Reflection for October 26, Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:18-21

Gospel: Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” 

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

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Reflection:

Where does the kingdom of God begin in your life? 

The Kingdom of God starts small in your heart like a tiny mustard seed. If you would nurture it, it will have life until it grows big. Where others could benefit from it thus you become God’s instrument of blessing for others. 

But others don’t allow God’s Kingdom to take root in their hearts. They prefer the things of this world than God. They choose the temporary over what is eternal, the worldly over Godly.  We must not commit the same mistake. 

We should allow God to have His dwelling in our heart no matter how small, then we have to nurture it so that it could grow. Nurture it with prayers, reading the bible and other books that would help us grow in faith. 

We should also strive to be present at Holy Mass whenever we could most especially during Sundays. And of course, we should live our faith. If we would do all of these the kingdom of God would surely be upon us and it would grow. 

Will you allow the kingdom of God to have a permanent dwelling in your life so that God could bless others through you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 26 Martes sa Ika 30 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:18-21

18 Sinabi pa ni Jesus: “Ano ang katulad ng kaharian ng Diyos? Sa ano ito maiku­kumpara? 19 Tulad ito sa buto ng mustasa na kinuha ng isang tao at itinanim sa kanyang hardin: lumaki, naging parang puno at sumi­silong sa kanyang mga sanga ang mga ibon ng langit.” 

20 At sinabi niya uli: “Sa ano ko iku­kumpara ang kaharian ng Diyos? 21 Ka­tulad ito ng lebadura na kinuha ng isang babae at ibinaon sa tatlong takal ng harina hanggang umalsa ang buong masa.”

Reflection for October 25, Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:10-17

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. 

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? 

This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

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Reflection:

Was the woman crippled by a spirit listening to Jesus in the synagogue?   

Yes she was there on a Sabbath day listening to the Lord. This woman was also a follower and she had faith otherwise he would have not been cured from her sickness that had been making life very difficult for her for eighteen years. 

Do we still have time to listen to Jesus as well? Many of us have no more time to follow and listen to Jesus for the simple reason that we are so busy following and listening to the dictates of this material and temporary world. 

So what do we get from following the dictates of this material world? Nothing but stress and emptiness! Material riches no matter how huge will never give us contentment much less peace. Let us not be misled into following this world for it’s just like chasing the wind! We will not get anything by chasing the offerings of this world except stress and eventual sickness. 

Like the sick woman in the gospel, let us choose to follow Jesus and let us choose to listen more to Jesus than to listen to this temporary and materialistic world. For the simple reason that if you have the presence Jesus in your life He would always be there for you ever ready to help and heal you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 25 Lunes sa Ika 30 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:10-17

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:10-17

10 Nagtuturo si Jesus sa isang sinagoga sa Araw ng Pa­hinga, 11 at may isang babae roon. Labingwalong taon na siyang may espiritung nagbibigay-sakit; nagkaka­kandakuba na siya at di makatingala. 12 Pag­ka­kita sa kanya ni Jesus, tinawag siya nito at sinabi: “Ba­bae, lumaya ka sa iyong sakit.” 13 Ipinatong nito sa kanya ang mga kamay at agad na nakatayo nang tuwid ang babae at nagpuri sa Diyos. 

14 Nagalit ang pangulo ng sinagoga dahil nagpagaling si Jesus sa Araw ng Pahinga kaya sinabi niya sa mga tao: “May anim na araw para magtrabaho kaya sa mga araw na iyon kayo puma­rito para mapagaling, hindi sa Araw ng Pa­hinga!” 

15 Sinagot siya ng Panginoon: “Mga mapag­kunwari, hindi ba kinakalagan ng bawat isa sa inyo ang kanyang baka o asno mula sa sabsaban nito sa Araw ng Pahinga at inilalabas para painumin? 16 At isang babae naman ang narito na anak ni Abraham na labingwalong taon nang iginapos ni Satanas. Di ba siya dapat kalagan sa Araw ng Pahinga?” 

17 Napahiya ang lahat niyang kalaban pag­karinig sa kanya pero nagalak naman ang mga tao sa lahat ng kahanga-hangang gina­gawa ni Jesus. 

