Reflection for Sunday October 15, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 

A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 

The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 

But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen."

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Reflection:

What are you going to do if, for example, a neighbor invites you to go to church for Holy Mass? Would you accept it or not? It would be easy to accept the invitation for those who grew up attending Holy Mass. But it would also be hard to accept the invitation if those who are being invited are not regular Sunday Mass goers.

But what are you missing when you refuse the invitation of the Lord to be present at Holy Mass? You miss being in heaven for an hour while you are still here on earth. You miss attending the holiest and most blessings-filled gathering of people.

In our gospel, those who were invited refused the invitation of the king to attend the wedding feast of his son. For they all have their own preoccupations and priorities. But come to think of it, what is one hour for the wedding feast? What is one hour for our attendance at Holy Mass compared to seven days or 168 hours that we give to our personal lives in a week?

Jesus, in the gospel, invites us to go to Holy Mass. He doesn’t care about who we are: how sinful we are, how poor or rich we are. What the good Lord only cares about is our willingness to be with Him at Holy Mass so that He could bless us.

If our focus is always on our personal and worldly activities, we would end up with nothing eventually. What is the purpose of all these worldly activities when none of them are permanent and lasting? We will leave all of them behind when we eventually die. Many of these worldly undertakings that we prioritize over our worship for God could even result in the disintegration of our family or could even lead to illness.

By the way, what would it benefit you if you possess all the material riches in this world, yet you don't have Jesus in your life?- Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 15 Linggo, Ika-28 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:1-14

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22:1-14

Noong panahong iyon, muling nagsalita sa mga punong saserdote at matatanda ng bayan si Jesus sa pamamagitan ng talinghaga. Sinabi niya, "Ang paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: naghandog ng isang piging ang isang hari sa kasal ng kanyang anak na lalaki. Sinugo niya ang kanyang mga alipin upang tawagin ang mga inanyayahan ngunit ayaw nilang dumalo.

t kanyang pinagbilinan, 'Sabihin ninyo sa mga inanyayahan na naihanda ko na ang aking piging: napatay na ang aking mga baka at mga pinatabang guya, at handa na ang lahat ng bagay. Halina kayo sa piging!' Ngunit hindi ito pinansin ng mga inanyayahan. Humayo sila sa kani-kanilang lakad; ang isa'y sa kanyang bukid at sa kanyang pangangalakal naman ang isa. 

Sinunggaban naman ng iba ang mga alipin hinamak at pinatay. Galit na galit ang hari, Pinaparoon niya ang kanyang mga kawal, ipinapuksa ang mga mamamatay-taong iyon at ipinasunog ang kanilang lungsod. Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alipin, 'Nakahanda na ang piging, ngunit hindi karapat-dapat ang inanyayahan. Kaya't pumunta kayo sa mga lansangang matao, at inyong anyayahan sa kasalan ang lahat ng makita ninyo.' Lumabas nga sa mga pangunahing lansangan ang mga alipin at isinama ang lahat ng natagpuan, masasama't mabubuti, anupa't napuno ng mga panauhin ang bulwagang pangkasalan.

"Pumasok ang hari upang tingnan ang mga panauhin, at nakita niya roon ang isang taong hindi nakadamit pangkasalan. 'Kaibigan, bakit ka pumasok dito nang hindi nakadamit pangkasalan?' tanong niya. Hindi nakaimik ang tao. Kaya't sinabi ng hari sa mga katulong, 'Gapusin ninyo ang kanyang kamay at paa at itapon siya sa kadiliman sa labas. Doo'y mananangis siya at magngangalit ang kanyang ngipin.' Sapagkat marami ang tinatawag, ngunit kakaunti ang nahihirang.

Reflection for October 14, Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:27-28

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

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Reflection:

Are you taking care of your mother? Many of us today pamper our mother with material things. But when a mother is old and already a member of the senior citizen's club she is not anymore concerned with material things. She is more concerned with the love and care that she will receive from her children.

A mother will never say to her children to give her love and care rather than material things. Yet she will greatly appreciate it if she would be given love and care by her children love and care that she richly deserves. Let us not forget that our mothers carried us in their wombs for nine long months and we gained nourishment from them as well.

In the gospel, a woman who perhaps knows the Blessed Virgin Mary told Jesus: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed (Luke 11:27).” She possibly said this to honor Mary for properly rearing Jesus.

Yet, Jesus gave the more profound honor to His Mother Mary by saying: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it (Luke 11:27).” For the Blessed Mother heard the word of God, she treasured it in her heart and followed it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 14, Sabado ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:27-28

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:27-28

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang nagsasalita si Jesus, sa mga tao, may isang babaing sumigaw mula sa karamihan at nagsabi sa kanya, "Mapalad ang babaing nagdala sa inyo sa kanyang sinapupunan, at nagpasuso sa inyo!" Ngunit sumagot siya, "Higit na mapalad ang mga nakikinig sa salita ng Diyos at tumutupad nito!"

Reflection for October 13, Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:15-26

Gospel: Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 

For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

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Reflection:

Many years ago there was an advertisement on TV that had a catchy phrase that goes like this: "Our products are everywhere." Could we also say this to the devil, that he and his minions are everywhere today? Yes, the sad reality is the devil and his minions are prevalent today more than ever. They are everywhere literally disguised in so many attractive ways and things that we cannot identify who they are and where they reside. 

We may not be aware of this, but some of these evils reside within us. This is the reason why evil thoughts suddenly pop into our minds from time to time. Should we worry about this? Yes, of course, because it shows our feeble faith and our very poor relationship with Jesus.

Evil thrives within us when Jesus is absent within us, when we shabbily treat Him and when our faith in Jesus is weak. Therefore, when we have weak faith we also give the devil a window of opportunity to cast his evil magic spell upon us. 

Our gospel for this Friday tells us that Jesus is far more powerful than the devil. That Jesus can demolish the devil anytime He wants. But Jesus needs also our cooperation. For the simple reason that He also gave us the freewill to decide for ourselves. If we are going to embrace Him and let Him come into our lives or we continue to allow the devil to gain control of our lives. 

The choice is yours to make,  but let us take the right choice by choosing Jesus over the devil no matter how attractive the enticements of the devil. This simply means that we will leave sin and anything that makes us sin from hereon. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 13, Biyernes ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:15-26

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:15-26

Noong panahong iyon, matapos palayasin ni Hesus ang isang demonyo, nanggilalas ang mga tao. Ngunit may ilan sa kanila ang nagsabi, “Si Beelzebul na prinsipe ng mga demonyo ang nagbigay sa kanya ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng mga demonyo.” May iba namang nais siyang subukin, kaya’t nagsabi, “Magpakita ka ng kababalaghang magpapakilala na ang Diyos ang sumasaiyo.” 

Ngunit batid ni Hesus ang kanilang iniisip, kaya’t sinabi sa kanila, “Babagsak ang bawat kahariang nahahati sa magkakalabang pangkat at mawawasak ang mga bahay roon. Kung maghimagsik si Satanas laban sa kanyang sarili, paano mananatili ang kanyang kaharian? Sinasabi ninyong nagpapalayas ako ng mga demonyo sapagkat binigyan ako ni Beelzebul ng kapangyarihang ito. 

Kung ako’y nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo sa pamamagitan ni Beelzebul, sino naman ang nagbigay ng kapangyarihan sa inyong mga tagasunod na makagawa ng gayun? Sila na rin ang nagpapatunay na maling-mali kayo. Ngayon, kung ako’y nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos, nangangahulugang dumating na sa inyo ang paghahari ng Diyos. 

“Kapag ang isang taong malakas at nasasandatahan ay nagbabantay sa kanyang bahay, malayo sa panganib ang kanyang ari-arian. Ngunit kung salakayin siya at talunin ng isang taong higit na malakas, sasamsamin nito ang mga sandatang kanyang inaasahan at ipamamahagi ang ari-ariang inagaw. “Ang hindi panig sa akin ay laban sa akin, at nagkakalat ang hindi tumutulong sa kaing mag-ipon. 

“Kapag lumabas na mula sa tao ang isang masamang espiritu, ito’y gumagala sa mga tigang na lugar at naghahanap ng mapagpapahingahan. Kung walang matagpuan ay sasabihin nito sa sarili, ‘Babalik ako sa bahay na aking pinanggalingan.’ Pagbabalik ay matatagpuan niyang malinis na ang bahay at maayos. Kaya, lalabas siyang muli at magsasama ng pito pang espiritung masasama kaysa kanya, at papasok sila at maninirahan doon. Kaya’t sumasama kaysa dati ang kalagayan ng taong iyon.”  

Reflection for October 12, Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:5-13

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three oaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him, and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. 

I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? 

Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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Reflection:

How persistent are you in your prayer? For example, if you have a prayer before Jesus do you pray until your prayer is answered by Jesus? Or you easily give up because you feel the Jesus doesn’t hear your prayer? The best attitude to have when you pray is not to give up because giving up is a sign of lack of faith. 

The foundation of every prayer is faith for without faith there is no successful prayer. For example, if you pray for healing for your sickness or you pray for something that you badly want you must therefore pray unceasingly with faith. 

In our gospel there is a persistent fellow, who during the dead of night went to the house of his friend to ask for bread for his visitor. What moved this fellow to go to his friend to ask for bread even at midnight? It was faith! The fellow had faith that his friend would never fail him.  

Jesus in our gospel tells us: Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10).  

Do you have a prayer before Jesus? Never give up continue instead to badger Him with your prayer with faith. Prayer that comes from the depths of your heart and soul. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 12, Huwebes ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:5-13

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:5-13

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Ipalagay natin na ang isa sa inyo'y nagpunta sa isang kaibigan isang hatinggabi at nagsabi, 'Kaibigan, bigyan mo muna ako ng tatlong tinapay. Dumating kase ang isa kong kaibigang naglalakbay at wala akong maihain sa kanya!' 

At ganito naman ang sagot ng kanyang kaibigan sa loob ng bahay. 'Huwag mo nga akong gambalain! Nakatrangka na ang pinto at nakahiga na kami ng aking mga anak. Hindi na ako makababangon pa upang bigyan kita ng iyong kailangan.' Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi man siya bumangon dahil sa kanilang pagkakaibigan, babangon siya upang ibigay ang hinihingi ng kaibigan dahil sa pagpupumilit nito. 

Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: Humingi kayo, at kayo'y bibigyan, humanap kayo at kayo'y makasusumpong; kumatok kayo, at ang pinto'y bubuksan para sa inyo. Sapagkat tumatanggap ang bawat humihingi; nakasusumpong ang bawat humahanap; at binubuksan ang pinto sa bawat kumakatok. 

Kayong mga ama, bibigyan ba ninyo ng ahas ang inyong anak kung humihingi ng isda? Bibigyan ba ninyo siya ng alakdan kung siya'y humihingi ng itlog? Kung kayong masasama ay marunong magbigay ng mabubuting bagay sa inyong mga anak, gaano pa kaya ang inyong Amang nasa langit! Ibibigay niya ang Espiritu Santo sa mga humihingi sa kanya!"

Reflection for October 11, Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-4

Gospel: Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: 

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

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Reflection:

Have you asked Jesus to teach you to pray? This is one of the most powerful petitions that we could ever ask Jesus; to teach us to pray. But do we pray regularly? When we pray we connect with Jesus and when we pray we allow Jesus to come to us and strengthen us. 

Let us observe our feelings before and after praying, isn’t that we feel good, mentally strong and light after we’ve prayed? The feeling of a person is different before and after prayer. Why is this so? This is the miracle of our prayer to Jesus, it heals us body and soul; it makes us accept the things that is hard for us to accept and it opens our bodies and souls to so many blessings from the Lord.

Starting today begin your prayer with this humble petition for Jesus: Lord teach me to pray and then solemnly recite the prayer (The Our Father) that Jesus taught us to pray. After praying the Our Father connect with Jesus through a personal prayer that comes from your heart and mind. And before ending your prayer ask Saint Joseph, The Blessed Mother and your favorite saint/s to pray for you.

If exercise is for our bodies, our prayers are for our souls for it makes us have an active and healthy relationship with Jesus. Therefore, the more we pray the more that we make healthy our souls, the more we pray the more that we inch closer to God and the more we pray the less worries we would have.

Do you have a healthy prayer life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 11, Miyerkules ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 11:1-4

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:1-4

Minsan, nananalangin si Hesus. Pagkatapos niya, sinabi ng isa sa kanyang mga alagad, “Panginoon, turuan po ninyo kaming manalangin, katulad ng ginawa ni Juan sa kanyang mga alagad.”  

Sinabi ni Hesus, “Kung kayo’y mananalangin, ganito ang sabihin ninyo: ‘Ama, sambahin nawa ang pangalan mo. Magsimula na sana ang iyong paghahari. Bigyan mo kami ng aming makakain sa araw-araw. At patawarin mo kami sa aming mga kasalanan, Sapagkat pinatatawad namin ang bawat nagkasala sa amin. At huwag mo kaming iharap sa mahigpit na pagsubok.’”

Reflection for October 10, Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:38-42

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 

Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

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Reflection:

Are we anxious and worried about many things? This story of Martha is our story also.

Are we not too busy with the daily grind of this temporary life that we don’t have anymore time to pray and listen to Jesus? Many of us are somewhat like  Martha very busy with worldliness and what happens when we have no more time to listen to the Lord?

There’s disintegration in the family and there are many problems that we create for ourselves. Simply because we have no more time to listen to Jesus. There is still life after this present life that we are in and we can best prepare ourselves to go there if we would always take time to listen and be one with Jesus thru our prayers and through the celebration of the Holy Mass.   

Many modern parents today are often very busy with their own worldly activities. They hardly have time to take care and counsel their children. Thus, they try to compensate their lack of personal interactions with their children by giving them money and the latest gadgets that do more harm than good to them.

What would happen to us if, upon waking up in the morning, we immediately reach for our smartphones? If we rush out of bed, eat our breakfast, and become engrossed in our daily activities? We would become citizens of this world who are distant from Jesus.

How about if we take time first to thank Jesus for His many blessings? We pray and listen to Him even for a brief moment? We can always create time for God if we would want to and if we do so. This would surely make us closer to Jesus, we will learn more from Him and we will become more sensitive to what He wants us to do for Him.

When Jesus entered the village and subsequently went to the house of Mary and Martha. It was Mary who took time to sit beside at His feet to listen to Him. Thus Mary imbibed everything that Jesus wanted to tell her. By listening to Jesus she learned from Him and developed a much deeper friendship with Him.

Martha on the other hand was very busy preparing food for Jesus she forgot that Jesus was not after what she was doing. Jesus wanted her to be like Mary, He wanted her to also listen to Him.

By listening to Jesus we learn from Him and we develop a much deeper friendship with Him. Do we always take time daily even for a brief moment to pray and listen to our Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 10, Martes ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 10:38-42

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:38-42

Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus sa isang nayon. Malugod siyang tinanggap ng isang babaing nagngangalang Marta sa tahanan nito. Ang babaing ito'y may isang kapatid na Maria ang pangalan. Naupo ito sa paanan ng Panginoon at nakinig sa kanyang itinuturo.

