Reflection for February 4 Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him?  

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:   

There was a successful man who, after his death, was given lavish praise by his relatives and friends during his wake—praise he truly deserved because he was a good and humble man. Yet these were praises they had purposely not told him while he was still alive because they envied him.

Oftentimes, we wait until it is too late before we express our appreciation for the goodness that we see in others. Oftentimes, our pride, our jealousy, or our silence prevents us from giving encouragement to those who deserve it while they are still with us.

When Jesus went back to the place where He grew up, Nazareth, He went to their synagogue to teach. He spoke with wisdom and eloquence. Yet Jesus did not receive any congratulatory acknowledgment—not even a simple handshake or a gesture of recognition from His former townmates.

Instead, Jesus received derision and scorn because they could not accept that a former carpenter could speak to them with such wisdom and authority. This was someone they knew very well, yet they could not accept that He would one day speak in their house of worship. So, they belittled Jesus instead of giving Him the well-deserved recognition.

If we reflect deeply, do we not sometimes act like the townmates of Jesus? Many of us can be quick to judge and belittle our fellowmen and even our relatives who have achieved a certain degree of success in their lives. Instead of rejoicing with them, we sometimes allow envy and pride to take root in our hearts.

Why are we quick to belittle? Why are we quick to give unjust judgment? This can come from envy, from our very high regard for ourselves, and perhaps from our status in life. 

At times, we place ourselves on a pedestal so high that we can no longer bend our knees in humility before God and before others. We can no longer recognize worthy achievements because our eyes are clouded by the cataract of our egos and self-image. And when we are quick to judge and scorn others, we also open ourselves to the same judgment and scorn. 

As followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to rejoice with those who rejoice, to encourage rather than to discourage, and to lift others up rather than pull them down. When we celebrate the blessings and successes of others, we reflect the love, humility, and generosity of the Lord. 

Let us not judge. Let us not envy. Instead, let us choose to be happy for those who achieve success. Let us learn to affirm, appreciate, and encourage one another while we still have the chance. 

Today, let us examine our hearts. Are we building others up, or are we silently tearing them down through envy, pride, or indifference? 

If Jesus were to stand before us today—not as someone distant, but as someone we already know—would we recognize Him with humility and love, or would we allow pride and envy to blind our hearts? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Pebrero 4 Miyerkules ng Ikaapat na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 6:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 6:1-6

Noong panahong iyon, si Jesus ay nagtungo sa sariling bayan, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad. Pagdating ng Araw ng Pamamahinga, nagturo siya sa sinagoga, nagtaka ang maraming nakarinig sa kanya at nagtanong, "Saan niya nakuha ang lahat ng iyan? Anong karunungan itong ipinagkaloob sa kanya? Paano siya nakagagawa ng mga kababalaghan? 

Hindi ba ito ang karpinterong anak ni Maria, at kapatid nina Santiago,Jose, Judas, at Simon? Dito nakatira ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae, hindi ba?" At siya'y ayaw nilang kilanlin. Kaya't sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila, "Ang propeta'y iginagalang ng lahat, liban lamang ng kanyang mga kababayan, mga kamag-anak, at mga kasambahay." 

Hindi siya nakagawa ng anumang kababalaghan doon, maliban sa pagpapatong ng kanyang kamay sa ilang maysakit upang pagalingin ang mga ito. Nagtaka siya sapagkat hindi sila sumampalataya. At nilibot ni Jesus ang mga nayon sa paligid upang magturo.

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Repleksyon:

May isang matagumpay na negosyante na matapos siyang pumanaw, ay binigyan ng mararangyang papuri ng kanyang mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan sa kanyang burol—mga papuring karapat-dapat sapagkat siya ay mabuti at mapagkumbabang tao. Ngunit ang mga papuring ito ay hindi nila sinabi sa kanya noong siya ay nabubuhay pa dahil naiinggit sila sa kanya.

Madalas, hinihintay pa natin na maging huli ang lahat bago natin ipahayag ang ating pagpapahalaga sa kabutihang nakikita natin sa iba. Madalas, hinahayaan natin na ang ating pagmamataas, inggit, o pananahimik ang pumigil sa atin na magbigay ng pagpapalakas ng loob sa mga taong karapat-dapat naman nito habang kasama pa natin sila.

