Reflection for October 19, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.  

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

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Reflection:

Why does Jesus tells us to be vigilant? Because we never know when he will come, He may come any day that we least expect. This is how much Jesus loves us! If Jesus doesn’t love us He wouldn’t bother to tell us to be prepared. But in truth and in fact Jesus loves us dearly, are we able to reciprocate this great love of Jesus for us?  

If we continue to do good; if we continue to be humble, if we are able to attend Holy Mass if we continue to bring others closer to Jesus and if we can walk away from sin then we are prepared. Are these already enough preparation for the coming of the Lord? We never know for we don’t have the capacity to read the mind of God.  

Nevertheless, Jesus has already given us the lead on how we can best prepare ourselves for the great coming of the Lord. What if we are not prepared? We have nobody to blame but ourselves for this simply means that we refused to heed the call of Jesus.  

Yet, there are many who live their life as if they own it for themselves, as if they are in control of their lives. But nobody is in control except Jesus that’s why we must always be prepared.  

Life is never permanent we may be in the pink of health today but we never know what may happen to us the next day or even the next minute. We never know if the breath that we will take before we sleep tonight is our last or not, this is how fragile life is.  

This gospel is a wake up call for all of us to always be prepared. Are you always prepared? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 19 Martes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:35-38

 

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:35-38

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

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

Reflection for October 18, Monday Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household. If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you cure the sick in it and say to them ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus send the seventy-two disciples in pairs? Jesus could have sent them one by one so that they could cover more ground thus the spread of the gospel would be much faster. But Jesus chose them to go in pairs. 

In pairs for the reason that He wanted them to help each other in doing their mission for Him.   Jesus had it already in His mind that to do His mission is realistically not that easy. So, He deemed it right and wise to send them in pairs for them to help each other as they face the many challenges of their mission. 

Why do we exist in this world? Do we exist for ourselves only? Of course not! We exist in this world for a reason. And that reason is to help our fellowmen; we need to extend to them the good news about Jesus. We need to feed the hungry; we need to clothe those who do not have clothes. And we need to give hope to those who are losing hope.   

This is our vocation and mission as followers and missioners of Christ Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 18 Lunes; San Lucas ebanghelista (Kapistahan) Lucas 10:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:1-9

1 Pagkatapos nito, humirang ang Panginoon ng iba pang pitumpu’t dalawa at isinugo silang dala-dalawa na mauna sa kanya sa bawat ba­yan at lugar na takda niyang pun­tahan. 2 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Marami nga ang aanihin at kakaunti naman ang mga mang­gagawa; idalangin ninyo sa panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang ani. 3 Lumakad na kayo. Isinusugo ko ka­yong parang mga tupa sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat. 4 Huwag kayong magdala ng pitaka, bag o mga sandalyas. At huwag ninyong ba­tiin ang sinuman sa daan. 

5 Saanmang bahay kayo pumasok, sa­bihin muna ninyo: ‘Mapasatahanang ito ang kapayapaan!’ 6 Kung mapaya­pang tao ang naroon, sasakanya ang inyong kapayapaan. Kung hindi’y mag­babalik sa inyo ang inyong dasal. 7 At sa bahay na iyon kayo manatili; kumain kayo at umi­nom na kasalo nila sapag­kat may karapatan ang manggagawa sa kanyang sa­hod. Huwag kayong magpapapalit-palit ng bahay. 

• 8 Saanmang bayan kayo pumasok at tanggapin nila kayo, kanin ninyo anu­mang ihain sa inyo. 9 Pagalingin din ninyo ang mga maysakit doon at sabihin ninyo sa kanila: ‘Palapit na sa inyo ang kaha­rian ng Diyos.’

 

Reflection for Sunday October 17, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:35-45

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.  

Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.  

Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.  

For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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 Reflection:

The story is told about a young man who saw the arrival of their bishop in their parish church. The young man was so overwhelmed by the respect that was being given by the parishioners to the bishop. Many were bowing to him; some were holding his right hand so that they could put it on their forehead for them to be blessed.  Others were lining up to kiss the bishop’s ring. The young man was so impressed by what he saw that he said to his parents, I want to become a bishop someday so that I will also be admired and respected. 

James and John were also after respect and admiration this is the reason why they asked Jesus if they could sit beside Him in His kingdom. They wanted those who would see them to be  in awe by the influence that they have. Imagine sitting beside the Lord, it is a badge of honor; it is something that will make any believer proud. But Jesus rebuked them by saying, “You do not know what you are asking.” 

Why do we aspire for respect and admiration? Do we want it because it enhances our self-worth and ego? Do we want it for the reason that we want others to look up to us and perceive us as someone who is influential? It is all of the above and more, whether we admit it or not many of us are craving for self-centered honor to be bestowed upon us for we hunger and love it.       

But in Jesus’ viewpoint self-centered honor, egotism, and every kind of action for us to be adored and exalted amounts to nothing. Because Jesus himself shunned all of these exaltation, Jesus avoided it like a plague. What is important for Jesus is to follow the will of God and that is none other than humble service to His people. This eventually led Him to suffer and eventually sacrifice His very own life on the cross.   

We ask ourselves now: Why do we aspire to be great, to be popular and to be admired. The answer is no brainer: Many of us simply want to increase our temporal human value, we want to feed our hungry egos. But all of these are self-promotion which does not count in the eyes of the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Octobre 17 Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:35-45

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:35-45

35 Lumapit noon kay Jesus sina Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo, at sinabi sa kanya: “Guro, gusto sana naming gawin mo ang hihingin namin sa iyo.” 36 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Ano ang gusto ninyong gawin ko?” 37 Su­magot sila: “Ipagkaloob mo sa amin sa iyong kaluwalhatian na maupo ang isa sa amin sa kanan mo, at ang isa naman sa kaliwa mo.”

38 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Talagang hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang hinihingi ninyo. Maiinom ba ninyo ang kopang iinumin ko at mabi­bin­yagan sa binyag na ibinin­yag sa akin?” 39 Su­magot sila: “Kaya namin.” Sumagot si Jesus: “Totoong iinom din kayo sa kopang iinumin ko at mabi­binyagan sa binyag na ibi­binyag sa akin. 40 Ngu­nit wala sa akin ang pag­papaupo sa aking kanan o kaliwa. Ini­handa ito para sa  iba.”

41 Nang marinig ito ng sampu, nagalit sila kina Jaime at Juan. 42 Kaya tinawag sila ni Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Nalalaman ninyo na sinusupil ng mga naghahari ang kanilang mga bansa at inaapi ng mga nasa kapang­yarihan. 43 Huwag namang ganito sa inyo: ang may gustong maging dakila, siya ang maging lingkod ninyo; 44 ang may gustong mauna sa inyo, siya ang maging alipin ninyo.

45 Gayun­din naman, dumating ang Anak ng Tao hindi para paglingkuran kundi para mag­lingkod at ibigay ang kanyang buhay bilang pantubos sa ma­rami.”

Reflection for October 16, Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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Reflection:
Are you proud with your relationship with Jesus? Do you own it like a badge of honor? Of course you will say that you are proud. However, this not always true because there are instances that you betray Jesus for the fleeting things of this world.

The sad truth is our profession of love for Jesus is often times lip service only. When we are faced with temptation we oftentimes give up Jesus in favor of the fleeting temptation. When we are put on the spot to make a stand for Jesus we betray Him easily just like how Judas betrayed Jesus.

If we say that we love Jesus we must be proud of it and we must live it, we must not betray Jesus for the things of this world. For what is this world compared to having a relationship with our Lord and Savior?

What would it do us if we acquire all the things and cravings of this temporary world but in the process we lose our relationship with the Lord? Nothing except misery and problems! We always have to remember that what we presently own and have we will leave or it will leave us.

How about Jesus? He will never leave us, in good times and in bad, in our sorrows and triumphs and in life in this world and beyond this world. He will always be there for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 16 Sabado sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon Lucas 12:8-12

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:8-12

1 Nang magkatipon ang libu-libong tao hanggang magkatapakan na sila, sinimulang sabihin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Mag-ingat muna kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo, na walang iba kundi ang pag­ku­kunwari.  

2 Walang tinatakpan na di mabu­bun­yag, walang natatago na di malalaman. 3 Kaya naman, ang sinabi ninyo sa dilim, sa liwanag maririnig; at ang ibi­nulong ninyo sa mga kuwarto, sa bu­bu­­ngan ipahahayag. 

4 Sinasabi ko naman ito sa inyo na mga kaibigan ko: huwag ninyong kata­kutan ang mga nakapapatay sa katawan at wala nang magagawa pa. 5 Ituturo ko sa inyo kung sino ang dapat ninyong katakutan: matakot kayo sa may kapangyarihang pumatay at may ka­pangyarihan pang mag­bulid sa impiyer­no. 

Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, ito ang kata­kutan ninyo. 6 Di ba’t ipinag­bibili nang dala­wang pera ang limang maya? Subalit isa man sa kanila’y di nalilimutan ng Diyos. 7 Bilang na pati ang lahat ng buhok sa inyong ulo. Huwag ka­yong matakot; mas maha­laga pa kayo kaysa maraming maya.

Reflection for October 15, Friday Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 12:1-7

Gospel: Luke 12:1-7
At that time so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear.

Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
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Reflection:
Does God know everything about us?

Yes, God knows everything about us; including those sins that we think are known only to ourselves He knows too! What is the proof that God knows about it? The proof is our conscience which bothers us whenever we sin. These sins would continue to bother us until we ask forgiveness or we make amends to the person whom we have hurt.

God is an all-knowing and all-pervading God. We therefore have to shape up and walk away from sin while we still have the luxury of time. We also have to do away with the sinful thoughts that we keep in our minds.

It would be much better if we always align all our thoughts and actions with God. So that when our time to leave this world comes we would be ready. Thus, from here we go straight to the eternal dwelling of God.

However, we are weak human beings we often times sin but we can overcome this weakness if ask the Lord to help us overcome it and if we would strongly resolve to overcome it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 15 Biyernes Santa Teresa de Jesus, dalaga at pantas ng Iglesia (Paggunita) Lucas 12:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:1-7

1 Nang magkatipon ang libu-libong tao hanggang magkatapakan na sila, sinimulang sabihin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Mag-ingat muna kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo, na walang iba kundi ang pag¬ku¬kunwari.

2 Walang tinatakpan na di mabu¬bun¬yag, walang natatago na di malalaman. 3 Kaya naman, ang sinabi ninyo sa dilim, sa liwanag maririnig; at ang ibi¬nulong ninyo sa mga kuwarto, sa bubungan ipahahayag.

4 Sinasabi ko naman ito sa inyo na mga kaibigan ko: huwag ninyong kata¬kutan ang mga nakapapatay sa katawan at wala nang magagawa pa. 5 Ituturo ko sa inyo kung sino ang dapat ninyong katakutan: matakot kayo sa may kapangyarihang pumatay at may ka¬pangyarihan pang mag¬bulid sa impiyerno.

Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, ito ang kata¬kutan ninyo. 6 Di ba’t ipinag¬bibili nang dala¬wang pera ang limang maya? Subalit isa man sa kanila’y di nalilimutan ng Diyos. 7 Bilang na pati ang lahat ng buhok sa inyong ulo. Huwag ka¬yong matakot; mas maha¬laga pa kayo kaysa maraming maya. 

Reflection for October 14, Thursday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. 

Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building.

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Why were the Pharisees and scribes angry with Jesus? It was for the reason that Jesus was telling the truth about their hypocrisy and double speak.  The truth hurts but Jesus doesn’t mince words He tells it as He sees it.  So Jesus tells it directly to them without fear because He wants them to open their minds about their pretentions and double standard. 

When somebody corrects us and tells negative things about us; let us accept it as a constructive criticism and let us look at it on a positive way.  Where we can learn and further improve, if we close our minds to criticism it’s like saying that we don’t want to improve. And those who do not want to improve and those who refuse correction would never become better individuals.   

Let us remember that nobody is perfect except God. We all have our own flaws and shortcomings and these are natural for we are imperfect humans. We all are subject to our own frailties and weakness.  What is important is we accept corrections and we make it as our reference point for us to become better and useful citizens of this fleeting world.   

Let us therefore always be humble let us be open to advice, let us always be open to corrections and let us make these as a springboard for us to become better citizens of this world and eventually beyond this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 14 Huwebes sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:47-54

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:47-54

Sinabi ni Jesus, 47 Sawimpalad kayong nagtatayo ng mga puntod sa mga prope­tang pinatay ng inyong mga ama. 48 Sa gayon ninyo inaamin at sinasang-ayunan ang mga ginawa ng inyong mga ama; iniligpit nila ang mga propeta, at maka­pagta­tayo na kayo ngayon. 

49 Nagsusugo ako sa kanila ng mga propeta at mga apostol ngunit uusigin nila at papatayin ang ilan sa ka­nila. 50 Ka­yat papapanagutin ang salin­lahing ito sa dugo ng lahat ng propeta, sa dugong na­buhos mula pa sa pagka­tatag ng mundo, 51 mula sa dugo ni Abel hanggang sa dugo ni Zacarias na nasawi sa pagitan ng altar at ng san­tuwaryo. Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, pa­pa­pa­nagutin ang salinlahing ito. 

52 Sawimpalad kayong mga guro ng Batas na umagaw sa susi ng kaalaman. Hindi na kayo pumasok at hinadlangan pa ninyo ang mga ma­kapapasok.” 53 Pagkatapos ay umalis si Jesus at sinimulan naman ng mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo na mahigpit na maki­pagtalo sa kanya. Pinapagsa­lita nila siya tungkol sa maraming bagay 54 at pilit na sinisilo sa anumang sinasabi niya.

  

Reflection for October 13, Wednesday of the Twenty-eight Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

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Reflection:

Do you live what you say? For example you will say to your children that they should live simply yet your lifestyle is not simple because you want expensive things. How will your children follow and believe what you say? 

Jesus is angry with the Pharisees because many of them were full of pretension their external actions were very much different from their internal thought. They command the people to do this and that yet they themselves were not willing to do it. 

What Jesus wants for the Pharisees then and for us now is to lead by example; let us mean what we say and live what we say. This is where we are often lacking, yes we go to church and yes we worship God. But do we translate these to living acts of faith? 

Let us not be like the Pharisees and the scholars of the law who are very good only in giving orders. Let us be like Jesus who put into action every word and phrase that He said.

 Jesus lived every word that He preached, for example Jesus preached simplicity of lifestyle, He therefore lived this simple lifestyle. Jesus preached about forgiveness, mercy and love and He lived His preaching of forgiveness, mercy and love as well.

Do you live a simple lifestyle and are you forgiving, merciful and loving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 13 Miyerkules sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 11:42-46

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 11:42-46

Sinabi ni Jesus, Sawimpalad kayong mga Pariseo! Nagba­bayad nga kayo ng ikapu ng yerbabuena at ng ruda at ng lahat ng gulay, at pinababayaan naman ninyo ang kataru­ngan at ang pag-ibig sa Diyos. Ito nga ang dapat gawin nang di kinaliligtaan ang mga iyon. 43 Sawimpalad kayong mga Pa­riseo! Gusto ninyong mabigyan ng pa­nguna­hing upuan sa mga sinagoga at mabati sa mga liwa­san. 44 Sawimpalad kayo, na parang mga naka­tagong libi­ngan, na inaapakan ng mga tao at di man lang nila namamalayan.” 

45 Nagsalita ang isang guro ng Batas: “Guro, iniinsulto mo rin kami sa pagsa­sabi mo ng mga ito.” 46 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Sawimpalad din ka­yong mga guro ng Batas! Ipinapapasan ninyo sa mga tao ang mga napakabibigat na pasanin, ngunit ni isang daliri ay ayaw ninyong igalaw para tulungan sila.