Noong panahong iyon, lumapit kay
Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo, kasama ang kanyang mga anak. May ibig siyang
hingin, kaya't lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Jesus. "ano ang ibig mo?"
tanong ni Jesus. Sumagot siya, "Sana'y ipagkaloob ninyo sa dalawa kong
anak na ito ang karapatang makaupong 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?"
"Opo," tugon nila. Sinabi ni Jesus, "Ang hirap na babatahin ko'y
babatahin nga ninyo. 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
pinaghandaan ng aking Ama."
Nang
marinig ito ng sampung mga alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid. Kaya't pinalapit
sila ni Jesus at sinabi sa kanila, "Alam ninyo na ang mga pinuno ng mga
Hentil ay naghahari sa kanila, at ang mga dinadakila ang siyang nasusunod.
Ngunit
hindi dapat ganyan ang 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 ninyo, tulad ng Anak ng Tao na naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran
kundi upang maglingkod at iaalay ang kanyang buhay upang matubos ang
marami.
On that day, Jesus went out of the house
and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into
a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.
And he spoke
to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he
sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on
rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil
was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for
lack of roots.
Some seed
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on
rich soil and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has
ears ought to hear."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you listen
to Jesus when He speaks to you?
Jesus is
always sowing the seeds of the gospel to you. With the hope that His sown seeds
would eventually grow in our hearts and bear countless fruits
through our words and actions. Some of us don’t even care to listen or we
listen but after listening we completely forget it.
But there are
also those who listen, imbibe and let the seeds of the gospel bear fruit in
their lives by living and sharing it. In that process they allow themselves to
be God’s channel to bless other people’s
lives.
We all have
this liberty on how we would receive these seeds of the gospel that God
generously sows upon us. However let us not abuse this liberty by choosing to
ignore it. Let us listen to it, let us allow it to take root in our
hearts.
Let us allow
these very same words of God to transform us therefore we would become the seed
sown on rich soil. As such we will share it to as many people as possible
and we will also give life to the same words of God by living it.
Do you want a
new perspective in your life? A perspective that is free from worldliness,
sinfulness and other forms of worries brought about by this world? If yes, open
your bible, read and reflect on the words of Jesus and allow it to sink deep
into you. So that it would take root, grow and bear much fruit. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noon ding araw na iyon, si Hesus ay
lumabas ng bahay at naupo sa tabi ng lawa. Pinagkalipumpunan siya ng makapal na
tao, kaya sumakay siya sa isang bangka at doon naupo. Nasa dalampasigan naman
ang mga tao. At nagturo siya ng maraming bagay sa pamamagitan ng mga
talinghaga.
“May isang magsasakang lumabas upang maghasik. Sa kanyang
paghahasik ay may binhing nalaglag sa tabi ng daan. Dumating ang mga ibon at
tinuka ang mga iyon. May binhi namang nalaglag sa kabatuhan. Sapagkat manipis
lang ang lupa roon, sumibol agad ang binhing iyon, ngunit nang mapabilad sa
matinding sikat ng araw ay natuyo, palibhasa’y walang gaanong ugat.
May
binhi namang nalaglag sa dawagan; lumago ang mga dawag at ininis ang mga iyon.
Ngunit ang binhing nalaglag sa mabuting lupa ay nag-uhay: may tigsasandaan, may
tig-aanimnapu, at may tigtatatlumpung butil ang bawat uhay. Ang may pandinig ay
makinig!”
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking
to speak with you.”
But he said in reply to the one who told
him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand
toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever
does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can we become relatives of Jesus?
Jesus Himself reveals the secret to us:
“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and
mother." And what is the will of the heavenly Father for us? It’s for us
to do good always and to be collaborator of Jesus in spreading the good news.
Jesus also cited the disciples as His
mother and brothers for they were all faithful followers. We do not know the
personal background of each disciple but surely some of them were sinners like
us. But notwithstanding their sins they still chose to follow Jesus and
completely left behind their sinful past. Thus, Jesus called them His mother
and brothers.
