As Jesus
passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to
him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his
house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his
disciples.
The Pharisees
saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not
need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I
desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Does Jesus
have a soft spot for sinners? Yes, Jesus has a soft spot for all of us sinners.
For example, in the Gospel, He called a tax collector and a sinful man named
Matthew. After calling Matthew, Jesus went to Matthew’s house to dine with tax
collectors and sinners.
All of us are
sinners, and Jesus is continuously calling us to leave our sinful lives for
good and follow Him. The gravity of our sins is no longer important to Jesus.
What matters to Him is that we respond to His call, just as Matthew did in the
Gospel.
Perhaps we
may ask, why is Jesus calling us to follow HIM? Among many other reasons Jesus
wants us to be freed from the bondage of sin; HE wants us to be enlightened by
HIS grace. And Jesus wants to save us from hell where Satan holds court. These
are the reasons why Jesus is calling us to follow HIM.
Our lives
will never be the same again the moment we accept this call of Jesus. There will
be healing in the family; we will now become averse to commit any form of sin
and we will be freed from its bondage. We
have nothing to lose if we would follow the Lord in fact we gain everything
including our future dwelling in heaven someday.
Would you
respond to the Lord’s call? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, umalis si Jesus
sa lugar na iyon. Sa kanyang paglalakad, nakita niya ang isang taong ang pangala'y
Mateo; nakaupo ito sa paningilan ng buwis. Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya,
"Sumunod ka sa akin." Tumindig si Mateo at sumunod sa kanya.
Nang si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nasa bahay ni Mateo,
dumating ang maraming publikano at mga makasalanan. At sila'y magkakasalong
kumain. Nang makita ito nang mga Pariseo, tinanong nila ang kanyang mga alagad,
"Bakit sumasalo sa mga publikano at sa mga makasalanan ang inyong
guro?"
Narinig
ito ni Jesus at siya ang sumagot, "Ang mga maysakit ang siyang nangangailangan
ng manggagamot, hindi ang mga walang sakit. Humayo kayo at unawain ang
kahulugan nito, 'Habag ang ibig ko at hindi hain.' Sapagkat naparito ako upang
tawagin ang mga makasalanan, hindi ang mga banal."
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who are the majority crowd during Sunday Holy Mass or daily Holy Mass for that matter? The majority are women, who are the majority who volunteers for church work? It’s women again! During the time of Jesus and as it is today the silent workers and supporters of Jesus and His church are women.
When Jesus was dying on the cross the majority of those who remained loyal to Him are women too (Luke 23:49)! The same when Jesus resurrected, the loyal woman supporters of Jesus saw Him first (Luke 24:9–11).
The gospel this Friday mentions Jesus, the twelve apostles and a number of women with different backgrounds. Some are sinners, some are rich and some are poor also. What brought these women with diverse background together? What made them silently support Jesus?
It’s their love and loyalty to Jesus. The same love and loyalty to Jesus that fuels the many women of today who silently support Jesus and the church that He founded through peter.
Like the women in the gospel who followed and provided help for Jesus. We too are being challenged to humbly follow Jesus and provide support for the church that He founded through Peter.
What can you contribute to Jesus and the church today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nilibot ni Jesus ang mga bayan at nayon. Nangaral siya at nagtuturo ng Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos.
Kasama niya ang Labindalawa, at ilang babaing pinagaling niya sa masasamang espiritu at mga karamdaman: si Maria na tinatawag na Maria Magdalena mula sa kanya'y pitong demonyo ang pinalayas; si Juanang asawa ni Cusa na katiwala ni Herodes; si Susana at marami pang iba. Ang ari-arian nila ang itinustos nila sa pangangailangan ni Jesus at ng kanyang mga alagad.
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine
with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there
was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of
the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at
his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed
them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited
him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who
and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus
said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me,
teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain
creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since
they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will
love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was
forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to
Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me
water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with
her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet
since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but
she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been
forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is
forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others
at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said
to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why is it that many of us are very quick
to condemn those who are supposedly sinners? I for one is oftentimes like that
I’m very quick at judging people but on second thought who are we to judge
them? When we in fact are sinners too! We are quick to judge because we see
them as bigtime sinners so we condemn or judge them.
How about the private sins that we commit?
Those sins that nobody else knows except us and God only. Most of the time
those who are self-righteous are sinners too. They only refuse to admit that
they are for they are blinded by the very high esteem that they give to
themselves.
Regardless if we are a public sinner of
private sinner Jesus wants us to have a renewal in our lives. This we do by
means of humbly approaching Him through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation/Confession.
Most of the time repentant public sinners
are the most effective bearers of Jesus love and forgiveness. Why? For the
reason that they have nothing to hide anymore they humbly open themselves to
God’s infinite grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Are you a sinner who is very much willing
to repent? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, inanyayahan si Hesus ng isa sa mga Pariseo upang makasalo niya.
Pumaroon siya sa bahay nito at dumulog sa hapag. Sa bayan namang yaon ay may
isang babae na kilalang makasalanan. Nabalitaan niyang kumakain si Hesus sa
bahay ng Pariseo, kaya’t nagdala siya ng pabangong nasa sisidlang alabastro.
At
lumapit siya sa likuran ni Hesus, sa gawing paanan. Siya’y nanangis at nabasa
ng kanyang luha ang mga paa ni Hesus. Pinunasan niya ang mga ito ng kanyang
buhok, hinagkan, at pinahiran ng pabango. Nang makita ito ng Pariseong
nag-anyaya kay Hesus, nasabi nito sa sarili, “Kung talagang propeta ang taong
ito, alam niya kung sino at kung anong uri ng babae ang humihipo sa kanya —
isang makasalanan!”
Bilang
tugon sa iniisip ni Simon, sinabi ni Hesus, “Simon, may sasabihin ako sa iyo.”
Sumagot siya, “Ano po iyon, Guro?” Sinabi ni Hesus, “May dalawang taong
nanghiram sa isang nagpapautang; ang isa’y limandaang denaryo at ang isa nama’y
limampu. Nang hindi makabayad, pareho silang pinatawad. Ngayon, sino sa kanila
ang lalong nagmamahal sa nagpautang?” Sumagot si Simon, “Sa palagay ko po’y ang
pinatawad ng malaking halaga.”
“Tama
ang sagot mo,” ang tugon ni Hesus. Nilingon niya ang babae, at sinabi kay
Simon, “Nakikita mo ba ang babaing ito? Pumasok ako sa iyong bahay at hindi mo
man lamang ako binigyan ng tubig para sa aking mga paa; ngunit binasa niya ng
luha ang aking mga paa at pinunasan ng kanyang buhok. Hindi mo ako hinagkan,
ngunit siya, mula nang pumasok siya ay hindi tumigil sa paghalik sa aking mga
paa. Hindi mo pinahiran ng langis ang aking ulo, subalit pinahiran niya ng
pabango ang aking mga paa.
Kaya’t
sinasabi ko sa iyo, ang malaking pagmamahal na ipinamalas niya ang nagpapatunay
na ipinatawad na ang marami niyang kasalanan; ngunit ang pinatawad ng kaunti ay
kaunti lang ang pagmamahal na ipinamamalas.” Saka sinabi sa babae, “Ipinatawad
na ang iyong mga kasalanan.” At ang kanyang mga kasalo sa pagkain ay
nagsimulang magtanong sa sarili,
“Sino
ba itong pati pagpapatawad sa kasalanan ay pinangangahasan?” Ngunit sinabi ni
Hesus sa babae, “Iniligtas ka ng iyong pananalig; yumaon ka na’t ipanatag mo
ang iyong kalooban.”
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I
compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like
children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the
flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’
For John the Baptist came neither eating
food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of
Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a
drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is vindicated by
all her children.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you quick to judge?
Every once in a while, each and every one
of us are guilty of judging our fellowmen by what we exteriorly see on them.
This happened to John and Jesus, they both were unfairly judged based on what
they exteriorly saw. But the danger of judging quickly is we immediately close
our minds to further be enlightened by the person/s that we judge.
But how could we know the person better if
we quickly judge them? How could we see their pureness, gentleness and humility
if we judge them? It’s always better to know the person first and if possible
to get acquainted with them before we judge them.
Because if we do, we would not be judging
or condemning them quickly anymore. This is for the reason that we would be
able to discover who they really are. Those who judged John and Jesus were
deprived of discovering the real identity of Jesus and John. They also
unknowingly deprived themselves of their friendship, blessing and wisdom.
