“Ang mata ang
pinakailaw ng katawan. Kaya’t kung malinaw ang iyong mata, maliliwanagan ang
buo mong katawan. Ngunit kung malabo ang iyong mata, madirimlan ang buo mong
katawan. Kaya’t kung ang liwanag na nasa iyo ay kadiliman pala, napakadilim
niyan!”
Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Thursday, June 16, 2022
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 17, Biyernes ng Ika-11 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 6:19-23
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Reflection June 16, Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:7-15
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither
will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the secret toward closeness with God? Its prayers that come from the depths of our beings. This is the foundation of our closeness with God. From the fountain of our prayerful life will emanate the God given desire to know more about God. Do we always pray with our hearts and minds on it? Or we only pray when we feel that we need to pray or when we have the time to pray?
The most effective method of prayer is to pray without any excess baggage in our hearts. What does this mean? We pray without carrying any hatred in our hearts. For example if someone has done us wrong and this person is asking for our forgiveness. What would we do? Would we forgive or not forgive? Of course we have to forgive. For how can God forgive us when we ourselves are not willing to forgive? How can we be open to the many blessings of god ifour hearts are full of unforgiveness? We have to live forgiveness if we want God to hear and forgive us.
We are mere passersby in this world, sooner or later the curtains of our life in this world will come to a close. How can we go to heaven if we carry the weight of unforgiveness in our hearts? And how can we go to heaven if we carry the weight of hatred in our hearts?
When Jesus was dying on the cross He said a short yet very meaningful prayer to God. While gasping for breath Jesus prayed this: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) If Jesus can forgive why can’t we forgive?
Do you have hatred or any form of
unforgiveness in your heart right now? Let go of it and if you still cannot let
go humbly pray to Jesus and ask Him to heal you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 16, Huwebes ng Ika-11 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 6:7-15
Ganito kayo
mananalangin:
'Ama naming
nasa langit,
Sambahin nawa
ang pangalan mo
Ikaw nawa ang
maghari sa amin,
Sundin nawa
ang iyong kalooban
Dito sa lupa
tulad ng sa langit.
Bigyan mo
kami ng pagkaing kailangan namin sa araw na ito;
At patawarin
mo kami sa aming mga kasalanan,
Tulad ng
aming pagpapatawad sa mga nagkakasala sa amin.
At huwag mo
kaming iharap sa mahigpit na pagsubok,
Kundi ilayo
mo kami sa Masama!
Sapagkat iyo
ang kaharian at ang kapangyarihan at ang kapurihan, magpakailanman! Amen'
Sapagkat kung pinatatawad ninyo ang mga nagkakasala sa inyo, patatawarin din kayo ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Ngunit kung hindi ninyo pinatatawad ang mga nagkasala sa inyo, hindi rin kayo patatwarin ng inyong Ama."
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Reflection June 15, Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like
the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to
others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But
when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear
to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father
who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
In the gospel Jesus gives us three commands:
1. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others (Matthew 6:2).
2. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them (Matthew 6:5).
3. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting (Matthew 6:16).
Jesus reminds us to have a self-examination about our life. How are we living it right now? Do we live our life so that others may notice us? For example, in doing good deeds, why is it that some if not many of us post it on social media? Is it for others to know that we are doing good? Are we only using God so that we will gain the admiration of our fellowmen?
Jesus advocates humility and secrecy in doing things for Him. We should not boast of the things that we do for God and for our fellowmen. Otherwise it’s all useless and chasing the wind. Jesus knows everything about us; our motives and the real reason why we do things for Him. He knows if we are only using Him to advance our own self-serving agendas.
Let us re-direct our motives and from now
on let us do things for the Lord in silence and secrecy. Without posting it on
facebook and other social media platforms. No one will know except us and the
Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 15, Miyerkules ng Ika-11 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18
"Kaya nga, kapag naglilimos ka, huwag mo nang ipagmakaingay ito, katulad ng ginagawa ng mga mapagpaimbabaw doon sa sinagoga at sa mga lansangan. Ginagawa nila ito upang purihin sila ng mga tao. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. Ngunit kung naglilimos ka, huwag mo nang ipaalam ito kahit sa iyong pinakamatalik na kaibigan upang malihim ang iyong paglilimos. at gagantihin ka ng iyong Amang nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo ng lihim."
"At kapag nananalangin kayo, huwag kayong tutulad sa mga mapagpaimbabaw. Mahilig silang manalangin nang patayo sa mga sinagoga at sa mga panulukang-daan, upang makita ng mga tao. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. Ngunit kapag mananalangin ka, pumasok ka sa iyong silid at isara mo ang pinto. Saka manalangin sa iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita, at gagantihin ka ng iyong amang nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo ng lihim.
"Kapag
nag-aayuno kayo, huwag kayong magmukhang malungkot, tulad ng mga
mapagpaimbabaw. Hindi sila nag-aayos upang malaman ng mga tao na sila'y
nag-aayuno. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala.
Kapag ikaw ay nag-aayuno, mag-ayos ka ng buhok at maghilamos upang huwag mapansin
ng mga tao na nag-aayuno ka. Ang iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita ang siya lamang
nakaaalam nito. Siya, na nakakakita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo nang lihim, ang
gaganti sa iyo."
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Reflection June 14, Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:43-48
For if you love those who love you, what
recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you
greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the
pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is genuine love?
It’s a love that doesn’t discriminate a love that embraces everybody including those who are not lovable to our eyes. The beauty of loving even those who do not love us is we show them what true love is all about. True love that emanates from Jesus Himself.
When we love even those who are not lovable we don’t only give them our unconditional love. We also teach them to give love, never mind if they will not love us in return. What is important is we teach them the language of unconditional love so that they would learn from it and hopefully be converted by it.
But is unconditional love still relevant today? For many of us today love is a two way street: You love me and I give you love in return if you will not love me I will not give you my love. But if this is our mentality the language of true love will not anymore have life. There would be no more true love and true sacrifice for the person that we love.
True love or genuine love therefore is to
love without any condition/s and to love without expecting love in return. Hard
to do, right? But if we truly love Jesus we would be able to freely give love,
love which is not bound by the laws of reciprocity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 14, Martes ng Ika-11 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:43-48
Kung
ang mga umiibig sa inyo ang siya lamang ninyong iibigin, ano pang gantimpala
ang inyong hihintayin? Hindi ba't ginagawa rin ito ng mga publikano? At kung
ang binabati lamang ninyo'y ang inyong mga kapatid, ano ang nagawa ninyong
higit kaysa iba? Ginagawa rin iyan ng mga Hentil! Kaya, dapat kayong maging
ganap, gaya ng inyong Amang nasa langit."
Reflection for Monday June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church (M): Matthew 5:38-42
42 Give to him who begs from you,
and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
What would we gain if we exact revenge to those who’ve aggrieved and injured us? Nothing except further enmity and injury.
Take for example disagreements and quarrels, if a person would exact revenge for the injury that was caused her/him. It would only become a vicious cycle of disagreements and quarrels that has no ending. This is the result of our unforgiveness but what if we take the high road of forgiveness and humility? Then things will be OK, because there’s no hatred or any kind of bad feeling in our hearts.
It’s hard to be humble, it’s hard to forgive and it’s hard not to retaliate for the injury that is done to us. But let us look at Jesus on the cross and reflect on the wounds that we have carved on HIS body by our sinfulness. What if HE has not forgiven us, what if HE did not humble himself for us?
What Jesus gives us today are valuable
lessons on humility and forgiveness that will help us build bridges instead of
walls. The gospel reading for today is very easy to look at and read. But can we
live it? If we abhor hostility, if we are humble and if we are truly
passionately in love with Jesus we would be able to live these teachings. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Lunes Hunyo 13, San Antonio de Padua, pari at pantas ng Simbahan (Paggunita): Mateo 5:38-42
Kung
ipagsakdal ka ninuman upang makuha ang iyong baro, ibigay mo sa kanya pati ang
iyong balabal. Kung sapilitang ipapasan sa iyo ng manlulupig ang kanyang dala
nang isang kilometro, pasanin mo ito nang dalawang kilometro. Magbigay ka sa
nanghihingi sa iyo, at huwag mong pahindian ang nanghihiram sa iyo."
Wednesday, June 08, 2022
Reflection for Sunday June 12, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: John 16:12-15
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 12, Tatlong Persona sa Isang Diyos (Dakilang Kapistahan): Juan 16:12-15
Reflection for Saturday June 11, St. Barnabas apostle and martyr (M):M atthew 10:7-13
The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever
town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until
you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let
your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What was the intention of Jesus when he told the disciples: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Matthew 10:8) Jesus said this to convey the message that whatever that they have is a gift that they have received from God. Thus, they have to pay it forward or give it away also without expecting anything in return and this applies to us too.
