Reflection for January 15, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.  

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

How can we convert sinners to become followers of Jesus? Of course we should approach them and be friends with them. Then as we become friends with them we also introduce Jesus to them. With the hope that they will eventually become a follower. Let us be patient with them, let us not judge them for what they’ve done and let us pray and hope for their eventual conversion.  

Jesus is a man of interactions He goes to sinners, interacts with them and even dines with them. Jesus always chose to interact with sinners for obvious reasons. How about us, do we interact with sinners? Do we mingle with them? And do we forgive them even if they don’t ask for forgiveness?  

There are people who prefer to stay in their ivory towers. They look down and despise sinners as if they are not sinners also. They quickly judge them as good for nothing and dangerous. But if we avoid sinners how could we convert them?  

If Jesus avoided Levi and the other tax collectors, He could not have converted them. They would have go on sinning until they die. But Jesus chose to interact with them for He knew that this was the only way to convert them. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 15, Sabado ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:13-17

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:13-17

13 Pumunta si Jesus sa tabing-dagat at lumapit din sa kanya ang lahat. Kaya nagturo siya sa kanila. 14 Nakita naman niya sa paglalakad si Levi na anak ni Alfeo, na nakaupo sa singilan ng buwis at sinabi niya rito: “Sumunod ka sa akin.” At tumayo ito at sinundan siya.   

15 Habang nanunuluyan naman si Jesus sa bahay ni Levi, maraming taga­singil ng buwis at iba pang maka­sa­la­nan ang nakisalo kay Jesus at sa kan­yang mga ala­gad. Talaga ngang marami sila. 16 Ngu­nit may mga guro ng Batas namang sumu­sunod sa kan­ya. Nang makita nila na nasa hapag siya kasama ng mga makasalanan at mani­ningil ng buwis, sinabi nila sa kanyang mga alagad: “Ano! kumakain siyang kasama ng mga makasalanan at mani­ningil ng buwis?”  

17 Nang marinig ito ni Jesus, sinabi niya sa kanila: “Hindi ang malulusog ang nanga­ngailangan ng doktor kundi ang mga may­sakit! Hindi ako pumarito para tawagin ang mabubuti kundi ang mga makasalanan.” 

Reflection for January 14, Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.  

After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Reflection:

Have we already brought someone closer to the Lord?  

The four men who helped the paralytic to be with Jesus were extraordinary men. They have merciful hearts, hearts that are not only concerned for their own wellbeing. We can just imagine the hardship that they have to go through so that they could bring the paralytic to Jesus.  

Surely, the four selfless men went home very happy with the thought in mind that they’ve done something noble and worthy. That feeling of happiness and fulfillment were their reward.  

The greatest reward that we could ever receive in this world is not money or material things for these are passing and temporary. Not even self-serving honors for it will eventually be forgotten. The greatest reward is to help someone who cannot pay us back. Who will simply pray for us and who will silently thank God for the help that they’ve received from us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 14, Biyernes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 2:1-12

1 Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, pumasok si Jesus sa Capernaum. Nang maba­litang nasa bahay siya, 2 ma­rami ang nagtipon doon kaya wala nang lugar kahit sa may pintuan. At ipinahayag niya ang Salita. 3 May mga tao namang duma­ting at dinala sa kanya ang isang parali­tiko, na buhat-buhat ng apat.  

4 At nang hindi sila makalapit kay Jesus dahil sa dami ng tao, inalis nila ang mga tisa ng terasang nasa ibabaw ng kinaroroonan ni Jesus at pagka­bukas nila nito, inihugos nila ang pa­ralitiko na nasa higaan. 5 Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Anak! Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasa­lanan.”  

6 May ilang guro ng Batas naman na nakaupo roon at inisip nila: 7 “Ano itong sinasabi niya? Talagang iniinsulto niya ang Diyos. Sino ba ang may kapang­yari­hang magpatawad ng mga kasa­lanan? Di ba’t ang Diyos lamang?” 8 At agad na nalaman ni Jesus sa kan­yang espiritu na ganoon ang kani­lang mga niloloob na kaisipan. Kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ano ang mga kaisipan ninyong ito?  

9 Ano ba ang mas madaling sabihin sa paralitiko: ‘Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan’ o ‘Tumayo ka, kunin ang iyong higaan at lumakad’? 10 Dapat ninyong malaman na sa lupa ay may kapang­yarihan ang Anak ng Tao na magpatawad ng kasa­lanan.”  

At sinabi niya sa paralitiko: 11 “Ini­uutos ko sa iyo: bumangon ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at umuwi.” 12 At bumangon nga ang tao, agad na kinu­ha ang higaan at lumabas na nakikita ng lahat. Lubhang namangha ang lahat at nagpuri sila sa Diyos sa pagsasabing “Kailanma’y hindi pa kami nakakakita ng ganito.”

Reflection for January 13, Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”  

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had a kidney failure. To temporarily extend his life he would submit himself to a twice a week dialysis treatment. After two years of searching for a donor he finally found a poor relative who was very willing to donate one of his kidneys.  

To facilitate fast matching and compatibility the donor was invited to stay with the family of the sick man. He was treated well until it was found out during the battery of test that he had AIDS.  Naturally he was not anymore fit to be a donor and fearing contagion all his things were isolated by his relatives including his utensils.  

After the discovery that he has AIDS their behavior towards him radically changed as well. He was not welcome anymore and he felt his relative’s isolation and ill-treatment. After a few days he was asked to leave them permanently.  

In our gospel we have a man with leprosy (a contagious disease) who humbly went to Jesus He knelt and begged Jesus to cure him. Jesus had nothing in His heart but love mercy and compassion for the man. So, He touched him and was immediately made clean.  

By touching the man with leprosy Jesus broke the stereotyped ill-treatment of those who were sick with leprosy. By touching the man with leprosy Jesus shows us that Love, Mercy and Compassion are more powerful than any dreaded disease.      

As we move forward in this journey called life we shall be meeting or will be acquainted with people with contagious disease. Or people who are sinful or who lived wayward and misguided lives. Let us not scorn them, let us not avoid them and let us not judge them.  

Let us help them heal by giving them our Love, Mercy and Compassion. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 13, Huwebes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:40-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:40-45

40 Lumapit kay Jesus ang isang may  ketong at nakiusap sa kanya: “Kung gusto mo, mapalilinis mo ako.” 41 Nahabag si Jesus sa kanya, iniunat ang kanyang kamay, hinipo siya at sinabi: “Gusto ko, luminis ka!” 42 Nang oras ding iyon, iniwan ang lalaki ng kanyang ketong at luminis siya.  

43 Ngunit mahigpit siyang pinagbilinan ni Jesus sa kanyang pag-alis, 44 sinabi niya: “Mag-ingat ka, huwag mo itong sabihin kaninuman, kundi pumunta ka sa pari para masuri ka niya at maialay alang-alang sa pagkalinis sa iyo ang handog na iniutos ni Moises upang magkaroon sila ng patunay.”  

45 Ngunit pagkaalis ng tao, sinimulan niyang ipahayag ito kahit saan at ipamalita ang pangyayaring ito. Dahil dito, hindi na lantarang makapasok sa bayan si Jesus kundi nanatili siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na lugar. Ngunit may dumarating pa rin sa kanya na kung saan-saan galing.

Reflection for January 12, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.  

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.  

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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Reflection:

There are three kinds of sickness that will bother us in our lifetime; one is physical sickness which is very visible and can easily be seen, spiritual sickness (not necessarily possession by an evil spirit). And the other one is emotional sickness this kind of sickness is subtle and not visible unless we talk to the person.   

In our gospel, after healing all who were ill or possessed by demons Jesus rose up early before dawn. He left, went off to an idle place and there He prayed and then went off to other towns to heal and preach.  

However there were still many who were looking for the Lord in the village. Does this mean that Jesus is inconsiderate and He simply abandoned those who were still in need of His healing? No.  

Perhaps, those people who were still looking for His healings were those who were sick emotionally. Emotional sickness is the kind of sickness that can be cured by the person himself.  

With strong faith in Jesus and will power this sickness can easily be defeated by each and everyone of us. So Jesus left them for He must have concluded that their faith on Him was already enough to defeat their emotional sickness.     

This happens to all of us sometimes we feel sick because of certain emotional low-downs. We can easily defeat this through our strong faith in Jesus and through our positive outlook in life.  

Do you feel emotionally sick today or do you have a fever today? Or Do you feel that you are sick of covid-19 omicron variant? Take courage, follow the health protocols and have faith for Jesus will heal you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 12, Miyerkules ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:29-39

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:29-39

29 Pagkaalis niya sa sinagoga, tumuloy si Jesus sa bahay nina Pedro at Andres, kasama sina Jaime at Juan. 30 Doo’y nakahiga ang biyenan ni Pedro at may lagnat, at agad nila itong sinabi kay Jesus. 31 Kaya lumapit siya, hinawakan ito sa kamay at ibinangon. Ini¬wan ng lagnat ang babae at ito mismo ang nag¬lingkod sa kanila.  

32 Pagkalubog ng araw, nang dumidilim na, dinala nila kay Jesus ang lahat ng maysakit o inaalihan ng masasamang espiritu. 33 Nasa may pintuan nga ang buong bayan. 34 Maraming may iba’t ibang sakit ang pinagaling ni Jesus at maraming demonyo ang kanyang pinalayas; ngunit hindi niya sila pinahintulutang magsalita sapagkat alam nila kung sino siya.  

35 Kinabukasan, maaga siyang bumangon at umalis. Pumunta siya sa isang ilang na lugar at doon siya nanalangin. 36 Hinanap siya nina Pedro, 37 at pagkakita sa kanya ay kanilang sinabi: “Hinahanap ka ng lahat.” 38 Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila: “Tayo na sa ibang lugar, sa maliliit na karatig-nayon para makapangaral din ako roon; dahil dito kaya nga ako lumabas.”  

39 At naglibot siyang nangangaral sa kanilang mga sinagoga sa buong Galilea at nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo.

Reflection for January 11, Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"  

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

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Reflection:

The story is told of a man who was trying very hard to straighten his life. He would often say to himself that he would not sin anymore. But he would always succumb to the enticement of the devil. This became a vicious cycle for him: He would promise to himself not to sin once again repeatedly.  

Evil possession is a reality of life it is always there hovering around waiting for the right moment to pounce on us. Evil possession is also not solely limited through diabolical possession. It now hides itself through our ego or high sense of self and through our other undesirable motives, thoughts and actions.  

Very clearly we have in the gospel the one who can defeat the devil and it’s no other than Jesus. By His authority Jesus drove out the evil spirit possessing the man. And it is also surprising that the evil spirit knew who Jesus was.  This simply means that Jesus was marked as their number one enemy for He alone can defeat them permanently.  

Jesus is still the same today as He was yesterday and as He shall be in the future. The evil spirit still trembles before His presence; He is our sole cure to Satan’s evil scheming. Let us therefore hear His voice crying out for us and let us not harden our hearts for Him. Instead let us open our hearts to Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 11, Martes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:21-28

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:21-28

21 Pumunta si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad sa Capernaum. At nagturo siya sa sinagoga sa mga Araw ng Pahinga. 22 Nagulat ang mga tao sa kanyang pangangaral sapagkat nangaral siya nang may kapang­yari­han, hindi gaya ng mga guro ng Batas.   

• 23 May isang tao sa sinagoga na ina­alihan ng isang maruming espiritu. 24 Su­migaw ito: “Ano ang kailangan mo sa akin, Jesus na taga-Nazaret? Para ipahamak kami kaya ka dumating. Alam ko kung sino ka: ang Banal ng Diyos.”   

25 Ngunit iniutos sa kanya ni Jesus: “Tumahimik ka’t lumabas sa kanya.” 26 Matinding niyugyog ng espiritu ang taong iyon at pagkasigaw nang malakas ay saka lumabas. 27 Talagang takang-taka ang lahat at nag-usap-usap sila: “Ano ito? Isang ba­gong pagtuturo na may kapang­ya­rihan! Inuutusan niya kahit maru­ruming espi­ritu at sinusunod nila siya.” 28 At luma­ganap ang katanyagan niya saan man sa buong lupain ng Galilea.

Reflection for January 10, Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:14-20

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel. As he passed by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

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Reflection:

There’s a saying that death is like a thief in the night it comes to us when we least expect it. What if for example death surprisingly visits us tonight? What would happen to our soul? Where would we end up? We don’t know when death will come to us, we don’t also know what will happen to us and where would we be. Only God with His infinite wisdom knows about it.  

In the gospel Jesus calls for repentance and belief in His gospel message. What is the relationship of death to Jesus call of repentance and fidelity to the gospel? Since death is unpredictable Jesus prepares us for this eventuality anytime by calling for our repentance and belief in His gospel message. 

This call of repentance of Jesus is not a once in a lifetime call. This is a lifetime call of Jesus for us. He calls us to repentance for as long as we live. For He knows all about our sinfulness; even the sin/s that nobody knows except us, Jesus knows about it also! 

What if we don’t heed this call of repentance of Jesus? We then continue to sin we continue to allow the devil to get hold of us and this is very frightening! For the devil will not bring us any good, we may enjoy the enticements of the devil for a period of time. However, time will come that it will eventually destroy us.  

Therefore, we must listen to this call of repentance of Jesus and we must also read, live and believe His gospel message. Our life will turn for the better the moment we decide to repent and embrace the gospel message of Jesus. 

If you listen to Jesus’ call and leave behind whatever sins that you have committed. You will begin to live a new life, a new life with peace, a new life with contentment and a new life of hope in the Lord.  

Are you willing to repent and embrace Jesus’ gospel message?  -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 10, Lunes ng Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:14-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:14-20

14 Pagkadakip kay Juan, pumunta si Jesus sa Galilea. Doon niya ipina­hayag ang magandang balita ng Diyos sa pagsa­sabing 15 “Sumapit na ang panahon; mag­bagong-buhay at mani­wala sa magandang balita; lumapit na nga ang Kaharian ng Langit.”   

16 Sa pagdaan ni Jesus sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya si Simon ka­sama si Andres na kapatid niya na naghahagis ng mga lambat sa lawa; mga mangingisda sila. 17 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” 18 Agad nilang iniwan ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod sa kanya.  

19 Nagpatuloy pa siya nang kaunti, nakita naman niya ang magkapatid na Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo; nasa bangka sila at nagsusursi ng kani­lang lambat. 20 Tinawag sila ni ­Jesus. Agad nilang iniwan sa bangka ang kanilang amang si Zebedeo kasama ang mga tauhan nito, at umalis silang kasunod niya.

Reflection for Sunday January 9, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

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Reflection:

A newly ordained priest was so proud of his vocation that he invited everyone in their place to announce to them that he is now a priest. He was not content with that kind of publicity so he told those who were gathered that he became a priest because he wanted it for so long. And according to him, no one influenced him to become a priest but himself.  

What separates John from this priest? John is humble and this priest is not, John pointed to Jesus as the greater power in his ministry while the priest pointed to himself as the power behind his priesthood.

We celebrate today the feast of the baptism of the Lord. What message does it convey to us?  It reminds us of our own baptismal date and baptismal mission; it reminds us that we have a responsibility to do as baptized Christians. Our baptismal mission is to share and live our faith and in sharing and living our faith we also have a responsibility to do: None other than to share our faith with humility. And to let the virtue of humility become an integral part of our lives so that we can bring our fellowmen closer to the Lord. What if we do not have the virtue of humility? We will not become effective bearers and sharers of the teachings of Jesus. We will not also become successful in our mission to bring others to Jesus. 

We can only convince others to follow Christ if we would always be humble and simple. We can only develop the curiosity of our fellowmen to be interested in our faith if we live it with humility and simplicity. As Jesus and John were humble evangelizers of the faith during their time, so must we.

Because it is only through the way of humility and simplicity that we can effectively live our baptismal mission. There is no other way but the way of humility and simplicity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Enero 9, Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon: Lucas 3:15-16, 21-22

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 3:15-16, 21-22

Nananabik noon ang mga tao at nag-isip-isip ang lahat kung hindi nga kaya si Juan ang Mesiyas. 16 At sumagot si Juan sa pagsasabi sa kanilang lahat: “Nagbibinyag ako sa inyo sa tubig pero dumarating na ang isang mas makapang-yarihan sa akin. Ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng kanyang mga panyapak. Sa Espiritu Santo at apoy niya kayo bibinyagan.  

21 Nang mabinyagan ang lahat ng tao, nabinyagan din si Jesus. At nabuksan ang langit habang siya’y nananalangin. 22 Bumaba sa kanya ang Espiritu Santo sa pangkatawang hugis ng isang kalapati at narinig mula sa langit ang isang tinig: “Ikaw ang aking Anak, ang aking Minamahal, ikaw ang aking Hinirang.”