Reflection for Sunday October 24, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:46-52

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 

But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”  

The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

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Reflection:

What would happen if you don’t give up on something that you want to have? Sooner or later you will have what you want. What would happen if you have strong faith? You will never lose hope no matter the difficulties and challenges that you face in your life. 

We have in the gospel a blind man named Bartimaeus, because of his blindness there was no way for him to go to Jesus to ask for His healing touch. Therefore, upon hearing that Jesus was passing by he shouted his prayer to the Lord, “Jesus, son of David have pity on me.”  

 He was told to keep quite by those around him but he did not obey them he instead shouted louder once again: “Son of David have pity on me.” His persistence immediately bore fruit because Jesus heard him and the Lord subsequently called him and after a short conversation with Jesus the blind man was able to regain his sight and he became His follower. 

The healing of the blind man Bartimaeus shows us that there is hope even if we are in the darkest episodes of our lives there is hope. What is important is we do not give up no matter the difficulties so that we keep the fire of hope burning.  

What if Bartimaeus easily gave up? He could not have been healed by the Lord and he could not have become a follower of the Lord. Our prayers can move mountains so long as we never give up on our faith in the Lord.  

Do you have a prayer before the Lord? Don’t give up, continue to be persistent and continue to have faith because the good Lord will soon hear you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Octobre 24 Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:46-52

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:46-52

Noong panahong iyon, dumating si Hesus sa Jerico, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad at marami pang iba. Nang umaalis na sila roon, may naraanan silang isang bulag na nakaupo sa tabi ng daan at namamalimos. Siya’y si Bartimeo, anak ni Timeo. Nang marinig niyang naroon si Hesus na taga-Nazaret, sumigaw siya ng ganito: “Hesus, Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin!”  

Pinagsabihan siya ng mga tao at pinatatahimik, ngunit lalo pa siyang nagsisigaw, “Anak ni David, mahabag po kayo sa akin!” Tumigil si Hesus at kanyang sinabi, “Tawagin ninyo siya.” At tinawag nga nila ang bulag. “Lakasan mo ang iyong loob,” sabi nila. “Tumindig ka. Ipinatatawad ka niya.”  

Iniwaksi niya ang kanyang balabal, paluksong tumayo at lumapit kay Hesus. “Ano ang ibig mong gawin ko sa iyo?” tanong sa kanya ni Hesus. Sumagot ang bulag, “Guro, ibig ko po sanang makakita.” Sinabi ni Hesus, “Humayo ka; magaling ka na dahil sa iyong pananalig.” Noon di’y nakakita siya, at sumunod kay Hesus.  

Reflection for October 23, Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means!  

But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. 

So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

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Reflection:

What does sin do to us? It makes our life miserable and problematic but sin does not immediately show its true color. It sugarcoats itself first as pleasure or something that would make life enjoyable for us. Then when we are deep into it already it shows its hideous identity. 

Jesus through our gospel calls us to change our ways and repent from our sinfulness. Jesus has been very patient with us even if we have been offending Him for so many times. He patiently calls us everyday to permanently walk away from our sinfulness while there is still time. Let us listen to His call of repentance. 

When are we going to listen? Should we wait until such time that we are already incapacitated or when we are already on our deathbeds? It might be too late already, let us listen to Him while there is still time, let us listen to Him while we are still in the pink of health. Jesus loves us so dearly that He wants us to be liberated from the enslavement of sin. This liberation will only happen if we would listen to His call of repentance.  

What if we don’t listen to Jesus call of repentance? What would happen to us? We allow ourselves to be continuously enslaved by the devil and we all know that the devil will bring us nothing but misery. Do we want our lives to be miserable? Of course not! Nobody wants to live a miserable life. Let us therefore listen to the call of Jesus for us to repent and walk away from our sinfulness.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 23 Sabado sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 13:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:1-9

1Dumating naman ang ilang tao na nagbalita kay Jesus ng  nangyari sa Templo. Ipinapatay nga ni Pilato ang mga taga-Galilea at nahalo ang kanilang dugo sa mga handog nila. 2 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Sa akala ba ninyo’y mas makasalanan ang mga taga-Galileang iyon kaysa lahat ng mga taga-Galilea dahil sila ang nagdusa? 3 Hindi. At sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.  

4 Gayon din naman sa namatay na labing walong taong nabagsakan ng tore sa Siloe, sa akala ba ninyo’y mas may utang sila sa Diyos kaysa lahat ng naninirahan sa Jerusalem? 5 Sinasabi ko: hindi, pero kung hindi kayo magbabago, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.”  

6 At sinabi ni Jesus ang talinhagang ito: “May taong may isang puno ng igos sa kanyang ubasan. At pumunta siya para maghanap ng mga bunga pero wala siyang nakita. 7 Kaya sinabi niya sa nag-aalaga ng ubasan: ‘Tatlong taon na akong pumaparito sa paghahanap ng mga bunga sa punong-igos na iyan at wala akong nakita. Putulin mo iyan at pampasikip lang sa lupa.’ 

8 Ngunit sumagot sa kanya ang tauhan: ‘Ginoo, pabayaan mo na siya ngayong taon. Maghuhukay ako sa paligid nito at lalagyan ng pataba. 9 Baka sakaling mamunga siya ngunit kung hindi’y saka mo siya putulin.”

Reflection for October 22, Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:54-59

Gospel: Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek fortunetellers to know what is your future? 

Fortunetellers make a living by means of predicting the obvious things that will happen in our future. There are those who believe because what they foretold became a reality. So, they make a habit of consulting fortunetellers whenever there are major decisions to be made. 

For some who cannot afford to pay their services. They make do by reading the daily horoscope available for free in some internet sites and other newspapers. And if what is written in their horoscopes are not favorable for them they would be bothered by it.   

If we have faith in Jesus, there’s no need to consult anyone regarding our future. We only have to get closer to Jesus through prayer, by listening to Him who directly speaks to us when we read the bible and through our pious attendance at Holy Mass. 

Jesus is always an ever-present friend who is always there for us. He will not predict our future based on the obvious signs of the times. But He will always be an omnipresent companion as we walk from our present going to our future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 22 Biyernes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:54-59

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:54-59

54 Sinabi rin ni Jesus sa mga tao: “Kapag nakita ninyong tumataas ang ulap sa kanluran, kaagad ninyong sinasabi, ‘Uulan,’ at ganoon nga ang nang­yayari. 55 At kung umiihip naman ang hangin galing timog, sinasabi ninyong ‘Magiging napakainit,’ at nangyayari nga ito. 56 Mga mapagkunwari! Nabi­bigyan ninyo ng ka­hu­lugan ang anyo ng lupa at langit pero bakit hindi ninyo sinusuri kung ano ang panahong ito? 

57 At bakit hindi kayo mismo ang ma­ka­pag­pas­ya kung ano ang tama? 58 Sa pag­punta mo sa mayka­pang­ya­rihan kasama ng kalaban mo, sikapin mong ma­kipag-areglo sa kanya sa daan; baka iharap ka sa hukom, at ibigay ka naman ng hukom sa pulis para ipakulong sa bilangguan. 59 Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hanggang hindi mo nababaya­ran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo.”

Reflection for October 21, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 

From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

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Reflection:

Has there been an instance in your family wherein you created conflict because you tried to correct a wrong behavior? For example, you gently reminded your spouse to go home early and not hangout with his/friends after work for the simple reason that when he arrives late he is a little bit drunk. 

In the gospel we hear Jesus telling us to loudly speak out whenever we observe deviation from normal behavior within family and friendship. If by speaking out we create walls that might temporarily divide us, so be it. 

For example, if we see immorality within the family (The husband/wife is playing with fire) should the wife/husband just ignore this and pretend to see and hear no evil with this blatant show of disrespect to her/him? Of course not! The wife/husband must speak out! 

The problem with some of us is we sometimes have a passive or no concern attitude even if there’s already wrongdoing in the family. We have this attitude because we are afraid that it will create division and enmity. 

