Friday, March 30, 2018

Reflection for April 3; Tuesday in the Octave of Easter: John 20:11-18

Gospel: John 20:11-18
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for? She thought it was the gardener and said to him,“ Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni, which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God.’Mary went and announced to the disciples,“I have seen the Lord, and then reported what he had told her.
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Reflection:
How does it feel to lose a close friend? It feels like an important part of you had been taken permanently away from you. This was how Mary Magdalene felt when she was near the tomb of Jesus. She was forlorn, who would not be? Anyone who loses somebody close to him/her would feel the same way.

In the midst of her melancholy Jesus appeared to Mary and told her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God (John 20:17).

When Jesus told Mary stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Perhaps, Jesus wanted to tell Mary this: Let go of the memory of my violent death for I have resurrected already. Instead announce the good news of my resurrection which Mary did after Jesus appeared to her.

How does this gospel speak to you? Do you feel Jesus speaking to you and telling you to move and share the good news? To have courage to share His teachings through your works and actions?

Humans as we are we yield every once in a while to discouragement and sadness. Yet we must not forget that Jesus has risen, that Jesus abiding presence is with us and He walks with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 2; Monday in the Octave of Easter: Matthew 28:8-15

Gospel: Matthew 28:8-15
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
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Reflection:
How do you manifest in your life that Jesus is alive and risen? The best manifestation that Jesus is alive and risen is by sharing your faith. Sharing it with your words and sharing it with your works.

For example, you see someone who is in need of guidance or counselling, do you take time to offer your guidance? Or you see somebody who is hungry; do you have the initiative to give food? When someone who did you wrong ask for forgiveness, do you forgive?

When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw the empty tomb. They immediately run to share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to their fellow believers. They were excited to share the good news of Jesus’ conquering death.

The best proof that Jesus has conquered death and is risen is you! Every time you do good works, every time you say good and healing words. And every time you forgive those who did you wrong you manifest that Jesus is risen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 1, Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord: John 20:1-9

Gospel: John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
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Reflection:
How does the gospel reading today about the resurrection of Christ speaks to us? Does it speak to us with a deeper sense of renewal. Thus it tells us that Jesus resurrection should also be our own resurrection and triumph over our sinfulness?

From being sinful we now try our very best to live a holy and meaningful life. For this is our own way of saying that Jesus has also resurrected within us. By way of living our lives according to what the resurrected Christ wants us to live it.

If from here-on our mindset is to live our lives according to what the resurrected Jesus wants us to live it. Well and good this would mean that we would leave behind our sinfulness, our arrogance and high sense of ourselves and so forth.

Thus, the resurrection of Jesus is truly meaningful for everyone of us for the reason that we allowed it to make a big difference in our lives. We allowed it to usher within us the defeat of anything that is evil and sinful. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 31; Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil: Mark 16:1-7

Gospel: Mark 16:1-7
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”
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Reflection:
Are you always faithful to Jesus?

Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome thought that Jesus has not yet risen from His death. That is why they went to His tomb to honor His body by anointing it but He was not there already for He has risen. 

In His being powerless, in His momentary death there were still true and faithful followers who stayed with Jesus. We admire their loyalty to Jesus, we admire their faith in Jesus and we admire them for they never betrayed Jesus until the very end. They remained faithful even during the lowest moment of Jesus’ life.

I’m sure that the risen Jesus had something as a reward for Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. For they proved that their faith in Him goes beyond the miracles and healings that they’ve witnessed.

How is your faith in the risen Jesus? is it limited to the miracles that He has done in your life? Or it goes beyond miracles that it goes deeper and it will remain until the very end of your mortal life. 

By conquering death Jesus proved to all and sundry that there is life after death. That those who would faithfully follow Him will see life after their mortal death in this world. Always have hope in Jesus even if it seems hopeless for He will lift you up in His own time of choosing.

You therefore have to be faithful to Jesus even if it seems that He is distant to you. You therefore have to be faithful to Jesus no matter how salivating the temptation that Satan dangles before you. For it’s only through your faithfulness to Him that you’ll find life everlasting. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Reflection for March 30; Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: John 18:1-19:42

Gospel John 18:1-19:42 
Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go. This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,  went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting  to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. here they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier.They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
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Reflection:
Would you have the strength and courage to carry your own cross?

After all the hardship, betrayal and persecution Jesus has finally accomplished His salvific mission. It seems odd that in His last days He was powerless even though He is powerful. He did nothing to save Himself even if He has at His disposal all the power in this world to save Himself.

But Jesus did not die for Himself, He died for our sake. He endured everything including the humiliating death on the cross to save us that is how much Jesus loves us! Therefore, the cross where He died is also the cross that saved us.

In hindsight what are we willing to give Jesus in return for saving us? Are we also willing to carry our own cross for His sake? We may not be able to immediately answer this because many of us are already used with the comforts of our hi-tech driven world.

But the comforts of this world are nothing compared to the eternal heavenly dwelling that awaits us. And what is the magic word so that we would be able to go to that eternal heavenly dwelling eventually?

We must be willing to carry our own cross as well and what is this cross or who is this cross? He/she is someone who makes life difficult for us, we have to be patient with him/her until he/she is enlightened. Another cross is a sickness that we have to endure for as long as we live.  We have to ask Jesus to help us go through all of these crosses. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Monday, March 26, 2018

Reflection for March 29; Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: John 13:1-15

Gospel: John 13:1-15
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
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Reflection:
What would you do if you know that you are to have the Last Supper of your life? Perhaps, you will be doing something for yourself. Maybe you will isolate yourself and pray with all seriousness before our God.

Jesus knew beforehand that He would be having His Last Supper but instead of doing something for himself. He washed the feet of the apostles; it was leadership by example personified. He did that act of humility for the reason that He wanted to strongly imprint into the minds of the apostles and to us as well. That those who truly desire to follow Him must first learn to become humble and learn to serve and not to be served.

Many are not inclined to follow our faith or many are inclined to embrace other faiths because they don’t see the humility of Jesus in us. And who is to blame for this? No other than many of us because we fail to embrace Jesus template of humility. Many of us don’t grow in faith as well. Why? For the reason that we are full of ourselves! We therefore will not grow in faith if we are always full of ourselves.

If you want to become a great leader, learn to serve and not be served, learn to lead by example and not lead by giving direction and command. And last but certainly not the least learn to embrace the humility of Jesus.

This Holy Thursday let us reflect and ponder on these words of Jesus in the gospel: I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do (John 13:15).” – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 28; Wednesday of Holy Week: Matthew 26:14-25

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord? He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
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Reflection:
Do you open your house as a shelter for those who are in need?

Who was the man who opened his house for Jesus and his apostles? We don’t know, what we are certain about him is he was gracious and kind enough to offer his house to Jesus. There was no ulterior motive when he allowed them to use his house for their Passover remembrance.

Judas was with Jesus and his fellow apostles but he was not there to be in communion with them. He was with them because he was planning something sinister, none other than the betrayal of Jesus. 

We see in the gospel Judas obsession with mammon or dirty material wealth. Why on earth did he betray his Lord and Master? This is for the reason that Judas was already possessed by Satan thus Judas was willing to do anything to please his new master. 

The lesson for us here is we must be careful not to allow Satan or the Devil to possess us. Since the moment we allow Satan to gain foothold in our life. Satan will never stop until he possess and eventually destroy us.    
On this Wednesday of Holy Week let us reflect on our motives when we give help. Do we do it with the purest of intention/s? Or we give help because we expect something in return. How about Satan or the Devil do we allow ourselves to be possessed by him every now and then? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Reflection for March 27; Tuesday of Holy Week: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.”So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”
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Reflection:
Would you agree that there are times that you sin and thus betray the Lord?

Whether we admit it not there are really times that we succumb to the temptation of Satan. Thus, we sin and we create distance between us and the Lord Jesus Christ. However, even if we sin or betray the Lord we still are not beyond redemption. Jesus loves us so dearly that He will always forgive us no matter how many times we sin or betray Him.

In the gospel we read about Jesus alluding to His betrayal by Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. How could Judas betray his Lord and Master? It seems unthinkable for this apostle to betray his teacher and master but it happened. Why? This is for the reason that Judas allowed Satan to take control of him.

But what is sad in Judas betrayal is it led to his self-inflicted death. Judas could have returned to the Lord but he did not he instead chose to wallow in desperation and it culminated by his suicide. If only Judas knew that Jesus was waiting for his return he would not have killed himself.

As long as we exist in this world Satan and his many sinful enticements would always be there to temp us. And many of us would succumb to these sinful temptations. However we must not forget that no matter how grave our sins are we are not beyond redemption.

The Lord Jesus is always waiting for us to go back to Him! He is ever ready to embrace us again with His Forgiveness, Mercy and unconditional Love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Reflection for March 26; Monday of Holy Week: John 12:1-11

Gospel: John 12:1-12
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.
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Reflection:
Do you allow hatred, greed and envy to sometimes rule over you? What normally is the product when you allow these evils to take control of you?

The chief priests allowed these evil intentions to rule over them that’s why they plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus. They saw in Jesus someone who could overthrow them from their seat of power, so they must kill Him whatever it takes. This they did successfully but what was the bargain for their successful plot against Jesus? They allowed the devil to take control of them that’s why they were able to do the unthinkable.

Hatred, greed and envy are methods of the devil to slowly trap someone to do the unthinkable. Take for example corrupt politicians who would do everything to perpetuate themselves in power. Take for example spouses who allowed hatred and unforgiveness to rule over their love for their spouse.

We all know where these evil emotions brought the chief priests. It brought them to plot the killing of Jesus. And so they thought that they were finally able to rid Jesus out of their system.

But they were all wrong; by His resurrection Jesus was able to defeat their evil intentions. By His resurrection Jesus was able to impress upon the minds of the chief priests that their hatred, greed and envy has brought them nothing except further misery.  

The same is true with us all, if we allow the devil to sow hatred, greed and envy in our hearts. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

I provide Talks, Retreats and Recollections for private and public organizations

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Monday, March 12, 2018

Reflection for March 24; Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent: John 11:45-56

Gospel: John 11:45-56
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him; 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all; 50 you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called  E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"
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Reflection:
There’s a saying that, Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

During the time of Jesus the Pharisees were the ruling class they were very powerful yet they were also afraid to lose power. Why were they afraid to lose power? For the reason that they were afraid to lose their influence in their territory.

 After years of being in power the powerful Pharisees were suddenly being threatened by the powerful and charismatic personality of Jesus. So they must do everything to hold on to their power which include the plot to kill Jesus.

But why were the Pharisees afraid to lose power? They were afraid that people would discover the many skeletons in their closets. That’s why they plotted to kill Jesus because they saw in Jesus someone who would finally unseat and expose them.

What is the lesson for us here? 1. We should not be threatened by anyone who does good, instead of being threatened we should help that person who does good. 2. Our hands must always be clean and free from any form of sin otherwise there would come a time that we will be exposed eventually. 3. We must not use and manipulate our fellowmen to advance our own corrupt and selfish agenda/s. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for March 23; Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent: John 10:31-42

Gospel: John 10:31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me? The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.

Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.
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Reflection:
Do you sometimes feel unrewarded for the effort/s that you do? For example, you did something good to someone and then the person did not care to compliment or recognize your good deed. 

How would you feel? Perhaps you would be disheartened or even feel bad. On second thought instead of feeling disheartened or bad I think you should still feel good for the reason that you’ve done something worthy to someone. 

Jesus did everything for the Jews yet they never thanked Him. He instead was persecuted for doing good. Did He feel bad for not being given due recognition? Perhaps yes, because He was human like us. However Jesus never allowed their ingratitude to bring Him down and distract Him from His focus with His mission of salvation.  

This is the reality of life, there are those who will not compliment us for the good that we’ve done for them. Nevertheless let us continue to do good and not be disheartened for God knows everything and God will always reward those who do good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for March 22; Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:51-59

Gospel: John 8:51-59
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM. So they picked up stones to throw at him. but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
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Reflection:
How would you feel if a religious leader would tell you this, “If you follow me you will never die.” You will not believe this leader for the simple reason that this is not true. Jesus in the gospel tells us that anyone of us who would keep His word will never see death.  

What is this death that the Lord is speaking about?  Obviously this doesn’t pertain to physical death for we all will die. The death that Jesus is alluding to is the death in the spirit. We are taught by our faith that when we die our mortal remains will decay. And we are also taught that if we have a close and personal relationship with Jesus our spirit will continue to live for it does not die along with our mortal death. 

No one of us has been to the afterlife but this one is true: We will not be afraid to pass through physical death if we are close to Jesus. And if we have a personal relationship with Him. For the reason that we know that everlasting life would only come after our mortal death, mortal death is our launching pad to eternal life. But we have to believe first in Jesus and we have to have a personal relationship with Him for us not to experience spiritual death.  

The Jews in our gospel were critics of Jesus and as such they do not believe in Jesus much less have a personal relationship with Him.

Do you strive to have a personal relationship with Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Friday, March 9, 2018

Reflection for March 21; Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:31-42

Gospel: John 8:31-42
31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, `You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." 39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. 41 You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
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Reflection:
What will happen to us if we give space for the words of Jesus in our hearts? Of course we will start to build a special relationship with Jesus. We will start to trust Jesus more than we trust ourselves and we will also become averse to sin.

In our first reading, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted more on their faith in God than  obey the command of the king. They were being forced by king Nebuchadnezzar to worship his own God. But until the end the three did not follow the king’s order so they were thrown into the fiery furnace yet they were not hurt because God was with them.

This is what will happen to us also if we faithfully follow Jesus, yes there would be instances of persecution. But if we remain faithful then our being persecuted is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us. If there’s glory for those who would remain faithful, why are we not faithful to Jesus? Why do we easily betray Him for the fleeting and sinful pleasures of this world?  

This is so for the simple reason that we allow ourselves to succumb to the inducement of the devil. That’s how plain and simple it is, we give up Jesus for this world because we love this world more than we love Jesus.

As we approach the holiest of weeks let us reflect on how many times have we given up Jesus for the sinful pleasures of this world. And what have we gained for giving up Jesus for this world? Nothing except the continuous pilling up of emptiness and problems disguised as hedonistic pleasures. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 20; Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:21-30

Gospel: John 8:21-30
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
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Reflection:
What does sin do to us? It separates us from the infinite love of God, the more we sin the more that we widen the distance between us and God.  Why do we sin? We sin because we succumb to the devil’s temptation. But we are not beyond redemption for the reason that we have someone who is always there for us to save us from the bondage of sin and He’s no other than Jesus.

The moment we submit ourselves to the sacrament of Confession we allow Jesus to extricate us from the bondage of sin.  We allow Jesus to exterminate whatever evil particle that we have in our system.

As we get closer to the holiest of weeks we are slowly but surely being brought by the church closer to Jesus. For what reason is this? To make us realize about the great love and sacrifice that Jesus did on the cross. Jesus died for us on the cross, He need not die on the cross but He gave His life for His love for us.

At the end of the day it’s still upon us if we want to permanently separate ourselves from the love of Jesus. Or if we go to Jesus and accept His offer of salvation Jesus is always there waiting for us ever ready to forgive and love us once again.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose if surrender everything to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas