Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 26, Lunes; sa Ika-30 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:10-17

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:10-17

10 Nagtuturo si Jesus sa isang sinagoga sa Araw ng Pa­hinga, 11 at may isang babae roon. Labingwalong taon na siyang may espiritung nagbibigay-sakit; nagkaka­kandakuba na siya at di makatingala. 12 Pag­ka­kita sa kanya ni Jesus, tinawag siya nito at sinabi: “Ba­bae, lumaya ka sa iyong sakit.” 13 Ipinatong nito sa kanya ang mga kamay at agad na nakatayo nang tuwid ang babae at nagpuri sa Diyos. 

14 Nagalit ang pangulo ng sinagoga dahil nagpagaling si Jesus sa Araw ng Pahinga kaya sinabi niya sa mga tao: “May anim na araw para magtrabaho kaya sa mga araw na iyon kayo puma­rito para mapagaling, hindi sa Araw ng Pa­hinga!” 

15 Sinagot siya ng Panginoon: “Mga mapag­kunwari, hindi ba kinakalagan ng bawat isa sa inyo ang kanyang baka o asno mula sa sabsaban nito sa Araw ng Pahinga at inilalabas para painumin? 16 At isang babae naman ang narito na anak ni Abraham na labingwalong taon nang iginapos ni Satanas. Di ba siya dapat kalagan sa Araw ng Pahinga?” 

17 Napahiya ang lahat niyang kalaban pag­karinig sa kanya pero nagalak naman ang mga tao sa lahat ng kahanga-hangang gina­gawa ni Jesus.

Reflection for Sunday October 25, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:34-40

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Can we measure the length and breadth of true love? 

The length and breadth of true love is something that we cannot measure no matter how meticulously we try to measure it. We will be willing to give everything for the sake of this true love and this is what our love for God must be. 

If we love God we would be willing to do everything for Him including giving our life for the advancement of His kingdom here in this world. If we love God we would be willing to forgive those who have hurt us no matter how deep the wound it inflicted upon us. And if we truly love God we would be willing to give up whatever form of sinfulness that we have no matter the gratification that we derive from it.  

The martyrs and saints of the church best exemplify this greatest commandment of love. They lived it to the hilt that they willingly gave their very lives for the sake of their great love for God. 

We often times say that we love God but when we are confronted with difficult situations such as giving up something very important out of ourselves. We capitulate thus we betray our self- serving profession of love for God. Same with when we are challenged to forgive those who’ve hurt us. 

True love for God is the willingness to give our time, our treasures and even our life for the advancement of God’s kingdom. True love for our neighbor/s is our readiness to forgive somebody even if she/he does not ask for our forgiveness. And true love for God is our willingness to walk away from anything that makes us sin.

Do you really love God? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Oktubre 25, Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:34-40

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22:34-40

34 Narinig ng mga Pariseo na napatahimik ni Jesus ang mga Sadduseo, at sumang-ayon sila sa kanya. 35 Kaya sinubukan siya ng isa sa kanila na isang guro ng Batas sa tanong na ito: 36 “Guro, ano ang pinakamahalagang utos ng Batas?”  

37 Sumagot si Jesus: “Mahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kaluluwa at nang buo mong pag-iisip. 38 Ito ang una at pinakamahalagang utos. 39 Ngunit may ikalawa pa na tulad nito: Mahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. 40 Sa dalawang utos na ito nabubuod ang buong Batas at Mga Propeta.”

Reflection for October 24, Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a corrupt government official who was being prodded by his wife to leave behind his life of sin. The corrupt official would always say to his wife to be quite and enjoy the fruits of his greed for nobody would know about it. After years of enjoying his dirty wealth he was eventually caught and was imprisoned for the rest of his life.    

What does sin do to us? It gives us nothing but misfortune! But sometimes the result of the dangerous fruit of sin doesn’t immediately manifest so we are tempted to enjoy it. Until the point of reckoning comes where both divine and civil punishment would be served upon us. 

Sinful ways doesn’t pay, we may enjoy it for a short or long period of time but the eventual weight of punishment will be upon us. We have to realize this fact that we will not gain anything by miring ourselves with sin.   

Let us therefore examine ourselves regarding the many sins that we have committed. If possible let us write these sins on a white bond paper or a piece of clean paper. And after we are through writing let us cross-out every single sin that has possessed us for so long. While silently promising God that we will not do it again. 

 This would now serve as our initial step toward our repentance, renewal and reconciliation with Jesus and with those whom we’ve hurt. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 24, Sabado; sa Ika-29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:1-9

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:1-9

1Dumating naman ang ilang tao na nagbalita kay Jesus ng  nangyari sa Templo. Ipinapatay nga ni Pilato ang mga taga-Galilea at nahalo ang kanilang dugo sa mga handog nila. 2 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Sa akala ba ninyo’y mas makasalanan ang mga taga-Galileang iyon kaysa lahat ng mga taga-Galilea dahil sila ang nagdusa? 3 Hindi. At sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat. 

4 Gayon din naman sa namatay na labing walong taong nabagsakan ng tore sa Siloe, sa akala ba ninyo’y mas may utang sila sa Diyos kaysa lahat ng naninirahan sa Jerusalem? 5 Sinasabi ko: hindi, pero kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.” 

6 At sinabi ni Jesus ang talinhagang ito: “May taong may isang puno ng igos sa kanyang ubasan. At pumunta siya para maghanap ng mga bunga pero wala siyang nakita. 7 Kaya sinabi niya sa nag-aalaga ng ubasan: ‘Tatlong taon na akong pumaparito sa paghahanap ng mga bunga sa punong-igos na iyan at wala akong nakita. Putulin mo iyan at pampasikip lang sa lupa.’ 

8 Ngunit sumagot sa kanya ang tauhan: ‘Ginoo, pabayaan mo na siya ngayong taon. Maghuhukay ako sa paligid nito at lalagyan ng pataba. 9 Baka sakaling mamunga siya ngunit kung hindi’y saka mo siya putulin.”

1Reflection for October 23, Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:54-59

Gospel: Luke 12:54-59

(Jesus said to the crowds) “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you; you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a neighbor who had a verbal tussle with his fellow neigbor that eventually resulted to a physical combat. After both of them has been bloodied they both hurdled threats of lawsuit. The neighbor who started the conflict had a sudden realization that he needs to apologize. So he knocked on the gate of his neighbor and when the gate was opened he humbly apologized. And his apology was immediately accepted. 

Jesus in our gospel is advising us to exert effort to settle whatever conflict that we have with anyone: neighbor, spouse, siblings, etc. Why? For the simple reason that it always pays to settle conflict/s early. Otherwise if we wouldn’t settle it immediately that conflict could morphed into a much bigger and dangerous conflict. 

Take for example conflict between spouses that is left unsettled. Sooner or later this conflict would result to something that is irreparable which would result to estrangement. Therefore, we have to immediately cure whatever conflict that we have with anyone by apologizing in the soonest possible time. 

Those who apologize are always rewarded with peace of mind. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 23, Biyernes; sa Ika-29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:54-59

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:54-59

54 Sinabi rin ni Jesus sa mga tao: “Kapag nakita ninyong tumataas ang ulap sa kanluran, kaagad ninyong sinasabi, ‘Uulan,’ at ganoon nga ang nang­yayari. 55 At kung umiihip naman ang hangin galing timog, sinasabi ninyong ‘Magiging napakainit,’ at nangyayari nga ito. 56 Mga mapagkunwari! Nabi­bigyan ninyo ng ka­hu­lugan ang anyo ng lupa at langit pero bakit hindi ninyo sinusuri kung ano ang panahong ito? 

57 At bakit hindi kayo mismo ang ma­ka­pag­pas­ya kung ano ang tama? 58 Sa pag­punta mo sa mayka­pang­ya­rihan kasama ng kalaban mo, sikapin mong ma­kipag-areglo sa kanya sa daan; baka iharap ka sa hukom, at ibigay ka naman ng hukom sa pulis para ipakulong sa bilangguan. 59 Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hanggang hindi mo nababaya­ran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo.”

Reflection for October 22, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a brother who rebuked his wayward sister for not living her life properly. While in the process of reprimand the sister angrily walked out from his brother. She told him not to meddle in her life and he is already dead as far as she is concerned. By having the courage to correct a wayward behavior the brother unexpectedly created enmity and an enemy for himself. 

This is the reality of a life with Jesus there would be times that we would be hated and ostracized by our fellowmen for doing what is right. But we must not be bothered by these temporal difficult circumstances in our lives. We must always have the courage to speak out and correct a wayward behavior no matter what the cost because this is part of our mission as followers of Christ. 

If we would not correct a wrong behavior and just go with the flow even if it’s wrong. We are betraying Christ and sad to say, we are not also a true follower of Christ. For the simple reason that we are afraid to create an enemy for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

We will always pay a worldly price that is sometimes painful to accept for the sake of our passionate discipleship for Jesus. We may even temporarily or even permanently create enemies or lose friends and even relatives for HIS sake. But let us not be afraid of having frayed relationships for the sake of our faithful disciples for Jesus. Because we are already complete if we have Jesus in our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 22, Huwebes; sa Ika-29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:49-53

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 49 Dumating ako upang maghagis ng apoy sa lupa, at ganoon na lamang ang pagnanais kong magliyab na sana ito! 50 Ngunit dapat akong mabinyagan ng isang binyag, at ganoon na lamang ang pagkabalisa ko hanggang di ito na­ga­ganap! 

51 Sa akala ba ninyo’y duma­ting ako para magbigay ng kapa­yapaan sa lupa? Hindi, sinasabi ko sa inyo, kundi paghihiwa-hiwalay! 52 Sa­pagkat mula ngayo’y magkakahati-hati ang limang nasa isang sambahayan, tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo; 53 mag­kakahati-hati sila: ama la­ban sa anak na lalaki at anak na lalaki laban sa ama, ina laban sa anak na babae at anak na babae laban sa ina, biyenang babae laban sa kanyang manugang na babae at manu­gang na babae laban sa biye­nang babae.”

1Reflection for October 21, Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:39-48

 

Gospel: Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

When a typhoon is about to hit a certain area the government would always remind its citizens to be prepared or even relocate to a safer place for a period of time. The reason behind is very basic: To avoid destruction of lives and properties. Those who would hear the call for preparedness would survive and those who will not would surely suffer. 

In today’s gospel Jesus once again calls us to be prepared for He will come to us when we least expect Him to come into our lives. But does Jesus really come to our lives without prior warning? Does He really surprise us with His immediate presence thus we are caught unaware? 

Before Jesus comes to us He would first knock into our hearts so that we could open our hearts to Him and embrace His offer of renewal with open arms.  By doing so we hear His call for us to be prepared. 

But for those who would pretend not to hear even if they hear, those who would continue with their sinful lives even if Jesus is calling him/her for renewal. They would be awakened to the sad reality of life and this sad reality is the sufferings that they will face. For the reason that they did not listen to Jesus.    

Nevertheless, everything is not written in stone. For as long as we breathe there’s always a chance to listen to the voice of Jesus coursed through people around us or even events around us. Who will earnestly call upon us to be prepared by means of walking away from all of our sinfulness.  

In the book of Revelation, the Lord tells us: “I reprimand and correct all those I love. Be earnest and Change your ways. Look I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my call and opens the door. I will come into him and have supper with him (Revelation 3:19-20).” -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 21, Miyerkules; sa Ika-29 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 12:39-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:39-48

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 39 Isipin ninyo ito: kung nalaman lamang ng may-ari ng bahay kung anong oras ng gabi ang dating ng magnanakaw, hindi sana niya paba­bayaang looban ang kanyang bahay. 40 Kaya maging han­da kayo sapagkat duma­rating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na hindi ninyo inaakala.” 

41 Sinabi ni Pedro: “Panginoon, ka­nino mo ba sinasabi ang talinhagang ito, sa amin o sa lahat?” 42 Sumagot ang Pangi­noon: “Isipin ninyo ito: may tapat at mata­linong katiwala na panga­nga­siwain ng panginoon sa kanyang mga tauhan para bigyan sila ng rasyon sa tamang oras. 43 Kung sa pagdating ng kan­yang panginoon ay matagpuan siya nitong tumu­tupad nang gayon, mapalad ang lingkod na iyon. 

44 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, panganga­siwain siya nito sa lahat nitong ari-arian. 45 Ngunit maaari namang maisip ng lingkod na iyon: ‘Matatagalan pang dumating ang panginoon ko’ at simulang pagmalupitan ang mga utusang lalaki at babae, at kumain, uminom at maglasing. 46 Ngu­nit darating ang panginoon ng lingkod na iyon sa araw na di niya inaasahan at sa oras na di niya nalalaman. Palala­yasin niya ang katulong na ito at pakiki­tunguhang gaya ng mga di-tapat. 

47 Maraming hampas ang tatang­gapin ng katulong na nakaaalam sa kalooban ng kanyang panginoon pero hindi nag­handa ni sumunod sa kalooban niya. 48 Kaunti lang naman ang tatanggapin ng walang nalalaman sa kalooban niya ngu­nit gumawa ng mga bagay na dapat parusahan. Hihingan nga ng marami ang binigyan ng marami at hihingan nang higit ang pinag­katiwalaan nang higit.

Reflection for October 20, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:
Are you afraid to die?

The thought of death is something that we always dread; we never want to speak about it. But death is one reality of life that will come to each one of us. No one is exempted, rich or poor, educated or not educated, whoever we are it will eventually come to us. 

Jesus in our gospel is calling us to prepare for the unannounced coming of the Lord in our lives. It’s sad that the coming of the Lord comes to many of us through our death only. But do we need to be sad? For example if we are given by our doctor a month to live, should we be sad with this heart wrenching news? Of course we are entitled to be sad for this is part of our being human. 

But after a while the sadness should be replaced by our confidence and faith in God. For the reason that we actually have nothing to fear about death if we have strong faith in the Lord. For some death is even welcome news for them. How could this be? Ahh, the reason is very simple; they have long prepared for this by their obedience and closeness to Jesus. As such they are not afraid to die and meet God who by the way is the author of our lives. 

Therefore, it’s always imperative for us to take seriously the advice of Jesus to the disciples. To always be prepared for the coming of the Lord for we don’t know when it will be. 

Are you already prepared for the Lord’s coming into your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 20, Martes; sa Ika-29 na Linggo ng Taon : Lucas 12:35-38

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:35-38

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 35 Maghintay kayong bihis at handang maglingkod, na may nakasinding mga lam­para. 36 Maging tulad kayo ng mga taong naghihintay sa kanilang pa­nginoon. Pauwi siya mula sa kasalan at agad nilang mabubuksan ang pinto pag dating niya at pag katok. 

37 Mapalad ang mga lingkod na iyon na matatagpuang naghi­hintay sa panginoon pag­dating niya. Maniwala kayo sa akin, isu­suot niya ang damit pantrabaho at pauupuin sila sa hapag at isa-isa silang pagsisil­bihan. 38 Dumating man siya sa hating­gabi o sa madaling-araw at ma­tagpuan niya silang ganito, mapalad ang mga iyon!

Reflection for October 19, Monday; Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 12:13-21

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest? And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry! But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What will be the scenario when we are a few inches away from the doorway of death? Would we still be concerned about our wealth? No, not anymore what would be of prime importance during that time are the relationships that we’ve built. 

The first that will matter is the relationship that we’ve built with God, the next is the relationship that we’ve built with our relatives and friends. Our wealth no matter how enormous will not occupy a space in our minds. 

Why is this so? Because wealth will not count as our ticket to heaven, what will count is the relationship that we have created with God. What will count are the good deeds that we’ve done to those who are in need. 

 But the paradox is so many of us today who are alive and healthy are actively in pursuit of wealth and power. That we don’t anymore care how many lives would we be stepping on just to have it. We don’t anymore care if we will be called greedy or corrupt just to have it. 

In our gospel for this Monday, Jesus is teaching us not to live our lives for the accumulation of wealth, He teaches us to be generous and not greedy. Jesus teaches us instead to build a relationship with Him. To spread and share our blessings with others most especially today wherein many are going hungry because of the covid-19 pandemic. 

What occupies most of your time right now, is it still the accumulation of wealth and other  worldly things? – Marino J. Dasmarinas