Si Maria'y
nagmamadaling pumunta sa isang bayan sa kaburulan ng Juda. Pagdating sa bahay
ni Zacarias, binati niya si Elisabet. Nang marinig ni Elisabet ang bati ni
Maria, naggagalaw ang sanggol sa kanyang tiyan. Napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si
Elisabet, at buong galak na sinabi, "Pinagpala ka sa mga babae, at
pinagpala rin ang dinadala mo sa iyong sinapupunan!
Sino ako
upang dalawin ng ina ng aking Panginoon? Sapagkat pagkarinig ko ng iyong bati
ay naggagalaw ang sanggol sa tuwa sa aking tiyan. Mapalad ka sapagkat nanalig
kang matutupad ang ipinasasabi sa iyo ng Panginoon!"
At sinabi ni
Maria, "Ang puso ko'y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, at nagagalak ang aking
espiritu dahil sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagkat nilingap niya ang
kanyang abang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako'y tatawaging mapalad ng lahat ng
salinlahi. Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan --
Banal ang kanyang pangalan!
Kinahahabagan
niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng sali't-saling lahi. Ipinakita niya
ang lakas ng kanyang mga bisig, pinangalat niya ang mga palalo ang isipan.
ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang trono, at itinaas ang mga nasa
abang kalagayan.
Binusog niya
ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom, at pinalayas niyang wala ni anuman ang
mayayaman. Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel, bilang pagtupad sa
pangako niya sa ating mga magulang, kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi,
magpakailanman!"
Tumira si
Maria kina Elisabet nang may tatlong buwan, at saka umuwi.
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering
in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were
overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum, the
collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher
pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had
time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the
kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are
exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and
take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin
worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you generously give to the church?
The gospel speaks about the payment of the
temple tax. Even if they were exempted from paying the temple tax Jesus still
instructed Peter to pay the temple tax. Perhaps Jesus did this for the reason
that He wants to contribute something for the maintenance of the church and its
facilities.
This generous payment of the temple tax by
Jesus invites us to examine our generosity to our church as well. Are we
generous to our church? Do we give generously during offertory?
We have to be generous to our church so
that it can have funds not only for the maintenance of its facilities. But also
for the welfare of those who are working for the church. The money that we give
to the church is not only for the church it is also for the poor.
We may not know this but the church takes
care of the poor, the church doesn’t blare it but it silently helps the poor
and those who are in need. Therefore, we have to generously give to our church
and whatever we give to our church will come back to us a hundredfold.
What may come back to us may not
necessarily be through financial rewards. It can be peace and harmony in the
family; it can be good health and many more blessings that does not involve
money. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nang nagkakatipon sa Galilea, ang mga alagad, sinabi sa kanila
ni Jesus, "Ang Anak ng Tao ay ipagkakanulo at papatayin, ngunit muling
mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw," At sila'y lubhang nagdalamhati.
Pagdating
nila sa Capernaum, lumapit kay Pedro ang mga maniningil ng buwis para sa
templo. Tinanong siya, "Nagbabayad ba ng buwis para sa templo ang inyong
Guro?" "Opo," sagot ni Pedro. At nang dumating siya sa bahay, tinanong na agad siya ni Jesus:
"Ano ba ang palagay mo, Simon? Kanino sumisingil ng bayad sa lisensiya o
buwis ang mga hari sa lupa? Sa mga mamamayan ba o mga dayuhan?" "Sa mga dayuhan po," tugon niya. sinabi ni Jesus,
"Kung gayon, hindi pinagbabayad ang mga mamamayan.
Gayunaman,
para wala silang masabi sa atin, pumaroon ka sa lawa at ihagis mo ang kawil.
Kunin mo ang unang isdang mahuhuli. Ibuka mo ang bibig nito at may makikita
kang isang salaping pilak. Kunin mo ito at ibayad mo sa buwis nating
dalawa."
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
An Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Holy Communion would go to the house of an eighty-four-year-old man every Sunday. So that he could receive Jesus through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Being sick and old, he could hardly move and barely speak. However, the Minister of Holy Communion would always notice that the moment he arrives, the elderly man would encourage everyone in their house to be silent."
Then, on a small table, the candle is immediately lit, after which the corporal is neatly laid, and the pyx opened to expose the Body of Christ. While seated, he would bow in reverence to worship Jesus before he receives the Body of Christ.
It is always a moving experience for the Minister of the Holy Communion as he observes the old man worship Jesus. How he quietly desires to reverently receive the Body of Christ and how Jesus creates peace and calmness in his life.
In the first reading, the Lord God said to Elijah, 'Go outside the mountain, for God will be passing by.' There was a strong wind, but God was not there. Then, an earthquake followed, but God was still not there. Subsequently, fire came, but God was not in the fire. After these thundering false manifestations, came a tiny whispering sound of silence, and it was God.
In our gospel, the boat where the disciples were, was being battered by the waves. Then amidst the disturbance, Jesus came silently, walking on the violent water. To assure them that in their fearful and unstable present environment. He is there to calm them and to reassure them that everything would be all right, for He is there to save them all.
We are oftentimes tossed upside down by our worries and problems that generate fear in our hearts. We are being tossed by the fear of losing our jobs; we are being disturbed by the fear of sickness and death. We are being tossed by the fear of getting old, and we have countless more fears that we keep to ourselves.
But in the middle of all these fears and disturbances in our life, Jesus silently comes into our hearts. To assure and calm us that everything will be alright, to say to us that we need not fear. And to say to us to remain strong in your faith, for I am here to save you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, matapos pakainin ang mga tao, agad pinasakay ni Jesus sa bangka ang kanyang mga alagad at pinauna sa kabilang ibayo samantalang pinauwi niya ang mga tao. Pagkaalis ng mga ito, umahon siya sa burol upang manalangin. Nag-iisa siyang inabot doon ng gabi. Samantala, nasa laot na noon ang bangka at sinasalpok ng mga alon sapagkat pasalungat sa hangin.
At nang madaling-araw na'y sumunod sa kanila si Jesus na naglalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig. Kinilabutan sa takot ang mga alagad nang makita nilang may lumalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig. "Multo!" sigaw nila. Ngunit agad siyang nagsalita at sinabi sa kanila, "Huwag kayong matakot; si Jesus ito!" at nagsalita si Pedro, "Panginoon, kung talagang kayo iyan, papariyanin ninyo ako sa ibabaw ng tubig."
Sumagot siya, "Halika." Kaya't lumunsad si Pedro sa bangka at lumakad sa ibabaw ng tubig, palapit kay Jesus. Ngunit ng mapansin niya ang hangin, siya'y natakot at nagsimulang lumubog. "Sagipin ninyo ako, Panginoon!" sigaw niya. Agad siyang inabot ni Jesus. "Napakaliit ng iyong pananalig!" sabi niya kay Pedro. Bakit ka nag-alinlangan?" Pagkasakay nila sa bangka, tumigil ang hangin. At sinamba siya ng mga nasa bangka. "Tunay na kayo ang Anak ng Diyos!" sabi nila.
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before
him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers
severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your
disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and
perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring the boy
here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that
hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and
said, “Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, “Because of your little
faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you
will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing
will be impossible for you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Jesus tells us today: “Nothing will be
impossible for us (Matthew 17:20).” In the midst of our many doubts Jesus is
whispering to us that nothing is impossible for us because all things are
possible for those who have faith in Him.
Faith is something that we should all
strive very hard to have, can we all have faith? Isn’t faith only for the
select few? Jesus already gave us faith when we were Baptized and He hoped that
as we grow the faith that He gave us would grow as well.
But it did not happen because as we grow
our faith was left out, even forgotten. Who is to blame for this faith that was
left out? Our parents? The people of the church? But all is not lost
yet because we still have the chance to rejuvinate this faith that has been
left out.
All we need to do is to ask Jesus to give
us once again the gift of faith that He so generously showered upon us when we
were baptized. Lest we forget, faith is important in a person’s journey in this
world. Without it we are simply like zombies roaming around without direction
and purpose.
Prayer:
Oh Dear Jesus we humbly pray that you make
alive our dormant faith. For without it we are like zombies roaming around
without any direction and purpose. Give us faith so that we’ll have hope, give
us faith so that we’ll have purpose and give us faith so that we would
withstand whatever problems that we may encounter in this world. Amen. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, lumapit ang isang lalaki, lumuhod sa harapan ni Hesus at ang
sabi, “Ginoo, mahabag po kayo sa anak kong lalaki! Siya po’y himatayin at
lubhang nahihirapan kung sinusumpong, sapagkat madalas siyang mabuwal sa apoy o
kaya’y mahulog sa tubig.
Dinala ko na
siya sa inyong mga alagad, ngunit hindi nila mapagaling.” Sumagot si Hesus,
“Lahing walang pananampalataya at matigas ang ulo! Hanggang kailan dapat akong
manatiling kasama ninyo? Hanggang kailan ko kayo pagtitiisan? Dalhin ninyo rito
ang bata!” Pinagwikaan ni Hesus ang demonyo at lumabas ito, at ang bata’y
gumaling agad.
Pagkatapos ay
lumapit ang mga alagad kay Hesus at nagtanong nang walang ibang nakaririnig,
“Bakit hindi po namin mapalayas ang demonyo?” Sumagot siya, “Dahil sa kaliitan
ng inyong pananalig. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: kung maging sinlaki man lamang ng
butil ng mustasa ang inyong pananalig sa Diyos, masasabi ninyo sa bundok na
ito, ‘Lumipat ka roon!’ at lilipat ito. Walang bagay na hindi ninyo
mapangyayari.”
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever
wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole
world and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his
life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and
then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are
some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man
coming in his Kingdom.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What does the cross signify to you? Does
it signify hardship and burden? During the time of Jesus the cross was a sign
of judgment and suffering.
By saying to the disciples that they have
to take up their own cross if they desire to follow Him. Jesus was telling them
that they have to be ready to be oppressed, ready to face hardships and ready
to be unfairly judged. Many of the disciples took this challenge of Jesus and
in so doing they found the real meaning of life.
Many of us seek the life of ease and
comfort thinking that this is what life is all about. But life of ease and
comfort are not the real essence of life. Could you find your life by living a
worldly life? Could you find purpose in this world by living the lifestyle of
the rich and famous? Many rich and famous personalities in this world committed
suicide because they struggled to find the purpose of their lives.
It is only through following Jesus and
carrying His cross that we would find the true meaning of our life. Therefore,
we have to be ready to carry our cross for us to be called true followers of Jesus. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Kung ibig ninumang
sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang
krus at sumunod sa akin. Ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang buhay ay
siyang mawawalan nito; ngunit ang mag-alay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa akin
ay siyang magkakamit noon.
Ano nga ang
mapapala ng isang tao, makamtan man niya ang buong daigdig kung ang katumbas
naman nito’y ang kanyang buhay? Ano ang maibabayad ng tao para mabalik sa kanya
ang kanyang buhay? Sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao na taglay ang dakilang
kapangyarihan ng kanyang Ama at kasama ang kanyang mga anghel.
Sa panahong
yao’y gagantihan niya ang bawat tao ayon sa kanyang ginawa. Sinasabi ko sa
inyo: may ilan sa inyo rito na hindi mamamatay hangga’t di nila nakikita ang
Anak ng Tao na pumaparito bilang Hari.”
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen,
I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains
just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and
whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever
serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The
Father will honor whoever serves me.”
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Reflection:
What does it mean to hate our life in this
world?
It’s to give our life in the service of
Jesus so that through us others may know Jesus. When we do not give our life
for the mission of Jesus and just keep it to ourselves we will not grow in wisdom
and faith. Yes, we will grow in worldliness and perhaps riches but eventually our
life will come to a halt and that’s basically the end of it.
When we choose to give our life for the
mission of Jesus we will not anymore enjoy this world as we enjoyed it
before. Yet we will also discover a more profound and deeper meaning in our
life that only Jesus can give us.
Why? Because we chose to give our life
for the mission of Jesus. We chose to throwaway our life away from worldliness
going to the direction of Jesus so that we could walk hand in hand with the
Lord.
As Jesus gave away His very own life on
the cross so that God’s kingdom in this world could grow and flourish. We too
should not be afraid to give away our life for the sake of the kingdom of God
for this is where we can find the true essence and meaning of life.
Have you already found the true essence
and meaning of your life with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
