February Reflections written by Bro. Rafael Hero de Honor, translated ourparishpriest,com

February 16, 2023

Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Mk 8:27-33

Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Is Jesus concerned about what people think of him or is he more concerned of what the disciples think of him? He revealed his upcoming “Passion, Death, and Resurrection” But it seems they neglected this warning and Peter opposed provoking Jesus to dub him as Satan. The query of Jesus proves they dont know yet who the Lord is. If we dont know Jesus and we call ourselves disciples then maybe, the Lord will tell us, “Get behind me, Satan.”

 Habang daan, nagtanong ang Panginoong Hesus sa mga alagad: Sino daw ako ayon sa mga tao? Saan kaya mas interesado ang Panginoon, sa sasabihin ng mga tao o sa opinyon ng mga alagad niya? Dito na niya inihayag ang kanyang Pagdurusa, Kamatayan at Pagkabuhay. Subalit tila nakalimutan ito ng mga alagad. Sinalungat ni Pedro ang Panginoon kaya tinawag ni Hesus si Pedro na satanas. Ang tanong ni Hesus ay patunay na hindi pa lubos na nakikilala ng mga alagad ang Panginoon. Kung hindi natin kilala si Hesus, habang tinatawag natin ang sarili na tagasunod o alagad niya, hindi kaya tawagin din niya tayong satanas?

February 17, 2023

Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Mk 8:34—9:1

What is the favorite  mathematical operation of Jesus if there is? It is subtraction- deny yourself, take up your cross, and lose your life for the Lord and Gospel. But this is not earthly subtraction rather, a subtraction that will gain eternal life. Subtract everything that will profit us to gain the whole world in order for us to follow the Lord. 

Kung may paboritong formula sa mathematics ang Panginoong Hesus, ano kaya ito? Baka ito ay subtraction (iyong minus/ pagbabawas ba): kalimutan ang sarili, pasanin ang sariling krus, at iwaglit ang buhay alang-alang sa Panginoon at sa Mabuting Balita. Pero hindi ito subtraction na makalupa; ito ay subtraction na nagdudulot ng buhay na walang hanggan. Simulang mag-subtract (magbawas, mag-minus) ng bagay na makamundo upang matamo ang mundong ipinangangako ng Panginoon sa mga sumusunod sa kanya.

 February 18, 2023

Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Mk 9:2-13

 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. In the Transfiguration event, what were the three talking about? The past? The present? The future? or the salvation plan? The mystery of the Transfiguration revealed Jesus’ divinity to Peter, James, and John to understand the mystery of the Crucifixion but it seems they fall short in recommending to make three tents. Good thing, Jesus is in the mood since he did not call Peter Satan again. God, with all his grand plan for us sometimes ending up to a joke because we fail to respond in his calling and mysteries.

 Lumitaw si Elias at Moises kasama ng Panginoong Hesus. Ano kaya ang kanilang pinag-uusapan? ang nakaraan? Ang kasalukuyan? O ang magaganap pa lamang? O baka ang plano ng kaligtasan? Ang hiwaga ng Pagbabagong-anyo ay inihayag sa mga alagad upang maunawaan nila ang Kamatayan. Tila nga lamang hindi nila agad ito naunawaan. Mabuti na lamang at nasa magandang disposisyon ang Panginoon at hindi na sila pinagalitan pa. Minsan siguro, tila natatawa na lamang ang Diyos sa atin sa kakulangan nating maunawaan ang kanyang mga hiwaga at pagtawag sa ating buhay.

 February 19, 2023

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mt 5:38-48

 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” This is one of the most difficult mandates from Jesus himself. Love is meant for those who are lovable and deserving of it. And, our enemies should rather suffer in the eternal flames of hell. This kind of love for enemies is Jesus’ response for the classic an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth motto. It is clearly counter cultural during the time of Jesus and is still counter cultural now. This love of enemy depends upon to will the good of the other and forgiveness: both requires the grace of God. Ask and pray for it.

 Mahalin ang kaaway… ipagdasal ang umuusig sa iyo… Isa sa pinakamahirap na utos ng Panginoong Hesus sa atin. Madaling mahalin ang masarap mahalin. At madaling asaming sunugin sa impiyerno ang mga kaaway natin. Ang pagmamahal sa kaaway ang tugon ni Hesus sa naunang pang-unawa ng paghihiganti. Hindi napapanahon ang kaisipang ito noon. Nakabatay ang lahat sa kagustuhan nating gumawa ng mabuti at magpatawad. Kailangan natin dito ang biyaya ng Diyos. ito ang ating hilingin ngayon.

February 20, 2023

Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Mk 9:14-29

 “This kind can only come out through prayer.” Jesus answered his troubled discples on how they did not manage to exorcise the demon from the boy. Prayer is the key. No matter how busy life gets, there is no substitute to prayer. The more pastoral effort demands, the more it should be supplied by prayer. Otherwise, everything is reduced to rituals and social welfare acts. Prayer means anointing. Let not prayer be part of our life but prayer our life.

 Ipinaliwanag ni Hesus sa mga alagad na ang gawain tulad ng pagpapalayas ng demonyo ay magagawa lamang sa tulong panalangin. Ito ang susi, panalangin! Kahit ba sobrang abala natin, walang kapalit ang panalangin. Habang dumadami ang trabaho, dapat lalo din ang pagdarasal. Kung hindi, magiging ritwal at kawanggawa lamang lahat. Ang pagdarasal ay pagpapala mula sa Diyos. sana ang panalangin ay hind imaging bahagi ng ating buhay, kundi mismong ating buhay na!

 February 21, 2023

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Mk 9:30-37

Servanthood

“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”  What is wrong with being number two or in losing a game? The world teaches us to be egocentric. We must always win and compete and become number one to feed our egos and pride- to be kings of old. But service is not about egoism it is about love and sacrifice. In the standards of God, servanthood is king.

 Ano ang masama kung maging pangalawa ka sa isang labanan? Ang turo ng mundo ay maging makasarili. Dapat laging magwagi at makipagkumpitensya at maging numero uno upang lumaki ang ulo at kayabangan. Subalit ang paglilingkod ay hindi tungkol sa sarili kundi tungkol sa sakripisyo at pagmamahal. Sa mata ng Diyos ang pagiging lingkod ay pagiging hari.

February 22, 2023

ASH WEDNESDAY

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

With Love

Pray with love. Fast with love. Give alms with love. Love cures hypocrisy.

Manalanging may pagmamahal. Mag-ayunong may pagmamahal. Maglimos na may pagmamahal. Ang pagmamahal ang lunas sa kaplastikan.

February 23, 2023

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Lk 9:22-25

OR Optional Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity- Mt 10:34-39

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Our cross is our salvation. In the cross, we embrace mercy, suffering, and sacrifice. Mercy to the poorest of the poor. Meaning in suffering as offering. Sacrifice is the language of love.

Ang ating krus ang ating kaligtasan. Sa krus natin nayayakap ang habag, pagdurusa at sakripisyo. Awa sa mga higit na dukha. Kahulugan sa pagdurusang nagiging handog. Sakripisyo na siyang tinig ng pagmamahal.

February 24, 2023

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Mt 9:14-15

Fast and Feast

“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? There is a time for fasting and there is a time for feasting. Fasting with sharing to the needy goes beyond a self centered approach and feasting with sharing is a reflection of heaven. Always share your blessings during times of fasting and feasting.

May panahon para sa pag-aayuno. Ang pag-aayuno ay pagbabahagi ng sarili sa mga nangangailangan at paglimot sa sariling kapakanan at ang pagdiriwang na may pagbabahagi ay salamin ng langit. Laging magbahagi ng iyong mga pagpapala sa panahon ng ayuno man o ng pagdiriwang.

February 25, 2023

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Lk 5:27-32

The Physician

“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.” Most of the time, we give to God the best and the finest but sometimes God wants our worst and ugliest- our wounds, sins, and pains. Offer it to him, offer your past, present, and future. Jesus is the greatest physician.

Madalas, ibinibigay natin sa Diyos ang pinakamagaling at pinakamaganda sa atin subalit ang talagang nais niya ay ang pinakapangkit at pinakamasagwang bahagi ng ating buhay – ang ating sugat, kasalanan at pagdurusang dinadaanan. Ialay ang mga ito sa kanya, ihandog ang nakaraan, kasalukuyan at ang bukas. Si Hesus ang tunay na Dakilang Manggagamot!

February 26, 2023

First Sunday of Lent

Mt 4:1-11

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him. Why are the angels late? They allowed Satan to tempt Jesus because the greater the temptation the greater the grace of God. Temptations are opportunities. Temptations are vessels of amazing graces. It can only be unlocked afterwards via a combination of human and God connection. Next time, during the height of a temptation, grab those divine graces!

 Bakit tila huling dumating ang mga anghel? Pinabayaan pa muna nilang tuksuhin si Hesus ng demonyo; dahil siguro mas malaki ang tukso, mas higit din ang buhos ng biyaya ng Diyos. ang mga tukso ay pagkakataon. Ang mga tukso ay maaaring maging dahilan ng kahanga-hangang biyaya. Mabubuksan ito matapos ang ugnayan at tambalan ng Diyos at ng tao. Sa susunod na dumaan ka sa tukso, kumapit ka sa biyaya!

 February 27, 2023

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Mt 25:31-46

Eternity

 The corporal works of mercy reveals an eschatological and soterical dimension coming from the very mouth of Jesus Christ. Therefore, what we do to the least ones, we really do to God. Our salvation depends on how we treat the least, the last, and the lost. Our actions- good or bad (not just faith) shall echo in eternity.  

 Ang mga gawang kabanalan ay naghahayag ng darating at nakapagliligtas na bahagi ng buhay na mula sa mismong labi ng Panginoong Hesus. Kaya nga, anuman ang gawin natin sa mga maliliit na kapatid natin, sa mga dukha at busabos, ay may alingawngaw na hanggang langit.

February 28, 2023

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Mt 6:7-15

Our Father

Our Father is the opening salutation of the prayer. It means we are no longer fellowmen, no longer neighbors (kapwa) but brothers and sisters (kapatid). This two-word address reveals that our relationship and bond is deeper than we know it. Once we realized that no one is no longer a stranger but a brother or sister, can we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,”

Ama Namin, ang pambungad sa panalangin. Ibig sabihin hindi na tayo lamang magkababayan, o magkapitbahay o kapwa-tao, kundi kapatid. Ama Namin, dalawang salitang nagsasaad na ang ating ugnayan ay mas malalim sa ating akala. Kung ang bawat isa ay hindi dayuhan kundi kapatid, tunay na mangyayaring “mapasaamin ang kaharian mo, sundin ang loob mo dito sa lupa para nang sa langit.”

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