1Reflection for July 15 Thursday Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M): Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: “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:

The story is told about a young man who was struggling to find his place in this world.  He was already at the point of surrender. He murmured to himself, “I am a total failure” in the abyss of his frustration he thought of ending his life.  

Until he was advised by a friend to seek God and surrender every burdens that he has in his heart. So, he went to Holy Mass regularly and he read his bible, after a few weeks he developed a deep friendship with Jesus and he surrendered his everything to Him. 

Many of us have this tendency to allow ourselves to be eaten up by the frenetic pace and materialism of this world. We get too busy in fact very busy because we want to satisfy our many temporal wants. But come to think of it, why are we punishing ourselves too much just to satisfy our worldly desires? Why are many of us favoring this world when what we earn from this world can actually be taken from us anytime? 

In our gospel for today, Jesus invites us all to go to Him. We who are so busy with this world, we who tend to forget the primacy of God over this world. When are we going to open our hearts to this invitation of Jesus? When we are already old and sickly? Let us not wait for that time to come. Let us build a relationship with Jesus now and let us respond to His invitation now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Hulyo 15, San Buenaventura, Obispo at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): 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 pagiginhawahin ko kayo. 29 Kunin ninyo ang aking pamatok at matuto sa akin, akong mahinahon at mababangloob, at makakatagpo kayo ng ginhawa para sa inyong kaluluwa. 30 Sapagkat mahusay ang aking pamatok at magaan ang aking pasanin.”  

1Reflection for July 14 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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Reflection:

What is the key to know Gods will for you? It’s humility.  a humble person is ever ready to listen to the voice and will of God. He/she doesn’t go against the will of God he/she rather allows God’s will to work in his/her life. In the process of allowing God’s will to rule his/her life he/she discovers more about God. 

When we are humble we open ourselves to the countless blessings that emanates from God. We may ask, how am I going to be humble before God? We have to follow the rules of the church which Jesus founded through St. Peter.   

For example the teaching of Sunday Holy Mass obligation, a humble person would always see to it that he/she is always present in this sacred celebration. Another example is our humble submission to the sacraments most especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A humble person would always find time to confess his/her sins to a priest who acts in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus always looks kindly to those who are childlike and humble. Why? Because this is the nature of God: He loves those who are humble and He reveals Himself more to the childlike and humble.  

Do you want to know more about God? And do you want to have a deeper friendship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Hulyo 14, Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 11:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:25-27

25 Nagsalita si Jesus sa pagkaka¬taong iyon: “Pinu¬puri kita Amang Panginoon ng Langit at lupa, sapag¬kat itinago mo ang mga bagay na ito sa matatalino at marurunong, at ipinamulat mo naman sa mga karaniwang tao. 26 Oo, Ama, ito ang ikinasiya mo. 

27 Ipinagkatiwala sa akin ng aking Ama ang lahat. Walang nakakakilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama, at wa¬lang nakakakilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at ang sinu¬mang gustuhing pagbun¬yagan ng Anak.

1Reflection for July 13 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 

But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. 

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

Do you get frustrated or even get angry every once in a while? It’s ok for as long as your frustration and anger is for a good reason. And for as long as your anger doesn’t stay for long in your heart.  For example, you advice a relative or a friend to mend his/her ways but she/he doesn’t listen to you.   

In his humanity Jesus also gets frustrated like us and it is shown in the gospel. When He reproached the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida due to their refusal to repent. Jesus wanted the inhabitants of the two towns to change their wicked ways and accept His good news. 

Some of us are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts. 

Sin in whatever shapes and forms is a clear and present danger in our lives. We must not only avoid sin let us also confront sin so that it will permanently banish from our system of existence. Sin is the devil in disguise and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Hulyo 13, Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 11:20-24

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 11:20-24

20 Sinimulang tuligsain ni Jesus ang mga bayang ginawan niya ng kara­mihan sa kanyang mga himala, sapagkat hindi sila nagpanibagong-buhay: 21 “Sawimpalad kayong mga bayan ng Corozain at Betsaida! Kung sa Tiro at Sidon nang­yari ang mga himalang naganap sa piling ninyo, matagal na sana silang nagsisi nang may abo at sako.  

22 Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: Mas magiging magaan pa ang sasapitin ng Tiro at Sidon sa araw ng paghuhukom kaysa inyo. 23 At ikaw naman, Caper­naum, itataas ka ba sa langit? Hindi, ita­tapon ka sa kaharian ng mga patay! Sapagkat kung sa Sodom nang­yari ang mga himalang naganap sa iyo, nana­na­tili pa sana ngayon ang Sodom. 24 Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: mas magi­ging ma­gaan pa ang sasapitin ng lupain ng Sodom sa araw ng paghuhukom kaysa inyo.”

Reflection for July 12 Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household. 

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward." 

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a very generous man who was envied by his friend. Because he does not seem to run out of money even if he constantly give money and food to his poor neighbors. So the friend asked this very generous man: “What is your secret that you don’t seem to run out of money? The generous man said, no secret at all I just give because I want to give. 

Whatever that we generously give will come back to us a hundred fold if we don’t believe this let us try to be generous even for a week and see the reward that will be ploughed back to us. Reward that is not only limited with money, we may receive reward by way of good health, peace of mind, friendships in the neighborhood and the like. 

Jesus in our gospel mentions reward for those who do good no matter how small the act of goodness and generosity. Why? This is for the reason that it’s in giving that we would always receive and the more that we give the more that we would receive. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Hulyo 12, Ika-15 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:34-11:1

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:34-11:1

Sinabi ni Jesus sa labindalawa:  34 Huwag ninyong isipin na duma­ting ako para magdala ng kapa­yapaan sa lupa. Hindi kapayapaan ang dala ko kundi tabak. 35 Dumating akong taglay ang pag­hihiwalay: ng tao laban sa kanyang ama, ng anak na babae sa kanyang ina, ng ma­nugang sa kanyang biyenan. 36 At ma­giging kaaway ng bawat isa ang kan­yang mga kasam­bahay. 

37 Ang mas nagmamahal sa kan­yang ama o ina kaysa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang mas nag­ma­­­mahal sa kanyang anak kaysa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. 38 At ang hindi nag­pa­pasan ng kanyang krus at sumu­sunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. 39 Ang nagpa­pa­­halaga sa kanyang sarili ang siyang mawa­walan nito, at ang nawawalan naman ng kanyang sarili ang siyang maka­katagpo nito. 

40 Kung may tumatanggap sa inyo, tinatanggap din niya ako; at kung may tumatanggap sa akin, tinatanggap din niya ang nagsugo sa akin. 41 Kung may tumanggap sa isang propeta dahil pro­peta ito, tatanggapin niya ang gantimpa­lang bagay sa isang propeta; kung may tumanggap sa isang ma­buting tao dahil marangal ito, tatang­gapin niya ang gantimpalang bagay sa isang ma­buting tao. 42 Kung may mag­painom ng malamig na tubig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ala­­gad ko ito, sinasabi kong hindi siya mana­natiling wa­lang gantimpala.” 

1 Nang matapos si Jesus sa pagtuturo sa Labindalawa niyang alagad, umalis siya roon para magturo at mangaral sa mga bayan doon.

Reflection for Sunday July 11, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. 

So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a newly ordained priest who was so idealistic that he wished to be assigned in the farthest and un-evangelized place. He got what he wished for. During the time that he was about to go there he brought nothing with him except for the clothes and his priestly things. 

He said to himself: “I will not bring anything with me because Jesus had said that in going to your mission do not bring anything with you (Mark 6:8). He believed that God would provide for his needs. He eventually reached his place of assignment and his parishioners were sensitive enough to notice his needs so they provided him with what he needed. 

In the gospel, Jesus demanded trust from the apostles. He wanted them to trust him as they go about their mission for He would provide for their needs. Jesus said to them: “Bring nothing with you except your walking stick and sandal (Mark 6:8-9). In saying this Jesus wanted them to depend on Him and not on themselves. 

Due to the modernity of our times trust or faith in God is a word that is somewhat lacking in our lives today. Because we tend to trust more on ourselves rather than God. We long for our smart phones more rather than long for God. We check on our smart phones first upon waking up in the moring rather than check on God by way of our prayers.  It seems that it’s very hard to live now without smart phones and other gadgets but so easy to live without God.

Sad that this is happening but this is the reality of our gadgets driven times. But there’s hope for as long as we don’t give up on our mission to evangelize. Let us not lose heart because the Lord is always there for us. He only asks us one thing and that is to never give up on our mission of evangelization and to continue to trust Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hulyo 11 Ika – 15 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:7-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:7-13

Naglibot naman si Jesus sa mga nayon sa paligid sa kanyang pagtu¬turo. 7 At tinawag niya ang Labin¬dalawa at sinimulang isugo sila nang dala-¬dalawa. Binigyan niya sila ng kapang¬yarihan sa mga maruming espiritu. 8 At sinabihan niya silang huwag magdala ng anuman para sa paglalakbay kundi tungkod la¬mang. Walang pagkain, wa¬lang pitaka o pera sa sinturon. 9 Nakasandalyas at may isang damit lang.  

10 At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Pagtuloy ninyo sa isang bahay, manatili kayo roon hanggang sa pag-alis ninyo mula roon. 11 Kung may lugar na hindi tatang¬gap o makikinig sa inyo, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok sa inyong mga paa bilang sakdal sa ka¬nila.” 

12 At pag-alis nila, ipinangaral nila ang pagbabalik-loob. 13 Maraming demonyo ang kanilang pinalayas at marami ring maysakit ang pinagaling nila sa pagpapahid ng langis. 

Reflection for July 10 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: "No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. 

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! "Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. 

Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

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Reflection:

What does the modern world promote today? It promotes idolatry of the temporal things of this world. It promotes in many forms the idolatry of money, lust and power. It also promotes greed, hedonism and arrogance. 

It seems that there’s no more room for us to acknowledge, promote and live the teachings of Jesus. It’s very sad to think that Jesus’ teachings have no more room in many of our hearts. What are we going to do about this? Would we simply be on the sidelines and be silent witnesses to the moral degeneration of our society? 

Let us do something to espouse the teachings of Jesus. Let us not be afraid of the persecution and hardship for Jesus is with us. We must not forget that we are mere pilgrims in this world; our final destination is His heavenly kingdom. 

Let us aspire for a place in heaven by sharing the teachings of Jesus. If we are not comfortable with personal preaching let us find the courage to live His teachings. Let us use social media to propagate the teachings of the Lord and the faith that He gave us. 

Let us not forget that we are mere passersby in this temporal world and our ultimate destination hopefully is in heaven. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Hulyo 10, Ika-14 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:24-33

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:24-33

Sinabi ni Jesus sa labindalawa  24 Hindi daig ng alagad ang kanyang guro, o ng utusan ang kan­yang amo. 25 Sa­pat nang tularan ng alagad ang kanyang guro, at ng utusan ang kanyang amo. Kung tinawag na Beelzebul ang may-ari ng bahay, ano pa kaya ang kan­­yang mga kasam­bahay! Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa kanila. 

26 Walang tinatakpan na di nabubun­yag at walang natatago na di naha­ha­yag. 27 Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim, ipa­hayag ninyo sa liwanag. Ang narinig ninyo nang pabulong, ipahayag mula sa bubong. 28 Huwag matakot sa mga naka­papatay ng katawan ngunit hindi ng kalu­luwa. Matakot kayo sa may ka­pang­yarihang sumira ng kaluluwa pati ng katawan sa impiyerno. 29 Nabi­bili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera, pero wala isa mang buma­bag­sak sa lupa na hindi niloloob ng Ama. 30 At kayo, bilang na pati buhok sa inyong ulo. 31 Kaya huwag ka­yong matakot: mas mahalaga kayo kaysa mga maya. 

32 Ang sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko sa harap ng aking Ama sa Langit. 33 At ang ayaw kumilala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao ay hindi ko rin kikilalanin sa harap ng aking Ama sa Langit.

1Reflection for July 9 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.  

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  

Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

Are you ready to give your life for the mission of Jesus? This is a very hard question to answer but there are many already who dared to willingly give their lives for the mission of Jesus. What fuels them to give their lives when they have a choice not to give it?  

 It’s their burning desire to witness for Jesus. The same Jesus who strengthens them to endure and continue with their mission even at the cost of their lives. To be a real follower of Jesus is easier said than done. It’s easy to say I am a Christian but to live this Christian pronouncement is another story altogether. How about you? Are you willing to give your life for the mission of Jesus?    

When you give your life to Jesus you will face persecution as well. But what is consoling here is the midst of your trials and persecution you also will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in your life. For the reason that Jesus has never abandoned anyone who gave his/her life for His mission in this world.  

Be not afraid to give your life for the mission of Jesus. For when you decide to do so you will soon after find the real purpose of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Hulyo 9, Ika-14 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:16-23

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:16-23

Sinabi ni Jesus sa labindalawa  Isinusugo ko kayo ngayon na pa­rang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong- gubat. Maging matalino nawa kayo gaya ng mga ahas at walang-malay na parang mga kalapati. 17 Mag-ingat sa mga tao; ibibigay nga nila kayo sa mga sang­gu­nian at hahagu­pitin kayo sa kanilang mga sinagoga. 18 Dadalhin din nila kayo sa mga pinuno at mga hari dahil sa akin, at dapat kayong mag­bigay-­patotoo sa ka­nila at sa mga pagano. 

19 Pag nilitis naman kayo, huwag mag-alala sa inyong sasabihin; sa oras na iyo’y ibibigay nga sa inyo ang inyong sasabihin. 20 Sapagkat hindi kayo ang magsasalita kundi ang Espi­ritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan ninyo. 21 Ipapapatay ng kapatid ang sari­ling kapatid, ng ama ang kanyang anak; at isasakdal ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang at ipapapatay sila. 22 Ka­mu­muhian kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin, ngunit ang mananatiling matatag hanggang wakas ang siyang mali­ligtas. 

23 Pag inusig kayo sa isang bayan, tumakas kayo sa iba. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, bago ninyo matapos daanan ang lahat ng bayan sa Israel, darating na ang Anak ng Tao.

1Reflection for July 8 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. 

The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. 

Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

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Reflection:

Do we expect to receive something in return for the things that we do for God? We better not expect because when our expectations are not meet we would be disappointed. Let’s just do good and be content with the fact that we’ve done good to our fellowmen. 

Money rules they say, but for those who follow Jesus money does not rule and money doesn’t dictate. It’s Jesus who rules and dictates, when we allow Jesus to rule and dictate our life. We are free from worries that emanates from this world and we are not beholden to anybody in this world.    

When Jesus was sending off his twelve apostles to their mission. One of His specific declarations for them is this: not to let money or anything that is worldly rule over them. Jesus instead wanted His apostles to let Him rule their lives. 

When we let Jesus rule our lives we would not anymore care about worldly possessions. We instead will be satisfied with what we have no matter how meager the things that we have. This is for the reason that we already believe that the essence and fullness of life is not measured by material ownership. 

Let us therefore seek Jesus in our lives for when we have Jesus we have everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Hulyo 8, Ika-14 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:7-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-15

Sinabi ni Jesus sa labimdalawa: 7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa in¬yong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaha¬rian 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.

9 Hu¬wag magdala ng ginto, pilak o pera sa inyong mga bulsa. 10 Huwag magdala ng balutan o sobrang damit o sandal¬yas o tungkod, sapagkat may kara¬patan ang mang¬gagawa sa kanyang ikabubuhay. 11 Pagdating ninyo sa isang bayan o baryo, maghanap ng isang taong karapat-dapat at makituloy sa kanya hanggang sa inyong pag-alis.

12 Pagpasok ninyo sa isang tahanan, dasalan ito ng kapayapaan. 13 Kung kara¬pat-dapat ang sambahayang ito, sasa¬kanila ang kapayapaang dinasal ninyo; kung hindi naman karapat-dapat, babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal.

14 At kung may bahay o bayang hindi tatanggap sa inyo o makikinig sa inyong mga salita, lumabas sa bahay o bayang iyon at ipagpag ang alikabok sa inyong mga paa. 15 Sinasabi ko sa inyo, mas ma¬giging magaan pa sa araw ng pag¬hu¬¬hu¬kom para sa mga taga-Sodom at Gomorra kaysa bayang iyon.

1Reflection for July 7 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Reflection:

Where does The Kingdom of Heaven lies? 

It lies within us and it has been with us since we’ve been baptized. But we may say, if the kingdom of heaven is within us, why is it that life is still full of challenges and problems? This is for the reason that we refuse to live our life according to God’s will for us. 

Thus, we live our life according to our own will and not according to God’s will. For example, there is a temptation to sin; instead of confronting that sin so that it would not temp us again we instead allow that temptation to capture us. 

So what happens when we live our life according to our own terms? We open our life to many problems, problems that we could actually avoid if we only live our life according to the will of God. 

It’s not difficult to know God’s will for us, by going to Holy Mass we will begin to discern God’s will for our life. By reading our bible we will discern the will of God for us. By our frequent interactions with Jesus through our prayers we will discern the will of God. And we would have a deeper friendship with the Lord.   

Many of us are lost in this world and we don’t have an awareness of the kingdom of heaven because we are not always in touch with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Hulyo 7, Ika-14 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 10:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:1-7

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. 

2 Ito ang mga pangalan ng labindalawang apostol: una, si Simong tinatawag na Pedro, at ang kanyang kapatid na si Andres; si Jaime na anak ni Zebedeo, at ang kapatid nitong si Juan; 3 sina Felipe at Bartolome, Tomas at Mateo, na tag­a­si­ngil ng buwis; si Jaimeng anak ni Alfeo, at si Tadeo; 4 si Simong Kananeo, at si Judas Iskariote na magkakanulo sa kanya. 

5 Sinugo ni Jesus ang labindalawang ito at pinagbilinan: “Huwag ka­yong lumiko papunta sa mga pagano at huwag pumasok sa bayang Sama­ritano. 6 Hana­pin ninyo ang nawawa­lang tupa ng sambayanan ng Israel. 7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa in­yong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaha­rian ng Langit.

1Reflection for July 6 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 

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.”

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Reflection:

How does the gospel speaks to us today? Does it tell us that we need to do something for the kingdom of God? Jesus tells the disciples in our gospel and He tells this to us too! “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37)”.

Indeed, the harvest is abundant yet those who venture to volunteer their time for God’s kingdom are still few. We don’t know the reason behind but perhaps we could guess that it’s our worldly preoccupations. So we forget that there is a much greater purpose and glory beyond this world that awaits us and that is the kingdom of God.  

When we are near death already the labors that we have given to this world will not matter anymore. We will not think about how big our bank accounts. We will not think about our many worldly achievements. What we will be thinking about is the status of our soul and where it would be after we die. 

This is what confronts a dying person: The status of his/her soul after it departs from his/her body. Therefore to avoid this dilemma let us do something for the advancement of the kingdom of God in this world. 

Any effort that we do today for God no matter how small for so long as we sincerely do it for His greater glory. Will be permanently remembered by God and will become our passport to heaven when our departure time comes. 

We therefore have to do something no matter how insignificant it may seem to help the Lord advance the faith. Let us not worry for the Good Lord will be with us and we would richly be rewarded someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Hulyo 6, Ika-14 na Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 9:32-38

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:32-38

Noong panahong iyon 32  may nagdala naman kay Jesus ng isang lala­king pipi na inaalihan ng demonyo. 33 Nang mapalayas niya ang demonyo, nakapag­salita ang pipi kaya namangha ang mga tao at kanilang sinabi: “Wala pang nang­yaring ganito sa Israel.” 34 Ngu­nit sinabi naman ng mga Pariseo: “Nagpapalayas siya ng demonyo sa tulong ng pinuno ng mga demonyo.”  

• 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.”

1Reflection for July 5 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus can cure you of whatever sickness that you have? The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years believed that she would be healed by Jesus. She believed that the moment she touched even the tassel of Jesus cloak she would be healed. What a display of deep faith!  

Sometimes we don’t get what we wish from the Lord because we doubt. We allow the devil to disturb our faith thus we don’t get what we want. We see in the gospel a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages she obviously has deep faith. Faith that is willing to overcome whatever obstacles that are put in front of her.  Do you have the same deep faith as this woman in the gospel?  

When Jesus noticed this woman of faith, He told her, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you (Matthew 9:22).” And the result was immediate healing for the woman. 

Are we suffering from any form sickness right now? Let us pray to the Lord and let us ask Him to heal us! Let us beseech the Lord to give us the same healing that He gave the woman in the gospel. Jesus will surely heal us for He will not refuse anyone who approaches Him with deep faith and humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas