1Reflection for October 19, Saturday; Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

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Reflection:

Do you acknowledge the majesty and goodness of God before others? To acknowledge God is to proclaim His goodness towards us. To acknowledge God is to proclaim and share His blessing with others. For example, when you say God bless you to someone, you are already acknowledging the goodness of God in your life. And by saying God bless you, you want your friends to be blessed by God as well.

To acknowledge God in one’s life is to live and share His teachings. Do we live and share His teachings? We become productive followers of Jesus when we share Him and when we live His teachings. Profession of faith is not good enough we have to humbly show that we are living our faith and in turn we become active and not passive followers of God.

We always acknowledge the presence of God in our lives when we do good and shun whatever forms of evil. When we are always humble and loving even if our others are not humble and loving towards us. This is for the reason that Jesus is a God of love and humility. Do we strive to live the love and humility of Jesus?

 It’s tempting to ego trip most especially when we have the power and means to do so but this is against the will of God. How would Jesus be seen in us and how could we acknowledge the presence of Jesus in our lives if we are egoistic and arrogant?

Love, Mercy, Humility just to name a few are the language and lifestyle of God and when we live these virtues we are acknowledging the presence of God in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 19, Sabado: San Juan de Brebeul at San Isaac Jogues, mga pari at mga kasama , mga martir: Lucas 12:8-12

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:8-12

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 8 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sinumang ku­mi­­lala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao ay kiki­lalanin din ng Anak ng Tao sa harap ng mga anghel ng Diyos. 9 At ang ayaw ku­milala sa akin sa harap ng mga tao’y hin­di rin kikilalanin sa harap ng mga anghel ng Diyos.

10 Ang sinumang magsalita laban sa Anak ng Tao ay mapapatawad, ngunit ang sinumang lumait sa Espiritu Santo ay hindi mapapatawad. 11 Dalhin man nila kayo sa harap ng mga sinagoga at mga namu­muno at mga may­kapang­ya­rihan, hu­wag kayong mabalisa kung paano ninyo ipagtatanggol ang sarili o kung ano ang inyong sasabihin. 12 Sa­pagkat ang Es­piritu Santo ang magtuturo sa inyo sa oras na iyon ng dapat na sabihin.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for October 18, Friday; Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist: Luke 10:1-9

Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

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Reflection:

Are you doing something to share the teachings of Jesus?

Like the seventy two which Jesus sent ahead of Him. We too are laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, what is the implication of this to our life? We are also called to share and live the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus told the disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” This is very true until to this very day. The harvest indeed is plentiful but the laborers are so few. Therefore in our own little way let us also be laborers like the seventy two. Let us spread and live the teachings of Jesus, let us not be afraid for God will be with us.

Many of us invest do much of our time in laboring for this world alone that we forget to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. But where would our labors for this world bring us? Only here in this world but if we labor for the Lord we go to heaven after the end of our journey in this world.

Would you labor in the vineyard of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 18, Biyernes: San Lucas Ebanghelista: Lucas 10:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:1-9

1 Pagkatapos nito, humirang ang Panginoon ng iba pang pitumpu’t dalawa at isinugo silang dala-dalawa na mauna sa kanya sa bawat ba­yan at lugar na takda niyang pun­tahan. 2 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Marami nga ang aanihin at kakaunti naman ang mga mang­gagawa; idalangin ninyo sa panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang ani. 3 Lumakad na kayo. Isinusugo ko ka­yong parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat. 4 Huwag kayong magdala ng pitaka, bag o mga sandalyas. At huwag ninyong ba­tiin ang sinuman sa daan.

5 Saanmang bahay kayo pumasok, sa­bihin muna ninyo: ‘Mapasatahanang ito ang kapayapaan!’ 6 Kung mapaya­pang tao ang naroon, sasakanya ang inyong kapayapaan. Kung hindi’y mag­babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal. 7 At sa bahay na iyon kayo manatili; kumain kayo at umi­nom na kasalo nila sapag­kat may karapatan ang manggagawa sa kanyang sa­hod. Huwag kayong magpapapalit-palit ng bahay.

