Reflection for August 18 Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:“ Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”  

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”  

Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

Is there a reward for following Jesus?

Yes, there is! What, then, is the reward? Is it material riches? No. It is something far more profound than anything this world can offer—something that no amount of worldly wealth, no matter how enormous, could ever buy.

Many of us may measure the reward of following Jesus in terms of material riches, expecting Him to bless us with wealth the moment we decide to follow Him. But this is a great misconception, for Jesus does not call us to pursue materialism. He invites us to seek something far greater: a life centered on God, a heart detached from worldly possessions, and a faith that treasures what is eternal above what is temporary.

The devil can entice us to become greedy for material possessions. When we allow greed and the love of wealth to take control of our hearts, they can slowly destroy us, our relationships, and even our families. Wealth may give us comfort, but it can never give us the lasting peace, joy, and fulfillment that only God can provide.

So, what is the true reward of following Jesus? It is eternal life (Matthew 19:29). This promise is not merely something we hope to receive at the end of our earthly journey. Its grace can already begin to shape our lives today. As we faithfully follow Jesus, we can experience a deep sense of peace and serenity even amid trials and difficulties. Our problems may not disappear, but our hearts can remain anchored in hope because we have placed our faith, trust, and confidence in the Lord.

There are moments when we may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or afraid. Yet when we remain close to Jesus, we discover that His presence gives us strength to carry our burdens and courage to face each new day. The peace He gives is not dependent on our circumstances. It flows from knowing that we are never alone and that our lives are safely held in God's loving hands.

Then, when our earthly journey finally comes to an end, our story will not end there. Like seeds planted in fertile soil, we will rise again to new life. We will leave behind this temporal world and enter into the fullness of life with God, in the loving presence of our Lord and in the company of His holy angels.

This is the greater reward of following Jesus. It is not wealth that fades, possessions that perish, or achievements that eventually disappear. It is the gift of eternal life with God, a treasure that no earthly fortune can purchase and no power in this world can take away.

May we, therefore, examine our hearts. Are we following Jesus because of what we hope to receive from Him, or are we following Him because we have come to realize that He Himself is our greatest treasure? When the things of this world can no longer satisfy us, will we still choose to remain faithful to Him?

Are we ready to follow Jesus wholeheartedly—not for the riches He may give us, but because He alone can lead us to the treasure that never fades: eternal life with God?—Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Agosto 18 Martes ng Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:23-30

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:23-30

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: napakahirap mapabilang ang mayayaman sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos! At sinasabi ko rin sa inyo: madali pang makaraan ang kamelyo sa butas ng karayom kaysa pasakop sa paghahari ng Diyos ang isang mayaman.” 

Nagtaka ang mga alagad nang marinig ito, kaya’t naitanong nila. “Kung gayun, sino po ang maliligtas?” Tinitigan sila ni Hesus at sinabi, “Hindi ito magagawa ng tao, ngunit magagawa ng Diyos ang lahat ng bagay.”   

At nagsalita si Pedro, “Tingnan po ninyo: iniwan namin ang lahat at kami’y sumunod sa inyo. Ano po naman ang para sa amin?” Sinabi sa kanila ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag nakaluklok na ang Anak ng Tao sa kanyang maringal na trono sa bagong daigdig, kayong sumunod sa akin ay luluklok din sa labindalawang trono upang hukuman ang labindalawang lipi ng Israel.   

At ang sinumang magtiis na iwan ang tahanan, mga kapatid na lalaki at babae, ama, ina, mga anak, o mga lupain alang-alang sa akin ay tatanggap ng makasandaang ibayo, at pagkakalooban ng buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit maraming una na magiging huli, at maraming huli na magiging una.”

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Repleksyon:

May gantimpala ba ang pagsunod kay Jesus?

Oo, mayroon! Ano, kung gayon, ang gantimpalang ito? Kayamanan ba sa materyal na bagay? Hindi. Ito ay isang bagay na higit na malalim at makahulugan kaysa sa anumang maiaalok ng mundong ito—isang bagay na hindi kailanman mabibili ng anumang halaga ng kayamanang pangmundo, gaano man ito kalaki.

Marami sa atin ang maaaring nasusukat ang gantimpala ng pagsunod kay Jesus ayon sa materyal na kayamanan. Marahil iniisip natin na pagpapalain Niya tayo ng maraming salapi at ari-arian sa sandaling magpasya tayong sumunod sa Kanya. Ngunit ito ay isang maling pananaw.

Hindi tayo tinatawag ni Jesus upang habulin ang materyalismo. Inaanyayahan Niya tayong hanapin ang isang bagay na higit na dakila: isang buhay na nakasentro sa Diyos, isang pusong hindi alipin ng mga bagay na makamundo, at isang pananampalatayang higit na nagpapahalaga sa walang hanggan kaysa sa mga bagay na panandalian.

Maaaring tuksuhin tayo ng diyablo na maging sakim sa kayamanan at mga materyal na bagay. Kapag hinayaan nating ang kasakiman at labis na paghahangad sa kayamanan ang mamayani sa ating mga puso, unti-unti nitong maaaring sirain ang ating sarili, ang ating mga relasyon, at maging ang ating mga pamilya.

Maaaring magbigay sa atin ng kaginhawahan ang kayamanan, ngunit hindi nito kailanman maibibigay ang tunay at pangmatagalang kapayapaan, kagalakan, at kaganapan na Diyos lamang ang makapagbibigay.

Kung gayon, ano ang tunay na gantimpala ng pagsunod kay Jesus? Ito ay buhay na walang hanggan (Mateo 19:29). Ang pangakong ito ay hindi lamang isang bagay na inaasahan nating matatanggap sa pagtatapos ng ating buhay dito sa lupa. Ang biyaya nito ay maaari nang magsimulang humubog sa ating buhay ngayon.

Habang tapat tayong sumusunod kay Jesus, maaari nating maranasan ang malalim na kapayapaan at kapanatagan kahit sa gitna ng mga pagsubok at paghihirap. Maaaring hindi agad mawala ang ating mga problema, ngunit maaari tayong manatiling matatag sa pag-asa sapagkat inilagay natin kay Jesus ang ating pananampalataya, pagtitiwala, at buong buhay.

May mga pagkakataong tayo ay mabibigatan, malilito, o matatakot. Ngunit kapag nananatili tayong malapit kay Jesus, natutuklasan nating ang Kanyang presensya ang nagbibigay sa atin ng lakas upang dalhin ang ating mga pasanin at tapang upang harapin ang bawat bagong araw. Ang kapayapaang ibinibigay Niya ay hindi nakasalalay sa ating kalagayan. Nagmumula ito sa katiyakang hindi Niya tayo iniiwan at ang ating buhay ay ligtas sa mapagmahal na mga kamay ng Diyos.

At kapag dumating na ang wakas ng ating paglalakbay dito sa lupa, hindi doon magtatapos ang ating buhay. Tulad ng binhing itinatanim sa matabang lupa, tayo ay muling babangon tungo sa bagong buhay. Iiwan natin ang panandaliang mundong ito at papasok sa kaganapan ng buhay na kasama ang Diyos, sa mapagmahal na presensya ng ating Panginoon at sa piling ng Kanyang mga banal na anghel.

Ito ang higit na dakilang gantimpala ng pagsunod kay Jesus. Hindi ito kayamanang kumukupas, mga ari-ariang nasisira, o mga tagumpay na lilipas. Ito ay ang kaloob na buhay na walang hanggan kasama ang Diyos—isang kayamanang hindi mabibili ng anumang yaman sa lupa at hindi maaagaw ng anumang kapangyarihan sa mundong ito.

Kaya marahil ay panahon na upang suriin natin ang ating mga puso. Sinusundan ba natin si Jesus dahil sa mga bagay na inaasahan nating matatanggap mula sa Kanya, o sinusundan natin Siya dahil napagtanto nating Siya mismo ang ating pinakadakilang kayamanan? Kapag hindi na tayo kayang bigyang-kasiyahan ng mga bagay ng mundong ito, mananatili pa rin ba tayong tapat sa Kanya?

Handa ba tayong sumunod kay Jesus nang buong puso—hindi dahil sa materyal na kayamanang maaari Niyang ibigay sa atin, kundi dahil Siya lamang ang makapagdadala sa atin sa kayamanang hindi kailanman kumukupas: ang buhay na walang hanggan kasama ang Diyos?—Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for August 17 Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:16-22

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher,  what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 

He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

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Reflection:

The story is told of a man who was searching for peace within himself. Because he was wealthy, he thought that his riches would give him peace of mind, but they did not. One day, he saw an advertisement on his smartphone that said, “Follow Jesus if you want to find peace in your life.” He took these words to heart, set aside his attachment to his wealth, and followed Jesus. And true enough, the man finally found the peace of mind he had been longing for all along.

Are our possessions in this world becoming our sole obsession in life? The young man in our Gospel was deeply attached to his possessions, and he could not give them up in exchange for a life of discipleship with Jesus. He seemed to be a good man, but why couldn’t he let go of his wealth?

He had followed the commandments and appeared to be living a good life, yet his possessions still had a hold on his heart. When Jesus invited him to leave everything behind and follow Him, he could not take that final step.

Perhaps this young man represents many of us today. There are times when we, too, can become enslaved by wealth and material possessions. We may do good things, but sometimes we do them because we want others to notice and praise us.

When no one is watching, we can easily return to our attachment to wealth, possessions, status, and worldly success. We work hard to accumulate riches, and some of us may even sacrifice our honor and principles for the sake of wealth, as if money and possessions could give us lasting peace, contentment, and happiness.

Yet, deep within our hearts, we know that no amount of wealth can completely satisfy the deepest longing of our souls. We may have comfortable homes, good possessions, financial security, and everything that this world considers valuable, but if our hearts are far from God, something will still be missing. The world can offer us many things, but it cannot give us the peace that only God can place within our hearts.

Who, then, can truly give us peace, happiness, and contentment in this world? It is Jesus. He alone can give us the peace and contentment that our hearts deeply desire. When we allow Him to become the center of our lives, we discover that true richness is not measured by what we possess but by how deeply we allow ourselves to be possessed by God's love.

The rich young man in the Gospel failed to recognize this. He stood before Jesus, who was offering him something far greater than material wealth, yet he chose to hold on to what he possessed. In doing so, he missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow Jesus more closely. His possessions were not merely things he owned; they had become things he could not let go of.

And perhaps this is where the Gospel gently speaks to each one of us. What are the things we find difficult to surrender to God? Is it our money, possessions, career, success, reputation, comfort, or desire for recognition? What occupies our hearts so deeply that we struggle to place God above it?

Let us remember that everything we have is temporary, but God's love for us is eternal. Wealth can disappear, possessions can be lost, status can fade, and earthly achievements can be forgotten. But when we choose Jesus, we gain a treasure that no earthly wealth can ever equal.

May we have the courage to loosen our grip on the things of this world and open our hands and hearts to God. May we never allow our possessions to possess us. And may we always remember that the greatest treasure we can ever have is not what we own, but Jesus, who alone can give our hearts the peace, joy, and contentment for which we long.

How about us? If Jesus were standing before us today and asking us to let go of the one thing that keeps us from following Him wholeheartedly, what would we be unwilling to surrender—and are we ready to let it go so that we may gain the treasure that can never be taken away: Jesus Himself?—Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Agosto 17 Lunes ng Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 19:16-22

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:16-22

Noong panahong iyon, may isang lalaking lumapit kay Hesus at nagtanong, "Guro, ano pong kabutihan ang kailangan kong gawin upang magkamit ng buhay na walang hanggan?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Bakit mo ako tinatanong kung ano ang mabuti? Iisa lamang ang mabuti. Kung ibig mong magkamit ng buhay, sundin mo ang mga utos."

"Alin-alin po?" tanong niya. Sumagot si Jesus, "Huwag kang papatay; huwag kang mangangalunya; huwag kang magnanakaw; huwag kang magsisinungaling sa iyong pagsaksi; igalang mo ang iyong ama at ina; at ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa, gaya nang pag-ibig mo sa iyong sarili."

Sinabi ng binata, "Tinutupad ko na pong lahat iyan. Ano pa po ang dapat kong gawin?" "Kung ibig mong maging ganap, humayo ka, ipagbili mo ang iyong ari-arian at ipamahagi sa mga dukha ang pinagbilhan. Kapag ginawa mo iyan, magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa langit.

