mean that there’s
always a happy ending when we love God and neighbor?
Not always, there are also sad endings when we express and live our love for God and neighbor. However, these sad endings are temporary eventually there would be a happy ending. Why? Because we never give up on loving our God and our neighbor. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 6, Huwebes sa Ikasiyam na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 12:28b-34
"Tama
po, Guro!" wika ng eskriba. "Totoo ang sinabi ninyo. Iisa ang Diyos
at wala nang iba liban sa kanya. At ang umibig sa kanya nang buong puso, buong
pag-iisip, at buong lakas, at ang umibig sa kapwa gaya nang kanyang sarili ay
higit na mahalaga kaysa magdala ng lahat ng handog na susunugin, at iba pang
mga hain." Nakita ni Jesus na matalino ang kanyang sagot, kaya't sinabi
niya, "Malapit ka nang mapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos." At
wala nang nangahas magtanong kay Jesus mula noon.
Tuesday, June 04, 2024
Reflection for Wednesday June 5 Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr: Mark 12:18-27
The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
As for the dead being raised, have you not
read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I
am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of
the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Is there an afterlife or resurrection after our life in this world is over? There is but it's very different from the life that we have right now.
In the gospel a religious group who do not believe in the resurrection asked Jesus about a woman who married seven brothers that subsequently died one after the other. They asked Jesus, whose wife would she be in the afterlife?
Jesus said to them, "Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
The resurrected life with Jesus in heaven is totally different from the life that we have right now. If here we have pains and sorrows there shall be no more there, what we shall have there is a life with Jesus that is blissful and heavenly. We must aspire for that heavenly life and we must start right now by following the teachings of Jesus.
Do you follow the teachings of the Lord? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Hunyo 5, San Bonifacio obispo at martir (Pagginita): Marcos 12:18-27
May pitong magkakapatid na lalaki. Nag-asawa ang panganay, at namatay na walang anak. Napakasal sa balo ang pangalawa, at namatay na wala ring anak. Gayon rin ang nangyari sa pangatlo at sa mga sumunod pa: isa-isang napangasawa ng babae ang pitong magkakapatid, at sila'y namatay ng walang anak.
Sa kahuli-huliha'y namatay rin ang babae. Ngayon, sino po sa pito ang kikilalanin niyang asawa sa muling pagkabuhay, yamang napangasawa niya silang lahat?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Maling-mali kayo. Alam ninyo kung bakit? Hindi ninyo nababatid ang mga Kasulatan ni ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Sapagkat sa muling pagkabuhay, ang mga tao'y hindi na mag-aasawa; sila'y nagiging tulad ng mga anghel sa langit.
Tungkol naman sa muling pagkabuhay-- hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa sa aklat ni Moises ang tungkol sa nagliliyab na mababang punongkahoy? Ganito ang nasusulat na sinabi ng Diyos kay Moises, 'Ako ang Diyos ni Abraham, ang Diyos ni Isaac at ang Diyos ni Jacob.' Ngunit ang Diyos ay hindi Diyos ng mga patay, kundi ng mga buhay. Maling-mali kayo!"
Monday, June 03, 2024
Reflection for June 4 Tuesday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time: Mark 12:13-17
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, “Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is our obligation to Jesus? Our obligation is to follow His teachings. And as stated by Jesus in the gospel paying the rightful tax to the government is one of them. We disobey Jesus when we don’t pay the taxes due to the government.
The question of paying the census tax had a deeper meaning for it was created to trap Jesus. However, Jesus was able to wiggle out of this complicated situation. This is the reason why at the end of the gospel the emissaries of Jesus’ opponents were utterly amazed at Him (Mark 12:17).
As shown in the gospel, Jesus always makes a way out, even when there seems to be no way. He will always make things possible for us too, even if they seem impossible, because He is always there to help us solve our problems, no matter how complicated they may seem.
Where are you in your life right now? Are you in a predicament where you think that you’re about to surrender to your problems? Call on Jesus and pray to Him. He is there just a prayer away, ever ready to help you extricate yourself out of your problem. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 4 Martes sa Ikasiyam na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon:Marcos 12:13-17
Friday, May 31, 2024
Reflection for Monday June 3, Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs: Mark 12:1-12
But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son.
He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?"
They were seeking to arrest him, but they
feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.
So they left him and went away.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A wealthy woman suddenly died without leaving a last will and testament. Instead of talking thing out and amicably settling the issue about her wealth the relatives were now wrangling as to who would get the biggest chunk of wealth. Why were they squabbling about her wealth? Because all of them were greedy nobody wants to give an inch on the wealth that they would have.
Many families are like this, they were once living in peace and unity until the issue of wealth divided them. What can we gain with material wealth? It’s temporal riches that may fly from our hands anytime! Why is it that some of us are willing to sacrifice blood relationship for wealth? The simple answer is our greed!
In our gospel for this Monday Jesus gives
us a story that mirrors greed for wealth. Wealth that is temporary, wealth that
we will not be able to bring us to the next life. And wealth that has been the
cause of many conflicts in the family.
Instead of being greedy, why not be generous? Instead of holding on to wealth, why not give some of it away or give it all away? The rewards are unfathomable for those who would not hold on to their wealth. It may not be in this finite world but it surely will come to them when they are not anymore in this world.
Would you be generous with your wealth? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Hunyo 3 San Carlos Lwanga at mga kasama, mga martir (Paggunita): Marcos 12:1-12
Nang dumating ang panahon ng pitasan, pinapunta niya ang isa
niyang utusan upang kunin sa mga kasama ang kanyang kaparte. Ngunit sinunggaban
ng mga kasama ang utusan, binugbog, at pinauwing walang dala. Ang may-ari’y
nagpapunta uli ng ibang utusan, ngunit kanilang pinukpok ito sa ulo, at
dinusta. Nag-utos na naman siya sa isa pa, ngunit pinatay nila ang utusang
iyon.
Gayun din ang ginawa nila sa marami pang iba: may binugbog at
may pinatay. Iisa na lang ang natitira na maaaring papuntahin sa kanila – ang kanyang
minamahal na anak. Ito ang kahuli-hulihang pinapunta niya. ‘Igagalang nila ang
aking anak,’ wika niya sa sarili. Ngunit ang mga kasama’y nag-usap-usap, ‘Ito
ang tagapagmana. Halikayo, patayin natin at nang mapasaatin ang kanyang
mamanahin.’’ Kanilang sinunggaban siya, pinatay at itinapon sa labas ng
ubasan.
“Ano ngayon ang gagawin ng may-ari ng ubasan? Paroroon siya at
papatayin ang mga kasamang iyon, at ang ubasa’y ibibigay sa iba. Hindi pa ba
ninyo nababasa ang nasasaad sa Kasulatan? ‘Ang batong itinakwil ng mga
tagapagtayo ng bahay ang siyang naging batong panulukan.
Ginawa ito ng Panginoon, At ito’y kahanga-hanga!’” Tinangka ng mga pinuno ng mga Judio na dakpin si Hesus, sapagkat nahalata nilang sila ang pinatatamaan sa talinghagang iyon. Ngunit takot naman sila sa mga tao; kaya’t hindi nila siya inano at sila’y umalis.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Reflection for Sunday June 2, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi): Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you ready to fulfill your mission in the vineyard of the Lord?
Before the institution of the Eucharist took place, there were two men who became instrumental in the celebration of the Last Supper of the Lord.
The first is the man carrying a jar of water, Jesus told the disciples that the moment they see this man they have to follow him because he will lead them to the house where the last supper would be celebrated. And so, it happened, they saw this man and he led them to the house of the Last Supper.
The second man is the one in charge of the house where the Last Supper is to be held. This man ushered the disciples to the upper room. While there, they saw that it was furnished and ready for the commemoration of the Passover meal. Hence, they called the Lord, and they all went to the upper room, where they ate their Passover meal which is the Last Supper.
These two men played crucial roles in the Last Supper, for without them, the Last Supper might not have been held there. But the two men were present, and they made life easier for the disciples and for the Lord as well.
We all play crucial roles in the advancement of the mission of the Lord. Some of us may think that the roles we play are insignificant. But they're not; every role we play in the vineyard of the Lord is very important and significant.
What is the important role that you play in the vineyard of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Linggo Hunyo 2 Dakilang Kapistahan ng Katawan at Dugo ni Kristo: Marcos 14:12-16, 22-26
Sundan ninyo siya sa bahay na kanyang napasukan sabihin ninyo sa may-ari, 'Ipinatatanong po ng Guro kung saang silid siya maaaring kumain ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa, kasalo ang kanyang mga alagad.' At ituturo niya sa inyo ang isang malaking silid sa itaas na mayroon nang kagamitan. Doon kayo maghanda para sa atin." Nagtungo sa bayan ang mga alagad at natagpuan nga nila roon ang lahat, gaya ng sinabi niya sa kanila. At inihanda nia ang Hapunang Pampaskuwa.
Samantalang sila'y kumakain, dumampot ng tinapay si Jesus, at matapos magpasalamat sa Diyos ay kanyang pinagpira-piraso at ibinigay sa mga alagad. "Kunin ninyo; ito ang aking katawan," wika niya. Hinawakan niya ang saro, at matapos magpasalamat ay ibinigay sa kanila; at uminom silang lahat. Sinabi niya, "Ito ang aking dugo ng tipan, ang dugong mabubuhos para sa marami.
Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi na ako iinom ng alak na mula sa ubas hanggang sa araw na inumin ko ang bagong alak sa kaharian ng Diyos." Umawit sila ng isang imno, at pagkatapos nagtungo sa Bundok ng mga Olibo.
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Reflection for Saturday June 1 Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr: Mark 11:27-33
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they
said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither
shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who are the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders?
They are persons of authority they are all highly valued and listened by their community. Jesus was actually no match to them in stature for He is just an ordinary Jew and a carpenter. That’s why they’ve asked Him: “By what authority are you doing these things?
What was their motivation in asking Jesus about His authority? Of course their motivation was envy and greed for power because they were slowly being threatened by the growing popularity of Jesus. Otherwise if they were not envious and greedy they would have not asked Jesus about His authority. This same envy and greed for power drove them to plot the killing of Jesus.
We too are often times envious of those
who succeed, those who are more popular than us. Why do we allow ourselves to
be eaten up by this negative emotion called envy? Instead of feeling envious
why not simply be happy for those people who succeed? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Sabado Hunyo 1 San Justino, martir (Paggunita): Marcos 11:27-33
Sumagot si Hesus, “Tatanungin ko
rin kayo. Pag sinagot ninyo ako, saka ko naman sasabihin sa inyo kung ano ang
karapatan kong gumawa ng mga bagay na ito. Kanino nagmula ang karapatan ni Juan
upang magbinyag – sa Diyos ba o sa mga tao?” At sila’y nag-usap-usap: “Kung sabihin
nating mula sa Diyos, itatanong naman niya sa atin, ‘Bakit hindi ninyo siya
pinaniwalaan?’
Ngunit
kung sabihin nating mula sa tao,” natatakot naman sila at baka kung ano ang
gawin sa kanila ng mga tao, sapagkat kinikilala ng lahat na si Juan ay isang propeta.
Kaya’t sumagot sila kay Hesus, “Hindi namin alam!” Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila,
“Hindi ko rin sasabihin sa inyo kung ano ang karapatan kong gumawa ng mga
ginawa ko.”