Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 19 Biyernes, San Jose, Kabiyak ng Mahal na Birheng Maria (Dakilang Kapistahan): Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

16 Si Jacob ang ama ni Jose – ang asawa ni Maria na siyang pinagmulan ni Jesus na tinawag na Kristo. 

18 Ganito ipinanganak si Jesucristo. Ipinag­kasundo na kay Jose ang kanyang inang si Maria pero bago sila nagsama bilang mag-asawa, nagdadalantao na siya gawa ng Espiritu Santo. 19 Kaya binalak ni Jose na hiwalayan nang lihim ang kanyang asawa. Matuwid nga siya at ayaw niya itong mapahiya. 

20 Habang iniisip-isip niya ito, napa­kita sa kanya sa panaginip ang Anghel ng Panginoon at sinabi: “Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tang­ga­pin si Maria bilang iyong asawa. Gawa ng Espi­ritu Santo kaya siya naglihi, 21 at ma­nga­nganak siya ng isang sanggol na lalaki, na panga­ngalanan mong Jesus sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang samba­yanan mula sa kanilang mga kasa­lanan.”  

24 Kaya pagka¬gising ni Jose, ginawa niya ang sinabi ng Anghel ng Panginoon at tinang¬gap niya ang kanyang asawa.

Reflection for March 18 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:31-47

Gospel: John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. 

He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. 

But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. 

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? 

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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Reflection:

How are you as a witness for Jesus? Do you live and share His teachings? A good witness for Jesus is someone who walks with Him all through the seasons of his/her life. What would you get for witnessing for Jesus? 

There would be instances that you would be ridiculed. It doesn’t matter anyway because everything is worth it for Jesus including the ridicules and chastisement. You may not immediately see the fruits of your witnessing for Jesus but in His own perfect time you shall harvest those fruits. 

In our gospel Jesus mentions John the Baptist who prepared the way for Him. John told those who were acclaiming him to be the messiah that he was not. He told them that somebody greater is to come after him and He was none other than Jesus. 

John was an effective witness for Jesus because he did not grab the credit that was only due for the Lord. He was content to fade away so that Jesus would be highlighted more. With John’s witness for Jesus we are educated about lessons on witnessing and humility.  

That humility is one of the best if not the best virtue that we could harness so that we can effectively bring and lead others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 18 Huwebes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:31-47

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:31-47

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 31 Kung nagpapatunay ako sa aking sarili, di  mapanghahawakan ang aking patunay. 32 Ngunit iba ang nagpapa­tunay tungkol sa akin at alam kong mapang­hahawakan ang patunay niya tungkol sa akin. 33 Nagpasugo kayo kay Juan at binigyang-patunay niya ang katotohanan. 34 Ipinaaalaala ko ito para maligtas kayo; ngunit hindi ko hangad ang patunay mula sa tao. 35 Siya nga ang ilaw na may sindi at nagniningning, at ginusto n’yong magalak pansaman­tala sa kanyang liwanag.  

36 May patunay naman ako na higit pa kaysa kay Juan – ang mga gawang bigay sa akin ng Ama upang tuparin ko ang mga iyon. Ang mga gawa mismong ginagawa ko ang nagpapatunay na sinugo ako ng Ama. 37 At nagpapatunay rin sa akin ang Amang nagsugo sa akin. Kailanma’y di ninyo narinig ang kanyang tinig ni    nakita ang kanyang anyo. 38 At hindi rin nama­malagi sa inyo ang kanyang salita dahil hindi kayo naniniwala sa kanyang sinugo.  

39 Sinasaliksik ninyo ang mga Kasu­latan dahil inaakala ninyong doon kayo magkakaroon ng buhay magpa­kailan­man. Nagpapatunay nga sa akin ang mga iyon 40 ngunit ayaw n’­yong luma­pit sa akin para mabuhay. 41 Hindi ko hangad ang papuri mula sa mga tao, 42 ngunit kilala ko kayo: wala sa inyong sarili ang pagmamahal sa Diyos.  

43 Sa ngalan ng aking Ama ako dumating at hindi n’yo ako tinatanggap; kung sakaling may dumating sa sarili niyang ngalan, siya ang inyong tatang­gapin. 44 Paano kayo makapani­niwala kung pa­puri sa isa’t isa ang hangad n’yo at hindi ang papuring galing sa tanging Diyos ang hangad? 45 Huwag n’yong akalain na ako ang mag­sasakdal laban sa inyo sa harap ng Ama. Si Moises ang nagsa­sakdal laban sa inyo, siya na inyong inaasahan.  