• 8 Saanmang bayan kayo pumasok at tanggapin nila kayo, kanin ninyo anu­mang ihain sa inyo. 9 Pagalingin din ninyo ang mga maysakit doon at sabihin ninyo sa kanila: ‘Palapit na sa inyo ang kaha­rian ng Diyos.’

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for October 17, Thursday; Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

(Jesus said) “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Why were the prophets killed? For example John the Baptist, why was he killed? Because he courageously spoke about the truth no matter who gets hurt! During that time John was enjoying a respectable status until he denounced the immorality of King Herod.

Therefore from respectability John was scorned, imprisoned and eventually beheaded. What a frightening end for a prophet of God but this is the role of the prophet: To speak about the truth no matter who gets hurt! Because in speaking about the truth we change lives, we correct errant behaviors. And we create awareness that evil deeds will not get away unnoticed.   

We too could become a prophet when we are not afraid to speak about the truth no matter who gets hurt. But there is a price to pay for our discipleship for Jesus and that is to face our respective trials.

It’s so tempting to always package Jesus as a God of miracles, abundance and prosperity. But this is not the totality of Jesus because Jesus also went through sacrifices and trials without which there would have been no triumph over the cross and there would have been no salvation.

 What would happen to a follower when he/she encounters trials if he/she only know Jesus as a God of prosperity?  He may not know how to deal with his trials and the worst case scenario is he/she may even blame Jesus for his/her trials.

We should therefore not forget to also present Jesus as someone who will bring us trials. This is for the reason that it is only through our trials that we get to have a deeper friendship with Him.  

Are you going through hardship and trials right now? It has a purpose, none other than for you to be aware of the abiding presence of Jesus in your life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 17, Huwebes: San Ignacio de Antioquia, Obispo at martir: Lucas 11:47-52

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:47-52

Sinabi ni Jesus, 47 Sawimpalad kayong nagtatayo ng mga puntod sa mga prope­tang pinatay ng inyong mga ama. 48 Sa gayon ninyo inaamin at sinasang-ayunan ang mga ginawa ng inyong mga ama; iniligpit nila ang mga propeta, at maka­pagta­tayo na kayo ngayon.

• 49 (Sinabi rin ng Karunungan ng Diyos:) Nagsusugo ako sa kanila ng mga propeta at mga apostol ngunit uusigin nila at papatayin ang ilan sa ka­nila. 50 Ka­yat papapanagutin ang salin­lahing ito sa dugo ng lahat ng propeta, sa dugong na­buhos mula pa sa pagka­tatag ng mundo, 51 mula sa dugo ni Abel hanggang sa dugo ni Zacarias na nasawi sa pagitan ng altar at ng san­tuwaryo. Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, pa­pa­pa­nagutin ang salinlahing ito.

52 Sawimpalad kayong mga guro ng Batas na umagaw sa susi ng kaalaman. Hindi na kayo pumasok at hinadlangan pa ninyo ang mga ma­kapapasok.” 53 Pagkatapos ay umalis si Jesus at sinimulan naman ng mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo na mahigpit na maki­pagtalo sa kanya. Pinapagsa­lita nila siya tungkol sa maraming bagay 54 at pilit na sinisilo sa anumang sinasabi niya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for October 16, Wednesday; Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

(Jesus said) “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

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Reflection:

Where does this anger of Jesus toward the Pharisees and the scholars of the law comes from? It originates from their hypocrisy! The Pharisees and the scholars of the law are only good on creating laws for their people to follow yet they don’t follow it themselves.

They make their self-created laws as an instrument to beguile and eventually enslave their people. Therefore, instead of introducing God to their people they eventually introduce themselves as Gods to their people.

Their style of leadership is leadership by deception and many of our Politicians has this kind of leadership. They pretend and project themselves to be leaders. But they have the stomach to corrupt the money that is for the poor, how could they do this to the masses that they are supposed to truthfully serve?    

Politicians are not alone in this kind of pharisaic mentality we too are often times guilty of this mentality. We tell others or even our children not to do this and that yet when nobody is watching anymore we are the main violators of the rules that we create.

The truth hurts but this is the truth we have to accept this. And hopefully make this as our springboard to live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus and not according to the false and self-serving teachings of the Pharisees and the scholars of the law. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 16, Miyerkules: Ika-28 na Linggo ng taon: Lucas 11:42-46

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:42-46

Sinabi ni Jesus, Sawimpalad kayong mga Pariseo! Nagba­bayad nga kayo ng ikapu ng yerbabuena at ng ruda at ng lahat ng gulay, at pinababayaan naman ninyo ang kataru­ngan at ang pag-ibig sa Diyos. Ito nga ang dapat gawin nang di kinaliligtaan ang mga iyon. 43 Sawimpalad kayong mga Pa­riseo! Gusto ninyong mabigyan ng pa­nguna­hing upuan sa mga sinagoga at mabati sa mga liwa­san. 44 Sawimpalad kayo, na parang mga naka­tagong libi­ngan, na inaapakan ng mga tao at di man lang nila namamalayan.”

45 Nagsalita ang isang guro ng Batas: “Guro, iniinsulto mo rin kami sa pagsa­sabi mo ng mga ito.” 46 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Sawimpalad din ka­yong mga guro ng Batas! Ipinapapasan ninyo sa mga tao ang mga napakabibigat na pasanin, ngunit ni isang daliri ay ayaw ninyong igalaw para tulungan sila.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for October 15, Tuesday; Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 11:37-41

Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

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Reflection:

Maria is very particular with external appearance she would always dress well. The exterior of her house was always refreshing to the eyes. Her neighbor was wondering how come she’s able to afford such luxuries considering that she had no job to speak of?

 One morning a rich woman was shouting in front of her house telling her to leave her husband alone otherwise she would be forced to bring her to court for having a relationship with a married man.

Many of us are very particular with what others will see from us. As much as possible we would always try to paint a good picture of ourselves. This is who many of us are, very much driven with the exterior, fleeting and those that do not last for a lifetime.

Jesus is not taken with this show of misleading exterior appearance. What counts for Jesus is  our inner selves and the things that we do especially when nobody sees us. For example, how do we react when we see the poor begging for alms? Do we do something to help them? Or we simply don’t care; anyway no one is looking at us, so might as well not mind the poor.

Jesus knows everything about us, we cannot keep anything from Him. He knows our hidden secrets, our double talk and the façade that we try so very hard to display so that we could create an impression of righteousness, wealth and extravagance. - Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 15, Martes: Santa Teresa de Jesus, dalaga at pantas ng iglesia: Lucas 11:37-41

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:37-41

37 Matapos magsalita si Jesus, inan­yaya­han siya ng isang Pariseo na kumain sa bahay nito. Pumasok siya at dumulog sa hapag. 38 At nagtaka ang Pariseo nang makitang hindi muna siya naghugas ng kamay bago kumain. 39 Ngu­nit sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon: “Kayong mga Pariseo, ugali ninyong linisin ang labas ng mga baso’t pinggan pero nag-uumapaw naman sa kasa­kiman at kasamaan ang inyong loob! 40 Mga hangal! Di ba’t ang maygawa ng labas ang siya ring maygawa ng loob? 41 Pero naglilimos lamang kayo at sa akala ninyo’y malinis na ang lahat.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for October 14, Monday; Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

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Reflection:

How would you react if somebody tells you to mend your ways and repent from all of your sinfulness? Will you not feel insulted and antagonized? Many of us would feel insulted and antagonized because the call for us to mend our ways is prophetic and true.

We get angry when others tell us to repent and walk away from all of our sinfulness but why get angry when they are telling the truth? Why get angry when those who are telling us to mend our ways are only concerned for our own wellbeing? 

Many listened to Jesus during His public ministry but many did not listen as well. In fact very few listened to Jesus among the high and mighty because they loved sin more than the wise counsel of Jesus.   Isn’t this happening today? Many of us love sin (disguised as pleasure/s) more than we love Jesus?

This is the paradox of our technology driven times today. Many of us today give more time to our high-tech gadgets than listen to Jesus by reading His words. Many of us have more time with our earthy undertakings than have our important quite time with Jesus. What will happen to us if we are like this?

Let us listen more to Jesus and let us listen to His call of repentance. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 14, Lunes: Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:29-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:29-32

29 Nang dumadagsa na ang mga tao, nag­simulang magsalita si Jesus: “Masamang lahi ang lahing ito; humi­hi­ngi ito ng palatandaan pero walang ibang palatandaang ibibigay rito kundi ang palatandaan ni Jonas. 30 At kung paanong na­ging palatandaan si Jonas para sa mga taga-Ninive, gayundin naman ang Anak ng Tao para sa mga tao sa kasalukuyan. 31 Sa paghuhukom, ba­bangon ang Reyna ng Timog kasama ng mga lalaki ng la­hing ito at hahatulan sila. Sapagkat duma­ting siya mula sa kabilang dulo ng mundo para masak­sihan ang karunu­ngan ni Solomon at dito’y may mas dakila pa kay Solomon. 32 Sa paghuhukom, babangon ang mga lalaking taga-Ninive kasama ng salinla­hing ito at hahatulan nila ito dahil nagbalik-loob sila sa pangangaral ni Jonas; at dito’y may mas dakila pa kay Jonas.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Sunday October 13, Twenty-eight Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:11-19

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

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Reflection:

A young man who was sent through college by a rich old man went to the old man’s house after he got his degree. He did it to express his gratitude towards his benefactor. When they met the old man said, “I have helped a lot of people but you are the only one who came back to express appreciation. Since, you have a grateful attitude I will give you one of my business take care of it for it’s yours already.”

Are you grateful to those who have helped you become who you are today? In our gospel we read about the gratefulness of the Samaritan leper who is healed by the Lord. They were actually ten but the nine did not show up to Jesus to express their gratefulness.

What happens to us when we are grateful? The blessings of God keep coming to us. When we are grateful the more that the giver is motivated to give more to us. Therefore, the stream of blessings continues.

How can we prove this? For example if we are the giver of the blessing. Would we not unceasingly give to those who express their appreciation? As opposed to those who do not know how to appreciate the things that we do for them?

Why was Jesus looking for the other nine whom He healed? Perhaps it was not anymore for Him to hear their words of gratitude. But in a deeper sense Jesus was looking for the nine so that He could have an up close and personal encounter with them. And in the process of their encounter He could subsequently bless them again and again and again.

Jesus is also always looking for you not anymore to hear words of gratitude from you. He looks for you so that He could continuously bless you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo October 13, ika-28 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 17:11-19

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:11-19

11 Habang papunta si Jesus sa Jerusalem, dumaan siya sa hangganan ng Samaria sa Galilea. 12 At pagpasok niya sa isang nayon, may sampung lala­king may ketong ang luma­bas para salubungin siya. 13 Tumayo ang mga ito sa malayo at tumawag nang malakas: “Jesus, Guro, maawa ka sa amin.” 14 At sinabi naman sa kanila ni Jesus: “Uma­lis kayo at humarap sa mga pari.” At nang­yari na guma­ling sila habang nag­la­­lakad. 15 Isa sa kanila ang agad na nag­balik nang makita niyang guma­ling siya, at pasigaw niyang pinuri ang Diyos. 16 Nagpatirapa siya sa paanan ni Jesus, sa pag­papasa­lamat sa kanya. Isa siyang Samaritano.

17 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus: “Di ba’t sampu ang gumaling? Nasaan ang siyam? 18 Wala bang bumalik para magpuri sa Diyos kundi ang dayuhang ito?” 19 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Tumayo ka, iniligtas ka ng iyong pana­nampalataya.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.