Noong panahong iyon, ilang Pariseo at ilang kampon ni Herodes ang pinapunta kay Hesus upang siluin siya sa kanyang pananalita. Lumapit sila sa kanya at ang sabi, “Guro, nalalaman po naming kayo’y tapat at walang pinangingimian, sapagkat pareho ang pagtingin ninyo sa lahat ng tao.
At itinuturo ninyo kung ano ang kalooban ng Diyos sa mga tao. Naaayon po ba sa Kautusan ang pagbabayad ng buwis sa Cesar? Dapat ba kaming bumuwis o hindi?” Ngunit batid ni Hesus na sila’y nagkukunwari, kaya’t sinabi niya sa kanila, “Bakit ba ibig ninyo akong siluin?
Bigyan ninyo ako ng isang denaryo. Titingnan ko.” At kanilang binigyan siya. “Kaninong larawan at pangalan ang nakaukit dito?” tanong ni Hesus. “Sa Cesar po,” tugon nila. Sinabi ni Hesus, “Ibigay ninyo sa Cesar ang sa Cesar, at sa Diyos ang sa Diyos.” At sila’y namangha sa kanya.
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests,
the scribes, and the elders in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a
hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to
tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to
the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.
But they seized him, beat him, and sent
him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they
beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they
killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one
other to send, a beloved son.
He sent him to them last of all, thinking,
'They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the
heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they seized
him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner
of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the
vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage: The stone that
the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been
done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?"
They were seeking to arrest him, but they
feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.
So they left him and went away.
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Reflection:
A wealthy woman suddenly died without
leaving a last will and testament. Instead of talking thing out and amicably
settling the issue about her wealth the relatives were now wrangling as to who
would get the biggest chunk of wealth. Why were they squabbling about her
wealth? Because all of them were greedy nobody wants to give an inch on
the wealth that they would have.
Many families are like this, they were
once living in peace and unity until the issue of wealth divided them. What can
we gain with material wealth? It’s temporal riches that may fly from our hands
anytime! Why is it that some of us are willing to sacrifice blood relationship
for wealth? The simple answer is our greed!
In our gospel for this Monday Jesus gives
us a story that mirrors greed for wealth. Wealth that is temporary, wealth that
we will not be able to bring us to the next life. And wealth that has been the
cause of many conflicts in the family.
Instead of being greedy, why not be
generous? Instead of holding on to wealth, why not give some of it away or give
it all away? The rewards are unfathomable for those who would not hold on to their
wealth. It may not be in this finite world but it surely will come to them when
they are not anymore in this world.
Would you be generous with your wealth? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nagsimulang
magsalita si Hesus sa mga punong saserdote, mga eskriba, at matatanda ng bayan
sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga. Sinabi niya, “May isang taong nagtanim ng
ubas sa kanyang bukid, at binakuran niya ito. Humukay siya ng pisaan ng ubas,
at nagtayo ng isang mataas na bantayan. Pagkatapos, iniwan niya ang ubasan sa
mga kasama, at siya’y nagtungo sa ibang lupain.
Nang dumating ang panahon ng pitasan, pinapunta niya ang isa
niyang utusan upang kunin sa mga kasama ang kanyang kaparte. Ngunit sinunggaban
ng mga kasama ang utusan, binugbog, at pinauwing walang dala. Ang may-ari’y
nagpapunta uli ng ibang utusan, ngunit kanilang pinukpok ito sa ulo, at
dinusta. Nag-utos na naman siya sa isa pa, ngunit pinatay nila ang utusang
iyon.
Gayun din ang ginawa nila sa marami pang iba: may binugbog at
may pinatay. Iisa na lang ang natitira na maaaring papuntahin sa kanila – ang kanyang
minamahal na anak. Ito ang kahuli-hulihang pinapunta niya. ‘Igagalang nila ang
aking anak,’ wika niya sa sarili. Ngunit ang mga kasama’y nag-usap-usap, ‘Ito
ang tagapagmana. Halikayo, patayin natin at nang mapasaatin ang kanyang
mamanahin.’’ Kanilang sinunggaban siya, pinatay at itinapon sa labas ng
ubasan.
“Ano ngayon ang gagawin ng may-ari ng ubasan? Paroroon siya at
papatayin ang mga kasamang iyon, at ang ubasa’y ibibigay sa iba. Hindi pa ba
ninyo nababasa ang nasasaad sa Kasulatan? ‘Ang batong itinakwil ng mga
tagapagtayo ng bahay ang siyang naging batong panulukan.
Ginawa
ito ng Panginoon, At ito’y kahanga-hanga!’” Tinangka ng mga pinuno ng mga Judio
na dakpin si Hesus, sapagkat nahalata nilang sila ang pinatatamaan sa
talinghagang iyon. Ngunit takot naman sila sa mga tao; kaya’t hindi nila siya
inano at sila’y umalis.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
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Reflection:
Are you ready to fulfill your mission in the vineyard of the Lord?
Before the institution of the Eucharist took place, there were two men who became instrumental in the celebration of the Last Supper of the Lord.
The first is the man carrying a jar of water, Jesus told the disciples that the moment they see this man they have to follow him because he will lead them to the house where the last supper would be celebrated. And so, it happened, they saw this man and he led them to the house of the Last Supper.
The second man is the one in charge of the house where the Last Supper is to be held. This man ushered the disciples to the upper room. While there, they saw that it was furnished and ready for the commemoration of the Passover meal. Hence, they called the Lord, and they all went to the upper room, where
they ate their Passover meal which is the Last Supper.
These two men played crucial roles in the Last Supper, for without them, the Last Supper might not have been held there. But the two men were present, and they made life easier for the disciples and for the Lord as well.
We all play crucial roles in the advancement of the mission of the Lord. Some of us may think that the roles we play are insignificant. But they're not; every role we play in the vineyard of the Lord is very important and significant.
What is the important role that you play in the vineyard of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Unang araw ng Pista ng Tinapay na Walang Lebadura, araw ng pagpatay sa kordero para sa Paskuwa. Tinanong si Jesus ng kanyang mga alagad, "Saan po ninyo ibig na ipaghanda namin kayo ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa?" Inutusan niya ang dalawa sa kanyang mga alagad, "Pumunta kayo sa bayan. May masasalubong kayo na isang lalaki na may dalang isang bangang tubig.
Sundan ninyo siya sa bahay na kanyang napasukan sabihin ninyo sa may-ari, 'Ipinatatanong po ng Guro kung saang silid siya maaaring kumain ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa, kasalo ang kanyang mga alagad.' At ituturo niya sa inyo ang isang malaking silid sa itaas na mayroon nang kagamitan. Doon kayo maghanda para sa atin." Nagtungo sa bayan ang mga alagad at natagpuan nga nila roon ang lahat, gaya ng sinabi niya sa kanila. At inihanda nia ang Hapunang Pampaskuwa.
Samantalang sila'y kumakain, dumampot ng tinapay si Jesus, at matapos magpasalamat sa Diyos ay kanyang pinagpira-piraso at ibinigay sa mga alagad. "Kunin ninyo; ito ang aking katawan," wika niya. Hinawakan niya ang saro, at matapos magpasalamat ay ibinigay sa kanila; at uminom silang lahat. Sinabi niya, "Ito ang aking dugo ng tipan, ang dugong mabubuhos para sa marami.
Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi na ako iinom ng alak na mula sa ubas hanggang sa araw na inumin ko ang bagong alak sa kaharian ng Diyos." Umawit sila ng isang imno, at pagkatapos nagtungo sa Bundok ng mga Olibo.
Jesus and his disciples returned once more
to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the
scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are
you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said
to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what
authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin?
Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of
heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they
said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither
shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
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Reflection:
Who are the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders?
They are persons of authority they are all
highly valued and listened by their community. Jesus was actually no match to
them in stature for He is just an ordinary Jew and a carpenter. That’s why
they’ve asked Him: “By what authority are you doing these things?
What was their motivation in asking Jesus
about His authority? Of course their motivation was envy and greed for power
because they were slowly being threatened by the growing popularity of
Jesus. Otherwise if they were not envious and greedy they would have not
asked Jesus about His authority. This same envy and greed for power drove them
to plot the killing of Jesus.
We too are often times envious of those
who succeed, those who are more popular than us. Why do we allow ourselves to
be eaten up by this negative emotion called envy? Instead of feeling envious
why not simply be happy for those people who succeed? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumunta na
naman si Hesus at ang mga alagad sa Jerusalem. Samantalang si Hesus ay
naglalakad sa templo, nilapitan siya ng mga punong saserdote, ng mga eskriba,
at ng matatanda ng bayan. Tinanong siya, “Ano ang karapatan mong gumawa ng mga
bagay na ito? Sino ang nagbigay sa iyo ng karapatang ito?”
Sumagot si Hesus, “Tatanungin ko
rin kayo. Pag sinagot ninyo ako, saka ko naman sasabihin sa inyo kung ano ang
karapatan kong gumawa ng mga bagay na ito. Kanino nagmula ang karapatan ni Juan
upang magbinyag – sa Diyos ba o sa mga tao?” At sila’y nag-usap-usap: “Kung sabihin
nating mula sa Diyos, itatanong naman niya sa atin, ‘Bakit hindi ninyo siya
pinaniwalaan?’
Ngunit
kung sabihin nating mula sa tao,” natatakot naman sila at baka kung ano ang
gawin sa kanila ng mga tao, sapagkat kinikilala ng lahat na si Juan ay isang propeta.
Kaya’t sumagot sila kay Hesus, “Hindi namin alam!” Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila,
“Hindi ko rin sasabihin sa inyo kung ano ang karapatan kong gumawa ng mga
ginawa ko.”
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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Reflection:
Why did Mary remain with her cousin Elizabeth for three months?
The gospel for today tells us that the blessed Mother stayed with her cousin Elizabeth for three months. Why three months? Why not one month or two months instead? Three months because the Blessed Mother ensured first that she would be with her cousin Elizabeth until she gives birth to her son John. This is the reason why the Blessed Mother was with her cousin for three months.
Considering that she was also pregnant during that time Mary could have decided to just stay with her for a month. Then go home so that she could also prepare for the birth of her son Jesus. But she chose to be with Elizabeth until she gave birth. This is how compassionate, loving and selfless is the blessed Mother.
We live now in a world driven by busyness and time, for the majority of us time is gold and surely we want to use majority of our time to earn a living or money. But the Blessed Mother is telling us to use our time not only to earn a living. We also have to use our time to touch lives. To help those who are in need in that process we also silently bring Jesus to them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Si Maria'y nagmamadaling pumunta sa
isang bayan sa kaburulan ng Juda. Pagdating sa bahay ni Zacarias, binati niya
si Elisabet. Nang marinig ni Elisabet ang bati ni Maria, naggagalaw ang sanggol
sa kanyang tiyan. Napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elisabet, at buong galak na
sinabi, "Pinagpala ka sa mga babae, at pinagpala rin ang dinadala mo sa
iyong sinapupunan!
Sino ako upang dalawin ng ina ng aking Panginoon? Sapagkat
pagkarinig ko ng iyong bati ay naggagalaw ang sanggol sa tuwa sa aking tiyan.
Mapalad ka sapagkat nanalig kang matutupad ang ipinasasabi sa iyo ng Panginoon!"
At sinabi ni Maria, "Ang puso ko'y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, at
nagagalak ang aking espiritu dahil sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagkat
nilingap niya ang kanyang abang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako'y tatawaging
mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi. Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng
Makapangyarihan -- Banal ang kanyang pangalan!
Kinahahabagan niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng
sali't-saling lahi. Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang mga bisig, pinangalat
niya ang mga palalo ang isipan. ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang
trono, at itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan.
Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom, at pinalayas
niyang wala ni anuman ang mayayaman. Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel,
bilang pagtupad sa pangako niya sa ating mga magulang, kay Abraham at sa
kanyang lahi, magpakailanman!"
Tumira
si Maria kina Elisabet nang may tatlong buwan, at saka umuwi.
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his
disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat
by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to
cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he
kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus
stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to
him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to
Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for
you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to
see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved
you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
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Reflection:
Is the blind man Bartimaeus desperately seeking Jesus?
Desperation is an understatement because he is seeking Jesus with all of his
might. This is because he knows the real identity of Jesus. Bartimaeus knows
that only Jesus can cure his physical blindness. However, Bartimaeus' physical
blindness did not prevent him from uncovering the true identity of Jesus. Why?
Because Bartimaeus has the eyes of faith that many of us do not have yet.
Through his eyes of faith Bartimaeus saw the real
identity of Jesus. Through the eyes of faith Bartimaeus discovered that it is
only Jesus who can cure his physical blindness. This is the reason why he
mightily shouted to get the attention of Jesus when He passed by
him.
The eyes of faith of this blind man did not fail him
for he was noticed and soon after called by Jesus. And right there while face
to face with Jesus he was asked by the Lord: "What do you want me to do
for you?" Bartimaeus said, Master, I want to see. And at that very moment
his physical blindness was cured by Jesus.
How about us? Do we have these eyes of faith of
Bartimaeus? Let us reflect upon this for we may be able to see physically yet
we are still blind spiritually. Let us therefore seek the Lord more, so that we
would also have Bartimaeus eyes of faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
The disciples were on the way, going up to
Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who
followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what
was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son
of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will
condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit
upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we
ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered
him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at
your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I drink or
be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We
can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and
with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at
my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has
been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and
John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You
know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall
not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your
servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of
all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give
his life as a ransom for many.”
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Reflection:
Are you willing to carry the cross of
Jesus?
Jesus began to tell his disciples what was
going to happen to him: his passion, death and eventual resurrection. Then,
James and John requested Jesus that in his glory they be allowed to sit beside
him.
Why in his glory only they want to sit
beside Jesus? Why didn’t they tell Jesus that they would be with him also
through his passion and death?
Often times we are like James and John we
only recognize the presence of Jesus in our lives during our glorious moments
and our life’s triumphs. When we are beset with problems we feel that Jesus has
forsaken us. The Lord wants us to be aware that He is with us always, he wants
us to embrace him fully regardless of our life situations.
James and John also desired greatness
because they wanted to sit beside Jesus in his glorious moments. But Jesus
rebuked them when he said: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your
servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”
In the church there are those who always
want to been seen with their Priest/Pastors because it evokes greatness, power
and prestige. But for Jesus the true measure of greatness is when we are always
ready to serve regardless if we're seen, regardless if we're recognized or not.
Let us not seek recognition when following
Jesus let us instead follow the Lord with humility. And from humility everything good will follow including recognition. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nasa daan sila patungong Jerusalem. Nauuna sa kanila si Jesus; nangangamba ang mga alagad at natatakot naman ang mga taong sumusunod sa kanya. Ibinukod ni Jesus ang Labindalawa at sinabi ang mangyayari sa kanya.
Wika niya, "Ngayo'y paahon tayo sa Jerusalem. Ang Anak ng Tao'y ipagkakanulo sa mga punong saserdote at sa mga eskriba. Kanilang hahatulan siya ng kamatayan, at ibibigay sa mga Hentil. Siya'y tutuyain nila, luluran, hahagupitin,at papatayin. Ngunit muli siyang mabubuhay pagkaraan ng tatlong araw."
Lumapit kay Jesus sina Santiago at Juan na anak ni Zebedeo, at ang sabi, "Guro, may hihilingin po sana kami sa inyo." "Ano iyon?" tanong ni Jesus. Sumagot sila, "Sana'y makaupo kami katabi ninyo sa inyong kaharian-- isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa." "Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi," sabi ni Jesus sa kanila.
"Mababata ba ninyo ang hirap na babatahin ko? Pabibinyag ba kayo sa binyag na daranasin ko?" "Opo," tugon nila. Sinabi ni Jesus, "Ang hirap na babatahin ko'y babatahin nga ninyo, at kayo'y bibinyagan sa binyag na daranasin ko. Ngunit wala sa akin ang pagpapasiya kung sino ang mauupo sa aking kanan at sa aking kaliwa. Ang mga luklukang sinasabi ninyo'y para sa mga pinaghandaan."
Nang marinig ito ng sampung alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid. Kaya't pinalapit sila ni Jesus at sinabi, "Alam ninyo na ang mga itinuturing na pinuno ng mga Hentil ay siyang pinapanginoon, at ang dinadakila ay siyang nasusunod. Ngunit hindi ganyan ang dapat umiral sa inyo.
Sa halip, ang sinuman sa inyo na ibig maging dakila ay dapat maging lingkod. at sinumang ibig maging pinuno ay dapat maging alipin ng lahat. Sapagkat ang Anak ng Tao ay naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran kundi upang maglingkod at ibigay ang kanyang buhay sa ikatutubos ng marami."
Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have
given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there
is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not
receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and
sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life
in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be
first.”
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Reflection:
What are we capable of giving up for Jesus? Can we
give up our riches? Can we give up our life of sin, hedonism and worldliness?
Perhaps this is quite hard to do for many of us.
But if we do so and we begin to trust and love Jesus
more than this world. We would also see a marked improvement in our lives,
there would be less human created worries, stress and problems.
This is for the reason that we’ve decided to embrace
Jesus more than this world. Jesus tells us in the gospel that if we give up
this world and choose to follow Him. We would receive more than this world
could offer. But what does this world offer us except sin, endless pressure
through accumulation of wealth, power and problems.
Let us try detaching ourselves from this world even
for only a short time and we would see the big improvement that it would create
in our lives. Let us cut our relationship and communication with our friends
who have not brought any good into our lives.
Let us also detach ourselves from our vices and
anything that is sinful. After doing so let us develop a real relationship with
Jesus. By attending Holy Mass more often, by praying more often and let us
begin to develop a habit of reading the Bible.
Let us not be afraid to give up this world for Jesus. Because
there will be enormous rewards that awaits us the moment we decide to give up
this world in favor of Jesus. But what are these rewards? The rewards are:
Peace of mind, contentment, acceptance of the things that we cannot change and so on. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a
man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him “Good teacher, what must I do
to inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one
is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall
not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you
shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all
of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him,
loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you
have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come,
follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had
many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his
disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of
God! The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in
reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for
a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter
the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said
among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For
men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
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Reflection:
Who is this man in the gospel who walked
away from his desire to follow Jesus in favor of his treasures? We don’t know
but we could compare the attitude of this wealthy man to our own attitude when
it comes to wealth.
Many of us can’t give away our wealth so
that it may serve its real purpose none other than to feed the hungry and
clothe the naked. When the wealthy man walked away from Jesus he allowed
himself to be possessed by his love for his wealth. He was already at the
threshold of the real meaning of life. Yet he still chose to be possessed by
worldly life which is accumulation and possession of wealth and power.
Many of us including our politicians allow
ourselves to be possessed by this false meaning of life. Which in the end will
only serve as our downfall for the simple reason that we allowed ourselves to
be possessed by our greed for wealth and power.
What will it do us if we have wealth yet
we don’t have peace of mind? What would wealth bring to our lives if we don’t
have God? Nothing but false sense of security, nothing but a life devoid of
meaning and a life of emptiness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
