Reflection for Sunday December 15, Third Sunday of Advent: Matthew 11:2-11

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was looking for the presence of Jesus in his life. So, he went to the highest mountain with the hope of finding Jesus but he did not find Jesus there. He again went to the most majestic church with the hope of finding Jesus but he again did not find Jesus there.

Are you looking for Jesus’ presence in your life? Many of us are still looking for the presence of the Lord in our lives. But the Lord is with us already we only fail to recognize it because many of us are enslaved by the things of this world. 

We are with the Lord when we pray, we are with the Lord when we go to Holy Mass. We are with the Lord when we read and allow the words of the bible to speak to us. And there are many more manifestations of the Lord's presence in our life which we fail to recognize.

 When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. (Matthew 11:2-5)

By telling John’s disciples about the things that He does. Jesus was in effect telling the followers of John that there’s no more need to look for that somebody that is to come because He is already there in their midst. 

Jesus is already in our midst as well we therefore have to rejoice and not be worried about the many problems that we encounter. We simply have to learn to trust Him more than we trust ourselves. We simply have to learn to submit everything to Him and we simply have to learn to always call on Him.

Do you already discern the Lord’s presence in your life? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo December 15, Ikatlong Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 11:2-11

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:2-11

2 Nang nasa kulungan si Juan Bautista, nabalitaan niya ang mga ginagawa ni Kristo kaya pinapunta niya ang kanyang mga alagad 3 para tanungin siya: “Ikaw ba ang darating o dapat bang maghintay pa kami ng iba?”

4 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila: “Bu­ma­­lik kayo at iba­lita kay Juan ang inyong nari­nig at nakita: 5 Na­kakakita ang mga bulag, nakakalakad ang mga pilay, lumilinis ang mga mayketong, nakaka­rinig ang mga bingi, nagigising ang mga patay at may mabuting balitang ipinahahayag sa mga dukha.  6 At mapalad ang hindi natitisod dahil sa akin.”

7 Pagkaalis ng mga sugo ni Juan, nag­simulang magsalita si Jesus sa mga tao tungkol kay Juan: “Ano ang pinuntahan ninyo sa disyerto para makita? Isang kawa­­yang hinahampas-hampas ng ha­ngin? 8 Ano ang pinun­tahan ninyo? Isang lala­king magara ang bihis? Sa mga palasyo nga naka­tira ang mga taong magagara ang bihis.

9 Ano ba ang pinuntahan ninyo? Isang propeta? Totoo. At sinasabi ko na higit pa siya sa isang propeta. 10 Siya ang binabanggit sa Kasu­latan: Pinauna ko sa iyo ang aking mensahero upang ihanda ang daan sa harap mo.

11 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, walang sinuman sa mga kilalang tao ngayon ang mas dakila pa kay Juang tagapagbinyag, pero mas dakila sa kanya ang pinakamaliit sa kaharian ng Langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Marino J. Dasmarinas pictures (November 2019)

Renewal of Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Nov. 16, 2019 at Holy Family Parish Church GMA Cavite

During my official deputation as Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion of Saint Joseph Parish Carmona Cavite;  on May 24, 2000  with then Bishop Manuel C. Sobrevinas of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Imus as the Deputizing Bishop

Reflection for December 14, Saturday; Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

Gospel: Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply,* “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

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Reflection:

Why is it that we don’t listen to the voice of our conscience to repent until we realize later that we are in a problematic situation?

The call of Jesus for repentance continuous until this very hour, He speaks to us through people around us and through our conscience. We should not ignore it, we should rather listen to it because to listen and repent is the right course of action that we must always take.

Like John who prepared the way for Jesus, we too should become the modern day John. Thus we should also gently call for repentance to those within our sphere of environment. This is for the reason that this is a call of duty for us followers of the Lord.

Lest we forget that by virtue of our Baptism we are the modern day John. Therefore, we have to call for repentance and conversion as well. For this call to be effective we have to do this with gentleness, with mercy and compassion. And of course we also have to be a good role model because if we don’t live what we preach then that would be useless

It is obvious that Jesus is pertaining to John as the second coming of the prophet Elijah. But majority of the people did not recognize the call of John to renew their lives because they were busy with the things of this world. They have no time to listen to the messenger of God yet they created time to serve their own selfish interest.  

We have nothing to lose if we tread the way of John. Yes it will not be a walk in the park and there would be challenges as well. But if Christ is with us who will be against us? Nobody for we have Jesus at our backs silently supporting us.

Oftentimes it may seem that Jesus is not there for us but He is always there. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Disyembre 14, San Juan dela Cruz, pari at pantas ng Iglesia: Mateo 17:9a, 10-13

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 17:9a, 10-13

9 At sa pagbaba nila mula sa bundok, tinanong si Jesus ng mga alagad: “Bakit sinasabi ng mga guro ng Batas na dapat munang pumarito si Elias?” 11 At sumagot si Jesus: “Dapat nga munang dumating si Elias para ayusin ang lahat ng bagay.  12 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo na dumating na si Elias pero hindi nila siya nakilala, at pinakitunguhan nila siya ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan. At sa gayon ding paraan magdurusa ang Anak ng Tao sa kamay nila.” 1 3 At naunawaan ng mga alagad na si Juan Bautista ang tinutukoy ni Jesus.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for December 13, Friday; Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr: Matthew 11:16-19

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

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Reflection:

Whenever biographies of famous personalities are to be written. Publishers would try to make the exterior of the book as attractive as possible so that it would create an immediate exterior attraction to the buying public. Especially to those who have superficial knowledge of the personality involve.

Jesus was called names such as glutton, drunkard, friend of tax collectors and sinners by the Pharisees and scribes. Because that’s what they saw, they based their unfair judgments on what they saw from Jesus. If only they knew that the real motive of Jesus was the conversion of tax collectors and sinners they would not have unfairly judged Him.

The same is true with John he was labelled as someone who is possessed by a demon. Perhaps the reason behind such unfair name calling is based on the physical appearance of John. And John’s preference to live in the desert before coming out to prepare the way for Jesus.

Oftentimes we are like the Pharisees and the scribes for we judge also based on what we see and hear about our fellowwmen. We base our judgment on the exterior and the superficial. But is this right? Of course not!

It’s not correct to throw judgment based on what we see or observe for what we see is a scant representation of the whole person. Let us know first the person before judging. And if there’s an opportunity to talk to him/her so that we could have a clearer picture of the person’s personality let us do so.

Are you sometimes quick to judge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Disyembre 13, Santa Lucia, dalaga at martir: Mateo 11:16-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:16-19

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao 16 Ngayon, kanino ko ikukumpara ang mga tao sa kasalukuyan? Para silang mga batang nakaupo sa mga plasa at nagka­kantahan, at nagrereklamo ang ilan sa kanila: 17 ‘Tinugtog namin ang plauta para sa inyo pero ayaw ninyong sumayaw, at nang uma­wit naman kami ng malungkot na awit, ayaw din nin­yong umiyak!’

18 Ganito rin ang nangyari: Duma­ting muna si Juan na nag-aayuno, at sabi ng mga tao: ‘Inaalihan siya ng demon­yo.’ 19 At saka dumating ang Anak ng Tao na kumakain at umiinom, at ang sabi ng mga tao: ‘Laseng­go at mata­kaw, ka­ibigan ng mga publikano at mga makasalanan!’ Gayon pa man, mapatutunayang tama ang karunu­ngan ng Diyos sa mga gawa nito.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for December 12, Thursday; Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Why is the Blessed Mother favored by God? Why was she chosen amongst many women? She was favored because of her humility and docility, she was favored because God saw her saintly character which He did not found from any women during that time. Therefore the Blessed Mother was given the singular honor to carry in her womb our savior.

So you might say I would also want to be humble because I also expect to receive some blessings from God. That’s ok nothing is wrong with this kind of mindset. However, we must remember that the Blessed Mother is humble and docile not because she was vying to be chosen as the dwelling place of the son of God.

To be humble and docile was her natural character. There was no pretension or any sort of fake humility in her system.  In other words as far as the Blessed Mother is concerned, what we see is what we get from her. If we see her as humble and docile to the will of God the Father, she really is humble and docile.

In so many ways, God also announces His will for us and what is His will for us? It’s for us to live simple and humble lives. Many of us live complicated lifestyle instead of a simple lifestyle and many of us are so full of egotism in our system. What is the result of this kind of lifestyle and behavior we fail to hear the voice of God and we fail to hear the guidance of God us well.

The Blessed Mother lived a simple and humble lifestyle thus she heard and humbly obeyed the voice of God. How are you living your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 11, Wednesday; Second Week of Advent: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

Are you sometimes feeling weary and burdened by the problems that you carry? You‘re not alone for many of us are sometimes burdened by worldly problems. However these burdens the we carry are miraculously made light the moment we learn to submit it to Jesus and when we invite Jesus to help us carry it.

Why do you endure to carry the burden of someone you love or to suffer for someone you love? This is for the reason that you are already yoked or made one with this person that you love. For example, in married life if your spouse is sick you would sacrifice to take care of your spouse until he/she gets well. Or you may even wish that you’re the one that is sick and not your spouse.

Why is this so? This is for the reason that Jesus bonded the two of you to become one through the Sacrament of Matrimony.  Remember the words of your marriage vows that says: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." If marriage made you one with your spouse, through your Baptism you became one with Jesus or you are already yoked with Jesus.

Let us therefore always respond to this invitation of Jesus; we who are often times burdened by the difficulties of life for we will always find healing and strength in HIM.

Are you burdened by your problems right now? Bring it to Jesus for He will take care of it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Disyembre 11, Ikalawang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 11:28-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:28-30

Sinabi ni Jesus 28 Lumapit sa akin, lahat kayong nahi¬hirapan at may pinapasan, at pagi¬gin¬hawahin ko kayo. 29 Kunin ninyo ang aking pamatok at matuto sa akin, akong mahinahon at ma-babang-loob, at maka¬ka¬tagpo kayo ng ginhawa para sa inyong kaluluwa. 30 Sapagkat mahu¬say ang aking pamatok at magaan ang aking pasanin.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for December 10, Tuesday; Second Week of Advent: Matthew 18:12-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

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Reflection:

Can you measure God’s love for you? No for God’s love is not bound by any kind of measurement or limited by time and space. God will continue to love you even if you are the most sinful person in this world.

The Parable of the lost sheep in our gospel is a showcase of this infinite love of God. Who is the man who looked for the lost sheep? He is our loving and merciful God! Who is the lost sheep that went astray?  It’s us we who are sinful and we who sometimes love sin more than God. 

Nevertheless, even if we love to sin and even if we run away from the love of God. He is always there looking for us. Ever ready to forgive and forget all the sins that we have committed. Let us all be cognizant of this infinite love of God and let us also not be quick to judge our brothers and sisters who sin.

Instead of judging those who sin let us rather emulate God who looked for and reached out to the lost sheep. Instead of judging let us help them get up on their feet so that they could free themselves from the bondage of sin. There are sinners because no one is willing to reach out to them, no one is willing to pay forward the infinite love of God.

Are you quick to judge those who sin? Would you care to reach out to them so that they could feel the infinite love of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Disyembre 10, Ikalawang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 18:12-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:12-14

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 12 Ano sa palagay ninyo? Kung may sandaang tupa ang isang tao at naligaw ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba niya iiwan sa kaburulan ang siyam¬napu’t siyam para hanapin ang naliligaw? 13 At sinasabi ko sa inyo: Kapag nakita niya ito, mas matu¬tuwa pa siya rito kaysa siyam¬napu’t siyam na hindi naligaw. 14 Gayun¬din naman, ayaw ng inyong Amang nasa Langit na mawala isa man sa maliliit na ito.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for December 9, Monday; Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Do you always humble yourself before God?

There is something in the Blessed Mother that many of us don’t have. We may ask, what is it which the Blessed Mother have that we often don’t usually have?  It’s the humility and docility to follow the will of God.

 After the angel Gabriel told her everything about the Lord’s plan for her. The blessed Mother simply said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

In so many ways God speaks to us as well, He even uses people and events in our lives to  convey His message for us. But we often chose to purposely ignore it and go on with what we want in our lives. What if the Blessed Mother chose to ignore the angel and move on with her life and have no part with the plan of God?

But she chose to listen to the voice of God. Listening to the voice of God is something that is often lacking in our lives. Yes we pray, yes we go to church for Holy Mass. But at the end of the day it’s still our selfish will for ourselves that we follow.

This is primarily the reason why we always sin and why we have enormous problems. Because we often ignore the voice of God and we often don’t pay attention to the teachings of the church which always tells us to only do what is good and right.

The Blessed Mother did not resist God’s will she simply believed and humbly submitted herself to God’s will. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday December 8, Second Sunday of Advent: Matthew 3:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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Reflection:

A sinful man promised God that he would repent and walk away from anything that make him sin. He was able to walk away from his sinfulness for a period of time until he sinned again and again and again.

It’s very easy to say that we would not sin again but when the temptation to sin beckons many of us are helpless against it. So, we sin again until sinning becomes a part of our lifestyle until these many sins become our ticket to wretchedness.   

Why do we sin or why do many of us fall to sin? Because sin is attractive and salivating. This is the reason why we fall for it until we are eventually destroyed by it if we would not repent and completely walk away from it.

When John appeared from the wilderness he preached repentance and many listened to him. They went to John to repent and be baptized including the Pharisees and Sadducees. Were the Pharisees and Sadducees sincere in their desire for repentance?

No, they were not; it was a superficial repentance this was primarily the reason why John rebuked them.  John wanted the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce concrete evidence of their repentance. John wanted an interior, genuine and deep repentance from them.

This is also the call for us in this second Sunday of advent: To have an interior, genuine and deep repentance from within. Thus, we have to completely walk away from anything that make us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo December 8, Ikalawang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 3:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 3:1-12

1 Nang panahon ding iyon, duma­ting sa disyerto ng Judea si Juan Bautista at nagsimulang mag­pahayag: 2 “Magbagong-buhay kayo, lumapit na ang paghahari ng Langit!” 3 Siya ang tinutukoy ni Propeta Isaias nang sabihin niyang: “Naririnig ang sigaw sa disyerto: Ihanda ang daan para sa Panginoon, ituwid ang kanyang landas.”

4 Balahibo ng kamelyo ang suot ni Juan; at may sinturong katad sa baywang, at balang at pulot-pukyutang-gubat ang kinakain. 5 May mga taga-Jerusalem, taga-Judea at mula sa buong rehiyon ng Jordan na pumunta sa kan­ya. 6 Inaamin nila ang kanilang mga kasala­nan at binibinyagan sila ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan.

7 Nang makita niya na lumalapit sa kanya ang ilang Pariseo at Sadduseo para magpa­binyag, sinabi niya: “Lahi ng mga ulupong! Sino ang nagsabi sa inyong matatakasan ninyo ang darating na pag­hatol? 8 Patunayan ninyo ang inyong pagbabagong-buhay, 9 at huwag ipagyabang na ‘si Abraham ang ama namin.’ Sinasabi ko sa inyo na kahit sa mga batong ito’y makaga­gawa ng mga anak ang Diyos para kay Abraham! 10 Naka­amba na ang pala­kol sa tabi ng ugat ng mga puno – para sibakin ang ­alinmang punong hindi namumunga ng mabuti, at itatapon ito sa apoy.

11 Sa tubig ko kayo binibinyagan para sa pagbabagong-buhay pero kasunod kong dara­ting ang isang makapangya­rihan pa sa akin. Hindi nga ako karapat-dapat magdala sa kanyang sandalyas. Bibinyagan niya kayo sa Espiritu Santo at sa apoy. 12 Siya ang nakahandang mag­tahip sa lahat ng butil ng trigo. Lipu­nin niya ang lahat ng butil sa kanyang ka­malig ngunit susunugin ang mga ipa sa apoy na walang hanggan.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for December 7, Saturday; Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

Gospel: Matthew  9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

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Reflection:

Have you done something to bring others to the Lord? For example, you asked a friend to go with you to the church to attend Holy Mass. Or you counseled a friend to read the Bible so that he/she could know Jesus deeply.  

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).” These words of Jesus rings loudly to our ears today than ever before. Indeed this is very true and very relevant for our times. We just need to look around our environment and we would see the sad reality that there’s are many more who don’t know Jesus.

Our labor for God must not be limited to our service in the church as Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the the Holy Communion, as Catechist, as Lectors/commentators and as members of other church ministries. We must put more flesh in our involvement in our church by going out to those who are hungry, who are physically/emotionally sick. We need to bring Jesus out to the poor of our society for they too need Jesus they need Jesus to guide them.

Even if we are ordinary parishioners by virtue of our baptism we too are called to share Jesus. A faith that grows is a faith that is shared. Beginning this Advent season and onwards let us allow Jesus to use us as His instrument of healing by helping the poor and the deprived.

But there are those who follow Jesus based on their own terms and standards. They impose their own rule and not the rule of Jesus they follow Christ based on their own self-rule.  Thus, instead of embracing humility they choose to embrace arrogance. Instead of winning converts and followers they become the main reason why others walk away from the faith.

A good follower has rock solid faith, is neither self seeking nor arrogant. He/She is rather humble and content to silently do his mission for the greater glory of God.

Are you this kind of follower? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Disyembre 7, Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8   35 At nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at mga nayon; nagtuturo siya sa kanilang mga sinagoga, nagpapahayag ng Mabu­ting Balita ng Kaharian at nagpapagaling ng lahat ng sakit at karamdaman. 36 Nang makita niya ang makapal na tao, naawa siya sa kanila sapagkat hirap sila at lu­pay­pay na parang mga tupang walang pastol. 37 At sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad: “Marami nga ang aanihin at ka­kaunti naman ang mga manggagawa. 38 Ida­langin ninyo sa panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang ani.” Ang labindalawang apostol

10: 1 Tinawag ni Jesus ang labindalawa niyang alagad at bi­nigyan sila ng kapangyarihan sa maruruming  espiritu para palayasin ang mga ito at pagalingin ang lahat ng sakit at ka­ram­daman. Sinugo ni Jesus ang labindalawang ito at pinagbilinan: 6 Hanapin ninyo ang nawawalang tupa ng sambayanan ng Israel.

7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa inyong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaharian ng Langit.’ 8 Pagalingin ang maysakit, buhayin ang patay, linisin ang mga may ketong at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Tinanggap ninyo ito nang walang bayad kaya ibigay rin ninyo nang walang bayad.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for December 6, Friday; First Week of Advent: Matthew 9:27-31

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us! When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith. And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this. But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

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Reflection:

What are you willing to do to receive healing from God? Are you willing to humble yourself and kneel before God and ask Him to give you the gift of healing? Healing is a gift that Jesus freely gives to those who have faith. Even if you will not ask for it Jesus will give it to you for as long as you humble yourself and have faith in front of Him.

In the gospel for this Friday we have two humble blind men with rock-solid faith who cried to Jesus for healing.  Why did they cry when they could have shouted at Jesus to get His attention? They cried because they saw hope, mercy and healing from Jesus. For the two blind men Jesus was their only hope to have the gift of sight.

Let us also ask Jesus to give us the gift of Healing for nothing is impossible for those who humble themselves before God. Even the impossible is very much possible for as long as we have faith.   

Whatever that you’re going through right now, believe that Jesus will heal you. And believe that He will answer your prayers for nothing is impossible for Jesus. This is best exemplified by the two incredible blind men of deep faith in our gospel.

How’s your faith in Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Disyembre 6, Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Mateo 9:27-31

Mabuting Balita: Mateo  9:27-31

27 Pag-alis ni Jesus sa lugar na iyon, sumunod sa kanya ang dalawang bulag na lalaki na sumisigaw: “Anak ni David, tulungan mo kami!” 28 Pagda­ting niya sa bahay, inabutan siya ng mga bulag at sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Naniniwala ba kayo na may kapang­ya­rihan ako para gawin ang gusto ninyong mangyari?” At su­magot sila: “Oo, Ginoo!”

29 Hinipo ni Jesus ang kanilang mga mata at sinabi: “Mangyari sa inyo ang inyong paniwala.” 30 At nabuksan ang kanilang mga mata. Mahigpit naman silang tinagubilinan ni Jesus: “Mag-­ingat kayo at huwag sabihin ito kani­no man.” 31 Ngunit pagkaalis nila, ipinahayag nila siya sa buong bayan.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for December 5, Thursday; First Week of Advent: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

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Reflection:

There is a story about an old man who was always at church, he attends Mass, and he was always present during novena prayers. However, he also had a domineering attitude, he thinks highly of himself and he treats everyone in the church as someone who is not within his level.

After a few years he died, therefore, he was expecting a smooth passage to heaven but Saint Peter did not allow him to enter the pearly gates. So he asked: “Why are you not allowing me to gain entry to heaven, I was always at church leading the novena prayers, I was always at Mass!” Saint Peter replied: “Yes you were always in the church but you did not change your ways, it was all for show.”

Like the old man, there are many who are active in the church but they refuse to let go of their boorish behavior. They think highly of themselves simply because they are active in the church rich and educated. Then they carry these domineering behaviors into their homes and workplace.

Could they gain entry into heaven with this behavior? Can they be compared to the wise man in the gospel who built his house upon a sturdy rock? Not certainly, to be like the wise man who built his house on a solid rock they need to walk their talk, they need to be humble and they need to live what they preach.

In the gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).” – Marino J. Dasmarinas