Reflection for Sunday November 24, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King: Luke 23:35-43

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.”The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who ambitioned to be the king of his nation. When asked why he is ambitioning to be a king. He answered: “I want to enjoy the privileges, power and wealth of a king.” Once told that he would not enjoy any of those that he envisioned but instead become the servant of all. He said: “I don’t want to be a king anymore.      

This Sunday we are at the end of the church’s calendar and we are celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Gospel depicts the kingship of Jesus that is at odds with our own idea of worldly kingship. Jesus’ kingship is a kingship of Obedience, of Humility, of Servanthood and of Suffering and Sacrifice. Jesus did not mind the anguish and humiliation for as long as he can fulfill His mission.

On the latter part of the Gospel are the two thieves hanging on the cross beside the Lord. One is unrepentant and the other one is full of remorse and humility. The remorseful asked Jesus to remember him when He comes to his kingdom. And Jesus did not fail him; He brought along the repentant thief to paradise with Him.

It’s not easy to follow the kingship of Jesus because it’s accompanied by sacrifices and trials. But where would we go or who would we follow? We follow this world and the teachings of this world?  It’s better to follow the Kingship of Jesus notwithstanding the sacrifices and trials.  Why? Because at the end of our temporary journey paradise in heaven awaits us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 24, Pahahari ni Kristo sa Sanlibutan, Dakilang Kapistahan: Lucas 23:35-43

Mabuting Balita Lucas 23:35-43

35 Habang nakapako si Jesus Naroon ang mga tao na nakatingin. Pinagtatawanan naman siya ng mga pinuno: “Nailigtas niya ang iba, iligtas din niya ngayon ang kanyang sarili kung siya ang Kristo, ang Hinirang.”

36 Pinagtawanan din siya ng mga sun­dalong lu­mapit para painumin siya ng alak na may halong suka. 37 Sinabi nila: “Kung ikaw ang Hari ng mga Judio, iligtas mo ngayon ang iyong sarili.” 38 May nakasulat nga sa wikang Griyego, Latin at Hebreo sa kanyang ulunan: “Ito ang Hari ng mga Judio.”

• 39 Ininsulto rin siya ng isa sa mga kriminal na nakapako sa krus: “Di ba’t ikaw ang Kristo? Iligtas mo ang iyong sarili pati kami.” 40 Pero pinagsabihan ito ng isa pang kriminal: “Wala ka bang pitagan sa Diyos, ikaw na gayon ding pagdurusa ang dinaranas?

41 At bagay ito sa atin sapagkat tinatanggap la­mang natin ang nararapat sa ating mga ginawa. Ngunit wala naman siyang nagagawang masama.” 42 At sinabi pa niya: “Jesus, alalahanin mo ako pag­dating mo sa iyong kaharian.” 43 Su­magot si Jesus: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo: sa araw ring ito, maka­kasama kita sa Paraiso.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for November 23, Saturday; Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 20:27-40

Gospel: Luke 20:27-40

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.

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Reflection:

Why are we striving to live a life worthy in the eyes of God? This is for the reason that we believe in the resurrection. We believe that after our life in this world is already over we would have a new life that is very much different from our present life right now.

The Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection put in front of Jesus a situation about a woman who married one after the other seven brothers. Their question for Jesus was to whom would the woman belong after all of them dies? Would she belong to brother number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7? They’ve asked this question to prove to everyone that there is no resurrection. Otherwise if there is a resurrection then there would be a dilemma for the woman and the seven brothers who married her.

But Jesus incisively answered the Sadducees that life in the resurrection is very much different from their present lives. During the resurrected life there would be no more marriage, no more death for everyone will be like angels according to Jesus.

We must all aspire for this resurrected life that Jesus mentions to us in the gospel. We start by living a life founded in our close relationship with Jesus. A life that is clean and righteous before the eyes of God and men.   

Is your present lifestyle worthy of resurrection in heaven with Jesus someday? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 23, Sabado: Sa Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 20:27-40

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 20:27-40

27 Lumapit noon ang ilang Sadduseo na mga taong tutol sa pagka­buhay. 28 At itinanong nila kay Jesus: “Guro, isinulat ni Moises para sa amin: ‘Kung may magka­kapatid na lalaki at mamatay na walang anak ang isa sa kanila, kailangang kunin ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang asawa para mag­pasibol ng supling sa kanyang kapatid.’ 29 Ngayon, may pitong magka­kapatid na lalaki. Nag-asawa ang panganay at namatay na walang anak. 30 Kinuha ng pangalawa ang biyu­da, 31 at pagkatapos ay ng pa­ngatlo naman, pero hindi nagkaanak ang pito. Namatay sila 32 at sa bandang huli’y namatay rin ang babae. 33 Sa pagkabuhay, ka­nino sa pito siya maituturing na asawa? Ang pito nga ang umangkin sa kanya.”

34 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Nag-aasawa ang mga ta­ong nasa daigdig na ito, lalaki man o babae. 35 Ngunit hindi na mag-aasawa ang mga ituturing na karapat-dapat sa kabilang-buhay at sa pagkabuhay ng mga patay, lalaki man o babae. 36 Hindi na nga sila mamamatay. Kapantay na sila ng mga anghel at mga anak sila ng Diyos matapos silang ibangon. 37 Tiyak na may pagkabuhay ng mga patay; ipina­hiwatig ito kahit na ni Moises sa kabanata ng palumpong nang tawagin niyang Diyos ni Abraham, Diyos ni Isaac at Diyos ni Jacob ang Panginoon. 38 Hindi siya Diyos ng mga patay kundi ng mga buhay, at buhay na kasama niya silang lahat.”

39 Nagsalita ang ilang guro ng Batas: “Guro, talaga ngang tama ang iyong sinabi.” 40 Mula noo’y wala nang na­ngahas na magtanong pa sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for November 22, Friday; Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr: Luke 19:45-48

Gospel: Luke 19:45-48

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.

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Reflection:

After cleaning the temple of impurities Jesus taught there daily, Jesus is still teaching us up to this very minute. Teaching us how to properly live our lives, teaching us that life is not so much of material and intellectual accumulation. For Jesus life is service, life is humility, life is sacrifice, life is about simplicity and the like. 

What was Jesus everyday teaching topic during that time?  We could only guess that it was about behavior when inside the temple. And perhaps He was also teaching them about life and how to properly live it. Is there a template on how to properly live our life? Of course there is and it’s no other than the life of Jesus himself. To live according to His life is the perfect life template, but would we dare to live the life of Jesus?

Let us be teachers also like Jesus, let us teach our children about Jesus, let us teach them how to behave at church. Let us teach the life of Jesus by our way of life, if we say the life of Jesus we might be tempted to say that His way of life is not anymore relevant in today’s technology and internet driven times.    

But the life of Jesus is more relevant today more than ever. Think of the corruption of our value system, think of how we devalue life itself by killing it while inside a mother’s womb. Jesus is a man for all season and for all times. He is always relevant and His teachings also are always relevant regardless of time, thus; we have to listen to HIM. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 22, Biyernes: Santa Cecilia, dalaga at martir : Lucas 19:45-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:45-48

45 Pumasok si Jesus sa patyo ng Tem­plo at pinalayas ang mga nagti­tinda, 46 at sinabi niya: “Nasusulat: ‘Magiging bahay-dalanginan ang aking bahay,’ pero ginawa ninyong pugad ng mga magnanakaw!”

47 Araw-araw na nangangaral si Jesus sa Templo. Hangad siyang pa­tayin ng mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas, kasa­-ma ang mga Ma­tatanda ng bayan. 48 Ngunit wala silang magawa dahil taim­tim na naki­kinig sa kanya ang buong bayan.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for November 21, Thursday; The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 19:41-44

Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

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.

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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 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 pool of dirt.

   

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 His 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 in our hearts, always begging 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 speak to you thru the many events in your life?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 21, Huwebes: Pagdadala kay Maria sa Templo : Lucas 19:41-44

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:41-44

41 Nang malapit na siya at kita na ang lunsod, iniyakan ito ni Jesus: 42 “Kung nalalaman mo lamang sana sa araw na ito ang daan sa kapaya­paan! Ngunit ngayo’y hindi mo ito nakikita. 43 Sasapit sa iyo ang mga araw na magka­kampo sa pa­ligid mo ang iyong mga kaaway, ku­kubkubin ka at sisikilin sa lahat ng da­ko. 44 Igu­guho ka nila sa iyong mga anak, at walang iiwang magkapatong na bato sa iyo. Sapagkat hindi mo na­laman ang panahon ni ang pagdalaw ng iyong Diyos.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for November 20, Wednesday; Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:11-28

Gospel: Luke 19:11-28

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.

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Reflection:

What is our mission in this world? Our mission is to become productive followers of the Lord and how can we become productive followers? If we spread the faith, we avoid sin and we do good we become productive followers. If we don’t do anything we become unproductive follower.

The good Lord would always want us to share our faith so that we could grow for this is the only way for us to bear fruit.  But many of us are afraid to share and our excuse is we don’t know anything about Jesus and about our Catholic faith.

How could we know if we don’t strive to know more about Jesus? Therefore the secret to know more about Jesus is to discover more about Him. The more that we discover the more that we would have the tools to become His productive followers. Let us begin this discovery journey by our presence at Holy Mass.

We therefore have to know more about Jesus so that we could mature in faith and in the process we would be able to share what we know about the Lord. Jesus has already equipped us with the needed grace through our Baptism and Confirmation.

The responsibility is in our hands now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 20, Miyerkules: Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 19:11-28

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:11-28

• 11 Malapit na ngayon si Jesus sa Jerusalem at akala ng mga taong kasama niya’y agad na ipakikita ang kaharian ng Diyos. Kaya sa kanilang pakikinig ay isa pang talinhaga ang inilahad sa kanila ni Jesus. 12 Sinabi niya: “May isang maharlikang tao na pu­munta sa malayong lupain para mahirang na hari at saka siya babalik. 13  Tinawag niya ang sampu niyang katulong at binigyan sila ng tig-iisang bar­yang ginto at sinabi sa kanila: ‘Ipagnegosyo ninyo ito hanggang sa aking pag­balik.’

14 Namumuhi sa kanya ang kanyang mga kaba­ba­yan kaya nagsugo sila ng ilang kinatawan para sa­bihin: ‘Ayaw na­ming maghari sa amin ang taong ito.’ 15 Gayon pa ma’y bumalik siya pag­kahirang bilang hari. Ipinatawag niya ang mga katulong na bi­nigyan niya ng bar­yang ginto para malaman kung mag­kano ang tinubo ng bawat isa. 16 Humarap ang una at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng sampu pa ang barya mong ginto.’

17 Sumagot siya: ‘Magaling, mabu­ting utusan; dahil naging matapat ka sa ma­liit na bagay, mapamamahala kita sa sam­pung lunsod.’ 18 Dumating ang ika­lawa at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng lima pa ang iyong baryang ginto.’ 19 Si­na­bi nito sa kanya: ‘Mamamahala ka sa limang lun­sod.’

20 Dumating ang isa pa at sinabi: ‘Pangi­noon, narito ang iyong bar­yang ginto. Binalot ko ito sa isang panyo at itinago. 21 Natatakot ako sa iyo dahil mapaghanap kang tao, kinu­kuha mo ang di mo idineposito at inaani ang di mo inihasik.’

22 Sinabi sa kanya ng panginoon: ‘Masamang utusan, sa sarili mong mga salita kita hahatulan. Alam mo palang mapaghanap ako, na kinu­ku­ha ko ang di ko idineposito at ina­ani ang di ko inihasik, 23 bakit di mo idi­neposito sa bang­ko ang aking bar­yang ginto? At maku­kubra ko sana iyon pati na ang interes pagbabalik ko.’ 24 At sinabi niya sa mga naroon: ‘Kunin sa kanya ang baryang ginto at ibigay sa may sampu.’ 25 Sumagot sila: ‘E, Panginoon, may sampung baryang ginto na siya.’

26 ‘Sinasabi ko sa inyo: bibigyan ang meron pero aalisan ang wala, kahit na ang meron siya ay kukunin sa kanya. 27 Ngunit dalhin ninyo rito ang aking mga kaaway na ayaw akong maghari sa kanila at pata­yin sa harap ko’.”

28 Pagkasabi nito, umuna si Jesus sa kanila pa-Jerusalem.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for November 19, Tuesday; Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:1-10

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

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.

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Reflection:

Who is Zacchaeus?

He is a corrupt chief tax collector, a bigtime extortionist and a bigtime sinner too! It would seem that this sinful man would drown in his sinfulness and be sinful for the rest of his life. But Jesus intervened in the life of this sinful man so from being sinful he repented and became a renewed man.  

God works in mysterious ways in our lives, He always calls us sinners to become His faithful followers.  Zacchaeus is such kind of a man, a sinner like you and me. His call to conversion may seem like his own initiative but no it was not his own. It was Jesus who called him, it was Jesus who spoke to his heart to tell him to return the money that he stole and leave behind his sinful life.

Jesus always calls us to conversion He uses many avenues to do it for us. There are times that He bothers our conscience. There are times that He uses other people for us to follow Him, let us be sensitive to this intervention of Jesus in our lives.

Life is never the same when we live it without Jesus, we may temporarily enjoy what this world would offer us. But at the end of the day everything that this world offers us is passing and temporary. Let us carefully discern this, let us wake up with our love affair with sin and materialism while we still have time to walk away from it.

And after we walk away from materialism and sin we immediately go to Jesus so that we can receive the same forgiveness and healing that Zacchaeus received.    – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 19, Martes: Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 19:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:1-10

1 Pumasok si Jesus sa Jerico at dumaan sa siyudad. 2 At may isang taong nagnga­ngalang Zakeo. Pinu­no siya ng mga kolektor ng buwis at napaka­yaman. 3 Sinikap niyang ma­kita kung sino si Jesus pero pandak siya at hindi niya magawa dahil sa dami ng mga tao. 4 Kaya patakbo siyang umuna at umakyat sa isang punong-ma­laigos para makita si Jesus pagdaan doon. 5 Pagdating ni Jesus sa lugar na iyon, tumingala siya at sinabi sa kanya: “Zakeo, bumaba ka agad. Sa bahay mo nga ako dapat tumigil ngayon.”

6 Nagmamadali siyang bumaba at tuwang-tuwang tinanggap si Jesus. 7 Inireklamo naman sa isa’t isa ng lahat ng nakakita rito: “Sa bahay ng isang lala­king makasalanan siya nakituloy.” 8 Ngu­nit tumayo si Zakeo at sinabi sa Panginoon: “Pa­nginoon, ibibigay ko sa mga dukha ang kalahati ng aking mga ari-arian; at kung may nadaya ako, apat na beses ko siyang babayaran.” 9 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Dumating ngayon ang kaligtasan sa sambaha­­yang ito dahil anak nga ni Abraham ang taong ito. 10 At dumating ang Anak ng Tao para hanapin at iligtas ang nawa­wala.” 

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for November 18, Monday; Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:35-43

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

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.

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Reflection:

Does it pay to be persistent and to have faith in Jesus?

It always pays to be persistent in any endeavor that we are in; because eventually our persistence will bear fruit. How many success stories were anchored on the word persistence? Perhaps thousands even millions already, they toil in silence persistently working hard and never giving up until they achieve success.

The blind man in the gospel was also very persistent he never gave up shouting: “Son of David.”  Even if he was being censured by those around him he still persisted. Eventually his persistence bore fruit for he eventually got Jesus' attention. However, it was not only persistence that brought the blind man to Jesus. He also has powerful faith in Jesus.

Afterwards, 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.” What if the blind man was not persistent and his faith wanting? What if he listened to the rebukes of the people around him? He would not have been healed by Jesus.

Let us always be persistent and let us always have this powerful faith in Jesus in any good that we ambition to do. We may not see any ray of hope now but Jesus will certainly respond to us in His own perfect time.

Are you always persistent when you want something from Jesus and do you have a powerful faith in Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday November 17, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:5-19

Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

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.

“Before all this 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.

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Reflection:

There’s a story about a man who was full of cynicism, fear and worry. Nothing occupies his mind except these three. He once was asked by a friend, if he believed in God, he said: “No, I don’t believe in God.” When the friend asked why, he answered: because no one has introduced me to your God or told me anything about your God.

Near the man and his friend was another friend named Jessie a practicing catholic who heard their conversation. He asked the fearful man if he could spare an hour for him every Sunday evening so that he could share Jesus and his catholic faith with him. The man said: “Yes I can give you may one hour or perhaps not only one hour even more than one hour and let’s do it as soon as possible.”

So it happened, on a Sunday Jessie went to his friend’s house and he shared everything that he knew about Jesus and his Catholic faith. The man was a very interested student he imbibed everything that was taught to him. And the result was, it created a thirst for Jesus in his life.

