1Reflection for December 1, Tuesday of the First Week of Advent: Luke 10:21-24

Gospel: Luke 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

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Reflection:

Do you have your regular communication time with God? 

Communication is an essential part with our relationship with God. The more communication time we have with god the more the we would get closer to Him. Thus, communication facilitates deeper friendship and relationship with God. 

Jesus in our gospel for today communicates through His prayer to God our Father the creator. He gives praise to the Father, Jesus did not only communicate to the Father to give praise. He communicated because he longs for His Father and it’s through this longing that He builds deeper oneness with Him. 

We too must always have this longing or thirst for God in every moment of our lives. We must always communicate with Him for He is our lifeline in this world. What would happen to us if we would not have our regular prayer moments with God? We become empty shells that look sturdy outside but deep inside are spiritually shallow.  

Let us always have our regular prayer moment with God in everyday of our lives. Let us give praise to Him let us thank Him for all of the blessings that He has been giving us. Let us not wait for the time to come wherein we will look for God because we are already in dire need of Him. 

Do you have your regular moment of communication with God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Disyembre 1, Martes sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Lucas 10:21-24

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:21-24

21 Nang sandaling iyo’y nag-umapaw sa galak sa Espiritu Santo si Jesus at sinabi niya: “Pinupuri kita, Ama, Panginoon ng langit at lupa, dahil inilihim  mo ang mga bagay na ito sa marurunong at matatalino, at ipinamulat mo naman sa maliliit. Oo, Ama, naging kalugud-lugod ito sa iyo. 22 Ipinagkatiwala sa akin ng aking Ama ang lahat. Walang nakaka­kilala kung sino ang Anak kundi ang Ama, at kung sino ang Ama kundi ang Anak at ang sinumang gustuhing pagbunyagan ng Anak.” 

23 Pagkatapos ay bumaling si Jesus sa mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila nang sari­linan: “Mapalad ang mga matang nakaka­kita ng inyong nakikita. 24 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na maraming propeta at hari ang nagnais makita ang inyong nakikita pero hindi nila nakita, at ma­rinig ang inyong naririnig pero hindi nila narinig.”

1Reflection for November 30, Monday; Saint Andrew, Apostle (Feast): Matthew 4:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. 

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus call Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John? Jesus wanted these four fishermen to share in His mission. There was no promise of riches, prosperity and power yet they responded. Their motivation to respond to Jesus call is very simple they just want to serve as Jesus served. No frills no publicity, as much as possible Jesus wanted it under the radar so that no one would know. 

So, these four selfless men followed Jesus they left everything even their  livelihood and trusted themselves under the care of Jesus. In these four men we get a valuable lesson on how to become true servants and followers of the Lord: Follow with full trust and confidence in the Lord! 

When you decide to follow Jesus you must be ready to leave everything for the sake of the Lord.  No looking back simply trust Him for He will take care of you. Take care of you not in the sense that you will financially and materially prosper as what many prosperity gospel preachers promote. Take care of you for He will make you rich spiritually so that you would be able to withstand the trials and rigors of your life and His mission.

You too is being called by the Lord to follow and trust Him. Follow where? Follow in His mission of evangelization; don’t worry about anything for He will take care of everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 30, Lunes; San Andres, apostol (Kapistahan): Mateo 4:18-22

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 4:18-22

18 Sa paglalakad ni Jesus sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya ang  mag­kapatid na Simon na tinawag na Pedro at Andres na naghahagis ng mga lambat dahil mga mangingisda sila. 19 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin, at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” 

20 Agad nilang iniwan ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod sa kanya. 21 Nagpatuloy siya sa paglakad at na­kita naman niya ang magkapatid na Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo. Nasa bangka sila kasama ng kani­lang amang si Zebedeo at nagsu­sursi ng kani­lang lambat. Tinawag sila ni Jesus. 22 Agad nilang iniwan ang bangka nila at ang ka­nilang ama, at nag­simulang sumunod sa kanya.

Reflection for Sunday November 29, First Sunday of Advent: Mark 13:33-37

Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. 

Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

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Reflection:

When the first case of Covid-19 was discovered in Wuhan China last year (December 2019) many countries were warned to be prepared, watchful and alert. Why? Because this disease could become a pandemic and could cause havoc, deaths and disruption to the world economy. A number of countries prepared immediately putting in place health and security protocols. But many countries did not prepare they even dismissed it as nothing. Thus, they dearly paid for their dismissive reaction.      

What does it mean to be watchful and alert? It means to always be prepared for anything that may happen or arrive. But why do we need to be watchful and alert? Why not simply become passive and complacent? We need to be watchful and alert because this is what Jesus wants us to do for He will manifest His presence to us at any moment of our lives. 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means coming or arrival of something very important. What is the significance of this command of Jesus for us? We too are being encouraged by Jesus to be watchful and prepared for His coming.  But how should we prepare? 

First is by submitting ourselves to the Healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. All of us are sinful; we sin through our Thoughts, Words and Actions. These many sins that we commit make us ill prepared for the coming of the Lord.    

Second is we have to forgive those who caused us pain no matter how severe the pain that they’ve caused us. This is very difficult to do but if we say that we know Jesus then we must be prepared to embody the infinite forgiveness of Jesus. By doing so we bring Jesus to them and who knows it may be through us that they will have an awareness of the living presence of Jesus. 

Third, we must renew our lives, we therefore have to walk away from anything that makes us sin. Sin by its mere appearance is actually attractive and enticing. But beneath its attractive and enticing appearance is a destructive force that can cost us enormously if we will not completely walk away from it.    

Are you already watchful and alert for the coming of the Lord?  - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 29, Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento: Marcos 13:33-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 13:33-37

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 33 Mag-ingat kayo at magpuyat: hindi nga ninyo alam kung kailan ang oras. 34 Ipagpalagay natin na nangingibang bayan ang isang tao. Iniiwan niya ang kanyang bahay at ipinagkakatiwala ang lahat sa kanyang mga utusan. 

May kanya-kanya silang tungkulin at inutusan niyang magbantay ang bantay pinto. 35 Kaya magbantay kayo sapagkat hindi ninyo alam ang oras ng pagdating ng may-ari, kung hapon o hating-gabi o madaling araw. 36 At baka bigla siyang du-mating, at madatnan kayong natutulog. 37 Kaya sinasabi ko rin sa lahat ang sinasabi kong ito sa inyo: Magbantay.”

Reflection for November 28, Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:34-36

Gospel: Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. 

For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Reflection:

What is the best protection against the uncertainties and anxieties of this world?  Our best protection is our connection with Jesus. Connection that will cost us nothing except a little of our time. We connect with Jesus when we pray, we talk and establish contact with Him through our fervent prayer life.   

What does prayer do to us? It gives us inner peace. We are always calm amidst the struggles and complexities of daily life. Active prayer life prepares us for whatever eventualities that life may bring us. 

Calamities, unforeseen disasters and the threat of wars happen every now and then and often times it catch us unexpectedly and it disturbs us. But if we are always prepared spiritually we would somehow learn to cope with it emotionally and we would still be calm. 

The world that we are in right now is so uncertain we don’t know what may happen next. For example, the covid-19 pandemic nobody expected it to happen but it happened. The threat of war and terrorism in many parts of the world is real and it’s happening. We therefore have to pray for peace and ask Jesus to make our world more peaceful.    

In the gospel for today Jesus told the disciples: “Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).” – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 28 Sabado sa Ika-34 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 21:34-36

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:34-36

sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 34 Mag-ingat kayo’t baka bumigat ang in¬yong mga isip sa mga bisyo, pag¬lalasing at mga intindihin sa buhay. 

At baka bigla kayong datnan ng araw na iyon. 35 Babagsak itong parang bitag sa lahat ng nasa lupa. 36 Kaya lagi kayong magbantay at manalangin para maging marapat na makatakas sa lahat ng mangyayaring ito at makaharap sa Anak ng Tao.”

Reflection for November 27, Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:29-33

Gospel: Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. 

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

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Reflection:

Is the kingdom of God already dwelling in your heart? If you’ve already learned to let go of your hurts, resentments your high sense of yourself the kingdom of God is already dwelling in your heart. If you’ve already surrendered your life under God’s care and disposition; God’s kingdom is already dwelling in your heart. 

Growing old is the dread of some, more so when they notice the graying of their hair and the sagging of their skin. This is the reason why they try to dye their hair and they go to facial clinic to conceal the advancement of their age.  

As we face this slow but sure change of our body’s appearance we are reminded that we are slowly but surely nearing our departure date from this world. We fear this occurrence especially for those who are not prepared. But why fear? This is the simple flow of life; and we all will pass through this experience. 

If we have not done anything wrong we have nothing to fear. If we are close to Jesus we have nothing to fear, if we are always present during Holy Mass we have nothing to fear. If we read the bible we have nothing to fear. Even death itself we will not fear for this is the last hurdle going to the eternal Kingdom of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 27 Biyernes sa Ika-34 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 21:29-33

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:29-33

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila ang isang talinhaga: “Tingnan ninyo ang pu­nong-igos at ang ibang mga puno. 30 Pagkakita ninyong nagdadahon na ang mga ito, alam ninyong malapit na ang tag-init.  