46 Kung pinaniwalaan nga nin­yo si Moises, pani­niwalaan din sana ninyo ako sapagkat tungkol sa akin siya nag­sulat. 47 Ngu­nit kung hindi n’yo panini­walaan ang kan­yang mga sinulat, paano n’yo pani­niwa­laan ang aking mga pananalita?

1Reflection for March 17 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:17-30

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. 

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 

For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. 

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

What does faith do to us? It makes us believe in something that is hard to believe for many. 

In the gospel Jesus mentions of His equality with God.  Do you believe it? If you do, count yourself as blessed for others do not believe. After believing in the equality of Jesus and God the Father, what should you do next? You must obey His teachings and help Him spread the good news of His salvation for this is His will for you. 

As we journey in this world there would be instances that we would veer away from Jesus and disobey His commands. We would embrace the teachings of this world, we would embrace sin and in the process we slowly but surely are creating distance between us and Jesus. 

But all is not lost no matter how despicable the sins that we have committed. The infinite love of Jesus is always there for us, it’s there for us to take and to ask for. Therefore, let us be aware of this infinite love and mercy of Jesus while we still have the luxury of time in this world. Let us go to Him and let us turn our backs from sin. 

In the latter part of the gospel Jesus mentions about judgment that would befall those who have done evil. Let us not wait for that judgment to come to us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 17 Miyerkules sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:17-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:17-30

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio: “Gumagawa pa rin ang aking Ama kaya gumagawa rin ako.”  Kaya lalo pang hinangad ng mga Judio na patayin siya dahil dito sapag¬kat hindi lamang niya nilalabag ang Araw ng Pahinga kundi sariling Ama pa ang tawag niya sa Diyos, at ipinapantay niya ang sarili sa Diyos.

 Kaya sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi makagagawa ng anuman sa sariling kusa ang Anak maliban sa naki¬kita niyang gina¬gawa ng Ama. Anu¬man ang gawin niya, ganoon din ang pag¬gawa ng Anak. Sapagkat mahal ng Ama ang Anak, at itinuro niya sa kanya ang lahat niyang gina¬gawa. At mas maha¬laga pang mga gawa ang ituturo niya kayat mamamang¬ha kayo. 

Ibinabangon nga ng Ama ang mga patay at binibigyang-buhay; gayun¬din naman binibigyang-buhay ng Anak ang sinumang loobin niya. At hinding-hindi nga hinahatulan ng Ama ang sinuman kundi ibinigay niya sa Anak ang buong paghatol at pararangalan ng lahat ang Anak gaya ng pagpapara¬ngal nila sa Ama. Ang hindi nagpapara¬ngal sa Anak ay hindi nagpapa¬rangal sa Amang nagpa¬dala sa kanya. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na may buhay magpakailanman ang nakikinig sa aking salita at nani¬niwala sa nagpadala sa akin. Nakatawid na siya mula sa kamatayan tungo sa buhay, at hindi siya humahantong sa paghu¬hukom. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na dumarating na ang oras, at nga¬yon na nga, na maririnig ng mga patay ang tinig ng Anak ng Diyos at mabubuhay ang mga nakaririnig. 26 May Buhay ang Ama sa kanyang sarili, gayun¬din naman, ibinigay niya sa Anak na magkaroon ng buhay sa kan¬yang sarili. At ibinigay din niya sa kanya ang kapangyarihang maghu¬kom sapagkat anak siya ng tao. 

Huwag n’yo na itong pagtakhan: dumarating ang oras na maririnig ng lahat ng nasa libingan ang tinig niya at mag¬sisilabas sila: sa pag¬ba¬ngon sa buhay ang mga gumawa ng ma¬buti, at sa pagbangon naman sa kapahamakan ang mga gumawa ng masama.

Wala akong magagawa sa sariling kusa. Ayon sa naririnig ko ako naghu¬hukom. At matuwid ang paghuhukom ko dahil hindi sariling kalooban ang hangad ko kundi ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin. 

1Reflection for March 16 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk. Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. 