Therefore, the moment we choose to follow
Jesus we already are called His relatives. What does to follow Jesus mean? It’s
to follow Jesus by immersing our feet in the river of sacrifice, love,
forgiveness, mercy, compassion and so forth.
How about you? Have you already immersed your
feet in the river of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, compassion and the like?
Have you finally decided to follow Jesus and leave behind your
sinful past?
Jesus yearns for you to become his
relative too! – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, samantalang
nagsasalita pa si Hesus, dumating ang kanyang ina at mga kapatid. Naghihintay
sila sa labas at ibig siyang makausap. May nagsabi sa kanya, “Nasa labas po ang
inyong ina at mga kapatid, at ibig kayong makausap.”
Ngunit
sinabi ni Hesus, “Sino ang aking ina, at sinu-sino ang aking mga kapatid? Itinuro
niya ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi, “Ito ang aking ina at mga kapatid!
Sapagkat ang sinumang sumusunod sa kalooban ng aking Amang nasa langit ang siya
kong ina at mga kapatid.”
On the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and
saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to
the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord
from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed
outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw
two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where
the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid
him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did
not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are
you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you
carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Jesus said to
her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,“Rabbouni,” which means
Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended
to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and
your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the
disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.
+ + + +
+ +
Reflection:
Do you search
for Jesus?
If you search
for Jesus you will find Him. If you attend Holy Mass Jesus is there, if you
open your bible and read the first four gospels of the New Testament you will
find Jesus there and if you pray the Rosary Jesus is there as well.
Mary
Magdalene intensely searched for Jesus, she went to the tomb while it was still
dark and was so distressed when she did not find the body of the Lord. However
she did not stop looking for HIM she went on with her search until Jesus
appeared to her.
The sole
secret to find Jesus and to develop closeness with Him is to continuously
thirst for HIM like we thirst for water. As water quenches our thirst and
invigorates our bodies the Lord also does this to us and more. HE will quench
our thirst and HE will invigorate our weary bodies.
HE will do
many more incredible things for us provided we continuously search and thirst
for HIM. After finding Jesus we will now have to share Him so that our
fellowmen will be blessed as we’ve been blessed by Jesus. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Madilim-dilim pa nang araw ng Linggo,
naparoon na si Maria Magdalena sa libingan. Naratnan niyang naalis na ang
batong panakip sa pinto ng libingan. Dahil dito, patakbo siyang pumunta kay
Simon Pedro at sa alagad na mahal ni Hesus, at sinabi sa kanila, “Kinuha sa
libingan ang Panginoon at hindi namin alam kung saan dinala!”
Si Maria’y nakatayong umiiyak sa labas ng libingan; yumuko siya at
tumingin sa loob. May nakita siyang dalawang anghel na nakaupo sa pinaglagyan
ng bangkay ni Hesus, ang isa’y sa gawing ulunan at ang isa nama’y sa paanan.
Tinanong nila si Maria, “Ale, bakit kayo umiiyak?”
Sumagot siya, “Kinuha po nila ang aking Panginoon, at hindi ko
alam kung saan nila dinala.” Lumingon siya pagkasabi nito, at nakita niya si
Hesus na nakatayo roon, ngunit hindi niya nakilalang si Hesus iyon. Tinanong
siya ni Hesus, “Bakit ka umiiyak? Sino ang hinahanap mo?”
Akala ni Maria’y siya ang tagapag-alaga ng halamanan, kaya’t
sinabi niya, “Ginoo, kung kayo po ang kumuha sa kanya, ituro ninyo sa akin kung
saan ninyo dinala at kukunin ko.” “Maria!” ani Hesus. Humarap siya at kanyang
sinabi, “Raboni!” — ibig sabihi’y “Guro.” “Huwag mo akong hawakan, sapagkat
hindi pa ako nakapupunta sa Ama,” wika ni Hesus.
“Sa
halip, pumunta ka sa king mga kapatid at sabihin mong aakyat ako sa aking Ama
at inyong Ama, sa aking Diyos at inyong Diyos.” Kaya’t si Maria Magdalena’y
pumunta sa mga alagad at sinabi, “Nakita ko ang Panginoon!” At tuloy sinabi sa
kanila ang bilin ni Hesus.
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and
reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by
yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”People were coming and going
in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a
deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They
hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before
them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his
heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a
shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A woman went to her neighbor to seek advice for
her many problems. The neighbor asked the troubled woman this question: “Is
Jesus an integral part of your life? For example, do you always pray to the
Lord? Do you always attend Holy Mass?” The woman said no, and then the neighbor
advised her to make time for Jesus.
In the Gospel, a
vast crowd was running after Jesus (Mark 6:34) because they knew that Jesus
would straighten out their lives. They were not only after Jesus because they
wanted to be cured and fed. Some perhaps were pursuing Jesus because they
wanted to simply see Him and that would be enough for them to heal their body
and soul.
The vast crowd who was following Jesus wherever
he goes saw in Jesus a good shepherd who will not only feed and heal them. They
also saw in Jesus someone who will give them precious advice and guidance.
What does this mean to you?
This means that whenever you have issues and
concerns in life that seem difficult to resolve, you have to go to Jesus in
prayer. You need to bend your knees before Him and ask for His help and
guidance. Because Jesus is always there for you ever ready to guide and help
you as you encounter the many challenges of your life.
Do you always pray to the Lord? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
The Pharisees went out and took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from
that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them
not to make him known.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken
through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved
in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim
justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear
his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering
wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name
the Gentiles will hope.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
What are you going to do if you know that
powerful people are after your life? Of course you would do what Jesus did: You
will also withdraw to a place where you will be safe. But unlike Jesus who
continued to do HIS acts of mercy even if HIS life was already in danger. You
may not do anything except hide and protect your life, this is what separate
Jesus from all of us.
For Jesus the greater good is not to
protect HIS life but to continue to serve the people that HE dearly loved. This
love for HIS people eventually culminated in HIS death on the cross.
But not all of us are afraid to give our
very life for the sake of our fellowmen. There are others who selflessly gave
their lives so that others may live and be free. This is best exemplified by
our heroes who selflessly gave their lives for our sake.
Let us therefore be like Jesus, let us not
be afraid to give our time, treasure and even our life for His mission. Because
someday we will be able to harvest our reward from the Good Lord. We may not
receive it in our lifetime.
But will certainly receive it eventually
when our journey in this world is over and that is already in heaven.
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, umalis ang mga
Pariseo at nag-usap-usap kung paano ipapapatay si Jesus. Alam ito ni Jesus
kaya't umalis siya roon. Maraming sumunod sa kanya at pinagaling niya ang lahat
ng maysakit, ngunit mahigpit nilang ipinagbilin sa kanila na huwag ipamamalita
ang tungkol sa kanya.
Nangyari ito upang matupad ang sinabi ni propeta Isaias:
"Narito ang lingkod ko na ako rin ang humirang, minamahal ko nang labis,
lubos kong kinalulugdan; ang banal kong Espiritu sa kanya ay ibibigay, sa lahat
ng mga bansa ibabadha'y katarungan.
Hindi
siya makikipagtalo, mahinahon kung mangusap, ang tinig niya sa lansanga'y tinig
lamang na paanas; Hindi niya puputulin yaong tambong nakahapay, ni hindi rin
papatayin ang umaandap na ilawan, hanggang itong katarunga'y mapagtagumpay
niyang ganap; At ang pag-asa ng tao sa kanya ay ilalagak."
Jesus was going through a field of grain
on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain
and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him “See, your
disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.
He said to
the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were
hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which
neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have
you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple
violate the Sabbath and are innocent?
I say to you,
something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I
desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is in
the heart of Jesus? It’s mercy and compassion for His people. Mercy and
compassion that is ever ready to transgress sacred laws such as the Sabbath
law.
Being God the
Son Jesus perfectly knew that what He was doing was right. But the Pharisees
did not know the true identity of Jesus. So they questioned the decision of
Jesus to allow His disciples to pick and eat the grains on a Sabbath day.
Do you know
Jesus deeply? Do you feel His presence in your life? If you don’t know Jesus
deeply and if you don’t feel His presence in your life. You will also question
some events or trial/s that occurs in your life.
For instance
when you go through severe trials such as financial difficulty, sickness and
the like . You might also question the Lord Jesus and ask Him this question:
Why am I going through this trial or why did you allow me to go through this
episode in my life?
But if you
know Jesus and if you feel His presence in your life. You will never
question Jesus thus you will simply bow to His will and trust Him. Why bow to
His will? This is for the reason that you know that something greater is in
store for you. That you don’t see and know yet now but you will certainly see
and feel in your life in the future.
Ask Jesus
therefore to give you the gift of knowing Him deeply and the gift of His living
presence in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, isang Araw ng
Pamamahinga, naparaan si Jesus sa triguhan. Nagutom ang kasama niyang mga
alagad kaya't nangitil sila ng uhay at kinain ang mga butil. Nang makita ito ng
mga Pariseo, sinabi nila sa kanya, "Tingnan mo ang ginagawa ng iyong mga
alagad. Bawal iyan kung Araw ng Pamamahinga."
Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi ba ninyo nabasa ang ginawa ni David
nang magutom siya at ang kanyang mga kasama? Pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos at
kumain ng tinapay na handog sa Diyos at pinakain din niya ang kanyang mga
kasama. Labag sa Kautusan na kanin nila ang tinapay na iyon sapagkat ang mga
saserdote lamang ang may karapatang kumain niyon.
Hindi
pa ba ninyo nababasa sa Kautusan ni Moises na tuwing Araw ng Pamamahinga,
lumalabag sa batas tungkol sa araw na ito ang mga saserdote sa templo, gayunmay
hindi nila ipinagkakasala iyon? Sinasabi ko sa inyo, naririto ang higit na
dakila kaysa templo.
Hindi
sana ninyo hinatulan ang mga walang sala kung alam ninyo ang kahulugan ng mga
salitang ito, 'Habag ang ibig ko, hindi hain.' Sapagkat ang Araw ng Pamamahinga
ay nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Anak ng Tao."
Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor
and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for
yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
+ + + +
+ + +
Reflection:
The story is
told about a young man who was struggling to find his place in this
world. He was already at the point of surrender. He murmured to
himself, “I am a total failure” in the abyss of his frustration he thought of
ending his life.
Until he was
advised by a friend to seek God and surrender every burdens that he has in his
heart. So, he went to Holy Mass regularly and he read his bible, after a few
weeks he developed a deep friendship with Jesus and he surrendered his
everything to Him.
Many of us
have this tendency to allow ourselves to be eaten up by the frenetic pace
and materialism of this world. We get too busy in fact very busy because we
want to satisfy our many temporal wants. But come to think of it, why are we
punishing ourselves too much just to satisfy our worldly desires? Why are many
of us favoring this world over God when what we earn from this world can
actually be taken from us anytime? When we can go out of this world
anytime?
In our gospel
for today, Jesus invites us all to go to Him. We who are so busy with this
world, we who tend to forget the primacy of God over this world. When are we
going to open our hearts to this invitation of Jesus? When we are already old
and sickly? Let us not wait for that time to come. Let us build a relationship
with Jesus now and let us respond to His invitation now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give
praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden
these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the
childlike.
Yes, Father,
such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my
Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father
except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the
key to know Gods will for you? It’s humility, a humble person is ever
ready to listen to the voice and will of God. He/she doesn’t go against the
will of God he/she rather allows God’s will to work in his/her life. In the
process of allowing God’s will to rule his/her life he/she discovers more about
God.
When you are
humble you open yourself to the countless blessings that emanates from God. You
may ask, how am I going to be humble in front of God? You have to follow the
rules of Jesus and of the church which Jesus founded through St.
Peter.
For example
the teaching of Sunday Holy Mass obligation, a humble person would always see
to it that he/she is always present in this sacred celebration. Another example
is our humble submission to the sacraments most especially the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. A humble person would always find time to confess his/her sins
to a priest who acts in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus always
looks kindly to those who are childlike and humble. Why? Because this is the
nature of God: He loves those who are humble and He reveals Himself more to the
childlike and humble.
Do you want
to know more about God? And do you want to have a deeper friendship with the
Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
