Noong panahong iyon, pinag-uusapan ng
ilang tao ang templo – ang kahanga-hangang mga bato na ginamit dito at ang mga
palamuti nito na inihandog ng mga tao. Kaya’t sinabi ni Hesus, “Darating ang
panahong lahat ng nakikita ninyong iyan ay iguguho, walang batong ititira sa
ibabaw ng kapwa bato.”
Tinanong nila si Hesus, “Guro, kailan po ito mangyayari? At ano
ang magiging palatandaan na ito’y magaganap na?” Sumagot siya, “Mag-ingat kayo
at nang hindi mailigaw ninuman! Sapagkat marami ang darating sa aking pangalan
na magsasabi, ‘Ako ang Mesias!’ at, ‘Dumating na ang panahon!’ Huwag kayong
susunod sa kanila. Huwag kayong mababagabag kung makabalita kayo ng mga digmaan
at mga himagsikan. Dapat mangyari ang mga ito, ngunit hindi darating
karaka-raka ang wakas.”
At
sinabi pa niya, “Makikipagdigma ang bansa laban sa kapwa bansa at ang kaharian
sa kapwa kaharian. Magkakaroon ng malalakas na lindol, magkakagutom at
magkakasalot sa iba’t ibang dako. May lilitaw na mga kakila-kilabot na bagay at
mga kagila-gilalas na tanda buhat sa Langit.”
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy
people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow
putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in
more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their
surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole
livelihood."
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Reflection:
Do you know
that the more you give that more that you would receive? Many generous people
including the poor widow in the gospel who gave her whole livelihood knows all
about this. Perhaps this is not the first time that the widow offered her whole
livelihood to the church’s treasury.
Maybe she had been doing this act of extreme
generosity for so many times already. And time and again this poor yet generous
woman had proven that whatever she gave out of her poverty comes back to her a
hundredfold times.
You may ask, if what the poor woman gave comes back to
her many times over. Then why is she still poor? Yes she is still poor based on
our own materialistic eyes, but she is actually very rich in terms of her faith
and spirituality this is the reason why she could give everything including her
earnings from her livelihood.
To be materially poor is OK for as long as you are
rich in faith and spirituality. For what is the essence of material wealth when
it can easily fly away from our hands anytime?
Are you generous like the poor woman in our gospel? -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nang tumingin si
Hesus, nakita niya ang mayayamang naghuhulog ng kanilang kaloob sa lalagyan
nito sa templo. Nakita rin niya ang isang dukhang babaing balo na naghulog ng
dalawang kusing.
Ang
wika ni Hesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang dukhang balong iyon ay naghulog nang
higit kaysa kanilang lahat. Sapagkat bahagi lang ng di na nila kailangan ang
kanilang ipinagkaloob, ngunit ibinigay ng balong iyon na dukhang-dukha ang buo
niyang ikabubuhay.”
(Jesus said to his disciples) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you? And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.
Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
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Reflection:
In 1925, by virtue of his encyclical letter Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI mandated that every last Sunday of October be dedicated as the Feast of Christ the King. This decision was a response to the growing secularism of that time. In 1969, Pope Paul VI assigned the celebration a new date, and henceforth, it has been observed every last Sunday of the liturgical year. This modification emphasized Jesus Christ's supreme authority and reign over all creation as the liturgical year concluded and a new one began with the Advent season.
Do we want to attract God’s blessing upon us? We have to do what Jesus commands us in the gospel. Jesus tells us to give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, give clothes to the naked, take care of the sick, and visit the imprisoned.
Jesus is teaching us to discard the 'me first' mindset, for so many of us have this 'me first' mindset. What would we feel if we do away with the 'me first' mindset? We would be free from the bondage of greed and selfishness, which, by the way, is an instrument of Satan.
Life in this world is temporary; therefore, we have to make worthy decisions and take actions that would impact the lives of others. Let us never be concerned about our own life and needs, for God will take care of them as long as we continue to be faithful to Him. Has God ever abandoned anyone who has been faithful to Him?
The gospel tells us that, at the end, there shall be judgment and separation among those who followed and did not follow the will of God. Where would you end up during that judgment and separation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Darating ang Anak ng Tao bilang Hari, kasama ang lahat ng anghel, at luluklok sa kanyang maringal na trono. Sa panahong iyon, matitipon sa harapan niya ang lahat ng tao. Sila'y pagbubukud-bukurin niya, tulad ng ginagawa ng pastol sa mga tupa at mga kambing. Ilalagay niya sa kanyang kanan ang mga tupa, at sa kaliwa ng mga kambing.
At sasabihin ng Hari sa mga nasa kanan, 'Halikayo, mga pinagpala ng aking Ama! Pumasok na kayo at manirahan sa kahariang inihanda para sa inyo mula pa nang likhain ang sanlibutan. Sapagkat ako'y nagutom at inyong pinakain, nauhaw at inyong pinainom. Ako'y isang dayuhan at inyong pinatuloy. ako'y walang maisuot at inyong pinaramtan, nagkasakit at inyong dinalaw; ako'y nabilanggo at ako'y inyong pinuntahan.'
Sasagot ang mga matuwid, 'Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom at aming pinakain, o nauhaw at aming pinainom? Kailan po kayo naging dayuhan at aming pinatuloy, o kaya'y walang maisuot at aming pinaramtan? At kailan po namin kayo nakitang may sakit o nasa bilangguan at aming dinalaw?' Sasagutin ng Hari, 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang gawin ninyo ito sa pinakahamak sa mga kapatid kong ito, ito ay sa akin ninyo ginawa.'
"At sasabihin naman niya sa mga nasa kaliwa, 'Lumayo kayo sa akin, mga sinumpa! kayo'y pasa-apoy na di-mamamatay, na inihanda para sa diyablo at sa kanyang mga kampon. Sapagkat ako'y nagutom at hindi ninyo pinakain, nauhaw at hindi ninyo pinainom. Ako'y naging isang dayuhan at hindi ninyo pinatuloy; ako'y nawalan ng maisuot at hindi ninyo pinaramtan, ako'y may sakit at nasa bilangguan at hindi ninyo dinalaw.'
At sasagot din sila, 'Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom, nauhaw, naging dayuhan, nawalan ng maisuot, may sakit o nasa bilangguan, at hindi namin kayo pinaglingkuran?' At sasabihin sa kanila ng Hari, 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang pinagkaitan ninyo ng tulong ang pinakahamak sa mga ito, ako ang inyong pinagkaitan.' Itataboy ang mga ito sa kaparusahang walang hanggan, ngunit ang mga matuwid ay tatanggap ng buhay na walang hanggan."
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there
is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no
child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; the first
married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at
the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married
to her.”
Jesus said to them, “The children of this
age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming
age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in
marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the
children of God because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise even Moses made
known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of
the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him
anything.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What will happen to us after we die? Would
we still know each other’s name if we see each other in heaven? Would we still
feel the same if we see each other in heaven? We don’t know because we haven’t
died yet.
But one thing is sure there will come a
time that we will have a physical death. Would it be the end? No, we who follow
Jesus believe that our physical death is only the beginning of eternal life
with Jesus in heaven.
The Sadducees did not believe in the
resurrection. That’s why they asked Jesus the question about the seven brothers
who married the same woman. So they asked Jesus, to whom will she belong during
resurrection?
Jesus gave them this meaningful answer,
“The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to
attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor
are given in marriage (Luke 20:34-35).
Many of us may have the same concern with
the Sadducees, what will happen to us after we die? Are we not stretching our
minds too far by having this thought? Instead of being concerned with the
afterlife or the resurrection. Why don’t we focus our attention to our present
life? Do we live it according to the will of Jesus? If we live our present life
according to the will of Jesus, we need not worry about the afterlife for the
simple reason that Jesus will take care of it all.
Let us not worry about the afterlife
because when we die there will be no more worries only happiness. When we die
there will be no more conflicts only love. And when we die there will be no
more distinction as to who we are for we shall all be equal in God’s eyes. Life
in the afterlife is glorious beyond what we can imagine.
The afterlife in the kingdom of God is the
perfect life for us, let us aim for it while we are still in this worldly
journey. Let us start by living our lives according to what God wants us to
live it.– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, may ilang
Saduseo na lumapit kay Jesus. Ang Saduseo'y hindi naniniwala na bubuhayin ang
mga patay. "Guro," anila, "naglagda po si Moises ng ganitong
batas para sa amin: 'Kung mamatay ang isang lalaki at maiwang walang anak ang
kanyang asawa, ang kapatid ng lalaki'y dapat pakasal sa balo upang magkaanak
sila para sa namatay.'
May pitong magkakapatid na lalaki. Nag-asawa ang panganay, at
namatay na walang anak. Nagpakasal sa balo ang pangalawa, at namatay. Gayon din
ang nangyari sa pangatlo hanggang sa pampito: isa-isang napangasawa ng babae at
pawang namatay na walang anak. Sa kahuli-huliha'y namatay naman ang babae. Sa
muling pagkabuhay, sino po sa pito ang kikilalaning asawa niya yamang
napangasawa niya silang lahat?"
Sumagot si Jesus, "Sa buhay na ito, ang mga lalaki at mga
babae'y nag-aasawa, ngunit ang mga lalaki't babaing karapat-dapat na muling
buhayin para sa kabilang buhay ay hindi na mag-aasawa. Hindi na sila mamamatay
sapagkat matutulad sila sa mga anghel. At sila'y mga anak ng Diyos yamang muli
silang binuhay.
Maging si Moises si Moises ay nagpapatunay na muling binubuhay ang
mga patay. Sapagkat sa kanyang kasaysayan hinggil sa nagliliyab na mababang
punongkahoy, ang Panginoon ay tinawag niyang 'Diyos ni Abraham, Diyos ni Isaac
at Diyos ni Jacob.'
Ngunit
ang Diyos ay hindi Diyos ng mga patay kundi ng mga buhay -- sa kanya'y buhay
ang lahat." Sinabi ng ilan sa mga eskriba, "Magaling ang sagot ninyo,
Guro!" At wala nang nangahas magtanong sa kanya ng anuman.
Jesus entered the temple area and
proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is
written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of
thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The
chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were
seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their
purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
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Reflection:
A few years ago I read an article about the confession of a young man who
had a sex change. From male he became female, after a few months of going
through the procedure this young man was already full of regrets.
According to him, he was being deeply bothered by his
conscience and he felt that something is wrong with the function of his body. I
can’t remember if he died but he got sick a few months after going through that
procedure.
Are we aware that our body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit? Are we aware that Jesus is deeply saddened when we try to alter the
physical composition of our body? Today with the help of science we can make
ourselves appear younger. We can even make our bodies a walking expression of
who we are.
Is this right? Of course not for God created our
bodies to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is the reason why it does not
deserve to be altered by any form of medical procedure and by our own wild
imagination disguised as self-expression.
In the gospel, Jesus got angry with those who were
defiling the temple. Why? Because they were using the temple not for worship
anymore but to advance their own self-interest. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus
sa templo at kanyang ipinagtabuyan ang mga nagtitinda. Sinabi niya sa mga ito,
"Nasusulat: 'Ang aking bahay ay tatawaging bahay-dalanginan.' Ngunit
ginawa ninyong 'pugad ng mga magnanakaw'."
Araw-araw,
si Jesus ay nagtuturo sa loob ng templo. Pinagsikapan ng mga punong saserdote,
ng mga eskriba, at ng mga pangunahin ng bayan na siya'y ipapatay. Subalit wala
silang makitang paraan upang maisagawa ito, sapagkat taimtim na nakikinig sa
kanya ang buong bayan.
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
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Reflection:
What will happen to us if we refuse to hear the wise counsel of our elders? For example, if we are advised to stop doing what is not good or to stop doing something which is immoral or wrong? If we continue to refuse to hear their wise counsel. Eventually these wrongdoings that we continue to do will take us down through sickness, embarrassment and so forth.
In the gospel for today, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its people for they refused to hear His call of repentance and to reform their lives. Not only that they refused to listen to Jesus they also refused to listen to the prophets who were sent before Jesus. They instead mired themselves in sin similar to a beast miring itself in a cesspool.
When we refuse to let Jesus come into our life and when we continue to refuse to hear His call of repentance. There would surely be no peace within us no matter how rich we are and how powerful we are. For as long as we refuse to hear the Lord’s call we will have no peace we would still be living complicated lives that may eventually destroy us.
Jerusalem did not find peace and were destroyed by the Romans during the first revolt in A.D 70, because they refused Jesus, they did not recognized Him as the ultimate peace bearer. They instead continued to stray far from Him.
Jesus is always knocking at our hearts, always waiting for us to open our life to Him. For the reason that he will not only bring us peace He would also bring us contentment, serenity and other things that this world cannot give us.
Would you listen to the voice of the Lord, who always speaks to you through the many events in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, nang malapit na siya sa Jerusalem at matanaw niya ang lunsod, ito'y kanyang tinangisan. Sinabi niya, "Kung nalalaman mo lamang sa araw na ito kung ano ang makapagdudulot sa iyo ng kapayapaan! Ngunit lingid ito ngayon sa iyong paningin.
Sapagkat darating ang araw na paliligiran ka ng kuta ng iyong mga kaaway, kukubkubin at gigipitin sa magkabi-kabila. Wawasakin ka nila, at lilipulin ang mga anak mo sa loob ng iyong muog. At ni isang bato'y wala silang iiwan sa ibabaw ng kapwa bato, sapagkat hindi mo pinansin ang pagdating ng Diyos upang iligtas ka."
While people were listening to Jesus
speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they
thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said,
"A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for
himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold
coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow
citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce,
'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining
the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to
learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin
has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have
been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the
second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to
this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' Then the other
servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a
handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you
take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not
plant.'
He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn
you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did
not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money
in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.'
And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin
from him and give it to the servant who has ten.' But they said to him, 'Sir,
he has ten gold coins.' He replied, 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will
be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them
here and slay them before me.'" After he had said this, he proceeded
on his journey up to Jerusalem.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is
told about a successful businessman who suddenly died, when his soul was about
to separate from his body he saw an angel and a devil. He naturally veered away
from the devil and he put himself at the side of the angel. When they were
about to enter the heavenly gates God was there to ask him this question: What
can you say about your life on earth? The man said, I was a successful businessman
when I was still alive and I did no wrong to anyone.
Then God said that’s very good! But have you done
something for my kingdom? The man was not able to answer for he did nothing to
help grow the kingdom of God. Subsequently, God commanded the angel to bring
him to the other side of the fence where the environment was very hot and humid
for he did nothing to advance the kingdom of God.
What is your present preoccupation right now? Are you
very busy with the things of this world? Like how to expand your business and
how to grow your money in the bank and the like? Many of us are perhaps very
earthly and always very busy with earthly things. But if we are all busy with
the affairs of this world where would we be after our journey in this world is
already over and done? Where would we end up if we do nothing for the kingdom
of God in this world?
In the gospel a nobleman gave his servants gold coins
so that they could do something to make it grow. Two of them were able to
increase its value but there was one who simply kept in a handkerchief what was
entrusted to him. He did nothing to grow the money entrusted to him by his
master.
In our faith life doing nothing is never an option or
faith in Jesus that is kept to oneself is never an alternative. We must share
this faith that Jesus has entrusted to us in whatever manner possible so that
it could grow and have life.
When you share your faith you also enrich your
spiritual life and you become a productive servant of the Lord. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, isinaysay ni
Hesus ang isa pang talinghaga sa mga nakarinig ng una niyang pangungusap.
Ginawa niya ito sapagkat malapit na siya sa Jerusalem, at ang akala ng mga tao
ay itatatag na ang kaharian ng Diyos. Sabi niya: "May isang mahal na taong
nagtungo sa malayong lupain upang gawing hari at magbalik pagkatapos
niyon.
Bago siya umalis, tinawag niya ang sampu sa kanyang mga alipin.
Binigyan niya ang mga ito ng tig-iisang salaping ginto at sinabihan sila.
'Ipangalakal ninyo iyan hanggang sa pagbabalik ko.' Poot na poot naman sa kanya
ang kanyang mga kababayan, kaya't pagkaalis niya, nagsugo sila ng mga kinatawan
upang sabihin sa kinauukulan: 'Ayaw naming maging hari ang taong ito!'
"Ngunit ginawa ring hari ang taong iyon. Umuwi siya
pagkatapos, at ipinatawag ang mga aliping binigyan niya ng salaping ginto,
upang malaman kung gaano ang tinubo ng bawat isa. Lumapit sa kanya ang una at
ang sabi, 'Panginoon, ang salapi ninyong ginto ay nagtubo ng sampu.'
'Magaling,' sagot niya. 'Mabuting alipin! Yamang naging matapat ka sa
kakaunting bagay, pamamahalain kita sa sampung bayan.' Lumapit ang ikalawa at
ang sinabi, 'Panginoon, ang salapi ninyong ginto ay nagtubo ng lima.' At sinabi
niya sa kanya, 'Mamahala ka sa limang bayan.'
Lumapit ang isa pang alipin at nagsabi, 'Panginoon, heto po ang
inyong salaping ginto. Binalot ko sa panyo at itinago. Natatakot po ako sa
inyo, sapagkat napakahigpit ninyo; kinukuha ninyo ang hindi sa inyo, at inaani
ang hindi ninyo inihasik.' Sinagot siya ng kanyang panginoon, 'Masamang alipin!
Sa salita mong iyan kita hahatulan. Alam mo palang ako'y mahigpit. Sinabi mo,
kinukuha ko ang hindi sa akin at inani ko ang hindi inihasik.
Bakit
hindi mo inilagay sa bangko ang aking salapi? Pagbabalik ko, sana'y may tinubo
ang puhunang ito.' At sinabi niya sa mga naroroon , 'Kunin ninyo sa kanya ang
salaping ginto, at ibigay sa may sampu.' 'Panginoon, siya po'y mayroon nang
sampung salaping ginto!' wika nila. 'Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang bawat mayroon ay
bibigyan pa, ngunit ang wala, kahit ang kakaunting nasa kanya ay kukunin pa.
Tungkol naman sa mga kaaway kong aayaw na ako'y maghari sa kanila-- dalhin
ninyo rito at patayin sa harapan ko!'" Pagkasabi nito, nagpauna si Jesus
patungong Jerusalem.
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and
intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a
chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in
stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order
to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus
looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at
your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw
this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a
sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have
extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said
to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a
descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was
lost.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Was it only
Zacchaeus who was seeking an encounter with Jesus? Was Jesus not also seeking
an encounter with Zacchaeus? Yes, Jesus was also seeking an encounter
with Zacchaeus! Why? Because Zacchaeus was a sinner like all of us and truth be
told Jesus always wants to have an encounter with sinners so that He could
convert them. And what made it more interesting for Jesus to seek out Zacchaeus
was Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus as well.
Before Jesus arrived in Jericho He already had in mind
Zacchaeus He knew that this chief tax collector was looking for Him and ready
to change his sinful ways. With this factor present the encounter of Jesus and
Zacchaeus occurred. After their meeting Jesus subsequently went to the house of
Zacchaeus to purify his house. As well as to liberate Zacchaeus from any form
of sinfulness and right then and there his conversion and liberation from any
form of sinfulness happened.
How could we relate this gospel episode with our
personal lives? Like Zacchaeus we too are sinful and Jesus is knocking at our
hearts so that he could also have a personal encounter with us.
If we say that we are not yet ready to have an
encounter with the Lord, then when? Next month or next year? It may be
too late already, nothing is certain in this world anything can happen the next
seconds or minutes.
Therefore, we must also be like Zacchaeus who
responded to the desire of Jesus to meet him. Let us not delay anymore let us
rush to meet Jesus now for tomorrow may be late already.
Would you want to have a personal encounter with Jesus
today? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, pumasok si Jesus
sa Jerico, at naglakad sa kabayanan. Doo'y may isang mayamang puno ng mga
publikano na nagngangalang Zaqueo, at pinagsikapan niyang makita si Jesus upang
makilala niya kung sino ito. Ngunit siya ay napakapandak, at dahil sa dami ng
tao, hindi niya makita si Jesus.
Kaya't
patakbo siyang nagpauna at umakyat sa isang puno ng sikomoro upang makita si
Jesus na magdaraan doon. Pagdating ni Jesus sa dakong iyon, siya'y tumingala at
sinabi sa kanya, "Zaqueo, bumaba ka agad, sapagkat kailangan kong tumuloy
sa bahay mo." Nagmamadali siyang bumaba, at tuwang-tuwang tinanggap si
Jesus.
Lahat
ng nakakita nito ay nagbulung-bulungan. "Nakikituloy siya sa isang
makasalanan," wika nila. Tumayo si Zaqueo at sinabi, "Panginoon, ibibigay
ko po sa mga dukha ang kalahati ng aking ari-arian. At kung ako'y may nadayang
sinuman, apat na ibayo ang isasauli ko sa kanya." At sinabi sa kanya ni
Jesus, "Ang kaligtasa'y dumating ngayon sa sambahayang ito; lipi rin ni
Abraham ang taong ito. Sapagkat naparito ang Anak ng Tao upang hanapin at
iligtas ang naligaw.
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man
was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired
what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He
shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front
rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to
him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for
you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your
faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him,
giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
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Reflection:
Who is Jesus
to you? Is Jesus the hope and salvation of your life? The blind man in our
gospel had his hope and salvation anchored on Jesus. When he heard that Jesus
is passing by he shouted with all his might, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on
me!” His shout comprised his prayer with faith in Jesus.
From a hopeless situation the blind man suddenly found
hope and salvation because Jesus passed by him. And Jesus did not disappoint
the blind man because He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Then
the blind man said in reply, please let me see my Lord and immediately he
receive his sight and he became a follower of Jesus from thereupon.
What separates the blind man from many of us? It’s his
persistent and persevering faith, it’s faith that can move mountains. This is
what separates this blind man from many us, what if we are in the shoes of the
blind man? Would we simply give up and be silent because we were rebuked and
sternly told to be silent?
But this blind man, when he was rebuked and told to be
silent the more that he persisted and the more that he cried loudly to Jesus
for help. And because of his persevering and persistent faith he was
heard and given the gift of sight by the Lord.
What is it that you want from the Lord? Don’t give up,
be persistent and have faith for the Lord will soon hear you. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Malapit na si Hesus sa Jerico, at
doo’y may isang lalaking bulag na nakaupo sa tabi ng daan at nagpapalimos. Nang
marinig nitong nagdaraan ang maraming tao, itinanong niya kung ano ang
nangyayari. “Nagdaraan si Hesus na taga Nazaret,” sabi nila. At siya’y sumigaw,
“Hesus, Anak ni David! Mahabag po kayo sa akin!” Sinaway siya ng mga nasa
unahan, ngunit lalo pa niyang nilakasan ang sigaw: “Anak ni David, mahabag po
kayo sa akin!”
Kaya’t
tumigil si Hesus, at iniutos na dalhin sa kanya ang bulag. Inilapit nga ito at
tinanong ni Hesus, “Ano ang ibig mong gawin ko sa iyo?” “Panginoon, ibig ko po
sana’y manumbalik ang aking paningin,” sagot niya. At sinabi ni Hesus,
“Mangyari ang ibig mo! Pinagaling ka dahil sa iyong pananalig.” Noon din,
nakakita siya at sumunod kay Hesus, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Nang makita ito
ng mga tao, silang lahat ay nagpuri sa Diyos.
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back. His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has more will be given and he will grow rich but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
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Reflection:
Are you prepared if the Lord were to call you to account for the talents He has given you? In the gospel, the master who returned from a journey had an accounting of the talents that He loaned to His servants.
What if the master did not return? There would have been no accounting for the servants, especially the third unproductive servant who was given one talent. But the master returned, thus creating a problem for the third servant.
Inaction or status quo is never an option in our faith life or even in life itself. We have to move; we have to take calculated risks and sweat it out; otherwise, we will not grow and bear fruit in our faith life. The same goes for our daily existence; if we just lay idle and do not move, we will not survive; we will die of hunger.
Because of his laziness and lack of initiative to move, the third servant was labeled as useless by his master. He was thrown into the darkness of hell, where there was grinding and wailing of teeth.
Through our baptism, the Good Lord has entrusted us with talents and responsibilities according to our abilities. Parents have this inherent responsibility, which they must use for them to become good and Godly parents.
In what manner could we become good and Godly parents? We teach our children about our faith for the simple reason that we are the first formators or teachers of our children. The home is also the domestic church or the little church where children are initially introduced to Jesus and formed with values. Parents must also teach children how to live simply because God created us to live simply, not to live complicated and worldly lives.
How else can we become productive talent bearers of the Lord in this world? We have to serve the church in whatever capacity. We have to integrate our faith life with our parish church even for a short period of time for us to grow more in our faith life. And, of course, we also have to teach and live our faith.
Someday there will also be an accounting of the talents or responsibilities that Jesus has entrusted to you. How will you account to the Good Lord? Will you be like the two productive servants, or will you be like the third unproductive servant who did nothing and risked nothing? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus told his disciples a parable about
the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There
was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human
being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just
decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling,
but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor
respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver
a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the
dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you,
he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of
Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
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Reflection:
Does God always answer our prayers? The
gospel would tell us that He always answers our prayers. But the reality of it
all is there are times that God doesn’t answer our prayers. There are times
that God fails us. We don’t know the reason behind these unanswered prayers
only God knows.
If God seems deaf to our prayers would it
be right for us to stop kneeling in prayer before God? We need not stop praying
even if we get no answer from God. For the simple reason that our prayers
before God gives us hope. Our prayers before God brightens our gloomy day. Our
prayers tell us that amidst our life struggles there is a powerful God who is
ever ready to listen notwithstanding the nature of His reply.
It's already immaterial if God answers or
not because our prayers are not only limited with God answering or not
answering it. Our prayers before God is much bigger that the reply that we
expect from Him. This is for the reason that the gift of prayer in itself is
already an enormous blessing from God.
What happens to us when we pray and after
we pray? When we pray we connect with our loving and powerful God and
after we pray we become hopeful and we feel relieved, right? Therefore, the
gift of prayer that Jesus had gratuitously given us is a balm that immediately
soothes our wounded and burdened lives.
We therefore have to pray as often as we
can since a life without prayer is a life without hope and a life bereft of the
presence of God.
Do you have a healthy prayer life? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, isinaysay ni Jesus ang isang talinghaga upang ituro sa kanila na
dapat silang manalanging lagi at huwag manghinawa.
"Sa
isang lunsod," wika niya, "may isang hukom na hindi natatakot sa
Diyos at walang taong iginagalang. Sa lunsod ding yaon ay may isang babaing
balo na punta nang punta sa hukom at humihingi ng katarungan. Tinanggihan siya
ng hukom sa loob ng ilang panahon.
Ngunit
ng malaunan ay nasabi nito sa sarili: 'Bagamat hindi ako natatakot sa Diyos ni
gumagalang kaninuman, igagawad ko na ang katarungang hinihingi ng babaing ito
sapagkat lagi niya akong ginagambala-- baka pa ako mainis sa kapaparito
niya.'"
At
sinabi ng Panginoon, "Narinig ninyo ang sinabi ng masamang hukom. Hindi
ipagkakait ng Diyos ang katarungan sa kanyang mga hinirang na dumaraing sa
kanya araw-gabi, bagama't tila nagtatagal iyon. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, agad
niyang igagawad sa kanila ang katarungan. Ngunit pagdating ng Anak ng Tao sa
daigdig na ito, may makikita kaya siyang mga taong nananalig sa kanya?"