Nang bumalik si Jesus sa lugar kung saan Siya lumaki—sa Nazaret—pumunta Siya sa kanilang sinagoga upang magturo. Nagsalita Siya na puno ng karunungan. Ngunit si Jesus ay hindi nakatanggap ng anumang pagbati—kahit simpleng pakikipagkamay o pagkilala man lamang mula sa Kanyang mga kababayan.

Sa halip, tinanggap Niya ang panlilibak at paghamak sapagkat hindi nila matanggap na ang isang dating karpintero ay makapagsasalita sa kanila nang may ganitong karunungan at kapangyarihan. Kilala nila Siya, ngunit hindi nila matanggap na darating ang araw na Siya ay magsasalita sa kanilang sinagoga. Kaya minamaliit nila si Jesus sa halip na ibigay ang pagkilalang nararapat sa Kanya.

Kung susuriin natin ang ating mga sarili, hindi ba minsan ay nagiging katulad din tayo ng mga kababayan ni Jesus? Marami sa atin ang madaling humusga at maliitin ang ating kapwa, maging ang ating mga kamag-anak na nagtatagumpay sa kanilang buhay. Sa halip na makigalak sa kanila, minsan ay hinahayaan natin na ang inggit at pagmamataas ang mamayani sa ating puso.

Bakit tayo madaling mangmaliit? Bakit tayo madaling humusga? Maaaring nagmumula ito sa inggit, sa mataas na pagtingin natin sa ating sarili.

May mga pagkakataon na inilalagay natin ang ating sarili sa napakataas na pedestal kaya hindi na tayo marunong magpapakumbaba sa harap ng Diyos at ng ating kapwa. Hindi na natin nakikita ang mga karapat-dapat purihin dahil ang ating paningin ay nababalot na ng “katarata” dahil sa mataas na pagtingin natin sa ating sarili. At kung mabilis tayong humusga at manghamak ng iba, binubuksan din natin ang ating sarili sa ganoon ding paghusga at paghamak.

Bilang mga tagasunod ni Kristo, tinatawag tayo na mamuhay nang iba. Tinatawag tayo na makigalak sa mga nagagalak, magpalakas ng loob sa halip na magpahina, at mag-angat ng kapwa sa halip na magpabagsak. Kapag ipinagdiriwang natin ang tagumpay at biyaya ng iba, naipapakita natin ang pag-ibig, kababaang-loob, at kabutihang-loob ng Panginoon.

Huwag tayong humusga. Huwag tayong mainggit. Sa halip, piliin nating matuwa sa tagumpay ng iba. Matuto tayong kumilala, magpasalamat, at magpalakas ng loob sa isa’t isa habang may pagkakataon pa tayo.

Tayo ba ay nagtatayo ng kapwa, o tahimik natin silang winawasak sa pamamagitan ng inggit, pagmamataas, o kawalang-pakialam?

Kung si Jesus ay tumayo sa ating harapan ngayon—hindi bilang isang estranghero, kundi bilang isang taong kilala na natin—makikilala ba natin Siya nang may pagpapakumbaba at pag-ibig, o hahayaan ba natin na ang ating pagmamataas at inggit ang bumulag sa ating puso? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 3 Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.  

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.  

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”  

 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer? Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 

So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

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Reflection:

Sickness and death are words that we are afraid to hear, much less experience. Who among us wants to get sick, and who among us wants to die? No one, because we all desire to enjoy the life that God has given us. Yet physical death, brought about by our human nature, is a certainty of life that none of us can escape. It will visit each one of us one day, because physical death is part of the natural process of life here on earth.

But there is another form of death that is far more dangerous. This is called spiritual death. It is something the devil continually tries to lure us into. The evil one tempts us to commit sin, and if we are not watchful and prayerful, we may fall into this trap. This can result in our separation from the love of God unless we humbly return to Him and submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), where His mercy and forgiveness are always waiting for us.

In the Gospel, we encounter a sick woman with great faith. She longed to touch even just the tassel of Jesus’ clothes because she believed that the moment she did, she would be healed of her sickness. So, while Jesus was passing by, she reached out in faith, touched His clothes, and immediately she was healed.

Jesus felt that power had gone out of Him, so He asked the crowd, “Who touched my clothes?” Upon hearing this, the woman fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And Jesus, full of compassion and love, said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

Many people were touching Jesus at that time, yet He did not feel power leave Him. Why was it different when this woman touched Him? It was because she reached out not just with her hands, but with her heart. She was in deep need of healing. She had living faith. She believed with all her heart that Jesus would heal her the moment she touched Him.

There will come moments in our lives when we, too, will be in need of Jesus’ healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. When those moments come, may we never doubt the power of our Lord to heal, restore, and make us whole again. May we learn to reach out to Him not only in words, but in deep faith, trust, and surrender.

Are we merely close to Jesus in presence, or are we truly reaching out to Him in faith, trusting that He alone can heal and restore our lives? — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon Pebrero 3 Martes ng Ikaapat na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 5:21-43

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 5:21-43

Noong panahong iyon, muling tumawid si Hesus sa ibayo ng Lawa ng Galilea, nakasakay sa bangka. Nasa baybay pa siya ng lawa ay pinagkalipumpunan na siya ng maraming tao. Dumating ang isang lalaking nagngangalang Jairo, isang tagapamahala ng sinagoga. Pagkakita kay Hesus, siya’y nagpatirapa sa kanyang paanan, at ang samo: “Agaw-buhay po ang anak kong dalagita. 

Kung maaari, sumama kayo sa akin at ipatong ninyo sa kanya ang inyong kamay upang siya’y gumaling at mabuhay!” Sumama naman si Hesus. At sinundan siya ng napakaraming taong nagsisiksikan, anupa’t halos maipit na siya. 

May isang babae roon na labindalawang taon nang dinudugo, at lubhang nahihirapan. Marami nang manggagamot ang tumingin sa kanya, at naubos na sa kapapagamot ang kanyang ari-arian, ngunit hindi siya napabuti kahit kaunti bagkus ay lalong lumubha. Narinig niya ang sinasabi ng mga tao tungkol kay Hesus, kaya’t nakipagsiksikan siya hanggang sa makalapit sa likuran ni Hesus. At hinipo niya ang damit nito. Sapagkat sinabi niya sa sarili, “Mahipo ko lang ang kanyang damit ay gagaling na ako.” 

Biglang tumigil ang kanyang pagdudugo at naramdaman niyang magaling na siya. Naramdaman naman ni Hesus na may kapangyarihang lumabas sa kanya, kaya’t bumaling siya sa mga tao at nagtanong, “Sino ang humipo sa akin?” Sumagot ang kanyang mga alagad, “Nakikita po ninyong nagsisiksikan ang napakaraming tao, bakit itinatanong ninyo kung sino ang humipo sa inyo?” Subalit patuloy na luminga-linga si Hesus, hinahanap ang humipo sa kanya. Palibhasa’y alam ng babae ang nangyari, siya’y nanginginig sa takot na lumapit kay Hesus, nagpatirapa, at ipinagtapat ang buong katotohanan.  

Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Anak pinagaling ka ng iyong pananalig sa akin. Umuwi ka na’t ipanatag mo ang iyong kalooban. Lubusan ka nang magaling sa iyong karamdaman.” Samantalang nagsasalita pa si Hesus, may ilang dumating mula sa bahay ni Jairo. “Patay na po ang anak ninyo,” sabi nila. “Bakit pa ninyo aabalahin ang Guro?” Hindi pinansin ni Hesus ang kanilang sinabi, sa halip ay sinabi sa tagapamahala, “Huwag kang mabagabag, manalig ka.”  

At wala siyang isinama kundi si Pedro at ang magkapatid na Santiago at Juan. Nang dumating sila sa bahay ng tagapamahala, nakita ni Hesus na gulung-gulo ang mga tao; may mga nananangis pa at nananaghoy. Pagpasok niya ay kanyang sinabi, “Bakit kayo nagkakagulo at nananangis? Hindi patay ang bata; natutulog lamang!” 

Ngunit pinagtawanan siya ng mga tao. Pinalabas niya ang lahat, maliban sa ama’t ina ng bata at sa tatlong alagad, at sila’y pumasok sa kinaroroonan ng bata. Hinawakan niya ito sa kamay at sinabi, “Talita kumi,” na ang ibig sabihi’y “Ineng, sinasabi ko sa iyo, magbangon ka!” Pagdaka’y bumangon ang bata at lumakad. Siya’y labindalawang taon na. At namangha ang lahat. Mahigpit na ipinagbilin ni Hesus na huwag ipaalam ito kaninuman; at iniutos niyang bigyan ng pagkain ang bata.

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Repleksyon:

Ang karamdaman at kamatayan ay mga salitang kinatatakutan nating marinig, lalo na kung tayo mismo ang makararanas nito. Sino ba sa atin ang gustong magkasakit? Sino ba sa atin ang gustong mamatay? Wala, sapagkat lahat tayo ay nagnanais na maranasan at matamasa ang buhay na kaloob sa atin ng Diyos.

Ngunit ang pisikal na kamatayan, bunga ng ating pagiging tao, ay isang katiyakan sa buhay na walang sinuman sa atin ang makatatakas. Darating ito sa bawat isa sa atin balang araw, sapagkat bahagi ito ng likas na takbo ng buhay dito sa mundo.

Ngunit may isa pang uri ng kamatayan na higit na mapanganib—ang espirituwal na kamatayan. Ito ang patuloy na sinusubukang iparanas sa atin ng demonyo. Inaanyayahan niya tayo na magkasala, at kung hindi tayo magiging mapagbantay at mapanalanginin, maaari tayong mahulog sa kanyang bitag.

Maaari itong magbunga ng pagkakahiwalay natin sa pag-ibig ng Diyos, maliban na lamang kung tayo ay buong pagpapakumbabang lalapit sa Kanya at tatanggap sa Sakramento ng Pakikipagkasundo o Kumpisal, kung saan laging naghihintay ang Kanyang awa at kapatawaran para sa atin.

Sa Mabuting Balita, makikita natin ang isang babaeng may sakit ngunit may matibay na pananampalataya. Ninais niyang mahawakan kahit ang laylayan lamang ng kasuotan ni Hesus, sapagkat naniniwala siya na sa sandaling magawa niya iyon, siya ay gagaling. Kaya habang dumaraan si Hesus, puno ng pananampalataya siyang lumapit, hinawakan ang Kanyang kasuotan, at agad siyang gumaling.

Naramdaman ni Hesus na may kapangyarihang lumabas mula sa Kanya kaya tinanong Niya ang mga tao, “Sino ang humawak sa aking kasuotan?” Nang marinig ito, lumuhod ang babae sa harap Niya at sinabi ang buong katotohanan. At sinabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Anak, pinagaling ka ng iyong pananampalataya. Humayo ka nang payapa at gumaling ka sa iyong karamdaman.”

Marami ang sumasagi at humahawak kay Hesus noon, ngunit hindi Niya naramdaman na may kapangyarihang lumabas sa Kanya. Bakit nang hawakan Siya ng babaeng iyon ay naramdaman Niya ito? Sapagkat ang babae ay lumapit hindi lamang gamit ang kanyang kamay kundi gamit ang kanyang puso. Malaki ang kanyang pangangailangan. Buhay ang kanyang pananampalataya. Buong puso siyang naniwala na pagagalingin siya ni Hesus sa sandaling mahawakan niya Siya.

Darating din ang mga pagkakataon sa ating buhay na tayo ay mangangailangan ng kagalingan mula kay Hesus—maaaring pisikal, emosyonal, o espirituwal. Kapag dumating ang panahong iyon, nawa’y huwag tayong mag-alinlangan sa kapangyarihan ng Panginoon na magpagaling, magpanumbalik, at magbigay ng bagong buhay sa atin. Matuto sana tayong lumapit sa Kanya hindi lamang sa salita kundi sa malalim na pananampalataya, pagtitiwala, at buong pagsuko ng ating sarili.

Lumalapit ba tayo kay Hesus nang may buong pananampalataya, nagtitiwala na Siya lamang ang makapagpapagaling at makapagpapanumbalik ng ating buhay?— Marino J. Dasmarinas