The man read books that dealt with Jesus and the  Catholic church and it eventually led to his baptismal in the church. After his Baptism, the man was not anymore fearful or worrisome for the reason that he already has Jesus in his life.

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the end times; he talks about the fragility of life and the destruction of material things that surrounds it. He also talks about persecution even death. Yet He tells them not to fear or worry about it for He will take care of them.

End times scenarios are very real and it’s currently happening to many people at this very moment. What is the cause of these hopelessness and desperation?  They do not know that there’s someone like Jesus who saves, who inspires and who gives infinite peace of mind and hope.

We need to make a big difference in the lives of these people who do not know Jesus yet; we need to introduce Him to them. Why? For the reason that countless lives have been saved by Jesus with the help of those who were courageous enough to share Jesus with them. But there are still many who are getting desperate and who needs to know Jesus.

We therefore need to do something about it and not be worried of the consequences. Because Jesus himself said this: 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 (Luke 21:17-19).  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 17, ika-33 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 21:5-19

Mabuting Balita Lucas 21:5-19

5 May ilan namang nag-uusap tung­kol sa Templo, at sinabi nila na may maga­gandang bato ito at mamahaling pala­muti. Sinabi naman ni Jesus: 6 “Darating ang mga araw na walang matitirang magkapatong na bato sa lahat ng inyong nakikita; iguguho ang lahat.” 7 Nagtanong sila sa kanya: “Guro, kailan ito mang­ya­yari at ano ang tanda na sumapit na ito?”

8 Sumagot si Jesus: “Mag-ingat kayo at baka kayo madaya. Maraming aang­kin sa aking pangalan sa pagsasabing ‘Ako ang Mesiyas; ako siya,’ at ‘Palapit na ang pana­hon.’ Huwag kayong sumunod sa kanila. 9 Sa pagkabalita ninyo sa digmaan at mga kaguluhan, huwag kayong mali­galig; mangyayari muna ito pero hindi pa ito ang wakas.”

10  At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Magdi­digmaan ang mga bayan at magla­laban-laban ang mga kaharian. 11 Mag­kakaroon din ng malalakas na lindol sa ma­raming lugar, magkakaroon ng tag­gutom, mag­kakaroon ng mga kakila-kilabot na bagay at ng malalaki ring kaba­­balaghan sa langit. 12 Pero bago sumapit ang lahat ng ito, dadakipin kayo at uusigin; ibibigay kayo sa mga sinagoga at dadalhin sa mga kulungan at ihaharap sa mga hari at mga gobernador dahil sa aking pangalan. 13 Sasapit ito sa inyo para makapag­pa­totoo kayo sa akin.

14 Isaisip ninyo na huwag ikabalisa ang pagtatanggol sa inyong sarili 15 dahil ako mismo ang magbibigay sa inyo ng mga salita at karunungang di matata­galan o masasagot ng lahat ninyong ka­away. 16 Ipagkakanulo kayo ng inyong mga magulang, mga kapatid, mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan, at papatayin nila ang ilan sa inyo. 17 At kamumuhian kayo ng lahat dahil sa aking pangalan. 18 Su­balit hindi maaano isa mang buhok sa inyong ulo. 19 Sa in­yong pagpapaka­tatag, ang mga sarili ninyo mis­mo ang inyong makakamit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for November 16, Saturday; Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:1-8

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

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Reflection:

Does God always answer our prayers? The gospel would tell us that He always answers our prayers. But the reality of it all is there are times that God doesn’t answer our prayers. There are times that God fails us. We don’t know the reason behind these unanswered prayers only God knows.

If God seems deaf to our prayers would it be right for us to stop kneeling in prayer before God? We need not stop praying even if we get no answer from God. For the simple reason that our prayers before God gives us hope. Our prayers before God brightens our gloomy day. Our prayers tell us that amidst our life struggles there is a powerful God who is ever ready to listen notwithstanding the nature of His reply.

It's already immaterial if God answers or not because our prayers are not only limited with God answering or not answering it. Our prayers before God is much bigger that the reply that we expect from Him. This is for the reason that the gift of prayer in itself is already an enormous blessing from God.

What happens to us when we pray and after we pray?  When we pray we connect with our loving and powerful God and after we pray we become hopeful and we feel relieved, right? Therefore, the gift of prayer that Jesus had gratuitously given us is a balm that immediately soothes our wounded and burdened lives.   

We therefore have to pray as often as we can since a life without prayer is a life without hope and a life bereft of the presence of God.

Do you have a healthy prayer life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 16, Sabado: Ika-32 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 18:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:1-8

1 Dapat laging manalangin at huwag masiraan ng loob – ito ang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila sa isang talin­haga. 2 Sinabi niya: “Sa isang lunsod, may isang hukom na walang takot sa Diyos at walang pakialam sa mga tao. 3 May isa ring biyuda sa lunsod na iyon na madalas pumunta sa kanya at sinasabi: ‘Igawad mo sa akin ang kataru­ngan laban sa aking kalaban.’ 4 Ma­tagal siyang umayaw pero naisip niya pag­katapos: ‘Wala man akong takot sa Diyos at walang pakialam sa tao, 5 igagawad ko pa rin ang kata­rungan sa bi­yudang ito na bumu­bu­wisit sa akin at baka masiraan pa ako ng ulo sa pag­punta-punta niya’.”

6 Kaya idinagdag ng Panginoon: “Pa­kinggan ninyo ang sinabi ng di-matuwid na hukom. 7 Di ba’t igagawad ng Diyos ang katarungan sa kan­yang mga hini­rang na araw-gabing tumatawag sa kanya? Pababayaan ba niya sila? 8 Sinasabi ko sa inyo, agad niyang igagawad sa kanila ang kata­rungan. Ngu­nit pag dating ng Anak ng Tao, maka­kakita kaya siya ng pana­nampalataya sa lupa?”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for November 15, Friday; Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:26-37

Gospel: Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

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Reflection:

When are we going to walk away from our sins? Should we still delay and wait when the most opportune time comes? It might not come and it might be too late already. We should change our ways right at this very moment for we do not know until when our life will be.

The people during Noah’s time were merrymaking and sinning until the floods came so they died without repentance. Same as with the people of Sodom and Gomorra who were engaged in grievous sexual sins they died without repentance as well.

What is sin that many of us are so smitten by it? Sin is the bait or trap of the devil for us to be in his kingdom. Many of us fall into this bait for the simple reason that we are enticed by the attractiveness of sin. This is basically the reason why we sin. But sin will bring us nothing but troubles and problems and it will surely not bring us any good in the end.

Let us take time to read and listen to the words of Jesus in the bible and let us be faithful to Jesus’ teachings. And He surely will find a way for us so that we could walk away permanently from sin. Sin doesn’t offer us any good at all and sin will not bring us except chaos until it destroys us. So we have to avoid it no matter how attractive it may be. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 15, Biyernes: Ika-32 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 17:26-37

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:26-37

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 26 Tulad ng nangyari sa panahon ni Noe, ga­yundin sa mga araw ng Anak ng Tao. 27 Kuma­kain sila at umiinom, nag-aasawa ang mga lala­ki at mga babae, hanggang sa araw na pumasok si Noe sa daong at dumating ang Baha na pumuksa sa lahat. 28 Tulad sa panahon ni Lot: kuma­kain sila at umiinom, nagtitinda at nami­mili, nagtatanim at nagta­tayo. 29 At nang luma­bas si Lot mula sa Sodom, nagpaulan ang Diyos mula sa langit ng apoy at asupre na pumuksa sa lahat. 30 Ganito rin sa araw na ibu­bunyag ang Anak ng Tao.

31 Sa araw na iyon, huwag nang bu­ma­ba pa sa bahay ang nasa terasa para kunin ang kanyang mga gamit at huwag nang umuwi pa ang nasa bukid. 32 Alala­ha­nin ninyo ang asawa ni Lot. 33Ang sinumang magsikap na magligtas ng sarili ay mawawalan nito, at ang ma­wawalan naman ng sarili ang magsisilang nito sa buhay.

34 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung may da­lawa sa isang higaan sa gabing iyon, da­dalhin ang isa at iiwan ang isa pa; 35 kung may dalawang babaeng magkasamang gumigiling, dadalhin ang isa at iiwan ang isa pa.” 37 At itinanong naman nila: “Saan, Panginoon?” Sumagot siya. “Kung nasaan ang katawan, doon nagti­tipon ang mga buwitre.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.