Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 18 Martes sa Ika-anim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:14-21

Noong panahong iyon, nalimutan ng mga alagad na magdala ng tinapay, at iisa lang ang kanilang tinapay sa bangka. "Kaiingat kayo! Ilagan ninyo ang lebadura ng mga Pariseo at ang lebadura ni Herodes," babala ni Jesus sa kanila. Nag-usap-usap ang mga alagad, "Wala kasi tayong dalang tinapay kaya niya sinabi iyon." 

Alam ito ni Jesus, kaya't sila'y tinanong niya, "Bakit ninyo pinag-uusapan na kayo'y walang dalang tinapay? Hindi pa ba kayo nakababatid o nakauunawa? Hindi pa ba abot ng inyong isip? Wala ba kayong mata? Wala ba kayong tainga? Nakalimutan na ba ninyo nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang limang tinapay para sa limanlibo? 

Ilang bakol ang napuno ninyo sa mga lumabis na tinapay?" "Labindalawa po," tugon nila. "At nang pagpira-pirasuhin ko ang pitong tinapay para sa apatnalibo, ilang bakol na malalaki ang napuno ninyo?" tanong niya. "Pitong bakol po," tugon nila. "At hindi pa rin ninyo nauunawaan?" wika niya.

Reflection for February 17 Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.

 

Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

What does it mean when we seek signs from Jesus? It means a weakness of faith. It means that Jesus is not yet enough for us to hold on to for our salvation because we still need signs, miracles, and wonders from Him. A true believer and a person of faith will no longer seek a sign from the Lord. He or she will trust the Lord Jesus, regardless of whether they see signs from Him or not. 

If we truly love the Lord and if we have faith in Him, we would no longer ask for a sign. Why? Because His name alone is more than enough to deliver us from all our fears and doubts. This is why we always feel His abiding presence in our lives. 

The Lord is with us the moment we reverently attend Holy Mass, especially when we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. The Lord speaks to us the moment we read His words in the Bible with reverence. Jesus is with us when we pray the Holy Rosary with devotion. 

If only we would invest time in diving deeper into the life of Jesus and our Catholic faith, we would no longer ask for signs from Him. Because as we dedicate time to Him, we will gradually notice His abiding presence in our lives. 

Let us not ask for signs; instead, let us develop a deeper friendship with Jesus through our faithful and pious presence at Holy Mass, by cultivating a daily habit of reading the Bible, and by setting aside quiet time in prayer with Him. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 17 Lunes sa Ika-anim na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:11-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:11-13

Noong panahong iyon, may dumating na mga Pariseo at nakipagtalo kay Hesus. Ibig nilang masilo siya kaya hiningi nila na magpakita si hesus ng isang tanda mula sa langit.  

Napabuntong-hininga nang malalim si Hesus at ang wika, “Bakit naghahanap ng tanda ang lahing ito? Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi sila pagpapakitaan ng anumang tanda.” Iniwan niya sila, at pagkasakay sa bangka ay tumawid sa ibayo. 

Reflection for February 16 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. And raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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 Reflection:

There’s a story of a man in his late thirties who had a successful life in this world. Name it, and he had it—women, riches, power, and the like. It may have seemed that he was enjoying everything he was going through, but deep inside, he was empty. So, he resigned from his high-paying job and subsequently joined a Catholic organization that serves the poor. 

His life there was simple, but he found real happiness and fulfillment. Many of his friends hated and insulted him for what he did. However, he did not mind them because he found Jesus in that organization and subsequently built a deep friendship with the Lord. 

What is the main requirement to get closer to Jesus? It is to suffer for the sake of advancing His kingdom in this world. Without suffering for Christ, there would be no close friendship with Him. 

Many of us are so afraid to suffer for Christ’s sake because it will disturb us. If we have this mentality, we are only thinking of ourselves and not the welfare of others. We are only concerned with what we can get from this present world (wealth, power, and the like) and forget about what awaits us after this life. 

We may be stripped of our riches in our desire to get closer to Jesus. Many will hate us and even distance themselves from us. But what the heck! We must understand that we don’t live in this world to remain in this world. We live here now so that we may go to heaven and be with the Lord someday. 

Our motivation for existing in this world should always be heaven—to be with Jesus. Otherwise, if our motivation is centered solely on this world, we will never have peace. We may have all the things this world offers, but we will still lack peace, for there is an absence of Christ in our lives.

 In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22). 

Therefore, let us not be afraid of the challenges we might face for the sake of advancing the kingdom of God in this world, for this is the very reason for our existence. God created us to exist in this world so that we may bring others closer to Jesus. 

Have you already suffered for Christ? Have you already brought someone closer to Him? If your answer is yes, you are truly blessed! —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 16 Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Noong panahong iyon, bumaba si Hesus, kasama ang Labindalawa, at tumayo siya sa isang patag na lugar. Naroon ang marami sa kanyang mga alagad at ang napakaraming tao buhat sa Judea at Jerusalem, at sa mga bayan sa baybaying-dagat ng Tiro at Sidon. 

Tumingin si Hesus sa mga alagad at kanyang sinabi, “Mapalad kayong mga dukha, sapagkat ang Diyos ang maghahari sa inyo!” “Mapalad kayong mga nagugutom ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y bubusugin!” “Mapalad kayong mga tumatangis ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magagalak!” 

“Mapalad kayo kung dahil sa Anak ng Tao kayo’y kinapopootan, ipinagtatabuyan at inaalimura ng mga tao, at pati ang inyong pangalan ay kinasusuklaman. Magalak kayo at lumukso sa tuwa kung ito’y mangyari, sapagkat malaki ang inyong gantimpala sa langit — gayun din ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga propeta.”

“Ngunit sa aba ninyong mayayaman ngayon, sapagkat nagtamasa na kayo ng kaginhawahan!” “Sa aba ninyong mga busog ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magugutom!” “Sa aba ninyong nagsisitawa ngayon, sapagkat kayo’y magdadalamhati at magsisitangis!”

“Sa aba ninyo, kung kayo’y pinupuri ng lahat ng tao, sapagkat gayun din ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga bulaang propeta.” 

Reflection for February 15 Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.  

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.  

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.  

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of compassion and mercy. Jesus feels our loneliness when we are lonely. He cries with us when we cry. He feels the heavy load we carry when we are burdened by it. 

Does His compassion and mercy stop with mere empathy? No, Jesus never stops thinking of ways to lighten the burdens we carry. 

We see this deep compassion and mercy of Jesus in our Gospel today. When Jesus saw the crowd that had been following Him for days, He had deep compassion for them because they were already hungry and tired. His mercy and compassion led Him to think about how He could feed them. 

So Jesus asked His disciples for whatever food they had, and with seven loaves and a few fish, He miraculously multiplied them to feed almost four thousand. This is how merciful and compassionate Jesus is to those who follow Him.

 What does this Gospel tell us? It tells us that we will never go hungry the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus! Jesus will never let us go hungry, for He will take care of our food and provide for our needs. This may be hard for some to believe, but it is true! Jesus provides for those who faithfully follow Him. 

Are you a faithful follower of Jesus? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 15 Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:1-10

Noong mga araw na iyon, muling nagkatipon ang mga tao. Naubos nila ang kanilang pagkain, kaya’t tinawag ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad, at sinabi sa kanila, “Nahahabag ako sa mga taong ito, sapagkat tatlong araw na ngayong kasama ko sila at wala na silang makain. Kung pauuwiin ko nang gutom, mahihilo sila sa daan – galing pa naman sa malayo ang ilan sa kanila.” 

“Saan po tayo kukuha ng tinapay dito sa ilang para magkasya sa ganito karaming tao?” tugon ng mga alagad. “Ilan ang tinapay ninyo riyan?” tanong ni Hesus. “Pito po,” sagot nila. Ang mga tao’y pinaupo ni Hesus sa lupa. Kinuha niya ang pitong tinapay, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Pinagpira-piraso niya ang mga iyon at ibinigay sa mga alagad upang ipamahagi sa mga tao. 

Gayun nga ang ginawa ng mga alagad. Mayroon din silang ilang maliliit na isda. Muli siyang nagpasalamat sa Diyos, at iniutos niyang ibigay din iyon sa mga tao. Kumain ang lahat at nabusog; at nang tipunin nila ang mga pira-pirasong tinapay na lumabis, nakapuno sila ng pitong bakol na malalaki. At may apat na libo ang kumain. Pinayaon ni Hesus ang mga tao, saka siya sumakay sa bangka, at nagtungo sa lupain ng Dalmanuta.