Alalang-alala si Marta sapagkat kulang ang kanyang katawan sa paghahanda, kaya't lumapit siya kay Jesus at ang wika, "Panginoon, sabihin nga po ninyo sa kapatid kong tulungan naman ako." Ngunit sinagot siya ng Panginoon, "Marta, Marta, naliligalig ka at abalang-abala sa maraming bagay, ngunit isa lamang ang talagang kailangan. Pinili ni Maria ang lalong mabuti, at ito'y hindi aalisin sa kanya."

Reflection for October 9, Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:25-37

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. 

Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Reflection:

A man said to his beloved, “I love you until the end of my life.” However, when the man saw another woman who winked at him. He left his supposed beloved whom he promised to love until the end to be with the another woman who winked at him. How do you love? Do you love like this man or you love like God?

In the gospel a man fell victim to robbers and they left the dying man on the road to die. The priest and the levite passed by but did not help the dying man.  Either one of them were expected to help the dying man because both were serving in the temple of God. But they did not.  

Then, came the Samaritan who walked on the same road. Unlike the priest and the levite who ignored the dying man. This samaritan took time to help the dying man and the Samaritan even brought the dying man to an inn so that he could be nursed.  

What if the Samaritan did not pass by? The victim may have died due to the indifference of the priest and Levite. Fortunately the Samaritan who was the exemplar of perfect love which is the love of God passed by otherwise the victim might have died.

Perhaps, many of us who profess to love and worship God fail to translate this love to an authentic love for our neighbor. Why? Because when the going gets tough many of us simply ignore the neighbor in need. Thus, we become like the priest and levite who indifferently walked away from the dying man.

The Lord wants us to always be like the Samaritan who went out of his way to help the dying man. For the simple reason that the action of the Samaritan represents the love and mercy of God. Love and mercy that we must all emulate. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 9, Lunes ng Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 10:25-37

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:25-37

Noong panahong iyon, may isang eskribang lumapit kay Hesus upang siya’y subukin. “Guro,” aniya, “ano ang dapat kong gawin upang magkamit ng buhay na walang hanggan?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ano ang nakasulat sa Kautusan? Ano ang nababasa mo roon?” Tumugon siya, “‘Ibigin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buong puso, nang buong kaluluwa, nang buong lakas, at nang buong pag-iisip’; at ‘Ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili.’” “Tama ang sagot mo,” wika ni Hesus. “Gawin mo iyan at mabubuhay ka.”

Sa hangad ng eskriba na huwag siyang lumabas na kahiya-hiya, tinanong niya uli si Hesus, “Sino naman ang aking kapwa?” Sumagot si Hesus: “May isang taong naglalakbay buhat sa Jerusalem, patungong Jerico. Hinarang siya ng mga tulisan, kinuha pati damit sa katawan, binugbog at halos patay na nang iwan.

Nagkataong dumaan doon ang isang saserdote at pagkakita sa taong nakahandusay, siya’y lumihis at nagpatuloy ng kanyang lakad. Dumaan din ang isang Levita, ngunit tiningnan lamang niya ito at nagpatuloy ng kanyang lakad. Ngunit may isang Samaritanong naglalakbay na naparaan doon. Nakita niya ang hinarang at siya’y nahabag. Lumapit siya, binusan ng langis at alak ang mga sugat nito at tinalian.

Saka isinakay ang tao sa kanyang sinasakyang hayop, dinala sa bahay-panuluyan, at inalagaan doon. Kinabukasan, dumukot siya ng dalawang denaryo, ibinigay sa may-ari ng bahay-panuluyan at sinabi, ‘Alagaan mo siya, at kung magkano man ang kakulangan niyan, babayaran ko sa aking pagbabalik.’ Sino ngayon sa palagay mo ang nagpakita ng kanyang pakikipagkapwa sa taong hinarang ng mga tulisan?” tanong ni Hesus. “Ang nagpakita ng habag sa kanya,” tugon ng eskriba. Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Humayo ka’t gayun din ang gawin mo.