Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 18, Unang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Marcos 1:12-15

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:12-15

Noong panahong iyon si Jesus ay, agad pinapunta ng Espiritu sa ilang. Nanatili siya roon ng apatnapung araw, na tinutukso ni Satanas. Maiilap na hayop ang naroon ngunit si Jesus ay pinaglingkuran ng mga anghel. 

Pagkatapos dakpin si Juan, si Jesus ay nagtungo sa Galilea at ipinangaral ang Mabuting Balitang mula sa Diyos. "Dumating na ang takdang panahon, at malapit na ang paghahari ng Diyos! Pagsisihan ninyo't talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan at maniwala kayo sa Mabuting Balitang ito."

Reflection for February 17, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me. And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.  

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

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Reflection:

There is a story of a sinner who wanted to change his ways. So he gathered enough courage and presented himself to his parents to ask for forgiveness. But the parents did not forgive him they instead condemned him as good for nothing and useless. 

In the days that followed they received a call that their son ended his life. If only they were not judgmental they could have saved a life and became an instrument of conversion. But they choose not to forgive. 

How do you treat sinners? Are you quick to condemn them for who they are? Or you are patient with them and even build bridges with them so that they would also feel the love and forgiveness of Jesus? 

When we judge sinners we also immediately cut off the chance for us to be an instrument of their healing and conversion. We are also pushing them deeper into the mud of sin. But why are we judgmental when we are sinners as well? Why are we judgmental when we are not perfect, when we too are subject to judgment? 

When Jesus saw the tax collector named Levi who was labelled as a sinner by those who knew him. Jesus did not condemn the tax collector He instead asked Levi to follow Him and this sinner left everything to follow the Lord. Here we see the redemptive result when we don’t judge and condemn. 

In the heart of hearts of every sinner rest a sacred place that is reserved for someone who will not judge them. A sacred place exclusively for those who would be willing to forgive them and help them get up and start a new life hand in hand with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 16, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

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Reflection:

Do you practice fasting?  

The church teaches us that we have to practice fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Does it have any basis in the Bible? Yes just to name a few: Jonah 3:7, Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 

Matthew 4:2: “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.” 

Matthew 6:16: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. 

To practice fasting is an edifying experience, for we would discover that we can still be productive even if we are fasting, as long as we focus our attention on Jesus, who observed fasting for forty days in the desert and, in the process, was tempted in vain by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). 

But more than the voluntary denial of food it also requires us to fast from doing anything that would offend God and our fellowmen. From doing anything that would defile us physically and spiritually. For example we fast from committing sin, we fast from judging our neighbor and so forth.   

In the gospel Jesus was asked by the Pharisees and John’s disciples why His followers were not fasting. Jesus answered them that there’s no reason yet for them to fast because He is with them (Matthew 9:15). 

When are we, therefore, going to be with Jesus so that we will no longer practice fasting? It’s when we die and eventually ascend to heaven, which is sure to come if we continue to live our lives worthy in the eyes of God until our last breath in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 15, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

What would you do after hearing Jesus say this: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

What will register in your mind for sure is Jesus statement about His suffering and death. What will register in your mind is His statement that those who would want to follow Him must learn how to deny himself and carry his cross daily.

This is for the reason that we are normally unenthusiastic with suffering, death and sacrifice. Who would want to suffer, who would want to die at a young age and who would want sacrifice in his life? We don’t want all of these because this entails hardship, perseverance and the like. 

But this is the reality of life with Jesus, if we really want to feel His abiding presence in our lives. Then, we must be prepared to suffer, for what reason would we suffer for? We will suffer in our discipleship with Jesus because Jesus Himself suffered. Even if He has the power He did not exempt Himself from suffering.    

What would you gain after suffering for the mission of Jesus? You will be with Jesus in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 14, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. 

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

How will this 2024 season of Lent affect you? Does this bring you closer to God? There are three keys for you to have a meaningful observance of Lent. The first is Almsgiving, the second is Prayer, and the third is Fasting. In all of these three, Jesus advocates silence and self-introspection. What Jesus advocates contradicts what this world would normally dictate you to do.

In Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting Jesus advocates doing it in the privacy of your heart. Nobody will know except you and God alone not even your closest relative or friend.  Why? Because it is in silence and secrecy that you would also receive blessings from God (Most especially spiritual blessings!).  For example, how could you have peace of mind? It’s through silence. How would you feel the presence of God in your life it’s in silence also.  

God is not a loud God He is a God that loves silence.  He is not like the many artificial Gods of this secular world that thrives in noise and publicity. Come to think of it, is it possible to have communion with God through noise and publicity? Never. We will never have connection with Jesus through noise, publicity and other acts of self-promotion.     

As we begin our forty (40) day’s journey this lent let us look back on the loudness of our life. Let us look at our Facebooks, Instagrams and other social media platforms and observe how we loudly promoted our life there. And let us ask ourselves this question: Has this self-promotion and loud lifestyle led me in close communion with Jesus? 

Lent is the time of year that the Good Lord gives us so that we could get closer and intimate with Him. So that we could repent from all of our sins. It is His hope that through lent we could have a close encounter with Him and this we can best do in silence.

As the priest and other deputized ministers of the church apply the ash in the shape of a cross on your forehead, close your eyes and silently pray this to the Lord: 'Cleanse me, O Lord, for I am a sinner. Forgive me, O Lord, for I have sinned. Heal me, O Lord, for I have been deeply wounded by sin.’ – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for February 13, Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

What do you do when you go through life's trials? Do you fully trust the Lord to make things better for you? Do you say, 'Lord, I give you all my worries, trusting that you will take care of them.  

If your mindset is to surrender everything to the Lord, it speaks volumes about your enormous faith in Jesus. Come what may, you will trust Jesus more than yourself or anybody else. Is your faith in Jesus as strong as this, that you trust Him more than anybody else? 

In the gospel, when the disciples together with Jesus were already in the boat they found out that they had only one bread. And they were naturally worried, for how could this one bread fill all of their hungry stomachs? 

In the midst of their worries Jesus reminded them about His miracle of the loaves where He feed the thousands. As if Jesus was telling them: Why are you worried that you will not be able to eat when I am with you? 

The disciples failed their test of faith; they doubted if Jesus would be able to help them. Did they doubt or they momentarily forgot that Jesus was with them in that boat? 

We all face our own set of test of faith. Perhaps many of us also fail this test of faith and we doubt if we would be able to achieve what we want in life. Or for the reason of our many worries we simply forget that we have a powerful friend and God in Jesus. 

Let us doubt no more let us fully trust Jesus for He will never fail us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 12, 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:

A man would always be bothered whenever he watches news about earthquakes, storms, and other natural calamities on the internet. He would always tell himself, 'Is this a sign that the end of this world is near?' Then he would calm down by saying, 'I trust the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, I am not disturbed nor bothered.

Why is it that many of us are easily bothered whenever we see disasters and calamities? This is for the simple reason that we lack faith otherwise if we don’t lack faith we would not be easily bothered. Human as we are it’s natural for us to be bothered by these natural calamities. However, we should always quickly assure ourselves that Jesus is in control we therefore have to regain our confidence under this disturbing situation.  

In the gospel for today the Pharisees were asking for a sign from the Lord. Why? Because they were testing Him and aside from that they simply don’t have faith in Jesus.  

How about you? Are you easily disturbed by the many wars, calamities and disasters that are unfolding before your eyes? Are you easily bothered by the many problems that you are facing right now?  

Do not be bothered for Jesus is in control, no sign is stronger than Jesus Himself. He is more than enough to calm you amidst your fears and problems whatever those problems are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday February 11, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, 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. 

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:

How would you react if you were the leper who was healed by Jesus? Should you just keep silent about your miraculous healing or you tell everyone how Jesus healed you? Perhaps you would also spread the good news of your healing from Jesus for this is basic human nature. 

The healed leper disobeyed Jesus' command not to tell anyone about the miracle he received from Him (Mark 1:44). Did Jesus become angry due to his disobedience? Of course not! Jesus perfectly understood that his disobedience served a good reason.

The healed leper was eager for everyone to know that Jesus heals! He simply wanted to share the good news of his healing so that others could also receive healing from the Lord. Soon after, news of the healing that Jesus performed for the leper spread like wildfire, resulting in people from everywhere coming to Jesus.

Have you received a miracle from Jesus? For example, healing from your sickness, healing of a family relationship or healing from an emotional/spiritual sickness and so on. Don’t keep it within yourself!

Share with everyone the miracle that Jesus has done for you. Humbly speak about the greatest healer to ever walk this earth—none other than Jesus Himself! So that they too would experience healing from the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 11, Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:40-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 1:40-45

Noong panahong iyon, may isang ketonging lumapit kay Hesus, nanikluhod at nagmakaawa: “Kung ibig po ninyo’y mapagagaling ninyo ako.” Nahabag si Hesus at hinipo siya, sabay ang wika, “Ibig ko. Gumaling ka!” Noon di’y nawala ang ketong at gumaling ang tao. Pinaalis siya agad ni Hesus matapos ang ganitong mahigpit na bilin: “Huwag mong sasabihin ito kaninuman.  

Sa halip ay pasuri ka sa saserdote. Pagkatapos, maghandog ka ayon sa iniutos ni Moises, upang patunayan sa mga tao na ikaw ay magaling na.” Ngunit umalis siya at bagkus ipinamalita ang nangyari, anupat hindi na hayagang makapasok ng bayan si Hesus. Naroon na lamang siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na pook, at doon pinagsasadya ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t ibang dako.

Reflection for Saturday February 10, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin: 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:

What happened to the crowd after they were fed by Jesus? 

Perhaps they went back to their respective environments satisfied and spiritually recharged. Did they lead transformed lives? Did they become fervent and true followers of Jesus? Obviously majority of them did not live transformed lives and they did not become full blooded followers. Otherwise they would have not deserted Jesus when He was being persecuted, tortured and nailed to the cross. 

What happens to us after attending Holy Mass wherein we listen to the words of God and partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus? Do we allow Jesus to transform us every time we listen to His words and every time we receive Him during Holy Communion? His fervent desire is to transform us so that we could become His true followers. This is always the Lord’s desire for us. 

But at the end of the day it’s still in our hands we still have the liberty to decide for ourselves. If we become His true followers or not.  Or if we allow His Body and Blood to transform us or not. The choice is ours to take but the wise choice is to allow Jesus to transform us. 

Look around and see the lives of those who did not allow Jesus to transform them. Look around and see those who followed in words only. They may be materially wealthy, they may be politically powerful. But do they have peace and serenity in their lives? – Marino J. Dasmarinas               

Reflection for February 9, Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

How do you react when people praise you for the things that you've done and achieved? Do you gloat over it? Does it increase your sense of self-worth? Do you feel proud and feel that you are head and shoulders above others? These reactions are for those people who have a very high regard for themselves.

Those who are humble when they are praised for the things that they’ve done and achieved would point to God by saying: Thanks be to God, or Praise God. They would always deflect the credit out of themselves and give the glory to God. 

Let us look at the gospel and see the humble actions of Jesus when He was asked to heal the sick man. Instead of healing the sick man in front of the crowd. He took him away from the crowd then He cured him just the two of them. Afterwards, He told the healed man not to tell anyone. 

Many of us, when we've done something worthy, would want the whole world to know about it. This is the reason why several of us always post pictures/videos on Facebook and other social media platforms, which show that we're doing or have achieved something, so that we would have a positive image.

But not Jesus, He would always be non-assuming, self-effacing and low profile.  How about you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 8, 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:

Does Jesus favor a certain group of people? No, Jesus doesn’t not have a chosen group of people. Jesus came into this world not to save a select group of people but for everyone of us: Sinner, non-sinner and Christians and non-Christians alike. 

In the gospel, a Greek woman, a non-Jew and an outsider went to Jesus to beg for healing for her daughter. What did Jesus do? He tested the faith of the woman and when He saw her great faith Jesus granted her request for healing for her daughter. 

What does this tell us about Jesus? Jesus is for everyone of us regardless who we are and the sins that we have committed. What is important for the Lord is we humbly go to Him and reach out to Him with faith. For if we have faith nothing is impossible for Him, Jesus would grant us what we want for as long as we have faith. 

Do you want Jesus to do miracles in your life? Humbly beseech and beg Him. Simply trust Him and abandon yourself to Him. In His own perfect time, He will give you your heart’s desire.  Believe and have faith. - Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Tuesday February 6, Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs: Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 

And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)  

 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. 

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. 

Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus a compassionate, emphatic and an exceptional leader? Because Jesus’ dares to violate established rules to benefit the people. For Jesus it’s always the greater good of the people before the observance of any rules or laws. Which by the way was created to serve the whims and caprices of the ruling class (The Pharisees and scribes). 

Jesus violates the rules created by the ruling class because some were restrictive and oppressive. It makes the ordinary people servants of the ruling class. Ruling class who were good only with utterance of their laws but visibly wanting in human compassion. Truth to tell, the ruling class (Pharisees and scribes) sacrificed human compassion in exchange for the observance of their self-serving created laws. 

Case in point is the washing of hands before eating which was mentioned by the ruling class in the gospel. They asked Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands (Mark 7:5)?” Jesus answered them by simply pointing at their hypocrisy, their lack of interior transformation and compassion toward the ordinary people. 

If we want others to truly respect and follow us we should not be imposing, we should not be dictators. Because if we are imposing and dictatorial our people will rebel against us, they may externally show their respect towards us but it’s a respect devoid of substance and spirit.  Instead we should always live the gentleness and compassion of Jesus. 

Do you live the gentleness and compassion of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday February 5, Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr: Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurry about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.  

Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

 Do you have the habit of touching the image of Jesus in your house or when you are at church? Then, as you touch His image you say your silent prayer of petition and thanksgiving to Jesus? Continue doing it because that is a good habit it signifies your humility and surrender to the mighty power of Jesus.  

The healing crusade of Jesus continues in our gospel. Wherever He goes, those who were in need of His healing go also. The moment they receive the information that Jesus is near, they hurry to go to Him for a healing encounter with the Lord.They never mind if they are not able to talk to Jesus. It’s enough for them that they’re able to touch a tiny part of His clothes. Or to have a glimpse of Him is already enough for them to be healed by the mighty power of Jesus. 

Up to this very moment this mighty healing power of Jesus is very much present in our midst. Because the Lord is always a prayer away and His very image is within our reach too! Look at the cross in your house or in your church the image of Jesus is there. Touch Him and as you touch Him ask Him to heal you, ask Him to change you according to His will ask Him to make you more gentle, humble and forgiving.      

Surely, Jesus will never disappoint anyone who humbly surrenders themselves before Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas