Ang Pang-agda

Ang Dios nagapang-agda, sa tagsa ka tinuga

Nga may daku nga handum sa tagipuso-on.

1. Saulogon ta sing hilway, ang aton nga kabuhi,

paagi sa pag-amba, kag paghiliusa.

2. Ang katawhan, O Ginuo may handum nga madamo,

pun-on mo sang paglaum nga wa'y pagkapalong.

3. Daw sa baybay nga mabalud ang aton hunahuna,

kay luyag ta mapaktan, ang indi gid mahangpan.

4. May madamo nga pamangkot, ang indi ta mahangpan,

apang kon may pagtuo, si Kristo ang magsolbar.

"Si Jesus nagsiling, 'Sin-o ang nagtandog sa akon?'"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 5:21-43)

Si Jesus nagtabok liwat sa pihak sang linaw. Didto sa higad sang linaw gintipunan sia sang madamo nga mga tawo. 

Si Jairo, isa ka opisyal sang sinagoga nagkadto didto, kag sang pagkakita niya kay Jesus nagluhod sia sa tiilan ni Jesus, kag nagsagad gid sia pakiluoy: “Ang akon anak nga dalagita nagahimumogto. Kadtoi man sia palihog kag tanduga sia sang imo kamot agod magaayo sia kag mabuhi!” 

Dayon si Jesus nag-upod sa iya. Madamo gid nga mga tawo ang nag-upod sa iya sa bagay nga nagaginutok sila sa palibot niya. 

May isa ka babayi didto nga tama gid ang iya pag-antos tungod sang pagpanggwa sang dugo sa iya nga wala mag-untat sa sulod sang dose ka tuig, wala sapayan nga ginabulong sia sang madamo nga mga manugbolong. Naurot na niya gasto ang iya kuwarta sa pagpabulong, pero sa baylo nga mag-ayo sia, naglain pa gani sia. 

Nakabati sia nahanungod kay Jesus, gani nagpanagil-ot sia sa tunga sang madamo nga mga tawo sa likod nayon ni Jesus. 

Siling niya sa iya kaugalingon, “Kon matandog ko bisan lang ang iya bayu, magaayo ako.” 

Gintandog niya ang bayu ni Jesus, kag gilayon nagtugon ang iya dugo, kag iya nabatyagan nga nag-ayo na sia sa iya balatian. 

Sa gilayon nabatyagan ni Jesus nga may gahom nga naggwa sa iya. Gani nagbalikid sia kag nagsiling, “Sin-o ang nagtandog sang akon bayu?” 

Ang iya mga gintuton-an nagsabat, “Nakita mo na gid nga nagaginutok ang mga tawo sa palibot mo, ngaa nga nagapamangkot ka pa kon sin-o ang nagtandog sa imo?” 

Pero nagpanghulonghulong si Jesus sa pagtan-aw kon sin-o ang naghimo sadto. 

Ang babayi nakatalupangod sang nahanabo sa iya, gani nagpalapit sia nga nagakurog sa kahadlok, kag nagluhod sa tiilan ni Jesus, kag nagsugid sa iya sang bug-os nga kamatuoran. 

Si Jesus nagsiling sa iya, “Anak ko, ang imo pagtuo nag-ayo sa imo. Lakat ka sa paghidait, kag magaayo ka na sa imo balatian.” 

Sang nagahambal sini si Jesus, may nag-abot nga mga sinugo halin sa balay ni Jairo, kag nagsiling sa iya, “Napatay na ang imo anak nga babayi. Ngaa pabudlayan mo pa ang Manunudlo?” 

Si Jesus waay nagsapak sang ila ginsiling, kundi nagsiling sia kay Jairo, “Indi ka magkahadlok, kundi magtuo ka lang.” 

Dayon wala sia magtugot bisan kay sin-o sa pag-upod sa iya luas lamang kay Pedro kag sa mag-utod nga si Santiago kag si Juan. 

Sang pag-abot nila sa balay sang opisyal sang sinagoga, nakita ni Jesus ang mga tawo nga nagaginahod, kag nabatian niya ang mabaskog nga hinibi kag mga panalabiton.

Sumolod sia kag nagsiling sa ila, “Ngaa nagakinagula kag nagahinibi kamo? Ang bata indi patay, kundi nagakatulog lang sia!” 