This may happen also to us if we are quick
to judge. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ng
Panginoon, “Sa ano ko nga ihahambing ang mga tao ngayon? At ano ang nakakatulad
nila? Katulad sila ng mga batang nakaupo sa plasa at sumisigaw sa kanilang mga
kalaro: ‘Tinugtugan namin kayo ng plauta, ngunit hindi kayo sumayaw! Nanambitan
kami, ngunit hindi kayo tumangis!
Sapagkat naparito si Juan Bautista na nag-aayuno at hindi umiinom
ng alak, at sinasabi ninyo, ‘Inaalihan siya ng demonyo.’ Naparito naman ang
Anak ng Tao, na kumakain at umiinom tulad ng iba, at sinasabi ninyo, ‘Masdan
ninyo ang taong ito! Matakaw at maglalasing, kaibigan ng mga publikano at ng
mga makasalanan!’ Gayunman, ang karunungan ng Diyos ay napatutunayang matuwid
sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga anak.”
Jesus
journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd
accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died
was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd
from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for
her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The
dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized
them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in
our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread
through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What does Jesus do to our life?
He makes
miracles for us everyday some of us notice these miracles that’s why we always
thank HIM everyday through prayers. Many of us also do not notice this, so we
live our lives without being aware of the goodness of Jesus.
While on
their way to Nain Jesus saw a funeral march with a grieving widow. Jesus saw
her approached her and told her, “Do not weep.” And thereafter HE approached
the coffin of her son and HE said, Young man I tell you arise! The grieving
widow suddenly became joyous and thankful for the reason that Jesus brought to life
again her only son.
This is Jesus
for you and me, a God who heals, a God who create miracles. And a God that is
always by our side ever ready to help us in whatever way. Therefore, in
everyday of our life we must strive to walk with Jesus. We must discard any
actions and thoughts which would only make us sin.
Do you make a
conscious effort to avoid sin or distance yourself away from people who
influence you to sin? Have you recently thought of submitting yourself to the
healing Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, pumunta si Hesus sa isang bayang tinatawag na Nain. Sumama sa
kanya ang kanyang mga alagad at ang napakaraming tao. Nang malapit na siya sa
pintuan ng bayan, nasalubong niya ang libing ng kaisa-isang anak na lalaki ng
isang babaing balo.
Marami
ang nakikipaglibing. Nahabag ang Panginoon nang makita ang ina ng namatay, at
sinabi sa kanya, “Huwag kang tumangis.” Lumapit siya at hinipo ang kinalalagyan
ng patay at tumigil naman ang mga may dala nito. Sinabi niya, “Binata, bumangon
ka!” Naupo ito at nagsalita; at siya’y ibinigay ni Hesus sa kanyang ina.
Sinidlan
ng takot ang lahat at sila’y nagpuri sa Diyos. Sabi nila, “Dumating sa atin ang
isang dakilang propeta! Nilingap ng Diyos ang kanyang bayan!” At kumalat sa
buong Judea at sa palibot na lupain ang balitang ito tungkol sa kanya.
When Jesus had finished all his words to
the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and
about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent
elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his
slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come,
saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and
he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only
a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord,
do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to
you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person
subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and
he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’
and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and,
turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have
I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the
slave in good health.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you have concern for the poor and powerless? The
concern of the military officer/centurion for his slave is very
admirable. We must emulate his worthy action of giving concern most especially
to those who are poor and powerless.
What if the officer was heartless? There would have
been no healing for the slave. By his act of concern his slave was healed by
Jesus. We often times lose sight of the fact that we need to be concerned as
well with the wellbeing of others especially those who are powerless and
poor.
The me first attitude often times envelope us already
thus we fail to see the many needs of others most especially the poor and
powerless. Why? For the simple reason that we are already overly fixated with
our own needs.
We would reap enormous spiritual blessings if we would
find time to help those who are poor and powerless. Thus, we would be closer to
Jesus who loves the poor dearly. And we will find true joy and fulfillment the
moment we begin to help them. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nang maituro ni Hesus sa mga tao ang kanyang aral, siya’y
pumasok ng Capernaum. Doo’y may isang kapitang Romano na may aliping mahal sa
kanya. May sakit ang aliping ito at nasa bingit ng kamatayan. Nang mabalitaan
ng kapitan ang ginagawa ni Hesus, nagpasugo siya sa ilang matatanda sa mga
Judio upang ipakiusap kay Hesus na puntahan at pagalingin ang
alipin.
Nang makita
nila si Hesus, taimtim silang nakiusap sa kanya, “Siya’y karapat-dapat na
pagbigyan ninyo sapagkat mahal niya ang ating bansa,” wika nila. ”Ipinagpatayo
pa niya tayo ng isang sinagoga.” Kaya’t sumama sa kanila si Hesus. Nang
malapit na siya sa bahay, ipinasalubong siya ng kapitan sa kanyang mga kaibigan
at ipinasabi ang ganito: “Ginoo, huwag na po kayong magpakapagod. Hindi ako
karapat-dapat na puntahan ninyo sa aking tahanan. Ni hindi rin po ako
karapat-dapat na humarap sa inyo.
Ngunit
magsalita po lamang kayo at gagaling na ang aking alipin. Sapagkat ako’y isang
taong nasa ilalim ng mga nakatataas na pinuno, at may nasasakupan din po akong
mga kawal. Kung sabihin ko sa isa, ‘Humayo ka!’ siya’y humahayo; at sa iba,
‘Halika! siya’y lumalapit; at sa aking alipin, ‘Gawin mo ito!’ ito’y ginagawa
niya.”
Namangha si
Hesus nang marinig ito, at humarap sa makapal na taong sumusunod sa kanya.
Sinabi niya, “Kahit sa Israel ay hindi ako nakakita ng ganito kalaking
pananalig.” Pagbabalik sa bahay, naratnan ng mga sinugo na magaling na ang
alipin.
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told of a man who wanted to have a personal encounter with Jesus. He said to Jesus, "Please show yourself to me. I want to see you. I want to follow you, and I want to have a deep friendship with you.
In his dream, Jesus replied, “Would you be willing to follow the path of my suffering and sacrifice?” With a forlorn expression, the man said, no. Jesus then said to him, “So, you will not be able to know me deeply, nor will you be able to have a personal friendship with me.
Just like many of us, Peter seemed to be averse to suffering, as he reproached Jesus after He told him that He must suffer, be rejected, and eventually be killed (Mark 8:31). Why are we afraid of suffering, by the way?
Is it because we love the self-indulgent lifestyle of this temporary world? Which would we prefer: the temporal pleasures of this world or a deep friendship with Jesus? A lot would blindly choose the many short-lived pleasures of this world than to have a deep friendship with Jesus. But a deep friendship with Jesus forged through our sufferings is the best choice.
Many of us lack a personal friendship with Jesus because we love this world more than we love Him. We do not experience personal closeness with Jesus because we easily forsake the Lord in favor of the many temptations and pleasures of this world.
What benefit is there if we gain the world but do not have Jesus in our lives? Nothing—it's pure emptiness! Yes, we may find worldly happiness and enjoyment, but it is always short-lived. It won't last long and will eventually lead us to sin. Then, emptiness and loneliness will follow. Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived by the self-indulgent lifestyle of this world, for we gain nothing from it.
It is only through our faithful discipleship with Jesus that we would be able to find ourselves. It is only through the carrying of our own cross that we would be able to develop personal, deep and lasting friendship with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad, ay nagtungo sa mga nayon ng Cesarea, sakop ni Filipo. Samantalang sila’y naglalakbay, tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad, “Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao?” Sumagot sila,
“Ang sabi ng ilan ay si Juan Bautista kayo; sabi naman ng iba, si Elias kayo; at may nagsasabi pang isa kayo sa mga propeta.” “Kayo naman – ano ang sabi ninyo? Sino ako? tanong niya. “Kayo ang Kristo,” tugon ni Pedro. “Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman kung sino ako,” mahigpit na utos niya sa kanila.
Mula noon, ipinaalam na ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad na ang Anak ng Tao’y dapat magbata ng maraming hirap. Siya’y itatakwil ng matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga eskriba at ipapapatay. Ngunit sa ikatlong araw, muli siyang mabubuhay.
Maliwanag na sinabi niya ito sa kanila. Kaya’t niyaya siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinimulang pagsabihan. Ngunit humarap si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad at pinagwikaan si Pedro: “Lumayo ka, Satanas! Ang iniisip mo’y hindi sa Diyos kundi sa tao.”
Pinalapit ni Hesus ang mga tao, pati ang kanyang mga alagad, at sinabi, “Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa akin.
Ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito; ngunit ang mag-alay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa akin at sa Mabuting Balita ay siyang magkakamit niyon.”
