• 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.
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, she,
from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you give without counting the cost of giving?
Jesus in our gospel favored the generosity of the poor widow for the
simple reason that it came from her heart. There is no string attached in her
giving, it did not came from her excess money, she gave whatever little amount
she had.
This gospel invites us also to examine ourselves not only when we give to
our church. It invites us also to reflect our motive of giving when we give to
the poor or to anyone who is in need for that matter.
The ideal giving is to give from the heart. The amount of what we give is
immaterial what is important is it originates from our heart and not from our
head. In the gospel, it was not only the poor widow who gave some wealthy
people also gave. However, Jesus is more pleased with the giving of the poor
widow because her giving is pure and untainted by any form of ulterior motive.
Whatever we give from the heart comes back to us a hundredfold. In Luke
chapter six verse thirty eight (6:38) Jesus tells us this: “Give and it will be
given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down,
full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive
back. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
1 Tumingin si
Jesus at may mayayaman na naghuhulog ng kanilang abuloy sa kabang-yaman. 2 At nakita rin niya ang isang
pobreng biyuda na naghulog ng dalawang barya. 3 At sinabi niya: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na
pinakamahalaga sa lahat ang inihulog ng dukhang biyudang ito. 4 Naghulog nga silang lahat sa
kabang-yaman mula sa sobra nila pero inihulog naman niya mula sa kanyang
kasalatan ang buo niyang kabuhayan.”
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.
+ + + + + + +
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
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.”
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:
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
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.
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:
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
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.
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 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
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.”
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:
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
• 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.
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:
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
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.”
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:
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
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.
+ + + + + + +
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
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.
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?
+ + + + + + +
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
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?”
