Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 18 Miyerkules sa Ika-33 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 19:11-28

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:11-28

11 Malapit na ngayon si Jesus sa Jerusalem at akala ng mga taong kasama niya’y agad na ipakikita ang kaharian ng Diyos. Kaya sa kanilang pakikinig ay isa pang talinhaga ang inilahad sa kanila ni Jesus. 12 Sinabi niya: “May isang maharlikang tao na pu­munta sa malayong lupain para mahirang na hari at saka siya babalik. 13  Tinawag niya ang sampu niyang katulong at binigyan sila ng tig-iisang bar­yang ginto at sinabi sa kanila: ‘Ipagnegosyo ninyo ito hanggang sa aking pag­balik.’ 

14 Namumuhi sa kanya ang kanyang mga kaba­ba­yan kaya nagsugo sila ng ilang kinatawan para sa­bihin: ‘Ayaw na­ming maghari sa amin ang taong ito.’ 15 Gayon pa ma’y bumalik siya pag­kahirang bilang hari. Ipinatawag niya ang mga katulong na bi­nigyan niya ng bar­yang ginto para malaman kung mag­kano ang tinubo ng bawat isa. 16 Humarap ang una at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng sampu pa ang barya mong ginto.’ 

17 Sumagot siya: ‘Magaling, mabu­ting utusan; dahil naging matapat ka sa ma­liit na bagay, mapamamahala kita sa sam­pung lunsod.’ 18 Dumating ang ika­lawa at sinabi: ‘Panginoon, tumubo ng lima pa ang iyong baryang ginto.’ 19 Si­na­bi nito sa kanya: ‘Mamamahala ka sa limang lun­sod.’ 

20 Dumating ang isa pa at sinabi: ‘Pangi­noon, narito ang iyong bar­yang ginto. Binalot ko ito sa isang panyo at itinago. 21 Natatakot ako sa iyo dahil mapaghanap kang tao, kinu­kuha mo ang di mo idineposito at inaani ang di mo inihasik.’ 

22 Sinabi sa kanya ng panginoon: ‘Masamang utusan, sa sarili mong mga salita kita hahatulan. Alam mo palang mapaghanap ako, na kinu­ku­ha ko ang di ko idineposito at ina­ani ang di ko inihasik, 23 bakit di mo idi­neposito sa bang­ko ang aking bar­yang ginto? At maku­kubra ko sana iyon pati na ang interes pagbabalik ko.’ 24 At sinabi niya sa mga naroon: ‘Kunin sa kanya ang baryang ginto at ibigay sa may sampu.’ 25 Sumagot sila: ‘E, Panginoon, may sampung baryang ginto na siya.’ 

26 ‘Sinasabi ko sa inyo: bibigyan ang meron pero aalisan ang wala, kahit na ang meron siya ay kukunin sa kanya. 27 Ngunit dalhin ninyo rito ang aking mga kaaway na ayaw akong maghari sa kanila at pata­yin sa harap ko’.”

28 Pagkasabi nito, umuna si Jesus sa kanila pa-Jerusalem.

1Reflection for November 17 Tuesday Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (M): Luke 19:1-10

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

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.”

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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? For the reason that Zacchaeus was a sinner like all of us and truth be told Jesus loves 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 his 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 we may not be thinking yet of walking away from our sinfulness. Yet Jesus is already knocking at our hearts so that he could also have a personal encounter with us. 

If we say that we are not ready yet to walk away from our sinfulness  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. 

Are you prepared to have a personal encounter with Jesus today? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 17 Martes Santa Isabel ng Hungria, relihiyosa (Paggunita): Lucas 19:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 19:1-10

1 Pumasok si Jesus sa Jerico at dumaan sa siyudad. 2 At may isang taong nagnga­ngalang Zakeo. Pinu­no siya ng mga kolektor ng buwis at napaka­yaman. 3 Sinikap niyang ma­kita kung sino si Jesus pero pandak siya at hindi niya magawa dahil sa dami ng mga tao. 4 Kaya patakbo siyang umuna at umakyat sa isang punong-ma­laigos para makita si Jesus pagdaan doon. 5 Pagdating ni Jesus sa lugar na iyon, tumingala siya at sinabi sa kanya: “Zakeo, bumaba ka agad. Sa bahay mo nga ako dapat tumigil ngayon.”  

6 Nagmamadali siyang bumaba at tuwang-tuwang tinanggap si Jesus. 7 Inireklamo naman sa isa’t isa ng lahat ng nakakita rito: “Sa bahay ng isang lala­king makasalanan siya nakituloy.” 8 Ngu­nit tumayo si Zakeo at sinabi sa Panginoon: “Pa­nginoon, ibibigay ko sa mga dukha ang kalahati ng aking mga ari-arian; at kung may nadaya ako, apat na beses ko siyang babayaran.” 9 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Dumating ngayon ang kaligtasan sa sambaha­­yang ito dahil anak nga ni Abraham ang taong ito. 10 At dumating ang Anak ng Tao para hanapin at iligtas ang nawa­wala.” 

1Reflection for November 16 Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:35-43

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

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

Reflection for Sunday November 15, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:14-30

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

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:

The story is told about an elderly woman who died. While her soul was on a journey he saw two portals which were near each other. One portal had the markings of heaven and the other had hell, the elderly woman chose the heavenly portal of course. When she was about to enter the heavenly portal she was asked by an angel about the things that she did while she was alive. And he rattled off her impressive worldly achievements.     

Then, the angel asked her again, “How about regarding your faith what have you done? The elderly woman said: “I went to Holy Mass every day” then, the angel said: “Have you shared your Catholic faith and have you helped those who were in need?” The elderly woman said: No.   

Do we recognize that the Lord has given us talent/s to help Him advance His teachings in this world? Many of us are not aware of it because we are busy investing our God given talents for this world alone. But truth be told, we are mandated by God to use whatever talents that we have not for this world alone. The Lord mandates us also to use our talents to grow and propagate our faith.  

Whether we like it or not our day of reckoning will eventually come. There God will ask us this question: What have you done to the talent/s that I had given you? Did you properly use it to help those who were in need? Did you use it to advance my teachings?  

Some of us will answer in the affirmative. Others will be on the negative for the reason that we only used our God given talents for our own self interest: To earn a living, to fulfill a lifelong ambition, to go online and get busy with facebook and so forth.  

Others would even have excuses like: How can I use my talents for the church when I don’t know anybody there? How can I give my talents for the church when I don’t even have enough time for my family? However, if there’s a will to be of service to God there would be a way. God will find that way for us. We simply have to initiate it first and God will be there to see us through. 

Someday God will ask you: What have you done to the talent/s that I gave you? How will you answer God during that time? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for November 14 Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:1-8

 

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

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:

How persistent are we when we have prayer petitions before God? If God seems silent; do we easily give up that He will hear our prayer petitions? Do we lose our faith when we don’t hear/feel any signs from God about our pleadings?  

In the gospel Jesus gave the disciples a parable about a Judge who neither feared God nor respected any human being and a widow who was very persistent with her petition before the judge to grant her a just decision against her enemy. 

Initially it would seem that the judge would not grant her request but the widow was very persistent and she never gave up thus she continued on badgering the judge. Eventually the judge granted her petition for a just decision.  

We all have our own silent prayers before God, we may have been praying for weeks, months, even years and it may seem that God is absent and quite. Let us not lose hope let us continue to whisper to God our prayers.  For in His own time of choosing and when we least expect it He definitely will respond to our prayers. 

Are you always persistent when you pray to the Lord?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 14 Sabado sa Ika-32 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 18:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:1-8

1 Dapat laging manalangin at huwag masiraan ng loob – ito ang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila sa isang talin­haga. 2 Sinabi niya: “Sa isang lunsod, may isang hukom na walang takot sa Diyos at walang pakialam sa mga tao. 

3 May isa ring biyuda sa lunsod na iyon na madalas pumunta sa kanya at sinasabi: ‘Igawad mo sa akin ang kataru­ngan laban sa aking kalaban.’ 4 Ma­tagal siyang umayaw pero naisip niya pag­katapos: ‘Wala man akong takot sa Diyos at walang pakialam sa tao, 5 igagawad ko pa rin ang kata­rungan sa bi­yudang ito na bumu­bu­wisit sa akin at baka masiraan pa ako ng ulo sa pag­punta-punta niya’.”  

6 Kaya idinagdag ng Panginoon: “Pa­kinggan ninyo ang sinabi ng di-matuwid na hukom. 7 Di ba’t igagawad ng Diyos ang katarungan sa kan­yang mga hini­rang na araw-gabing tumatawag sa kanya? Pababayaan ba niya sila? 8 Sinasabi ko sa inyo, agad niyang igagawad sa kanila ang kata­rungan. Ngu­nit pag dating ng Anak ng Tao, maka­kakita kaya siya ng pana­nampalataya sa lupa?”

Reflection for November 13 Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:26-37

Gospel: Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. 

So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.”  They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.

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Reflection:

What would happen if we don’t anymore listen to God? We would have no qualms of committing sin. Sin becomes our wicked way of life until this kind of lifestyle destroys us. We would not fully comprehend the wickedness of sin until it’s too late already. 

This is how the devil actually works; it hides sin through eye-catching appearance and temptation filled situations that it becomes attractive to many of us. We therefore have to recognize the warning signs or the red flags that would tell us that we are slowly but surely falling for the devil’s many enticements. And what are these? 

When we begin to love this world more than we love God. When we indulge in hedonistic actions, when we don’t anymore give ear to meaningful advice and the like. All of these are the red flags that will warn us that we are self-destructing towards the devil’s den.     

We are self-destructing for the reason that God is not anymore present in our life.  And we all know what will happen to the life of a person when he shuns God: There’s no peace and contentment only temptations, sin and problems. Let us therefore avoid sin and let us listen to God..

Do you always listen to God?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 13 Biyernes sa Ika-32 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 17:26-37

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:26-37

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 26 Tulad ng nangyari sa panahon ni Noe, ga­yundin sa mga araw ng Anak ng Tao. 27 Kuma­kain sila at umiinom, nag-aasawa ang mga lala­ki at mga babae, hanggang sa araw na pumasok si Noe sa daong at dumating ang Baha na pumuksa sa lahat. 28 Tulad sa panahon ni Lot: kuma­kain sila at umiinom, nagtitinda at nami­mili, nagtatanim at nagta­tayo. 29 At nang luma­bas si Lot mula sa Sodom, nagpaulan ang Diyos mula sa langit ng apoy at asupre na pumuksa sa lahat. 30 Ganito rin sa araw na ibu­bunyag ang Anak ng Tao. 

31 Sa araw na iyon, huwag nang bu­ma­ba pa sa bahay ang nasa terasa para kunin ang kanyang mga gamit at huwag nang umuwi pa ang nasa bukid. 32 Alala­ha­nin ninyo ang asawa ni Lot. 33Ang sinumang magsikap na magligtas ng sarili ay mawawalan nito, at ang ma­wawalan naman ng sarili ang magsisilang nito sa buhay. 

34 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung may da­lawa sa isang higaan sa gabing iyon, da­dalhin ang isa at iiwan ang isa pa; 35 kung may dalawang babaeng magkasamang gumigiling, dadalhin ang isa at iiwan ang isa pa.” 37 At itinanong naman nila: “Saan, Panginoon?” Sumagot siya. “Kung nasaan ang katawan, doon nagti­tipon ang mga buwitre.”

Reflection for November 12 Thursday, Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr (M): Luke 17:20-25

Gospel: Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” 

Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was always busy with the things of this world, he was busy making himself rich for he thought that it would give him fulfillment and peace. But the more that he became rich the more that he became disturb with the things of this world. 

Where can we find the kingdom of God? We certainly cannot find it if we are always busy with the things of this world. We cannot find the kingdom of God if we continue to allow this world to dictate upon us. For example, can we find the kingdom of God if we are busy accumulating the things of this world which by the way we will leave behind someday? 

A woman was asked: “Where does the kingdom of God rest?” She calmly said: “it’s here and now in my heart.” This woman was a prayerful woman, she lives her faith and she was always a constant presence in the Eucharistic Celebration. 

The kingdom of God is ours for the taking if we learn to become prayerful, if we learn to live our faith and if we prioritize our one hour presence at Holy Mass over our many worldly undertakings. Worldly undertakings which only brings us further away from the Kingdom God. 

Do you feel the kingdom of God in your heart right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 12 Huwebes; San Josafat Obispo at martir (Paggunita): Lucas 17:20-25

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:20-25

20 Tinanong si Jesus ng mga Pariseo kung ka­ilan darating ang paghahari ng Diyos at su­magot siya: “Hindi lantaran ang pagdating ng kaharian ng Diyos; 21 di masasabing ‘Narito o naroon,’ nasa inyo na nga ang kaharian ng Diyos.” 