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat. He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk. They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’? 

The man who was healed did not know who it was for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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Reflection:

How does it feel to be sick? Those who got sick already would answer that it doesn’t feel good to be sick for you feel weak and can’t function properly. Absurd as it may sound but sickness is sometimes God’s gift to us for it’s through our sickness that we get to know God more deeply. It’s through our getting sick that we are reawakened of the presence of God. 

The blind man in our gospel had this kind of experience. He was beside the pool waiting for someone to help him immerse in the pool. He didn’t know Jesus thus he did not ask Jesus to heal him.  Jesus by Himself desired to appear to this man and He healed him right there. If the man was not sick Jesus would not have appeared to him.   

It’s through our sickness often times that Jesus strongly manifest Himself to us. Through our getting sick we get a clearer picture of who Jesus is. If Jesus healed the man in our gospel without asking for it, would He not heal us as well? We who know Him and we who always pray to Him.    

There's always a silver lining when we get sick, we may not know it immediately but there's certainly a silver lining. And the silver lining is to have that golden opportunity to know Jesus more deeply. 

Do you always call on Jesus when you are sick? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 16 Martes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:1-16

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:1-16

1 Piyesta ng mga Judio at umahon pa-Jerusalem si Jesus. 2 May isang palan­guyan sa Jerusalem na Betzata ang tawag sa Hebreo, ma­lapit sa Pintuan ng mga Tupa. May limang pasilyo ito na may bubong. 3 Nakahandusay sa mga ito ang isang pulutong ng mga may­sakit, mga bulag, mga pilay at mga lumpo (habang naghi­hintay sa pagkilos ng tubig. 

4 Sa­pagkat pa­minsan-minsa’y bumababa sa pala­ngu­yan ang Anghel ng Panginoon at kinakalawkaw ang tubig. At umiigi sa anumang sakit ang unang makalusong matapos makalaw­kaw ang tubig.). 5 At doo’y may taong tatlumpu’t walong taon nang may sakit. 

6 Pagkakita ni Jesus dito na na­ka­han­dusay at pagkaalam niya na mata­gal na ito roon, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Gusto mo bang umigi?” 7 Sumagot sa kanya ang maysakit: “Wala po akong taong maka­paghahagis sa akin sa palanguyan kapag nakalawkaw na ang tubig. Habang paroon pa ako, may lumulusong nang una sa akin.” 

8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buma­ngon ka, buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at maglakad-lakad!” 9 At dagling umigi ang tao, at binuhat niya ang kanyang higaan at naglakad-lakad. Araw nga ng Pahinga ang araw na iyon. 10 Kaya sinabi ng mga Judio sa taong pinaga­ling: “Araw ng Pahinga ngayon at di ipinahihintulot na mag­buhat ka ng higaan. 

11 Su­magot siya sa kanila: “Ang nag­paigi sa akin ang siyang nagsabi sa aking “Buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at lumakad ka.” 12 Tina­nong nila siya: “Sino ang taong nagsabi sa iyong ‘Magbu­hat at mag­lakad-lakad?” 13 Ngu­nit hindi alam ng pinagaling kung sino siya, sapagkat naka­talilis si Jesus dahil maraming tao sa lugar na iyon.  

14 Pagkatapos nito, natagpuan siya ni Jesus sa Templo at sinabi niya sa kanya: “Hayan, maigi ka na. Huwag ka nang mag­­kasala pa, at baka may masa­hol pang mangyari sa iyo.” 15 Uma­lis ang tao at sinabi sa mga Judio na si Jesus ang nagpaigi sa kanya. 16 Dahil dito, inusig ng mga Judio si Jesus sapagkat sa Araw ng Pahinga niya ginawa ang mga ito.

Reflection for March 15 Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54

43 After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.  

And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live."  

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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Reflection:

How profound is your faith in Jesus?  

To have faith is to believe in something that you don’t see yet. The official in the gospel who begged Jesus to heal his sick son has this kind of faith. He wanted Jesus to go and personally heal his son who at that time was near death.  

But Jesus did not give in to his request, Jesus simply told the official, “Go; your son will live.” So he went home without Jesus but with faith in the words of Jesus in his heart. And when he arrived home his son was already recovering.  

