Oo, Ama, sapagkat gayon ang ikinalulugod mo. "Ibinigay sa akin ng aking Ama ang lahat ng bagay. Walang nakakikilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama, at walang nakakikilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak at yaong marapating pagpahayagan ng Anak."
But I tell
you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than
for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You
will go down to the netherworld.
For if the
mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
on the day of judgment than for you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you get
frustrated or even get angry every once in a while? It’s ok for as long as your
frustration and anger is for a good reason. And for as long as your anger
doesn’t stay for long in your heart. For example, you advice a relative
or a friend to mend his/her ways but she/he doesn’t listen to
you.
In his
humanity Jesus also gets frustrated like us and it is shown in the gospel. When
He reproached the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida due to their refusal to repent.
Jesus wanted the inhabitants of the two towns to change their wicked ways and
accept His good news.
Some of us
are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness, so; we
continue to sin. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very
different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts.
Sin in whatever shapes and forms is a clear and present danger in our lives. We must not only avoid sin let us also confront sin so that it will permanently banish from our system of existence. Sin is the devil in disguise and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang sasapitin ninyo kaysa sasapitin ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, ibig mong maging mataas kaysa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades!
Sapagkat kung sa Sodoma ginawa ang kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, sana'y nananatili pa ito hanggang ngayon. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang ipaparusa sa inyo kaysa dinanas ng Sodoma."
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and
whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands
to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in
their towns.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is this sword that Jesus speaks about in the gospel?
It’s the sword of truth and righteousness! Jesus came into this world to bring the sword of truth and righteousness and this sword of truth and righteousness pierces anyone who stands in the way.
Man against his father? Daughter against her mother? Indeed, if anyone stands in the way even if they are our relatives we should not be afraid to speak in the name of truth and righteousness. We should not be afraid to voice out what we think is right no matter who gets hurt. In the same manner that we should not be afraid to voice out our sentiments even if the person whom we are going to address has the money, influence and power.
Sometimes we have second thoughts if we are going to speak our mind in the name of Jesus. We ought not to think twice we must have the courage to say what’s in our minds in the name of the sword of Jesus’ truth and righteousness.
The church always speaks out its mind
whenever there are issues or policies that hurt the people of God. The church
is not afraid to contradict anyone in power even if it creates temporary
enmity. Why? For the simple reason that the mission of the church is to speak
for God and to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
"Ang umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa akin ay hindi
karapat-dapat sa akin. At ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki o babae nang higit sa
akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan nang kanyang krus at
sumusunod sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang
buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin
ay magkakamit nito."
"Ang tumatanggap sa inyo ay tumatanggap sa akin, at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay tumatanggap sa nagsugo sa akin. Ang tumatanggap sa isang propeta dahil sa siya'y propeta ay tatanggap ng gantimpala ukol sa propeta. At ang tumatanggap sa isang taong matuwid dahil sa siya'y matuwid ay tatanggap ng gantimpalang nauukol sa taong matuwid. at sinumang magbigay ng kahit isang basong tubig na malamig sa isa sa maliliit na ito dahil sa ito'y alagad ko-- tinitiyak kong tatanggap siya ng gantimpala." Matapos tagubilinan ang labingdalawang alagad, umalis si Jesus upang magturo at mangaral sa mga bayang malapit doon.
He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house,
stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or
listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony
against them.” So, they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out
many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
+ + + + + + +
“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small
coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth
more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before
others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who suddenly died in an accident. While on his way to heaven St. Peter suddenly stopped him, he asked the man: “What have you done for Jesus when you were still alive?” The man wasn’t able to answer because he was solely devoted to his many earthly concerns.
Someday in the foreseeable future, our lives shall come to an end as well, and perhaps God will ask us, "What have you done for me? Have you acknowledged me before others? Have you lived and shared my teachings?" How would you answer God during that time?
While we are still in our life’s journey let us not forget the importance of acknowledging Jesus and the importance of sharing and living our faith in Him. If so far we have been solely concerned with the things of this world we are therefore being gently reminded that this world is temporary and passing.
Only God is everlasting. We will not be able to escape our appointment with death someday. And when that day comes, our fervent hope is that we will be allowed entry by Saint Peter into the pearly gates because we’ve done something for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
"Kaya huwag kayong matakot sa kanila. Walang natatago na di
malalantad, o nalilihim na di mabubunyag. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo sa dilim,
ulitin ninyo sa liwanag; at ang ibinulong sa inyo ay inyong ipagsigawan. Huwag
ninyong katakutan ang pumapatay ng katawan ngunit hindi nakapapatay ng
kaluluwa.
Sa halip, ang katakutan ninyo'y ang nakapapatay ng kaluluwa at
katawan sa impyerno. Hindi ba ipinagbibili ang maya nang dalawa isang pera?
Gayunman, Kahit isa sa kanila'y hindi nahuhulog sa lupa kung hindi kalooban ng
inyong Ama. Maging ang buhok ninyo'y bilang na lahat. Kaya, huwag kayong
matakot; higit kayong mahalaga kaysa libu-libong maya."
"Ang
sinumang kumilala sa akin sa harapan ng mga tao ay kikilalanin ko rin naman sa
harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit. Ngunit ang magtatwa sa akin sa harapan ng
mga tao ay itatatwa ko rin naman sa harapan ng aking Amang nasa langit."
When they
hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you
who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will
hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up
against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of
my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you
in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns
of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you ready
to give your life for the mission of Jesus? This is a very hard question to
answer but there are many already who dared to willingly give their lives for
the mission of Jesus. What fuels them to give their lives when they have a
choice not to give it?
It’s
their burning desire to witness for Jesus. The same Jesus who strengthens them
to endure and continue with their mission even at the cost of their lives. To
be a real follower of Jesus is easier said than done. It’s easy to say I am a
Christian but to live this Christian pronouncement is another story altogether.
How about you? Are you willing to give your life for the mission of
Jesus?
When you give
your life to Jesus you will face persecution as well. But what is consoling
here is the midst of your trials and persecution you also will feel the abiding
presence of Jesus in your life. For the reason that Jesus has never abandoned
anyone who gave their lives for His
mission in this world.
Be not afraid to give your life for the mission of Jesus. For when you decide to do so you will soon after find the real purpose of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Dahil sa akin, ihaharap kayo sa mga gobernador at mga hari, at
magpapatotoo kayo sa harapan nila at ng mga Hentil. Kapag nililitis na kayo,
huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa sasabihin ninyo o kung paano ninyo sasabihin.
Pagdating ng oras, ito'y ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Sapagkat hindi kayo ang
magsasalita kundi ang Espiritu ng inyong Ama ang magsasalita sa pamamagitan
ninyo.
"Ipagkakanulo
ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang kapatid upang ipapatay; gayon din ang gagawin ng
ama sa kanyang anak. Lalabanan ng mga anak ang kanilang mga magulang, at
ipapapatay. Kapopootan kayo ng lahat dahil sa akin; ngunit ang manatiling tapat
hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas. Kapag inuusig nila kayo sa isang bayan,
tumakas kayo sa kasunod. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi pa ninyo napupuntahan ang
lahat ng bayan ng Israel ay darating na ang Anak ng Tao."
The laborer
deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person
in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If
the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return
to you.
Whoever will
not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and
shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we expect
to receive something in return for the things that we do for God? We better not
expect because when our expectations are not meet we would be disappointed.
Let’s just do good and be content with the fact that we’ve done good to our
fellowmen.
Money rules
they say, but for those who follow Jesus money does not rule and money doesn’t
dictate. It’s Jesus who rules and dictates, when we allow Jesus to rule and
dictate our life. We are free from worries that emanates from this world and we
are not beholden to anybody in this world.
When Jesus
was sending off his twelve apostles to their mission, one of His specific
declarations for them was this: not to let money or anything worldly rule over
them. Jesus instead wanted His apostles to let Him rule their lives.
When we let
Jesus rule our lives, we no longer care about worldly possessions. Instead, we
will be satisfied with what we have, no matter how meager the things that we have.
This is because we believe that the essence and fullness of life is not
measured by material ownership.
Let us
therefore seek Jesus in our lives for when we have Jesus we have everything. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Huwag kayong magdala ng salapi -- maging ginto, pilak, o tanso --
sa inyong mga lukbutan. Huwag din kayong magdala ng supot sa inyong
paglalakbay, ni bihisan, pampalit na panyapak, o tungkod; sapagkat ang
manggagawa ay may karapatan sa kanyang ikabubuhay.
"At saanmang bayan o nayon kayo dumating, humanap kayo ng
taong karapat-dapat pakituluyan, at manatili kayo roon habang kayo'y nasa lugar
na iyon. Pagpasok ninyo sa bahay, sabihin ninyo, 'Maghari nawa ang kapayapaan
sa bahay na ito!' Kung karapat-dapat ang mga tao sa bahay na iyon, panatilihin
ninyo sa kanila ang inyong bati.
Ngunit
kung hindi, bawiin ninyo ito. At kung ayaw kayong tanggapin o pakinggan sa
isang tahanan o bayan, umalis kayo roon at ipagpag ang alikabok ng inyong mga
paa. Sinasabi ko sa inyo na sa Araw ng Paghuhukom ay higit na mabigat ang
ipaparusa sa mga tao sa bayang yaon kaysa dinanas ng mga taga-Sodoma at
taga-Gomorra."
The names of the Twelve Apostles are
these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of
Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the
tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent
out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory
or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Where does
the Kingdom of Heaven lie?
It lies within
us and has been with us since we were baptized. But we may ask, if the Kingdom
of Heaven is within us, why is life still full of challenges and problems? This
is because we refuse to live our lives according to God’s will for us.
Thus, we live
our life according to our own will and not according to God’s will. For
example, there is a temptation to sin; instead of confronting that sin so that
it would not temp us again we instead allow that temptation to capture
us.
So what
happens when we live our life according to our own terms? We open our life to
many problems, problems that we could actually avoid if we only live our life
according to the will of God.
It’s not
difficult to know God’s will for us, by going to Holy Mass we will begin to
discern God’s will for our life. By reading our bible we will discern the will
of God for us. By our frequent interactions with Jesus through our prayers we
will discern the will of God. And we would have a deeper friendship with
the Lord.
Many of
us are lost in this world and lack an awareness of the Kingdom of Heaven
because we are not always in touch with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ito ang pangalan ng labindalawang apostol: si Simon na tinatawag
na Pedro at si Andres na kanyang kapatid; sina Santiago at Juan na mga anak ni
Zebedeo; sina Felipe at Bartolome; si Tomas, at si Mateo na publikano; si
Santiago na anak ni Alfeo, at si Tadeo; si Simong Makabayan at si Judas
Iscariote, ang nagkanulo kay Jesus.
Ang
labindalawang ito'y sinugo ni Jesus at kanyang pinagbilinan: "Huwag kayong
pupunta sa lugar ng mga Hentil, o alinmang bayan ng mga Samaritano. Sa halip ay
hanapin ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at
ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos."
