Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 9, Lunes; Pagtatalaga ng Basilika ni San Juan de Letran sa Roma ( Kapistahan): Juan 2:13-22

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-22

13 Malapit na noon ang Paskuwa ng mga Judio, at umahon si Jesus pa-Jerusalem. 14 Natagpuan niya sa patyo ng Templo ang mga nagtitinda ng mga baka, mga tupa at mga kalapati, at ang mga nakaupong tagapalit ng pera. 15 Kaya gumawa siya ng panghagupit mula sa mga lubid, at ipinagtabuyan ang lahat mula sa Templo, pati ang mga tupa at mga baka, at isinabog ang pera ng mga tagapalit at ipinagtataob ang mga mesa. 

16 At sinabi niya sa mga nagtitinda ng mga kalapati: “Alisin n’yo ang mga ito! Huwag n’yong gawing palengke ang Bahay ng aking Ama.” 17 Naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na nasusulat: “Tinutupok ako ng mala­sakit sa iyong Bahay.”  

18 Kaya sumagot ang mga Judio: “Anong tanda ang maipapakita mo sa amin at ginagawa mo ito?” 19 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Gibain n’yo ang templong ito, at ibabangon ko ito sa tatlong araw.”  

20 Sinabi naman ng mga Judio: “Apat­­-napu’t anim na taon nang itina­tayo ang templong ito, at ibabangon mo ito sa tatlong araw?” 21 Ngunit and templong katawan niya ang kanyang tinutukoy. 22 Nang iba­ngon siya mula sa mga patay, naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad ang sinabi niyang ito. Kaya naniwala sila sa Kasulatan at sa salitang sinabi ni Jesus.

Reflection for Sunday November 8, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:1-13

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’  

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 

While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

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Reflection:

What is the advantage of being prepared? We are always ready for what may happen during any time of the day. 

Jesus said to his disciples: stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Matthew 25:13). Indeed, nobody knows the moment of the Lord’s coming, that’s why it is a must that we are always prepared by following The Lord’s teachings. We must avoid doing things that would make us sin. 

It is very easy to say that we are always prepared for His coming but sometimes it is only lip service without real conviction to do so. We are easily tempted to sin again, to hurt people again, to ignore those who are in need again most especially the poor. And to be egoistic and have that superiority mindset again.  

Many of us are like that, we are only prepared for a short period of time and then we sin again. Why this is so and what must we do to avoid backsliding to our sinful behaviors again? We must have a continuous encounter with Jesus through our attendance at Holy Mass, through our prayers, through reading the Bible. For this is the only way for us to keep ourselves from backsliding into sinfulness again.  Hence, we would always be prepared. 

In the gospel, we read about the ten virgins, five of them were foolish and five were wise. Those who were wise came prepared by bringing along extra flask of oil. So that their lamps would be lighted if ever the bridegroom would arrive late. 

And true enough the bridegroom came in late for the wedding feast. But the five wise virgins had no problem because they had an extra flask of oil for their lamps.   For this reason, the five wise virgins were allowed entry to the wedding feast to witness the ceremony. What happened to the other five who were foolish? They were not allowed entry by the bridegroom. Why? Because they were not prepared. 

Our continuous engagement with sin makes us unprepared for the coming of the Lord. The same continuous engagement with sin will not allow us entry into heaven when our time is up in this world.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 8, Ika-32 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon Mateo 25:1-13

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 25:1-13

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 1 Tinutukoy ng kuwentong ito ang mangyayari sa kaharian ng Langit. Sampung abay na dalaga ang lumabas na may dalang lampara para sumalubong sa lalaking ikakasal. 2 Hangal ang lima sa kanila, at matalino naman ang lima pa. 

3 Dinala ng mga hangal na abay ang kanilang mga lampara nang walang reserbang langis. 4 Ngunit dinala naman ng matatalino ang kanilang mga lampara na may reserbang langis. 5 Natagalan ang lalaking ikakasal kaya inantok silang lahat at nakatulog. 

6 Ngunit nang hatinggabi na, may tumawag: ‘Dumarating na ang lalaking ikakasal; lumabas kayo at salubungin siya!’ 7 Nagising silang lahat noon at inihanda ang kanilang mga lampara. 8 Sinabi ng mga hangal sa matatalino: ‘Bigyan naman ninyo kami ng inyong langis dahil mahina na ang ningas ng aming mga lampara.’ 9 Sumagot ang matatalino: ‘Baka kulangin ang langis para sa amin at para sa inyo. Mabuti pang pumunta kayo sa mga nagtitinda at bumili para sa inyo.’ 

10 Nakaalis na sila para bumili nang dumating ang lalaking ikakasal; ang mga handa na ay sumama sa lalaking ikakasal sa kasalan, at isinara ang pinto. 11 Pagkatapos ay saka dumating ang iba pang mga dalaga at tumawag: ‘Panginoon, Panginoon, pagbuksan kami!’ 12 Ngunit sumagot siya: ‘Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi ko kayo kilala.’ 13 Kaya magbantay kayo sapagkat hindi ninyo alam ang araw o ang oras.’

Reflection for November 7, Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:9-15

Gospel: Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. 

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young  man that said: “I will work hard to become rich.  So that when I grow old and retire I will have all the material wealth that I need to sustain myself. Hence he worked really hard not minding if he engaged in corruption and stepped on the toes of others just to be rich. A few days after retiring he died and was immediately plucked by the devil for he was possessed by his greed for dishonest wealth when he was still alive. 

What is dishonest wealth? Dishonest wealth are the following: money, possessions, fame, power or anything that enslaves us in this world.  These dishonest wealth create a false sense of security for us. 

We cling to this dishonest wealth with the thought in mind that this would complete us and make us happy.  Only to discover that it can never complete or make us happy. In fact the more that we chase dishonest wealth the more that our lives become empty and barren. 

What then is honest wealth or true wealth? True wealth is Jesus Himself! If we have Him  in our lives we already possess the greatest wealth. Wealth than can give us peace of mind while we are still in this world. Wealth that we can also have beyond this world and wealth that is our passage to heaven. 

Do you already possess in your heart the greatest wealth? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 7, Sabado sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 16:9-15

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 16:9-15

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 9 sinasabi ko sa inyo: gamitin ninyo ang di-matuwid na Perang-diyos para magkaroon ng mga kaibi­gan para sa pagkaubos nito’y tanggapin naman nila kayo sa walang hanggang mga taha­nan. 

10 Ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa mali­liit na bagay ay mapagkakatiwalaan din sa malalaki, at ang di mapagka­katiwalaan sa maliliit ay di rin ma­pagkakatiwalaan sa malalaki. 11 Kung hindi kayo mapagkatiwalaan sa di-matuwid na pera, sino ang magtiti­wala sa inyo ng tunay na kayama­nan? 

12 Kung hindi ka­yo mapagkatiwalaan sa mga bagay na hindi talaga sa inyo, sino pa kaya ang magbi­bigay sa inyo ng talagang inyo? 13 Walang katulong na makapag­si­-silbi sa dalawang amo; siguradong kamu­muhian niya ang isa at mamahalin naman ang isa pa, o magiging ma­­tapat sa isa at mapababayaan ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo makapaglilingkod sa Diyos at sa pera.” 

14 Naririnig ng mga Pariseo ang lahat ng ito. Sakim sila kaya pinagtatawanan nila siya. 15 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Gina­gawa ninyo ang lahat para mag­muk­hang mabuti sa paningin ng mga tao ngunit alam ng Diyos ang inyong mga puso. At kasuklam-suklam sa pa­ningin ng Diyos ang mataas sa mga tao.

Reflection for November 6, Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:1-8

Gospel: Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ 

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. 

To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

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Reflection:

Are you a good steward of the Lord? A steward in the context of our gospel is someone who manages properties on behalf of somebody else. The steward in our gospel did not measure up to his job so his master decided to replace him. 

What is the lesson for us, we who are mere stewards of the blessings of the Lord? We must always be good stewards of the blessings that the Lord has given us. For example, the riches that we have, we should use it not only for ourselves we should also share it most especially share it with those who can’t pay back our generosity. 

The same with our God given abilities and talents let us not only use it for ourselves. Let us also use it so that others may benefit from it. For example if we think that our God given ability is to write or to speak let us not only use it for our own profit. Let us also use it to advance the teachings of Jesus in this world.      

The mistake of the steward in our gospel is he squandered not only the property of his master. He also did not value the trust and confidence that his master gave him. Our Lord and Master is Jesus, let us not misuse whatever properties, abilities and talents that He gave us. And let us not ruin the trust and confidence that He gave us. 

Are we effective stewards of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 6, Biyernes sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 16:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 16:1-8

1 Sinabi rin ni Jesus sa kan­yang mga alagad: “May katiwala ang isang mayaman, at isinumbong sa kanya na nilulustay ng katiwala ang kanyang kayamanan. 2 Ipinatawag niya ito at sinabi sa kanya: ‘Ano itong nariri­nig ko tungkol sa iyo? Magsulit ka sa akin ng iyong pangangasiwa dahil hindi ka na makapa­ngangasiwa.’ 

3 At inisip ng katiwala: ‘Tatanggalin ako ngayon sa pangangasiwa ng aking panginoon. Ano ang gagawin ko? Ku­lang ako ng lakas para magbungkal ng lupa, nahihiya naman akong magpa­li­mos. 4 Ah, alam ko na ang gagawin ko. At pagka­tang­gal sa akin sa panga­nga­siwa, may mga magpapatuloy sa akin sa kani­lang mga bahay.’  

5 Kaya tinawag niyang isa-isa ang mga may-utang sa kanyang panginoon. Tina­nong niya ang una: “Mag­kano ang utang mo sa aking pangi­noon?’ 6 Suma­got ito: ‘Sandaang galon ng la­ngis.’ Sinabi ng katiwala: ‘Narito ang resibo mo; maupo ka agad at isulat mo: Limampu.’ 7 Tina­nong naman niya ang ikalawa: ‘At ikaw, magkano ang utang mo?’ Sumagot siya: ‘Sanlibong takal ng trigo.’ Sinabi ng katiwala: ‘Narito ang iyong resibo at isulat mo: Walundaan.” 

8 Hinangaan ng panginoon ang mata­linong paggawa ng di-matuwid na katiwala. Mas matalino nga ang mga taong makamundo sa pakikitungo sa mga ga­ya nila kaysa mga tao ng liwa­nag.

Reflection for November 5, Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 15:1-10

Gospel: Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?  

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a father who had already given up on his wayward son who was in and out of prison. He said to his son, “I already give up on you, I now give you to Jesus and I hope He finds you.” After ten long years the lost son who was given up by his father was found by Jesus and became a priest. 

Finding the lost is one of the most important reasons why Jesus walked on this earth. This is the character of Jesus, always searching and always reaching out to us who are lost. No matter who we may be, no matter the sins that we’ve committed and no matter how many we may be, Jesus desires to find us all and bring us once again to His loving embrace. 

These actions of Jesus of not giving up invites us to reflect about our own actions toward our fellow men and women. How many times have we given up or judged them simply because they are lost or wayward based on our judgment. But who are we to judge and give up on the lost and who are we to condemn them as good for nothing? 

Many times over we’ve been lost also because of our sinfulness yet Jesus has not given up on us even for a single moment. So we must also not give up on the lost and we should not also judge the lost. Let us rather reach out to them and let us make them feel the unconditional love of Jesus. 

We have wayward relatives and friends for the simple reason that we’ve judged them already. We gave up on finding them and we already gave up on showing them the unconditional love and mercy of Jesus. 

Let us never give up on anyone because Jesus has not given up on us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 5, Huwebes sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 15:1-10

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15:1-10

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

4 “Kung may sandaang tupa ang isa sa inyo at mawala ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba niya iiwan ang siyamnapu’t siyam sa ilang para hanapin ang nawawala hanggang matag­puan niya ito? 5 At pag natagpuan ito’y masaya niya itong pinapasan sa balikat, 6 at pag­dating sa bahay ay tatawagin niya ang mga kaibigan at mga kapitbahay at sasabihin sa kanila: ‘Ma­tuwa kayong kasama ko sapagkat natagpuan ko na ang nawawala kong tupa.’ 7 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: mag­kakaroon din ng higit na kagalakan sa langit para sa isang ma­ka­­sa­lanang nagsi­sisi kaysa siyam­napu’t siyam na matuwid na di nanga­ngaila­ngan ng pagsisisi. 

8 Kung may sampung baryang pilak ang isang babae at nawala ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba siya magsisindi ng ilaw, mag­wawalis sa bahay at hahana­ping ma­buti hanggang matag­puan ito? 9 At pagka­kita rito’y tatawagin ang mga kaibigang babae at mga kapitbahay: ‘Matuwa ka­yong kasama ko sapagkat natag­puan ko ang nawawala kong baryang pilak.’ Sina­sabi ko sa inyo na ganito rin sa mga ang­hel ng Diyos, mag­kakaroon ng kagala­kan para sa isang makasalanang nagsisisi.”

Reflection for November 4, Wednesday Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop (M): Luke 14:25-33

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 

Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

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Reflection:

Would you follow Jesus based on His conditions stated in this gospel? 

Here are Jesus conditions: Hate your parents, children, siblings and even your own life (hate not as hate per see) hate which means that you choose Jesus over them. Very hard to do isn’t it?  Another condition of Jesus: carry your own cross and renounce all your possessions to be able to follow Him. 

Jesus lays down to us the true cost of discipleship, can we measure to these standards of Jesus? Perhaps you and I can’t but this should not stop us from seeking HIM. Then hopefully by HIS infinite grace we would be able to prioritize HIM over anything else in this world. 

It doesn’t matter how many times we stumble with our desire to faithfully follow the Lord. What matters is we get up after we fall and once again try our very best to follow Him and hope for His eternal grace to strengthen and guide us. 

Jesus conditions for us today are actually a contradiction on how other preachers preach Jesus. Jesus is preached by many as someone who is a cure all God and savior. They do this for the reason that this is the best way for them to immediately attract followers. 

But the reality of it all is this: We have to sacrifice our comfort zones.  And we have to leave behind us our worldly priorities so that we would be able to faithfully follow and serve Jesus. 

Are you ready to sacrifice your own comfort zone and leave behind your worldly priorities in favor of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for November 3, Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:15-24

Gospel: Luke 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God." He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. 

The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. 

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young mother who was always being advised by her father to always bring her children to church for Mass. The young mother would always reason out that they have many preoccupations. When her children grew up they became disrespectful to her. All of them did not finish their studies and were not successful in their personal lives. 

The celebration of Holy Mass is always an invitation for all of us to be there. Nobody is barred from attending its celebration but unfortunately not everyone of us responds to this invitation. And our usual reason is we also have our many concerns. Thus our presence at Holy Mass becomes the least of our priorities. 

Let us not wait for the time when we become retired, old and sickly to make time for God through our attendance in the Holy Mass. Let us take advantage to always be there while we are still in the pink of health. 

At the end of our lives, our worldly achievement will not count anymore no matter how significant it is, it will not count anymore. What will count then is the personal relationship  that we’ve built with Jesus. 

We therefore  have to make time for Holy Mass let us not be afraid of covid-19. Because when we are at Holy Mass we partake of the Body and Blood of the greatest healer who ever walked this earth which is Jesus Himself! 

Do you always create time for Jesus at Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 3, Martes sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 14:15-24

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 14:15-24

15 Sinabi kay Jesus ng isa sa mga inanyayahan: “Mapalad ang makakasalo sa bangkete ng kaha­-ri­an ng Diyos!” 16 Sumagot si Jesus: “May isang taong naghanda ng isang malaking bangkete at marami siyang kinumbida. 17 Sa oras ng han­daan, pinapunta niya ang kanyang katulong para sabihin sa mga imbitado: ‘Tayo na’t handa na ang lahat.’ 

18 Ngunit parang sabay-sabay namang nagdahilan ang lahat. Sinabi ng una: ‘Bumili ako ng bukid at kaila­ngan kong pumunta para tingnan iyon. Pasensya ka na.’ 19 Sinabi naman ng isa: ‘Bumili ako ng limang pares na bakang pang-araro at pasu­subukan ko ang mga ito. Pasensya ka na’ 20 Sinabi ng isa pa: ‘Ba­gong kasal ako kaya hindi ako makakapunta.’ 

21 Pagbalik ng katulong, ibinalita niya ang lahat ng ito sa kanyang panginoon. Galit na galit ang maysambahayan at sinabi sa kanyang katulong: ‘Pumunta ka agad sa mga liwasan at mga lansa­ngan ng lunsod, at pa­pasukin mo rito ang mga dukha, mga bale-wala, mga bulag at mga pilay.’ 

22 At pagkatapos ay sinabi ng katulong: ‘Nagawa na ang ipinag-utos mo at may lugar pa rin.’ 23 Sumagot sa kanya ang pangi­noon: ‘Lumabas ka sa mga daan at mga bakuran at pilitin mong pumasok ang mga tao para ma­puno ang bahay ko. 24 Sapagkat sinasabi ko sa inyo: walang sinu­man sa mga ginoong iyon na kinum-bida ko ang makatitikim ng aking handa’.”

Reflection for November 2, Monday; the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls): John 11:17-27

Gospel: John 11:17-27

17 When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. 18 As Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away, 19 many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. 

21 Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” 25 But Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection. Whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

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Reflection:

Do you want to die now? Surely you do not want to die now for we all want to live longer. However death is a certainty of life. Somewhere along our journey in this world we will get sick and we die. 

Today is All Souls’ Day, we reserve this day to remember our departed love ones. Have you already offered Holy Mass for the eternal repose of their souls and are they always part of your prayers?  We always beseech Jesus to remember our departed love ones whenever we offer Holy Mass and prayers for them. 

Like our love ones who’ve gone ahead of us we too will come to the point of death. But we have nothing to fear about our mortality for it’s simply death of our mortal body. Death can do nothing to us we are in fact forever immortal in spirit if we have Jesus in our life. Our spirit will continue to live even if our physical body dies because we have faith and belief in Jesus.   

In our gospel Jesus tells us, I am the resurrection. Whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25-26). Do you believe these pronouncements of Jesus? If you believe you truly will never die even if the time comes that your mortal body dies.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 2, Lunes; Paggunita sa lahat ng mga Pumanaw na Kristiyano: Juan 11:17-27

Mabuting Balita: Juan 11:17-27

17 Pagdating ni Jesus, apat na araw na palang naka­libing si Lazaro. 18Mala­pit ang Betania sa Jerusalem, halos tatlong kilo­metro ang layo. 19 Marami sa mga Judio ang pumunta kina Marta at Maria para maki­ramay sa kanila sa kanilang kapatid.  

20 Kaya pagkarinig ni Marta na duma­rating si Jesus, sinalubong niya ito. Si Maria naman ay nakaupo sa bahay. 21 At sinabi ni Marta kay Jesus: “Pangi­noon, kung naririto ka, hindi sana namatay ang kapatid ko. 22 Ngunit kahit na ngayon, alam kong anuman ang hingin mo sa Diyos ay ibibigay sa iyo ng Diyos.” 

23 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Baba­ngon ang kapatid mo.” 24 Sinabi naman sa kanya si Marta: “Alam ko na baba­ngon siya sa pagkabuhay sa huling araw.” 

25 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siyang pagkabuhay (at ang buhay.) Mabu­­buhay ang nananalig sa akin kahit na mamatay siya. 26 Hinding-hindi mama­matay kailanman ang bawat nabubuhay at nananalig sa akin. Pinani­niwa­laan mo ba ito?” 27 Sinabi niya sa kanya: “Opo, Pangi­noon. Nananalig nga ako na ikaw ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Diyos, na dumarating sa mundo.”