Reflection for October 26 Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' 

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who died, minutes before his last breath he said to his family: I will go to heaven to be with the Lord because I know Jesus. After he died he was not allowed entry to the heavenly gates. Since, he knew the Lord he asked: “Why am I barred from entering heaven I know Jesus?” The angel said to him, “Yes you know the Lord but you did not do something for him during your lifetime.”  

How are you living your life today? Do you live it in pursuit of the many pleasures of this world? There are many stories of destroyed lives for the simple reason that they immersed their lives in this world. Not knowing that they were actually being brought little by little by the devil to his kingdom. 

The door to hell is wide, it’s full of worldly pleasures, for example, try going to a night club or a bar in the dead of night. What would you find there? People who loves worldly pleasures, people who would readily commit sin if the opportunity presents itself most especially when they are already intoxicated.  

Jesus in our gospel talks about the narrow door; this is the door that leads to Himself. Why is it narrow? Because to follow the Lord is not a bed of roses we have to sacrifice to follow the Lord. Knowing the Lord and following Him are two different things. It’s very easy to say I know the Lord but to follow Him is difficult in the sense that we have to go through purification and sacrifice. However, after our purification and sacrifice we will be in heaven this is the reward that awaits us someday. 

We need to reflect and ponder at some point in our lives and ask ourselves this question, is my life all about knowing the Lord and not following Him? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 26 Miyerkules sa Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:22-30

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:22-30

Noong panahong iyon, nagpatuloy si Hesus sa kanyang paglalakbay. Siya’y nagtuturo sa bawat bayan at nayon na kanyang dinaraanan patungong Jerusalem. May isang nagtanong sa kanya, “Ginoo, kakaunti po ba ang maliligtas?” Sinabi niya, “Pagsikapan ninyong pumasok sa makipot na pintuan. 

Sinasabi ko sa inyo, marami ang magpipilit na pumasok ngunit hindi makapapasok. “Kapag ang pinto’y isinara na ng puno ng sambahayan, magtitiis kayong nakatayo sa labas, at katok nang katok. Sasabihin ninyo, ‘Panginoon, papasukin po ninyo kami.’ Sasagutin niya kayo, ‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo!’ At sasabihin ninyo, ‘Kumain po kami at uminom na kasalo ninyo, at nagturo pa kayo sa mga lansangan namin.’ Sasabihin naman ng Panginoon, ‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo! 

 Lumayo kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na nagsisigawa ng masama!’ Tatangis kayo at magngangalit ang inyong ngipin kapag nakita ninyong nasa kaharian ng Diyos sina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob, at ang lahat ng propeta, at kayo nama’y ipinagtabuyan sa labas! At darating ang mga tao buhat sa silangan at kanluran, sa hilaga at timog, at dudulog sa hapag sa kaharian ng Diyos. Tunay ngang may nahuhuling mauuna, at may nauunang mahuhuli.”

Reflection for October 25 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:

Can you suppress the growth of the kingdom of God in your life? Yes, you can suppress it that’s why many do not grow in faith. But as far as Jesus is concerned He surely wants you to allow the kingdom of God to grow and blossom within you so that through you others would benefit from it. 

How wonderful it is if we only take time to share whatever knowledge that we have about Jesus. If we do so we surely can make a big impact in our fellowmen lives. By sharing Jesus we can give hope to the hopeless and we can give life to the lifeless in spirit.   

Through our baptism God plants the seed of our faith. As we grow up we start to have an awareness of our spiritual identity. Some of us nurture this spiritual identity by continuously thirsting for Jesus, so it would grow. Others would simply ignore this tiny seed of faith that God had planted; this is the reason why some of us do not grow in faith. 

If you will not nurture this seed of faith, how would it grow and how would others know through you that there’s a God who saves, a God who forgives a God who loves them so dearly?  

You therefore have to share whatever you know about God don’t worry if what you know about God is not that substantial. For the reason that God will do something to make it grow just do your part no matter how small because God will take care of everything. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 25 Martes sa Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:18-21

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus, "Ano ang katulad ng paghahari ng Diyos? Saan ko ihahambing ito? Katulad ito ng isang butil ng mustasa na itinanim ng isang tao sa kanyang halamanan. Ito'y lumaki hanggang sa maging punongkahoy at namugad ang mga ibon sa mga sanga nito." 

Sinabi pa ni Jesus, "Saan ko itutulad ang paghahari ng Diyos? Katulad ito ng lebadurang inihalo ng isang babae sa tatlong takal na harina, anupa't umalsa ang buong masa." 

Reflection for October 24 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:

Do you choose the season when you extend help? There is no season or occasion when it comes to helping our fellowmen. For example, you are about to sleep and suddenly a neighbor knocks on your door asking you for help. What should you do? Of course you have to allow yourself to be disturbed and help neighbor in need for the simple reason that this is the right action to do. 

For Jesus there is no Sabbath or holy days when it comes to giving help, what is important for the Lord is to give help. That’s why He cured the woman who had been under the influence of Satan for eighteen long years during the Jewish holy day of Sabbath. 

This must also be our attitude in giving help we must not allow ourselves to be restricted by anyone and we must not choose those whom we will help. For as long as there is someone who needs help let us help. 

After giving help Jesus faced His detractors who were criticizing Him for healing the woman during the Sabbath day and they were humiliated. Why? They realized their very own hypocrisy, arrogance and selective observance of the holy day of Sabbath.   

We therefore have to avoid like a plague hypocrisy and arrogance for it will not do us any good. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 24 Lunes sa Ika-30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:10-17

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:10-17

Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus ay nagtuturo sa isang sinagoga sa Araw ng Pamamahinga. May isang babae roon na labingwalong taon nang may karamdaman, gawa ng masamang espiritung nasa kanya. Siya’y hukot na hukot at hindi na makaunat. Nang makita ni Hesus ang babae, tinawag niya ito at sinabi, “Magaling ka na sa iyong karamdaman!” 

At ipinatong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga kamay sa babae; noon di’y nakaunat ito at nagpuri sa Diyos. Ngunit nagalit ang tagapamahala ng sinagoga sapagkat nagpagaling si Hesus sa Araw ng Pamamahinga. Kaya’t sinabi niya sa mga tao, “May anim na araw na inilaan upang ipagtrabaho. Pumarito kayo sa mga araw na iyan upang magpagaling, at huwag sa Araw ng Pamamahinga.” 

Sinagot siya ng Panginoon, “Mga mapagpaimbabaw! Hindi ba’t kinakalag ninyo sa sabsaban ang inyong baka o asno at dinadala sa painuman kahit Araw ng Pamamahinga? Ang babaing ito na mula sa lipi ni Abraham ay ginapos ni Satanas sa loob ng labingwalong taon. Hindi ba dapat na siya’y kalagan kahit na Araw ng Pamamahinga?” Napahiya ang lahat ng kalaban ni Hesus sa sagot niyang ito; at nagalak naman ang madla sa mga kahanga-hangang bagay na ginawa niya.

Reflection for Sunday October 23, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Have you ever tried conversing with those who are humble? What do you notice about them? They rarely talk about themselves, if they even talk about themselves they see to it that it’s done not for the purpose of raising their own self-image. So, we naturally gravitate towards them and we love to be with them because they somewhat carry an aura of holiness. 

Have you tried conversing with those who are so full of themselves? Of course, they always talk about themselves: their accomplishments, their riches, things that they do and it goes on and on: all about themselves. Truth be told, we don’t want to hear these self-serving words that only feed their egos. 

God would prefer also that we at all times become humble. To talk less and less about ourselves and our accomplishments for the simple reason that it’s all geared to feed our superficial image.  God already knows everything about us.  He would very much prefer that we simply practice our faith and humbly walk in this temporal world with Him in silence yes in silence.  Never worrying if others would notice us or not. Simply content to do things for the greater glory of God and not to serve our own glorification. 

Many of us are like the Pharisee in our gospel, we love to talk about ourselves and we love to boast about the things that we do. But that will not serve us any good for the simple reason that we will not gain the favor of God if we always point to ourselves as the lead actor. 

The Lord always favors the humble as subtly stated in the gospel. The humble ones are those who talk less of themselves and those who do not let success go to their heads. Because they are very much aware that whatever they have is a gift from God that they must not brag about. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Oktubre 23, Ika - 30 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 18:9-14

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 18:9-14

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus ang talinghagang ito sa mga taong ang tingin sa sarili'y matuwid at humahamak naman sa iba. "May dalawang lalaking pumanhik sa templo upang manalangin: ang isa'y Pariseo at ang isa nama'y publikano. Tumindig ang Pariseo at pabulong na nanalangin ng ganito: 'O Diyos, nagpapasalamat ako sa iyo pagkat hindi ako katulad ng iba -- mga magnanakaw, mga mandaraya, mga mangangalunya -- o kaya'y katulad ng publikanong ito.

Makalawa akong nag-aayuno sa loob ng sanlinggo; nagbibigay ako ng ikapu ng lahat kong kinikita. Samantala, ang publikano'y nakatayo sa malayo; hindi man lamang makatingin sa langit, kundi dinadagukan ang kanyang dibdib, at sinasabi: 'O Diyos, mahabag po kayo sa akin na isang makasalanan!' Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang lalaking ito'y umuwing kinalulugdan ng Diyos, ngunit hindi ang isa. Sapagkat ang sinumang nagpapakataas ay ibababa, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas."

Reflection for October 22 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:

The story is told about a sinful man who was counseled to repent from his sins and walk away from it completely. However, the man did not listen to the wise counsel, he persisted on doing his sinful ways until he met a sudden end.  

What will happen to us if we would not walk away from our sinfulness? Sooner or later there will be punishment and there will be reckoning or payback. This is the normal cycle of life; if we refuse to walk away from all of our sinfulness there shall be punishment. If punishment will not catch up with us here in this world it will surely get hold of us in the afterlife.  

In our gospel, Jesus told those who were listening to Him to repent while they have the luxury of time. Because if they would not repent something very bad may happen to them. Same as what happened to the Galileans who were killed by Pilate and the eighteen people who perished when the tower of Siloam fell upon them.     

This is how great the love of God for us, He will continuously call upon us to repent from all of our sinfulness. Why? Because as much as possible Jesus wants us to be saved from the severe punishment of hell. Jesus will give us every opportunity to come back to Him no matter the sins that we have committed.  

But at the end of the day, it’s still in our hands if we would listen to this call of Jesus or not. Let us say we listened to this call of repentance, what would happen to our lives? There would be essential transformation in our lives: From a chaotic to a peaceful life and from a life of sin to a peaceful life free from sin.  

Would you listen to this call of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 22 Sabado sa Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 13:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 13:1-9

Dumating noon ang ilang mga tao at ibinalita kay Hesus na ipinapatay ni Pilato ang ilang Galileo samantalang ang mga ito’y naghahandog sa Diyos. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Akala ba ninyo, higit na makasalanan ang mga Galileong ito kaysa ibang mga taga-Galilea dahil sa gayun ang sinapit nila? Hindi! Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag hindi ninyo pinagsisihan at tinalikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, mapapahamak din kayong lahat. 

At ang labingwalong namatay nang mabagsakan ng tore sa Siloe – sa akala ba ninyo’y higit silang makasalanan kaysa ibang naninirahan sa Jerusalem? Hindi! Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo: kapag hindi ninyo pinagsisihan at tinalikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, mapapahamak din kayong lahat.” 

Sinasabi sa kanila ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito: “May isang tao na may puno ng igos sa kanyang ubasan. Minsan, tiningnan niya kung may bunga ito, ngunit wala siyang nakita. Kaya’t sinabi niya sa tagapag-alaga ng ubasan, ‘Tatlong taon na akong pumaparito at naghahanap ng bunga sa punong ito, ngunit wala akong makita. 

Putulin mo na! Nakasisikip lang iyan!’ Ngunit sumagot ang tagapag-alaga, ‘Huwag po muna nating putulin sa taong ito. Huhukayan ko ang palibot at lalagyan ng pataba. Kung mamunga po ito sa darating na taon, mabuti; ngunit kung hindi, putulin na natin!’” 

Reflection for October 21 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:

A philandering and irresponsible husband was always being advised by his mother to change his ways and focus his sole attention to his family. But the lure of temptation was too attractive to let go, so he did not listen to his mother.  After some time the limits of his wife’s patience had finally reached its boiling point.  So she and her children left Him, being alone he finally realized how irresponsible he was. 

This is who many of us are we keep on sinning .We are numb to well meaning advice because by its earthly nature sin is attractive. And the devil will keep pushing sin to us (disguised as pleasures) until it destroys us completely. 

However, Jesus has a message for us in the gospel. It’s for us to completely walk away from our sinfulness before it destroys us. For the reason that the moment we allow sin to take hold of us it will destroy not only us but even those that we love dearly. This may take time before it happen but it will surely happen.  

In our gospel Jesus denounced the crowd for their hypocrisy, they could predict the clouds and the weather. However they were purposely deaf to His call of repentance, aren’t many of us are like them? We only listen to the dictates of this world but we shut our ears when it comes to Jesus!  

 Let us listen to Jesus who always call upon us to repent because this is the right course of action to take. Jesus teachings may be unacceptable to us initially because it will entail painful purification and a change of lifestyle. But purification with Jesus always involves temporal difficulties that will eventually translate to a life of tranquility and contentment.

Would you care to listen to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 21 Biyernes sa Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:54-59

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:54-59

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao, "Kapag nakita ninyong Makapal ang ulap sa kanluran, sinasabi ninyong uulan, at gayon nga ang nangyayari. At kung umiihip ang hanging timog ay sinasabi ninyong iinit, at nagkakagayon nga. Mga mapagpaimbabaw! Marunong kayong bumasa ng palatandaan sa lupa't sa langit, bakit hindi ninyo mabasa ang mga tanda ng kasalukuyang panahon?  

"Bakit hindi ninyo mapagpasiyahan kung alin ang matuwid? Kapag isinakdal ka sa hukuman, makipag-ayos ka sa nagsakdal habang may panahon; baka kaladkarin ka niya sa hukuman, at ibigay ka ng hukom sa tanod, at ibilanggo ka naman nito. Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon hangga't hindi mo nababayaran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo."

Reflection for October 20 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:

The story is told about two childhood best friends who grew up and went to the same university in college. Best friend number one noticed that something was not right in the behavior of his best friend. So, he asked his best friend if something is wrong best friend number two replied that nothing to worry because everything is fine. 

After a few days best friend number two was caught by the school authorities using illegal drugs.  Best friend number one who was a devout follower of Jesus told his best friend to straighten his life otherwise he would cut his ties with him.     

All along we have this impression of Jesus as a unifying factor, as a man of peace. But what the gospel presents to us is contrary to these images of Jesus. Because what we have in the gospel is a divisive Jesus that creates conflict amongst family members.  

 Indeed, Jesus creates conflict amongst family members’ even friends. That is who Jesus is, He is not afraid to create a wedge amongst us so that we would straighten our crooked ways. For example, if some members of your family don’t want to go to Sunday Mass, what would you do? Would you simply keep quiet and just let it be? Of course not! 

You have to speak and gently remind those members of your family who don’t want to worship God at Mass. Another example, let us say that a member of your family had a pregnancy out of wedlock and a member of your family is suggesting an abortion. Will you simply keep silent and agree about that evil suggestion? Of course not, you have to speak out against the offer of abortion.  

A true follower of the Lord is someone who is not afraid to say what is in his mind even if it is unpopular. Even if it creates temporary division and separation among members of family and friends. As followers of Jesus it is always our responsibility to gently correct those whom we feel are going astray or walking into the darkness with the devil.   

If they would listen to us well and good, if they won’t and it results to division or even conflict.  That’s fine at least we have done something to redirect their lives to the right way of life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

#mabutingbalita Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 20 Huwebes sa Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:49-53

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:49-53

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Naparito ako upang magdala ng apoy sa lupa – at sana’y napagningas na ito! May isang binyag pa na dapat kong tanggapin, at nababagabag ako hangga’t hindi natutupad ito! Akala ba ninyo’y pumarito ako upang magdala ng kapayapaan sa lupa? 

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi kapayapaan kundi pagkakabaha-bahagi. Mula ngayon, ang limang katao sa isang sambahayan ay mababahagi: tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo. Maglalaban-laban ang ama at ang anak na lalaki, Ang ina at ang anak na babae, At gayun din ang biyenang babae, at manugang na babae.”