Ginkadlawan nila sia, gani ginpagwa niya sila tanan, kag gindala niya ang amay kag iloy sang bata kag ang iya tatlo ka mga gintuton-an, kag nagsulod sa kuwarto sa diin ang bata nagahamyang. 

Gin-uyatan niya ang bata sa kamot kag nagsiling sa iya, “Talitha, koum,” nga kon sayuron, “Inday, nagasiling ako sa imo, bangon ka!”

Sa gilayon nagbangon sia kag naglakatlakat. (Nagagulang na sia sing dose ka tuig.) Sang mahanabo ini, naurongan gid sila! Pero ginpaandaman gid sila ni Jesus nga indi magpanugid bisan kay sin-o. Kag nagsiling sia, “Pakan-a ninyo sia.” 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, you love each of us individually with a unique and personal love. Touch my life with your saving power, heal and restore me to fullness of life. Help me to give wholly of myself in loving service to others."  

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Do you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant faith or with skepticism and doubt? People in desperate or helpless circumstances were not disappointed when they sought Jesus out. What drew them to Jesus? Was it hope for a miracle or a word of comfort in their affliction? What did the elderly woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years expect Jesus to do for her? And what did a grieving father expect Jesus to do about his beloved lost daughter? Jesus gave hope where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!). 

A 4th century church father, Ephrem the Syrian, comments on this miracle: “Glory to you, hidden Son of God, because your healing power is proclaimed through the hidden suffering of the afflicted woman. Through this woman whom they could see, the witnesses were enabled to behold the divinity that cannot be seen. Through the Son’s own healing power his divinity became known. Through the afflicted women’s being healed her faith was made manifest. She caused him to be proclaimed, and indeed was honored with him. For truth was being proclaimed together with its heralds. If she was a witness to his divinity, he in turn was a witness to her faith...He saw through to her hidden faith, and gave her a visible healing.” 

Jesus also gave divine hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child. It took considerable courage and risk for the ruler of a synagogue to openly go to Jesus and to invite the scorn of his neighbors and kin. Even the hired mourners laughed at him in scorn. Their grief was devoid of any hope. Nonetheless, Jesus took the girl by the hand and delivered her from the grasp of death. Peter Chrysologus, a 5th century church father comments on this miracle: “This man was a ruler of the synagogue, and versed in the law. He had surely read that while God created all other things by his word, man had been created by the hand of God. He trusted therefore in God that his daughter would be recreated, and restored to life by that same hand which, he knew, had created her...He who laid hands on her to form her from nothing, once more lays hands upon her to reform her from what had perished.” 

In both instances we see Jesus' personal concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal and restore life. In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each person he meets. Do you approach the Lord with confident expectation that he will hear your request and act?

MARCOS - Kapitulo 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Ang Palaanggiran nahanungod sa Manugsab-og

1 Sa liwat si Jesus nagpanudlo sa higad sang Linaw sang Galilea. Tama gid kadamo ang mga tawo nga nagdulogok sa palibot niya sa bagay nga nagsakay sia sa isa ka sakayan nga nagalutaw sa tubig kag naglingkod sia didto samtang ang madamo nga mga tawo nagpabilin sa bibi sang linaw.

2 Si Jesus naggamit sang mga palaanggiran sa pagtudlo sa ila sang madamo nga mga butang, kag sa iya pagpanudlo nagsiling sia sa ila:

3 "Magpamati kamo! May isa ka tawo nga naglakat sa pagsab-og.

4 Sang pagsab-og niya sang binhi, ang iban nagtupa sa dalan, kag ang mga pispis nagdapo kag nagtuka sini.

5 Ang iban nagtupa sa batuhon nga mga duog, sa diin hapaw lamang ang duta. Sa wala lang madugay nag-ulhot ang binhi tungod kay manabaw ang duta.

6 Sang udto na ang adlaw nalayong ang bag-ong tubo nga binhi, kag bangod kay indi gid madalom ang gamot sini, ang tanom madali nga nalaya.

7 Ang iban nga binhi nagtupa sa mga talungon. Nagtubo ang mga talungon kag naglumos sang tanom, kag wala ini magpamunga.

8 Pero ang iban nga binhi nagtupa sa maayo nga duta, namuhi, nagtubo kag nagpamunga: ang iban sini nagpatubas sing 30 ka pilo, ang iban sini 60 ka pilo, kag ang iban sini 100 ka pilo."

9 Kag si Jesus nagsiling, "Gani, kon sin-o ang luyag magpamati, magpamati sia!" 

Ang Katuyoan sang mga Palaanggiran

10 Sang isahanon na lang si Jesus, ang iban nga nakabati sa iya nagpalapit upod sa dose ka mga apostoles kag nagpangabay nga ipaathag niya ang mga palaanggiran.

11 Si Jesus nagsabat sa ila, "Ginhatagan kamo sang tinago sang Ginharian sang Dios, pero ang iban nga yara sa gwa magapamati sini tanan paagi sa mga palaanggiran,

12 agod nga,
     'Magatulok nga magatulok sila,
     Pero indi makakita,
     Magapamati nga magapamati sila,
     Pero indi makahangop,
     Kay kon makahangop sila
     Basi magliso sila sa Dios
     Kag patawaron niya sila.' " 

Ginsaysay ni Jesus ang Palaanggiran nahanungod sa Manugsab-og

13 Dayon si Jesus nagpamangkot sa ila, "Indi bala kamo makahangop sini nga palaanggiran? Karon, paano abi ang pagkahangop ninyo sang bisan ano nga palaanggiran?

14 Ang manugsab-og nagsab-og sang pulong sang Dios.

15 Ang mga binhi nga nagatupa sa dalan amo ang pulong sang Dios nga sang pagkabati sang mga tawo, sa gilayon nagaabot si Satanas kag nagaagaw sang pulong nga ginsab-og sa ila tagipusoon.

16 Amo man ang ginsab-og sa batuhon nga duta. Kasubong ini sang pulong sang Dios nga sang pagkabati sang mga tawo, sa gilayon ginabaton nila sing malipayon.

17 Pero wala ini nagatudok sa ila tagipusoon, kag wala nagapabilin sing madugay. Gani wala na sila nagapadayon kon mag-abot ang mga kalalat-an ukon mga paghingabot tungod sang pulong sang Dios.

18 Kag ang mga nagatupa sa mga talungon amo ang pulong sang Dios nga nabatian sang mga tawo.

19 Pero ang palaligban sang pangabuhi, ang paghigugma sa manggad, kag ang iban pa gid nga mga handom nagaginutok sa ila mga hunahona kag nagalumos sang pulong sang Dios, kag wala ini nagapamunga.

20 Pero ang nagtupa sa maayo nga duta amo ang pulong sang Dios nga sang pagkabati sang mga tawo ginbaton nila ini, kag nagapamunga: ang iban 30 ka pilo, ang iban 60 ka pilo, kag ang iban 100 ka pilo."

Ang Suga sa Idalom sang Sulodlan

21 Si Jesus nagpadayon: "May nagadala bala sing suga kag nagabutang sini sa idalom sang isa ka sulodlan, ukon sa idalom sang katre? Wala bala niya ini ginabutang sa tulongtongan?

22 Ang bisan ano nga ginatago, igapahayag kag ang bisan ano nga ginatabunan, pagabuksan.

23 Gani, kon sin-o ang luyag magpamati, magpamati sia!"

24 Kag si Jesus nagsiling pa gid sa ila, "Talupangda gid ang inyo ginapamatian! Ang talaksan nga inyo ginagamit sa paghukom sa iban amo man ang pagagamiton sang Dios sa paghukom sa inyo, kag sobra pa sini ang pagahimuon sa inyo.

25 Ang tawo nga may iya na pagahatagan pa gid, kag ang tawo nga wala sing iya, bisan ang diutay nga yara sa iya pagakuhaon pa."

Ang Palaanggiran sang Binhi nga Nagatubo

26 Nagsiling pa gid si Jesus, "Ang Ginharian sang Dios kaangay sang tawo nga nagsab-og sang binhi sa iya uma.

27 Nagatulog sia kon gab-i, kag kon adlaw nagaobra sia, samtang ang binhi nagaulhot kag nagatubo, pero wala sia kahibalo kon paano ang pagkahimo sini.

28 Ang duta mismo nagapatubo kag nagapabunga sang mga tanom: nahauna ang dahon, madason ang uhay, kag sa ulihi ang matinggas nga bunga.

29 Kon ang bunga gulang na, nagapadala sia sing manuggarab, kay ang tig-alani nag-abot na."

Ang Palaanggiran Nahanungod sang Binhi sang Mostasa

30 Si Jesus nagpamangkot, "Sa ano bala mapaanggid ang Ginharian sang Dios? Ano nga palaanggiran ang aton gamiton sa pagpaathag sini?"

31 Kaangay ini sang isa ka binhi sang mostasa, ang labing diutay nga binhi sa kalibutan.

32 Ginakuha ini sang tawo kag ginatanom sa duta. Dayon nagatubo ini kag nagadaku sing labaw sa mga kahuykahoy. Ang iya mga sanga nagadalagku sa bagay nga ang mga pispis nagapugad sa iya sanga nga mahandong."

33 Paagi sa mga palaanggiran nga kasubong sini, nagwali si Jesus sa mga tawo. Naghambal sia sa ila suno sa ila mahangpan.

34 Indi sia maghambal sa ila kon indi paagi sa mga palaanggiran. Pero kon silahanon lang sang iya mga gintuton-an, ginasaysay niya ang tanan sa ila.

Ginpauntat ni Jesus ang Bagyo

35 Sang sirom na sang amo nga adlaw, nagsiling si Jesus sa iya mga gintuton-an, "Dali, matabok kita sa pihak sang linaw."

36 Gani ginbayaan nila ang madamo nga mga tawo. Dayon ang mga gintuton-an nagsakay sa sakayan nga ginasakyan ni Jesus, kag gindala nila sia upod sa ila. May iban man nga mga sakayan didto.

37 Sa hinali nagmadlos ang hangin kag ang mga balod nagsulod sa sakayan sa bagay nga madali na lang ini makapan.

38 Pero si Jesus didto sa ulin nga nagaulon sa ulonan kag nagakatulog. Ginpukaw sia sang mga gintuton-an, kag nagsiling sila sa iya, "Manunudlo, wala ka bala nagakabalaka nga daw malumos na kita?"

39 Nagbangon si Jesus kag ginmanduan niya ang hangin, "Mag-untat ka!" kag nagsiling sia sa mga balod, "Maglinaw ka!" Nag-untat ang hangin kag may daku nga kalinaw.

40 Dayon si Jesus nagsiling sa ila, "Ngaa bala nahadlok gid kamo? Ano, wala pa bala kamo sing pagtuo?"

41 Pero tama gid ang ila kahadlok, kag nagpamangkutanay sila: "Sin-o bala ini nga tawo? Bisan pa ang hangin kag ang mga balod nagatuman sa iya!"

MARCOS - Kapitulo 3 <<< >>> MARCOS - Kapitulo 5

"Sarang mapatawad sang tanan nila nga mga sala luas lamang kung nagahambal sing malain batok sa Espiritu Santo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 3:22-30)

May mga manunudlo sang Kasugoan nga nag-abot gikan sa Jerusalem nga nagsiling, "Yara sa iya si Belzeebul!" Ang iban nagsiling, "Ang pangulo sang mga demonyo amo ang naghatag sa iya sing gahom sa pagtabog sa ila." 

Gani gintawag ni Jesus ang mga tawo sa pagpalapit sa iya kag naghambal sia sa ila sing pila ka mga palaanggiran, "Ano bala ang pagtabog ni Satanas kay Satanas? 

Kon ang isa ka pungsod magbinahinbahinay kag mag-ilinaway, ina nga pungsod magabuloblag. 

Kon ang isa ka panimalay magbinahinbahinay kag mag-ilinaway, ina nga panimalay magabuloblag. 

Gani, kon ang ginharian ni Satanas mag-ilinaway; magbinahinbahinay, ina nga ginharian indi magdugay, kundi magabuloblag, kag amo ini ang iya katapusan. 

"Wala sing bisan sin-o nga makasulod sa balay sang isa ka tawo nga makusog sa pagkuha sang iya pagkabutang, luas kon iya anay gapuson ang tawo nga makusog. Kon mahimo na niya ini sarang na sia makapanguha sa amo nga balay. 

"Dumdoma ninyo ini! Ang mga tawo sarang mapatawad sang tanan nila nga mga sala kag sang tanan nga mga malain nga ila ginhambal, pero ang tawo nga nagahambal sing malain batok sa Espiritu Santo, indi gid mapatawad, kay sia nakahimo sing sala nga wala sing katapusan." 

(Ginhambal ini ni Jesus, kay may iban nga nagsiling, "May malaut nga espiritu sa iya.") 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, you are my hope and salvation. Be the ruler of my heart and the master of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your lordship."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

When danger lurks what kind of protection do you seek? Jesus came to free us from the greatest danger of all – the corrupting force of evil which destroys us from within and makes us slaves to sin and Satan (John 8:34). Evil is not an impersonal force that just happens. It has a name and a face and it seeks to master every heart and soul on the face of the earth (1 Peter 5:8-9). Scripture identifies the Evil One by many names, 'Satan', 'Be-el'zebul – the prince of demons', the 'Devil', the 'Deceiver', the 'Father of Lies', and 'Lucifier', the fallen angel who broke rank with God and established his own army and kingdom in opposition to God. Jesus declared that he came to overthrow the power of Satan and his kingdom (John 12:31). Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who were troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself encountered personal opposition and battle with Satan when he was put to the test in the wilderness just before his public ministry (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). He overcame the Evil One through his obedience to the will of his Father. 

Some of the Jewish leaders reacted vehemently to Jesus' healings and exorcisms and they opposed him with malicious slander. How could Jesus get the power and authority to release individuals from Satan's influence and control? They assumed that he had to be in league with Satan. They attributed his power to Satan rather than to God. Jesus asserts that no kingdom divided against itself can survive for long. We have witnessed enough civil wars in our own time to prove the destructive force at work here for the annihilation of whole peoples and their land. If Satan lends his power against his own forces then he is finished. Cyril of Alexandria, a 5th century church father explains the force of Jesus' argument: 

Kingdoms are established by the fidelity of subjects and the obedience of those under the royal scepter. Houses are established when those who belong to them in no way whatsoever thwart one another but, on the contrary, agree in will and deed. I suppose it would establish the kingdom too of Beelzebub, had he determined to abstain from everything contrary to himself. How then does Satan cast out Satan? It follows then that devils do not depart from people on their own accord but retire unwillingly. “Satan,” he says, “does not fight with himself.” He does not rebuke his own servants. He does not permit himself to injure his own armorbearers. On the contrary, he helps his kingdom. “It remains for you to understand that I crush Satan by divine power.” [Commentary on Luke, Homily 80]

Jesus asserted his authority to cast out demons as a clear demonstration of the reign of God. God's power is clearly at work in the exorcisms which Jesus performed and they give evidence that God's kingdom has come. 

What kind of spiritual danger or harm should we avoid at all costs? Jesus used the illustration of a strong man whose house and possessions were kept secure. How could such a person be overtaken and robbed of his goods except by someone who is stronger than himself? Satan, who is our foe and the arch-enemy of God, is stronger than us. Unless we are clothed in God's strength, we cannot withstand Satan with our own human strength. What does Satan wish to take from us – our faith and confidence in God and our allegiance to follow God's law. Satan is a rebel and a liar. Satan can only have power or dominion over us if we listen to his lies and succumb to his will which is contrary to the will of God. Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties in this world. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another – the kingdom of God's light and truth and the kingdom of darkness and deception under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God's word, we open to door to the power of sin and Satan's influence in our lives. If we want to live in true freedom from the power of sin and Satan, then our "house" – our mind and heart and whatever we allow to control our appetites and desires – must be occupied and ruled by Jesus Christ where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to God and to his word? What is the unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us to avoid? Jesus knows that his disciples will be tested and he assures them that the Holy Spirit will give them whatever grace and help they need in their time of adversity. He warns them, however, that it's possible to spurn the grace of God and to fall into apostasy (giving up the faith) out of cowardice or disbelief. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit reprehensible? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God. A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance is impossible. If someone repeatedly closes their eyes to God, shuts their ears to his voice, and reject his word, they bring themselves to a point where they can no longer recognize God when he can be seen and heard. They become spiritually blind-sighted and speak of "evil as good and good as evil" (Isaiah 5:20). 

To fear such a state of sin and spiritual blindness, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's grace, mercy, and help. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who refuses to acknowledge and confess their sins and to ask God for forgiveness, spurns God's generous offer of mercy, pardon, grace, and healing. Through their own stubborn pride and wilfullness, they reject God, refuse his grace and help to turn away from sin, and reject the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to heal and restore them to wholeness. God always gives sufficient grace and help to all who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from pride and the loss of hope in God. 

What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God? Through Jesus' death on the cross and his victory over the grave when he rose again on the third day, Satan has been defeated and death has been overcome. We now share in Christ's victory over sin and Satan and receive adoption as God's sons and daughters. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord enables us to live a new life of love and freedom from slavery to sin. The Lord Jesus is our refuge and strength because he makes his home with us (John 15:4) and gives us the power and help of the Holy Spirit. Do you take refuge in the Lord and allow him to be the Ruler of your life?

"Ang Anak sang Tawo amo ang Ginoo bisan pa sang Adlaw nga Inugpahuway"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 2:23-28)

Sang isa ka Adlaw nga Inugpahuway, si Jesus nag-agi sa tunga sang kaumhan sang trigo. Sang nagalakat ang iya mga gintuton-an upod sa iya, nagsugod sila sa pagpangutol sang mga uhay.

Gani ang mga Fariseo nagsiling kay Jesus, "Hoy, kontra sa aton Kasugoan ang ginahimo sang imo mga gintuton-an sa Adlaw nga Inugpahuway!"

Si Jesus nagsabat sa ila, "Wala gid bala ninyo mabasahi ang ginhimo ni David sang nagkinahanglan sia sing pagkaon? Sia kag ang iya mga tinawo gingutom, gani nagsulod sia sa balay sang Dios kag nagkaon sang tinapay nga nahalad sa Dios. Natabo ini sang si Abiatar ang Pinakamataas nga Pari. Suno sa aton Kasuguan ang mga pari lang amo ang makakaon sini nga tinapay, pero si David nagkaon sini, kag ginhatagan pa niya ang iya mga tawo." 

Kag si Jesus nagsiling pa gid, "Ang Adlaw nga Inugpahuway ginhimo para sa kaayuhan sang tawo kag ang tawo wala paghimoa para sa Adlaw nga Inugpahuway. 

Gani, ang Anak sang Tawo amo ang Ginoo bisan pa sang Adlaw nga Inugpahuway." 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, may I give you fitting honor in the way I live my life and in the way I treat my neighbor. May I honor the Lord's Day as a day holy to you. And may I always treat others with the same mercy and kindness which you have shown to me. Free me from a critical and intolerant spirit that I may always seek the good of my neighbor."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel: 

What does the commandment "keep holy the Sabbath" require of us? Or better yet, what is the primary intention behind this command? The religious leaders confronted Jesus on this issue. The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his work, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. Jesus' disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath. In defending his disciples, Jesus argues from the scriptures that human need has precedence over ritual custom. 

When David and his men were fleeing for their lives, they sought food from Ahim'elech the priest (1 Samuel 21:1-6). The only bread he had was the holy bread offered in the Temple. None but the priests were allowed to eat it. In their hunger, David and his men ate of this bread. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the Sabbath was given for our benefit, to refresh and renew us in living for God. It was intended for good and not for evil. Withholding mercy and kindness in response to human need was not part of God’s intention that we rest from unnecessary labor. Do you honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate the Lord’s Day?

"Nagapaabot bala kamo nga ang mga inagda sa kasal magapuasa samtang yara pa ang nobyo kaupod nila?"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 2:18-22)

Isa ka bes ang mga sumulunod ni Juan Bautista kag ang mga Fariseo nagapuasa. May mga tawo nga nagpalapit kay Jesus kag nagpamangkot sa iya, "Ngaa bala nga nagapuasa ang mga gintuton-an ni Juan Bautista kag ang mga gintuton-an sang mga Fariseo, pero ang imo mga gintuton-an wala nagapuasa?" 

Si Jesus nagsabat, "Nagapaabot bala kamo nga ang mga inagda sa kasal magapuasa samtang yara pa ang nobyo kaupod nila? Indi sila makahimo sina! 

Pero magaabot ang adlaw nga ang nobyo pagakuhaon sa ila, kag amo na yadto ang ila pagpuasa. 

"Wala sing bisan sin-o nga nagagamit sing bag-o nga panapton sa pagtukap sa daan nga bayu. Kon himuon niya ini, ang bag-o nga tukap magagisi sang daan nga bayu kag mangindaku pa gid ang tulokapan. 

Wala man sing bisan sin-o nga nagasulod sing bag-o nga bino sa daan nga suludlan nga panit. Kon himuon niya ini, ang bino magabusdik sang daan nga panit, kag ang bino kag ang panit nga sulodlan indi na mapuslan. Pero ang bag-o nga bino ginasulod sa bag-o nga sulodlan!" 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Help me to seek you earnestly in prayer and fasting that I may turn away from sin and wilfulness and conform my life more fully to your will. May I always find joy in knowing, loving, and serving you."  

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel: 

Which comes first, fasting or feasting? The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus' disciples because they did not fast. Fasting was one of the three most important religious duties, along with prayer and almsgiving. Jesus gave a simple explanation. There's a time for fasting and a time for feasting (or celebrating). To walk as a disciple with Jesus is to experience a whole new joy of relationship akin to the joy of the wedding party in celebrating with the groom and bride their wedding bliss. But there also comes a time when the Lord's disciples must bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the disciple there is both a time for rejoicing in the Lord's presence and celebrating his goodness and a time for seeking the Lord with humility and fasting and for mourning over sin. Do you take joy in the Lord's presence with you and do you express sorrow and contrition for your sins? 

Jesus goes on to warn his disciples about the problem of the "closed mind" that refuses to learn new things. Jesus used an image familiar to his audience – new and old wineskins. In Jesus' times, wine was stored in wineskins, not bottles. New wine poured into skins was still fermenting. The gases exerted gave pressure. New wine skins were elastic enough to take the pressure, but old wine skins easily burst because they were hard. What did Jesus mean by this comparison? Are we to reject the old in place of the new? Just as there is a right place and a right time for fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the new. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old (Matthew 13:52). How impoverished we would be if we only had the Old Testament or the New Testament, rather than both. The Lord gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new. He doesn't want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new work of his Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like new wine skins – open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Are you eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God's word and plan for your life?

"Nagpanudlo siya nga may awtoridad"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 1:21-28)

Nag-abot sila sa banwa sang Capernaum, kag sang Adlaw nga Inugpahuway nagsulod si Jesus sa sinagoga kag nagpanudlo. 

Ang mga tawo nga nakabati sa iya natingala sang iya pagpanudlo kay nagpanudlo siya nga may awtoridad kag indi sia pareho sang mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan. 

Sa amo gid nga tion nagsulod sa sinagoga ang isa ka tawo didto nga may malaot nga espiritu kag nagsinggit, "Ano ang luyag mo himuon sa amon, Jesus nga taga-Nazaret? Nagkari ka bala sa paglaglag sa amon? Nahibal-an ko kon sin-o ka. Ikaw ang Balaan nga ginpadala sang Dios!"

Ginmanduan ni Jesus ang espiritu: "Maghipos ka kag maggwa sa tawo." 

Ginpakurog sang malaot nga espiritu ang tawo, nagsinggit sing tudo kag naggwa sa tawo. 

Ang mga tawo natingala gid, sa bagay nga nagpinamangkutanay sila, "Ano ini? Bag-o bala ini nga pagtulon-an? Ini nga tawo may gahom bisan pa sa pagsugo sang malaot nga mga espiritu, kag nagatuman sila sa iya." 

Gani, ang balita nahanungod kay Jesus naglapnag sing madali sa bug-os nga probinsya sang Galilea. 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your saving love and mercy, and the power of your word to bring healing and deliverance to those in need."  

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel: 

Do you believe that God’s word has power to set you free and to transform your life? When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with delegated authority – “Thus says the Lord.”When Jesus spoke he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate – the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed. 

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) remarked that “faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing. The devils confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. They said, 'What have we to do with you (Mark 1:24)?' They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils.” Faith is powerful, but without love it profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13). Scripture tells us that true faith works through love (Galalatians 5:6) and abounds in hope (Romans 15:13). Our faith is made perfect in love because love orients us to the supreme good which is God himself as well as the good of our neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26,27). Hope anchors our faith in the promises of God and purifies our desires for the things which will last for eternity. That is why the word of Christ has power to set us free from all that would keep us bound in sin, deception, and despair. Bede the venerable abbot of an English monastery (672-735) contrasted the power and authority of Jesus' word with the word of the devil: “The devil, because he had deceived Eve with his tongue, is punished by the tongue, that he might not speak” [Homilies on the Gospels 1.8]. 

Faith is both a free gift of God and the free assent of our will to the whole truth that God has revealed. To live, grow, and persevere in the faith to the end, we must nourish it with the word of God. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds that we may grow in his truth and in the knowledge of his great love for each of us. If we approach God’s word submissively, with an eagerness to do everything the Lord desires, we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your life according to his word?

"Kari ka kag tan-awa"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Juan 1:43-51)

Sang madason nga adlaw, ginpakamaayo ni Jesus nga magkadto sa Galilea. Nakita niya si Felipe kag ginsingganan, "Upod ka sa akon!"

(Si Felipe taga-Betsaida, nga amo man ang banwa sa diin si Andres kag si Pedro nagapuyo.) 

Gani, ginpangita ni Felipe si Natanael, kag ginsugiran sia, "Nakita namon ang tawo nga nahanungod sa iya si Moises nagsulat sa libro sang Kasugoan, kag ang mga propeta nagsulat man nahanungod sa iya. Siya amo si Jesus nga anak ni Jose nga taga-Nazaret." 

Si Natanael nagpamangkot, "May maayo bala nga butang nga makagikan sa Nazareth?" Si Felipe nagsabat , "Kari ka kag tan-awa." 

Sang makita ni Jesus si Natanael nga nagapakadto sa iya nagsiling siya nahanungod kay Natanael, "Yari ang isa ka matuodtuod nga Israelinhon; waay sing limbong sa iya!" 

Si Natanael nagpamangkot sa iya, "Paano mo ako nakilala?" Si Jesus nagsabat, "Nakita ko na ikaw didto sa idalom sang kahoy nga higera, sa wala pa ikaw gintawag ni Felipe." 

Nagsabat si Natanael, "Manunudlo, ikaw amo ang Anak sang Dios! Ikaw amo ang Hari sang Israel!" 

Nagsiling si Jesus, "Nagatuo bala ikaw tungod kay nagsiling ako sa imo nga nakita ko ikaw sang didto ikaw sa idalom sang kahoy nga higera? Dalagku pa gid sini nga mga butang ang imo makita!" 

Kag si Jesus nagsiling sa ila, "Matuod gid, makita ninyo ang langit nga nabuksan kag ang mga anghel sang Dios nga nagasakapanaog sa ibabaw sang Anak sang Tawo!" 

Prayers:

"Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for us. As you revealed yourself to your beloved Patriarchs and Apostles, so reveal yourself to me that I may glorify you in my daily life. May I always find joy in your presence and never lose sight of the kingdom of heaven." 

*** 

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

How can one know for certain that Jesus is truly the Son of God and Savior of the world? Philip, a new disciple of Jesus, at first failed to convince his friend Nathaniel that he had found the Messiah. Nathanial was very skeptical. He didn’t like Nazareth and didn’t want to have anything to do with people who came from such a place. How could the Messiah come from a town at the crossroads with gentiles and people of other religions? Perhaps we are like Nathanial. We reject others out of rivalry or prejudice, or we keep them at a distance because we find fault with something about them, whether it be their manners, dress, customs, associations, or whatever we dislike about them and their kind. Rather than argue with his friend, Philip took the wiser strategy of inviting Nathaniel to "come and see" for himself who this Jesus claimed to be. Clever arguments rarely win people to the gospel, but a genuine encounter with the person of Jesus Christ can transform one's life forever. 

Nathaniel was amazed that Jesus already knew him and called him "an Israelite in whom is no guile" (Psalm 32:2). How could Jesus know his heart and his deepest thoughts and desires? Jesus spoke a word to Nathaniel and it set his heart ablaze with wonder! Nathaniel was hungry for knowledge of God. He really wanted to know God personally. God places in every heart a longing and desire to know the One who created us in love for love. That is why Saint Augustine of Hippo, who found God only after many years of wandering in disbelief and darkness, exclaimed in his autobiographical Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” 

What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanial under the fig tree? For the Israelites, the fig tree was a symbol of God's blessing and peace. It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool place to retreat and pray. It is very likely that Nathanial had meditated "under the fig tree" on the Messianic prophecies and prayed for their fulfillment in his time. Perhaps he dozed off for a midday nap and dreamed of God's kindgom like Jacob did when he saw a vision of the ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Nathaniel accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord because Jesus spoke to the need of his innermost being – the desire to know God personally and to be united with him in his glory. Jesus' response to Nathanial's new faith is the promise that he himself will be the "ladder which unites earth with heaven". God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and descendants would dwell with the living God. 

Jesus proclaims to Nathanial that he himself is the fulfillment of this promise to the Patriarch Jacob. Jesus is the true ladder or stairway to heaven. In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth – God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Jesus' death on the Cross and his Resurrection opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who do his will. Do you pray as Jesus taught, May your kingdom come and your will be done in earth as it is in heaven?