Nagpahanda si Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad ng isang bangkang magagamit niya, upang hindi siya maipit ng mga taong dumaragsa. Marami na siyang pinagaling, kaya't pinagdumugan siya ng lahat ng maysakit upang mahipo man lamang nila. Bawat inaalihan ng masamang espiritu na makakita sa kanya ay nagpapatirapa sa harapan niya at sumisigaw, "Ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos!" At mahigpit silang pinagbawalan ni Jesus; ayaw niyang ipasabi kung sino siya.
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Sunday, January 14, 2024
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 18, Huwebes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:7-12
Reflection for Wednesday January 17, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot: Mark 3:1-6
Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it
lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather
than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with
anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch
out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees
went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him
to death.
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Reflection:
Do you strictly observe the law or you sometimes bend the law so that the mercy, love and compassion of Jesus could be seen through you?
The question of observing the Sabbath day crops up again in the gospel. And Jesus proves once again that it is far more important for Him to make a big difference in the lives of the people. Than observe the Sabbath day as what He did when He cured a man with a withered hand amidst the protestation of the Pharisees.
The gospel is silent if the sick man had faith but he was obedient, when Jesus told him: “Come up here.” He simply followed without question. Our obedience to the teachings of the good Lord can do us a lot of good if only we would learn to follow it.
Jesus was also aware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He knew that they were there to watch and denounce His every move. For the simple reason that He was slowly becoming a threat to their dominance in their society.
In the same manner, Jesus is also aware of our own hypocrisy towards Him. If we are only using His name to gain dominance and popularity in our respective field of influence. And if we are only using His name to advance our own selfish interest. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Enero 17, San Antonio Abad (Paggunita): Marcos 3:1-6
Tinawag ni Jesus ang lalaking patay ang kamay: "Halika rito
sa unahan!" Tinanong niya pagkatapos ang mga tao, "Alin ba ang ayon
sa Kautusan: ang gumawa ng mabuti o gumawa ng masama sa Araw ng Pamamahinga?
Magligtas ng buhay o pumatay?"Ngunit hindi sila sumagot.
Habang tinitingnan ni Jesus ang mga nasa paligid niya, galit at lungkot ang nabadha sa kanyang mukha, dahil sa katigasan ng kanilang ulo. Bumaling siya sa lalaki at sinabi, "Iunat mo ang iyong kamay." Iniunat naman ng lalaki ang kanyang kamay at ito'y gumaling. Umalis ang mga Pariseo at nakipagsabwatan sa mga kampon ni Herodes upang ipapatay si Jesus.
Reflection for January 16, Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:23-28
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions? Then he said to them “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
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Reflection:
Why was Jesus so popular with the common people? This is for the reason that He violates some religious norms of the Pharisees for the greater good of the people that He loves so dearly. For example, the picking of grain during Sabbath day, doing this was prohibited based on the Jewish religion. But Jesus dared to violate this law for the good of His disciples.
Laws or religious norms are good for the reason that it teaches us obedience and discipline. But there are times that we have to violate it so that it could serve a higher and nobler purpose. In the gospel the nobler or higher purpose why Jesus violated the Sabbath law was to feed the hungry stomachs of His disciples.
Jesus violated the Sabbath law because humans are more important that laws. We can amend a law or extinguish the life of a law but would we be willing to extinguish the life of a human being to serve the law?
In a deeper sense Jesus is teaching us that the important need of a person (In this case the need for food) is far more important than any law. For Jesus it’s always the good of the people than the observance of any kind of religious law/s.
This norm of Jesus stands until today we are His priority more than any other rule/law in this world. How about you? Is Jesus your priority more than any other undertaking in this world? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 16, Martes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:23-28
Sinagot sila ni Jesus, "Hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa ang ginawa
ni David noong si Abitar ang pinakapunong saserdote? Nang siya at kanyang mga
kasama'y magutom at walang makain, pumasok siya sa bahay ng Diyos at kumain ng
tinapay na handog sa Diyos. Ayon sa Kautusan, ang mga saserdote lamang ang may
karapatang kumain niyon, ngunit kinain iyon ni David, at binigyan pa ang
kanyang mga kasama.
Sinabi pa ni Jesus, "Itinakda ang Araw ng Pamamahinga para sa kabutihan ng tao; hindi nilikha ang tao para sa Araw ng Pamamahinga. Kaya't maging ang Araw ng Pamamahinga ay nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Anak ng Tao."
Friday, January 12, 2024
Reflection for January 15, Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:18-22
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old
cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear
gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the
wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather,
new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
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Reflection:
What is Jesus desire for you? It’s to transform you so
that you could become fresh wineskin that He could pour Himself into you. Jesus
is the new wine and you are the old wineskin but Jesus doesn’t want you to
become an old wineskin any longer which cannot accept His renewing presence. He
wants you to be renewed or to be the fresh wineskin so that He could come into
your life.
What makes us old wineskins or what makes us unworthy
for the presence of Jesus? It’s our many sins, these many sins make us unworthy
before the Lord. Nevertheless, Jesus is also offering Himself to us so that he
could cleanse us and make us new once again.
Will you let Jesus into your life so that He could
make things new for you? Or you will continue to shut your heart to Jesus? The
choice is yours, if you want to remain contained in the old wineskin of sin or
you allow Jesus to renew you and liberate you from sin.
The correct choice is always to allow Jesus entry into
your life and to allow Jesus to make things new in your life once again. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Enero 15, Lunes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:18-22
"Walang nagtatagpi ng bagong kayo sa lumang kasuutan; pag urong ng bagong kayo, mababatak ang luma at lalong lalaki ang punit. Wala rin namang nagsisilid ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat. Kapwa masasayang ang alak at ang sisidlan. Bagong alak, bagong sisidlang-balat!"
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Reflection for Sunday January 14, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 1:35-42
Gospel: John 1:35-42
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
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Reflection:
What are you looking for in this world? Are you looking for popularity and riches? Are you looking for power and influence? What are you looking for?
We look for so many things in this world to find our happiness and those things that would satisfy us. Only to find out later that it will not satisfy us, so we look again and again. And it seems that the looking for mantra seems endless.
Why? Simply because we are often seeking the wrong things—things that cannot provide lasting satisfaction and contentment. For instance, can money, power, and other earthly pursuits truly satisfy us? These worldly things are incapable of providing the peace and contentment we seek.
In this Sunday’s gospel, Andrew and Simon Peter were looking for something that would not only give them peace, happiness and contentment. They were looking for something that would complete both of them and they found it in Jesus.
Therefore, when Jesus saw the two of them, He said: "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. (John 1:38-39)
If you're searching for that elusive peace, happiness and contentment, if you desire someone who will shield you from the worries of this world, look no further than Jesus. You will undoubtedly find Him if you earnestly seek Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para Enero 14, Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 1:35-42
Sumagot sila, "Saan po kayo nakatira, Rabi?" Ang kahulugan ng salitang ito'y Guro. "Halikayo at tingnan ninyo," ani Jesus. Sumama sila at nakita nila ang kanyang tinitirhan; at tumuloy sila roon ng araw na yaon. Noo'y mag-iikaapat na ng hapon. Ang isa sa dalawang nakarinig kay Juan at sumunod kay Jesus ay si Andres na kapatid ni Simon Pedro.
Una niyang hinanap ang kapatid niyang ito, at kanyang sinabi sa kanya, "Natagpuan namin ang Mesias!" Ang kahulugan ng salitang ito'y Cristo. At siya'y isinama ni Andres kay Jesus. Tiningnan ni Jesus si Simon at sinabi sa kanya, 'Ikaw si Simon na anak ni Juan. ang ipangangalan sa iyo'y Cefas." Ang katumbas ng pangalang ito'y Pedro.
Reflection for January 13, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that
Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to
them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not
come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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Reflection:
Why did Jesus call Levi to follow Him notwithstanding his notorious reputation as a corrupt tax collector? This is for the reason that Jesus loves sinners. He walked on this earth primarily to save us sinners and to call us all to follow Him.
Jesus is pro-sinners and He loves sinners. He favors the sinners, He seeks the sinners and He doesn’t judge and discriminate the sinners. This is what happened to Levi or Matthew. Being a sinner Jesus went to Levi to express to him that He still loves him notwithstanding his many sins.
No matter how sinful we are, God is continuously calling us to conversion and to follow Him just like what He has done with Levi. He doesn’t judge us by our sins; He rather looks at our desire to leave behind our sinfulness. The moment we decide to leave our sinful ways we can always be assured of the Lord’s peace and abiding presence.
It is always us who creates detachment from Jesus and not Jesus detaching Himself from us. This occurs when we commit sins and continuously ignore Jesus’ call for repentance. Jesus is just a prayer away, ever ready to embrace us with His love and forgiveness the moment we decide to walk-away from our sinful ways.
Would you respond to Jesus’ call of
repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 13, Sabado sa Unang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mark 2:13-17
Nang si Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay kumakain sa bahay ni
Levi, nakisalo sa kanila ang maraming publikano at mga makasalanang sumunod sa
kanya. Nakita ito ng ilang eskribang kabilang sa pangkat ng mga Pariseo at
tinanong nila ang kanyang mga alagad, “Bakit siya sumasalo sa mga publikano at
sa mga makasalanan?”
Narinig ito ni Hesus, at siya ay sumagot, “Hindi nangangailangan ng manggagamot ang walang sakit, kundi ang maysakit. Naparito ako upang tawagin ang mga makasalanan, hindi ang mga banal.”
Reflection for January 12, Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:1-12
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once, and
went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God,
saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
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Reflection:
Would you be willing to help someone in need?
We can gain a lot of valuable insights in today’s gospel reading, insights about faith by the four men who brought to Jesus the paralytic. Insights about forgiveness of our sins and spiritual as well as physical healing.
However, there are two more insights that we can learn in this gospel. Insight on humility; the four that brought the paralytic to Jesus were so humble that they immediately evaporated after they’ve brought the sick man to Jesus. They did not care if they would be recognized for their heroic act. The four men obviously had no bloated egos. So unlike many of us who always want to be recognized and seen whenever we do good for our others.
The other insight that we can learn here is to be more sensitive to the needs of those who are in greater need than us. Sometimes we are so concerned about our own needs that we tend to forget the greater need of others. Hence, we become very selfish instead of selfless.
The four humble men were selfless, perhaps they were also in need of Jesus. But they saw that the paralytic was in greater need than them and need to be immediately healed by Jesus. They’ve sacrificed their own need to address the pressing need of the paralytic. They channeled every ounce of their energies so that they could help the paralytic, even opening up the roof of the house to bring him down in front of Jesus.
Would you also be willing to help someone
in need? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 12, Biyernes sa Unang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 2:1-12
Hindi nila ito mailapit kay Hesus dahil sa dami ng tao, kaya’t
binakbak nila ang bubong sa tapat niya, at inihugos ang paralitikong nakaratay
sa kanyang higaan. Nang makita ni Hesus kung gaano kalaki ang kanilang
pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko, “Anak, ipinatatawad na ang mga kasalanan
mo.”
May nakaupo roong ilang eskriba na nagsaloob ng ganito: “Bakit
nagsasalita ng ganito ang taong ito? Kalapastanganan sa Diyos iyan! Hindi ba’t
Diyos lamang ang makapagpapatawad ng mga kasalanan?” Talos ni Hesus ang
kanilang iniisip, kaya’t sinabi niya, “Bakit kayo nagsasaloob ng ganyan? Alin
ba ang lalong madali: ang sabihin sa paralitiko, ‘Ipinatatawad na ang mga
kasalanan mo,’ o ang sabihing, ‘Tumindig ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan ay
lumakad ka’?
Patutunayan ko sa inyo na dito sa lupa, ang Anak ng Tao ay may kapangyarihang magpatawad ng mga kasalanan.” Sinabi niya sa paralitiko, “Tumindig ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan, at umuwi ka!” Tumindig naman ang paralitiko, binuhat ang kanyang higaan at umalis na nakikita ng lahat. Sila’y pawang nanggigilalas at nagpuri sa Diyos. “Hindi pa kami nakakikita ng ganito!” sabi nila.
Reflection for January 11, Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one
anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what
Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them. The man went away and began to
publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was
impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted
places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
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Reflection:
Who does the leper represent today? It’s all of us who
are sinners. When Jesus was approached by the leper Jesus did not run away from
Him. He instead stayed, had pity on the leper, offered his healing hand to
touch and clean him of his contagious disease.
For the reason of their disease lepers were treated as
outcast they were not allowed to mingle with the people. For fear that they may
pass their sickness to those that they would be in touch with. Sounds familiar?
Yes, very much like those who got sick with Covid-19 during the pandemic they
are also isolated so that they would not be able to infect others. But Jesus
never run from the leper He instead did the contrary by offering His healing
hand and right there the man was immediately healed.
This is Jesus for all of us! Merciful, full of love
and compassion for all of us. Never minding if we are sinners and never
judgmental with the sins that we have committed. What is important for the Lord
is we approach Him with humility, trust and repentance.
We bare ourselves to Him and tell Him, “I strip myself
of anything that makes me unworthy before you O Lord heal me and forgive me.”
Let us remember that nothing is impossible for Jesus, He makes all things
possible including the impossible.
What are the sins that you have committed? Do
you think that you are already unworthy for the reason of your many sins? No,
you are still worthy and precious in the eyes of Jesus. Humbly approach Him and
please tell Him: Heal me O Lord! – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 11, Huwebes sa Unang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:40-45
Sa halip ay pasuri ka sa saserdote. Pagkatapos, maghandog ka ayon sa iniutos ni Moises, upang patunayan sa mga tao na ikaw ay magaling na.” Ngunit umalis siya at bagkus ipinamalita ang nangyari, anupat hindi na hayagang makapasok ng bayan si Hesus. Naroon na lamang siya sa labas, sa mga ilang na pook, at doon pinagsasadya ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t ibang dako.
Tuesday, January 09, 2024
Reflection for January 10, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
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Reflection:
There’s a story of an arrogant man who would always want to dominate anyone who would be associated with him. Eventually he noticed that he would always be deserted by his friends. He also became aware that even his family would oftentimes avoid being associated with him.
He knew deep in his heart that the reason of their aversion towards him was caused by his dominating and arrogant behavior. So, he prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal him of his arrogance. After a few weeks those around him noticed a change in his behavior.
From being arrogant he became humbler, understanding and not anymore dominating like a dictator. With the sudden change of his behavior he gained more friends and the harmony with his family was restored.
Is prayer for the healing of our mind, body and soul always part of our daily prayers to Jesus? Perhaps not because we oftentimes confine Jesus’ healing to physical sickness. But in reality, Jesus doesn’t only heal physical sickness He can heal everything that ails us. For example, our sickness called arrogance, our sickness called greed, our sickness called lust and so forth. All of these can be healed by Jesus.
We must not confine Jesus healing to physical healing only for the simple reason that Jesus physical healings are but a surface of His infinite power. Jesus can heal everything that ails us, including sickness that nobody knows except us; we simply have to humbly ask Him for this healing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 10, Miyerkules sa Unang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:29-39
Pagkalubog ng araw, dinala kay Jesus ang lahat ng maysakit at ang mga inaalihan ng demonyo. At nagkatipon ang buong bayan sa may pintuan ng bahay. Pinagaling niya ang maraming maysakit, anuman ang kanilang karamdaman at nagpalayas sila ng mga demonyo. Hindi niya hinayaang magsalita ang mga ito, sapagkat alam nila kung sino siya.
Madaling-araw pa'y bumangon na si Jesus at nagtungo sa isang ilang na pook at nanalangin. Hinanap siya ni Simon at ng kanyang mga kasama. Nang siya'y matagpuan, sinabi nila, "Hinahanap po kayo ng lahat." Ngunit sinabi ni Jesus, "Kailangang pumunta rin naman tayo sa mga kalapit-bayan upang makapangaral ako roon -- ito ang dahilan ng pag-alis ko sa Capernaum." At nilibot niya ang buong Galilea, na nangangaral sa mga sinagoga at nagpapalayas ng mga demonyo.
Monday, January 08, 2024
Reflection for January 9, Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:21-28
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the
Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The
unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were
amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He
commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere
throughout the whole region of Galilee.
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Reflection:
What is the modern day unclean spirits that could possess us now? It’s our greed, our lack of concern for others, our arrogance, our lustful desires and the like. Who can defeat these evil spirits that enslaves us? It’s Jesus and our faith in him! But the big question is Do we always communicate with Jesus through our prayers? Do we thirst for Jesus by always desiring to partake of His body at Holy Mass?
Evil/unclean spirit has no chance to possess us when we are always in union with Jesus. Those who are possessed by evil spirits are those who distance themselves from Jesus. Just try to always get connected with Jesus and you will see that you will always be shielded from the possession of the evil one.
In today's gospel, Jesus forcefully commanded the evil spirit that possessed the man to leave him. The evil spirit had no choice but to obey Jesus' authoritative command. Why? Because Jesus possesses power and authority over everything, including the numerous modern-day evils that control us!
But come to think of it, why was the man in our gospel possessed by an unclean spirit? Why was he among the many people in the synagogue? He was lacking in faith in Jesus and perhaps he was living his life in sin otherwise he would have not been possessed.
Let us always strive to always get in touch with Jesus for He is always there for us and let us always live righteous lives. By doing so we free ourselves from the possession of the devil and the many modern-day evils that lurks around us today.
Do you always create time to reach out to Jesus and
are you living a righteous life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Enero 9, Martes sa Unang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 1:21b-28
Kilala kita: Ikaw ang Banal na mula sa Diyos!"
Ngunit
iniutos ni Jesus sa masamang espiritu , "Tumahimik ka! Lumabas ka sa
kanya!" Pinapangisay ng masamang espiritu ang tao, at sumisigaw na
lumabas. Nanggilalas ang lahat, kaya't sila'y nagtanungan. "Ano ito?
Bagong aral? Nauutusan niya pati ang masasamang espiritu. At sinunod naman
siya!" At mabilis na kumalat sa buong Galilea ang balita tungkol kay
Jesus.
Sunday, January 07, 2024
Reflection for Monday January 8, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Mark 1:7-11
It happened in those days that Jesus came from
Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of
the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove,
descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my
beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
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Reflection:
Do you still
remember the date of your baptism and the priest that administered your baptism?
Perhaps you don’t remember anymore for the simple reason that it was a long long
time ago. But should we strive to remember the date of our baptism? we
should because it is through our baptism that we became members of the
Catholic/Universal church.
Our Baptism is not only a rite or a Sacrament it
is also a responsibility that we need to fulfill and what is the
responsibility? The responsibility is to help Jesus spread the faith.
Therefore, through baptism we become one with the mission of the church.
In the gospel, Jesus was baptized by John in the
Jordan river it was not a mere ceremonial baptism. It was a baptism that signaled the beginning of the mission of Jesus. Thus, after baptism Jesus
commenced His mission of salvation.
We have to be gently reminded that we always share in the mission of Jesus by virtue of our baptism. Hence, we have to ask ourselves: Have I already shared the gospel of Christ and am I living right now the teachings of the gospel? – Marino J. Dasmarinas