This mindset is terribly wrong. What Jesus wants us to do whenever we see a wrongdoing is to denounce the evil inside that wrongdoing. Even if our denouncement would create temporary divisions and enmity. Why? For the simple reason that we cannot correct a wrong behavior by keeping silent.  

So, instead of keeping silent we have to denounce and make noise about the wrong doing until we exorcise the wrongdoing and the wrongdoer.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 21 Huwebes sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:49-53

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 49 Dumating ako upang maghagis ng apoy sa lupa, at ganoon na lamang ang pagnanais kong magliyab na sana ito! 50 Ngunit dapat akong mabinyagan ng isang binyag, at ganoon na lamang ang pagkabalisa ko hanggang di ito na­ga­ganap!  

51 Sa akala ba ninyo’y duma­ting ako para magbigay ng kapa­yapaan sa lupa? Hindi, sinasabi ko sa inyo, kundi paghihiwa-hiwalay! 52 Sa­pagkat mula ngayo’y magkakahati-hati ang limang nasa isang sambahayan, tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo; 53 mag­kakahati-hati sila: ama la­ban sa anak na lalaki at anak na lalaki laban sa ama, ina laban sa anak na babae at anak na babae laban sa ina, biyenang babae laban sa kanyang manugang na babae at manu­gang na babae laban sa biye­nang babae.” 

Reflection for October 20, Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:39-48

Gospel: Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 

Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 

That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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Reflection:

Are you a faithful and prudent steward of the Lord?

We are all just stewards of everything that we have right. It’s not ours everything that we have right now is only lent to us God. For example, the power that we have, the intelligence, the material wealth and our spiritual gift and so forth.  As such, we should properly manage and use  what we have in our possession. We should all be worthy stewards; we should put to good use whatever talents that God has given us.

However, if we would not be up to the task that God has given us. We can rest assure that eventually everything that we have will be taken from us because we were not worthy of the blessings that God bestowed on us.

The gospel today talks about the coming of the Son of Man.  The servants who were caught unaware were busy doing their own thing. These servants are like some of us; always very busy with the things of this world. We forget God or God becomes only our second or third priority.

We must put God forward first, before anything else it should be God first. How about the things of this world? It should be secondary. When we put God first and we abhor sin everything else would follow including our need for material things. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 20 Miyerkules sa Ika 29 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:39-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:39-48

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 39 Isipin ninyo ito: kung nalaman lamang ng may-ari ng bahay kung anong oras ng gabi ang dating ng magnanakaw, hindi sana niya paba­bayaang looban ang kanyang bahay. 40 Kaya maging han­da kayo sapagkat duma­rating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na hindi ninyo inaakala.” 

41 Sinabi ni Pedro: “Panginoon, ka­nino mo ba sinasabi ang talinhagang ito, sa amin o sa lahat?” 42 Sumagot ang Pangi­noon: “Isipin ninyo ito: may tapat at mata­linong katiwala na panga­nga­siwain ng panginoon sa kanyang mga tauhan para bigyan sila ng rasyon sa tamang oras. 43 Kung sa pagdating ng kan­yang panginoon ay matagpuan siya nitong tumu­tupad nang gayon, mapalad ang lingkod na iyon. 

44 Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, panganga­siwain siya nito sa lahat nitong ari-arian. 45 Ngunit maaari namang maisip ng lingkod na iyon: ‘Matatagalan pang dumating ang panginoon ko’ at simulang pagmalupitan ang mga utusang lalaki at babae, at kumain, uminom at maglasing. 46 Ngu­nit darating ang panginoon ng lingkod na iyon sa araw na di niya inaasahan at sa oras na di niya nalalaman. Palala­yasin niya ang katulong na ito at pakiki­tunguhang gaya ng mga di-tapat. 

47 Maraming hampas ang tatang­gapin ng katulong na nakaaalam sa kalooban ng kanyang panginoon pero hindi nag­handa ni sumunod sa kalooban niya. 48 Kaunti lang naman ang tatanggapin ng walang nalalaman sa kalooban niya ngu­nit gumawa ng mga bagay na dapat parusahan. Hihingan nga ng marami ang binigyan ng marami at hihingan nang higit ang pinag­katiwalaan nang higit.