Pagkatapos, bumalik ka at sumunod sa akin." sagot ni Jesus. Pagkarinig nito, malungkot na umalis ang binata, sapagkat siya'y napakayaman.

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Repleksyon:

May isang kuwento tungkol sa isang lalaking naghahanap ng kapayapaan sa kanyang kalooban. Dahil siya ay mayaman, inakala niyang ang kanyang mga kayamanan ang magbibigay sa kanya ng kapanatagan ng isip, ngunit hindi pala. Isang araw, nakakita siya ng isang patalastas sa kanyang smartphone na nagsasabing, “Sundin mo si Hesus kung nais mong matagpuan ang kapayapaan sa iyong buhay.”

Pinagnilayan niya ang mga salitang ito, unti-unting binitiwan ang kanyang labis na pagkakapit sa kayamanan, at sinundan si Hesus. At tunay nga, sa huli ay natagpuan niya ang kapayapaang matagal nang hinahanap ng kanyang puso.

Ang ating mga ari-arian ba sa mundong ito ang unti-unting nagiging tanging sentro ng ating buhay? Ang mayamang binata sa ating Ebanghelyo ay labis na nakakapit sa kanyang mga ari-arian at hindi niya kayang talikuran ang mga ito upang lubusang sumunod kay Hesus. Sa unang tingin, mabuti siyang tao. Sinunod niya ang mga utos at tila maayos ang kanyang pamumuhay. Ngunit nang anyayahan siya ni Hesus na iwan ang lahat at sumunod sa Kanya, hindi niya magawa ang huling hakbang.

Marahil, ang binatang ito ay kumakatawan din sa marami sa atin ngayon. May mga pagkakataong tayo rin ay maaaring maging alipin ng kayamanan at mga materyal na bagay. Gumagawa tayo ng mabuti, ngunit kung minsan ay ginagawa natin ito upang mapansin at mapuri ng iba. Kapag wala nang nakakakita sa atin, madali tayong bumabalik sa ating pagkakapit sa kayamanan, ari-arian, katayuan, at tagumpay sa mundong ito.

Nagsisikap tayong mag-ipon at yumaman, at may ilan sa atin na maaaring isakripisyo maging ang ating dangal at mga prinsipyo para sa kayamanan, na para bang ang pera at mga ari-arian ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng tunay at pangmatagalang kapayapaan, kapanatagan, at kaligayahan.

Ngunit sa kaibuturan ng ating puso, alam nating walang anumang halaga ng kayamanan ang lubos na makapupuno sa pinakamalalim na uhaw ng ating kaluluwa. Maaari tayong magkaroon ng maginhawang tahanan, maraming ari-arian, sapat na salapi, seguridad sa buhay, at lahat ng itinuturing na mahalaga ng mundo.

Ngunit kung malayo naman ang ating puso sa Diyos, may bahagi pa rin sa atin na mananatiling walang laman. Maraming bagay ang maaaring ibigay sa atin ng mundo, ngunit hindi nito kayang ibigay ang kapayapaang tanging Diyos lamang ang makapagkakaloob sa ating puso.

Kung gayon, sino ang tunay na makapagbibigay sa atin ng kapayapaan, kaligayahan, at kapanatagan sa mundong ito? Si Hesus. Siya lamang ang makapagbibigay ng kapayapaan at kapanatagang tunay na hinahangad ng ating puso.

Kapag hinayaan nating maging sentro ng ating buhay si Hesus, matutuklasan natin na ang tunay na kayamanan ay hindi nasusukat sa dami ng ating pag-aari, kundi sa lalim ng ating pagtanggap sa pag-ibig ng Diyos.

Hindi ito nakita ng mayamang binata sa ating Ebanghelyo. Nasa harapan niya si Hesus, na nag-aalok sa kanya ng isang bagay na higit na mahalaga kaysa sa anumang kayamanan sa mundo, ngunit pinili niyang panghawakan ang kanyang mga ari-arian.

Dahil dito, pinalampas niya ang isang natatanging pagkakataong sumunod nang higit na malalim kay Hesus. Ang kanyang mga ari-arian ay hindi lamang mga bagay na pag-aari niya; naging mga bagay na hindi na niya kayang bitawan.

At marahil, dito marahang nakikipag-usap sa atin ang Ebanghelyo. Ano ang mga bagay na nahihirapan tayong isuko sa Diyos? Ang ating pera ba, mga ari-arian, trabaho, tagumpay, reputasyon, kaginhawaan, o ang ating pagnanais na mapansin at mapuri? Ano ang labis nating kinakapitan na nagiging dahilan upang mahirapan tayong unahin ang Diyos?

Alalahanin natin na ang lahat ng mayroon tayo ay pansamantala lamang, ngunit ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa atin ay walang hanggan. Maaaring mawala ang kayamanan, masira o mawala ang mga ari-arian, lumipas ang katayuan sa buhay, at malimutan ang mga tagumpay sa mundo. Ngunit kapag pinili natin si Hesus, natatamo natin ang kayamanang hindi kailanman kayang tumbasan ng anumang yaman sa lupa.

Nawa’y magkaroon tayo ng lakas ng loob na luwagan ang ating pagkakahawak sa mga bagay ng mundong ito at buksan ang ating mga kamay at puso sa Diyos. Nawa’y huwag nating hayaang ang ating mga ari-arian ang siyang umari sa ating puso.

At higit sa lahat, nawa’y lagi nating tandaan na ang pinakadakilang kayamanang maaari nating taglayin ay hindi ang anumang bagay na mayroon tayo, kundi si Hesus—Siya na tanging makapagbibigay sa ating puso ng kapayapaan, kagalakan, at kapanatagang tunay nating hinahanap.

Kumusta naman tayo? Kung si Hesus ay nakatayo sa harapan natin ngayon at hinihiling Niya sa atin na bitawan ang isang bagay na humahadlang sa ating buong pusong pagsunod sa Kanya, ano ang bagay na pinakamahirap nating isuko? Handa ba natin itong bitawan upang matanggap ang kayamanang kailanman ay hindi mananakaw o mawawala—ang presensya at pag-ibig ni Hesus sa ating buhay?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 16 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 15:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."  

He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."

She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

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Reflection:

The story is told of woman, who would always kneel in prayer on one of the church’s pews, asking Jesus to heal her. She did this patiently and perseveringly for almost two years until she finally received the healing she had been praying for.

How strong is our faith in Jesus?

Our faith is often revealed through our patience, perseverance, and persistence. There are moments when we pray for something deeply important to us, yet the answer does not come when we expect it. At times, God may seem silent, and we may wonder whether He hears the cries of our hearts. But perhaps those moments are also invitations for us to trust Him more deeply.

This is exemplified by the Canaanite woman who never gave up asking Jesus to heal her daughter, who was tormented by a demon (Matthew 15:22–28). Despite what seemed like rejection, she continued to plead with Jesus. She did not allow discouragement to overcome her faith. Her persistence revealed the depth of her trust, and Jesus recognized and praised her great faith.

What if she had given up? What if she had allowed rejection and discouragement to silence her prayer? She could have walked away, but she chose to remain at the feet of Jesus. Her faith held on even when she could not yet see the answer she desperately desired.

We, too, have our own petitions before God. Perhaps some of us have been praying for healing, restoration, peace, provision, reconciliation, or a breakthrough for a long time. Perhaps we have repeatedly brought the same prayer before Jesus, yet nothing seems to change. In those moments, let us remember the Canaanite woman. Let us not allow delayed answers to become reasons for us to abandon our faith.

Let us continue to pray. Let us be patient. Let us persevere. Let us keep seeking God's guidance and place our deepest desires in His hands. We may not always receive the answer we expect, in the way we expect, or at the time we expect. Yet we can trust that God hears us, loves us, and works according to His perfect wisdom and loving will.

Faith does not mean that we will never experience doubt, disappointment, or discouragement. Faith means that even in those moments, we choose to remain at the feet of Jesus. We continue to trust when we cannot understand. We continue to pray when we cannot see the way forward. We continue to hope because we know that our Lord has never abandoned us.

Let us also do our part. Let us faithfully work for the things we hope to achieve while entrusting the outcome to God. Let us not give up simply because the journey is difficult or the answer seems delayed. Our waiting can become a sacred time when God strengthens our hearts, deepens our faith, and teaches us to surrender more completely to Him.

May our prayers never become merely requests for what we want. May they also become expressions of trust: “Lord, I may not understand Your ways, but I choose to trust You. I may not see the answer yet, but I will continue to place my hope in You.”

Let us therefore persevere in prayer and remain faithful. For even when God seems silent, He is never absent. Even when we cannot see what He is doing, He is still at work. And even when the answer takes longer than we hoped, His love remains constant. 

Are we willing to remain at the feet of Jesus even when our prayers seem unanswered—and when the answer is delayed, will we choose to give up, or will we hold on to Him with the same persistent faith of the Canaanite woman?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Agosto 16 Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 15:21-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 15:21-28

Noong panahong iyon, nagpunta si Hesus sa lupaing malapit sa Tiro at Sidon. Lumapit sa kanya ang isang Cananeang naninirahan doon at malakas na sinabi, “Panginoon, Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin! Ang anak kong babae ay inaalihan ng demonyo at masyadong pinahihirapan.”

Ngunit gaputok ma’y di tumugon si Hesus. At lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya, “Pagbigyan na nga po ninyo at nang umalis. Siya’y nag-iingay at susunud-sunod sa atin.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Sa mga tupang naliligaw ng sambahayan ng Israel lamang ako sinugo.”

Ngunit lumapit sa kanya ang babae, lumuhod sa harapan at ang sabi, “Tulungan po ninyo ako, Panginoon.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta.” “Tunay nga po, Panginoon,” tugon ng babae, “Ngunit ang mga tuta man ay nagsisikain ng mumong nalalaglag sa hapag ng kanilang panginoon.”

Kaya’t sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Napakalaki ng iyong pananalig! Mangyayari ang hinihiling mo.” At noon di’y gumaling ang kanyang anak.

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Repleksyon:

May isang kuwento tungkol sa isang babae na palaging lumuluhod nang taimtim sa pananalangin sa isa sa mga upuan ng simbahan,  at palagi niyang hinihiling  kay Jesus na siya ay pagalingin sa kanyang karamdaman. Buong pagtitiyaga niyang ginawa ito sa loob ng halos dalawang taon hanggang sa matanggap niya ang kagalingang matagal na niyang hinihiling sa panalangin.

Gaano nga ba katatag ang ating pananampalataya kay Jesus?

Ang ating pananampalataya ay madalas na nahahayag sa pamamagitan ng ating pagtitiis, pagtitiyaga, at pagpupursige. May mga pagkakataong taimtim tayong nananalangin para sa isang bagay na napakahalaga sa atin, ngunit hindi dumarating ang kasagutan sa panahong inaasahan natin.

Kung minsan, tila tahimik ang Diyos at napapaisip tayo kung naririnig ba Niya ang mga hinaing ng ating puso. Ngunit marahil, ang mga ganitong sandali ay pagkakataon din upang mas lalo nating matutunang magtiwala sa Kanya.

Makikita natin ito sa babaeng Cananea na hindi sumuko sa paghingi kay Jesus na pagalingin ang kanyang anak na pinahihirapan ng demonyo (Mateo 15:22–28). Sa kabila ng tila pagtanggi, patuloy siyang nagsumamo kay Jesus. Hindi niya hinayaang manaig ang panghihina ng loob sa kanyang pananampalataya. Ang kanyang pagpupursige ay nagpakita ng lalim ng kanyang pagtitiwala, at kinilala ni Jesus ang kanyang napakalaking pananampalataya.

Paano kaya kung sumuko siya? Paano kung hinayaan niyang patahimikin ng pagtanggi at panghihina ng loob ang kanyang panalangin? Maaari sana siyang umalis, ngunit pinili niyang manatili sa paanan ni Jesus. Kumapit siya sa kanyang pananampalataya kahit hindi pa niya nakikita ang kasagutang buong puso niyang hinihiling.