22 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad: “Dara­ting ang panahon na pananabikan ninyong makita ang isa sa mga araw ng Anak ng Tao at di naman ninyo makikita. 23 At may magsasabi sa inyo ‘Narito siya, naroon.’ Huwag kayong pu­­punta, huwag maghahanap. 24 Sumi­siklab nga ang kid­lat at nagniningning mula sa isang dako ng langit hanggang sa kabila, gayundin naman ang Anak ng Tao sa araw ng kanyang pagdating. 25 Subalit kailangan muna niyang mag­tiis ng ma­rami at itakwil ng mga tao sa kasalu­kuyan.

Reflection for November 11 Wednesday, Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (M): Luke 17:11-19

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  

As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young woman who was diagnosed with a severe sickness. Her doctor told him that she needs to undergo a dangerous operation upon reaching the age of twenty- five otherwise she would die. Having nothing except her faith this woman relied on nobody except Jesus. 

As years passed by she eventually reached the age of twenty-five yet nothing serious has happened to her neither did she went through a dangerous operation. She is still alive and in the pink of health. In gratitude for the healing that she received from Jesus she entered a convent to become a nun. 

Do you believe in the healing power of Jesus? 

Our faith in Jesus can easily heal us of any sickness no matter how severe. We simply have to ask Jesus with faith and He surely would give it to us. Yet in every healing that we receive from the Lord there is also an unwritten responsibility that we have to do. And that is to give thanks and humbly share the healing experience we had.   

The ten lepers who were healed by Jesus obviously had faith otherwise they would have not been healed.  But amongst the ten it was only the Samaritan who did not forget to go back to Jesus to humbly express His thanksgiving. 

How about the nine who were also healed, where did they go? Perhaps they went back to their respective environments and quietly resumed their lives there. Whom are we going to emulate here the nine Jews or the humble Samaritan?  The answer is no brainer we have to follow the example of the grateful and humble Samaritan. 

Do you always express your humble thanksgiving to Jesus for all the blessings that you receive from Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 11 Miyerkules; San Martin ng Tours (Paggunita): Lucas 17:11-19

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:11-19

11 Habang papunta si Jesus sa Jerusalem, dumaan siya sa hangganan ng Samaria sa Galilea. 12 At pagpasok niya sa isang nayon, may sampung lala­king may ketong ang luma­bas para salubungin siya. 13 Tumayo ang mga ito sa malayo at tumawag nang malakas: “Jesus, Guro, maawa ka sa amin.” 

14 At sinabi naman sa kanila ni Jesus: “Uma­lis kayo at humarap sa mga pari.” At nang­yari na guma­ling sila habang nag­la­­lakad. 15 Isa sa kanila ang agad na nag­balik nang makita niyang guma­ling siya, at pasigaw niyang pinuri ang Diyos. 16 Nagpatirapa siya sa paanan ni Jesus, sa pag­papasa­lamat sa kanya. Isa siyang Samaritano. 

17 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus: “Di ba’t sampu ang gumaling? Nasaan ang siyam? 18 Wala bang bumalik para magpuri sa Diyos kundi ang dayuhang ito?” 19 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Tumayo ka, iniligtas ka ng iyong pana­nampalataya.”

Reflection for November 10 Tuesday, Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (M) Luke 17:7-10

Gospel: Luke 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? 

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.

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Reflection:

What characterize a meaningful life? It’s a life in service for God and our fellowmen. God brought us into this world not to be served but to serve. However, to serve God is not easy it’s in fact hard and tiring. Nevertheless, we have to serve no matter how hard and tiring so that we can help Jesus spread the faith.    

But what does it require to become a true servant? We have to be humble at all times for this is the only way that we can become true servants.   But do we have humility when we serve? Many of us oftentimes serve because we want to look good in the eyes of our fellow men and women. 

 Many of us oftentimes want to serve the poor because we want to look good in the eyes of Jesus. But we cannot fool Jesus, we may fool our fellow men and women but Jesus? We can never fool Him and we cannot hide from Jesus the true intent of our service for Him.  

The moment we decide to follow or serve God He surely would reward us The first reward that He will give us is peace of mind. And surely many other rewards will follow. These rewards may not be like the rewards that we expect from this world. But there surely will be a reward which is more profound and greater than any reward that this world can give us. 

Our reward may even not come in our lifetime yet it surely will come after our lifetime in this world. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas