Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Marso 21, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

9 Sinabi ni Jesus ang talinha­gang ito tungkol sa ilang taong kumbinsido na mabuti sila at minamata naman ang iba: 10  “Dalawang tao ang umakyat sa Templo para mana­langin: Pariseo ang isa at publikano naman ang isa pa. 11 Nakata­yong na­na­na­la­nging mag-isa ang Pari­seo. Si­nabi niya: ‘O Diyos, salamat at hindi ako gaya ng ibang mga tao – mga magnanakaw, mandaraya, nakikiapid, o gaya ng ko­lek­tor ng buwis na iyan. 12 Da­­lawang beses akong nag-aayuno isang linggo, nagbibigay ako ng ikapu sa lahat kong ari-arian.’

13 Nasa likuran naman ang kolektor ng buwis at hindi man lang makatingala sa langit. Dinadagukan niya ang dibdib sa pagsasabing ‘O Diyos, kaawaan mo ako na isang makasala­nan.’

14 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ito ang umu­wing nasa grasya ng Diyos ngunit hindi ang isa. Sa­pagkat ibababa ang la­hat ng nagpapakataas at itataas naman ang nagpapakababa.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Friday March 20, Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

How do we manifest our love for God?

To love God is to discover more about Him, thus we need to thirst and hunger for Him. We need to always be present at Holy Mass and feel His presence there.  We need to read the bible and be faithful to its teachings.

If we would read the first four gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we will have a better appreciation of the true to life story of Jesus.  To love God is to live His teachings as well.

After we have fully expressed our love for God the next commandment will automatically set in (We shall love our neighbor as ourselves). What is this love for our neighbor? Is this a selective kind of love or an encompassing love?

The love for our neighbor should always be an encompassing love and not a selective love. Sometimes this is where we are deficient because we only choose the neighbor that we love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Marso 20, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Marcos 12:28-34

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:28-34

28 May isang guro ng Batas na na­ka­­rinig sa pagtatalo ni Jesus at ng mga Sadduseo. Nang mapansin niyang tama ang sagot ni Jesus sa mga Sadduseo, lumapit siya at nagta­nong kay Jesus: “Ano ang una sa lahat ng utos?”

29 Sumagot si Jesus na “Ito ang una: Makinig nawa, O Israel! Iisa lang ang Panginoong ating Diyos. 30 At mamahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kalu­luwa, nang buo mong pag-iisip at nang buo mong lakas. 31At pangalawa naman ito: Mamahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Wala nang utos na mas mahalaga pa kaysa mga ito.” 

32 Kaya sinabi ng guro ng Batas: “Mabuti, Guro, totoo ang sinabi mong isa Siya at wala na maliban sa kanya. 33 At ang mahalin siya nang buong puso at nang buong kaluluwa at nang buong lakas, at mahalin din ang kapwa gaya ng sarili ay mas mahalaga kaysa mga sinu­nog na handog at mga alay.”

34 Nakita ni Jesus na tama ang sinabi nito kaya sinabi niya: “Hindi ka malayo sa kaharian ng Diyos.” At wala nang nanga­has magtanong sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Thursday March 19, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

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Reflection:

Do you always obey the will of the Lord for your marriage? For example the will of God for the marriage covenant to be forever and not to be stained by any hint of infidelity. Are you ever faithful to this marriage covenant in your thoughts and actions?

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Aside from being responsible father and husband to Jesus and Mary, what else makes Saint Joseph so especial? Joseph humbly and quietly followed the will of the Lord.

Saint Joseph accepted without question what God wanted him to do. Yes he was planning to quietly divorce Mary. However, the moment the angel appeared in his dream to convey God’s message for him. He never questioned the will of the Lord. He humbly and quietly followed what the angel told him to do, he loved Mary and Jesus deeply and he responsibly took care of them.

Let us reflect on the humility of Saint Joseph and compare it with our humility before God and our fellow human beings. Let us reflect on the submissiveness of Joseph to the will of the Lord and compare it with our own submissiveness to the will of the Lord regarding our fidelity with the marriage covenant. 

Let us reflect on the sacrificial and deep love of Joseph towards Mary and Jesus and compare it with our love for our respective wives and children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Marso 19, Dakilang Kapistahan ni San Jose, kabiyak ng Mahal na Birheng Maria: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

16 Si Jacob ang ama ni Jose – ang asawa ni Maria na siyang pinagmulan ni Jesus na tinawag na Kristo.

18 Ganito ipinanganak si Jesucristo. Ipinag­kasundo na kay Jose ang kanyang inang si Maria pero bago sila nagsama bilang mag-asawa, nagdadalantao na siya gawa ng Espiritu Santo. 19 Kaya binalak ni Jose na hiwalayan nang lihim ang kanyang asawa. Matuwid nga siya at ayaw niya itong mapahiya.

20 Habang iniisip-isip niya ito, napa­kita sa kanya sa panaginip ang Anghel ng Panginoon at sinabi: “Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tang­ga­pin si Maria bilang iyong asawa. Gawa ng Espi­ritu Santo kaya siya naglihi, 21 at ma­nga­nganak siya ng isang sanggol na lalaki, na panga­ngalanan mong Jesus sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang samba­yanan mula sa kanilang mga kasa­lanan.”

24 Kaya pagka¬gising ni Jose, ginawa niya ang sinabi ng Anghel ng Panginoon at tinang¬gap niya ang kanyang asawa.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 18, Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus? It’s barren, chaotic and without peace. What is life without following the laws of God? It’s the same as well.  Jesus comes into our lives to make it meaningful and productive. Not meaningful and productive in the eyes of this world but meaningful and productive in His eyes.

When we break the laws of God we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. For example if a politician shows in his public image that he is a follower of Jesus. He will not break the law by stealing money from the coffers of the government, etc.

 He will not break the law of God by siding with those who are espousing anti poor laws such as death penalty. Otherwise he is only using Jesus to serve his own hidden agenda. Same goes for a spouse who professes to follow Jesus. He/she should not break the law by betraying the marriage covenant.

There’s always a reward that awaits those who follow the laws of God. And there’s always a reward that awaits those who follow Jesus and His commandments. It may not be the reward that we expect it to be but there would certainly be a reward.

Do you always follow the laws of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Marso 18, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 5:17-19

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-19

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 17 Huwag ninyong akalain na napa­rito ako para pawalang-bisa ang Batas at Mga Propeta. Naparito ako hindi para magpa­walang-bisa kundi upang mag­bigay-kaganapan. 18 At talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: habang hindi naba­bago ang langit at lupa, hindi maba­bago ni isang kudlit o kuwit ng Batas: lahat ay matu­tupad. 

19 Kung may lumabag sa pinakamaliit na ipinag-uutos ng Batas at magturo ng ganoon sa mga tao, ituturing din siyang pinakamaliit sa Kaharian ng Langit. Ngu­nit kung may magsagawa at magturo ng mga ito sa mga tao, magiging dakila siya sa Kaharian ng Langit.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 17, Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Why is it that many of us are not able to forgive? This is for the reason that we think highly of ourselves and we think that we are superior than the person who sinned against us. Unforgiveness also emanates from our arrogance, pride and lack of humility. Unforgiveness is also a sign that we love ourselves more than we love Jesus. 

If we truly love Jesus and if we really are humble we would be forgiving no matter how deep the wound that had been inflicted upon us. For example, if a wayward spouse would ask for forgiveness we would think deeply upon it and would eventually forgive. 

If we would continue to provide safe harbor for hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts, we are only creating an invisible prison cell within ourselves. Prison cell that perpetually punish and enslave us.

In our gospel, Peter asked Jesus: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). This simply means that forgiveness should be never-ending or limitless.

Those who are truly humble and those who truly love Jesus are the ones capable of unlimited forgiveness. Otherwise we simply are great pretenders: Pretenders to be humble and lovers of Jesus.

Are you forgiving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Marso 17, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 18:21-35

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-35

21 Nagtanong naman si Pedro: “Pa­nginoon, gaano kadalas ko naman dapat patawarin ang mga pagku­kulang ng aking kapatid? Pitong be­ses ba?” 22 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi, hindi pitong beses kundi pitumpu’t pitong beses.

23 Tungkol sa kaharian ng Langit ang kasaysayang ito. Isang hari ang nag­pasyang pagbayarin ng utang ang kanyang mga utusan. 24 Nang simulan niyang suriin ang kuwenta, ini­harap sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung libong baretang ginto. 25 Dahil walang ma­ibayad sa kanya ang tao, iniutos ng panginoon na ipagbili at maging alipin siya kasama ng kan­yang asawa, mga anak at mga ari-arian bilang bayad-utang.

26 At nagpatirapa sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at ba­bayaran kong lahat ang utang ko.’ 27 Naawa sa kanya ang hari at hindi lamang siya pinalaya kundi kinansela pa ang kanyang utang. 28 Pagkaalis ng opisyal na ito, nasa­lu­bong ni­ya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Si­nung­gaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo!’

29 Nagpa­tirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nag­sabi: ‘Big­yan mo pa ako ng panahon, at baba­yaran kong lahat ang utang ko sa iyo.’ 30 Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipina­kulong ito hanggang maka­bayad ng utang. 31 Labis na nalungkot ang iba nilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nang­yari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kani­lang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pang­yayari. 32 Ipinatawag naman niya ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat ng iyong utang nang maki­usap ka sa akin. 33 Di ba dapat ay naawa ka rin sa iyong kasamahan gaya ng pagkaawa ko sa iyo?’ 34 Galit na galit ang panginoon kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang utusan sa mga tagapag­pa­hirap hang­gang mabaya­ran nito ang lahat ng utang.”

35 Idinagdag ni Jesus: “Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi pata­tawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 16, Monday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. When the people in the synagogue heard this they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Do we expect Jesus to bless us abundantly because we always pray and do good? How would we feel if our expectation is not meet by Jesus with the same expectation that we have?  Would we now be indifferent to Jesus?

We cannot fathom the mind of God, there are times that His decisions will not fit our own comprehension. We nevertheless should continue to be faithful to Him even if His will is often times not attuned to our own will. In His own time God would eventually give us what we want. We simply have to be patient.

In our gospel the people of Nazareth is angry with Jesus for the simple reason that what Jesus said did not fit their expectation. Their minds were already conditioned to believe their own expectations. But we cannot read the mind of Jesus and we cannot put Jesus in a box because His decisions and His answers to our prayers are often times out of the box.

We simply have to believe and hold on to our faith in Jesus no matter what happens. Even if sometimes or even often times His decisions doesn’t fit our own selfish expectations. Who knows one of these days Jesus will suddenly give us what we want. During these times when we least expect Him to give it to us.

Let us continue to have faith in Jesus even if He is not meeting our expectations for He knows what is best for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Marso 16, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 4:24-30

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 4:24-30

Pagdating ni Jesus sa Nazaret sinabi niya sa lahat ng mga taong nasa sinagoga24 “Talagang sinasabi ko: walang propetang katanggap-tanggap sa sarili niyang bayan. 25 Tinitiyak ko sa inyo na maraming babaeng balo noon sa kapana­hunan ni Elias nang sarhan ang langit sa loob ng tatlo’t kala­hating taon at nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa buong lupain. 26 Gayon pa ma’y hindi ipinadala si Elias sa isa man sa kanila kundi sa baba­eng balo ng    Sarepta sa may Sidon. 27 Marami ring may­ketong sa Israel sa kapana­hunan ni Propeta Eliseo pero wala sa kanilang pinaga­ling kundi ang Siriong si Naaman.”

28 Napuno ng galit ang lahat sa sinagoga pagkarinig dito, 29 tumindig sila at ipinagtulakan siya sa labas ng bayan. Dinala nila siya sa gilid ng burol na ki­na­­­ta­tayuan ng kanilang bayan para ihu­log. 30 Ngunit du­maan siya sa gitna nila at umalis.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday March 15, Third Sunday of Lent: John 4:5-42

Gospel: John 4:5-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink, ' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;  where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?"

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."

Jesus said to her, "Go call your husband and come back." The woman answered and said to him, "I do not have a husband." Jesus answered her, "You are right in saying, 'I do not have a husband.' For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.

What you have said is true." The woman said to him, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one speaking with you."

At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you talking with her?" The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done.

Could he possibly be the Christ?" They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Could someone have brought him something to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'In four months the harvest will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work."

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world."

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Reflection:

What do you see in the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well? Do you see the desire of Jesus to evangelize the Samaritan woman? Yes, Jesus obviously desired for the conversion of the woman to become His follower. But Jesus did not do His evangelization the conventional way.

Jesus evangelized the Samaritan woman using the water at Jacob’s well as His vehicle for her to be evangelized.  Jesus asked the woman to give Him a drink (John 4:7) and after that their conversation went on until the Samaritan woman was convinced by Jesus to believe in Him.

Evangelization the Jesus way is very different from our way of evangelization. He evangelizes using some characters, in this gospel episode the characters of well, water and His desire to drink the water from that well.

From thereon, Jesus opened another conversation until it delved to the personal background of the woman. Jesus did His evangelization with gentleness, diplomacy and humility. And the result was, He eventually converted the woman to become a believer and follower. After which the town mates of the woman became also Jesus followers courtesy of the personal witness of the woman herself.

We therefore have to follow the out of the box method of evangelization of Jesus using gentleness, diplomacy and humility. Let us not like be the others who evangelize by means of memorized yet selective bible passages. Bible passages that serves their own ends to denounce other Christian religions.

How do you evangelize? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 15, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 4:5-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4:5-42

5 Dumating si Jesus sa isang bayan ng Samaria na tinatawag na Sikar na malapit sa bukid na ibi­nigay ni Jacob kay Jose na kanyang anak. 6 Naroon ang bukal ni Jacob. Dala ng pagod sa paglalakbay, basta na lamang naupo si Jesus sa may bukal. Magtatangha­ling-tapat ang oras noon. 7 May dumating na babaeng taga-Samaria para sumalok ng tubig at sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Painu­min mo ako.” 8 Pu­munta na noon sa bayan ang kanyang mga alagad para bumili ng pagkain.

9 Sumagot naman sa kanya ang ba­baeng Samaritana: “Judio ka, paano mo mahi­hi­ngi sa akin, na babaeng Samari­tana, na painumin kita?” (Sapag­kat hindi nakiki­sa­lamuha ang mga Judio sa mga Samari­tano.) 10 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya: “Kung alam mo ang Ka­loob ng Diyos at kung sino ang nagsasabi sa iyong ‘Painu­min mo ako!’ hiningan mo sana siya at bibigyan ka sana niya ng tubig na buhay.”

11 Sinabi sa kanya ng babae: “Wala po kayong panalok at malalim ang balon. Saan po galing ang inyong tubig na buhay? 12 Mas may kakahayahan po ba kayo kaysa aming amang si Jacob? Siya mismo ang nagbigay sa amin ng balon at dito siya umi­nom pati na ang kanyang mga anak at mga kawan.”

13 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanya: “Mau­uhaw uli ang sinumang umiinom sa tubig na ito. 14 Ngunit hinding-hindi mau­uhaw magpa­ka­i­lan­man ang umiinom sa tubig na ibibi­gay ko sa kanya. Magiging isa ngang bukal sa kanya ang tubig na ibi­bigay ko, na bubukal tungo sa buhay na magpa­kailanman.” 15 Sinabi sa kanya ng babae: “Ibigay po ninyo sa akin ang tubig na ito nang hindi na ako mauhaw ni mag­paroo’t parito pa para sumalok dito.” 16 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya: “Hala, tawagin mo ang iyong asawa at puma­rito.”

17 Sumagot ang babae: “Wala akong asawa.” Si­nabi naman sa kanya ni Jesus: “Mahusay ang sabi mong wala kang asawa, 18 sapagkat nagkaroon ka ng limang lalaki, at hindi mo asawa ang lalaki mo ngayon. Totoo nga ang sinabi mo.” 19 Sinabi sa kanya ng babae: “Sa pansin ko’y isa kayong propeta. 20 Sa bundok na ito sumamba ang aming mga ninuno. Ngunit sinasabi ninyong mga Judio na ang Jerusalem ang lugar na dapat sambahan.”

21 Sagot sa kanya ni Jesus: “Mani­wala ka sa akin, babae, na dumarating ang oras na sasamba kayo sa Ama at hindi na sasabihing sa bundok na ito ni sa Jerusalem. 22 Sumasamba kayo nang walang alam; sumasamba naman kami nang may alam, dahil sa mga Judio galing ang kaligtasan. 23 Ngunit dumarating ang oras at narito na nga, na sa espi­ritu at kato­tohanan sasamba sa Ama ang mga totoong sumasamba. Ganito nga ang hangad ng Ama sa mga sumasamba sa kanya.

24 Espiritu ang Diyos, at sa espiritu at katotohanan dapat sumamba ang mga suma­samba sa kanya. 25 Sinabi sa kanya ng babae: “Alam kong dumarating ang Mesiyas, ang tinatawag na Pinahiran. At pag­dating niya, ihahayag niya sa amin ang tanang mga bagay.” 26 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siya na siyang na­ngu­­ngu­sap sa iyo.”

27 Sa sandaling ito, dumating ang kan­yang mga alagad, at nagtaka sila’t nakikipag-usap siya sa isang ba­bae. Ga­yun­ma’y walang nagtanong: “Ano’ng hina­­hanap mo? o: Ba’t ka nakikipag-usap sa kanya?” 28 Iniwan ng babae ang kan­yang tapayan at patakbong bumalik paba­yan, at ipinagsabi niya sa mga tao: 29 "Halikayo para makita ang isang taong nag­sabi sa akin ng lahat kong ginawa. Hindi kaya ito ang Mesiyas?” 30 Kaya lu­mabas sila ng bayan at pumunta sila sa kanya.

31 Samantala, pinakiusapan siya ng mga alagad: “Rabbi (o Guro), kumain ka na.” 32 Sumagot naman si Jesus: “May makakain ako, pagkain itong hindi ninyo alam.” 33 Kaya nag-usap-usap ang mga alagad: “May nagdala kaya sa kanya ng makakain.” 34 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Pagkain ko’y isa­gawa ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin at ganapin ang kan­yang gawa. 35 Di ba’t sinasabi n’yong ‘Apat na buwan na lang at anihan na? Pero sinasabi ko sa inyo: tumunghay kayo at masdan, na­mu­muti na ang mga bukirin para anihin.

36 Tumatanggap na ng upa ang mga taga-ani at nagtitipon ng bunga para sa buhay na magpakailanman. At mag­kasamang maga­galak ang tagahasik at ang taga-ani. 37 Totoo nga ang kasabi­hang iba ang naghahasik at iba ang nag-aani. 38 Isinugo ko kayo para mag-ani sa hindi nin­yo pinagpaguran. Iba ang nag­pagod at kayo ang sumalo sa kanilang pagod.”

39 Mula sa bayang iyon, marami ang nagsimulang manalig sa kanya sa mga Samaritano dahil sa salita ng babaeng nagpatunay: Sinabi niya sa akin ang lahat kong ginawa.” 40 Kaya pagdating sa kanya ng mga Samaritano, pina­kiusapan nila siyang sa kanila lumagi. At lumagi siya roon nang dalawang araw. 41 At mas ma­rami pa ang mga naniwala dahil sa kanyang salita. 42 At sinabi nila sa babae: “Hindi na dahil sa ‘yong pangungusap kaya kami nanalig dahil kami na mismo ang nakarinig, at kinikilala namin na totoo ngang siya ang Tagapagligtas ng mundo.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for March 14, Saturday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So to them Jesus addressed this parable.

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers. So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house he heard the sound of music and dancing.

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. He became angry and when he refused to enter the house his father came out and pleaded with him.

He said to his father in reply ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of encompassing love, mercy and forgiveness, what does this mean? This simply means that nobody is beyond reach of the love of God. No matter how sinful we are and no matter how grave the sins that we have committed we are still loved dearly by our God.

But there’s one quality that we must have to experience God’s love mercy and forgiveness. And this is repentance, we have to realize first our own sinfulness and have the desire to walk away from our sinfulness and be one again with God.

After wasting his inheritance to debauchery and sinfulness the younger son in our gospel parable had a humbling experience. He had nowhere to go, he lived a life of a beggar so to speak.

 So different from his life of comfort when he was still with his father.  He therefore said to himself, why not go back home and ask for forgiveness from my father? So he did, and to make a long story short his father forgave him.    

Let us think and reflect about our own sinfulness and the many offenses that we’ve done that created distance between us and Jesus. Let us heal that distance by humbly asking for His forgiveness. This we can do best if we would humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession.

Would you submit yourself to the Sacrament of Confession? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Marso 14, Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32

1 Lumapit kay Jesus ang lahat ng ko­lektor ng buwis at mga makasa­lanan para makinig. 2 Kaya nag­bulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at mga guro ng Batas: “Tinatanggap niyan ang mga makasalanan at na­kikisalo sa kani­la.” 3 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus ang ta­linhagang ito sa kanila:

11 Sinabi pa rin ni Jesus: “May isang ta­ong may dalawang anak na lalaki. 12 Sinabi ng bunso sa kanyang ama: ‘Itay, ibigay na ninyo sa akin ang parte ko sa mana.’ At hinati sa kanila ng ama ang ari-arian. 13 Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, tinipon ng bun­song anak ang lahat ng kanya at nag­lakbay sa malayong lupain. Doon niya winaldas ang sa kanya sa malu­wag na pamumuhay.

14 Nang maubos na ang lahat sa kanya, nagkaroon ng matin­ding taggutom sa lupaing ’yon at nagsi­mula siyang maghikahos. 15 Kaya pumunta siya at namasukan sa isang tagaroon, at inu­tusan siyang mag-alaga ng mga baboy sa bukid nito. 16 At gusto sana niyang pu­nuin kahit na ng kaning-baboy ang kanyang tiyan pero wala namang magbigay sa kanya.

17 Noon siya natauhan at nag-isip: ‘Gaano karaming arawan sa bahay ng aking ama na labis-labis ang pagkain at namamatay naman ako dito sa gu­tom. 18 Titindig ako, pupunta sa aking ama, at sasabihin ko sa kanya: ‘Itay, nag­ka­sala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo. 19 Hindi na ako karapat-dapat pang ta­wa­­ging anak mo; ituring mo na akong isa sa iyong mga arawan.’

20 Kaya tumindig siya papunta sa kanyang ama. Malayo pa siya nang ma­tanaw ng kanyang ama at naawa ito, patakbo nitong sina­lubong ang anak, niyakap at hinalikan. 21 Sinabi sa kanya ng anak: ‘Ama, nagkasala ako laban sa langit at sa harap mo; hindi na ako karapat-dapat   pang tawaging   anak  mo.’

22 Pero sinabi ng ama sa kanyang mga utu­san: ‘Madali, dalhin ninyo ang dati niyang da­mit at ibihis sa kanya; suutan ninyo ng sinsing ang kanyang daliri at ng sapatos ang kanyang mga paa. 23 Dalhin at katayin ang pinatabang guya, kumain tayo at magsaya 24 sa­pag­kat namatay na ang anak kong ito at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan.’ At nagsimula silang mag­diwang.

25 Nasa bukid noon ang panganay na anak. Nang pauwi na siya at malapit na sa bahay, narinig niya ang tugtugan at sayawan. 26 Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga utusan at tinanong kung ano ang nang­yari. 27 Sinabi nito sa kanya: ‘Nagbalik ang kapatid mo kaya ipinapatay ng iyong ama ang pinatabang guya dahil nabawi niya siyang buhay at di naano.’

28 Nagalit ang panganay at ayaw puma­sok kaya lumabas ang ama at nakiusap sa kanya. 29 Sumagot naman siya sa ama: ‘Maraming taon na akong nagsisilbi sa inyo at kailanma’y di ko nilabag ang in­yong mga utos pero kailanma’y di ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit na isang kambing na mapagpipiyestahan namin ng aking mga ka­barkada. 30 Ngunit dumating la­mang ang anak ninyong ito na lumustay sa inyong kaya­manan sa mga ba­baeng bayaran, at ipinakatay pa ninyo ang pinatabang guya.’

31 Sinabi sa kanya ng ama: ‘Anak, lagi kitang kasama at sa iyo rin ang la­hat ng akin. 32 Pero dapat lamang na mag­diwang at magsaya dahil namatay na ang kapatid mo at nabuhay, nawala at natagpuan’.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 13, Friday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46    

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

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Reflection:

One of the gifts that Jesus gave us is our Catholic faith, Jesus gave this to us through our baptism. Does this gift of faith end with our baptism? No, Jesus is also expecting us to share this gift of our baptism by living and sharing our faith. 

We read in our gospel this Friday that there was a landowner who leased his vineyard to some tenants. After a period of time the landowner was now demanding his share of their produce. But they did not give him his share, the tenants were ruled by greed that they kept to themselves the fruits of the vineyard.

The same is true with the gift of faith that Jesus gave us, Jesus expects us to share the fruits of our faith. Let us not be content with status quo or inaction let us move and do something so that we could share our faith for this is what Jesus demands from us.

For example, why don’t we share our faith with the members of our family by inviting them to go to Holy Mass? Why don’t we share our catholic faith with them by having a regular time for family reflection about the words of Jesus in the bible?  Or perhaps by praying the Holy Rosary which can certainly strengthen the unity of the family.

What have we done so far with this gift of faith that Jesus gave us through the Sacrament of Baptism? Have we shared it already? – Marino J. Dasmarinas