(Jesus said to His disciples) Before the
end happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you
over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings
and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense
beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your
adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over
by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to
death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head
will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Have you
already suffered for faithfully following Jesus and do you think that all of
these sufferings are all worth it? Every suffering that we go through for Jesus
is all worth it. The people of this world will surely not agree and
understand but it’s all worth it!
If we suffer poverty for Jesus’ sake, if we are
persecuted for following Jesus. And if the events in our lives are not turning
out well based on worldly standards because we choose to follow Jesus. Let us
not worry for someday in the great beyond we will surely receive our
reward.
Are all the worldly appendages that we blindly chase
and have worth it? No it’s not because it can slip out of our hands anytime.
So, why are so many of us are so blinded by these worldly things? We covet it
as if our life hinges on it.
At the end of our lives only one will matter and
that’s none other than our faithfulness to Jesus. Let us therefore strive to
get closer to Jesus than obsessively striving to possess the fragile and
passing offerings of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus
sa kanyang mga alagad, “Darakpin kayo’t uusigin. Kayo’y dadalhin sa mga
sinagoga upang litisin at ipabilanggo. At dahil sa akin ay ihaharap kayo sa mga
hari at mga gobernador. Ito ang pagkakataon ninyo upang magpatotoo tungkol sa
akin.
Ipanatag ninyo ang inyong kalooban, huwag kayong mababalisa
tungkol sa pagtatanggol sa inyong sarili; sapagkat bibigyan ko kayo ng
katalinuhan at ng pananalitang hindi kayang tutulan o pabulaanan ng sinuman sa
inyong mga kaaway.
Ipagkakanulo
kayo ng inyong mga magulang, mga kapatid, mga kamag-anak, at mga kaibigan. At
ipapapatay ang ilan sa inyo. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin, ngunit
hindi mawawala ni isang hibla ng inyong buhok. Sa inyong pagtitiis ay tatamuhin
ninyo ang buhay na walang hanggan.”
While some people were speaking about how
the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said,
“All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone
upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He
answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come. Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be
terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be
the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from
place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you have
fear of the end times? Many of us are fearful of the end times. But why fear?
Jesus is telling us in our gospel today not to fear!
But in hindsight we are human beings and as such it’s
natural for us to have fears in our hearts. most especially when we
see calamitous storms, outbreak of viruses and wars. But Jesus words are more
powerful than any wars, viruses and storms combined!
In the gospel for this Tuesday Jesus mentions about
destructions and wars. Jesus mentioned these words in the gospel hundreds of
years ago. And what He mentioned then is actually happening right now. There
are many ongoing wars and destructions in many parts of the world like the wars
in Ukraine and Israel. Are we going to tremble in fear? Of course not!
For the reason that we know deep in our hearts that there’s hope! And
this hope is given to us by Jesus.
Jesus tells us not to be terrified for He is far more
powerful than any wars and destructions. Therefore, what we must do is to have
hope and faith in Jesus for when we have Jesus in our hearts we have nothing to
fear. Even the most destructive wars and calamities we will not fear!
Do you have fear/s in your heart right now? Surrender
and give it all to Jesus for He will take care of it for you. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pinag-uusapan ng
ilang tao ang templo – ang kahanga-hangang mga bato na ginamit dito at ang mga
palamuti nito na inihandog ng mga tao. Kaya’t sinabi ni Hesus, “Darating ang
panahong lahat ng nakikita ninyong iyan ay iguguho, walang batong ititira sa
ibabaw ng kapwa bato.”
Tinanong nila si Hesus, “Guro, kailan po ito mangyayari? At ano
ang magiging palatandaan na ito’y magaganap na?” Sumagot siya, “Mag-ingat kayo
at nang hindi mailigaw ninuman! Sapagkat marami ang darating sa aking pangalan
na magsasabi, ‘Ako ang Mesias!’ at, ‘Dumating na ang panahon!’ Huwag kayong
susunod sa kanila. Huwag kayong mababagabag kung makabalita kayo ng mga digmaan
at mga himagsikan. Dapat mangyari ang mga ito, ngunit hindi darating
karaka-raka ang wakas.”
At
sinabi pa niya, “Makikipagdigma ang bansa laban sa kapwa bansa at ang kaharian
sa kapwa kaharian. Magkakaroon ng malalakas na lindol, magkakagutom at
magkakasalot sa iba’t ibang dako. May lilitaw na mga kakila-kilabot na bagay at
mga kagila-gilalas na tanda buhat sa Langit.”
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy
people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow
putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in
more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their
surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole
livelihood."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you know
that the more you give that more that you would receive? Many generous people
including the poor widow in the gospel who gave her whole livelihood knows all
about this. Perhaps this is not the first time that the widow offered her whole
livelihood to the church’s treasury.
Maybe she had been doing this act of extreme
generosity for so many times already. And time and again this poor yet generous
woman had proven that whatever she gave out of her poverty comes back to her a
hundredfold times.
You may ask, if what the poor woman gave comes back to
her many times over. Then why is she still poor? Yes she is still poor based on
our own materialistic eyes, but she is actually very rich in terms of her faith
and spirituality this is the reason why she could give everything including her
earnings from her livelihood.
To be materially poor is OK for as long as you are
rich in faith and spirituality. For what is the essence of material wealth when
it can easily fly away from our hands anytime?
Are you generous like the poor woman in our gospel? -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nang tumingin si
Hesus, nakita niya ang mayayamang naghuhulog ng kanilang kaloob sa lalagyan
nito sa templo. Nakita rin niya ang isang dukhang babaing balo na naghulog ng
dalawang kusing.
Ang
wika ni Hesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang dukhang balong iyon ay naghulog nang
higit kaysa kanilang lahat. Sapagkat bahagi lang ng di na nila kailangan ang
kanilang ipinagkaloob, ngunit ibinigay ng balong iyon na dukhang-dukha ang buo
niyang ikabubuhay.”
(Jesus said to his disciples) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you? And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.
Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
In 1925, by virtue of his encyclical letter Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI mandated that every last Sunday of October be dedicated as the Feast of Christ the King. This decision was a response to the growing secularism of that time. In 1969, Pope Paul VI assigned the celebration a new date, and henceforth, it has been observed every last Sunday of the liturgical year. This modification emphasized Jesus Christ's supreme authority and reign over all creation as the liturgical year concluded and a new one began with the Advent season.
Do we want to attract God’s blessing upon us? We have to do what Jesus commands us in the gospel. Jesus tells us to give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, give clothes to the naked, take care of the sick, and visit the imprisoned.
Jesus is teaching us to discard the 'me first' mindset, for so many of us have this 'me first' mindset. What would we feel if we do away with the 'me first' mindset? We would be free from the bondage of greed and selfishness, which, by the way, is an instrument of Satan.
Life in this world is temporary; therefore, we have to make worthy decisions and take actions that would impact the lives of others. Let us never be concerned about our own life and needs, for God will take care of them as long as we continue to be faithful to Him. Has God ever abandoned anyone who has been faithful to Him?
The gospel tells us that, at the end, there shall be judgment and separation among those who followed and did not follow the will of God. Where would you end up during that judgment and separation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Darating ang Anak ng Tao bilang Hari, kasama ang lahat ng anghel, at luluklok sa kanyang maringal na trono. Sa panahong iyon, matitipon sa harapan niya ang lahat ng tao. Sila'y pagbubukud-bukurin niya, tulad ng ginagawa ng pastol sa mga tupa at mga kambing. Ilalagay niya sa kanyang kanan ang mga tupa, at sa kaliwa ng mga kambing.
At sasabihin ng Hari sa mga nasa kanan, 'Halikayo, mga pinagpala ng aking Ama! Pumasok na kayo at manirahan sa kahariang inihanda para sa inyo mula pa nang likhain ang sanlibutan. Sapagkat ako'y nagutom at inyong pinakain, nauhaw at inyong pinainom. Ako'y isang dayuhan at inyong pinatuloy. ako'y walang maisuot at inyong pinaramtan, nagkasakit at inyong dinalaw; ako'y nabilanggo at ako'y inyong pinuntahan.'
Sasagot ang mga matuwid, 'Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom at aming pinakain, o nauhaw at aming pinainom? Kailan po kayo naging dayuhan at aming pinatuloy, o kaya'y walang maisuot at aming pinaramtan? At kailan po namin kayo nakitang may sakit o nasa bilangguan at aming dinalaw?' Sasagutin ng Hari, 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang gawin ninyo ito sa pinakahamak sa mga kapatid kong ito, ito ay sa akin ninyo ginawa.'
"At sasabihin naman niya sa mga nasa kaliwa, 'Lumayo kayo sa akin, mga sinumpa! kayo'y pasa-apoy na di-mamamatay, na inihanda para sa diyablo at sa kanyang mga kampon. Sapagkat ako'y nagutom at hindi ninyo pinakain, nauhaw at hindi ninyo pinainom. Ako'y naging isang dayuhan at hindi ninyo pinatuloy; ako'y nawalan ng maisuot at hindi ninyo pinaramtan, ako'y may sakit at nasa bilangguan at hindi ninyo dinalaw.'
At sasagot din sila, 'Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom, nauhaw, naging dayuhan, nawalan ng maisuot, may sakit o nasa bilangguan, at hindi namin kayo pinaglingkuran?' At sasabihin sa kanila ng Hari, 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang pinagkaitan ninyo ng tulong ang pinakahamak sa mga ito, ako ang inyong pinagkaitan.' Itataboy ang mga ito sa kaparusahang walang hanggan, ngunit ang mga matuwid ay tatanggap ng buhay na walang hanggan."
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there
is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no
child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; the first
married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at
the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married
to her.”
Jesus said to them, “The children of this
age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming
age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in
marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the
children of God because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise even Moses made
known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of
the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him
anything.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What will happen to us after we die? Would
we still know each other’s name if we see each other in heaven? Would we still
feel the same if we see each other in heaven? We don’t know because we haven’t
died yet.
But one thing is sure there will come a
time that we will have a physical death. Would it be the end? No, we who follow
Jesus believe that our physical death is only the beginning of eternal life
with Jesus in heaven.
The Sadducees did not believe in the
resurrection. That’s why they asked Jesus the question about the seven brothers
who married the same woman. So they asked Jesus, to whom will she belong during
resurrection?
Jesus gave them this meaningful answer,
“The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to
attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor
are given in marriage (Luke 20:34-35).
Many of us may have the same concern with
the Sadducees, what will happen to us after we die? Are we not stretching our
minds too far by having this thought? Instead of being concerned with the
afterlife or the resurrection. Why don’t we focus our attention to our present
life? Do we live it according to the will of Jesus? If we live our present life
according to the will of Jesus, we need not worry about the afterlife for the
simple reason that Jesus will take care of it all.
Let us not worry about the afterlife
because when we die there will be no more worries only happiness. When we die
there will be no more conflicts only love. And when we die there will be no
more distinction as to who we are for we shall all be equal in God’s eyes. Life
in the afterlife is glorious beyond what we can imagine.
The afterlife in the kingdom of God is the
perfect life for us, let us aim for it while we are still in this worldly
journey. Let us start by living our lives according to what God wants us to
live it.– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may ilang
Saduseo na lumapit kay Jesus. Ang Saduseo'y hindi naniniwala na bubuhayin ang
mga patay. "Guro," anila, "naglagda po si Moises ng ganitong
batas para sa amin: 'Kung mamatay ang isang lalaki at maiwang walang anak ang
kanyang asawa, ang kapatid ng lalaki'y dapat pakasal sa balo upang magkaanak
sila para sa namatay.'
May pitong magkakapatid na lalaki. Nag-asawa ang panganay, at
namatay na walang anak. Nagpakasal sa balo ang pangalawa, at namatay. Gayon din
ang nangyari sa pangatlo hanggang sa pampito: isa-isang napangasawa ng babae at
pawang namatay na walang anak. Sa kahuli-huliha'y namatay naman ang babae. Sa
muling pagkabuhay, sino po sa pito ang kikilalaning asawa niya yamang
napangasawa niya silang lahat?"
Sumagot si Jesus, "Sa buhay na ito, ang mga lalaki at mga
babae'y nag-aasawa, ngunit ang mga lalaki't babaing karapat-dapat na muling
buhayin para sa kabilang buhay ay hindi na mag-aasawa. Hindi na sila mamamatay
sapagkat matutulad sila sa mga anghel. At sila'y mga anak ng Diyos yamang muli
silang binuhay.
Maging si Moises si Moises ay nagpapatunay na muling binubuhay ang
mga patay. Sapagkat sa kanyang kasaysayan hinggil sa nagliliyab na mababang
punongkahoy, ang Panginoon ay tinawag niyang 'Diyos ni Abraham, Diyos ni Isaac
at Diyos ni Jacob.'
Ngunit
ang Diyos ay hindi Diyos ng mga patay kundi ng mga buhay -- sa kanya'y buhay
ang lahat." Sinabi ng ilan sa mga eskriba, "Magaling ang sagot ninyo,
Guro!" At wala nang nangahas magtanong sa kanya ng anuman.
Jesus entered the temple area and
proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is
written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of
thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The
chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were
seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their
purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A few years ago I read an article about the confession of a young man who
had a sex change. From male he became female, after a few months of going
through the procedure this young man was already full of regrets.
According to him, he was being deeply bothered by his
conscience and he felt that something is wrong with the function of his body. I
can’t remember if he died but he got sick a few months after going through that
procedure.
Are we aware that our body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit? Are we aware that Jesus is deeply saddened when we try to alter the
physical composition of our body? Today with the help of science we can make
ourselves appear younger. We can even make our bodies a walking expression of
who we are.
Is this right? Of course not for God created our
bodies to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is the reason why it does not
deserve to be altered by any form of medical procedure and by our own wild
imagination disguised as self-expression.
In the gospel, Jesus got angry with those who were
defiling the temple. Why? Because they were using the temple not for worship
anymore but to advance their own self-interest. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus
sa templo at kanyang ipinagtabuyan ang mga nagtitinda. Sinabi niya sa mga ito,
"Nasusulat: 'Ang aking bahay ay tatawaging bahay-dalanginan.' Ngunit
ginawa ninyong 'pugad ng mga magnanakaw'."
Araw-araw,
si Jesus ay nagtuturo sa loob ng templo. Pinagsikapan ng mga punong saserdote,
ng mga eskriba, at ng mga pangunahin ng bayan na siya'y ipapatay. Subalit wala
silang makitang paraan upang maisagawa ito, sapagkat taimtim na nakikinig sa
kanya ang buong bayan.
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What will happen to us if we refuse to hear the wise counsel of our elders? For example, if we are advised to stop doing what is not good or to stop doing something which is immoral or wrong? If we continue to refuse to hear their wise counsel. Eventually these wrongdoings that we continue to do will take us down through sickness, embarrassment and so forth.
In the gospel for today, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its people for they refused to hear His call of repentance and to reform their lives. Not only that they refused to listen to Jesus they also refused to listen to the prophets who were sent before Jesus. They instead mired themselves in sin similar to a beast miring itself in a cesspool.
When we refuse to let Jesus come into our life and when we continue to refuse to hear His call of repentance. There would surely be no peace within us no matter how rich we are and how powerful we are. For as long as we refuse to hear the Lord’s call we will have no peace we would still be living complicated lives that may eventually destroy us.
Jerusalem did not find peace and were destroyed by the Romans during the first revolt in A.D 70, because they refused Jesus, they did not recognized Him as the ultimate peace bearer. They instead continued to stray far from Him.
Jesus is always knocking at our hearts, always waiting for us to open our life to Him. For the reason that he will not only bring us peace He would also bring us contentment, serenity and other things that this world cannot give us.
Would you listen to the voice of the Lord, who always speaks to you through the many events in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nang malapit na siya sa Jerusalem at matanaw niya ang lunsod, ito'y kanyang tinangisan. Sinabi niya, "Kung nalalaman mo lamang sa araw na ito kung ano ang makapagdudulot sa iyo ng kapayapaan! Ngunit lingid ito ngayon sa iyong paningin.
Sapagkat darating ang araw na paliligiran ka ng kuta ng iyong mga kaaway, kukubkubin at gigipitin sa magkabi-kabila. Wawasakin ka nila, at lilipulin ang mga anak mo sa loob ng iyong muog. At ni isang bato'y wala silang iiwan sa ibabaw ng kapwa bato, sapagkat hindi mo pinansin ang pagdating ng Diyos upang iligtas ka."
While people were listening to Jesus
speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they
thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said,
"A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for
himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold
coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow
citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce,
'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining
the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to
learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin
has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have
been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the
second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to
this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' Then the other
servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a
handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you
take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not
plant.'
He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn
you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did
not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money
in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.'
And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin
from him and give it to the servant who has ten.' But they said to him, 'Sir,
he has ten gold coins.' He replied, 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will
be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them
here and slay them before me.'" After he had said this, he proceeded
on his journey up to Jerusalem.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is
told about a successful businessman who suddenly died, when his soul was about
to separate from his body he saw an angel and a devil. He naturally veered away
from the devil and he put himself at the side of the angel. When they were
about to enter the heavenly gates God was there to ask him this question: What
can you say about your life on earth? The man said, I was a successful businessman
when I was still alive and I did no wrong to anyone.
Then God said that’s very good! But have you done
something for my kingdom? The man was not able to answer for he did nothing to
help grow the kingdom of God. Subsequently, God commanded the angel to bring
him to the other side of the fence where the environment was very hot and humid
for he did nothing to advance the kingdom of God.
What is your present preoccupation right now? Are you
very busy with the things of this world? Like how to expand your business and
how to grow your money in the bank and the like? Many of us are perhaps very
earthly and always very busy with earthly things. But if we are all busy with
the affairs of this world where would we be after our journey in this world is
already over and done? Where would we end up if we do nothing for the kingdom
of God in this world?
In the gospel a nobleman gave his servants gold coins
so that they could do something to make it grow. Two of them were able to
increase its value but there was one who simply kept in a handkerchief what was
entrusted to him. He did nothing to grow the money entrusted to him by his
master.
In our faith life doing nothing is never an option or
faith in Jesus that is kept to oneself is never an alternative. We must share
this faith that Jesus has entrusted to us in whatever manner possible so that
it could grow and have life.
When you share your faith you also enrich your
spiritual life and you become a productive servant of the Lord. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, isinaysay ni
Hesus ang isa pang talinghaga sa mga nakarinig ng una niyang pangungusap.
Ginawa niya ito sapagkat malapit na siya sa Jerusalem, at ang akala ng mga tao
ay itatatag na ang kaharian ng Diyos. Sabi niya: "May isang mahal na taong
nagtungo sa malayong lupain upang gawing hari at magbalik pagkatapos
niyon.
Bago siya umalis, tinawag niya ang sampu sa kanyang mga alipin.
Binigyan niya ang mga ito ng tig-iisang salaping ginto at sinabihan sila.
'Ipangalakal ninyo iyan hanggang sa pagbabalik ko.' Poot na poot naman sa kanya
ang kanyang mga kababayan, kaya't pagkaalis niya, nagsugo sila ng mga kinatawan
upang sabihin sa kinauukulan: 'Ayaw naming maging hari ang taong ito!'
"Ngunit ginawa ring hari ang taong iyon. Umuwi siya
pagkatapos, at ipinatawag ang mga aliping binigyan niya ng salaping ginto,
upang malaman kung gaano ang tinubo ng bawat isa. Lumapit sa kanya ang una at
ang sabi, 'Panginoon, ang salapi ninyong ginto ay nagtubo ng sampu.'
'Magaling,' sagot niya. 'Mabuting alipin! Yamang naging matapat ka sa
kakaunting bagay, pamamahalain kita sa sampung bayan.' Lumapit ang ikalawa at
ang sinabi, 'Panginoon, ang salapi ninyong ginto ay nagtubo ng lima.' At sinabi
niya sa kanya, 'Mamahala ka sa limang bayan.'
Lumapit ang isa pang alipin at nagsabi, 'Panginoon, heto po ang
inyong salaping ginto. Binalot ko sa panyo at itinago. Natatakot po ako sa
inyo, sapagkat napakahigpit ninyo; kinukuha ninyo ang hindi sa inyo, at inaani
ang hindi ninyo inihasik.' Sinagot siya ng kanyang panginoon, 'Masamang alipin!
Sa salita mong iyan kita hahatulan. Alam mo palang ako'y mahigpit. Sinabi mo,
kinukuha ko ang hindi sa akin at inani ko ang hindi inihasik.
Bakit
hindi mo inilagay sa bangko ang aking salapi? Pagbabalik ko, sana'y may tinubo
ang puhunang ito.' At sinabi niya sa mga naroroon , 'Kunin ninyo sa kanya ang
salaping ginto, at ibigay sa may sampu.' 'Panginoon, siya po'y mayroon nang
sampung salaping ginto!' wika nila. 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang bawat mayroon ay
bibigyan pa, ngunit ang wala, kahit ang kakaunting nasa kanya ay kukunin pa.
Tungkol naman sa mga kaaway kong aayaw na ako'y maghari sa kanila-- dalhin
ninyo rito at patayin sa harapan ko!'" Pagkasabi nito, nagpauna si Jesus
patungong Jerusalem.
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and
intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a
chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in
stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order
to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus
looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at
your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw
this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a
sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have
extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said
to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a
descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was
lost.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Was it only
Zacchaeus who was seeking an encounter with Jesus? Was Jesus not also seeking
an encounter with Zacchaeus? Yes, Jesus was also seeking an encounter
with Zacchaeus! Why? Because Zacchaeus was a sinner like all of us and truth be
told Jesus always wants to have an encounter with sinners so that He could
convert them. And what made it more interesting for Jesus to seek out Zacchaeus
was Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus as well.
Before Jesus arrived in Jericho He already had in mind
Zacchaeus He knew that this chief tax collector was looking for Him and ready
to change his sinful ways. With this factor present the encounter of Jesus and
Zacchaeus occurred. After their meeting Jesus subsequently went to the house of
Zacchaeus to purify his house. As well as to liberate Zacchaeus from any form
of sinfulness and right then and there his conversion and liberation from any
form of sinfulness happened.
How could we relate this gospel episode with our
personal lives? Like Zacchaeus we too are sinful and Jesus is knocking at our
hearts so that he could also have a personal encounter with us.
If we say that we are not yet ready to have an
encounter with the Lord, then when? Next month or next year? It may be
too late already, nothing is certain in this world anything can happen the next
seconds or minutes.
Therefore, we must also be like Zacchaeus who
responded to the desire of Jesus to meet him. Let us not delay anymore let us
rush to meet Jesus now for tomorrow may be late already.
Would you want to have a personal encounter with Jesus
today? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus
sa Jerico, at naglakad sa kabayanan. Doo'y may isang mayamang puno ng mga
publikano na nagngangalang Zaqueo, at pinagsikapan niyang makita si Jesus upang
makilala niya kung sino ito. Ngunit siya ay napakapandak, at dahil sa dami ng
tao, hindi niya makita si Jesus.
Kaya't
patakbo siyang nagpauna at umakyat sa isang puno ng sikomoro upang makita si
Jesus na magdaraan doon. Pagdating ni Jesus sa dakong iyon, siya'y tumingala at
sinabi sa kanya, "Zaqueo, bumaba ka agad, sapagkat kailangan kong tumuloy
sa bahay mo." Nagmamadali siyang bumaba, at tuwang-tuwang tinanggap si
Jesus.
Lahat
ng nakakita nito ay nagbulung-bulungan. "Nakikituloy siya sa isang
makasalanan," wika nila. Tumayo si Zaqueo at sinabi, "Panginoon, ibibigay
ko po sa mga dukha ang kalahati ng aking ari-arian. At kung ako'y may nadayang
sinuman, apat na ibayo ang isasauli ko sa kanya." At sinabi sa kanya ni
Jesus, "Ang kaligtasa'y dumating ngayon sa sambahayang ito; lipi rin ni
Abraham ang taong ito. Sapagkat naparito ang Anak ng Tao upang hanapin at
iligtas ang naligaw.
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man
was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired
what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He
shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front
rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to
him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for
you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your
faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him,
giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who is Jesus
to you? Is Jesus the hope and salvation of your life? The blind man in our
gospel had his hope and salvation anchored on Jesus. When he heard that Jesus
is passing by he shouted with all his might, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on
me!” His shout comprised his prayer with faith in Jesus.
From a hopeless situation the blind man suddenly found
hope and salvation because Jesus passed by him. And Jesus did not disappoint
the blind man because He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Then
the blind man said in reply, please let me see my Lord and immediately he
receive his sight and he became a follower of Jesus from thereupon.
What separates the blind man from many of us? It’s his
persistent and persevering faith, it’s faith that can move mountains. This is
what separates this blind man from many us, what if we are in the shoes of the
blind man? Would we simply give up and be silent because we were rebuked and
sternly told to be silent?
But this blind man, when he was rebuked and told to be
silent the more that he persisted and the more that he cried loudly to Jesus
for help. And because of his persevering and persistent faith he was
heard and given the gift of sight by the Lord.
What is it that you want from the Lord? Don’t give up,
be persistent and have faith for the Lord will soon hear you. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Malapit na si Hesus sa Jerico, at
doo’y may isang lalaking bulag na nakaupo sa tabi ng daan at nagpapalimos. Nang
marinig nitong nagdaraan ang maraming tao, itinanong niya kung ano ang
nangyayari. “Nagdaraan si Hesus na taga Nazaret,” sabi nila. At siya’y sumigaw,
“Hesus, Anak ni David! Mahabag po kayo sa akin!” Sinaway siya ng mga nasa
unahan, ngunit lalo pa niyang nilakasan ang sigaw: “Anak ni David, mahabag po
kayo sa akin!”
Kaya’t
tumigil si Hesus, at iniutos na dalhin sa kanya ang bulag. Inilapit nga ito at
tinanong ni Hesus, “Ano ang ibig mong gawin ko sa iyo?” “Panginoon, ibig ko po
sana’y manumbalik ang aking paningin,” sagot niya. At sinabi ni Hesus,
“Mangyari ang ibig mo! Pinagaling ka dahil sa iyong pananalig.” Noon din,
nakakita siya at sumunod kay Hesus, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Nang makita ito
ng mga tao, silang lahat ay nagpuri sa Diyos.