Reflection for Friday February 14 Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. 

He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. 

He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

The story is told of a man who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Of course, he was troubled—who wouldn’t be? But the man had great faith in Jesus, so he earnestly prayed for healing. He attended Mass every day, prayed the rosary regularly, and read his Bible fervently. 

As the days, weeks, and months passed, there was a noticeable decline in his physical appearance. However, those around him also observed a deepening of his faith and confidence in Jesus. They noticed the peacefulness and calmness he exuded—so unlike a dying man. 

In the Gospel, we are presented with a story of physical healing: a deaf man was able to speak again through the healing power of Jesus. With the help of those around him, the deaf man was brought closer to Jesus, after which he begged Him to lay His hand on him. 

Jesus took the man away from the crowd, and in the stillness of the moment, He groaned and said, “Ephphatha!”—which means “Be opened.” The man was immediately healed; he could hear and speak once again. 

Eventually, every one of us will fall ill, and we will all pray for physical healing from Jesus. However, not all of us will experience healing like the deaf man in the Gospel. Some of us will receive deep spiritual healing—the same kind of healing that the terminally ill man in our story received from Jesus. 

Therefore, we must take steps to draw closer to Jesus and build a relationship with Him. Let us take the initiative now, rather than wait until we are in dire need of Him. —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Pebrero 14 Paggunita kay San Cirilo monghe at San Metodio, Obispo: Marcos 7:31-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:31-37

Noong panahong iyon, pagbabalik ni Hesus mula sa lupain ng Tiro, dumaan siya sa Sidon, at nagtuloy sa Lawa ng Galilea, matapos tahakin ang lupain ng Decapolis. Dinala sa kanya ang isang lalaking bingi at utal at ipinamanhik nila na ipatong sa taong ito ang kanyang kamay.  

Inilayo muna siya ni Hesus sa karamihan, at isinuot ang kanyang mga daliri sa mga tainga nito. Tumingala si Hesus sa langit at nagbuntong-hininga, at sinabi sa tao, “Effata,” ibig sabihi’y “Mabuksan!” At nakarinig na ito, nawala ang pagkautal at nakapagsalita na nang malinaw. 

Sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao na huwag ibalita ito kaninuman; ngunit kung kailan sila pinagbabawalan ay lalo naman nilang ipinamamalita ito. sila’y lubhang nanggilalas, at ang wika, “Anong buti ng lahat ng kanyang ginawa! Nakaririnig na ang bingi, at nakapagsasalita ang pipi!”

Reflection for February 13 Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:24-30

Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.  

He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Reflection: 

What is the key to receiving what we ask from Jesus? 

It is persistence. If we feel that Jesus does not hear our prayers, we must continue to call upon Him, never losing hope. We should never give up, because giving up is a sign of our lack of faith in Jesus. 

The Syrophoenician woman in today’s Gospel never gave up on her request, even when she was tested by Jesus. She persisted and humbly begged Him to heal her daughter, who was possessed by a demon. Eventually, her persistence bore fruit—when she returned home, she discovered that her daughter was no longer possessed. 

As we journey through this temporary world, we will inevitably face many challenges. However, we must not allow these trials to discourage us or separate us from Jesus. Instead, the more difficulties we encounter, the more we should persistently turn to Him for help. 

For it is only through Jesus that we can endure the many trials and tribulations of this world. But what if, despite our persistent prayers, Jesus does not seem to answer? What should we do? We must continue to pray and have faith. The more we feel ignored, the more we must pray and trust in Him. 

How strong is your faith in the Lord? —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 13 Huwebes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:24-30

Noong panahong iyon, nagtungo si Hesus sa lupain ng Tiro at tumuloy sa isang bahay doon. Ayaw sana niyang malaman ninuman na naroon siya, subalit hindi gayon ang nangyari. Ang pagdating niya'y nabalitaan ng isang inang may maliit na anak na babaing inaalihan ng masamang espiritu. Pumunta siya kay Jesus at nagpatirapa sa kanyang harapan.                       

Ang babaing ito'y Hentil -- tubo sa Sirofenicia. Ipinamanhik niya kay Hesus na palayasin ang demonyo na nasa kanyang anak; ngunit sinabi ni Hesus, "Kailangang busugin muna ang mga anak. Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta." 

"Tunay nga po, Panginoon," tugon ng babae, "ngunit ang mga tuta mang nasa ilalim ng hapag ay naninimot ng mga mumong nalalaglag ng mga anak." Kaya't sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, "Dahil sa sinabi mo, maaari ka nang umuwi. Iniwan na ng demonyo ang iyong anak." Umuwi ang babae, at naratnan niya sa higaan ang bata. Iniwan na nga ng demonyo.

Reflection for February 12 Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:
The story is told of a married man who was caught by his wife having an adulterous relationship with his officemate. The wife told him, “I never thought that you would be capable of doing this to me because you promised me that you would be faithful until the end.”

Why is it that many of us commit sin and fail to live out our faith? When tempted by Satan, we easily give in. Why is this so? I don’t know. Perhaps it is due to our weak and superficial faith or because we love this world more than we love God.

Jesus, in the Gospel, mentions that nothing that enters us makes us sin, but what comes out of us does. Therefore, we must be careful and discerning about the things we do. If we believe that our actions may lead us to sin, then by all means, we should avoid them.

If there is a strong temptation to sin, we must confront and resist it; otherwise, it will capture us. The danger with sin is that it will never stop until it completely destroys us. For example, in the case of adultery, couples engaged in this sinful relationship will likely continue until they are caught and punished.

They indulge in this sin because Satan makes it appear more attractive in their eyes. Under Satan’s spell, they continue without guilt of conscience—the same Satan whose hidden and ultimate desire is to destroy them.

Come to think of it—why is it that, even when we know something is sinful, many of us still do it? The simple answer is that many choose to embrace Satan rather than Jesus. Many gamble their very lives with Satan instead of investing them with Jesus.

When you choose to be with Satan, you will be destroyed sooner or later. However, when you turn away from sin and surrender to Jesus, He will tirelessly work within you, to transform your heart and free you from the grip of sin.  —Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 12 Miyerkules sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:14-23

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:14-23

Noong panahong iyon, muling pinalapit ni Hesus ang mga tao at sinabi sa kanila, "Makinig kayong lahat, at unawain ang aking sasabihin! Hindi ang pumapasok sa bibig ng tao ang nakapagpaparumi sa kanya sa mata ng Diyos kundi ang nagmumula sa kanya. Ang may pandinig ay makinig." 

Iniwan ni Jesus ang mga tao; at nang makapasok na sa bahay, siya'y tinanong ng kanyang mga alagad tungkol sa talinghaga. "Kayo man ba'y wala ring pang-unawa?" tugon ni Hesus. "Hindi ba ninyo alam na hindi nakapagpaparumi sa tao ang kinakain niya, sapagkat hindi naman iyon pumapasok sa kanyang puso, kundi sa tiyan, at pagkatapos ay idinudumi." Sa pagsasabi nito'y para nang ipinahayag ni Hesus na maaaring kanin ang lahat ng pagkain. 

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita: "Ang lumalabas mula sa tao ang nagpaparumi sa kanya sa mata ng Diyos. Sapagkat sa loob-- sa puso ng tao-- nagmumula ang masasamang isipang nag-uudyok sa kanya na makiapid, magnakaw, pumatay, mangalunya, mag-imbot, at gumawa ng lahat ng kabuktutan, tulad ng pagdaraya, kahalayan, pagkainggit, paninirang puri, kapalaluan, at kahangalan, Ang lahat ng ito'y nanggagaling sa puso ng tao, at siyang nagpaparumi sa kanya."

Reflection for February 11 Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.  

And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.

Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are you very strict in observing your customs and traditions? 

The Pharisees were very particular about their customs and traditions, following them to the letter. So, when they saw that Jesus’ disciples ate their meals without washing their hands, they questioned Him about it. 

They said to Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 

Jesus responded, “You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!” 

We see that Jesus placed more importance on God's commandments than on human traditions—on the interior rather than the exterior, on inner conversion rather than mere outward observance of laws. 

The conversion that Jesus desires for us is one that involves a true change of heart and mindset. For example, instead of indulging in sin, we strive to avoid it. Instead of remaining in an environment where we have sinned, we completely walk away from it. 

For Jesus, what matters most is not our external actions but our internal conversion and renewal.—Marino J. Dasmarinas