Tayo rin ay may kanya-kanyang mga kahilingan sa Diyos. Marahil, ang ilan sa atin ay matagal nang nananalangin para sa kagalingan sa sakit, pangangailangan sa buhay, o isang pagbabagong matagal na nating hinihintay. Marahil, paulit-ulit na nating inihaharap kay Jesus ang parehong panalangin, ngunit tila walang nagbabago. Sa mga sandaling iyon, alalahanin natin ang babaeng Cananea. Huwag nating hayaang ang pagkaantala ng kasagutan ang maging dahilan upang talikuran natin ang ating pananampalataya.

Patuloy tayong manalangin. Magtiis tayo. Magpursige tayo. Patuloy nating hilingin ang patnubay ng Diyos at ipagkatiwala sa Kanyang mga kamay ang pinakamalalim na hangarin ng ating puso.

Maaaring hindi natin palaging matanggap ang sagot na inaasahan natin, sa paraang gusto natin, o sa panahong nais natin. Ngunit makapagtitiwala tayo na naririnig tayo ng Diyos, mahal Niya tayo, at kumikilos Siya ayon sa Kanyang perpektong karunungan at mapagmahal na kalooban.

Ang pananampalataya ay hindi nangangahulugang hindi na tayo makakaranas ng pag-aalinlangan, pagkadismaya, o panghihina ng loob. Ang tunay na pananampalataya ay nangangahulugang kahit nararanasan natin ang mga ito, pinipili pa rin nating manatili sa paanan ni Jesus.

Patuloy tayong nagtitiwala kahit hindi natin nauunawaan. Patuloy tayong nananalangin kahit hindi pa natin nakikita ang daan. Patuloy tayong umaasa dahil alam nating hindi tayo kailanman pinababayaan ng ating Panginoon.

Gawin din natin ang ating bahagi. Magtrabaho tayo nang buong katapatan para sa mga bagay na nais nating makamit habang ipinauubaya natin sa Diyos ang magiging bunga nito. Huwag tayong basta sumuko dahil lamang mahirap ang ating pinagdaraanan o tila matagal dumating ang kasagutan.

Ang ating paghihintay ay maaaring maging isang banal na panahon kung saan pinatitibay ng Diyos ang ating puso, pinalalalim ang ating pananampalataya, at tinuturuan tayong higit na magpasakop at magtiwala sa Kanya.

Nawa'y ang ating mga panalangin ay hindi lamang maging mga kahilingan para sa mga bagay na nais natin. Nawa'y maging pagpapahayag din ang mga ito ng ating pagtitiwala.

Kaya't magpatuloy tayo sa pananalangin at manatiling tapat. Sapagkat kahit tila tahimik ang Diyos, hindi Siya kailanman lumalayo. Kahit hindi natin nakikita ang Kanyang ginagawa, kumikilos Siya. At kahit mas matagal ang kasagutan kaysa sa ating inaasahan, hindi nagbabago ang Kanyang pag-ibig sa atin.

Kapag tila walang kasagutan ang ating mga panalangin at tila napakahaba na ng ating paghihintay, mananatili ba tayong nakaluhod sa paanan ni Jesus at kakapit sa Kanya—o hahayaan nating ang katahimikan at pagkaantala ang maging dahilan upang tayo'y sumuko? Handa ba tayong magkaroon ng pananampalatayang tulad ng babaeng Cananea—isang pananampalatayang patuloy na kumakapit kay Jesus hanggang sa huli?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday August 15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." 

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever." 

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950.

The Blessed Mother, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Her Assumption reminds us of the promise made by Jesus to all who faithfully follow Him: that we, too, hope to share in the glory of Heaven.

Do we have a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary? Do we regularly pray the Holy Rosary and ask the Blessed Mother to pray and intercede for us?

Even while she was pregnant, the Blessed Mother visited her cousin Elizabeth without thinking of her own comfort or well-being. She went to Elizabeth because she wanted to comfort, help, and strengthen her. Mary could have chosen to remain at home and rest, yet she chose to serve. Her journey to Elizabeth reveals a heart filled with love, humility, and selflessness.

This is one of the beautiful things we can learn from Mary: genuine love does not always wait to be served; it willingly goes out to serve others. Even when we ourselves are tired, burdened, or facing our own struggles, the Holy Spirit can move our hearts to become instruments of God's love and consolation to those who need us.

Of course, we also long to be visited, comforted, and strengthened by the Blessed Mother. But do we make time to pray to her and ask her to intercede for us? Do we regularly pray the Holy Rosary? As the Mother of Jesus, Mary holds a unique place close to the heart of her Son. We can confidently entrust our prayers to her maternal intercession, knowing that she always leads us closer to Jesus.

On this Solemnity of the Assumption, we are reminded that Mary's loving concern was not limited to her cousin Elizabeth. As our spiritual mother, she also desires to accompany, comfort, strengthen, and help us in the midst of our worries, struggles, and problems. When our hearts are weary, when our faith becomes weak, and when we do not know where to turn, we can come to Mary and ask her to pray for us. She gently points us toward her Son and reminds us, as she did at Cana, to listen to Him and follow His will.

Mary's Assumption also gives us hope. She shows us what awaits those who faithfully surrender themselves to God. Her earthly life was marked by humility, obedience, service, and unwavering faith. Now she shares in heavenly glory. May her example inspire us to persevere in our own journey of faith, trusting that every sacrifice offered in love, every prayer uttered in faith, and every act of humble service is precious in God's eyes.

Let us therefore turn to the Blessed Mother with confidence and ask her to pray and intercede for us, especially during these difficult times. Let us pray the Holy Rosary not merely as a routine, but as a loving conversation that brings us closer to Jesus. And let us ask Mary to teach us how to say “yes” to God, how to serve without expecting anything in return, and how to remain faithful even when our journey becomes difficult.

As we honor the Blessed Mother today, are we willing not only to ask Mary to comfort and strengthen us, but also to imitate her selfless love by becoming instruments of comfort, strength, and hope to those whom God places in our path—and are we ready to say our own wholehearted “yes” to God, just as Mary did?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Sabado Agosto 15 Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit ng Mahal na Birheng Maria: Lucas 1:39-56

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 1:39-56

Si Maria'y nagmamadaling pumunta sa isang bayan sa kaburulan ng Juda. Pagdating sa bahay ni Zacarias, binati niya si Elisabet. Nang marinig ni Elisabet ang bati ni Maria, naggagalaw ang sanggol sa kanyang tiyan. Napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elisabet, at buong galak na sinabi, "Pinagpala ka sa mga babae, at pinagpala rin ang dinadala mo sa iyong sinapupunan! 

Sino ako upang dalawin ng ina ng aking Panginoon? Sapagkat pagkarinig ko ng iyong bati ay naggagalaw ang sanggol sa tuwa sa aking tiyan. Mapalad ka sapagkat nanalig kang matutupad ang ipinasasabi sa iyo ng Panginoon!"  

At sinabi ni Maria, "Ang puso ko'y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, at nagagalak ang aking espiritu dahil sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagkat nilingap niya ang kanyang abang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako'y tatawaging mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi. Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan -- Banal ang kanyang pangalan!  

Kinahahabagan niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng sali't-saling lahi. Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang mga bisig, pinangalat niya ang mga palalo ang isipan. ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang trono, at itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan.  

Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom, at pinalayas niyang wala ni anuman ang mayayaman. Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel, bilang pagtupad sa pangako niya sa ating mga magulang, kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi, magpakailanman!"   

Tumira si Maria kina Elisabet nang may tatlong buwan, at saka umuwi.

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Repleksyon:

Ngayong araw ay ipinagdiriwang natin ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit sa Mahal na Birheng Maria. Ang doktrinang ito ay itinakda bilang isang dogma ng pananampalatayang Katoliko at ipinahayag ni Papa Pio XII noong Nobyembre 1, 1950.

Matapos ang kanyang buhay sa lupa, ang Mahal na Birheng Maria ay iniakyat sa kaluwalhatian ng langit, katawan at kaluluwa. Ang kanyang Pag-aakyat sa Langit ay nagpapaalala sa atin sa pangakong ginawa ni Jesus sa lahat ng tapat na sumusunod sa Kanya: na tayo rin ay umaasa na makikibahagi sa kaluwalhatian ng langit.

May debosyon ba tayo sa Mahal na Birheng Maria? Regular ba tayong nagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo at humihiling sa Mahal na Ina na ipanalangin at mamagitan para sa atin?

Kahit siya ay nagdadalang-tao noon, dinalaw ng Mahal na Birheng Maria ang kanyang pinsang si Elizabeth nang hindi iniisip ang sarili niyang kaginhawahan o kapakanan. Pumunta siya kay Elizabeth dahil nais niya itong aliwin, tulungan, at palakasin.

Maaari sana siyang manatili sa kanilang tahanan upang magpahinga, subalit pinili niyang maglingkod. Ipinakita ni Maria sa atin ang isang pusong puno ng pag-ibig, kababaang-loob, at pagiging mapagsakripisyo.

Isa ito sa magagandang aral na maaari nating matutuhan kay Maria: ang tunay na pag-ibig ay hindi lamang naghihintay na paglingkuran; kusang-loob itong lumalabas upang maglingkod sa iba. Kahit tayo mismo ay pagod, nabibigatan, o dumaranas ng sariling mga pagsubok, maaari tayong gamitin ng Banal na Espiritu upang maging instrumento ng pag-ibig, aliw, at lakas ng Diyos para sa mga nangangailangan sa atin.

Siyempre, nais din nating dalawin, aliwin, at palakasin ng Mahal na Ina. Ngunit naglalaan ba tayo ng panahon upang manalangin sa kanya at humiling na ipanalangin niya tayo? Regular ba tayong nagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo?

Bilang Ina ni Jesus, may natatanging lugar si Maria na malapit sa puso ng kanyang Anak. Buong tiwala nating maihahabilin sa kanyang maka-inang pamamagitan ang ating mga panalangin, sapagkat lagi niya tayong inaakay palapit kay Jesus.

Sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit, pinaaalalahanan tayo na ang pagmamahal ni Maria ay hindi lamang para sa kanyang pinsang si Elizabeth. Bilang ating espirituwal na Ina, nais din niyang samahan, aliwin, palakasin, at tulungan tayo sa gitna ng ating mga alalahanin, paghihirap, at mga suliranin.

Kapag pagod na ang ating puso, kapag nanghihina ang ating pananampalataya, at kapag hindi na natin alam kung saan tayo tutungo, maaari tayong lumapit kay Maria at humiling na ipanalangin niya tayo. Tahimik at buong pagmamahal niya tayong itinuturo tungo sa kanyang Anak at inaanyayahang makinig at sumunod kay Jesus.

Ang Pag-aakyat kay Maria sa Langit ay nagbibigay rin sa atin ng pag-asa. Ipinakikita niya kung ano ang naghihintay sa mga taong buong-pusong nagtatalaga ng kanilang sarili sa Diyos. Ang kanyang buhay sa lupa ay minarkahan ng kababaang-loob, pagsunod, paglilingkod, at matatag na pananampalataya. Ngayon ay nakikibahagi siya sa kaluwalhatian ng langit.

Nawa'y ang kanyang halimbawa ay magbigay sa atin ng lakas upang magpatuloy sa ating sariling paglalakbay ng pananampalataya, na nagtitiwalang ang bawat sakripisyong iniaalay natin nang may pag-ibig, bawat panalanging binibigkas nang may pananampalataya, at bawat mapagpakumbabang paglilingkod ay mahalaga sa paningin ng Diyos.

Kaya't buong tiwala tayong lumapit sa Mahal na Ina at hilingin sa kanya na ipanalangin at mamagitan para sa atin, lalo na sa mga panahong mabigat ang ating pinagdaraanan. Huwag nating gawing simpleng nakagawian lamang ang pagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo. Gawin natin itong isang taimtim na pakikipag-usap sa Diyos na naglalapit sa atin kay Jesus.

Hilingin din natin kay Maria na turuan tayong magsabi ng ating sariling “oo” sa Diyos, maglingkod nang hindi naghihintay ng kapalit, at manatiling tapat kahit nagiging mahirap ang ating paglalakbay.

Sa pagdedebosyon natin sa Mahal na Ina ngayong araw, handa ba tayong hindi lamang humingi sa kanya ng aliw at lakas, kundi tularan din ang kanyang mapagpakumbabang pag-ibig—upang tayo rin ay maging instrumento ng kaginhawahan, lakas, at pag-asa sa mga taong inilalagay ng Diyos sa ating buhay? 

At kapag tinatawag tayo ng Diyos na magsabi ng ating sariling “oo,” tulad ni Maria, buong puso ba tayong tutugon: “Narito ako, Panginoon; handang tumalima sa iyo”?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday August 14 Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr: Matthew 19:3-12

Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?  

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”  

His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

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Reflection:

How’s our married life?

Every marriage has its own imperfections, and some marriages pass through severe trials. Ask any married couple, and they will quietly acknowledge that they have their own share of disagreements, challenges, and struggles.

If we have problems in our marriage, why do we stay and persevere? Why do we continue to work hard to make our marriage work? We remain committed because we believe in the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage and in the sacred covenant we made before God.

Marriage is not merely a promise made between two people; it is a sacred commitment made in the presence of God, a covenant that calls us to love faithfully through both joyful and difficult seasons of life.

Problems and challenges are part of the marriage journey. There will be moments when we misunderstand one another, moments when our patience is tested, and moments when we may even wonder if we can still carry on. But as we continue walking together, we may discover that some of our difficulties gradually fade. Through prayer, forgiveness, patience, understanding, and sincere communication, what once seemed impossible to overcome can slowly become a testimony of God’s grace.

What remains, then, is not simply the absence of problems but our deeper love for one another, strengthened by our willingness to forgive, sacrifice, understand, and persevere. Marriage becomes beautiful not because it is free from trials, but because two people continue choosing each other despite those trials.

But reality bites. There are indeed marriages that fail, whether we admit it or not. This painful reality reminds us that marriage requires constant nurturing and protection. We must never become complacent about the sacred covenant entrusted to us. When temptation lurks around like a shark eyeing its prey, we must be vigilant. We must guard our hearts, our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

How can we resist temptation? We cannot rely solely on our own strength. We need God’s grace. We need to firmly resist the tempter, the devil, while constantly remembering the vows and covenant we made before God. We need to pray for our marriage, pray with our spouse, seek God’s wisdom, and humbly ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us whenever our love is tested.

There may be moments when temptation appears attractive and our struggles seem overwhelming. But let us remember that every time we choose fidelity over unfaithfulness, forgiveness over resentment, patience over anger, and love over selfishness, we are renewing our commitment to the covenant we made before God.

Let us therefore treasure our marriage. Let us not allow temporary problems, passing emotions, outside temptations, or the whispers of the evil one to destroy something sacred. Let us continually invite God into our marriage, because when God remains at the center of our relationship, we are reminded that we do not walk this journey alone.

Our marriages may not always be perfect, but with God’s grace, they can become beautiful testimonies of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and perseverance.

So, how is our marriage today? Are we still choosing our spouse, nurturing our covenant, and inviting God into the struggles we face—or have we slowly allowed the world, temptation, resentment, or indifference to take God’s place in our hearts?

Today, let us choose love again. Let us choose faithfulness again. Let us choose our spouse again. And above all, let us choose God again.— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Biyernes Agosto 14 Paggunita kay San Maximilliano Maria Kolbe, pari at martir: Mateo 19:3-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 19:3-12

Noong panahong iyon, may mga Pariseong lumapit kay Hesus at tinangkang siluin siya sa pamamagitan ng tanong na ito: "Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa sa kahit anong kadahilanan?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi ba ninyo nababasa sa Kasulatan na sa pasimula'y nilalang sila ng Maykapal, lalaki at babae? At sinabi, 'Dahil dito, iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama't ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa; at sila'y magiging iisa.  

kaya't hindi na sila dalawa kundi isa. Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao." Tinanong siya ng mga Pariseo, "Bakit iniutos ni Moises na bigyan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay bago hiwalayan iyon?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Dahil sa katigasan ng inyong ulo kaya ipinahintulot ni Moises na hiwalayan ninyo ang inyong asawa.  

Subalit hindi gayon sa pasimula. Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo: sinumang lalaking humiwalay sa kanyang asawa sa anumang dahilan liban sa pakikiapid, at mag-asawa sa iba, ay nangangalunya. At ang mag-asawa sa babaing hiniwalayan ay nangangalunya rin." Sinabi ng mga alagad, "Kung ganyan po ang kalagayan ng lalaki sa kanyang asawa, mabuti pang huwag nang mag-asawa." Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi lahat ay makatatanggap ng simulaing iyan kundi iyon lamang pinagkalooban ng Diyos.  

Sapagkat may iba't-ibang dahilan kung bakit may lalaking hindi makapag-asawa; ang ilan, dahil sa kanilang katutubong kalagayan; ang iba, dahil sa kagagawan ng ibang tao ay nagkagayon sila; mayroon namang hindi nag-aasawa alang-alang sa ikauunlad ng paghahari ng Diyos. Ang makatatanggap ng simulaing ito ay tumanggap nito." 

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Repleksyon:

Kumusta ang ating buhay may-asawa?

Bawat pagsasama ng mag-asawa ay may kanya-kanyang imperfections o kahinaan, at may mga pagsasamang dumaraan sa matitinding pagsubok. Tanungin natin ang sinumang mag-asawa, at tahimik nilang aaminin na mayroon din silang bahagi ng hindi pagkakaunawaan, mga hamon, at mga suliranin.

Kung may mga problema tayo sa ating pagsasama, bakit pa rin tayo nananatili at nagsisikap na ayusin at patatagin ang ating pagsasama? Nanatili tayo dahil naniniwala tayo sa kabanalan ng Sakramento ng Matrimonio at sa banal na tipang ginawa natin sa harap ng Diyos.

Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi lamang isang pangakong ginagawa ng dalawang tao sa isa’t isa; ito ay isang banal na pagtatalaga sa harap ng Diyos—isang tipang tumatawag sa atin na magmahal nang tapat sa panahon ng saya at maging sa panahon ng mga pagsubok.

Bahagi ng paglalakbay ng mag-asawa ang mga problema at hamon. May mga pagkakataong hindi natin nauunawaan ang isa’t isa, may mga panahong nasusubok ang ating pagtitiis, at may mga sandaling nagtatanong tayo kung kaya pa ba nating magpatuloy.

Ngunit habang patuloy tayong magkasamang naglalakbay, matutuklasan natin na ang ilan sa ating mga suliranin ay unti-unting nawawala. Sa pamamagitan ng panalangin, pagpapatawad, pagtitiis, pag-unawa, at tapat na pag-uusap, ang mga bagay na dati ay tila imposibleng malampasan ay maaari palang maging patotoo ng biyaya ng Diyos.

Ang nananatili, kung gayon, ay hindi lamang ang pagkawala ng mga problema kundi ang mas malalim nating pagmamahalan—isang pag-ibig na pinatitibay ng ating kahandaang magpatawad, magsakripisyo, umunawa, at magtiyaga. Nagiging maganda ang pagsasama ng mag-asawa hindi dahil wala itong mga pagsubok, kundi dahil patuloy nating pinipili ang isa’t isa sa kabila ng mga pagsubok.

Ngunit masakit man tanggapin, may mga pagsasamang nauuwi sa paghihiwalay. Ito ay isang malungkot na katotohanan, aminin man natin o hindi. Ipinapaalala nito sa atin na ang pag-aasawa ay kailangang patuloy na alagaan, ingatan, at ipanalangin. Huwag nating hayaang maging kampante tayo sa banal na tipang ipinagkatiwala sa atin.

Kapag ang tukso ay palihim na lumalapit na parang pating na nag-aabang ng kanyang bibiktimahin, kailangan nating maging mapagmatyag. Kailangan nating bantayan ang ating puso, isip, pananalita, at mga kilos.

Paano natin malalabanan ang tukso? Hindi tayo maaaring umasa lamang sa sarili nating lakas. Kailangan natin ang biyaya ng Diyos. Matatag nating labanan ang manunukso, ang diyablo, habang patuloy nating inaalala ang mga pangako at tipang ginawa natin sa harap ng Diyos.

Manalangin tayo para sa ating pagsasama. Manalangin tayo kasama ang ating asawa. Humingi tayo ng karunungan sa Diyos at buong pagpapakumbabang hilingin natin sa Banal na Espiritu na palakasin tayo sa tuwing sinusubok ang ating pagmamahalan.

May mga pagkakataong magiging kaakit-akit ang tukso at tila napakabigat ng mga problemang ating kinakaharap. Ngunit tandaan natin: sa tuwing pinipili natin ang katapatan kaysa pagtataksil, pagpapatawad kaysa sama ng loob, pagtitiis kaysa galit, at pag-ibig kaysa pagiging makasarili, muli nating pinagtitibay ang ating pangako sa banal na tipang ginawa natin sa harap ng Diyos.

Kaya, pahalagahan natin ang ating buhay may asawa. Huwag nating hayaang sirain ng panandaliang problema, lumilipas na damdamin, tukso, sama ng loob, o kawalang-pakialam ang isang bagay na banal. Patuloy nating anyayahan ang Diyos sa ating pagsasama, sapagkat kapag ang Diyos ang nananatili sa sentro ng ating relasyon, naaalala nating hindi tayo nag-iisa sa paglalakbay na ito.

Maaaring hindi perpekto ang ating pagsasama, ngunit sa tulong ng biyaya ng Diyos, maaari itong maging isang magandang patotoo ng pag-ibig, katapatan, pagpapatawad, at pagtitiyaga.

Kaya, kumusta ang ating pagsasama bilang mag-asawa ngayon? Patuloy pa ba nating pinipili ang ating asawa, inaalagaan ang ating banal na tipan, at inaanyayahan ang Diyos sa bawat pagsubok na ating kinakaharap—o unti-unti na ba nating hinahayaan ang mundo, tukso, sama ng loob, at kawalang-pakialam na pumalit sa Diyos sa ating puso?

Ngayong araw, muli nating piliin ang magmahal. Muli nating piliin ang maging tapat. Muli nating piliin ang ating asawa. At higit sa lahat, muli nating piliin ang Diyos.— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 13 Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 18:21–19:1

Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.  

Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full. Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  

He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe. Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!  I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”  

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

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Reflection:

How do we feel after we have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation? We feel light and free, as if a great burden has been lifted from our shoulders. There is a deep sense of peace in knowing that God has forgiven us and has given us another opportunity to begin again. Perhaps this was also the feeling of the servant in our Gospel who humbly asked forgiveness from his master, the king.

But the irony is this: the servant who was forgiven by his master did not forgive his fellow servant, who owed him only a small amount of money. Something was terribly wrong with him. He had received mercy, yet he was unwilling to show mercy. He had been forgiven a much greater debt, yet he could not forgive a much smaller one. Sadly, he failed to allow the grace he had received to transform his heart.

Is this sometimes true in our own lives? We come before God with humble and contrite hearts, asking Him to forgive our sins. We experience the healing and freedom that His mercy brings. Yet when someone hurts us, offends us, or wrongs us, we sometimes find it difficult to extend the same forgiveness that we have freely received from God.

Do we truly take advantage of the grace of forgiveness that God graciously gives us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation? God's desire for us is not merely that we receive His mercy but that we also become instruments of His mercy. We are called to forgive others as we have been forgiven—to release the offenses committed against us and entrust our hurts to God, just as God has forgiven the countless offenses we have committed against Him.

Forgiveness, however, does not mean that what was done to us was right, nor does it mean that our pain was insignificant. Forgiveness means that we refuse to allow anger, resentment, and bitterness to control our hearts. When we choose not to forgive, we may think that we are holding someone else captive because of what they have done to us, but in reality, we may be imprisoning ourselves. We carry the burden, lose our peace, and prevent our hearts from experiencing the freedom that God desires for us.

Let us therefore allow the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts. Let us remember the mercy we ourselves have received. Every time we kneel before God and hear those beautiful words of absolution, we are reminded that His mercy is greater than our sins. May the forgiveness we receive from God never stop with us. May it flow through us and touch those who have hurt us.

We have everything to gain and nothing to lose when we choose to forgive and become more forgiving. When we forgive, we do not lose; rather, we make room for God's peace, healing, and grace to work more deeply within us.

Today, let us bring before the Lord the name of the person who has hurt us most deeply. Can we surrender that pain to Him and take one step toward forgiveness? If God has forgiven us countless times and continues to welcome us with mercy, are we willing to open our hearts and extend that same mercy to someone who desperately needs our forgiveness?—Marino J. Dasmarinas