Bahay-Dalanginan

Kapistahan ng Pagtatalaga sa Palasyong Simbahan sa Laterano, Roma

Nobyembre 09, 2025

 

Unang Pagbasa: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

Ikalawang Pagbasa: 1 Corinto 3:9c-11, 16-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-22

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Para sa mga aktibong Katoliko o Kristiyano, alam na natin na hindi lamang ang gusali o batong istruktura ang tinutukoy kapag sinabing simbahan, kundi ang sambayanan ng Diyos. Sa katesismo, nalaman nating tatlo ang sambayanan ng Diyos, ang Simbahang Nagtagumpay, Simbahang Nagdurusa, at ang Simbahang Nakikibaka. Magkaka-ugnay ang tatlong sambayanan ng Diyos dahil kailangan nila ang isa’t isa. Pero hindi ko na iisa-isahing ipaliwanag ito dahil mas personal ang gusto kong ibahaging pagninilay ngayon. Nanaginip kasi ako kagabi at nagpakita sa panaginip ko ang aking kaibigang namayapa na at isa pang kaluluwa na hindi ko kilala. Sa panaginip ko, nasa compound kami ng Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA), sa dati naming pinapasukan bilang alagad ng tagapaglathala ng Gospel Komiks, Catholic Digest at iba pang babasahin. Hinabol ko ang aking kaibigan nang dumaan sa harap ko at iba pang kasama naming nagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng CFA; Rocel Siena ang pangalan niya at sa panaginip ko nga ay alam kong patay na siya o kaluluwa na lang ang nakikita ko. Binati ko siya nang maabutan at kinamayan ko pero parang nag-aalangan siyang iabot ang kanyang kamay na mabilis ko namang kinuha at napansin kong malambot ito. Napansin ko ring kumikinang ang balat niya sa mukha. Sinabi ko sa kanya na buti’t pinayagan siya ng Diyos na makabisita muli sa lupa at ang sagot niya ay “siyempre kaibigan kita”. Tuwang-tuwa ako pagsabi niya noon, pero alam ko na nanghihingi siya ng panalangin. Nagtanong ako sa kanya kung totoo nga bang may Purgatoryo dahil gusto kong malaman kung dapat ko nga ba silang ipagdasal, pero hindi siya sumagot. Siguro’y limitado lamang ang salitang pinahintulutan ng Diyos na sabihin niya. Ang sumagot ay ang isa pang kaluluwa na kasama niya pero hindi ko siya kilala, ang sabi niya ay “mula sa kinalalagyan namin ay napakahirap makarating sa langit”. Pagkasabi niya noon, nagising na ako at naunawaan ko na kinakailangan natin talaga silang ipagdasal upang makasama na rin nila ang Simbahang Nagtagumpay na kapiling ang Diyos. Dapat nga talagang walang patid na ipanalangin natin (bilang Simbahang Nakikibaka) araw-araw ang Simbahang Nagdurusa (kaluluwang nasa Purgatoryo) dahil tayo lamang ang inaasahan nila. Bago nga pala ako nagising, nasabi ko kay Rocel na huwag niya kaming kalimutang ipagdasal din sa Diyos kung nanduon na siya sa Langit. Kaya nga marami sa ating mga mahal sa buhay na namayapa na sinasabihan nating ipagdasal din tayong nakikipaglaban pa sa mundong ito dahil naniniwala tayo na marami na sa ating mahal sa buhay na kapiling na ang Diyos.

Samantala, nakakalungkot namang makita na ang simbahang gusali na dinadalanginan natin ay nalalapastangan na ng mga negosyante. Maraming simbahan sa Europa ngayon na kailangang magbayad muna bago ka makapasok sa loob at napalitan na ang pagiging sagradong dalanginan nito sa mabilisang pagbisita ng mga turista para alamin lamang ang kasaysayan o mamangha na lamang sa disenyo't sining ng mga rebulto't santong nakapinta, o mamalas ang arkitektong istilo nito na para bang bumisita sa isang museo. Madami ring ibinebentang produkto na nagsisilbing souvenir sa paligid ng simbahan. Sa Pilipinas, hindi pa naman natin ginagawang museo ang mga simbahan at kalimitang bulaklak at kandila lang ang nabibili sa harap ng simbahan. Kung nawala ang respeto natin sa dambanang dalanginan, naglalaho rin ang pagmamahal natin sa ating Diyos na laging gustong tumulong sa atin na manalangin sa kanyang dambana.

 

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, paalalahanan mo kaming lagi na irespeto ang Iyong simbahang dalanginan upang araw-araw naming idulog sa Iyo ang mga namayapang kapatid namin upang makapiling Mo na sila sa Iyong Kaharian. Amen.

A Generous Heart

    

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

10 November 2024

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 17:10-16

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: Heb 9:24-28

Gospel: Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more

than all the other contributors to the treasury.

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,

her whole livelihood."

This Bible passage has so many interesting details. First, the widow is definitely struggling in her finances as she was labelled "poor". Secondly, she has given two copper coins which is practically just a small amount, but it is probably all that she had.

I am challenged to give all what I have and rely on God's provision. We are all reminded that it is not the amount we give as an offering that matters, but the spirit by which we give it. If we give joyfully, the Lord will surely bless us and return more than a hundredfold what we offered.

Prayer

Dear God, we praise You and we thank You for all the abundant blessings we have received. May You grant us a generous heart like this poor widow to give all we had with joy in our hearts. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    

Ika-14 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

07 Hulyo 2024

 

Unang Pagbasa: Ezekiel 2, 2-5

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 122, 1-2a. 2bkd. 3-4

Ikalawang Pagbasa: 2 Corinto 12, 7-10

Ebanghelyo: Marcos 6, 1-6

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Sa tuwing may kakaiba o bagong kinikilos ang kaibigan natin o kamag-anak, ang pagtataka natin ay nauuwi sa pagtatanong na: "Ano kayang nakain niya?" Hindi tayo makapaniwala agad sa pagbabagong anyo o kakaibang ugali niya dahil hindi maalis sa isip natin ang dati niyang pagkatao. Kaya’t nasasabi nating: "Iba ka na talaga!" Hindi na siya ang dating kilala natin o ang iba naman ay itatanong pa talaga kay Maricon (kay Mare, para ma-confirm) kung totoo talaga ang balita tungkol sa pagbabago niya. Kadalasan kasi’y ikinakahon ang tao sa kung ano ang pagkakakilala natin noon at tila wala nang pag-asang magbago pa ito sa kasalukuyan. Tulad ng pagtataka ng mga kapitbahay ni Hesus at ng iba pang tao mula sa sarili niyang bayan, hindi nila matanggap si Hesus bilang isa nang magaling na guro at maraming alagad na tagasunod. Nanatili sa kanila ang Hesus na simpleng karpintero at pagkakakilala na anak lamang siya ng mga simpleng tao.

Noong nasa elementarya at high school ako, may kaklase ako na kinatatakutan ko talaga. Siya kasi ‘yung itinuturing naming siga ng Tundo. Binu-bully niya kasi ang mga estudiyante noon. Kung may gusto siyang kunin sa amin ay kinukuha niya ito at hindi kami nakakapalag. Kaya’t lagi akong alerto sa paaralan upang iwasan siya. Iniisip ko noon na masamang impluwensiya siya kaya’t dapat iwasan. Ang hula ko ay hindi siya makakapagtapos ng pag-aaral at malululong sa masamang bisyo dahil sa mga barkada niya. Pagkaraan ng ilang dekada, nagulat ako nang mag-krus muli ang daan namin ng siga ng Tundo. Ang totoo, umiwas uli ako sa kanya, nagtago ako kung saan ay hindi niya ako makikita pero mapagmamasdan ko pa rin siya. Hindi ko alam kung na-trauma ba ako at hanggang ngayon ay iniiwasan pa rin siya, pero hindi ang takot sa kanya ang talagang dahilan ng pag-iwas ko. Naninibago kasi ako sa hitsura at kilos niya, kaya’t hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko. ‘Yung dati kasing siga at mukhang sanggano ay ang linis-linis na, mukhang kagalang-galang at kapitapitagan kung kumilos. Hindi na siya ‘yung dating siga ng Tundo. Natuklasan ko na isa na siyang pastor at napakahusay mangaral. Pero papaano nangyari iyon? Hindi ba’t puro bulakbol at pambu-bully ang ginagawa niya noong nag-aaral pa kami? Samantalang ako na nagbabait-baitan noon na sumali pa sa iba’t ibang relihiyosong organisasyon at pumasok pa sa seminaryo sa pangarap na maging pari ay hindi naman natupad. Pero tulad ni Hesus, ang siga ng Tundo ay hindi nagpatinag sa mga nagdududa at hindi naniniwala sa kanyang pagbabago dahil nagsumikap pa rin siyang mangaral sa maraming lugar sa Tundo. Ang hatid ng Ebanghelyo ngayon ay ang pagpupursigi na maglingkod sa kapwa sa kabila ng maraming balakid at hindi paniniwala ng mga tao mula sa sariling bayan.

Panalangin:

Panginoong Hesus, dalangin nami’y matimyas na pasasalamat sa pagkakaloob ng lakas ng loob at pagpupursigi na maglingkod sa aming kapwa kahit na maraming hindi sumasang-ayon sa kabutihang ito.  Patuloy naming pagsusumamo ang biyaya ng Espiritu Santo na pagningasing lagi ang aming kaloobang maihayag ang iyong Mabuting Balita. Amen.

Getting into Jesus' "Nerves"

    

Third Sunday of Lent

03 March 2024

 

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25

Gospel: Jn 2:13-25

 

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

 

In some of my lectures in management, whenever we talk about cheating in business, I usually vent, rant, or even lament asking the question, “why is it better for others to cheat on a first time customer, than to build the trust of a potential 'suki'?"

Example: cheating with the net weight of a sale of meat products; cheating on expiration dates, ingredients, and many other fake claims about the products they're selling; or just not telling everything a customer must know.

Because I’m sure that when these customers learn that they’ve been cheated on or have been had, they are not going to make a repeat purchase. Just a one time deal.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus was furious of traders in the Temple vicinity, driving them away.

When I was younger, I thought that God just didn’t like turning the house of worship into a market place. Though I still believe that’s true, but listening to homilies and talk about that incident, I’ve learned that there was a deeper root to it. That Jesus was concerned about the corrupt temple officials during that time, rejecting the people’s offerings, and forcing them to buy “unblemished” animals at a higher price. These people cheated upon are usually poor and those who have no voice in society. If you want to get in Jesus “nerves?”, abuse His favorites—the least, the last, and the lost.

Yet another important significance of our Gospel reading is Jesus' declaration of his passion, death, and resurrection which we are commemorating in this Lenten season.

Prayer

Father, make our motives pure that in everything we do, we bring glory to You, Amen.

Disturbance in our Hearts; Authentic Desire

Third Sunday of Lent

07 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  EX 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading:  1 COR 1:22-25

Gospel:  JN 2:13-25

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

While we were having breakfast, our Spiritual Director took our attention to remind us of too many left-over foods. He made us realize the lavish lifestyle of some of our brothers. He explained to us about the expenses and instead of that we were saving, we were wasting the generosity of the people and the grace of God being poured upon us. Then he left us a question, "Is that your authentic desire?" The question resonated in my ears. I was disturbed by what our community has done about these things. We talked about it for us to come up with resolutions so that we would be able to save and use all our resources properly.

How would I become an effective pastor if my heart has inauthentic desires? If I was just thinking about myself and not the others? How would I be able to do service if I was selfish? With that disturbance, I was able to go back to my orientation. I realized  that this was not my authentic desire. It only gives me temporary joy.

In the Gospel, Jesus shows Himself in a strong prospect. Grudgingly, He drove away all the people making. His Father's temple like a market. Jesus knew the corrupt desire of each one present there, even the temple authority who only thinks for themselves. What Jesus show was not just cleansing but a replacement. He replaced the rotten hearts of the people full of inauthentic desires with a heart full of authenticity. "Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up."

In this time of Lent, Jesus reminded us about our authentic desire. Authentic means lasting that can bring us and lead us closer to Him. For us to see our authentic desire, sometimes we need a disturbance in our hearts so that we might purify our motivations to reveal what our desire authentically. For it is only through authentic desires that will bring us closer to God and with a pure heart to see Him.

 

Prayer

 

God our Father, make us see what our authentic desires is, that gives us permanent joy. Help us to desire what is pleasing to you and not what is pleasing for ourselves, in order for us to serve You and others. We ask this through Your Son Jesus Christ, who lives in our hearts forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Angry for the Right Reasons

First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

In those days, God delivered all these commandments:“I, the LORD, am your God,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves  in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;

you shall not bow down before them or worship them.

For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished the one who takes his name in vain.

“Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by the alien who lives with you. In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land

which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,

nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,

nor anything else that belongs to him.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Brothers and sisters:

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.

At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Reflection
By Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

Boy was He furious! Jesus was so caught up in anger to even make a whip out of the cords. And He drove them all out of the temple, sheep and all.

The American Psychological Association defines anger as –

“emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong. Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems. But excessive anger can cause problems. Increased blood pressure and other physical changes associated with anger make it difficult to think straight and harm your physical and mental health.”

This Gospel clearly depicts the human nature of Jesus. He too is capable of being angry. But He was angry for the right reasons. These days, we take so much self-entitlement that we feel we deserve to be angry every time we’re disappointed. We waste our energy over trivial matters, and I for one am guilty about it. With patience unchecked, and superiority filled to the brim, we fume at people and things that impede our routine.

Yes He was fuming in all places, but His emotions did not go in vain. His purpose is to defend the house of prayer from materialism and the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees. And I believe that by 'temple', the Scripture is also referring to our bodies, our person, our own selves. Jesus wants us to rid ourselves of useless materialism. He wants us to refocus on our life’s purpose. Yes Jesus is saying, “Away with life’s excesses – over-accumulation of money, overworking, self-gloating, eating and drinking, partying, too much social media and digital preoccupations!” I think Jesus is inviting us to be angry at these negativities for they will do nothing but distract us from what we should be centering on – the kingdom of God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, there is anger in my heart and I cannot root it out. I know that I should calm down and offer the hurt and disappointment to You but my emotion is running away with me. Help me to overcome this weakness and give me peace of heart as well as mind. Let me learn from this experience and grow into a better human being. Amen.
(source: www.catholic.org/prayers)

Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what You want me to be – and becoming that person.
(St. Thérèse of Lisieux — of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church)