Noong
panahong iyon, marami sa mga Judio ang dumalaw kina Marta at Maria upang sila’y
aliwin. Nang marinig ni Marta na dumarating si Hesus, sinalubong niya ito;
ngunit si Maria’y naiwan sa bahay. Sinabi ni Marta, “Panginoon, kung kayo po’y
narito, hindi sana namatay ang aking kapatid.
Ngunit
nalalaman kong kahit ngayo’y ibibigay sa inyo ng Diyos ang anumang hingin ninyo
sa kanya.” “Muling mabubuhay ang iyong kapatid,” wika ni Hesus. Sumagot si
Marta, “Nalalaman ko pong siya’y mabubuhay uli sa huling araw, sa muling
pagkabuhay.” Sinabi naman ni Hesus, “Ako ang muling pagkabuhay at ang
buhay.
Ang
nananalig sa akin, kahit mamatay ay muling mabubuhay, at sinumang nabubuhay at
nananalig sa akin, kahit mamatay ay mabubuhay kailanman. Pinaniniwalaan mo ba
ito?” “Opo, Panginoon!” sagot niya. “Nananalig ako sa inyo. Kayo po ang Anak ng
Diyos, ang Mesiyas na inaasahang paparito sa sanlibutan.”
Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the
parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word
of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one
who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and
lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of
the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who
hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the
word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty
or thirtyfold.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you allow the words of Jesus to
transform you? For example, you attend Holy Mass or you read the bible after
doing it what happens to you? Do you allow these sacred experiences to slowly
transform you to become a better follower of the Lord? Or nothing happens
for it is just a passing experience that you did not treasure.
When you encounter the words of Jesus you
must always allow it to create a transformation within you. It doesn’t matter
how slow the transformation what is important is you are being transformed to
become a better and productive followers of Jesus.
God would always want to connect Himself
with us yet it’s us who creates distance from God. We don’t respond to God’s
desire to connect because we fear that God would restrict our movement and
behaviors. But this is who God is the moment you get serious with Him. If
you allow Him, He will truly restrict your movements and behaviors but you have
nothing to worry because this is for your own good.
For example, God will restrict you from doing bad, God will restrict you from
continuing with your vices. Vices that do nothing to you except to destroy you and your loved ones. But you need not worry about these
restrictions because these restrictions are for your own good. Not for anyone’s
good but for our own good!
When you allow the words of God to grow
and bear fruit in your heart you become like the seed sown on rich soil. Do you
allow the words of God to transform you? Do you allow it to bear good and
useful fruits in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Pakinggan nga ninyo ang
kahulugan ng talinghaga tungkol sa manghahasik. Ang mga nakikinig ng Salita
tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos ngunit hindi nakauunawa nito ay katulad ng mga
binhing nahasik sa tabi ng daan.
Dumarating
ang Masama at inaagaw ang nahasik sa kanilang puso. Inilalarawan ng binhing
nahasik sa kabatuhan ang nakikinig ng Salita at masayang tumatanggap nito
kaagad. Ngunit hindi ito tumitimo sa puso nila kaya’t hindi sila nananatili.
Pagdating ng mga kapighatian o pag-uusig dahil sa Salita, agad silang
nanlalamig.
Inilalarawan
naman ng naghasik sa dawagan ang nakikinig ng Salita, ngunit naging abala sa
mga bagay ukol sa mundong ito, at naging maibigin sa mga kayamanan anupat ang
Salita’y nawalan na ng puwang sa kanilang puso, kaya’t hindi makapamunga. At
inilalarawan ng naghasik sa matabang lupa ang mga nakikinig ng Salita at
nakauunawa nito. Sila’y namumunga: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu, at may
tigtatatlumpu.”
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?" He said to them in
reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of
heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been
granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from
anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to
them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen
or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them,
which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but
never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their
ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with
their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because
they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets
and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear
what you hear but did not hear it."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you discern the intervention of Jesus
in your life through real life stories that you go through?
The disciples were discerning of these
stories coursed through parables. However, the fickle crowd was not
discerning. Why? This is for the reason that they only follow because of their
need of Jesus. After they’ve gotten what they want they once again detach
themselves from Jesus in other words the fickle crowd were followers in need
only.