To believe in something that we don’t see yet is very difficult to do most especially for those who have feeble faith. But for those who have faith, they will believe no matter the odds against them. If the official in our gospel did not believe in Jesus his son would surely not been healed. But he believed!  

We all have our own petitions before the Lord. He asks us nothing but to have faith for He will take care of everything. What are your petitions before Jesus? Simply believe, have faith and work for it also for He will never fail you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 15 Lunes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 4:43-54

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4: 43-54

43 Pagkatapos ng dalawang araw, umalis si Jesus pa-Galilea. 44 Nagpa­tunay nga mismo si Jesus na hindi pina­rarangalan ang isang propeta sa sariling bayan. 45 Gayon pa man, pag­dating niya sa Galilea, tinanggap siya ng mga Galileo dahil nasaksihan nila ang lahat ng ginawa niya sa Piyesta sa Jerusalem. Na­roon nga rin sila mismo sa Piyesta.  

• 46 Nagpunta siyang muli sa Kana ng Galilea, doon niya ginawang alak ang tubig. At nangyari, na ang anak na lalaki ng isang opis­yal ng hari ay maysakit sa Capernaum. 47 Nang marinig niyang dumating si Jesus sa Gali­lea galing Judea, pinuntahan niya siya at ipi­naki­usap na lumusong at pagalingin ang kanyang anak na nasa bingit ng kama­tayan.  

48 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Hang­ga’t hindi kayo naka­kakita ng mga tanda at mga kaba­ba­­laghan, hindi kayo mani­ni­wala.” 49 Sinabi naman sa kanya ng opis­yal: “Lumusong kayo bago mama­tay ang anak ko.” 50 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Makauuwi ka na. Buhay ang anak mo.” Naniwala ang tao sa salitang sinabi sa kan­ya ni Jesus at umuwi siya.  

51 At habang palusong na siya, sina­lubong siya ng kanyang mga alipin at sinabing buhay ang anak niya. 52 Ina­lam niya sa kanila ang oras nang magsimula siyang umigi, at sinabi nila: “Kaha­­pon po nang ala-una ng tanghali siya inibsan ng lag­nat.” 53 Kaya nalaman ng ama na ito ang oras nang sabihin sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buhay ang anak mo.” At na­niwala siya at ang buo niyang samba­hayan. 54 Ginawa ni Jesus ang ikalawang tan­dang ito pagkarating niya sa Galilea galing Judea.

Reflection for Sunday March 14, Fourth Sunday of Lent: John 3:14-21

Gospel: John 3:14-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who was being convinced by her neighbor to leave the Catholic Church. So, the woman asked her neighbor, “Why would I leave the Catholic church to join your church?” The neighbor said to her: “Because you have images in your church which is prohibited in the bible and you worship those images.” The woman said: To have images are allowed in the bible and we don’t worship those images.  

Why do we have images in the Catholic Church? Is there a specific passage in the bible that refers to this? There are actually many passages in the bible that God commanded his people to create images. One of these is cited in the gospel reading for today. (Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Jesus was referring in this Old Testament passage (Numbers 21:4-9). Then, Jesus said: “So that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” 

Those who are deep in their Catholic faith know what Jesus is talking about. We know that our deep faith in Him will carry us through eternal life. We know that our life here on earth is just temporary and fleeting and this can be taken away from us anytime. But we don’t worry about it for we know what awaits us in our afterlife.  

Let us shift our attention to this bible passage: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  

The love of God for us is always ours for the taking it’s perpetually there for us and it’s free it’s given by God to us without strings attached on it. God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. Can we fathom God’s love for us? No we cannot! Our finite minds will not be able to comprehend the infinity of God’s love.  

How come that there are those who are not aware of this eternal love of God? The answer to this question is very simple—their life is so much taken by the lure of riches, trappings and worries of this temporary world. This is the reason why they are not aware of this great love of God.  

If only we would make ourselves available for Holy Mass most especially Sunday Holy Mass If only we would regularly find time to read the bible the grace of the Holy Spirit would be upon us. And it would slowly but surely give us the gift of awareness of the love of God.  

Let us always make time to know more about God, let us nurture it until it blossoms in our hearts. Why? Because the time we invest with God will become our key to the doorway of heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 14, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 3:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:14-21

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang ahas sa disyerto, gayundin dapat itaas ang Anak ng Tao 15 upang mag­karoon ng buhay magpakailanman ang bawat nananalig sa kanya. Ganito nga kamahal ng Diyos ang mundo! Kayat ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak upang hindi na ma­wala ang bawat nananalig sa kanya kundi magkaroon ng buhay magpa­kailanman. 

Hindi nga sinugo ng Diyos sa mundo ang Anak upang hukuman ang mundo kundi upang maligtas ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya. 18 Hindi hinuhukuman ang nananalig sa kanya. Ngunit hinu-kuman na ang hindi nana­nalig pagkat hindi siya nananalig sa Ngalan ng bugtong na Anak ng Diyos.  

Ito ang paghuhukom: dumating sa mundo ang liwanag pero mas minahal pa ng mga tao ang karimlan kaysa liwanag sapagkat masasama ang kanilang gawa. 20 Ang gumagawa ng masama’y napopoot nga sa liwanag at hindi lumalapit sa liwanag, at baka malantad ang kanyang mga gawa. 21 Lumalapit naman sa liwanag ang gumagawa ng katotohanan upang mabunyag na sa Diyos ginagawa ang kanyang mga gawa. 

1Reflection for March 13 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. 

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

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Reflection:

Have you tried practicing the virtue of humility? When you practice humility all things will be alright with you. For example, you will not anymore harbor resentment and anger towards anyone and your day will be free from any form of stress. 

You will have a positive disposition, you will be able to accept whatever that may come to you even humiliation and trials no matter how severe. Your fellowmen will silently look up to you and admire you without you noticing it. 

Humility therefore is like an effective medicine that cures us: it cures us of our arrogance, our need for attention and most importantly it brings us an awareness of our own sinfulness and our need to get close and be forgiven by God. 

In our gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector that went to the temple to pray. The tax collector obviously wants to live a new life, and he wants to be reconciled with God. Moreover, he obviously wants to be cured of his sinfulness that’s why he humbly submitted himself to God and God did not disappoint the tax collector. 

We have everything to gain and nothing to lose if we decide to imbibe and live humility. We will have a positive disposition, we will have peace and contentment and most importantly we will gain the forgiveness of our merciful God. 

Are we ready to abandon ourselves to God by humbly acknowledging our own sinfulness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 13 Sabado sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

9 Sinabi ni Jesus ang talinha­gang ito tungkol sa ilang taong kumbinsido na mabuti sila at minamata naman ang iba: 10  “Dalawang tao ang umakyat sa Templo para mana­langin: Pariseo ang isa at publikano naman ang isa pa. 11 Nakata­yong na­na­na­la­nging mag-isa ang Pari­seo. Si­nabi niya: ‘O Diyos, salamat at hindi ako gaya ng ibang mga tao – mga magnanakaw, mandaraya, nakikiapid, o gaya ng ko­lek­tor ng buwis na iyan. 12 Da­­lawang beses akong nag-aayuno isang linggo, nagbibigay ako ng ikapu sa lahat kong ari-arian.’  

13 Nasa likuran naman ang kolektor ng buwis at hindi man lang makatingala sa langit. Dinadagukan niya ang dibdib sa pagsasabing ‘O Diyos, kaawaan mo ako na isang makasala­nan.’

14 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ito ang umu­wing nasa grasya ng Diyos ngunit hindi ang isa. Sa­pagkat ibababa ang la­hat ng nagpapakataas at itataas naman ang nagpapakababa.”

Reflection for March 12 Friday of the Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  

The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus give us these two timeless and greatest commandments about love? Because we need these two instructions about love to heal the world of its many sufferings. For example if only there’s authentic love for God in the hearts of the rich there would be no more suffering and hunger amongst the poor. 

But many of them don’t have the love of God in their hearts that’s why they continue to oppress and take advantage of the poor. They love themselves more than God, they love temporal power more than they love the people of God. 

Let us hear the command of God to us: Let us love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. Let us also allow God to use us as his vehicle so that those who are alien to the love of God would feel it through us. And those who don’t know God will come to know God  because of our unconditional love for them. 

Let us little by little conquer the enmity of this world with our love for God and for our neighbors. And let us not only love those who will love us back or those who are lovable to our eyes. 

Let us also love even those who have hurt us deeply and those who have been making life difficult for us because it’s through our exercise of unconditional love for them they would be enlightened of God’s love.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas