Reflection for March 15 Fourth Sunday of Lent: John 9:1-41

Gospel: John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see. 

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is, " but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am." So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." And they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know." 

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 

Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said,"He is of age; question him." 

So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen.  

Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" They ridiculed him and said, "You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from." The man answered and said to them, "This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.  

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." They answered and said to him, "You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out. 

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind." 

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains.

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Reflection:

In a faraway place lived an arrogant king. His people warned him to prepare for a dreaded disease that was about to arrive. But the king arrogantly told them not to worry, saying that the moment the disease entered his kingdom he would immediately destroy it.

Soon after, the dreaded disease came. Because of the king’s arrogance and lack of preparation, the disease spread throughout the kingdom and ravaged it.

Arrogance is a spiritual sickness that can also affect us. It slowly blinds us to the power of God. When arrogance takes root in our hearts, we begin to think that we are greater than we really are, and we begin to belittle the power of God. Yet we know that when we ignore or belittle God’s power, sooner or later life will humble us and bring us to our knees before Him.

In the Gospel, we read about a man who had been blind but was healed by Jesus. The miracle was undeniable because the man himself testified to what Jesus had done for him. Yet some of the Pharisees refused to believe.

Why did some of them refuse to believe the personal witness of the man who had been healed? It was because of arrogance. The Pharisees were influential religious leaders among the Jews and were known as strict observers of their laws and traditions. Since the man had been healed on the Sabbath—a day of rest for the Jews—they insisted that such a healing should not have taken place on that day.

Because of this, they closed their hearts to Jesus. Instead of rejoicing over the miracle, they doubted it. Instead of recognizing God’s power at work, they questioned it. And instead of listening to the testimony of the man who had been healed, they belittled him.

But what if they had humbled themselves and believed? They, too, could have experienced the power of Jesus. They could have learned precious lessons from the man who once lived in darkness but now lived in the light—lessons about humility, obedience to the Lord, and unwavering faith.

The Gospel quietly invites us to reflect on our own hearts. Sometimes, like the Pharisees, we can become so confident in our own understanding, traditions, or opinions that we fail to recognize the work of God right before our eyes. Arrogance can prevent us from seeing God’s grace moving in our lives and in the lives of others.

Today, the Lord gently reminds us that a humble heart sees what pride cannot see. A humble heart recognizes God’s power, listens to the testimonies of others, and remains open to the surprising ways God works among us.

As we reflect on this Gospel, let us ask ourselves: Are we humble enough to recognize the work of God in our lives, or does pride sometimes prevent us from seeing the miracles that God is already doing among us?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon sa Marso 15 Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 9:1-41

Mabuting Balita: Juan 9:1-41

Noong panahong iyon: Sa paglalakad ni Hesus ay may nakita siyang isang lalaking ipinanganak na bulag. Tinanong siya ng kanyang mga alagad, “Rabi, sino po ang nagkasala at ipinanganak na bulag ang lalaking ito, siya o ang kanyang mga magulang?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ipinanganak na bulag ang lalaking ito, hindi dahil sa nagkasala siya o ang kanyang mga magulang, kundi upang mahayag ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos. 

Dapat nating gawin ang mga ipinagagawa ng nagsugo sa akin samantalang araw pa; dumarating ang gabi at wala nang makagagawa. Habang ako’y nasa sanlibutan, ako ang ilaw ng sanlibutan.” Pagkasabi nito, si Hesus ay lumura sa lupa at gumawa ng putik. Ipinahid niya ito sa mata ng bulag. Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Pumunta ka sa deposito ng tubig sa Siloe.” (Ang kahulugan nito’y Sinugo.) “Maghilamos ka roon.” Gayon nga ang ginawa ng bulag at nang magbalik ay nakakita na. 

Sinabi ng mga kapitbahay niya at ng mga nakakita sa kanya noong siya’y namamalimos pa, “Hindi ba iyan ang lalaking dating nagpapalimos?” Sumagot ang ilan, “Iyan nga!” “Hindi! Kamukha lang,” wika naman ng iba. At sumagot ang lalaki, “Ako nga po iyon.” 

“Paano kang nakakita?” tanong nila. Sumagot siya, “Ang lalaking tinatawag na Hesus ay gumawa ng putik at ipinahid sa aking mga mata. Pagkatapos, sinabi sa akin, ‘Pumunta ka sa Siloe at maghilamos.’ Kaya’t pumaroon ako at naghilamos, at nakakita na ako.” “Nasaan siya?” tanong nila sa kanya. “Ewan ko po,” sagot niya. 

Dinala nila sa mga Pariseo ang dating bulag. Araw ng Pamamahinga nang gumawa si Hesus ng putik at padilatin ang bulag. Tinanong din siya ng mga Pariseo kung paano siya nakakita. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Pinahiran niya ng putik ang aking mga mata, naghilamos ako pagkatapos, at ngayo’y nakakikita na ako.” 

Ang sabi ng ilan sa mga Pariseo, “Hindi mula sa Diyos ang taong iyan, sapagkat hindi niya ipinangingilin ang Araw ng Pamamahinga.” Ngunit sinabi naman ng iba, “Paanong makagagawa ng ganitong kababalaghan ang isang makasalanan?” At hindi sila magkaisa ng palagay. 

Kaya’t tinanong nila uli ang dating bulag, “Ikaw naman, yamang pinadilat ni Hesus ang iyong mga mata, ano naman ang masasabi mo tungkol sa kanya?” “Siya’y isang propeta!” sagot niya. Ayaw maniwala ang mga Judio na siya’y dating bulag, kaya’t ipinatawag nila ang mga magulang ng taong iyon. 

At tinanong sila, “Anak ba ninyo ito? Talaga bang siya’y ipinanganak na bulag? Bakit nakakikita na siya ngayon?” Sumagot ang kanyang mga magulang, “Alam po naming siya ang aming anak, at siya’y ipinanganak na bulag. Ngunit hindi namin alam kung bakit nakakikita na siya ngayon, o kung sino ang nagpadilat sa kanya. 

Siya na po ang tanungin ninyo. Siya’y may sapat na gulang na at makapagsasabi ng tungkol sa kanyang sarili!” Ganito ang sabi ng kanyang mga magulang dahil sa takot sa mga Judio, sapagkat pinagkaisahan ng mga Judio na itiwalag sa sinagoga ang sinumang magpahayag na si Hesus ang Mesiyas. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit sinabi ng kanyang mga magulang, “Siya’y may sapat na gulang na; siya po ang tanungin ninyo.” 

Kaya’t muli nilang ipinatawag ang dating bulag at sinabi sa kanya, “Sabihin mo ang totoo! Alam naming makasalanan ang taong iyon.” Hindi ko po alam kung siya’y makasalanan o hindi,” tugon niya. “Isang bagay ang alam ko: dati akong bulag ngunit ngayo’y nakakikita na.” “Ano ang ginawa niya sa iyo?” tanong nila. “Paano niya pinadilat ang iyong mga mata?” 

Sumagot siya, “Sinabi ko na po sa inyo, at ayaw ninyong pakinggan. Ano’t ibig ninyong marinig uli? Ibig din ba ninyong maging alagad niya?” At siya’y inalipusta nila. “Ikaw ang alagad niya,” sabi nila. “Ngunit kami’y mga alagad ni Moises. Nalalaman naming nagpakita ang Diyos kay Moises; ngunit ang taong iyon – ni hindi namin alam kung saan nanggaling!” Sumagot ang lalaki, “Iyan nga po ang kataka-taka! 

Hindi ninyo alam kung saan siya nanggaling, gayung pinadilat niya ang mga mata ko. Alam nating hindi pinakikinggan ng Diyos ang mga makasalanan, ngunit pinakikinggan niya ang mga tunay na sumasamba sa kanya at sumusunod sa kanyang kalooban. Buhat sa pasimula ng sanlibutan ay wala pang nakapagpapadilat ng mata ng taong ipinanganak na bulag. Wala pong magagawa ang taong iyon kung siya’y hindi mula sa Diyos!” Sumagot sila, “Ipinanganak kang makasalanan at ikaw pa ang magtuturo sa amin?” At siya’y itiniwalag nila. 

Nabalitaan ni Hesus na ang lalaking pinagaling niya ay itiniwalag ng mga Pariseo. Kaya’t tinanong niya ang lalaki nang matagpuan niya ito, “Sumasampalataya ka ba sa Anak ng Tao?” Sumagot ang lalaki, “Sino po ba siya, Ginoo? Sabihin ninyo sa akin, upang ako’y manampalataya sa kanya.” “Siya’y nakita mo na. Siya ang nakikipag-usap sa iyo,” ani Hesus. “Sumasampalataya po ako, Panginoon!” sabi ng lalaki. At sinamba niya si Hesus. 

Sinabi pa ni Hesus, “Isang kahatulan sa sanlibutan ang pagparito ko, upang makakita ang mga bulag at mabulag ang mga nakakikita.” Narinig ito ng ilang Pariseong malapit sa kanya at siya’y tinanong, “Ibig mo bang sabihi’y bulag din kami?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Kung kayo’y bulag, wala sana kayong kasalanan. Ngunit sinasabi ninyong nakakikita kayo, kaya’t nananatili ang inyong mga kasalanan.

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Repleksyon:

Sa isang malayong lugar ay may isang hari na kilala sa kanyang kayabangan. Binalaan siya ng kanyang mga nasasakupan na maghanda dahil may isang nakakatakot na sakit na paparating sa kanilang kaharian. Ngunit buong pagmamalaki na sinabi ng hari sa kanila na huwag mag-alala, sapagkat sa sandaling dumating ang sakit sa kanyang kaharian ay agad niya itong papatayin.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating nga ang kinatatakutang sakit. Dahil sa kayabangan ng hari at sa kanyang kakulangan sa paghahanda, mabilis na kumalat ang sakit at nilugmok ang buong kaharian.

Ang kayabangan ay isang espirituwal na karamdaman na maaari ring pumasok sa ating mga puso. Unti-unti nitong binubulag ang ating mga mata sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Kapag tayo ay nagiging mapagmataas, nagsisimula tayong mag-isip na tila ba mas dakila tayo kaysa sa Diyos.

Dahil dito, minamaliit natin ang Kanyang kapangyarihan. Ngunit alam nating lahat na kapag minamaliit natin ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos, darating ang panahon na tayo ay mapapababa at mapapaluhod sa Kanyang harapan.

Sa Ebanghelyo, mababasa natin ang tungkol sa isang lalaking dating bulag na pinagaling ni Jesus. Hindi maikakaila ang himala sapagkat ang mismong taong gumaling ang nagpapatotoo sa kapangyarihan ni Jesus. Subalit may ilang Pariseo na tumangging maniwala sa kanyang patotoo.

Bakit nga ba tumanggi ang ilan sa kanila na maniwala sa personal na patotoo ng lalaking pinagaling ni Jesus? Ito ay dahil sa kanilang kayabangan. Ang mga Pariseo ay mga makapangyarihang pinuno ng relihiyon sa mga Hudyo at kilala sila bilang mahigpit na tagasunod ng kanilang mga batas at tradisyon. Dahil naganap ang pagpapagaling sa araw ng Sabbath—ang araw ng pahinga para sa mga Hudyo—ipinilit nilang hindi dapat mangyari ang ganitong gawain sa araw na iyon.

Dahil dito, isinara nila ang kanilang mga puso kay Jesus. Sa halip na magalak sa himala, nagduda sila. Sa halip na kilalanin ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos na kumikilos, kanilang kinuwestiyon ito. At sa halip na pakinggan ang patotoo ng lalaking pinagaling, kanilang minamaliit ang kanyang karanasan.

Ngunit paano kaya kung nagpakumbaba sila at naniwala? Maaaring naranasan din nila ang kapangyarihan ni Jesus. Maaaring natuto rin sila ng mahahalagang aral mula sa lalaking minsang namuhay sa dilim ngunit ngayon ay namumuhay na sa liwanag—mga aral tungkol sa pagpapakumbaba, pagsunod sa Panginoon, at matibay na pananampalataya.

Sa pagninilay na ito, inaanyayahan tayong lahat ng Ebanghelyo na suriin ang ating mga puso. Minsan, tulad ng mga Pariseo, maaari tayong maging labis na kumpiyansa sa ating sariling kaalaman, paniniwala, o tradisyon kaya hindi na natin nakikita ang pagkilos ng Diyos sa ating harapan. Ang kayabangan ay maaaring maging hadlang upang makita natin ang biyaya ng Diyos na kumikilos sa ating buhay at sa buhay ng ating kapwa.

Ipinapaalala sa atin ng Panginoon na ang pusong mapagpakumbaba ang siyang nakakakita sa hindi nakikita ng kayabangan. Ang pusong mapagpakumbaba ay marunong kumilala sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos, marunong makinig sa patotoo ng iba, at bukas sa mga kahanga-hangang paraan ng pagkilos ng Diyos sa ating buhay.

Ngayon, habang tayo ay nagmumuni-muni sa mensaheng ito, tanungin natin ang ating sarili: May sapat ba tayong pagpapakumbaba upang makita at tanggapin ang pagkilos ng Diyos sa ating buhay, o baka naman ang ating kayabangan ang siyang nagbubulag sa atin sa mga himalang ginagawa na ng Diyos sa ating buhay?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 14 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. 

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Is Humility the Weakness of God?

In the Gospel, we see the humility of the tax collector. Standing before God, he did not pretend to be righteous. Instead, he humbly admitted his sinfulness and acknowledged his unworthiness. He knew that before God he was nothing and deserved nothing. Yet it was precisely because of this humble attitude that he went home justified and blessed by God.

The secret to gaining the favor of God, therefore, is humility and an honest awareness of our own shortcomings and limitations. The tax collector who received God’s favor was deeply aware of his sinfulness. He did not try to hide it from God. Perhaps he did not fully realize that God already knew everything about him. What mattered was that he recognized his own brokenness and sincerely cried out to God for mercy.

It is a beautiful truth that the humble have the attentive ears and loving gaze of God. When we humble ourselves before Him, we open our hearts to His grace. Humility not only draws us closer to God; it also earns the respect and trust of others. Many of us hesitate to be humble because we mistakenly see humility as a sign of weakness. But humility is not weakness—it is strength. In fact, those who are truly humble often inspire deeper respect than those who constantly seek to elevate themselves.

Yet becoming humble before Jesus and before one another is not easy. It requires sacrifice and the willingness to surrender our pride. It calls us to recognize that everything we have—our talents, achievements, and blessings—ultimately comes from God. When we stand before Him, we realize that we have nothing to boast about except His mercy and love.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton once said, “The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” These words remind us that humility is not merely a virtue—it is a path that leads us closer to God. If we truly desire to experience His favor, guidance, and peace, we must learn to walk the quiet but powerful path of humility.

As we reflect on this message today, let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to set aside our pride, humble our hearts before God, and trust that true greatness is found not in exalting ourselves, but in surrendering ourselves to Him?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Marso 14 Sabado sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus ang talinghagang ito sa mga taong ang tingin sa sarili'y matuwid at humahamak naman sa iba. "May dalawang lalaking pumanhik sa templo upang manalangin: ang isa'y Pariseo at ang isa nama'y publikano.

Tumindig ang Pariseo at pabulong na nanalangin ng ganito: 'O Diyos, nagpapasalamat ako sa iyo pagkat hindi ako katulad ng iba -- mga magnanakaw, mga mandaraya, mga mangangalunya -- o kaya'y katulad ng publikanong ito.

Makalawa akong nag-aayuno sa loob ng sanlinggo; nagbibigay ako ng ikapu ng lahat kong kinikita. Samantala, ang publikano'y nakatayo sa malayo; hindi man lamang makatingin sa langit, kundi dinadagukan ang kanyang dibdib, at sinasabi: 'O Diyos, mahabag po kayo sa akin na isang makasalanan!'

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang lalaking ito'y umuwing kinalulugdan ng Diyos, ngunit hindi ang isa. Sapagkat ang sinumang nagpapakataas ay ibababa, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas."

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Repleksyon:

Ang Pagpapakumbaba ba ay Kahinaan ng Diyos?

Sa Ebanghelyo, nakita natin ang pagpapakumbaba ng maniningil ng buwis. Nang siya’y tumayo sa harap ng Diyos, hindi siya nagkunwaring matuwid. Sa halip, mapagpakumbaba niyang inamin ang kanyang pagiging makasalanan at ang kanyang pagiging hindi karapat-dapat.

Alam niya na sa harap ng Diyos ay wala siyang maipagmamalaki at wala siyang karapat-dapat hingin. Ngunit dahil sa kanyang pagpapakumbaba, siya ay umuwi na may dalang biyaya at pagpapala mula sa Diyos.

Dito natin makikita ang isang mahalagang katotohanan: ang lihim upang makamtan ang pabor ng Diyos ay ang pagpapakumbaba at ang tapat na pagkilala sa ating sariling kahinaan at pagkukulang. Ang maniningil ng buwis na tumanggap ng biyaya ng Diyos ay tunay na may kamalayan sa kanyang kasalanan.

Hindi niya ito sinubukang itago sa Diyos. Maaaring hindi niya lubos na naunawaan na alam na ng Diyos ang lahat tungkol sa kanya. Ngunit ang mahalaga ay kinilala niya ang kanyang kasalanan at buong pagpapakumbaba siyang humingi ng awa sa Diyos.

Isang napakagandang katotohanan na ang mga mapagpakumbaba ay may natatanging lugar sa puso ng Diyos. Kapag tayo ay nagpapakumbaba sa Kanya, binubuksan natin ang ating sarili sa Kanyang biyaya. Ang pagpapakumbaba ay hindi lamang naglalapit sa atin sa Diyos; nagdudulot din ito ng paggalang at pag-unawa mula sa ating kapwa.

Marami sa atin ang nag-aatubiling magpakumbaba sapagkat iniisip nating ito ay tanda ng kahinaan. Ngunit ang totoo, ang pagpapakumbaba ay hindi kahinaan—ito ay isang lakas. Sapagkat ang taong marunong magpakumbaba ay higit na iginagalang kaysa sa taong patuloy na itinataas ang kanyang sarili.

Gayunpaman, hindi madaling magpakumbaba sa harap ni Jesus at sa harap ng ating kapwa. Nangangailangan ito ng sakripisyo at ng kahandaang isantabi ang ating pagmamataas. Inaanyayahan tayong kilalanin na ang lahat ng mayroon tayo—ang ating kakayahan, tagumpay, at mga biyaya—ay nagmumula sa Diyos. Sa harap Niya, wala tayong maipagmamalaki kundi ang Kanyang awa at pagmamahal.

Tunay ngang makahulugan ang sinabi ni Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: “Napakababa ng pintuan ng Langit; tanging ang mga mapagpakumbaba lamang ang makapapasok dito.” Ipinapaalala sa atin ng mga salitang ito na ang pagpapakumbaba ay hindi lamang isang kapangyarihan—ito ay isang landas na naglalapit sa atin sa Diyos. Kung nais nating maranasan ang Kanyang biyaya, patnubay, at kapayapaan, kailangan nating matutong tahakin ang tahimik ngunit makapangyarihang landas ng pagpapakumbaba.

Sa ating pagninilay ngayon, tanungin natin ang ating sarili: Handa ba tayong isantabi ang ating pagmamataas, magpakumbaba sa harap ng Diyos, at tanggapin na ang tunay na kadakilaan ay hindi matatagpuan sa pagtataas ng ating sarili, kundi sa buong pusong pagsuko ng ating buhay sa Kanya? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 13 Friday of the Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

How do we truly manifest our love for God?

Loving God means desiring to know Him more deeply each day. Because of this, we must continually thirst and hunger for Him. Our hearts should long for His presence, and one of the most meaningful ways we encounter Him is through the Holy Mass. When we gather in worship, we do not merely fulfill an obligation; we open our hearts to experience His living presence among us.

We also grow in our love for God when we read and reflect on the Bible and remain faithful to its teachings. When we meditate on the first four Gospels of the New Testament—Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John—we begin to see more clearly the life, mission, and love of Jesus Christ.

Through these sacred stories, we come to appreciate more deeply who He is and what He has done for us. Yet loving God does not end with learning His teachings; it must also be seen in the way we live them each day.

When we sincerely express our love for God, another commandment naturally follows: we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. But what does this love truly mean for us? Is our love for our neighbor selective, or is it truly inclusive and all-embracing?

True love for our neighbor cannot be selective. It must be an encompassing love that reaches out to everyone, regardless of who they are or what they may have done to us. We are called to love our neighbor whoever that neighbor may be and whatever offense our neighbor may have committed against us.

Yet if we are honest with ourselves, we sometimes fall short in this area. We tend to choose only the neighbors we want to love. We easily love those who show kindness and affection to us, but those who hurt us or fail to love us are often the very people we struggle to accept.

But the love that God teaches us invites us to go beyond our comfort. It calls us to transform our hearts so that we may learn to love even those who do not love us. This kind of love reflects the very heart of God—a love that is patient, forgiving, and unconditional.

As we continue our journey of faith, may we ask the Lord to deepen our love for Him so that His love may overflow into the way we treat others.

And so we ask ourselves today: If we truly claim to love God, are we also willing to love every neighbor He places in our path—even those who find it difficult to love us?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Marso 13 Biyernes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Marcos 12:28-34

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:28-34

Noong panahong iyon, lumapit ang isa sa mga eskriba kay Hesus at tinanong siya, "Alin pong utos ang pinakamahalaga?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Ito ang pinakamahalagang utos, 'Pakinggan mo, Israel!

Ang Panginoon na ating Diyos -- siya lamang ang Panginoon. Ibigin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buong puso, nang buong kaluluwa, nang buong pag-iisip, at nang buong lakas.' Ito naman ang pangalawa, 'Ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili.' Wala nang ibang utos na hihigit pa sa mga ito." 

"Tama po, Guro!" wika ng eskriba. "Totoo ang sinabi ninyo. Iisa ang Diyos at wala nang iba liban sa kanya. At ang umibig sa kanya nang buong puso, buong pag-iisip, at buong lakas, at ang umibig sa kapwa gaya nang kanyang sarili ay higit na mahalaga kaysa magdala ng lahat ng handog na susunugin, at iba pang mga hain."

Nakita ni Jesus na matalino ang kanyang sagot, kaya't sinabi niya, "Malapit ka nang mapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos." At wala nang nangahas magtanong kay Jesus mula noon.

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Repleksyon:

Paano nga ba natin tunay na naipapakita ang ating pagmamahal sa Diyos?

Ang magmahal sa Diyos ay nangangahulugang nagnanais tayong makilala pa Siya nang mas malalim sa bawat araw. Dahil dito, dapat tayong magkaroon ng pagkauhaw at gutom sa Kanya.

Nananabik ang ating mga puso sa Kanyang presensya, at isa sa mga pinakamahalagang paraan upang maranasan natin Siya ay sa Banal na Misa. Kapag tayo ay nagtitipon upang magsimba, hindi lamang tayo tumutupad sa isang tungkulin; binubuksan natin ang ating mga puso upang maranasan ang Kanyang buhay na presensya.

Lumalalim din ang ating pagmamahal sa Diyos kapag binabasa at pinagninilayan natin ang Bibliya at nananatili tayong tapat sa mga aral nito. Kapag pinagninilayan natin ang unang apat na Ebanghelyo ng Bagong Tipan—ang mga Ebanghelyo ni Mateo, Marcos, Lucas, at Juan—mas nakikilala natin ang buhay, misyon at dakilang pag-ibig ni Hesus para sa atin.

Sa mga ebanghelyong ito mas nauunawaan natin kung sino Siya at kung gaano Niya tayo kamahal. Ngunit ang pagmamahal sa Diyos ay hindi lamang natatapos sa pag-alam ng Kanyang mga aral; ito ay dapat ding makita sa paraan ng ating pamumuhay araw-araw.

Kapag taos-puso nating ipinapahayag ang ating pagmamahal sa Diyos, kusang sumusunod ang isa pang utos: ang mahalin natin ang ating kapwa gaya ng pagmamahal natin sa ating sarili. Ngunit ano nga ba ang kahulugan ng pagmamahal na ito sa ating kapwa? Ito ba ay piling pagmamahal lamang, o isang pagmamahal na sumasaklaw sa lahat?

Ang tunay na pagmamahal sa kapwa ay hindi dapat pumipili. Ito ay isang pagmamahal na bukas at sumasaklaw sa lahat—anumang uri ng tao sila at anuman ang nagawa nila sa atin. Tinatawag tayong magmahal sa ating kapwa kung sino man sila at kahit ano pa ang naging pagkukulang o pagkakasala nila sa atin.

Ngunit kung magiging tapat tayo sa ating sarili, may mga pagkakataong nagkukulang tayo sa ganitong pagmamahal. Madalas ay pinipili lamang natin ang mga kapwang madali nating mahalin. Madali nating mahalin ang mga taong nagpapakita ng kabutihan at pagmamahal sa atin, ngunit ang mga taong nakasakit sa atin o hindi nagpapakita ng pagmamahal ay sila ring mga taong nahihirapan tayong mahalin.

Subalit ang pag-ibig na itinuturo ng Diyos sa atin ay higit pa sa ating karaniwang kakayahan. Inaanyayahan Niya tayong baguhin ang ating mga puso upang matutunan nating mahalin kahit ang mga taong hindi nagmamahal sa atin. Ito ang uri ng pag-ibig na sumasalamin sa puso ng Diyos—isang pag-ibig na mapagpasensya, mapagpatawad, at walang hinihinging kapalit.

Sa ating pagpapatuloy sa ating paglalakbay sa pananampalataya, hilingin natin sa Panginoon na palalimin pa ang ating pagmamahal sa Kanya upang ang Kanyang pag-ibig ay dumaloy mula sa ating mga puso patungo sa ating kapwa.

Kaya tanungin natin ang ating mga sarili ngayon: Kung sinasabi nating mahal natin ang Diyos, handa rin ba tayong magmahal sa bawat kapwang inilalagay Niya sa ating landas—kahit na sa mga taong nahihirapan tayong mahalin?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 12 Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them 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.

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Reflection:

Do we truly believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior?

In today’s Gospel, after Jesus cast out a demon from a man, some people accused Him of being one with the demons. Instead of rejoicing that a man had been freed from evil, their hearts were filled with suspicion and disbelief. They could not accept that Jesus performed this miracle out of goodness and compassion. Their hardened hearts led them to accuse the very One who had come to bring freedom and healing.

This invites us to reflect: Who is truly one with the demons? Is it Jesus, or those who refuse to believe in Him?

In our lives, we are always faced with a choice—to believe in Jesus or to reject Him. Yet believing in Him is more than simply saying with our lips that He is our Lord and Savior. True belief calls us to walk in His path and to live according to His teachings. We cannot claim that we believe in Jesus while at the same time refusing to follow the way that He has shown us.

Those who turn away from Jesus make themselves vulnerable to the influence of evil. Without the light of Christ guiding our hearts, we can easily be led astray by the temptations and deceptions of the devil.

Sadly, many people today resemble those who lived during the time of Jesus and refused to believe in Him. Why does this happen? Sometimes we become so focused on ourselves that we begin to think we know better than God. At other times, we say that we believe in Jesus, yet our actions contradict our words because we fail to follow His teachings in our daily lives.

The consequences of rejecting Jesus can be serious. When we close our hearts to Him, we open the door to the influence of evil. Without the guidance of Christ and the voice of a well-formed conscience, people can begin to commit wrong actions without feeling remorse.

Perhaps this is why we see painful realities in our world today—such as the taking of innocent life through abortion or the breaking of the sacred covenant of marriage through adultery. These actions remind us of what can happen when people allow themselves to be led by selfish desires rather than by the truth and love of Christ.

Yet even in the midst of these realities, there is still hope.

Hope remains as long as there are people like us who believe in Jesus—people who are willing to stand firm in His teachings and values.

When we cherish the gift of life and defend its dignity, we become witnesses of God’s love in a world that often forgets its sacredness.

When we honor the sanctity of the marriage covenant and remain faithful despite temptations, we become living testimonies of Christ’s faithfulness.

And when we choose to follow Jesus even when it is difficult, we allow His light to shine through our lives and bring hope to others.

The Lord gently invites us to examine our hearts.

Do we truly believe in Jesus—not only with our words, but with the way we live our lives each day? And are we willing to stand with Him, follow His path, and let our lives reflect His truth and love in a world that so desperately needs Him?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Marso 12 Huwebes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 11:14-23

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:14-23

Noong panahong iyon, pinalayas ni Jesus ang isang demonyong sanhi ng pagkapipi ng isang lalaki, at ito'y nakapagsalita na mula noon. 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 Jesus 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 demonyo sapagkat binigyan ako ni Beelzebul ng kapangyarihang ito. Kung ako'y nagpapalayas ng demonyo sa pamamagitan ni Beelzebul, sino naman ang nagbigay ng kapangyarihan sa inyong mga tagasunod na magbigay na makagawa ng gayon?

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 aking mag-ipon.

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Repleksyon:

Tunay nga ba nating pinaniniwalaan si Jesus bilang ating Panginoon at Tagapagligtas?

Sa Mabuting Balita ngayon, matapos palayasin ni Jesus ang isang demonyo mula sa isang lalaki, may ilang taong nag-akusa sa Kanya na Siya raw ay kakampi ng mga demonyo. Sa halip na magalak dahil napalaya ang isang tao mula sa kapangyarihan ng kasamaan, ang kanilang mga puso ay napuno ng pagdududa at kawalan ng paniniwala. Hindi nila matanggap na ang himalang ginawa ni Jesus ay bunga ng Kanyang kabutihan at habag. Dahil sa katigasan ng kanilang puso, inakusahan nila ang mismong nagdala ng kalayaan at kagalingan.

Dahil dito, inaanyayahan tayong magtanong sa ating sarili: Sino nga ba ang tunay na kakampi ng mga demonyo? Si Jesus ba, o ang mga taong tumatangging maniwala sa Kanya?

Sa ating buhay, palagi tayong nahaharap sa isang mahalagang pagpili—ang maniwala kay Jesus o ang tanggihan Siya. Ngunit ang tunay na paniniwala ay hindi lamang nasasabi sa ating mga labi. Ang paniniwala kay Jesus ay nangangahulugan na tayo ay lumalakad sa Kanyang landas at namumuhay ayon sa Kanyang mga aral. Hindi natin maaaring sabihin na tayo ay naniniwala sa Kanya kung tumatanggi naman tayong sundin ang Kanyang ipinapakita sa atin.

Kapag tayo ay tumatalikod kay Jesus, nagiging bukás ang ating sarili sa impluwensya ng kasamaan. Kung wala ang liwanag ni Kristo na gumagabay sa ating mga puso, madali tayong mailigaw ng mga tukso at panlilinlang ng diyablo.

Nakakalungkot isipin na marami pa ring tao sa ating panahon ang katulad ng mga taong nabuhay noong panahon ni Jesus na tumangging maniwala sa Kanya. Bakit kaya ito nangyayari? Marahil kung minsan ay masyado tayong nakatuon sa ating sarili hanggang sa isipin nating mas alam pa natin ang tama kaysa sa Diyos. May mga pagkakataon ding sinasabi nating tayo ay naniniwala kay Jesus, ngunit ang ating mga gawa ay hindi naman sumasalamin sa Kanyang mga aral.