31 Gayundin naman, pag napansin ninyo ang mga ito, alamin ninyong malapit na ang pag­hahari ng Diyos. 32 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na hindi lilipas ang salinlahing ito at mangyayari ang lahat ng ito. 33 Lilipas ang langit at lupa ngunit hindi lilipas ang aking mga salita.

Reflection for November 26, Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:20-28

Gospel: Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled. 

Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

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Reflection:

What makes you afraid? Are you afraid of the end of this world? 

Jesus talks about a very frightening scenario in the gospel. But at the same time at the end He also tells us that there shall be redemption. We also have our own share of frightening scenarios in our lives. Problems, trials, persecution and we may feel that this is already the end for us and this kind of scenario would test us. 

Let us continue to steadfastly hold on to God, let us not let go no matter how difficult our trials. For at the end there shall be redemption for us also. If we have God nobody could bring us down not even the occurrence of the end times. 

However, there are times that many of us give up but why give up when God has not given up upon us? God is always there for us to assure us that everything will be alright no matter how difficult and frightening the situation before us.  

Let us not allow the signs of the end times to weaken us. For the simple reason that there is always hope for as long as we continue to have faith in Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 26 Huwebes sa Ika-34 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 21:20-28

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:20-28

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 20 Kung makita ninyong nakubkob na ng mga hukbo ang Jerusalem, alamin ninyong sumapit na ang kanyang pagka­wasak. 21 Kaya tumakas pa-bundok ang mga nasa Judea, umalis ang mga nasa lunsod, at huwag nang bumalik doon ang mga nasa bukid. 

22 Sapagkat ito ang mga araw ng  paghihiganti sa kanya para matupad ang lahat ng nasa Kasu­latan. 23 Sawimpalad ang mga nagdadalantao o mga inang nagpapasuso sa mga araw na iyon. Sapagkat matindi ang sasapit na kapa­hamakan sa lupain at ang galit sa bayang ito. 4 Mamamatay sila sa tabak, dadal­hing bihag sa lahat ng bansa, at yuyu­ra­kan ng mga bansang pagano ang Jerusalem hanggang mabuo ang pana­hon ng mga bansa. 

25 Magkakaroon ng mga tanda sa araw, buwan at mga bituin. Sa lupa’y manga­ngamba ang mga bansa dahil sa ugong at alon ng dagat, at wala silang maga­gawa. 26 Hihimatayin ang mga tao dahil sa takot at pagkabahala sa mga sasapitin ng sanlibutan sapagkat mayayanig ang mga puwersa ng san­libutan. 27 At makikita nila ang Anak ng Tao na dumarating na nasa ulap na may Kapangyarihan at ganap na Luwalhati. 

28 Kung magsimula nang maganap ang mga ito, tumindig kayo at tumunghay dahil palapit na ang inyong katubusan.”

1Reflection for November 25, Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:12-19

 

Gospel: Luke 21:12-19

(Jesus said to His disciples) Before the end happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. 

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

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Reflection:

Have you already suffered for faithfully following Jesus and are all of these sufferings all worth it? Every suffering that we go through for Jesus is all worth it. The people of this world will surely not agree and understand but it’s all worth it! 

If we suffer poverty for Jesus’ sake, if we are persecuted for following Jesus. And if the events in our lives are not turning out well based on worldly standards because we choose to follow Jesus. Let us not worry for someday in the great beyond we will surely receive our reward. 

Are all the worldly appendages that we blindly chase and have worth it? No it’s not because it can slip out of our hands anytime. So, why are so many of us are so blinded by these worldly things? We covet it as if our life hinges on it. 

At the end of our lives only one will matter and that’s none other than our faithfulness to Jesus. Let us therefore strive to get closer to Jesus than obsessively striving to possess the fragile and passing offerings of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 25 Miyerkules sa Ika-34 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 21:12-19

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:12-19

12 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, bago sumapit ang lahat ng ito, dadakipin kayo at uusigin; ibibigay kayo sa mga sinagoga at dadalhin sa mga kulungan at ihaharap sa mga hari at mga gobernador dahil sa aking pangalan. 13 Sasapit ito sa inyo para makapag­pa­totoo kayo sa akin. 

14 Isaisip ninyo na huwag ikabalisa ang pagtatanggol sa inyong sarili 15 dahil ako mismo ang magbibigay sa inyo ng mga salita at karunungang di matata­galan o masasagot ng lahat ninyong ka­away. 

16 Ipagkakanulo kayo ng inyong mga magulang, mga kapatid, mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan, at papatayin nila ang ilan sa inyo. 17 At kamumuhian kayo ng lahat dahil sa aking pangalan. 18 Su­balit hindi maaano isa mang buhok sa inyong ulo. 19 Sa in­yong pagpapaka­tatag, ang mga sarili ninyo mis­mo ang inyong makakamit.