Reflection for March 5, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.   

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Who are the modern day sinners that Jesus wants to call to repentance? It’s no other than us, we are sinners; we sin through our thoughts, actions and words. Like the tax collector Levi, Jesus calls us to follow Him, to leave behind us our sinfulness.  

Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him? Because he wants to build a deeper friendship with us. And this would only happen if we would choose to respond to His call. Rather than respond to the call of the devil who always calls us to sin.  

When we respond to the call of Jesus we ensure ourselves of a meaningful life. This doesn’t mean that the moment we say yes to Jesus we would be free from worries and trials. We would still have our own share of trials and worries. Yet in the midst of our worries and trials we will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in our lives.   

If we decide to follow Jesus there would be people who will despise and perhaps belittle us. But we have nothing to worry with those who will despise us. What is most important is we choose to leave behind our sinfulness in favor of Jesus’ call.  

To leave behind our sinfulness is not easy to do because the devil will not easily let us go until we get destroyed by sin.  Nevertheless, nothing is impossible for Jesus all He asks us is our yes and our firm desire to leave behind our sinfulness.  

Lest we forget, a sinful life is a life in union with the devil and a sinful life is a problem filled life. Problem/s that is presented to us as pleasurable in the eyes of this world but would only destroy us in the end. Let us therefore respond to this call of Jesus. 

Would you respond to the Lord’s call? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 5, Sabado kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 5:27-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:27-32

Noong panahong iyon, 27 Nakita ni Jesus ang isang kolektor ng buwis na nagngangalang Levi na naka­upo sa paningilan ng buwis. Sinabi niya rito: “Sumunod ka sa akin.” 28 Tu­mayo naman ito, iniwan ang lahat at sumunod sa kanya.   

29 Naghandog sa kanya si Levi ng isang marang­yang handaan sa kanyang bahay at nakisalo sa kanila ang maraming kolektor ng buwis at iba pang mga tao. 30 Dahil dito’y pabulong na nag­reklamo ang mga Pariseo at ang panig sa kanilang mga guro ng Batas sa mga alagad ni Jesus: “Bakit kayo kuma­kain at umiinom kasama ng mga mani­ningil ng buwis at mga maka­sa­lanan?”   

31 Sumagot naman si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Hindi ang malulusog ang na­ngangailangan ng doktor kundi ang mga may­sakit. 32 Hindi ako pumarito para tawagin ang mabu­buti kundi ang mga makasalanan tungo sa pagba­balik-loob.”

Reflection for March 4, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

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Reflection:

Do you practice fasting?  

The disciples of John interpreted the literal meaning of fasting when they asked Jesus this question: “Why are your disciples not fasting?  Then Jesus replied in a meaningful way when He said: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Of course His disciples were not literally fasting or denying themselves food because He was with them.  

We have here the question about literal fasting or fasting that is seen which the disciples of John and the Pharisees were doing. Jesus disciples were obviously not doing this kind of fasting they were in fact joyous because Jesus was with them.  

Therefore, they were not fasting, but they were actually doing and sharing with the mission of Jesus. The question now is, which is more important to fast or to share in the mission of Jesus? Of course it’s to share in the mission of Jesus.  

In this gospel episode perhaps Jesus wants to open our eyes to the fact that true fasting is much more than just our willing abstention from food. True fasting is when we learn to give a part of ourselves so that others may live, have life and know Jesus through us.    

Do you practice true fasting? Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 4, Biyernes kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Mateo 9:14-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo:9:14-15

14 Noo’y lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad ni Juan at nagtanong: “May araw ng ayuno kami at ang mga Pariseo, at wala bang pag-aayuno ang iyong mga alagad?”   

15 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Puwede bang magluksa ang mga abay sa kasalan habang kasama pa nila ang nobyo? Darating ang panahon na aagawin sa kanila ang nobyo at sa araw na iyon sila mag-aayuno.  

Reflection for March 3, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid of suffering? 

Suffering is part and parcel of our Christian life; in fact we will not be able to reach the fullness of our Christian life without suffering.  For the reason that it is in our suffering that we intensely feel the presence of God. It is through these periods of sufferings that God becomes more real to us. 

Try observing your behavior when you don’t have sufferings. God seems distant for we rarely remember Him in our days of prosperity. But notice also that when we are having some difficult moments it seems that God is within our reach. We call on Him we cry and unburden to Him.  

In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples about the suffering that He has to go through. Why? This is for the reason that this was Jesus’ destiny. From the beginning Jesus knew that He would be going through intense suffering. So why did He not exempted Himself from it when He actually could?  

Because Jesus is faithful to the mission that was given to Him by God, thus Jesus endured suffering for His love of God.  Therefore, the true measure of our love for God is when we are ready to suffer for Him and when we are ready to sacrifice our everything for Him. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 3 Huwebes kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 9:22-25

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:22-25

22 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “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 sa ikatlong araw.”  

23 Sinabi naman ni Jesus sa lahat: “Kung may gustong sumunod sa akin, itakwil ang kanyang sarili at kunin ang kanyang krus araw-araw para sumunod sa akin. 24 Sapagkat ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang sarili ay mawa­walan nito, at ang mawawalan ng kanyang sarili alang-alang sa akin ay siyang ma­ka­­pagliligtas nito. 25 Ano ang pakinabang ng tao tubuin man niya ang buong daig­dig at mawawala naman o mapapahamak ang kanyang sarili?  

Reflection for March 2, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:6-1, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

What is the relevance of Ash Wednesday to your life?  

Today is Ash Wednesday; this is the start of our forty days journey of self-examination and self-reflection of our journey with the Lord and and our journey in this fleeting world. We examine ourselves if we were able to shun the many sins and temptations of this world in favor for our love for God.  

We also examine our attitude when we give Alms, when we Pray and when we Fast. Do we do these acts of piety to serve our own intentions or the intentions of God? Many of us do these acts of piety to show to the whole world our own intentions.  

As we go to the priest or to the ministers of the church for them to impose ash with the sign of the cross on our foreheads. We are reminded that someday we shall become ash and our mortal bodies will forever be part of this world.  

We will leave behind whatever temporal achievements, learning and riches that we have acquired. And after that be forgotten and permanently fade away from the memory of this world. 

But God will not forget us if only we would learn to repent and permanently walk away from anything that makes us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 2 Miyerkules ng Abo (Pag-aayuno at Abstinensya): Mateo 6:6-1, 16-18

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

1 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad  pag-ingatang huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang in­yong mabubuting gawa. Kung ganito ang ga­gawin ninyo, wala na kayong gantimpala sa inyong Amang nasa langit. 2 Kaya pag nagbibigay ka ng limos, huwag pahipan ang trumpeta sa unahan gaya ng gina­gawa ng mga mapagkunwari sa sinagoga at sa mga daan; gusto nilang mapuri ng mga tao. Sinisiguro ko sa inyo na nagan­timpala­an na sila nang husto.   

3 Kaya kung ikaw naman ang magbi­bigay ng limos, huwag ipaalam sa iyong kaliwang kamay ang ginagawa ng iyong kanang kamay; 4 at mananatiling lihim ang iyong pagli­limos at ang iyong Amang nakakakita sa mga lihim ang siyang ga­gantimpala sa iyo.    

5 Kung mananalangin kayo, huwag nin­yong tularan ang mga mapagkunwari. Gustung-gusto nilang tumayo sa mga sinagoga o sa mga daan para manala­ngin nang nakikita ng marami. Sinisi­guro ko sa inyo na nagantimpa­laan na sila nang husto. 6 At kung ikaw naman ang mana­nalangin, pumasok sa iyong silid, isara ang pinto at mana­langin sa iyong Ama na kasama mo nang lihim; at ang iyong Ama na naka­kakita sa ipinag­lilihim ang gagantimpala sa iyo.   

16 Pag mag-aayuno kayo, huwag magpakita ng lungkot sa mukha gaya ng mga mapagkunwari. Nagpapakita sila ng lungkot sa mukha para makita ng tao na nag-aayuno sila. Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na nagantimpalaan na sila nang husto. 17 Kung ikaw naman ang mag-aayuno, maghilamos at ayusin ang sarili 18 sapagkat hindi ka nag-aayuno para pakitang-tao lamang kun­di para sa iyong Amang naka­kakita sa lahat. At gagantimpalaan ka ng iyong Amang nakakakita sa lahat ng lihim.

Reflection for March 1, Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:28-31

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and followed you. Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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Reflection:

A young man was asking for the heart of his beloved. The beloved said to him you have to give up your vices most especially your smoking and drinking. The young man acceded and from then on never did he smoke and drink. After a few months they end up in the altar of God to become one.  

When we give up something for someone we dearly love we could be assured of something more worthy. Something that would complete us, this may not make us happy immediately. But certainly something beautiful will come out of it in lieu of what we gave up.  

If we give up even a portion of our worldly life for Jesus we could expect something in return from Jesus. It may not be material riches or worldly power but we will certainly receive something in return from Him.  

 It may be peace of mind which may have eluded us for the longest time. It could be good health or anything that cannot be measured and seen by our naked eye. Yet certainly be felt by our hearts.  

When Jesus asks us of something to give up for Him we should hurry to obey and follow. We should never think twice, we should give it up immediately like a child jumping with reckless abandon to his father’s arms. 

What are you willing to immediately give up for Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 1 Martes ng Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:28-31

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:28-31

28 Noong panahong iyon nagsalita si Pedro kay Jesus at si­nabi: “Iniwan namin ang lahat para su­munod sa iyo.” 29 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Talagang sina­sabi ko sa inyo: walang nag-iwan ng tahanan, mga kapatid, ina at ama at mga anak at mga bukid alang-alang sa akin at sa Ebanghelyo 30 na walang gantimpala.  

Tatanggap nga siya ngayon ng makasandaang beses ng mga tahanan, mga kapatid, mga ina at mga anak at mga bukid sa gitna ng mga pag-uusig, at sa pana­hong darating nama’y makakamit niya ang buhay na walang hanggan.  

31 May mga una ngayon na mahuhuli at may mga huli naman na mauuna.”

Reflection for February 28, Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:17-27

Gospel: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.”  

He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

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Reflection:

Do you cling to your wealth as if your life hangs upon it?  

The man who asked Jesus as to what must he do to have eternal life was at the threshold of eternal life. But when Jesus asked him to part ways with his wealth and give it to the poor. His face fell, after which he walked away from Jesus for he couldn’t obey the request of Jesus.  

Many of us are like this man, very possessive and in love with wealth that we are not willing to give it away. But what we don’t know is it is when we give away our wealth that we will receive more wealth. Perhaps Jesus was just testing this man if he could still accept more wealth. But the man failed the prosperity test of Jesus.  

If we want to attract wealth we must always be willing to give because it’s only in giving that we would receive more blessings. Never in not giving that we would receive more wealth. Let us look around and see who are those who are prosperous they are the people who are generous. Let us therefore pray to have the grace to become more generous so that we could bless others.  

What if we continue to cling to our wealth and refuse to become generous?  We therefore shut the door of blessings from God and we distance ourselves from His kingdom. But all is not lost yet, we still can change our mind because we still have time to turn things around and hear the call of Jesus for us to become generous. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Pebrero 28 Lunes ng Ikawalong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 10:17-27

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 10:17-27

Noong panahong iyon, nang paalis na si Hesus ay may isang lalaking patakbong lumapit, lumuhod sa harapan niya at nagtanong, “Mabuting Guro, ano po ang dapat kong gawin upang magkamit ng buhay na walang hanggan?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Bakit mo ako tinatawag na mabuti? Walang mabuti kundi ang Diyos. 

Alam mo ang mga utos: ‘Huwag kang papatay; huwag kang mangangalunya; huwag kang magnanakaw; huwag kang magsisinungaling sa iyong pagsaksi; huwag kang magdadaya; igalang mo ang iyong ama’t ina.’” “Guro,” sabi ng lalaki, “ang lahat po ng iya’y tinutupad ko na mula pa sa aking pagkabata.” Magiliw siyang tiningnan ni Hesus, at sinabi sa kanya, “Isang bagay pa ang kulang sa iyo. Humayo ka, ipagbili mo ang iyong ari-arian at ipamigay sa mga dukha ang pinagbilhan, at magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa langit.  

Pagkatapos, bumalik ka at sumunod sa akin.” Namanglaw ang lalaki nang marinig ito, at malungkot na umalis, sapagkat siya’y napakayaman. Tiningnan ni Hesus ang mga nasa paligid niya at sinabi sa kanyang mga alagad, “Napakahirap mapabilang ang mayayaman sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos.” Nagtaka ang mga alagad sa pananalitang ito.  

Muling sinabi ni Hesus, “Mga anak, talagang napakahirap mapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos! Madali pang makaraan ang kamelyo sa butas ng karayom kaysa pasakop sa paghahari ng Diyos ang isang mayaman.” Lalong nagtaka ang mga alagad, kaya’t sila’y nagtanungan, “Kung gayo’y sino ang maliligtas?” Tinitigan sila ni Hesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Hindi ito magagawa ng tao, ngunit hindi ito mahirap sa Diyos. Magagawa ng Diyos ang lahat ng bagay.” 

LET US PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

 LET US PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

Reflection for Sunday February 27, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-45

Gospel: Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?  

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.  

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

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Reflection:

A woman saw a handsome man. The handsome man sensing that the woman was looking at him looked as well to the woman. Their eyes met and she immediately fell in love with the handsome man. After a few weeks they got married, but two months after their marriage the domineering and arrogant behavior of the man started to unravel.  

Are you easily swayed by outward appearance? For example, you saw a handsome man or a beautiful woman and you were immediately attracted to that person.  An attractive outward appearance is very deceiving. Why? For the simple reason that we will not fully know the true character of the person based on what we see.  

What we see is simply a façade it can be faked. The exterior is not the true color or true character of the person. The true color or character lies hidden in the heart of the person. And we can only discover this hidden character once we get to know the person better.  

Many young people today are easily hooked to this trap of outward appearance. This is what attracts them to their future wife or husband. However, after marriage the hidden, dark and devious character of their spouse will begin to show.  

This also applies in relationship concerning friendship. We must not make friends with someone simply because the person is rich or influential. We should be friends with a person because of the good character of that person. It doesn’t matter if the person is poor what is important is the character and the goodness that emanates from that person’s heart.     

In our first reading according to the book of Sirach it says: one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind (Sirach 27:6). And in our gospel Jesus tells us: “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).”  

Hence, what are we going to do so that we would not fall into this false impression based on the exterior appearance? We have to know the person better by way of speaking to that person. By carefully discerning his/her utterances or the words that he/she speaks.  

Because what he/she speaks comes from the heart and what originates from the heart is the measure of a person’s true character. – Marino J. Dasmarinas