Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 2 Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 6:39-45

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:39-45

Noong panahong iyon, tinanong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad nang patalinghaga: “Maaari bang maging tagaakay ng bulag ang isa ring bulag? Kapwa sila mahuhulog sa hukay kapag ginawa ang gayun. Walang alagad na higit sa kanyang guro; ngunit kapag lubusang naturuan, siya’y magiging katulad ng kanyang guro. 

“Ang tinitingnan mo’y ang puwing ng iyong kapatid ngunit hindi mo pinapansin ang tahilan sa iyong mata. Paano mo masasabi sa iyong kapatid, ‘Kapatid, bayaan mong alisin ko ang iyong puwing,’ gayung hindi mo nakikita ang tahilang nasa iyong mata? Mapagpaimbabaw! Alisin mo muna ang tahilan sa iyong mata, at makakikita kang mabuti; sa gayo’y maaalis mo ang puwing ng iyong kapatid.” 

“Walang mabuting punongkahoy na namumunga ng masama, at walang masamang punongkahoy na namumunga ng mabuti. Nakikilala ang bawat punongkahay sa pamamagitan ng kanyang bunga. Sapagkat hindi nakapipitas ng igos sa puno ng aroma, at di rin nakapipitas ng ubas sa puno ng dawag. 

Ang mabuting tao ay nakapagdudulot ng mabuti sapagkat tigib ng kabutihan ang kanyang puso; ang masamang tao ay nakapagdudulot ng masama, sapagkat puno ng kasamaan ang kanyang puso. Sapagkat kung ano ang bukambibig siyang laman ng dibdib.

Reflection for March 1 Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 

Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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Reflection:

Who are the main formators of children? Of course, it’s the parents. From their parents, children learn basic Christian values such as love for God, humility, obedience, and other virtues. Children learn almost everything from their parents. 

Therefore, virtues such as these are taught by parents to their children. What is taught by the parents is imbibed by their children. What is observed from parents is copied by children. 

For example, if children are taught by their parents about love for God and humility—and these teachings are also lived or practiced by the parents—it’s a no-brainer that they will grow up practicing these virtues throughout their lives. Conversely, if children are taught arrogance and they observe the same behavior from their parents, it’s a cinch that they will also become arrogant. 

Therefore, the mind of a child is fertile soil for the inculcation of proper Christian values by their elders, specifically their parents. 

In our Gospel, we see people (most probably parents) bringing children to Jesus. These people were trying to instill in the minds of the children that it is essential to go to Jesus, which is always the right thing to do. However, the disciples prevented them. When Jesus saw this, He became angry. He told the disciples to let the children come to Him, then He embraced them and blessed them by placing His hands on them. 

Let us not forget that the future of the children whom Jesus loves so dearly rests in our hands. We are the primary formators of our children, and the very first lesson we must teach them is love for God. Let us always bring them to Jesus, for He loves them even more than we do. 

Do you teach your children to love Jesus? Do you teach them to pray and listen to Him? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 1 Sabado sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:13-16

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:13-16

Noong panahong iyon, may nagdala ng mga bata kay Hesus upang hilinging ipatong niya sa mga ito ang kanyang kamay; ngunit pinagwikaan sila ng mga alagad. Nagalit si Hesus nang makita ito, at sinabi sa kanila, “Pabayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata, huwag ninyo silang sawayin, sapagkat sa mga katulad nila naghahari ang Diyos.  

Ito ang tandaan ninyo: ang sinumang hindi tumatanggap sa paghahari ng Diyos tulad ng isang maliit na bata ay hindi mapapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian niya.” At kinalong ni Hesus ang mga bata, ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanila at pinagpala sila.

Reflection for February 28 Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” 

They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” 

In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

Are you faithful to your marriage vows? 

When a man and a woman are wed in the Catholic Church, the priest poses this question to them: 

"Do you take [name] as your lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?" The man and woman will answer: "I do." 

The marriage bond is meant to last forever, but the reality is that some married couples separate. I know of three couples who were married in the Church: 

Couple #1: The husband simply left his wife and two very young children.

Couple #2: The wife left her husband, even though they already had a baby.

Couple #3: The wife carried on an adulterous affair for more than three years. During that time, her husband constantly reminded her to stop, but she refused to listen—until he fully discovered her infidelity. 

Oftentimes, couples separate for selfish reasons. They care only about what they want and feel, without giving an iota of concern to the feelings of their spouse and children. Instead of separating, why not walk away permanently from whatever leads us into sin, give love a second chance, and ask Jesus to heal the marriage? 

Jesus said to his disciples: 

"A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Mark 10:7-9). 

Then he added: 

"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11-12). 

The Sacrament of Marriage is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The first miracle performed by Jesus was turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. The priest who presides over a wedding ceremony does so in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus himself said: "What God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Mark 10:9). 

Are you doing something to preserve the sanctity of your marriage? — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 28 Biyernes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:1-12

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus ay nagtungo sa lupain ng Judea, at nagtuloy sa ibayo ng Ilog Jordan. Muli siyang pinagkalipumpunan ng mga tao, at tulad ng dati’y nagturo sa kanila. May mga Pariseong lumapit kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masilo siya kaya’t kanilang tinanong, “Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa?”  

 Tugon niya, “Ano ang utos sa inyo ni Moises?” Sumagot naman sila, “Ipinahintulot ni Moises na hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa matapos bigyan ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay.” Ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, “Dahil sa katigasan ng inyong ulo kaya niya inilagda ang utos na ito. Subalit sa pasimula pa, nang likhain ng Diyos ang sanlibutan: ‘Nilalang niya silang lalaki at babae. Dahil dito’y iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa, at sila’y magiging isa.’ Kaya’t hindi na sila dalawa kundi isa. Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao.”  

Pagdating sa bahay, ang mga alagad naman ang nagtanong kay Hesus tungkol sa bagay na ito. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Ang sinumang lalaking humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay gumagawa ng masama sa kanyang asawa – siya’y nangangalunya. At ang babaing humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at mag-asawa sa iba ay nangangalunya rin.”

Reflection for February 27 Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:41-50

Gospel: Mark 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. 

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. 

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 

“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

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Reflection:

What does sin bring to our lives? Sin wounds our lives and our relationships. It also dims the light of Jesus in our lives and allows the influence of Satan to pervade. 

When Jesus told His disciples about the severe punishments for sin, He was, in effect, telling them that they must avoid sin at all costs because there is always a price to pay for those who sin. It also served as a warning and a guide for the disciples as they faced the many temptations of their mission. 

But why do we sin? Why do we allow sin to overcome us? We sin because we love this world more than we love Jesus. We sin because we purposely reserve a dwelling place for the devil in our lives. We sin because we prefer a problematic life over a peaceful life with Jesus. 

However, come to think of it—what if we try to avoid sin? There would be peace in our lives, we would have fewer human-created problems, and we would surely be closer to Jesus. Try to avoid sin for just one day and see the blessings it brings into your life. Then, try to avoid sin for a week, a month, and eventually for the rest of your life. 

If we avoid sin, we inoculate our lives against Satan’s influence, and by doing so, we always invite Jesus to dwell in us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 27 Huwebes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:41-50

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:41-50

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sinumang magbigay sa inyo ng isang basong tubig dahil sa kayo’y kay Kristo ay tiyak na gagantimpalaan. 

“Mabuti pa sa isang tao ang siya’y bitinan ng isang malaking gilingang-bato sa leeg at itapon sa dagat kaysa maging sanhi ng pagkakasala ng isa sa maliliit na ito na nananalig sa akin. Kung ang kamay mo ang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, putulin mo! 

Mabuti pa ang mapunta ka sa langit nang putol ang isang kamay kaysa may dalawang kamay na mahulog ka sa impiyerno, sa apoy na hindi mamamatay. Doo’y hindi mamamatay ang mga uod na kumakain sa kanila, at hindi mamamatay ang apoy. 

Kung ang paa mo ang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, putulin mo! Mabuti pa ang mapunta ka sa langit nang putol ang isang paa kaysa may dalawang paa na mahulog ka sa impiyerno. Doo’y hindi mamamatay ang mga uod na kumakain sa kanila at hindi mamamatay ang apoy. 

At kung ang mata mo ang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, dukutin mo! Mabuti pa ang pumasok ka sa kaharian ng Diyos nang bulag ang isang mata kaysa may dalawang mata na mahulog ka sa impiyerno. Doo’y hindi mamamatay ang mga uod na kumakain sa kanila, at hindi mamamatay ang apoy. 

“Sapagkat ang bawat isa’y dadalisayin sa apoy. Mabuti ang asin, ngunit kung mawalan ng lasa, paano ito mapaaalat uli? Taglayin ninyo ang katangian ng asin, at sa gayo’y magiging mapayapa ang inyong pagsasamahan.”    

Reflection for February 26 Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. 

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

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Reflection:

What prompted John to prevent someone from using the name of Jesus to exorcise a demon? Was it a feeling of superiority because he was directly connected with Jesus? Was it simply arrogance? 

No one has the exclusive right to the name of Jesus; anyone can invoke His name as long as it is for a good cause. We must not fall into the mistake of feeling superior to others simply because we have studied our religion, received an education, or hold a position in the church. 

God allows other Christian faiths to flourish for reasons known only to Him. Therefore, we have no right to claim exclusive ownership of Jesus, for He belongs to all of us. The moment we consider ourselves superior to others because we know Jesus, we cease to be His true followers. 

Jesus is for everyone, regardless of who we are. And everyone has the right to call upon His powerful name for a noble and good purpose. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 26 Miyerkules sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:38-40

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:38-40

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi kay Hesus ni Juan, “Guro, nakakita po kami ng isang taong nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo sa pamamagitan ng pangalan mo, at pinagbawalan namin sapagkat hindi natin siya kasamahan.” 

Ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, “Huwag ninyo siyang pagbawalan, sapagkat walang taong matapos gumawa ng kababalaghan sa pangalan ko ang agad magsasalita ng masama laban sa akin. Sapagkat ang hindi laban sa atin ay panig sa atin. 

Reflection for February 25 Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.  

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.

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Reflection:

Why Do You Follow Jesus?

As Jesus and the disciples were walking, He told them:“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him, and three days after His death, the Son of Man will rise” (Mark 9:31). But they did not pay much attention to what Jesus told them because they were busy conversing about who among them was the greatest.

We assume that Jesus and the disciples had just finished their mission of preaching the Kingdom of God. They performed miracles such as healing the sick, expelling demons, and more. Because of these miraculous acts, the disciples’ high regard for themselves got the better of them. They were already angling to claim the title of the greatest among the disciples.

Are not many of us like the disciples? Do many of us not have hidden motives when we do acts of kindness? Do many of us not desire to be praised for what we do? Do many of us not feel proud when we do good things? Was it possible that the disciples were feeding their own egos, which is why they were discussing who was the greatest among them?

In the midst of their bloated egos, Jesus gave them a valuable lesson about humility and what it means to be humble servants of the Lord and His people. Thus, He told them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

In other words, if you want to be a leader, be a humble servant—someone who is always ready to serve without seeking accolades or honors. A true leader desires to serve humbly, always walking his talk and practicing what he preaches. This is what Jesus wanted the disciples to embrace: to become humble servants.

This is also what Jesus wants for us. However, some of us are the opposite of the servant leader that Jesus envisioned. Instead of placing the title of "leader" in our hearts, we place it in our heads. That is why many of us become false and arrogant leaders—those who merely give orders, abuse their authority, and take advantage of innocent followers.

As a result, we serve only our personal interests. The servant leadership that Jesus’ desires for us is completely pushed aside, replaced by our greed for power, our ego, and our arrogance.

What must we do so that we can rightfully claim to follow the greatest servant leader who ever walked this earth? We must be humble at all times; we must continuously decrease while Jesus increases through our acts of humility.

The mistake of many who follow Jesus is that we often act without humility. We feel superior because we have a distorted sense of closeness to Jesus when, in reality, we are not. Our intimacy with the Lord is not defined by religious titles, ranks, or positions, nor is it determined by the frequency of our worship.

Our closeness to Jesus is measured by how we live out His virtue of humility. — Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 25 Martes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:30-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:30-37

Noong panahong iyon, sina Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nagdaan sa Galilea. Ayaw ni Hesus na malaman ito ng mga tao, sapagkat tinuturuan niya ang kanyang mga alagad. Sinabi niya: “Ang Anak ng Tao ay ipagkakanulo at papatayin, ngunit muling mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw.” Hindi nila naunawaan ang sinabi niya, ngunit natatakot naman silang magtanong sa kanya. 

At dumating sila sa Capernaum. Nang sila’y nasa bahay na, tinanong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, “Ano ba’ng pinagtatalunan ninyo sa daan?” Hindi sila kumibo, sapagkat ang pinagtatalunan nila’y kung sino sa kanila ang pinakadakila. Naupo si Hesus, tinawag ang Labindalawa at sinabi, “Ang sinumang nagnanais maging una ay dapat maging huli sa lahat, at maging lingkod ng lahat.”

Tinawag niya ang isang maliit na bata, at pinatayo sa harapan nila. Pagkatapos, kinalong niya ito at sinabi, “Ang sinumang tumanggap sa isang maliit na batang tulad nitong alang-alang sa akin ay tumatanggap sa akin; at sinumang tumanggap sa akin — hindi ako ang kanyang tinatanggap kundi yaong sa aki'y nagsugo.

Reflection for February 24 Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:14-29

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. 

I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. 

As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

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Reflection:

Is it possible for the disciples to lack faith? Yes. Even though they were always with Jesus, it was still possible for them to lack faith. Perhaps, because they were with Jesus every day, His presence became ordinary to them, and they began to treat Him as just one of them. Their extraordinary discipleship with Jesus became ordinary in their eyes. 

That is why they no longer had strong faith. Adding to this was their lack of a prayerful life. The result of their weak faith and lack of prayer was their failure to drive out the evil spirit from the boy. Therefore, Jesus admonished them to strengthen their faith and reignite their prayer life. 

Why do marriages fail? It is because both spouses oftentimes forget to have faith in the sacredness of their marriage. Being together every day, they become too familiar with each other, treating each other in an ordinary way. Their marriage loses its fervent, unifying prayer life, and as a result, it becomes a casualty. 

Let us take Jesus’ admonition to the disciples personally—to have faith and a more fervent prayer life. Let us also apply it to our married life, making prayer an essential part of it. 

If only we invested more in prayer in our marriages, perhaps there would be fewer marriage failures. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 24 Lunes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 9:14-29

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:14-29

Noong panahong iyon, habang bumababa si Hesus sa bundok, kasama sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan, ay nakita nila ang napakaraming taong nakapaligid sa mga alagad na naiwan, at ang mga eskriba na nakikipagtalo sa mga ito. Nagulat ang mga tao nang makita nila si Hesus. Sila’y patakbong lumapit sa kanya, at binati siya.  

Tinanong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, “Ano ba ang pinagtatalunan ninyo at ng mga taong iyon?” Sumagot ang isa mula sa karamihan, “Guro, dinala ko po rito sa inyo ang aking anak na lalaki, sapagkat siya’y inaalihan ng masamang espiritu, at hindi makapagsalita. Tuwing aalihan siya nito, siya’y inilulugmok; bumubula ang kanyang bibig at nagngangalit ang kanyang ngipin, at siya’y naninigas.  

Hiniling ko po sa inyong mga alagad na palayasin ang espiritu, ngunit hindi nila napalayas ito!” Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, “Lahing walang pananampalataya! Hanggang kailan ako dapat manatiling kasama ninyo? Hanggang kailan ko kayo pagtitiisan?

Dalhin ninyo rito ang bata!” At dinala nga nila ito sa kanya. Nang si Hesus ay makita ng espiritu, biglang pinapangisay nito ang bata, anupa’t napalugmok ito sa kanya, at gumugulong-gulong na bumubula ang bibig.  

“Kailan pa siya inalihan ng masamang espiritu?” tanong ni Hesus sa ama. “Mula pa po sa kanyang pagkabata!” tugon niya. “Madalas siyang ihagis nito sa apoy at sa tubig upang patayin. Kaya kung may magagawa kayo, mahabag po kayo sa amin at tulungan ninyo kami.” “Kung may magagawa!” ulit ni Hesus. “Mapangyayari ang lahat sa may pananalig.” Kaagad sumagot nang malakas ang ama ng bata, “Nananalig po ako! Tulungan ninyo ako bagamat ako’y nagkulang.”  

Nang makita ni Hesus na dumaragsa ang mga tao, pinagsabihan niya ang masamang espiritu, “Ikaw, espiritung nagpapapipi at nagpapabingi – iniuutos ko sa iyo: lumabas ka sa bata! At huwag ka nang papasok sa kanya!” Nagsisigaw ang masamang espiritu, pinapangisay ang bata, at saka lumabas. Naging mistulang bangkay ang bata, kaya’t ang sabi ng marami. “Patay na!”  

Subalit siya’y hinawakan ni Hesus sa kamay at ibinangon. At tumindig ang bata. Nang pumasok na si Hesus sa bahay, palihim siyang tinanong ng kanyang mga alagad, “Bakit po hindi namin napalayas ang espiritu?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ang ganitong uri ng espiritu ay hindi mapalalayas kundi sa pamamagitan ng panalangin.”

Reflection for February 23 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. 

Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  

Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.  

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

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Reflection:

How do you love? 

All of us will agree that we can easily love those who give us love in return. But are we willing to love those who have hurt us or those who continue to hurt us? Mother Teresa once said, “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” 

A wife or husband who truly loves would continue to love their spouse despite the betrayal of their marriage covenant. Many marriages fail because we put limits on how we give love. For example, if a wife discovers that her husband is being unfaithful, her initial reaction might be to take revenge, to do the same, and to stop loving her philandering husband. But what will happen if our attitude is like that? There would be many broken marriages and many suffering children simply because we put limits on how we give our love. 

Jesus, in our Gospel, advises us to change this mindset of reactive love and to elevate our understanding of love to a much higher level—perhaps to the level of God’s love for us. But are we capable of raising our love and the way we give love to a higher level? 

If we truly love Jesus, we would be able to forgive and love again—even a spouse who has betrayed us. We would be able to love our siblings or relatives who have hurt us and refuse to listen to our well-meaning advice. We would be able to love a friend who has betrayed our trust. 

Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same” (Luke 6:32-33). —Marino J. Dasmarinas