Kapag isinara natin ang ating puso kay Jesus, nagbubukas tayo ng pintuan para sa impluwensya ng kasamaan. Kapag wala ang gabay ni Kristo at ang tinig ng malinis na konsensya, maaaring dumating ang punto na ang tao ay nakakagawa ng mali nang hindi na nakakaramdam ng pagsisisi.

Marahil ito ang dahilan kung bakit nakikita natin ang ilang masakit na katotohanan sa ating mundo ngayon—tulad ng pagkitil sa buhay ng inosenteng sanggol sa sinapupunan, o ang pagsira sa banal na tipan ng kasal sa pamamagitan ng pagtataksil. Ipinapaalala sa atin ng mga pangyayaring ito kung ano ang maaaring mangyari kapag hinayaan ng tao na ang sarili ay gabayan ng makasariling pagnanasa kaysa sa katotohanan at pag-ibig ni Kristo.

Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, may pag-asa pa rin.

May pag-asa hangga’t may mga taong tulad natin na naniniwala kay Jesus—mga taong handang manindigan para sa Kanyang mga aral at mga pagpapahalaga.

Kapag pinahahalagahan natin ang kaloob na buhay at ipinagtatanggol ang dangal nito, nagiging saksi tayo ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa isang mundong madalas nakakalimot sa kabanalan ng buhay.

Kapag iginagalang natin ang kabanalan ng sakramento ng kasal at pinipiling maging tapat sa kabila ng mga tukso, nagiging buhay tayong patotoo ng katapatan ni Kristo.

At kapag pinipili nating sumunod kay Jesus kahit mahirap, hinahayaan nating magliwanag ang Kanyang ilaw sa pamamagitan ng ating buhay at magdala ng pag-asa sa iba.

Kaya, inaanyayahan tayong lahat ng Panginoon na suriin ang ating mga puso.

Tunay nga ba nating pinaniniwalaan si Jesus bilang ating Panginoon at Tagapagligtas—hindi lamang sa ating mga salita kundi sa paraan ng ating pamumuhay araw-araw? At handa ba tayong tumindig para sa Kanya at sundan ang Kanyang landas kahit ito ay mangahulugan ng pagsasakripisyo at katapatan sa gitna ng isang mundong madalas tumatanggi sa Kanya?— Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 11 Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.   

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus?

It is barren, chaotic, and without peace. And what is life without following the laws of God? It is much the same. Without Him, our lives easily lose their direction, and our hearts wander in search of meaning that the world can never truly give.

Jesus comes into our lives to make them meaningful, peaceful, and fruitful—not necessarily meaningful, peaceful, and productive in the eyes of the world, but meaningful and fruitful in His eyes. When we allow Him to guide us and when we choose to follow the laws of God, our lives begin to reflect the beauty of the purpose for which we were created.

When we break the laws of God, we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. Our actions reveal whether we truly follow Him or merely claim to do so. For example, if a politician presents himself publicly as a follower of Jesus, he should not violate the law by stealing money from government coffers or engaging in corruption.

Nor should he support policies that undermine the dignity of human life or disregard the needs of the poor. Otherwise, the name of Jesus may simply be used to advance a hidden agenda rather than to serve the common good.

The same principle applies to those who serve God in religious life. Priests and ministers who profess to follow Jesus are called to live lives that reflect holiness, integrity, and fidelity to the commandments of God. Their lives, like the lives of all of us who claim to follow Christ, should be a witness to the transforming power of His grace.

There is always a reward for those who follow the laws of God and remain faithful to the commandments of Jesus. The reward may not always be the one we expect, nor may it come at the time we desire. Yet we can trust that God sees our faithfulness and will bless it in His perfect way and in His perfect time.

But what about those who deliberately ignore or violate God’s laws? Eventually, they must face the consequences of their choices. In the end, justice—both human and divine—cannot be set aside forever.

As followers of Christ, we are invited each day to examine our hearts and our actions. Are we truly living according to the teachings of Jesus, or are we merely claiming His name while following our own desires?

Let us pause and ask ourselves honestly: Are our lives truly reflecting our love for Jesus through faithful obedience to His commandments or are we allowing the world to shape our choices more than the Lord who gave His life for us? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Marso 11 Miyerkules sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 5:17-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-19

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Huwag ninyong akalaing naparito ako upang pawalang bisa ang Kautusan at ang aral ng mga propeta. 

Naparito ako, hindi upang pawalang-bisa kundi para ipaliwanag at ganapin ang mga iyon. Tandaan ninyo ito: magwawakas ang langit at ang lupa, ngunit ang kaliit-liitang bahagi ng Kautusan ay di mawawalan ng bisa hangga't hindi nagaganap ang lahat.  

Kaya't sinumang magpawalang-halaga kahit sa kaliit-liitang bahagi nito, at magturo nang gayon sa mga tao, ay ibibilang na pinakamababa sa kaharian ng Diyos. Ngunit ang gumaganap ng Kautusan at nagtuturo na tuparin iyon ay ibibilang na dakila sa kaharian ng Diyos."

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Repleksyon:

Ano ang buhay kung wala si Jesus?

Ito ay tigang, magulo, at walang tunay na kapayapaan. At ano naman ang buhay kung hindi natin sinusunod ang mga batas ng Diyos? Ganito rin—isang buhay na madaling maligaw at mawalan ng tunay na kahulugan.

Dumating si Jesus sa ating buhay upang gawin itong makabuluhan, mapayapa, at mabunga—hindi lamang sa paningin ng mundo o ng ibang tao, kundi higit sa lahat sa Kanyang paningin. Kapag hinahayaan nating Siya ang gumabay sa atin at pinipili nating sundin ang mga utos ng Diyos, unti-unting nahahayag sa ating buhay ang layunin kung bakit tayo nilikha.

Kapag nilalabag natin ang mga batas ng Diyos, inilalayo rin natin ang ating sarili sa pag-ibig ni Jesus. Ipinapakita ng ating mga ginagawa kung tunay ba nating sinusunod Siya o sinasabi lamang natin na tayo ay Kanyang tagasunod.

Halimbawa, kung ang isang pulitiko ay nagpapakita sa publiko na siya ay tagasunod ni Jesus, hindi niya dapat nilalabag ang batas sa pamamagitan ng pagnanakaw ng pondo ng bayan o paggawa ng katiwalian. Hindi rin siya dapat sumusuporta sa mga patakaran o batas na sumasalungat sa dangal at pagkasagrado ng buhay ng tao o sa mga batas na nagpapahirap lalo sa mga dukha. Kung hindi, maaaring ginagamit lamang ang pangalan ni Jesus upang itaguyod ang pansariling layunin.

Ganoon din ang inaasahan sa mga naglilingkod sa Diyos sa buhay relihiyoso. Ang mga pari at mga lingkod ng Diyos na nagpapahayag na sila ay sumusunod kay Jesus ay tinatawag na mamuhay nang may kabanalan, katapatan, at pagsunod sa mga utos ng Diyos. Ang kanilang buhay—tulad din ng buhay nating lahat na nagsasabing tayo ay kay Cristo—ay dapat maging malinaw na patotoo sa kapangyarihan ng Kanyang biyaya na nagbabago ng puso at buhay.

May nakahandang gantimpala para sa mga sumusunod sa mga batas ng Diyos at nananatiling tapat sa mga utos ni Jesus. Maaaring hindi ito ang gantimpalang inaasahan natin o hindi ito dumarating sa oras na gusto natin. Ngunit makatitiyak tayo na nakikita ng Diyos ang ating katapatan at pagpapalain Niya ito sa Kanyang tamang panahon.

Ngunit paano naman ang mga sadyang lumalabag o nagwawalang-bahala sa mga batas ng Diyos? Sa huli, haharapin din nila ang bunga ng kanilang mga piniling gawin. Sapagkat ang katarungan at paniningil siguradong darating.

Bilang mga tagasunod ni Cristo, inaanyayahan tayong lahat na suriin ang ating puso at pamumuhay araw-araw. Tayo ba ay tunay na namumuhay ayon sa Kanyang mga turo, o ginagamit lamang natin ang Kanyang pangalan habang sinusunod ang sarili nating kagustuhan?

Tunay bang nakikita sa ating mga desisyon at pamumuhay ang ating pagmamahal kay Jesus sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa Kanyang mga utos—o hinahayaan ba nating ang dikta ng mundo ang humubog sa ating mga pasya kaysa sa Panginoong nag-alay ng Kanyang buhay para sa atin?—Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 10 Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

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 him 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 your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was very unforgiving. He constantly harbored resentment toward those who had hurt him. Being unforgiving had become his usual response toward anyone who did him wrong—until one day he suffered a heart attack.

After recovering from his illness, he made a life-changing decision. He would no longer keep resentment in his heart. From that moment on, he chose to forgive. As he began to let go of the anger and bitterness he had carried for so long, he experienced something beautiful within himself. He felt like a bird that had finally been freed from its cage.

Is it normal for us to harbor resentment or anger? Yes, it is, because we are human beings with emotions. There are moments when we are wounded, misunderstood, or treated unfairly. Hurt can easily enter our hearts. Yet the danger begins when we allow anger or resentment to stay too long within us, when we give it a safe harbor in our hearts.

When resentment begins to take hold of us, that is the moment when we must allow the teaching of Jesus on forgiveness to gently take over our selfish and destructive feelings.

In the Gospel, Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21–22).

This teaching of Jesus is simple, yet it carries a powerful truth for all of us. The Lord is reminding us that forgiveness should not be limited or counted. Instead, forgiveness must become a way of life for us. Yes, it is natural for us to feel hurt, but we must not allow those painful feelings to control us or leave permanent wounds in our hearts.

We can only be truly free from the destructive power of anger—something that the evil one often uses to divide and destroy—when we choose to forgive those who have hurt us.

What happens when we refuse to forgive? When we hold on to resentment, we end up hurting ourselves more than anyone else. We place ourselves inside an invisible prison called unforgiveness. Slowly and quietly, this unforgiveness weighs down our hearts, steals our peace, and drains our joy.

But when we follow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, something wonderful happens within us. Our hearts begin to feel light. The heavy burden we have been carrying is lifted. Peace slowly returns to our souls. We experience the freedom that comes from letting go.

Do we not all long to feel light, peaceful, and free from the burdens of anger and hurt?

Today the Lord gently places before us two paths. We can follow His teaching of limitless forgiveness, or we can continue to carry the heavy burden of unforgiveness within us. One path leads to freedom and peace; the other leads to captivity of the heart. 

With the grace of God, may we always choose the wiser path—the path of forgiveness. 

And so we ask ourselves today: Is there someone in our lives whom we still need to forgive so that our hearts may finally experience the freedom that Jesus wants to give us?— Marino J. Dasmarinas