Words of Wisdom - 6

 

Reflection for Tuesday February 14, Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop: Mark 8:14-21

Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? 

Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up? They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

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Reflection:

How do you handle power? 

Power corrupts people who don’t know how to handle it. The Pharisees and King Herod were very powerful but they did not use their power responsibly they in fact abused it. They used it to oppress and manipulate people. Eventually they allowed the same power that they had to corrupt them. 

Opposed to the manipulative and arrogant power of the Pharisees and Herod is the power of Jesus that emanates from God. Power that is used to sincerely help and power that is used with humility and purity. This power was shown to them by Jesus when He feed twice the thousands of people. 

Many of us handle power like how the Pharisees and Herod handled it. We use it to manipulate, we use it to advance our selfish agendas. Many politicians use their power to steal money from the government in the guise of helping the poor. The power of the Pharisees and King Herod is temporary it doesn’t last and this kind of power has a retribution factor in the end. 

Of course, we know the power of Jesus; it forever leaves an imprint in our hearts. It’s power firmly rooted in humility and power that will bring us safely to God’s kingdom someday.

Whose power do you embrace? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Martes Pebrero 14, San Cirilo, monghe at San Metodio, Obispo (Paggunita): Marcos 8:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:14-21

Noong panahong iyon, nalimutan ng mga alagad na magdala ng tinapay, at iisa lang ang kanilang tinapay sa bangka. "Kaiingat kayo! Ilagan ninyo ang lebadura ng mga Pariseo at ang lebadura ni Herodes," babala ni Jesus sa kanila. Nag-usap-usap ang mga alagad, "Wala kasi tayong dalang tinapay kaya niya sinabi iyon." 

Alam ito ni Jesus, kaya't sila'y tinanong niya, "Bakit ninyo pinag-uusapan na kayo'y walang dalang tinapay? Hindi pa ba kayo nakababatid o nakauunawa? Hindi pa ba abot ng inyong isip? Wala ba kayong mata? Wala ba kayong tainga? Nakalimutan na ba ninyo nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang limang tinapay para sa limanlibo? 

Ilang bakol ang napuno ninyo sa mga lumabis na tinapay?" "Labindalawa po," tugon nila. "At nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang pitong tinapay para sa apatnalibo, ilang bakol na malalaki ang napuno ninyo?" tanong niya. "Pitong bakol po," tugon nila. "At hindi pa rin ninyo nauunawaan?" wika niya.

Reflection for February 13, Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman wanted to see a sign from her beloved so that she could finally say yes to him. So she said: “If this man would bring me flowers and chocolates that would be the sign that he loves me.” Lo and behold the man came knocking at their gate with flowers and chocolates. To make a long story short she finally said yes to him but after a few months they broke up.   

Unlike the love of a suitor which is often times fickle and bounded by time, Jesus love for us is always there it’s not fickle or bounded by time. What are the signs of God’s love?  The food on the table, the new life in the morning and countless more! These are obvious signs of Jesus infinite love for us. 

But often times these are still not enough for us, we still seek more signs to strengthen our faith in Him. When we seek additional signs from Jesus it also shows how feeble our faith in Him. Otherwise if we have full faith and confidence we would not anymore seek or ask for whatever sign/s. Let us not anymore seek signs from the Lord let us instead ask the Lord to deepen our faith in Him. 

Do you sometimes seek signs from the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Pebrero 13, Lunes ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:11-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:11-13

Noong panahong iyon, may dumating na mga Pariseo at nakipagtalo kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masila siya kaya hiningi nila na magpakita si hesus ng isang tanda mula sa langit.  

Napabuntong-hininga nang malalim si Hesus at ang wika, “Bakit naghahanap ng tanda ang lahing ito? Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi sila pagpapakitaan ng anumang tanda.” Iniwan niya sila, at pagkasakay sa bangka ay tumawid sa ibayo. 

Reflection for Sunday February 12, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:17-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

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. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. 

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. 

“It was also said, whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”

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Reflection:

Imagine a world without laws, there would be no order; there would be chaos and anarchy. Imagine life without following the laws of your country. And let us imagine ourselves not being faithful to the teachings of God. There would also be disorder in our life; we will have no peace of mind.

In our first reading according to Sirach (Sirach 15:15-20) we are given choices,  life and death, good and evil. We are made to choose whichever we like. If we like death and evil, it’s really up to us; if we like good and life, it’s also upon our hands. God gave us the freedom but this freedom is not absolute because God wants us to carefully discern our choices. For example if we choose death disguised as fulfillment of the law over life or evil desires over good where would these faulty choices bring us?

But what if we choose life and we choose to do good? Of course we would have peace of mind we will not be bothered by our conscience for the reason that we followed what God wants us to do. And this is absolutely what God wants us to always do in our life!

For example in our gospel, Jesus gives us teaching about Anger (Matthew 5:21-26), teaching about Adultery (Matthew 5:27-30) and teaching about Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32). Just imagine if we would follow all of these teachings. There would be peace and serenity in our life most specifically in our married life. But are we following these teachings or laws of Jesus?

These laws were given to us by Jesus to serve as our lighthouse as we continue to sail in this world. We follow these commands not because we fear it. We follow it because we love Jesus who is the spirit behind His laws. Therefore, if we follow we’ll have peace in our life and we would be much closer to Jesus in this world and beyond this world.

Imagine a peaceful life and imagine a life very close to Jesus, would you not want to have it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 12, Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:17-37

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-37

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus 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.

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung ang pagsunod ninyo sa kalooban ng Diyos ay tulad lamang ng pagsunod ng mga eskriba at mga Pariseo, hindi kayo makapapasok sa kaharian ng Diyos.

“Narinig ninyo na noong una’y iniutos sa mga tao, ‘Huwag kang papatay; ang sinumang makamatay ay mananagot sa hukuman.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang mapoot sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa hukuman; ang humamak sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa Sanedrin, at sinumang magsabi sa kanyang kapatid ‘ulol ka!’ ay mapapasaapoy ng impiyerno.

Kaya’t kung naghahandog ka sa Diyos, at maalaala mo na may sama ng loob sa iyo ang kapatid mo, iwan mo muna ang iyong handog sa harap ng dambana at makipagkasundo ka sa kanya. Saka ka magbalik at maghandog sa Diyos.

“Kung may magsakdal laban sa iyo sa hukuman, makipag-ayos ka sa kanya habang may panahon, bago ka niya iharap sa hukom. At kung hindi’y ibibigay ka niya sa hukom, na magbibigay naman sa iyo sa tanod, at ikaw ay mabibilanggo. Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hangga’t hindi mo nababayaran ang kahuli-hulihang kusing.”

“Narinig ninyo na noong una’y iniutos sa mga tao, ‘Huwag kang makikiapid.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang sinumang tumingin nang may mahalay na pagnanasa sa isang babae, sa isip niya’y nakiapid na siya sa babaing iyon. Kung ang mata mo ang siyang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, dukutin mo at itapon!

Sapagkat mabuti pang mawalan ka ng isang bahagi ng katawan kaysa buo ang iyong katawang itapon sa impiyerno. Kung ang iyong kamay ang siyang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, putulin mo at itapon! Mabuti pang mawalan ka ng isang bahagi ng katawan kaysa buo ang iyong katawang itapon sa impiyerno.

“Sinabi rin naman, ‘Kapag pinahiwalay ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa, ito’y dapat niyang bigyan ng kasulatan ng paghihiwalay.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag pinahiwalay ng isang lalaki ang kanyang asawa nang hindi naman ito nangangalunya, at ito’y nag-asawang muli, ang lalaking iyo’y nagkasala – itinulak niya ang kanyang asawa sa pangangalunya. At sinumang mag-asawa sa babaing hiniwalayan ay nangangalunya.”

“Narinig pa ninyo na noong una’y iniutos sa mga tao, ‘Huwag kang sisira sa iyong pinanumpaang pangako bagkus ay tupdin mo ang iyong sinumpaan sa Panginoon.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: huwag na kayong sumumpa kung nangangako kayo. Huwag ninyong sabihing, ‘Saksi ko ang langit,’ sapagkat ito’y trono ng Diyos; o kaya’y ‘Saksi ko ang lupa,’ sapagkat ito’y tuntungan ng kanyang mga paa.

Huwag din ninyong sabihing, ‘Saksi ko ang Jerusalem,’ sapagkat ito’y lungsod ng dakilang Hari. Ni huwag mong sabihing, ‘Mamatay man ako,’ sapagkat ni isang buhok sa iyong ulo’y hindi mo mapapuputi o mapaiitim. Sabihin mo na lang na ‘Oo’ kung oo at ‘Hindi’ kung hindi; sapagkat buhat na sa masama ang anumang sumpang idaragdag dito.”

Reflection for February 11, Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.  

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.  

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. 

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

Do you know how it feels to be hungry? 

Having nothing to eat is an indescribable feeling of being weak. We cannot do the things that we would normally want to do. We may even limit our movement because the more we move the more that we feel the pain of hunger.  

In the gospel reading; Jesus speaks about the crowd without anything to eat: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance (Mark 8:2-3)." 

Then, He asked His disciples, "How many loaves do you have (Mark 8:5)?" They replied, "Seven." He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Afterwards He gave thanks, broke them and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowd. The same happened to the few fish that they had; the four thousand people were able to eat and they still had seven basketfuls of excess bread and fish.  

What lesson does Jesus wants us to learn from the miracle of the loaves and fish? Perhaps Jesus wants us to learn how to give, why? For the simple reason that many are going hungry. Let us not worry of the cost of giving that would bring us because the more we give the more that we would receive. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Pebrero 11, Sabado ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:1-10

Noong mga araw na iyon, muling nagkatipon ang mga tao. Naubos nila ang kanilang pagkain, kaya’t tinawag ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, at sinabi sa kanila, “Nahahabag ako sa mga taong ito, sapagkat tatlong araw na ngayong kasama ko sila at wala na silang makain. Kung pauuwiin ko nang gutom, mahihilo sila sa daan – galing pa naman sa malayo ang ilan sa kanila.” 

“Saan po tayo kukuha ng tinapay dito sa ilang para magkasya sa ganito karaming tao?” tugon ng mga alagad. “Ilan ang tinapay ninyo riyan?” tanong ni Hesus. “Pito po,” sagot nila. Ang mga tao’y pinaupo ni Hesus sa lupa. Kinuha niya ang pitong tinapay, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Pinagpira-piraso niya ang mga iyon at ibinigay sa mga alagad upang ipamahagi sa mga tao. 

Gayun nga ang ginawa ng mga alagad. Mayroon din silang ilang maliliit na isda. Muli siyang nagpasalamat sa Diyos, at iniutos niyang ibigay din iyon sa mga tao. Kumain ang lahat at nabusog; at nang tipunin nila ang mga pira-pirasong tinapay na lumabis, nakapuno sila ng pitong bakol na malalaki. At may apat na libo ang kumain. Pinayaon ni Hesus ang mga tao, saka siya sumakay sa bangka, at nagtungo sa lupain ng Dalmanuta.

Reflection for Friday February 10, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  

He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.  

He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

Have you already witnessed a healing session? 

Some of us may have already seen healing sessions on TV wherein an individual on wheelchair is suddenly able to walk. The blind able to see and those who cannot speak are able to speak again. I don’t know if these healings are true because according to an exposé some of these healings are fake. The individuals who are sick are not actually sick; they just pretend to be sick and they are actually members of the sect that conducts the healing sessions. 

In the gospel we are presented with an authentic healing presided by Jesus. A deaf man who had a speech impediment is brought to Jesus for healing. To make a long story short Jesus healed the deaf man: he was able to hear and talk again. 

I’d like to zero in on the personal healing actions of Jesus. They walked away from the madding crowd and once they were both by themselves Jesus conducted the personal healing. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. 

This healing action of Jesus is very much opposite to what we see nowadays. Healers now want it to be publicized they want to be noticed they want to maximize their media exposure so to speak! I can only speculate of their true motives. 

Is it still possible for us to have this personal and one on one healing with Jesus now? Yes, a pious presence at Holy Mass or quite visit to our church’s Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel would do it for us. Jesus is there personally waiting for us to heal us of our sickness our personal hurts and pains. 

If only we would discover the healing and calming presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, if only we will learn to allocate a portion of our time to give Him a visit there. We would also have an Ephphatha experience. 

Our hearts and minds would also be opened to this personal and wondrous healing experience with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and with Jesus at Holy Mass. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 9, Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:24-30

Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 

He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Reflection:

Are you persistent when you pray before The Lord? 

A Greek woman went to Jesus to ask Him to drive out a demon from her daughter. What is very significant here is the woman is an outsider, not a follower of Jesus not even a Jew. But with courage and faith she went to Jesus for help, her mind was focused on reaching out to Jesus. 

When she finally was able to reach Jesus, she told Him about her sick daughter. Jesus was reluctant at first to help. But she persisted and she humbled herself before Jesus after which her daughter was healed. 

We all have our own problems that we carry in our hearts and we surely have brought these problems to Jesus. Let us not lose heart if we have not yet received a response from Jesus. Let us continue to persist, continue to humble ourselves before Him and untiringly beseech His guidance and help. 

The woman never gave up until she got what she wanted from Jesus. So we too must never give up we must continue to badger Jesus with our humble and persistent prayers. Often times we don’t get what we want from Jesus because we easily give up. Same as with our ambitions in life; we don’t get what we want because we give up. 

What if we don’t give up? What if we continue to persist and humbly ask the Good Lord to grant us our prayer/s? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 9, Huwebes ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:24-30

Noong panahong iyon, nagtungo si Hesus sa lupain ng Tiro at tumuloy sa isang bahay doon. Ayaw sana niyang malaman ninuman na naroon siya, subalit hindi gayon ang nangyari. Ang pagdating niya'y nabalitaan ng isang inang may maliit na anak na babaing inaalihan ng masamang espiritu. Pumunta siya kay Jesus at nagpatirapa sa kanyang harapan.                       

Ang babaing ito'y Hentil -- tubo sa Sirofenicia. Ipinamanhik niya kay Hesus na palayasin ang demonyo na nasa kanyang anak; ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, "Kailangang busugin muna ang mga anak. Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta." 

"Tunay nga po, Panginoon," tugon ng babae, "ngunit ang mga tuta mang nasa ilalim ng hapag ay naninimot ng mga mumong nalalaglag ng mga anak." Kaya't sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, "Dahil sa sinabi mo, maaari ka nang umuwi. Iniwan na ng demonyo ang iyong anak." Umuwi ang babae, at naratnan niya sa higaan ang bata. Iniwan na nga ng demonyo.

Reflection for February 8, Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

Do we discern the voice of the Lord when it speaks to us? 

When Jesus said, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” The disciples were asking Him about the meaning of His statement. As if they were saying, Come again Lord, we do not understand what you’ve said. And perhaps in exasperation Jesus said, “Are even you likewise without understanding? 

In our walk with the Lord there would be times that we will not understand also the things that are happening in our lives. For example, we might ask the Lord, Why is this happening to me Lord? I don’t get your message; I don’t understand the reason of this event/s in my life. 

Why is it that we don’t understand? Because we don’t listen carefully to Him or we may listen but our attention is focused on something else. If only we would learn to carefully listen to the Lord and if only we would try to live to the fullest His teaching. 

But how are we going to listen to the Lord? We have to consistently go to Holy Mass. We also have to consistently read the bible which more often than not is not being read. We also have to be humble for the reason that humility is the key for us to discern the voice of the Lord.     

Then, we would know and we would understand that everything that happens in our life is for a good reason. We would discern that Jesus has a purpose why we are going through this and that trial. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 8, Miyerkules ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:14-23

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:14-23

Noong panahong iyon, muling pinalapit ni Hesus ang mga tao at sinabi sa kanila, "Makinig kayong lahat, at unawain ang aking sasabihin! Hindi ang pumapasok sa bibig ng tao ang nakapagpaparumi sa kanya sa mata ng Diyos kundi ang nagmumula sa kanya. Ang may pandinig ay makinig." 

Iniwan ni Jesus ang mga tao; at nang makapasok na sa bahay, siya'y tinanong ng kanyang mga alagad tungkol sa talinghaga. "Kayo man ba'y wala ring pang-unawa?" tugon ni Hesus. "Hindi ba ninyo alam na hindi nakapagpaparumi sa tao ang kinakain niya, sapagkat hindi naman iyon pumapasok sa kanyang puso, kundi sa tiyan, at pagkatapos ay idinudumi." Sa pagsasabi nito'y para nang ipinahayag ni Hesus na maaaring kanin ang lahat ng pagkain. 

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita: "Ang lumalabas mula sa tao ang nagpaparumi sa kanya sa mata ng Diyos. Sapagkat sa loob-- sa puso ng tao-- nagmumula ang masasamang isipang nag-uudyok sa kanya na makiapid, magnakaw, pumatay, mangalunya, mag-imbot, at gumawa ng lahat ng kabuktutan, tulad ng pagdaraya, kahalayan, pagkainggit, paninirang puri, kapalaluan, at kahangalan, Ang lahat ng ito'y nanggagaling sa puso ng tao, at siyang nagpaparumi sa kanya."