Whatever we have is a gift from God also, hence God expects us to give what we have without expecting anything in return. And this is not solely limited to material giving this also includes intellectual giving this means that we have to share what our minds have so that it can help educate others. Let us not hold back in our giving because it is in giving that we would receive unfathomable blessings from God.
Some may say that this is not true but this is true! We would not run out of anything that we need if we are generous for the reason that the more that we are generous the more that God would supply us of whatever that we need. Why is this so? Because generosity breeds good karma and generosity breeds generosity and blessings as well.
We therefore have to be generous all the
time without expecting anything in return. Because God takes care of those who
are generous. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Sabado Hunyo 11, San Bernabe, apostol (Paggunita): Mateo 10:7-13
Huwag
din ninyong sabihing, ‘Saksi ko ang Jerusalem,’ sapagkat ito’y lungsod ng
dakilang Hari. Ni huwag mong sabihing, ‘Mamatay man ako,’ sapagkat ni isang
buhok sa iyong ulo’y hindi mo mapapuputi o mapaiitim. Sabihin mo na lang na
‘Oo’ kung oo at ‘Hindi’ kung hindi; sapagkat buhat na sa Masama ang anumang
sumpang idaragdag dito.”
Reflection for June 10, Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time: Matthew 5:27-32
30 And if your right hand causes you to
sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your
members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 "It was
also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of
divorce.' But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except
on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a
divorced woman commits adultery.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why is there adultery? This is for the reason that we don’t value the sanctity of the Sacrament of Matrimony anymore. We treat marriage as a contract that we can violate anytime we want to violate it. Why do many of us are not afraid to violate our marriage covenant? This is for the reason that we don’t love God anymore.
The root cause of adultery is our lack of proper instillation of the values of God. And who is the culprit about our lack of values about God? No other than the parents! Many of today’s parents pamper their children with the material things of this world. Such as money, latest gadgets and other material things, but when it comes to the values about God they seldom care to teach them. Parents such as these rear children that are not anymore afraid of God and children that have no values about God yet they know God.
What must we do therefore? We must teach our children about the values of God and as parents we must also see to it that we are committed until the end to the marriage covenant. Parents are the best role models for their children. If children see that their parents are committed to their married life. They too would grow up to become committed to their own marriage.
In our gospel for today we see how Jesus abhors adultery. For the simple reason that the mission and reason of marriage is a union for life. not a union until the spouse sees someone who can satisfy his/her evil desires.
The danger of adultery or engaging in an adulterous relationship is this is a curse for life that the person who jumps into it will be burdened for as long as he/she lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 10, Biyernes ng Ikasampung Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:27-32
Kung ang mata mo ang siyang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, dukutin mo at itapon! Sapagkat mabuti pang mawalan ka ng isang bahagi ng katawan kaysa buo ang iyong katawang itapon sa impiyerno. Kung ang iyong kamay ang siyang nagiging sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, putulin mo at itapon! Mabuti pang mawalan ka ng isang bahagi ng katawan kaysa buo ang iyong katawang itapon sa impiyerno.
“Sinabi rin
naman, ‘Kapag pinahiwalay ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa, ito’y dapat niyang
bigyan ng kasulatan ng paghihiwalay.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag
pinahiwalay ng isang lalaki ang kanyang asawa nang hindi naman ito
nangangalunya, at ito’y nag-asawang muli, ang lalaking iyo’y nagkasala – itinulak
niya ang kanyang asawa sa pangangalunya. At sinumang mag-asawa sa babaing
hiniwalayan ay nangangalunya.”
Tuesday, June 07, 2022
1Reflection for June 9, Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time: Matthew 5:20-26
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over
to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be
thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have
paid the last penny.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a young man who was working as a houseboy, he was always being insulted by the family that he worked for. Name all the insulting words around and chances are that it could have been already hurled against him. Eventually the young man reached the limit of his patience so instead of doing something criminal to the family. He just walked away from them emotionally hurting and wounded.
In the gospel Jesus reminds us to be careful with the words that we say for it can create a permanent wound in the emotions of our fellowmen. If the words that we will say are insulting it’s better not to say it. It’s better to simply be quite and let the anger be cured by time.
Insulting words deeply hurts the receiver and it carves a permanent emotional wound in his/her being. But why do we say words that are not fit to be said? Why are we very quick to insult and belittle? This is primarily brought about by our arrogance, bloated egos and the feeling of superiority.
What is the cure for this unhealthy
behavior? The cure is Jesus, if we would follow Jesus and if we would allow Him
to change us. He will cleanse us of our arrogance, egotism and feeling of
superiority. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 9, Huwebes ng Ikasampung Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:20-26
"Narinig ninyo na noong una'y iniutos sa mga tao. 'Huwag kang papatay; ang sinumang makamatay ay mananagot sa hukuman.' Ngunit ngayo'y sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang mapoot sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa hukuman; ang humahamak sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa Sanedren, at sinumang magsabi sa kanyang kapatid, 'Ulol ka!' ay mapapasaapoy ng impyerno. Kaya't kung naghahandog ka sa Diyos, at maalaala mo na may sama ng loob sa iyo ang kapatid mo, iwan mo muna ang iyong handog sa harap ng dambana at makipagkasundo ka sa kanya. Saka ka magbalik at maghandog sa Diyos.
"Kung may magsakdal laban sa iyo sa hukuman, makipag-ayos ka sa kanya habang may panahon, bago ka niya iharap sa hukom. At kung hindi'y ibibigay ka niya sa hukom, na magbibigay naman sa iyo sa tanod at ikaw ay mabibilanggo. Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hangga't hindi mo nababayaran ang kahulihulihang kusing."
Reflection for June 8, Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time: Matthew 5:17-19
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 will happen to us if we would always observe the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17) and the two greatest commandments that Jesus gave us (Matthew 22:36-40)? We surely would move closer to Jesus, we would grow in faith and there would be peace in our lives.
This is the price that awaits those who would observe the laws of God. Without close observance of God’s commandments there would also be no close relationship with God. Observe those who don’t follow the commandments of God or observe your very own self when you don’t follow God’s commandments. What kind of life do you have? Isn’t a life of chaos, disturbance and endless problems?
Therefore the key to friendship with God is our faithful observance of His commandments. But human as we are we are subject to our own frailties. We fall and sin every once in a while and thus we are temporarily separated from the love of God.
However Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that whenever we sin we have a recourse out of sin. But even if we have a recourse let us not abuse it by saying that, we will sin because there is the Sacrament of Reconciliation anyway.
Let us always be conscious that sin
separates us from the love of God. We therefore have to endeavor to always
remain within the ambit of the love of God. Hence, we always have to despise
sin in whatever forms and shapes. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 8, Miyerkules ng Ikasampung Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:17-19
Kaya't
sinumang magpawalang-halaga kahit sa kaliit-liitang bahagi nito, at magturo ng
gayon sa mga tao, ay ibibilang na pinakamababa sa kaharian ng Diyos. Ngunit ang
gumaganap ng Kautusan at nagtuturo na tuparin iyon ay ibibilang na dakila sa
kaharian ng Diyos."
Monday, June 06, 2022
Reflection for June 7, Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the light of the world. A
city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put
it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all
in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a poor and sickly man who went to a doctor to ask if he could help him be confined in a hospital without paying anything. Seeing the plight of the poor man the doctor said yes without any hesitation. The doctor did not stop there he saw to it that he would extend the best possible help to the poor man by shouldering all the medicines that he would be needing.
As the doctor made his many visits to him the poor man noticed a gleaming pin that was always attached to his collar. So he asked, what is that little pin on your collar? The doctor told him that it’s Jesus, the poor man simply smiled and told the doctor, Now I know why you’re so helpful and caring.
In the gospel Jesus tells us that we must become the salt of the earth that gives meaning to the lives of our fellowmen. We must not become tasteless salt that does not give meaning anymore. Is it possible for us to become useless/tasteless salt of this world? Of course it is, this becomes a reality if we are uncaring, indifferent and numb to those who are in need.
Why is there unfair distribution of wealth in this world? The rich and influential keeps getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This is for the reason that many rich are unconcerned for the welfare of the poor. They are only concerned for their own wellbeing. There are even powerful politicians who without conscience steal money allocated for the benefit of the poor.
Jesus tells us that we are to become the light of this world. What does this mean to you and me? What does this indicate to you as a father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister? This means that we must always become a positive influence, a good role model and a character formator.
We must be somebody who brings the light of Jesus to our fellowmen. And we do these virtuous actions not for us to carve our personal glory. But we do these moral acts for the greater glory of God.
Have you already become salt and
light to your fellowmen? – Marino J. Dasmarinas