There are still many nowadays who are like
the fickle crowd they go to Jesus because they are in need. For instance, those
who are carrying many burdens. After they’ve been relieved of their burdens
they somewhat distance themselves once again until their next need comes
around.
We must follow Jesus the way the disciples
followed Him they were not followers in need only, they were always there for
Him; in good times and in bad. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, lumapit ang mga alagad at tinanong si Jesus: "Bakit po
ninyo dinadaan sa talinghaga ang inyong pagsasalita sa kanila?" Sumagot
siya, "Ipinagkaloob sa inyo na malaman ang mga lihim tungkol sa paghahari
ng Diyos, ngunit hindi ito ipinagkakaloob sa kanila.
Sapagkat ang
mayroon ay bibigyan pa, at mananagana; ngunit ang wala, kahit ang kakaunting
nasa kanya ay kukunin pa. Nagsasalita ako sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng
talinghaga, sapagkat tumitingin sila ngunit hindi nakakikita, at nakikinig
ngunit hindi nakaririnig ni nakauunawa.
Natutupad nga
sa kanila ang hula ni Isaias na nagsasabi: 'Makinig kayo nang makinig, hindi
kayo makauunawa, at tumingin man kayo nang tumingin, hindi kayo makakikita.
Sapagkat naging mapurol ang isip ng mga taong ito; mahirap makarinig ang
kanilang mga tainga, at ipinikit nila ang kanilang mga mata. Kung di gayon,
disin sana'y nakakita ang kanilang mga mata. Nakarinig ang kanilang mga tainga,
nakaunawa ang kanilang mga isip, at nagbalik-loob sa akin, at pinagaling ko
sila, sabi ng Panginoon.'
Mapalad kayo,
sapagkat nakakikita ang inyong mga mata at nakaririnig ang inyong mga tainga!
Sinasabi ko sa inyo: maraming propeta at matutuwid na tao ang nagnanasang
makakita sa inyong nakikita, ngunit hindi ito nakita, at makarinig sa inyong
narinig, ngunit hindi ito napakinggan."
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why does Jesus sometimes tell parables?
Jesus often tells parables to His disciples for them to have something to reflect, ponder and think about. These parables are also for us to reflect and discover the lesson that it tries to convey to us.
The sower in the gospel parable is actually God, the seeds that He sowed were His teachings and the environments which the seeds fell are us. Obviously the first three environments on which the seeds fell were not ideal because the seeds did not grew and bear fruit as it should be.
We become the first three environments when we intentionally turn a deaf ear to God’s teachings. For example, in matters of sin, we all know that sin is evil. But sad to say many of us shun God in favor of sin. Many of us favor sin because we love this world than God.
No matter how much God wants us to know more about Him if we are not willing to listen He cannot do anything about it. He will not be able to take root and grow in our hearts because we simply don’t want it. We want more to get busy with the things of this world which is oftentimes sinful than the things of God.
The last environment: The rich soil could also be us. This happens when we open our whole being to God’s teachings. We listen to it, we imbibed it, we live it and we share it. It grows within us and in that process we bear fruit. In bearing fruit God uses us to touch lives thus we become an instrument of His blessings for others. The desire of God is for us to always become the rich soil wherein we touch lives and make a positive difference in the lives of our fellow human beings.
God wants us to be transformed to become the rich, productive and responsive soil. So that we can touch lives and be a force for good towards others. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noon ding
araw na iyon, si Hesus ay lumabas ng bahay at naupo sa tabi ng lawa.
Pinagkalipumpunan siya ng makapal na tao, kaya sumakay siya sa isang bangka at
doon naupo. Nasa dalampasigan naman ang mga tao. At nagturo siya ng maraming
bagay sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga.
“May isang magsasakang
lumabas upang maghasik. Sa kanyang paghahasik ay may binhing nalaglag sa tabi
ng daan. Dumating ang mga ibon at tinuka ang mga iyon. May binhi namang
nalaglag sa kabatuhan. Sapagkat manipis lang ang lupa roon, sumibol agad ang
binhing iyon, ngunit nang mapabilad sa matinding sikat ng araw ay natuyo,
palibhasa’y walang gaanong ugat.
May binhi
namang nalaglag sa dawagan; lumago ang mga dawag at ininis ang mga iyon. Ngunit
ang binhing nalaglag sa mabuting lupa ay nag-uhay: may tigsasandaan, may tig-aanimnapu,
at may tigtatatlumpung butil ang bawat uhay. Ang may pandinig ay making!”
The mother of the sons of Zebedee
approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for
something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that
these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in
your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what
you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said
to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at
my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it
has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant
at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said, “You
know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make
their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather,
whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to
be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to
be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What does it mean to be a follower of
Jesus? Does it mean to wield power and influence? Does it mean to be popular in
your community? None of the above actually, to be a follower is to be
ready to serve without any hidden agenda. To be a follower is not to
desire greatness or any form of influence and popularity.
The mother of the sons of Zebedee desired
her two sons to sit beside Jesus in His kingdom. Why did she ask for this? She
asked because she did not know the real essence of a follower of Jesus. If only
she knew that a follower must be the epitome of humility she would have not
asked for that exalted position.
The mother of the two sons is the typical
representation of the many modern parents of today. They want their children to
be in the spotlight. To be in front and have all the attention that they could
gather.
But if this is the mindset of many parents
today, what are they teaching their children? They’re teaching their children
to have an arrogant mindset instead of a mindset of humility. Their teaching
their children to seek prominence whenever they do good instead of simply
fading away.
If we want to grow in faith and if we want
to be exalted by Jesus we have to learn to be humble. We have to learn not to
desire greatness in whatever forms and shapes. Because in due time greatness
will naturally come to those who are as humble as Jesus. –Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, lumapit kay Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo, kasama ang kanyang mga
anak. May ibig siyang hingin, kaya't lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Jesus.
"ano ang ibig mo?" tanong ni Jesus. Sumagot siya, "Sana'y
ipagkaloob ninyo sa dalawa kong anak na ito ang karapatang makaupong katabi
ninyo sa inyong kaharian -- isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa."
"Hindi
ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi," sabi ni Jesus sa kanila.
"Mababata ba ninyo ang hirap na babatahin ko?" "Opo," tugon
nila. Sinabi ni Jesus, "Ang hirap na babatahin ko'y babatahin nga ninyo.
Ngunit wala sa akin ang pagpapasiya kung sino ang mauupo sa aking kanan at sa
aking kaliwa. Ang mga luklukang sinasabi ninyo'y para sa pinaghandaan ng aking
Ama."
Nang marinig
ito ng sampung mga alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid. Kaya't pinalapit sila ni
Jesus at sinabi sa kanila, "Alam ninyo na ang mga pinuno ng mga Hentil ay
naghahari sa kanila, at ang mga dinadakila ang siyang nasusunod.
Ngunit hindi
dapat ganyan ang umiral sa inyo. Sa halip, ang sinuman sa inyo na ibig maging
dakila ay dapat maging lingkod. At sinumang ibig maging pinuno ay dapat maging
alipin ninyo, tulad ng Anak ng Tao na naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran kundi
upang maglingkod at iaalay ang kanyang buhay upang matubos ang marami.
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to
Jesus, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An
evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given
it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of
the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart
of the earth three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will
arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the
judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it,
because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and
there is something greater than Solomon here.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a woman who was in
her early forties and was getting desperate already for she was getting old yet
she couldn’t find the right man for her. So while at church she said to the
Lord, “Lord give me a sign so that I’ll have the man for my lifetime.”
Then she said to the Lord: “The first man
that I see who wears a red tee shirt is the one for me Lord.” Lo and behold, a
well built and handsome man wearing a red tee shirt suddenly entered the
church. But to her dismay the handsome man was with his wife and children. The
desperately seeking woman said to the Lord, this is not my day Lord, until next
time.
Many of us ask for signs and wonders from
the Jesus, isn’t our faith more than enough to carry us through in our journey
with Jesus? If our faith in Jesus is rock solid we would never ask for any sign
whatsoever. Because signs is of no use if we have rock solid faith in Jesus.
Our faith is more than enough to carry us
through our journey with Jesus in this world. Our faith is more than enough to
conquer all our fears. We will be able to survive whatever may come to us
because we have faith. And we believe that our faith in God will carry us
through than any dreadful signs, disease and pandemic from this world.
Let us not be like the scribes and
Pharisees in our gospel who asked Jesus for a sign. Let us rather continue to
hold on to our faith in Jesus. Let us continue to strengthen this faith in
Jesus by our consistent prayer life. By our consistent presence at Holy Mass,
by our frequent visitation at the Adoration Chapel. And by daily reading the
bible most specially the life of Jesus if we do these acts of faith we would
never anymore ask for a sign. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ng ilang eskriba at Pariseo kay Jesus, "Guro, maaari
po bang pagpakitaan ninyo kami ng tanda mula sa langit?" Sumagot si Jesus,
"Lahing masasama at di-tapat sa Diyos! Naghahanap kayo ng tanda ngunit
walang ipakikita sa inyo maliban sa palatandaang inilalarawan ng nangyari kay
Propeta Jonas.
Kung
paanong si Jonas ay tatlong araw at tatlong gabing nasa tiyan ng dambuhalang
isda, gayon din ang Anak ng Tao ay tatlong araw at tatlong gabing nasa ilalim
ng lupa. Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom, titindig ang mga taga-Ninive laban sa lahing
ito at ito'y hahatulan ng kaparusahan, sapagkat nagsisi sila dahil sa
pangangaral ni Jonas; ngunit higit na di-hamak kay Jonas ang naririto!
Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world. Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the meaning of Jesus’ parables? It’s a short story that imparts moral lessons about life which we can use for us to become more effective and productive followers of God.
The first parable is about a man who sowed good seeds. While they were asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds. The owner just let both the good seeds and weeds grow side by side. However, during harvest time the weeds were pulled first, after that they were tied in bundles and were burned. After which they carefully gathered the wheat and they put it into the owner’s barn.
If our lives will end now, where would we end up? Would it be in hell to burn like the weeds? Or would it be in heaven like the wheat that ended up in the owner’s barn?
The second parable is about the tiny mustard seeds that were sowed in the field. It grew big where birds found rest. When we were baptized the seed of our catholic faith was also sowed by Jesus to us. Has it risen as big as a mustard seed? Have we become instrument of Jesus’ compassion and mercy in words and in deeds? Have we been a safe refuge for those who are in distress?
The third parable is about the yeast that influenced a mass of dough to rise. Have we become yeast for those who are not properly acquainted with Jesus? For example, we introduce Jesus to them in that process we become the yeast that influenced the growth of their faith in Jesus.
These three parables invite us to ask these three questions to ourselves. How am I as a follower of Jesus? Am I like the weeds or the wheat? Is my faith now as big as the mustard seed whereby my fellowmen can take refuge and solace? Have I already become yeast to my fellowmen by way of helping them know Jesus in a much deeper sense? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, inilahad ni Jesus ang talinghagang ito sa mga tao. "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang taong naghasik ng mabuting binhi sa kanyang bukid. Isang gabi, samantalang natutulog ang mga tao, dumating ang kanyang kaaway at naghasik ng masasamang damo sa triguhan.
Nang tumubo ang trigo at magkauhay, lumitaw rin ang masasamang damo. Kaya't lumapit ang mga alipin sa puno ng sambahayan at sinabi rito, 'Hindi po ba mabuting binhi ang inihasik ninyo sa inyong bukid? Bakit po may damo ngayon?' Sumagot siya, 'Isang kaaway ang may kagagawan nito.' Tinanong siya ng mga utusan, 'Bubunutin po ba namin ang mga iyon?'
'Huwag!' sagot niya. 'Baka mabunot pati trigo. Hayaan na ninyong lumago kapwa hanggang sa anihan. Pag-aani'y sasabihin ko sa tagapag-ani: Tipunin muna ninyo ang mga damo at inyong pagbigkis-bigkisin upang sunugin, at ang trigo'y inyong tipunin sa aking kamalig.' "
Isa na namang talinghaga ang inilahad ni Jesus sa kanila. "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: may isang taong nagtanim ng isang butil ng mustasa sa kanyang bukid. Pinakamaliit ito sa lahat ng binhi, ngunit kapag natanim na at lumago ay nagiging pinakamalaki sa lahat ng puno ng gulay. Ito'y nagiging punongkahoy, anupat napamumugaran ng mga ibon ang mga sanga nito."
Nagsalaysay pa siya ng ibang talinghaga, "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad ng lebadura na inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, at umalsa ang buong masa." Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao ang lahat ng ito sa pamamagitan ng talinghaga at wala siyang sinabi sa kanila nang hindi gumagamit ng talinghaga. Ginawa niya ito upang matupad ang sinabi ng propeta: "Magsasalita ako sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga, ihahayag ko sa kanila ang mga bagay na nalilihim mula nang likhain ang sanlibutan."
Pagkatapos, iniwan ni Jesus ang mga tao at pumasok sa bahay. Lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya, "Ipaliwanag po ninyo sa amin ang tungkol sa masasamang damo sa bukid." Ito ang tugon ni Jesus, "Ang Anak ng Tao ang naghahasik ng mabuting binhi. Ang bukid ay ang sanlibutan. Ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng Diyos ang mabuting binhi at ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng diyablo ang masasamang damo.
Ang kaaway na naghasik ng mga iyon ay walang iba kundi ang mga diyablo. Ang pag-aani ay ang katapusan ng daigdig, at ang mga anghel ang mga tagapag-ani. Kung paanong iniipon ang mga damo at sinusunog, gayon din ang mangyayari sa katapusan ng daigdig.
Susuguin ng Anak ng Tao ang kanyang mga anghel, at iipunin nila mula sa kanyang pinaghaharian ang lahat ng nagiging sanhi ng pagkakasala at ang lahat ng gumagawa ng masama, at ihahagis sa maningas na pugon. Doo'y mananangis sila at magngangalit ang kanilang ngipin. At magliliwanag na parang araw ang mga matuwid sa kaharian ng kanilang Ama. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!"
+ + + + + + +
Repleksyon:
Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng mga talinghaga ni Jesus? Ito ay isang maikling kwento na puno ng aral.
Ang unang talinghaga ay tunkol sa isang taong naghasik ng mabuting binhi sa kanyang bukid. Ang ikalawa ay tungkol sa isang taong nagtanim ng butil ng mustasa. Ang ikatlo ay patungkol sa lebadura na inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, at umalsa ang buong masa.
Ang tatlong talinhagang ito ay nag a-anyaya sa atin na tanugin ang ating sarili ng ganito: Sino ako bilang tagasunod ni Jesus? Ako ba ay naghahasik ng mabuting binhi ng aking pananampalataya? Ang aking bang pananampalataya ay kasing laki na ng butil ng mustasa?
Ako ba ay naging isang lebadura na nag papapalago ng pananampalataya ng mga taong nakakikila sa akin? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
On the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and
saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and
to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the
Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And
as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting
there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They
have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around
and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman,
why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener
and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and
I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in
Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary
Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then
reported what he told her.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we agree that we are all sinners?
All of us are like Mary Magdalene for like
her we too are sinners. Nevertheless, we too are always being called by Jesus
to conversion and to follow Him for the rest of our life.
But unlike Mary Magdalene who was
compliant to Jesus call for her to repent. We oftentimes are not; we follow the
many deceiving dictates of this world rather than follow the desire of Jesus
for us.
What would we gain if we follow the many
sinful dictates of this world? Nothing but emptiness and sin, has our cravings
for the things of this world gave us peace? This world will never give us peace
and contentment only Jesus will give it to us.
What if like Mary Magdalene we respond to
Jesus’ call and faithfully follow the Lord for the rest of our life? We will
have a foretaste of heaven while we are still in this world. What if we are
like Mary Magdalene who never gave up on searching for the risen Christ until
she found Him? We will have peace, serenity and contentment in our life.
Like Saint Mary Magdalene let us also
search for the Lord until we find Him for the Lord makes Himself available to
anyone who search for Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Madilim-dilim
pa nang araw ng Linggo, naparoon na si Maria Magdalena sa libingan. Naratnan
niyang naalis na ang batong panakip sa pinto ng libingan. Dahil dito, patakbo
siyang pumunta kay Simon Pedro at sa alagad na mahal ni Hesus, at sinabi sa
kanila, “Kinuha sa libingan ang Panginoon at hindi namin alam kung saan
dinala!”
Si Maria’y
nakatayong umiiyak sa labas ng libingan; yumuko siya at tumingin sa loob. May
nakita siyang dalawang anghel na nakaupo sa pinaglagyan ng bangkay ni Hesus,
ang isa’y sa gawing ulunan at ang isa nama’y sa paanan. Tinanong nila si Maria,
“Ale, bakit kayo umiiyak?”
Sumagot siya,
“Kinuha po nila ang aking Panginoon, at hindi ko alam kung saan nila dinala.”
Lumingon siya pagkasabi nito, at nakita niya si Hesus na nakatayo roon, ngunit
hindi niya nakilalang si Hesus iyon. Tinanong siya ni Hesus, “Bakit ka umiiyak?
Sino ang hinahanap mo?”
Akala ni
Maria’y siya ang tagapag-alaga ng halamanan, kaya’t sinabi niya, “Ginoo, kung
kayo po ang kumuha sa kanya, ituro ninyo sa akin kung saan ninyo dinala at
kukunin ko.” “Maria!” ani Hesus. Humarap siya at kanyang sinabi, “Raboni!” —
ibig sabihi’y “Guro.” “Huwag mo akong hawakan, sapagkat hindi pa ako
nakapupunta sa Ama,” wika ni Hesus.
“Sa halip,
pumunta ka sa king mga kapatid at sabihin mong aakyat ako sa aking Ama at
inyong Ama, sa aking Diyos at inyong Diyos.” Kaya’t si Maria Magdalena’y
pumunta sa mga alagad at sinabi, “Nakita ko ang Panginoon!” At tuloy sinabi sa
kanila ang bilin ni Hesus.
Jesus was going through a field of grain
on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain
and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your
disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to them, “Have you not read what
David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of
God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only
the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on
the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are
innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew
what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned
these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Are we quick to judge?
When Pope Francis was asked about
homosexuals, he said this: "Who am I to judge them if they're seeking
the Lord in good faith? They shouldn't be marginalized. This comment by
the Pope evoked countless positive comments all over the world. Why? Because it
broke barriers, it erased the usual stigma that homosexuals are sinful.
When the disciples eat during the Sabbath
the Pharisees told Jesus, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do
on the Sabbath." (Matthew 12:2) But Jesus justly defended HIS disciples by
saying: “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were
hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which
neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have
you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple
violate the Sabbath and are innocent? (Matthew 12:3-5)
Like the Pharisees, it’s so easy for us to
judge based only on what we see but what we see is often a false representation
a person’s identity. Unlike many of us who easily judge, Jesus does not, what
is important for Jesus is mercy, what is important for Jesus is the pureness of
the intention.
How are we going to spread the goodness of
Jesus if we are overly strict and judgmental? The Pharisees in our gospel were
judgmental they want their laws to be strictly followed. But the irony of it
all is they were also the silent violators of the laws that they have
self-servingly created. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, isang Araw ng Pamamahinga, naparaan si Jesus sa triguhan.
Nagutom ang kasama niyang mga alagad kaya't nangitil sila ng uhay at kinain ang
mga butil. Nang makita ito ng mga Pariseo, sinabi nila sa kanya, "Tingnan
mo ang ginagawa ng iyong mga alagad. Bawal iyan kung Araw ng
Pamamahinga."
Sumagot
si Jesus, "Hindi ba ninyo nabasa ang ginawa ni David nang magutom siya at
ang kanyang mga kasama? Pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos at kumain ng tinapay na
handog sa Diyos at pinakain din niya ang kanyang mga kasama. Labag sa Kautusan
na kanin nila ang tinapay na iyon sapagkat ang mga saserdote lamang ang may
karapatang kumain niyon.
Hindi
pa ba ninyo nababasa sa Kautusan ni Moises na tuwing Araw ng Pamamahinga,
lumalabag sa batas tungkol sa araw na ito ang mga saserdote sa templo, gayunmay
hindi nila ipinagkakasala iyon? Sinasabi ko sa inyo, naririto ang higit na
dakila kaysa templo. Hindi sana ninyo hinatulan ang mga walang sala kung alam
ninyo ang kahulugan ng mga salitang ito, 'Habag ang ibig ko, hindi hain.'
Sapagkat ang Araw ng Pamamahinga ay nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Anak ng
Tao."
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a father who was
suddenly rendered out of job. He was therefore worried where he would earn the
money to feed his family. So, he prayed to the Lord for help to find a new job.
After only three days a neighbor who knows about his predicament asked him if
he would be willing to work as a family driver and he immediately said
yes!
Are you going through a difficult stage in
our life right now caused by a sickness or joblessness? Do you want to learn
how to let go of your worries? Jesus has an offer for you! In the gospel Jesus
tells you this: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will
give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Why does Jesus wants you to go to Him?
Because Jesus wants to help you carry whatever that burdens you right now. He
wants to ease your pains and sufferings; Jesus wants to help you in carrying
whatever that suffering might be.
Let us respond to this call of Jesus and
we will never regret making that decision. What would happen to us if we
respond now? The sufferings that we carry will become lighter this is for the
reason that Jesus will help us carry our suffering.
We will have hope and there will be many
more positive things that will happen to our life if you would respond to this
offer of Jesus. Let us respond now and see for ourselves the miracle that will
unfold in our life. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose
if we would respond to this offer of Jesus.
Would we respond to this offer of the
Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, "Lumapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na
napapagal at; nabibigatan sa inyong pasanin, at kayo'y pagpapahingahin
ko.
Pasanin
ninyo ang aking pamatok, at mag-aral kayo sa akin; ako'y maamo at
mababang-loob, at makasusumpong kayo ng kapahingahan para sa inyong kaluluwa.
Sapagkat maginhawang dalhin ang aking pamatok, at magaan ang pasaning ibibigay
ko sa inyo."
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who was very
serious in his desire to know God. So, what he did was he read every book that
deals about God. But he was wondering how come that the more that he read books
about God the more that God becomes distant to him?
So he seek the advice of a wise man for
enlightenment thus he was told by the wise man: Your dilemma is simple. You
need to become more humble as you become more learned about God. You should put
into your heart and not into your head whatever learning that you obtain from
your readings.
Do you want to discover more about the
movement of God in our life? The secret word is humility: childlike humility;
this is for the reason that the more childlike you become in front of God the
more that you open yourself to His many graces.
What is the demeanor of Jesus when He prays
to God? Jesus is always humble before God, He doesn’t brag or boast anything
about Himself. So, we too should always be humble for this is the secret for us
to know more about God. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus, "Pinasasalamatan kita, Ama, Panginoon ng
langit at lupa, sapagkat inilihim mo ang mga bagay na ito sa marurunong at
matatalino at inihayag sa mga may kaloobang tulad ng sa bata.
Oo,
Ama, sapagkat gayon ang ikinalulugod mo. "Ibinigay sa akin ng aking Ama
ang lahat ng bagay. Walang nakakikilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama, at walang
nakakikilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at yaong marapating pagpahayagan ng
Anak."
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 nether world. 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.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who was
being bothered by his many sins, he would think of it every now and then and it
would always give him guilt of conscience. He had no peace of mind; a friend
noticed his uneasy behavior so he was asked what was bothering him. After
telling his friend what was bothering him, he was advised to repent from all of
his sins through the Sacrament of Confession. So he did and he finally had
peace of mind.
The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida were
reprimanded by Jesus for they refused to repent from their evil ways. Why do we
refuse to repent and why do we love to sin? The reason perhaps is we love Satan more than Jesus, we love this world more than we love to be
eventually in heaven with Jesus. Otherwise if we love Jesus we would repent and
this repentance will reach its apex once we submit ourselves to the Sacrament
of Confession.
This is who many of us are, we love to sin
yet we don’t want to be in hell. But what we don’t know is as we continue to
sin we also slowly walk towards hell. Are Satan and hell real? Of course,they are! Observe those who continue to sin or who continue to live sinful
lives. They live without peace.
They may be rich and powerful but the
reality is they have no peace of mind often times their family also is in
turmoil. And the reason for this is their refusal to walk away from sin.
Therefore we will be with the evil one and we will feel hell here and now if we
will not walk away from sin.
Jesus will surely want us all to repent
and to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. This is for the reason
that Jesus wants us to be cleansed from all of our sins that have been
enslaving us for so long. Nevertheless, Jesus also gave us the freedom of
choice to do what we want to do in this world.
The choice is ours to make, should we
continue to live in the darkness of sin that has been making life so miserable
for us? Or we embrace the guiding light of Jesus through HIS offer of
repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinumbatan ni Jesus ang mga bayang ginawan niya ng maraming
kababalaghan sapagkat hindi sila nagsisi't tumalikod sa kanilang mga kasalanan.
"Kawawa ka, Corazin! Kawawa ka Betsaida!Sapagkat kung
sa Tiro at Sidon ginawa ang mga kababalaghang ginawa sa inyo, malaon na sanang
nagdaramit ng sako at nauupo sa abo ang mga tagaroon upang ipakilalang sila'y
nagsisisi.
Ngunit
sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang sasapitin
ninyo kaysa sasapitin ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, ibig
mong maging mataas kaysa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades!
Sapagkat kung
sa Sodoma ginawa ang kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, sana'y nananatili pa
ito hanggang ngayon. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit
na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa inyo kaysa dinanas ng Sodoma."
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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
There’s a saying that goes, “No pain no
gain”. But how could there be gain in pain? Why not gain without pain? When we
gain something without pain what we gain can easily fly away and it can easily
be forgotten. But when we gain something that is accompanied with pain, sweat
and sacrifice we will treasure it and properly take care of it.
Would you be able to know Jesus more
deeply without going through life’s many pains? No, you will not gain
Jesus and you will not have an up close and personal encounter with Him if
you would not go through life’s many pains. For there’s no easy way going to
Jesus.
you have to pass through the many
painful obstacles of life in order to find Jesus. You may even have to give up
every inch of your worldliness in order to find Jesus. Therefore self-sacrifice
is an important ingredient in finding and knowing Jesus.
Would you be willing to go through pains
and sufferings so that you could experience an encounter with Jesus? If you
really desire an encounter with Jesus in your life you have to embrace
suffering/s and pains.
But worldly life has already conditioned
us to veer away as much as we could from our crosses and pains. No small wonder
that many if not majority has not yet found Jesus in their lives. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostol, "Huwag ninyong
isiping naparito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa; naparito ako upang
magdala ng tabak, hindi kapayapaan. Sapagkat naparito ako upang papaglabanin
ang anak na lalaki at ang kanyang ama, ang anak na babae at ang kanyang ina,
ang manugang na babae at ang kanyang biyenang babae. at ang kaaway ng isang
tao'y ang kanya na ring kasambahay.
"Ang
umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. At
ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki o babae nang higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat
sa akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan nang kanyang krus at sumusunod sa akin ay hindi
karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan
nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin ay magkakamit
nito."
"Ang
tumatanggap sa inyo ay tumatanggap sa akin, at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay
tumatanggap sa nagsugo sa akin. Ang tumatanggap sa isang propeta dahil sa
siya'y propeta ay tatanggap ng gantimpala ukol sa propeta. At ang tumatanggap
sa isang taong matuwid dahil sa siya'y matuwid ay tatanggap ng gantimpalang
nauukol sa taong matuwid.
At sinumang
magbigay ng kahit isang basong tubig na malamig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil
sa ito'y alagad ko-- tinitiyak kong tatanggap siya ng gantimpala." Matapos
tagubilinan ang labingdalawang alagad, umalis si Jesus upang magturo at
mangaral sa mga bayang malapit doon.