MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 16, 2021

Lunes sa ika -20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 19:16-22

Lumapit kay Hesus ang isang binata at nagtanong: “Guro, anong mabuti ang dapat kong gawin para makamit ang buhay na walang hanggan?” “Bakit tungkol sa mabuti ang tanong mo? Iisa lang ang Mabuti. Kung gusto mong pumasok sa buhay na walang hanggan, sundin mo ang mga utos.” “Anong mga utos?” “Huwag papatay, huwag makiapid, huwag magnakaw, huwag manirang-puri ng kapwa, igalang ang iyong ama at ina at mahalin ang iyong kapwa gaya ng pagmamahal mo sa iyong sarili.’” “Sinunod ko ang lahat ng ito, ano pa ang kulang ko?” “Kung gusto mo maging ganap, umuwi ka’t ipagbili ang mga ari-arian mo at ibigay ang pera sa mga dukha, at magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa Langit. At saka ka bumalik para sumunod sa akin.” Pagkarinig ng binata sa pahayag na ito, umalis siyang malungkot sapagkat napakayaman niya.

PAGNINILAY:

Bago pumasok ang isang panibagong taon, ang isa mga ginagawa ko ay binubuksan ko ang cabinet at mga drawers ko at titingnan ko kung alin ang mga bagay na pwede ng maipamigay. Pipili ako ng mga damit, pantalon at iba pa na maayos at maaari pang gamitin ng iba. Isa ito sa mga bahagi ng pagdidisiplina ko sa aking sarili. Pero minsan napatanong ulit ako, “Ito lang ba ang dapat kong ipamigay?” “O may mas kaya pa akong ibigay?”   Sa Mabuting Balita, alam ni Hesus na natutupad ng lalaki ang nasusulat sa sampung utos at walang duda na mabuti ang kanyang ginagawa. Pero ang pagiging mabuti para kay Hesus ay hindi lamang pagiging law-abiding citizen but love-abiding Christian. Ang pagmamahal sa Diyos ay hindi lamang pagsunod sa mga nakasulat sa sampung utos bagamat ito ang pinakapundasyon. Habang lumalago tayo sa ating pananampalataya, mas marami dapat tayong sundin na hindi nasusulat sa kautusan ng Diyos. At isa na rito, ang pamimigay ng mga ari-arian. Mahalaga ang mga materyal na bagay sa ating buhay. Pero sa buhay pananampalataya, ang isa sa mga radikal na pagtawag sa atin ng Diyos ay magbigay ng mga materyal na bagay, hindi lang dahil tayo ay may sobra, kundi dahil tayo ay nagmamahal. Ito ang nais ni Hesus na ipagawa doon sa lalaki. At dito nahirapan ang lalaki. Malungkot siya na umuwi sa kanila.  Mga kapanalig, may mga pagkakataong iniisip nating mabuti na tayo. Pero kung tatanungin natin muli ang Diyos ngayon, ano kaya ang mabuting nakalilimutan pa nating gawin? Ano pa kaya ang pwede natin maibigay para sa ating kapwa at para sa Diyos?

Fr. Micha Miguel Competente, SSP |Society of St. Paul

ST. TARCISIUS  | PATRON OF THE FIRST COMMUNICANTS AND OF ALTAR SERVERS

Feast Day: AUGUST 15

To give us inspiration today is a young saint called "The Boy Martyr of the Eucharist." He is popularly known as St. Tarcisius. Little is known about his background but tradition says he lived in the 3rdcentury, during the Christian persecution by the Roman Emperor Valerian. In those times. Christians who denied to offer sacrifices to idols and refused to give up their Christian belief were put in prison. Shortly afterwards they were martyred. They had an ardent desire to receive the Body of Christ before their martyrdom. So, their fellow Christians tried to secretly send them the Holy Eucharist.

The story about Tarcisius is recorded in a poem written by Pope Damasus I who lived about a century later. The poem says that it was a custom during those times to entrust the bringing of the Holy Eucharist to the Christian prisoners to young boys, as the pagans would not suspect them as they would the priests and adults. Having been given this task, Tarcisius was met by the pagans on the Appian way and was asked to show them what he was carrying. Since he refused to expose what he had in his hands, they assaulted him, beating him with clubs and stones. Tarcisius continued to hide the Eucharist until he died. When the Christians took his dead body, they did not find any trace of Christ's Body neither in his clothing nor in his own body. Jesus miraculously disappeared.

Tarcisius was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and later his body was transferred to the church of San Silvestro in Capite, Rome. He is venerated as a model for altar boys and as a great lover of the Eucharist. He is the patron of first communicants and of altar servers. His feast day is celebrated on August 15, but since in the Roman Calendar, the day is dedicated to the Assumption of the Mother of God, he is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.

"O brave St. Tarcisius, you faithfully fulfilled your duty to defend the Body of Christ. Pray that we may follow your example by receiving Holy Communion with a clean and pure heart. Amen."

Do I behave properly inside the church, aware that Jesus is present in the holy tabernacle? What kind of preparation do I make before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion?

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 15, 2021

Solemnity of the Assumption  of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel: Lk 1:39-56 

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town  in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and  greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child  leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and  blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to  me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard  the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of  what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit  rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the  lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will  call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me,  and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from  generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;  he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has  brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the  lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich  away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of  his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to  Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with  her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth can be spoken of  as the very first instance of evangelization in the  New Testament. But the proclamation is not done with  an abundance of words, but simply with a greeting, with personal  encounter and presence. Words are not necessary, because the Word in-flesh which Mary carries in her womb powerfully announces itself  through the same Spirit by which it has been conceived. Genuine  and effective evangelization does not only involve being a Christ announcer, but more importantly, being a Christ-bearer to others. It  means letting one’s life become the platform on which the Divine  Word can stand to address his hearers heart-to-heart. Lord Jesus, help us to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to allow  your presence to shine through our lives and become good news to others. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 15, 2021

Dakilang Kapistahan sa Pag-akyat sa Langit ng Mahal na Birheng Maria

EBANGHELYO: LUCAS 1:39-56

Nagmamadaling naglakbay si Maria papunta sa isang bayan sa mataas na lupain ng Juda. Pumasok siya roon sa bahay ni Zacarias at binati si Elizabeth. Nang marinig ni Elizabeth ang bati ni Maria, sumikad ang sanggol sa sinapupunan niya, at napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elizabeth at malakas siyang sumigaw at sinabi: “Lubos kang pinagpala sa mga kababaihan. Pinagpala rin ang bunga ng iyong sinapupunan! Sino nga ba naman ako’t naparito sa akin ang ina ng aking Panginoon? Nang umabot sa aking pandinig ang iyong pagbati, sumikad sa tuwa ang sanggol sa aking sinapupunan! Pinagpapala ang naniniwalang magaganap ang mga sinasabi sa kanya ng Panginoon.” At sinabi ni Maria: “Dinadakila ng aking kaluluwa ang Panginoon at nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas dahil isinaalang-alang niya ang balewalang utusan niya, at mula ngayon, ituturing akong mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi. Dakila nga ang ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan, banal ang kanyang Pangalan. Patuloy ang kanyang awa sa mga sali’t-salinlahi para sa mga may pitagan sa kanya. Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang bisig, ipinagtabuyan ang mga taong may mapagmataas na balak. “Pinatalsik niya sa luklukan ang mga makapangyarihan, itinampok naman ang mga balewala. Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom at itinaboy namang walang-wala ang mayayaman. Nilingap niya ang Israel na kanyang lingkod, inalala ang kanyang awa ayon sa ipinangako niya sa ating mga ninuno, kay Abraham at sa kanyang angkan magpakailanman.” Mga tatlong buwang nanatili si Mariang kasama ni Elizabeth at saka nagbalik sa kanyang bahay.

PAGNINILAY:

Ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng pag-aakyat kay Maria sa kalangitan. Pinaniniwalaan natin na ang langit ay isang estado na kung saan kapiling at kaisa natin ang Diyos. Si Maria, dahil sa kanyang huwarang pamumuhay at pagsunod sa Diyos, ay hindi napasailalim sa korapsyon ng kamatayan. Iniakyat sya, katawan at kaluluwa sa piling ng Diyos, pagkatapos ng kanyang buhay dito sa daigdig. Isang larawan at modelo si Maria ng ating pag-asa at pagtugon sa Diyos. Ang pag-aakyat kay Maria ang larawan ng ating pag-asa at kasiguraduhan sa buhay na walang hanggan.  Pero upang makamit ito, hinihikayat tayong tularan ang fiat ni Maria, ang kanyang pagtugon sa kalooban ng Diyos, kahit pa magdulot ito sa atin ng buhay patungo sa kalbaryo, sa paanan ng Krus. Nawa, sa katapusan ng ating buhay, makasama tayo ni Maria, katawan at kaluluwa. Ipinapakita din ng pag-aakyat kay Maria ang dignidad at kahalagahan ng ating katawan at pagkatao. Ipinapakita dito na maging ang ating katawang lupa ay dadalhin patungo sa kaharian ng Diyos kung saan wala ng korapsyon. Paalala ito na igalang din natin ang ating katawan at pahalagahan katulad ng pagpapahalaga dito ng Diyos mula sa paglikha at paghubog sa atin. Hindi tayo diyos ng ating sarili at hindi natin pag-aari ang ating katawan. Dahil nagmula ang lahat ng ito sa Diyos at babalik muli sa kanya.  Ipanalangin natin na makasunod tayo sa kalooban ng Diyos sa halimbawa ni Maria, upang sa huli ay makamtan din natin ang grasya ng pag-aakyat sa Kalangitan, katawan at kaluluwa. Amen.

Fr. Keiv Aires Dimatatac, SSP | Society of St. Paul

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 14, 2021

19th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 19:13-15 

13Little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might  lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those  who brought them; 14but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to  me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom  of heaven belongs.” 15And he laid his hands on them and went on  his way. 

The disciples’ dismissive attitude toward the children  manifests a worldly mindset that places importance only  on those who are active contributors to the economy of the  land. That mindset belittles children because they are economically  passive. Jesus turns that worldly logic upside down. No one is to be  deemed unimportant in the Kingdom of heaven. Everyone matters in  God’s sight, and those treated least in the world are the greatest in the  Kingdom of heaven. Lord Jesus, help us to see and relate with every reality on earth from the  perspective of the heavenly Kingdom, where no one is despised because of littleness. Amen

ST. MAXIMILIAN MARIA KOLBE |  PATRON OF OUR DIFFICULT CENTURY  AND APOSTLE OF CONSECRATION TO MARY

Feast Day: AUGUST 14

One of the most celebrated saints in our time is St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. St. Pope John Paul II called him during his canonization ceremony with the title “Martyr of Charity” due to the great love he showed when he took the place of a prisoner who was sentenced to die.

St. Maximilian was born Rajmund Kolbe in Zuduaska, Wola, Poland, at that time belonging to the Russian Empire, on January 8, 1894. He was brought up as a zealous Catholic and he was very devoted to the Virgin Mary. At age 12, the Virgin Mother appeared to him in a vision holding a white and a red crown. The white represents purity, while the red means martyrdom and he was asked to choose from the two. Immediately he chose both crowns.

When World War I broke out, his father joined the army to fight for the liberty of Poland from the Russians. In response, his brother was arrested and hanged as a traitor by the Russians. It was such a traumatic experience for him. After the war, he and his older brother joined the Conventual Franciscans. He made his first vows in 1911 and took the religious name Maximilian. At his final vows in 1914 he added the name Maria to his religious name. Wanting to become a priest, he was sent to Rome and studied philosophy and theology.

In 1915, together with 6 friends, he founded Militia Immacolata, an international movement aimed at promoting total consecration to Mary. Members have the duty to pray for the conversion of sinners. Then in 1917, he established the magazine Knight of the Immaculate, which is circulating until now. In 1918, he was ordained priest. As priest he travelled to China, Japan and founded a monastery in India. When World War II broke out he was already back to Poland. But due to his charity he was arrested for sheltering refugees from Greater Poland. He was also condemned for refusing to sign a document giving him the rights like those of German citizens. On February 17, 1941 the Germans shutdown their monastery; he was arrested, harassed with beating and lashing. Then he was brought to Auschwitz. While in prison, he continued his priestly ministry to the prisoners.

It happened that one prisoner escaped. As a reaction, ten were chosen to be starved to death. One prisoner cried out: “My wife, my children.” Fr. Maximilian took great pity on him and volunteered to take his place. “I am a Catholic priest, I can take his place…” His offer was accepted, then he led the other nine in praying. After two weeks of starvation, only Kolbe remained. He was injected with lethal acid and he died. On October 10, 1982 Maximilian Kolbe was canonized by St. Pope John Paul II. The Pope also named him “Patron of Our Difficult Century,” and “Apostle of Consecration to Mary.” Since many people acknowledge his many involvements in life, he was also proclaimed as patron of journalists, drug addicts, political prisoners, pro-life movement, and amateur radio operators. The man whom he saved was present at his beatification and canonization.

“St. Maximilian, please pray that in imitation of you, we may never lose hope in the most difficult situations of our life.”

Am I easily discouraged? Do I trust in God’s mercy and compassion? Do I have recourse to Mary’s intercession?

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 14, 2021

Sabado sa ika -19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 19:13-15

May nagdala kay Hesus ng mga bata para ipatong n’ya ng kanyang kamay sa kanila at madasalan. Pinagalitan naman ng mga alagad ang mga taong may dala sa kanila. Kaya sinabi ni Hesus: “Pabayaan ninyo sila. Huwag ninyong pigilang lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Sa mga tulad nga nila ang kaharian ng langit.” At pagkapatong ni Hesus ng kanyang kamay sa kanila, umalis na s’ya.

PAGNINILAY:

Mahigit isang taon ng tahimik ang paaralan, walang sigla, walang buhay dahil sa pandemya. Nakaka-miss ang maliliit na tinig sa panalanging paawit bago magsimula ang klase, ang naka-aaliw na pagtatakbuhan kapag lunchbreak at ang nakatutuwa at kamangha-manghang gawi ng mga batang sadyang bibo. Aba, mahigit na tatlong dekada na palang kasa-kasama ko ang mga bata. Kaya naman pala feeling young pa rin ako! Mga kapanalig, ang Mabuting Balita natin ngayon ay napakaikli, pero magandang pagnilayan ang tatlong mahahalagang detalye nito: ang pagdadala kay Hesus ng mga bata, ang pagkagalit ng mga alagad sa mga taong nagdala sa kanila at ang pagtanggap ni Hesus sa mga bata sabay wika, “Pabayaan ninyo sila. Huwag ninyong pigilang lumapit sa akin ang mga bata.” Kahanga-hanga ang ginawa ng mga taong nagdala sa mga bata kay Hesus upang sila ay mabendisyunan. Ipinakita nila dito na bata man sila ay kinakailangan din ng parehas na pagpapahalaga. Samantalang ang mga alagad naman ay nagalit at pinaalis sila.  Kung bakit tila humadlang sila na lumapit kay Hesus ang mga bata ay dahil noong kapanahunan ni Hesus mababa ang pagtingin nila sa mga kababaihan at mga bata, 2nd class citizen, ika nga. Sa kabilang banda naman ang tinuran ni Hesus ay nagpakita ng pagtanggap Niya sa kanila. Marahil kinagiliwan din ni Hesus ang mga bata o naaliw Siya sa kanila dahil sa taglay nilang katangian tulad ng pagiging simple at inosente. Alam ni Hesus na sila, isip bata man sa ngayon, pero darating ang panahon na magiging kapaki-pakinabang din. Ang pagbibigay ni Hesus ng pansin sa mga bata ay nagpakita ng pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal Niya maging sa mga aba, makasalanan, mababa sa pagtingin ng lipunan tulad ng maliliit na bata. Sa tagpong iyon itinaas ni Hesus ang “halaga” ng mga bata. Kapanalig, tanungin mo ang iyong sarili: Ako ba ay naging hadlang o naging dahilan upang mapalapit ang mga bata kay Hesus?

- Ms. Vicky Lucero, IOLA | Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation

PANALANGIN: Panginoon, itulot N’yo pong maging mabuting halimbawa ako sa mga bata upang makilala Ka nila, madama ang Iyong kabutihan at pagmamahal at mapalapit sila sa Iyo. Amen.

MISSION - GIFTED TO GIVE

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 13, 2021

19th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 19:3-12  

3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, and to test him they asked, “Is it  lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” 4 He answered,  “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning  ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall  leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two  shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 They  said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of  dismissal and to divorce her?” 8 He said to them, “It was because you  were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,  but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever  divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits  adultery.” 10His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his  wife, it is better not to marry.” 11But he said to them, “Not everyone can  accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. 12For there  are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who  have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have  made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let  anyone accept this who can.” 

 In replying to the Pharisees’ testing, Jesus clarifies that  the union of husband and wife is directly governed by  the Creator’s intention, which is above any human decree.  This irrevocable divine intention goes back to the beginning of time,  before any human law came to be promulgated. Unity is God’s will for  human couples. And when God wills, God also empowers and sustains  those who are willing to obey. Moses’ bill of divorce is no more than  the sad compromise by a leader who feels helpless in the face of the  hardness of people’s hearts. But Jesus himself is unrelenting in his  no-divorce stand, not only because of the devastating consequences  of divorce in terms of broken lives and wounded relationships, but  because he knows that nothing will be impossible for God and for  couples who are willing to assume the necessary sacrifice of staying  united.  Lord Jesus, we pray that married couples may seek the solution to their  differences, not in terminating their union, but in growing together in faith and willingness to sacrifice. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 13, 2021

Biyernes sa ika -19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 19:3-12

Lumapit kay Hesus ang ilang Pariseo na hangad siyang subukan, at tinanong nila siya: “Pinahihintulutan bang diborsiyuhin ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa sa anumang dahilan?” “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa na sa simula’y ginawa sila ng Maykapal na lalaki at babae, at sinabi rin nitong iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at pipisan sa kanyang asawa, at magiging iisang katawan ang dalawa? Kung gayo’y hindi na sila dalawa kundi iisang katawan na lamang; kaya huwag papaghiwalayin ng tao ang pinagbuklod ng Diyos.” “Kung gayon, bakit iniutos ni Moises na bigyan ang babae ng kasulatan ng diborsiyo bago siya paalisin?” “Alam ni Moises na matigas ang inyong puso kaya pinayagan kayong diborsiyuhin ang inyong mga asawa, ngunit hindi ganito sa simula. At sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang asawa, malibang dahil sa pagtataksil, at saka magpakasal sa iba, nakiapid na siya.” Sinabi naman ng mga alagad: “Kung iyan ang itinatadhana para sa lalaking may-asawa, walang pakinabang sa pag-aasawa.” Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Hindi matatanggap ng lahat ang salitang ito, kundi ng mga pinagkalooban lamang nito. May ilang ipinanganak na hindi nakapag-asawa. May iba namang ipinakapon ng tao. At may iba ring tumalikod sa pag-aasawa alang-alang sa kaharian ng Langit. Tanggapin ito ng puwedeng tumanggap.”

PAGNINILAY:

May kanya-kanyang paraan ang pagtawag ng Diyos at pagtugon natin sa Kanya.  But for sure, lahat tayo ay tinawag upang magmahal at maging mabuting tao, tulad ni Kristo. Madalas, trending sa social media ang mga hiwalayan, mga hashtags, tulad ng may nagmahal, may nasaktan, iniwan, nagpaubaya, di makapag move on, naging pusong bato na at samo’t-saring  hugot sa buhay, kaya naman, maraming hindi naniniwala sa forever. Hindi po madali ang magsalita tungkol sa diborsiyo dahil ramdam natin ang sakit na dulot nito, ang kalungkutan ng bawa’t miyembro ng pamilya, lalo na sa mga anak, at sa nawawalang kapayapaan at kaligayahan sa loob ng tahanan.  Mga kapanalig,  dama ng Diyos ang hapdi at sakit ng damdamin ng isang umibig ng sobra, at nasaktan. Kaya naman, Siya na lumikha at nagmamahal sa atin ang tunay na nakakaalam kung paano tayo dapat mamuhay upang matamo natin ang pinakadakilang kaligayahan.Tunay ngang may forever, ang mga bagay na galing sa Diyos!  Kung may nasirang ugnayan at pagkakamali man tayo sa nakaraan, hindi pa huli na gumawa ng mga pagbabago at gawin ang tama upang maisabuhay natin ang orihinal na plano ng Diyos para sa atin, dahil ito ang pinakamainam at pinakamaganda.  Inanyayahan ko po kayong basahin ang Apostolic Exhortation ni Pope Francis na Amoris Laetitia - The Joy of Love.  Tungkol ito sa kahalagahan ng buhay ng pamilya, pag-ibig at pag-aasawa sa lipunan, upang mapahalagahan at maisabuhay ang mga kaloob nito.

- Sr. Junlyn Maragañas, SJBP | Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd/Pastorelle

PANALANGIN:  Panginoon, basbasan N’yo po ang aming pamilya at patatagin ang aming pananalig sa Iyo, lalo na sa panahon ng kahinaan at pagsubok. Lingapin Nyo ang mga pamilya na ngayon ay dumaranas ng matinding kahirapan, pagdurusa, nawawalan ng pag-asa at nagkakahiwalay dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan at mabigat na dahilan. Banal na mag-anak, tulungan Nyo po kami. Amen.