Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 8 Lunes sa Ika-32 Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 17:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 17:1-6

1 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Hindi maaaring wa­lang katitisu­ran at magpapabagsak sa tao ngunit sawimpalad ang taong naghahatid nito! 2 Mas makabubuti pa sa kanya na talian ng gilingang-bato sa leeg at ihagis sa dagat kaysa tisurin at pa­bagsakin ang isa sa maliliit na ito.  

3 Mag-ingat kayo. Kung magkasala ang ka­patid mo, pagsabihan mo siya, at kung mag­sisi’y patawarin mo. 4 At kung pitong beses si­yang magkasala sa iyo sa isang araw at pitong beses din siyang bumalik sa iyo na nagsisisi, pata­warin mo siya.”  

5 Sinabi ng mga apostol sa Panginoon: “Dag­dagan mo ang aming pana­nam­palataya.” 6 Su­magot ang Panginoon: “Kung may pananampalataya kayong sinlaki ng buto ng mustasa, masa­sabi ninyo sa punong malaigos na iyan: ‘Mabunot ka at sa dagat ka matanim,’ at su­sundin kayo nito.

Reflection for Sunday November 7, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:38-44

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. 

They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

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Reflection:

The story is told of a poor woman who was always ready to give anything that she has for the sake of those who are in need. Because of her generosity there were instances that her children would gently remind her not to overly give and reserve something for them.

But the kindhearted woman would always tell her children that it is  in giving that they would receive unfathomable blessings from God. True enough, there was no instance wherein they were in need of anything.

Even if they were poor, they always have something for themselves. Why? because God takes care of those who are generous. Very much like the poor widow in our first reading. She generously gave water and bread to the prophet Elijah. Thus,  the good Lord provided for her and her son. 

Many of us may not know this, but the poor are the most generous people in the world.  They give from the pureness of their hearts no matter how small.  They don’t give because they are not in need. They give for the simple reason that they are simply generous.

Compare this with many rich people who give from their excess. For example, the billionaires and millionaires who give millions to their favorite charities. Perhaps, most of them give because the money that they will give would never hurt their pockets anymore for the reason that they have already earmarked that money for charity.

True generosity is epitomized by the poor widow in the gospel. For she gave whatever little money that she has and she gave even if she herself needs it. She could have bought food with the two small coins to satisfy her hunger. But it never came to her thought, she simply gave from the goodness of her heart.

What is paramount for the poor widow is to give without any strings attached. Jesus consequently favored the poor widow because He saw the pureness of her intentions and the pureness of her generosity.

How do you give to your church? How do you give to the poor and to those who are need? Do you give generously as well like the poor widow in the gospel? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 7 Ika-32 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 12:38-44

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:38-44

38 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang pagtuturo: “Mag-ingat kayo sa mga guro ng Batas na gustong lumakad na nakabarong at batiin ng mga tao sa liwasan, 39 at mabigyan ng pangunahing lugar o upuan sa mga handaan at sa sinagoga. 40 Nang-uubos sila ng mga bahay ng mga biyuda, at nagdarasal nang mahaba para may idahilan. Napakatindi ng magiging hatol sa mga ito.”

41 Naupo si Jesus sa tapat ng kabang-yaman at tiningnan ang paghuhulog ng mga tao ng pera para sa Templo. Maraming mayamang nagbigay ng malalaking halaga. 42 At may dumating na isang pobreng biyuda na naghulog ng dalawang barya.

43 Kaya tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na pinakamahalaga sa lahat ang inihulog ng biyudang ito sa kabang-yaman. 44 Naghulog nga ang lahat mula sa sobra nila, ngunit siya nama’y mula sa kanyang kasalatan. Inihulog nga niya ang lahat ng nasa kanya – ang mismong ikabubuhay niya.”

Reflection for November 6, Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:9-15

Gospel: Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.  

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

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Reflection:

Do you allow yourself to be influenced by the love of material things?  

Advertisers continuously bombard us with ads that entice us to love material things for example, these smart phones. Manufacturers would always come up with new models to drive up their sales and profit. So what we do is we buy simply because we allow ourselves to be captured by the very enticing advertising even if there’s actually no need yet for us to buy it.  

This is what we must watch out for because if we are not careful there’s that tendency to serve the God of this world which is mammon or money.  Who is behind this advertisers that induces us to mindlessly spend so that we are always busy to earn more money until we eventually shun God in our lives?  

The one behind is the Devil it deludes us to believe that mammon or materialism is the be all and end all of life. And if we are not careful we may believe it thus we may favor mammon over God.  But we all know that mammon is an instrument of the devil to take us away from God.  

We therefore have to choose God over the God of this world which is mammon or materialism. If we choose God we would have peaceful lives. We may not be able to ward off every problems that may come our way. But we would be able to handle it no matter how difficult it may be. Why? Because we’ve chosen to be with God and not allow ourselves to be captured by this materialistic driven world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 6, Sabado sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 16:9-15

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 16:9-15

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad 9 sinasabi ko sa inyo: gamitin ninyo ang di-matuwid na Perang-diyos para magkaroon ng mga kaibi­gan para sa pagkaubos nito’y tanggapin naman nila kayo sa walang hanggang mga taha­nan.  

10 Ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa mali­liit na bagay ay mapagkakatiwalaan din sa malalaki, at ang di mapagka­katiwalaan sa maliliit ay di rin ma­pagkakatiwalaan sa malalaki. 11 Kung hindi kayo mapagkatiwalaan sa di-matuwid na pera, sino ang magtiti­wala sa inyo ng tunay na kayama­nan?  

12 Kung hindi ka­yo mapagkatiwalaan sa mga bagay na hindi talaga sa inyo, sino pa kaya ang magbi­bigay sa inyo ng talagang inyo? 13 Walang katulong na makapag­si­-silbi sa dalawang amo; siguradong kamu­muhian niya ang isa at mamahalin naman ang isa pa, o magiging ma­­tapat sa isa at mapababayaan ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo makapaglilingkod sa Diyos at sa pera.”  

14 Naririnig ng mga Pariseo ang lahat ng ito. Sakim sila kaya pinagtatawanan nila siya. 15 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Gina­gawa ninyo ang lahat para mag­muk­hang mabuti sa paningin ng mga tao ngunit alam ng Diyos ang inyong mga puso. At kasuklam-suklam sa pa­ningin ng Diyos ang mataas sa mga tao. 

Reflection for November 5, Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:1-8

Gospel: Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?  

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

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Reflection:

Mr. X is a man of the world; he was materially successful and could practically buy almost anything that he may want. He satisfied his cravings for the material things of life that he totally forgot that he’s a person with a soul. After enjoying the things of this world; his life came to a halt and he realized that he was still empty deep inside notwithstanding his worldly success.  

This is the big danger that may come to the lives of those who are materially successful there’s that tendency to drown in their worldly success. And totally forget that they’re simply stewards of their material possession.  

What is the secret to a successful and fulfilling life? We must learn how to share not only to share a small portion of what we earn. We must hugely share for we are merely stewards with the things that we have. It’s not ours to own; we have what we have right now for us to share it and not to keep it to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 5 Biyernes sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 16:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 16:1-8

1 Sinabi rin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “May katiwala ang isang mayaman, at isinumbong sa kanya na nilulustay ng katiwala ang kanyang kayamanan. 2 Ipinatawag niya ito at sinabi sa kanya: ‘Ano itong naririnig ko tungkol sa iyo? Magsulit ka sa akin ng iyong pangangasiwa dahil hindi ka na makapangangasiwa.’ 

3 At inisip ng katiwala: ‘Tatanggalin ako ngayon sa pangangasiwa ng aking panginoon. Ano ang gagawin ko? Kulang ako ng lakas para magbungkal ng lupa, nahihiya naman akong magpalimos. 4 Ah, alam ko na ang gagawin ko. At pagkatanggal sa akin sa pangangasiwa, may mga magpapatuloy sa akin sa kanilang mga bahay.’ 

5 Kaya tinawag niyang isa-isa ang mga may-utang sa kanyang panginoon. Tinanong niya ang una: “Magkano ang utang mo sa aking panginoon?’ 6 Sumagot ito: ‘Sandaang galon ng langis.’ Sinabi ng katiwala: ‘Narito ang resibo mo; maupo ka agad at isulat mo: Limampu.’ 7 Tinanong naman niya ang ikalawa: ‘At ikaw, magkano ang utang mo?’ Sumagot siya: ‘Sanlibong takal ng trigo.’ Sinabi ng katiwala: ‘Narito ang iyong resibo at isulat mo: Walundaan.”

8 Hinangaan ng panginoon ang mata¬linong paggawa ng di-matuwid na katiwala. Mas matalino nga ang mga taong makamundo sa pakikitungo sa mga gaya nila kaysa mga tao ng liwanag.

Reflection for November 4, Thursday Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop (M): Luke 15:1-10

Gospel: Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?  

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.  

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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Reflection:

What is your attitude toward the so-called sinners of our society? For example, if you have a sibling and you perceive him to be a sinner, how would you treat him? Should you simply ignore him? Or you would build bridge to gently seek him out and let him know that the love of Jesus knows no bounds. That the love of Jesus upon him is not diminished by the sins that he has committed.  

There are many of us who give up on the lost or sinners and we cannot blame ourselves for this because this is basic human nature. For example if you have a spouse who is a serial womanizer  and you have forgiven him for so many times and yet he does not change his ways. What is your natural reaction to this kind of attitude? Isn’t that your natural reaction is to raise your hands in surrender and give up on that unrepentant spouse?  

If we give up with sinners, Jesus doesn’t give up He will continuously seek out the lost or sinners until He finds them. And when Jesus finds them, He will do everything (without questions asked!) to let this sinner feel His infinite love, mercy and forgiveness.    

The parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin is a showcase of the infinite love of Jesus for us. We who are all sinners and we who continue to struggle with sin. There’s hope after all for all of us sinners for as long as we immediately walk away from anything that makes us sin. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 4 Huwebes San Carlos Borromeo, obispo : Lucas 15:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 15:1-10

1 Lumapit kay Jesus ang lahat ng kolektor ng buwis at mga makasalanan para makinig. 2 Kaya nag¬bulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at mga guro ng Batas: “Tinatanggap niyan ang mga makasalanan at nakikisalo sa kanila.” 3 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus ang talinhagang ito sa kanila:

4 “Kung may sandaang tupa ang isa sa inyo at mawala ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba niya iiwan ang siyamnapu’t siyam sa ilang para hanapin ang nawawala hanggang matagpuan niya ito?  

5 At pag natagpuan ito’y masaya niya itong pinapasan sa balikat, 6 at pagdating sa bahay ay tatawagin niya ang mga kaibigan at mga kapitbahay at sasabihin sa kanila: ‘Matuwa kayong kasama ko sapagkat natagpuan ko na ang nawawala kong tupa.’ 7 Sinasabi ko sa inyo: mag-kakaroon din ng higit na kagalakan sa langit para sa isang makasalanang nagsisisi kaysa siyam-napu’t siyam na matuwid na di nangangailangan ng pagsisisi.  

8 Kung may sampung baryang pilak ang isang babae at nawala ang isa sa mga ito, hindi ba siya magsisindi ng ilaw, magwawalis sa bahay at hahanaping mabuti hanggang matagpuan ito? 9 At pagkakita rito’y tatawagin ang mga kaibigang babae at mga kapitbahay: ‘Matuwa kayong kasama ko sapagkat natagpuan ko ang nawawala kong baryang pilak.’ Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ganito rin sa mga anghel ng Diyos, magkakaroon ng kagalakan para sa isang makasalanang nagsisisi.” 

Reflection for November 3, Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:25-33

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were travelling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 

But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

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Reflection:

Have you already watched/listened to a life testimony about Jesus? Majority of these testimonies deals with the many blessings that they’ve received from the good Lord. You would also  hear testimony about their sufferings and crosses and how Jesus helped them carry it. 

In our gospel for today, Jesus speaks to us about the suffering and crosses that is incorporated with our discipleship. Jesus tells us: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” What do these profound words of Jesus convey? 

This conveys that if we want to follow Jesus we should also be open to carry our own cross and endure our share of suffering/s. Because it is only through these two that we could have that true feeling of companionship with Jesus. If we say, that life is all bed of roses since we’ve followed Jesus. Then, we have not really felt the true companionship of Jesus in our lives. 

True discipleship for Jesus is felt only when we suffer for His sake, when we are willing to carry our cross for His sake. And when we are willing to give even our very lives so that others may live and have that encounter with Jesus. This is the real essence of authentic discipleship for Jesus. 

In the silence of our hearts let us examine our own discipleship with Jesus. Have we already suffered for Him? Have we already carried our cross for Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 3 Miyerkules sa Ika-31 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 14:25-33

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 14:25-33

25 Habang naglalakad ang napa­kara­ming tao na kasama ni Jesus, hu­marap siya sa kanila at sinabi: 26 “Kung may dumating sa akin na di nagtatakwil sa pag-ibig sa kanyang ama at ina, at asawa at mga anak, at mga ka­patid na lalaki at babae, at maging sa kanyang sarili, hindi siya puwedeng maging alagad ko. 27 At hindi puwedeng maging alagad ko ang di nagpapasan ng kan­yang krus sa pag­su­nod sa akin. 

28 At paano kung may magbalak mag­­­tayo ng silungan ng bantay sa bukid? Di ba’t uupo muna siya at tatantyahin ang gastos para ma­laman kung may sapat siya para maipatapos iyon? 29 Sapagkat kung mailagay niya ang pundasyon at hindi naman niya iyon ma­ipa­tapos, pagtatawanan lamang siya ng lahat: 30 ‘Hayan ang nagsimu­lang magtayo at hindi na maipa­tapos.’ 

31 At paano kung may haring ma­ki­kipag­harap sa ibang hari? Di ba’t uupo muna siya para mag-isip kung kaya niya at ng sampung libong kasama niya  na harapin ang dumarating na may dala­wam­­pung libo? 32 At kung hindi naman, malayo pa ang isa ay magpapadala na siya ng mga sugo para maki­pag-areglo. 33 Gayon din sa inyo. Hindi puwedeng maging alagad ko ang di tumatalikod sa lahat ng kanya.

When I'm Gone ( A Poem for all Souls' Day)

 When I'm Gone

By: Lyman Hancock

When I’ve come to the end of my journey and I have traveled my very last mile Forget if you can that I’ve frowned Remember only my smile...

Forgive unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget I ever had heartache
And remember only our fun...

Forget that I've stumbled and fumbled
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember: I fought some hard battles
But had you at the close of my day...

Do not grieve for my going
I would not have you sad this day
But in time gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay...

Perhaps in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the West
Come stand a few moments above me
Remembering only the best...

 

1Reflection for November 2, Tuesday; Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day): John 14:1-6

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 * And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 

4 Where [I] am going you know the way. 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth* and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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Reflection:

Do you know where would you go after your journey in this world is over? 

Perhaps many of us may lose sleep by mere mention of death, we don’t want to die at this point because we are not yet prepared. But who is prepared to die? Nobody, we are not prepared to die. Why? For the simple reason that majority of us still love to be in this world and enjoy whatever it can still offer us.

Nevertheless, Jesus is telling us in our gospel not to be troubled. For as long as we have faith in Him we would be OK even if we die. For our faith and friendship with Jesus is more than enough to conquer our fear of death. 

Therefore, we have to do our part to get close to Jesus for as long as we live. If we are close to Jesus we have nothing to fear, even death we will not fear. Jesus Himself assures us with these words: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places (John 14:1-2). 

Let us not only remember our dear departed loved ones today, let us also light a candle and offer prayers for them. If there is no more covid-19 related restriction let us attend Holy Mass and offer Holy Mass for the intention of their souls. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Nobyembre 2 Martes Paggunita sa lahat ng mga Pumanaw na Kristiyano: Juan 14:1-6

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:1-6    Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 1 Huwag mabagabag ang inyong mga puso. Manalig kayo sa Diyos, at manalig din kayo sa akin. 2 Mara¬ming silid sa bahay ng aking Ama. Kung hindi’y hindi ko sana sinabi sa inyong: “Pupunta ako upang ipag-handa kayo ng lugar.” 3 At pag pumunta na ako at naipag¬handa kayo ng lugar, muli akong darating at dadalhin ko kayo sa akin upang kung saan ako naroon, gayon din naman kayo. 

4 At alam n’yo ang daan sa pupun¬tahan ko.” 5 Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas: “Pangi-noon, hindi namin alam kung saan ka pu¬punta. Paano namin malalaman ang daan?” 6 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siyang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang nakalalapit sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.