Reflection for February 17, Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:27-33

Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.  

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

What is the meaning of the word Christ?   

Christ means the chosen one or the savior and Peter got it right when he replied to Jesus: “You are the Christ (Mark 8:29).” Unlike the other disciples Peter knew the real identity of Jesus. But up to that point in the gospel his knowledge of the true identity if Jesus was still limited because when Jesus said that He will suffer greatly he didn’t believe.  

Peter only knew of the powerful Christ not the Christ who would suffer and eventually die on the cross. Isn’t this our mindset as well? We know Jesus Christ as the powerful one who would save us from our troubles. Yet there is an important side of Jesus that we also have to know and that is the Christ who suffered and died on the cross at calvary.  

It is said that: “To follow Christ is always right; but it is never easy.” Jesus was actually foreshadowing the path that Peter has to go thru when He said that He must suffer greatly and be rejected.  

This is also Jesus’ own foreshadowing for us: We have to go through suffering as well for the sake of the teachings of Jesus. This may be hard to swallow for many but that this is really how it is: Suffering is part and parcel of our faithful discipleship!  

If we really are true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ we must expect sufferings and rejections. We will suffer when we stand for what is right, we will be rejected when we push what is moral.  Let us not worry when we suffer for the Lord because the Lord will be with us as we suffer for Him. 

Are you ready to suffer for the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 17 Huwebes ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:27-33

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:27-33

27 Pumunta si Jesus kasama ang kanyang mga alagad sa mga nayon ng Cesarea ni Filipo. At habang nasa daa’y tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad: “Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao?” 28 Su­magot sila: “May nag­sa­sa­bing si Juan Bautista ka; may iba pang nagsasabing si Elias ka o isa sa mga propeta kaya.”  

29 At tinanong niya sila: “Ngunit ano naman ang sinasabi ninyo kung sino ako?” At sumagot si Pedro: “Ikaw ang Mesiyas.” 30 At inutusan niya sila na huwag sabihin kaninuman ang tungkol sa kanya.  

31 At sinimulan niyang ituro sa kanila na kailangang magtiis ng marami ang Anak ng Tao. Itatakwil nga siya ng mga Mata­tanda ng bayan, ng mga punong-pari at ng mga guro ng Batas. Papa­tayin siya at muling babangon pagka­tapos ng tatlong araw. 32 At buong-­tapang siyang nag­salita. Dinala naman siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinimulan siyang pagsa­bihan. 33 Ngunit pagtalikod ni Jesus, nakita niya na naroon din ang kanyang mga alagad. Kaya pinagsabihan niya si Pedro: “Sa likod ko, Satanas! Hindi sa Diyos galing ang iniisip mo kundi mula sa tao.”

Reflection for February 16, Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:22-26

Gospel: Mark 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” 

Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

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Reflection:

Jesus asked the blind man: “Do you see anything?” Let us try to modify this question of Jesus in such a way that it is addressed to us who are often times blinded by the things of this world. It will be like this: Amidst the trappings of this world do you see anything worthy about me?  

I certainly don’t know what would be our individual answers to this question but one thing is sure Jesus wants to penetrate our hearts. He wants to reside there so that we will not be blinded by the temporary things of this world.  

If you will not have that instant feeling of Jesus in your heart just be patient, engage in prayer as often as you can. Pray for enlightenment and for discernment so that the hazy image of Jesus could become clearer in your mind  until it becomes crystal clear.  

The moment you surrender your life to Jesus you will lose your appetite for the things of this world. You'll simply be satisfied with simple things for your eyes, heart and mind are not anymore blinded by the temporal things of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 16 Miyerkules ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:22-26

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:22-26

22 Pagpasok ni Jesus at ng kanyang mga alagad sa Betsaida, isang bulag ang dinala sa kanya at hiniling sa kanyang hipuin ito. 23 Inakay ito ni ­Jesus sa labas ng bayan, pinahiran ng laway ang mga mata nito at ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay.  

At saka niya ito tina­nong: “May nakikita ka ba?” 24 Tumingin ang tao, at sinabi nito: “Parang mga punongkahoy ang nakikita ko pero lumalakad, tiyak na mga tao ito.” 25 Kaya agad na ipinatong ni Jesus ang kanyang mga kamay sa mga mata nito, at nakakilala siya at gumaling, at nakita nga niya nang malinaw ang lahat.  

26 Pinauwi ito ni Jesus sa pagsasa­- bing: “Huwag kang pumasok kahit na sa na­yon.”

Reflection for February 15, Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:14-21

Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend?  

Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

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Reflection:

Why do we often times do not get the message that Jesus wants us to understand? Because we allow ourselves to be distracted by the things around us. We thus lose focus on the message that Jesus wants us to imbibe.  

This is the situation in our gospel; Jesus wanted the disciples to be wary of the teachings and over zealousness of the Pharisees and Herod to externally fulfill their laws. But Jesus used the word leaven and since they have no bread they understood it as something that relates to their lack of bread. 

This is what happens when we have shallow faith, when we allow ourselves to be distracted by our worldly preoccupations. We are not able to get what Jesus wants us to understand. So, we get lost in this worldly jungle that is dominated by materialism, deception, arrogance, greed, lust and the like.  

Try focusing your attention on Jesus alone, try being faithful to Him and disregard worldly temptations. This will therefore result in your deeper friendship  with Him and you surely will understand the message that Jesus wants to convey to you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 15 Martes ng Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:14-21

14 Nakalimutan ng mga alagad na magdala ng tinapay at isa lang ang dala nila sa bangka. 15 At pinagsabihan sila ni ­Jesus: “Mag-ingat at huwag magtiwala sa leba­dura ng mga Pariseo at sa lebadura ni Herodes.” 16 At sinabi ng mga alagad sa isa’t isa: “Oo nga, ano? Wala tayong dalang tinapay.”   

17 Alam ni Jesus ang mga ito kaya si­nabi niya sa kanila: “Bakit ninyo pinag-uusapan ang tinapay na wala sa inyo? Hindi pa ba ninyo maisip at maunawaan? Mapurol ba ang inyong pag-iisip? 18 May mata kayong di nakakakita at may ta­i­ngang di naka­karinig? Hindi na ba ninyo naaalala 19 nang pinira-­piraso ko ang limang tinapay para sa limang libo, ilang basket na puno ng mga pira-piraso ang inyong naipon?”   

At suma­got sila: “Labin­dalawa.” 20 “At nang may pitong tinapay para sa apat na libo, ilang ba­yong na puno ng mga pira-piraso ang inyong na­ipon?” At suma­got sila: “Pito.” 21 At si­nabi ni ­Jesus: “Hindi pa ba ninyo nauunawaan?”

Reflection for Monday February 14, Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop: Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation. Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

What does it mean when we seek signs from Jesus? It means weakness of faith, it means that Jesus is not yet enough for us to hold on for our salvation for we still need signs, miracles and wonders from Jesus. A true believer and a person of faith will not anymore seek a sign from the Lord. He/She will trust the Lord Jesus regardless of if he/she will see or not see signs from Him.  

If we truly love the Lord and if we have faith in the Lord we would not anymore ask for a sign from Him. Why? Because His name alone is more than enough to deliver us from all of our fears and doubts.  This is for that reason that we always feel His abiding presence in our lives.  

The Lord is with us the moment we reverently attend Holy Mass most especially when we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. The Lord speaks to us the moment we reverently read His words in the bible. Jesus is with us the moment we pray with reverence the Holy Rosary.   

If only we would invest time to dive deeper into the life of Jesus and our catholic faith we would not anymore ask for any signs from Jesus. Because as we invest time for Him, we will also notice slowly but surely His abiding presence in our life.  

Let us not ask for signs let us instead develop deeper friendship with Jesus by our faithful and pious presence at Holy Mass. By having a daily habit of reading our bible and by having a daily quite time in prayer with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Pebrero 14, San Cirilo, monghe at San Metodio, Obispo (Paggunita): Marcos 8:11-13

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:11-13

Noong panahong iyon, 11 Dumating ang mga Pariseo at nagsimulang makipagtalo kay Jesus. Gusto nilang subukan si Jesus at humingi ng isang makalangit na tanda. 12  Nagbuntung-hininga siya at sinabi: “Bakit humihingi ng palatandaan ang lahing ito? Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: walang tandang ibibigay sa lahing ito.” 13 Kaya iniwan sila ni Jesus at sumakay sa bangka patawid sa kabilang ibayo.

Reflection for Sunday February 13, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. And Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.  

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a mountaineer who went to climb the world’s highest peak. When he was at the peak of the mountain he felt that he was so blessed. Because he was in the midst of the cloud and he had an impressive view of the topographical environment beneath him. 

When he was descending already he saw a group of poor people worshipping God and singing, “I am so blessed because I know that God loves me even if I am poor.” It was the long refrain of the song thus he keeps on hearing it until he passed by them and he saw for himself how happy they were even if they were poor.  

What makes you happy and blessed right now? There are many factors that would make you feel happy and blessed. For example, if you can afford to live a comfortable life and you are not suffering from any sickness you may be are happy already and you may think that you are blessed already.  

But are you really happy and blessed because you have a comfortable life and you are not suffering from any sickness? You may say, “Yes” but in deeper retrospection this kind of life that you are having right now is not the be all and end all of life.  

Because the be all and end all of life is to live it with God, even if you are not living a comfortable life and even if you are suffering from sickness for as long as you have God you are blessed. Why? Because God is Supreme in this world and God’s supremacy extends beyond this world.  

Hence, you are blessed even, if you are poor, even if you are suffering, even if you got sick with covid-19 and even if you are weeping and hurting because God’s love, mercy and protection is  with you.

Do you feel blessed by the Lord?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 13, Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon (K): Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Noong panahong iyon 17 Pagkababa ni Jesus kasama ang labing dalawa tumayo siya sa isang patag na lugar. Naroon ang maraming alagad niya, at napakarami ring tao mula sa buong Judea at Jerusalem at mula sa baybaying dako ng Tiro at Sidon.

20 Tumingala noon si Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad at sinabi: “Mapapalad kayong mga dukha sapagkat sa inyo ang kaharian ng Diyos. 21 Mapapalad kayong mga nagugutom ngayon sapagkat bubusugin kayo. Mapapalad kayong mga umiiyak ngayon sapagkat tatawa kayo. 22 Mapapalad kayo kapag kinapopootan kayo ng mga tao at itinatakwil at iniinsulto, at sinisiraang-puri dahil sa akin. 23 Magsaya kayo at lubos na magalak sa araw na iyon sapagkat malaki ang inyong gantimpalang nasa Diyos; gayundin ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga propeta.

24 Ngunit sawimpalad kayong mayayaman sapagkat tinatamasa na ninyo ang inyong ginhawa! 25 Sawimpalad kayong mga busog ngayon sapagkat magugutom kayo! Sawimpalad kayong humahalakhak ngayon sapagkat magluluksa kayo’t iiyak!

26 Sawimpalad kayo kapag pinag-uusapan kayo nang mabuti ng lahat ng tao dahil ganoon din ang ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga bulaang propeta.

Reflection for February 12, Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.  

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.  

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.  

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of compassion and mercy, Jesus feels our loneliness when we are lonely. Jesus cries with us when we cry. Jesus feels the heavy load that we carry when we are so burdened by it. Does this feeling of compassion and mercy stops with Jesus empathy? No, Jesus never stops of thinking of ways on how He can lighten the burdens that we carry.  

We see this deep compassion and mercy of Jesus in our gospel today. When Jesus saw the crowd who had been following them for days He had deep compassion for them for they were already hungry and tired. And His mercy and compassion led Him to think on how He could feed them.  

So Jesus asked His disciples for whatever food that they may have and out of seven loaves and few fish Jesus miraculously multiplied it to feed almost four thousand. This is how merciful and compassionate Jesus is to those who follow Him.  

What does this gospel tell us? This tells us that we will never go hungry the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus! Jesus will never let us go hungry for He will take care of our food and He will take care of our needs. This may be hard to believe for others but this is very true! Jesus provides for those who faithfully follow Him.  

Are you a faithful follower of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 12, Sabado ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 8:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 8:1-10

1 Maraming tao ang sumama kay Jesus at wala silang makain. Kaya tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: 2 “Labis akong naaawa sa mga taong ito, pangatlong araw ko na silang ka­sama at wala nang makain 3 at kung paalisin ko silang gutom, baka mahilo sila sa daan. Ga­ling pa sa malayo ang ilan sa kanila.”  

4 Sumagot ang kanyang mga alagad: “At paano naman maka­kakuha ng tinapay para pakainin sila sa ilang na ito?” 5 Tinanong sila ni Jesus: “Ilan bang tinapay meron kayo?” Sumagot sila: “Pito.”   

6 Pinaupo ni Jesus sa lupa ang mga tao, kinuha ang pitong tinapay at nag­pa­salamat sa Diyos. Pinagpira-­piraso niya ang mga ito at ibinigay sa kan­yang mga alagad para ihain; at inihain nila ang mga ito sa mga tao. 7 Meron din silang ilang isda. Binasbasan ito ni Jesus at iniutos na ihain din ang mga ito.  

8 Kumain sila at nabusog at inipon ang mga natirang pira-piraso – pitong bayong. 9 Apat na libo ang naroon, at saka sila pinauwi ni Jesus. 10 Agad siyang sumakay sa bangka kasama ang kanyang mga alagad at pumunta sa lupain ng Dalma­nuta.

Reflection for February 11, Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  

He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was diagnosed to have a terminal sickness, of course he was bothered, who would not be? But the man had great faith in Jesus so he earnestly prayed for his healing.  He went to Mass everyday, he prayed the rosary regularly and he read his bible fervently.   

As the days, weeks and months passed by there was observable decline on his physical appearance. But those around him noticed also the increase in his faith and confidence in Jesus. They’ve noticed the peacefulness and calmness that he exudes so unlikely of a dying man.  

We are presented in the gospel a story of physical healing, a deaf man was able to speak again through the healing power of Jesus.  With the help of those around him the deaf man was brought closer to Jesus. After which he begged Jesus to lay His hand on him. 

Jesus took the man away from the crowd. And in the stillness of the environment Jesus groaned and said, “Ephphatha!” which means be opened. The man was immediately healed, he was able to hear and speak once again.  

Eventually, everyone of us will get sick and everyone of us will also pray for physical healing from Jesus. But not all of us would experience physical healing like what the deaf man experienced in the gospel. Some of us would experience deep spiritual healing, the same spiritual healing that the terminally sick man in our story received from Jesus.  

We must therefore take steps also to get closer and build a relationship with Jesus. Let us take the initiative and do it by ourselves now. Let us not wait for the time to come that we will go to the Lord because we are already in dire need of Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 11, Biyernes ng Ikalimang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 7:31-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 7:31-37

31 Umalis si Jesus sa lupain ng Tiro at dumaan sa Sidon papunta sa lawa ng Galilea. Pagdating niya sa lupain ng Deca­polis, 32 may mga nagdala sa kanya roon ng isang bingi na halos di makapag­salita. At hiniling nila kay Jesus na ipatong dito ang kamay.  

33 Matapos siyang ihiwalay ni Jesus sa mga tao, inilagay niya ang kanyang daliri sa tainga ng tao at dumura at saka hinipo ang kanyang dila. 34 At tumi­ngala siya sa langit, nagbuntung-­hininga at sinabi: “Ephphata,” na ang ibig sa­bihi’y “Buk­san”. 35 Nabuksan ang mga tainga ng tao at biglang nakalag ang dila niyang naka­buhol kaya naka­pag­salita siya nang tuwid.  

36 Tinagubilinan sila ni Jesus na huwag sabihin ito kaninuman ngunit habang pinagbabawalan sila, lalo naman silang nagpapahayag. 37 Labis na namangha ang mga tao at sinabi nila: “Pinaiigi niya ang lahat: nakaririnig ang bingi at naka­pag­sasalita ang pipi.”