Reflection for June 17, Wednesday; Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

What does Jesus teach us today? It’s about humility and modesty, keep your every acts of piety in secret and don’t trumpet it to the whole wide world including the world of social meadia for HE knows everything. But the world that we are in now is influencing us to discard this teaching of Jesus and embrace publicity and self-proclamation.

Just look at the many vehicles of publicity in the internet such as facebook, instagram, twitter and the like. What are they dictating to us? It dictates us to publicize almost everything that we do, including our acts of piety.

Nothing’s wrong to embrace these social media platforms if we use it to advance our advocacies with other motives but to help. Yet it becomes wrong when we use it to proudly show to the whole wide world the good that we do. Perhaps Jesus is telling us not to worry if nobody would notice our acts of kindness and piety for HE knows it already.

What is important is we do everything for Jesus and for the greater good of HIS people. It doesn’t matter anymore if we would be noticed or not if people would compliment us or not. What is important is we know that we have a God who knows everything including our unpublicized acts of love, charity and goodness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 17, Miyerkules; Sa Ika-11 Taon: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

1 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad  pag-ingatang huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang in­yong mabubuting gawa. Kung ganito ang ga­gawin ninyo, wala na kayong gantimpala sa inyong Amang nasa langit. 2 Kaya pag nagbibigay ka ng limos, huwag pahipan ang trumpeta sa unahan gaya ng gina­gawa ng mga mapagkunwari sa sinagoga at sa mga daan; gusto nilang mapuri ng mga tao. Sinisiguro ko sa inyo na nagan­timpala­an na sila nang husto.

3 Kaya kung ikaw naman ang magbi­bigay ng limos, huwag ipaalam sa iyong kaliwang kamay ang ginagawa ng iyong kanang kamay; 4 at mananatiling lihim ang iyong pagli­limos at ang iyong Amang nakakakita sa mga lihim ang siyang ga­gantimpala sa iyo.

5 Kung mananalangin kayo, huwag nin­yong tularan ang mga mapagkunwari. Gustung-gusto nilang tumayo sa mga sinagoga o sa mga daan para manala­ngin nang nakikita ng marami. Sinisi­guro ko sa inyo na nagantimpa­laan na sila nang husto. 6 At kung ikaw naman ang mana­nalangin, pumasok sa iyong silid, isara ang pinto at mana­langin sa iyong Ama na kasama mo nang lihim; at ang iyong Ama na naka­kakita sa ipinag­lilihim ang gagantimpala sa iyo.

16 Pag mag-aayuno kayo, huwag magpakita ng lungkot sa mukha gaya ng mga mapagkunwari. Nagpapakita sila ng lungkot sa mukha para makita ng tao na nag-aayuno sila. Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na nagantimpalaan na sila nang husto. 17 Kung ikaw naman ang mag-aayuno, maghilamos at ayusin ang sarili 18 sapagkat hindi ka nag-aayuno para pakitang-tao lamang kun­di para sa iyong Amang naka­kakita sa lahat. At gagantimpalaan ka ng iyong Amang nakakakita sa lahat ng lihim.

  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 16, Tuesday; Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

Would we obey the command of Jesus to love and pray for our enemy?

Who are we to not obey the command of Jesus to love even our enemy? We are mere mortals and sinful beings of God. If God loves us unconditionally, why can’t we do the same to our fellowmen and women?

Our problem is we give so much importance on our high sense of ourselves, on our egos. That’s why we often times say, “If you don’t love me I will not love you also.”, “If you’re angry with me, then I would be angry with you also.” These kinds of reasoning are reasoning of a person who is so full of himself. 

The call of Jesus for us it to do away with our very high regard of ourselves and this would only be possible if we would become humble. Humility therefore is the key factor for us to be able to follow this command of Jesus: To love even to our enemies.

Let be humility an integral part of our way of life. Let us always learn to reach out, let us always be forgiving and let us not harbor ill feelings to those who’ve wronged us. If we’re able to do these, we can now say that we would be able to love and pray for everyone… even our enemies.

Can we love our enemy? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 16, Martes; Sa Ika-11 Taon: Mateo 5:43-48

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:43-48

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 43 Narinig na ninyo na sinabi: Ma­ha­lin mo ang iyong kapwa at kamuhian ang iyong kaaway. 44 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: Mahalin ninyo ang inyong ka­away, at ipagdasal ang mga umuusig sa inyo. 45 Sa ganito kayo magi­ging mga anak ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Sa­pagkat pinasisikat niya ang araw sa kap­wa ma­sama at mabuti, at pinapapatak niya ang ulan sa kapwa makatarungan at di-maka­tarungan.

46 Kung mahal ninyo ang nagma­mahal sa inyo, bakit kayo gagantim­palaan? Di ba’t ginagawa rin ito ng mga kolektor ng buwis? 47 At kung ang mga kapatid ninyo lamang ang inyong bina­bati, ano ang na­iiba rito? Di ba’t gina­gawa rin ito ng mga pagano? 48 Kaya maging ganap kayo gaya ng pagiging ganap ng inyong Amang nasa langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon. 

Reflection for June 15, Monday; Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

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Reflection:

Do you know that exacting revenge against someone who did you wrong will not do you any good? For example you discovered that your spouse is unfaithful to you and you get back at her/him by being unfaithful as well. Do you know that you’re only enveloping yourself with sin if you do so?

There’s a psychological study that says that when a person is at the height of his anger that person momentarily loses his rationality. This is the reason why a person commits sin that is unthinkable for that person to do.

In the gospel passage this Monday Jesus told the disciples: “offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles (Matthew 5:39-41).

Jesus did not retaliate for all the punishments and insults that His persecutors did to Him, He was always meek and humble. May we always be meek and humble also to those who sin against us most especially sins inside the marriage covenant.

May we learn to turn the other cheek, hand our cloak and learn to walk some more miles for the sake of peace and eventual harmony inside the marriage covenant.

Instead of retaliating with the betrayal of the marriage covenant which will only make us sin. Why not engage in dialogue, prayer and forgiveness? Or why not simply walk-away and live a quiet and solitary life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 15, Lunes; Sa Ika-11 Taon: Mateo 5:38-42

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:38-42

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang nga alagad, • 38 Narinig na ninyo na sinabi: Mata sa mata at ngipin sa ngipin. 39 Ngunit sina­sabi ko sa inyo: Huwag ninyong laba­nan ng masama ang masama. Kung sam­palin ka sa kanang pisngi, ibaling ang mukha at iharap ang kabilang pisngi. 40 Kung may magdemanda sa iyo para kunin ang iyong sando, ibigay mo pati ang iyong kami­seta. 41Kung may pumilit sa iyong suma­ma sa kanya nang  isang  kilometro,  dala­wang kilometro ang la­ka­rin mong kasama niya. 42 Bigyan ang nanghi­hingi at huwag talikuran ang may hinihiram sa iyo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon. 

Reflection for Sunday June 14, Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ: John 6:51-58

Gospel: John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

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Reflection:

How can we live forever? We have to eat what Jesus offers us today none other than HIS Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Where do we receive this selfless offering of Jesus? We receive HIM at Holy Mass during Holy Communion. Hard to believe that we would be sustained by the Body and Blood of Jesus yet this is true! If we always receive HIM with utmost reverence we will notice something different and life changing within us.

Our faith will increase, we will be lead by Jesus to people who will help us grow in faith. And our eyes of faith will be opened to the rich resources available for us to grow in faith. However, before all of these life changing moments change us. We must receive HIM first at Holy Mass with deep reverence.   

But in this era of Covid-19 pandemic majority of us can’t still attend Holy Mass. So, what would we do? We have to reverently attend online Holy Mass and we have to say with reverence the prayer of Spiritual Communion. 

We become what we eat and we are transformed by what we eat, for example if we regularly eat food that makes us fat such as sweet and sugary food we will surely be fat. If we regularly eat salty and processed food this will also make us fat.  And the side effect of eating sugary, processed and fatty foods is it will eventually bring us sickness.

In the same manner if we will regularly partake reverently of the Body and Blood of Jesus it will not only transform and sustain us it will also cleanse us of anything that makes us sinful. This is the miracle of the Body and Blood of Christ that we reverently receive during Holy Communion/Spiritual Communion.

However, do we receive the Body of Christ with reverence and do we pray to Jesus to Heal, Renew and Change us as we fall in line/queue with social distancing for Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 14, Katawan at Dugo ni Kristo (Dakilang Kapistahan) Juan 6:51-58

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:51-58

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio,  51 Ako siyang tinapay na buhay, na pumanaog mula sa Langit. Kung may kakain ng tinapay na ito, mabubuhay siya magpa­kailanman. At ang laman ko ang tinapay na aking ibibigay alang-alang sa ikabu­buhay ng mundo.

52 Kaya nagtalu-talo ang mga Judio at nagsalita: “Paano tayo mabi­bigyan ng taong ito ng laman para ka­inin?” 53 Sinabi naman ni Jesus sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, kung hindi n’yo kakanin ang laman ng Anak ng Tao at iinu­min ang kanyang dugo, wala kayong buhay sa inyong sarili. 54 May buhay magpakailanman ang ngumu­nguya ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo, at itatayo ko siya sa huling araw.

55 Sapagkat totoong pagkain ang aking laman at totoong inumin ang aking dugo. 56 Ang ngumunguya ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay namamalagi sa akin at ako naman sa kanya. 57 Sinugo nga ako ng Amang buhay at buhay ako dahil sa Ama, gayundin naman dahil sa akin mabu­buhay ang ngumunguya sa akin.

58 Ito ang tinapay na pumanaog mula sa Langit, hindi gaya sa inyong mga ninuno na kumain at nangamatay pa rin. Mabu­buhay naman magpakailan­man ang ngu­munguya ng tinapay na ito.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 13, Saturday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:33-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”

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Reflection:

Do we stand by our word?

Our words are one of the essential showcase of our character. For example, if we are prone not to fulfill what we say we would eventually loss our credibility. No one will believe us anymore because the minds of those who know us have already been conditioned that we don’t stand up for what we say.

But the moment we start to value word of honor and the moment we only say what is true. Our moral value and credibility will never be questioned for the simple reason that we have word of honor and we always say the truth.

Many of us do not value anymore word of honor. Lying or to tell lies is just ordinary thing for many of us. We are not anymore bothered about its negative impact on our reputation. And the harm that it can create to our fellowmen and women, this is who some of us are today.  

To have integrity and word of honor is something that we have to imbibe and live. We have to discard any form of lying and manipulation. Because a person who is a congenital liar is a secret follower of Satan the king of lies and master manipulator.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 13, Sabado; San Antonio de Padua, pari at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita): Mateo 5:33-37

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:33-37

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang nga alagad, 33 Narinig na rin ninyo na sinabi sa inyong mga ninuno: Huwag kang sisira sa iyong sinumpaan. Tuparin mo ang sinumpaang pangako sa Pangi­noon. 34 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: huwag kayong manumpa sa ngalan ng Langit pagkat naroon ang trono ng Diyos, 35 ni sa ngalan ng lupa pagkat ito ang tuntungan ng kanyang mga paa, ni sa ngalan ng Jerusalem pagkat ito ang lunsod ng Dakilang Hari.

36 Huwag kang manumpa ni sa ngalan ng iyong ulo pagkat ni hindi mo kayang paputiin o paitimin ni isang hibla ng iyong buhok. 37 Sabihin mong oo kung oo at hindi kung hindi. Ano pa mang sasabihin mo’y sa demonyo na galing.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon. 

Reflection for June 12, Friday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a husband who got involved in an adulterous relationship. Eventually the husband was caught. So, the wife asked him why did  he do it? The husband simply, “I don’t know.” This is the culture nowadays; the sacredness of marriage is not anymore being respected by married couples. Adultery and divorce are always a tempting despicable avenue for them.

Why do couples succumb to the temptation of satan? For the simple reason that they don’t value their faith in Jesus anymore. Yes, they worship Jesus at church for Holy Mass but they purposely leave Jesus inside the four walls of the church after Holy Mass. 

They don’t bring Jesus along with them and they don’t allow Jesus to live in their hearts.  If they live the teachings of Jesus they would be afraid to even think of doing such evil. Much less commit and plunge their very selves into it.

But all is not lost yet, there is still hope and He is no other than Jesus. Let us bring Jesus with us, let us live His teachings and let us make Him our armor. So that we can easily protect ourselves from the scheming of the devil who always seeks to destroy the sanctity of the Marriage Covenant. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 12, Biyernes; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 5:27-32

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:27-32

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang nga alagad, 27 Narinig na ninyo na sinabing: Huwag kang makiapid. 28 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: ang sinumang tumingin nang may pagnanasa sa isang babae ay nakiapid na rin sa kanyang puso.

29 Kaya kung ang iyong kanang mata ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasa­lanan, alisin mo ito at itapon! Makabu­buti pa sa iyo na mawalan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno. 30 Kung ang iyong kanang kamay naman ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasalanan, putulin mo ito at ita­pon! Mas makabubuti sa iyo ang mawa­lan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno.

• 31 Sinabi rin namang: Kung may ma­kikipagdiborsiyo sa kanyang maybahay, bigyan niya ito ng katibayan. 32 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa iyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang maybahay sa ibang dahilan maliban sa kawalang-katapatan, pinapakiapid niya ito. At naki­kiapid din ang nagpapakasal sa babaeng diborsiyada.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 11, Thursday; Memorial of Saint Barnabas, apostle and martyr: Matthew 10:7-13

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-13

(Jesus said to the twelve disciples) As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. 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. 

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who can’t seem to dispose the old things in her house. According to her she will not dispose anything because each one has a sentimental value. After two years her house was already full of clutter and dirt brought about by the many unnecessary things that she owned. Don’t we also love to own unnecessary things that only complicate and add clutter to our life?

Simple life equals simple problems, complicated life equals complicated problems. Do we live simple lives?

Jesus is an advocate of simple living no doubt about it. This is proven in our gospel today when He told the twelve apostles as they were to be commissioned: “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.” (Matthew 10:9-10)

The best way to live our life is to live it simply. And as we go ahead with our simple living we would also notice that there’s less pressure and stress on us there are also less human created problems. 

Yet not all of us are aware that many of the problems that we face now are created by our complicated lifestyles. The life that we have right now is our personal choice if we are living a problematic life it is certainly brought about by our complicated lifestyle.

Let us be like Jesus who lived the simple and uncomplicated life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 11, Huwebes; San Barnabas, apostol at martir: Mateo 10:7-13

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 10:7-13

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 7 Ipahayag ang mensaheng ito sa in­yong paglalakbay: ‘Palapit na ang kaha­rian ng Langit.’ 8 Pagalingin ang maysakit, buhayin ang patay, linisin ang mga may­ketong at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Tinanggap ninyo ito nang walang bayad kaya ibigay rin ninyo nang walang bayad. 9 Hu­wag magdala ng ginto, pilak o pera sa inyong mga bulsa. 10 Huwag magdala ng balutan o sobrang damit o sandal­yas o tungkod, sapagkat may kara­patan ang mang­gagawa 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 kara­pat-dapat ang sambahayang ito, sasa­kanila ang kapayapaang dinasal ninyo; kung hindi naman karapat-dapat, babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.