1Reflection for July 6, Saturday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What can make us complete? Its Jesus he only can complete us, the things of this world no matter how enormous will never complete us. Our treasures and power will never complete us and if these are not handled properly this may even destroy us.   It will never fill our longing for God because our love for the things of this world only brings us farther from God.    

John’s disciples asked Jesus: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus meaningfully answered them: "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The wedding guests are the followers of Jesus and the bridegroom is no other than Jesus himself.

Just like in a wedding banquet wherein the guests are forever joyous the same also with us. We become renewed, happy and complete for we are already with Jesus. We permanently leave behind every aspect of our old sinful selves and everything that makes us sin.

We also throw our fears of what tomorrow may bring us for the simple reason that we are already with Jesus. With Jesus the fear of the unknown is permanently banished from our system, what would remain is our faith in our Lord and savior. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 5, Friday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Do you feel that Jesus is calling you to live a new life, a new life free from of sinfulness?

Aside from Matthew whom Jesus called to follow Him we too are being called by Jesus. We may say that we are not worthy to follow Jesus but who amongst us are worthy? No one for we are all sinful creatures of this world.

Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him for the precise reason that he was a sinner. This is the character and mission of Jesus to call every sinner to follow Him. But why is it that even if we know that we are called to repentance we still continue to sin? We refuse to leave behind us our sinful ways.

This is indeed very puzzling, why is it that many of us ignore Jesus call for us to follow Him? Does this mean that we love this world more than we love Jesus? Does this mean that Jesus is losing influence over us and the devil is slowly but surely gaining control of our lives that is why we refuse to heed Jesus’ call to a life of renewal and repentance?

Why did Matthew follow Jesus call? Perhaps somebody had shared to him the love and unfathomable mercy of Jesus. Somebody had lived his faith in Jesus and Matthew heard and saw it, that’s why it was not anymore difficult for Matthew to recognize and follow Jesus.

The challenge before us is to share and live our faith in Jesus to the many Matthews (Sinners) of our time. They may not have heard yet anything about Jesus that is why they keep on sinning until this very day. Why not share the mercy and love of Jesus?

Would you share Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for July 4, Thursday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Can we obtain the same forgiveness which Jesus gave to the paralytic?

 Yes we can! The same forgiveness is given to us by the priest who acts in Persona Christi (In the Person of Christ) the moment we humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. However, the sad part is this: Not everyone is aware of this grace of forgiveness!

If only they have an awareness of the grace that is given to us by Jesus when we submit ourselves to this sacrament. They would not think twice to humbly submit to this healing Sacrament.

A large part of the blame why not everyone is educated about this sacrament lies in us who know the enormous gift of the Sacrament of Confession. Because we don’t bother to share what we know and we don’t live and pay forward the grace that we receive from Jesus through this sacrament.

It’s never too late to repent, it’s never too late to ask God to heal us of our many sickness caused by our sinfulness. Let us go and humbly submit ourselves to this healing sacrament and let us not also forget to share the grace that we have received from this healing Sacrament.

Will you humbly submit yourself to this healing Sacrament today or perhaps in the coming days? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 3, Wednesday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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Reflection:

Where was Thomas during this appearance of Jesus before the other disciples? We don’t know but one thing is sure Thomas was missing in action when Jesus appeared to the other disciples. After a week Thomas would have his second chance to see Jesus alive and a second chance to renew his faith in Jesus.

It was a sort of redemption for him for after being full of unbelief on the resurrection of Jesus. Thomas now became a firm believer for he felt and saw Jesus up close and personal. Jesus even allowed Thomas to touch the wound on His side.

Life is full of second chances, we may be down today but certainly there shall also be a second chance for all of us to get up. We may be sick today but there's a second chance for us to be in the pink of health once again.

However, our second chance hinges in our faith in Jesus, for as long as we have faith we have a second chance. For as long as we have faith we could conquer all our self doubts and be triumphant once again.

Do you have doubts in your heart right now? Be not doubtful anymore for Jesus is giving you a second chance of savoring life. Not this worldly life anymore but a life with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for July 2, Tuesday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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Reflection:

Do you always seek the help of Jesus when you pass through the storms of your life?

While in the boat with Jesus the disciples encountered a very powerful storm. They were naturally terrified so they asked Jesus for help, they said to Him; “Lord save us we are perishing (Matthew 8:25)!”   

How many times have you encountered storms in your life? Many time over perhaps, in every storm that you encounter always remember that Jesus is always there for you. Ever ready to help you and bring you out safely of these storms that you encounter and may encounter still.

What if Jesus was not with the disciples during that fateful night when their boat was being battered by the storm? To whom would they be asking for help? To no one, they could have all perished in that violent storm but Jesus was there to save them all.

This is the advantage of having Jesus in your life. You always have somebody very powerful to rescue you whenever you are in distress. You always have somebody who will take away your fears, even your biggest and greatest fears.

Do you always seek the help of Jesus whenever you pass through the storms of your life?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 1, Monday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 8:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

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Reflection:

Up to where are you willing to follow Jesus? Would you still follow Him if He leads you to care for the poor and the sick? Would you still follow Him if He leads you to a life of poverty? Would you still follow Him if He leads you to a life of sacrifice and perseverance?

These questions are very hard to answer for the simple reason that we are already used to a life of comfort and ease. But there were many and there are still many right now who left everything including their comfortable life and thier treasures for the life of sacrifice and poverty with Jesus. 

If we ask them how are they now after they’ve decided to leave everything behind just to follow Jesus? They will simply tell us that they’ve never been happier and that their present life with Jesus is the best status that they’ve ever had in their life.

A life with Jesus is always the best life even if it leads us to poverty, even if it leads us to care for the poor and the sick and even if it leads us to a life of sacrifice and perseverance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday June 30, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:51-62

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."

And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." To him Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

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Reflection:

Are you thinking of following Jesus? Many want to serve the Lord or serve in the church for the wrong reasons. Wrong reason number one: I want to follow Jesus because I want to become popular in my community. Wrong reason number two: I want to follow Jesus because I want to be influential and powerful in my community.

When Jesus was not allowed entry to Samaria. The disciples James and John immediately asked Jesus:  "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them (Luke 9:54)?" During that instance, James and John had the mindset of a typical follower who follows for the reason of influence and power.  

Why do you want to become a follower of Jesus or why do you want to serve in your church? Is it because of prestige, power and honor? If your answer is yes, you have the wrong reason in following the Lord. Why? Because true followership for Christ entails tons and tons of sacrifice. It requires boundless humility and huge amount of perseverance.

One way or another some of us may have felt that we were called by God to serve Him and His people. Let us always remember that this call is always to help Jesus carry His cross. This call is not for us to reap honors, power and prestige. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for June 29, Saturday: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; Matthew 16:13-19

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Reflection:

Do you know Jesus? Yes you know Jesus but do you feel the presence of Jesus in your life? Knowing and feeling Jesus are two different things. Many of us know Jesus but not as many feel His majestic presence. We don’t feel the presence of Jesus in our hearts because we lack time for Jesus.

Peter did not only know Jesus, he felt also the presence of Jesus in his life. Peter felt the presence of Jesus in his life because Peter gave time for Jesus. Among the disciples it was Peter who was always with Jesus it was Peter who had more time for Jesus. 

Peter went with Jesus to the mountain of transfiguration. When Jesus walked on water Peter saw Jesus and even asked Jesus if she could go to him. And there were many other events that Peter was always in the company Jesus.

Paul initially was a persecutor of the church. But in spite of being a fierce critic of the church Paul allowed Jesus to take control of his life. Thus, from being a persecutor Paul became a zealous propagator of the church. He became one of its foremost missioner.

If you want to feel the presence of Jesus in your life. You only have to do one thing and that is to spend more time with Jesus. Be with Him at Holy Mass, hear Him speak to you by  reading your bible. Hear Him assuring you of His abiding presence in your life through your prayers.

Do you want to feel the presence of Jesus in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for June 28, Friday: Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; Luke 15:3-7

Gospel: Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

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Reflection:

A wayward daughter who had four children from four different men was disowned by her parents. The distraught daughter had nowhere to go. While mulling about reforming her life she went to a convent to seek advice and temporary shelter from the nuns there.

There are really times that we tend to give up already on those who are lost and wayward. We don’t take into account the fact that they are also very much capable of reforming their lives. We don’t take into consideration that we too are sinners and Jesus has not given up on us no matter how many times we’ve offended Him.

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. And we see in the gospel the Sacred Heart of Jesus, His heart that never gives up. His heart that is very much willing to temporarily leave behind the many to seek out the lost and misguided.

If we are quick to condemn Jesus doesn't condemn. If we give up already on the lost and misguided, Jesus will never gives up on them.   

Do you have a misguided/wayward relative or friend? Don’t give up on them look for them and when you find them share to them the enlightenment which Jesus gave you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 27, Thursday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:21-29

Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to them solemnly ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

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Reflection:

What would ensure your entry to the kingdom of God when your time is up in this world? It’s your faith built and anchored like a rock in Jesus. What does this mean? It means faith that is not in name only. It’s rather faith that works and faith that is lived so that others may benefit from it.

How easy it is to us to say that I have faith, I am a Christian and a followers of Jesus. But do we put substance to these declarations and do we live these pronouncements? If we do, then well and good but if we don’t yet, it’s never too late to renew and strengthen our faith and commitment to Jesus.

In every hour of your life God gives you the chance for you to make alive your dormant and sleeping faith. God wants you to do this so that you would become like the wise man in the gospel. Who built his house around the rock which nobody could move or destroy not even the strongest storm.

We all face or will still be facing our own respective battles with the storms of life. Do you know what would make you survive these storms? It’s your rock solid faith in Jesus, faith that is not kept to oneself alone, it’s rather a faith that is lived and shared.

How’s your faith in the Lord right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 26, Wednesday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

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Reflection:

Do you value external appearance?

To many people first impression is very important. External appearance also is very much valued by them. But first impression is usually false and external appearance is normally fake. How would we know the real character of a person? Listen to his/her language, watch his/her actions and get to know that person better.

There are times that we are easily taken by external appearance only to discover later that it is not real. The modern world that we are in right now is full of unreal and pretentious people. Let us therefore not be taken by first impression and by our naked eye for its usually false.

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about false prophets, who are these people? They are the ones who are good at speaking about God but very much lacking in living the teachings of God. They put up a very good external appearance so that so that their followers would not uncover who they really are.

They manipulate their followers to entrench themselves in their ivory towers. They tell their followers to practice this and that ritual but they themselves don’t practice it. There are many false prophets today we have to be careful and discerning. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 25, Tuesday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

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Reflection:

There is a story of a boy who was neglected by his irresponsible parents. A kind-hearted relative saw something from this boy who was always at the church to do volunteer work and attend Holy Mass. So he offered to take care of this boy and without any hesitation the negligent parents immediately agreed.

To make a long story short the boy stayed with his relatives who took care of his education and other needs. To compensate for his free board, education and lodging he worked for them by helping with the household chores and other basic house work. Years quickly passed by and this good and hardworking boy became very successful.

What is the narrow gate that Jesus wants us all to enter? This is the narrow gate of hardwork, the narrow gate of life with Jesus and the church that He founded.

Not many of us now are truly hard-working we want shortcuts, for example to become rich many engage in corruption and other illegal acts. Not many of us now do volunteer work for the church because we are very selfish with our time and treasure. Not many of us now are fulfilling our Sunday Mass obligation; we just go to Mass if we want to go.

Indeed, those who enter or pass thru the narrow gate and find it are few but these few will always be rewarded someday by Jesus himself. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for June 24, Monday: the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist; Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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Reflection:

Have you been faithful to the Lord?

To continuously propagate the name of a certain clan it is customary to name a newly born child after his father’s name. This was in the mind of the relatives who proposed that the newly born baby of Elizabeth be named after his father Zechariah.

 But Zechariah had previously had an agreement with the Angel Gabriel when he appeared to him in the sanctuary that the baby would be named John (Luke 1:13). True to their word both Elizabeth and Zechariah did not renege on their agreement with the Lord through the angel Gabriel.

 Their faithfulness to God’s covenant was further rewarded when Zechariah was able to speak again. What is the implication of this for us? This tells us that the good Lord has a reward for those who are faithful to Him. Are we always faithful to the Lord?

 We too are being reminded by this gospel to be faithful to our own covenants with the Lord. You may be asking yourself: What is my covenant with the Lord? There are many, I will just mention a few. If you’re married your covenant with the Lord is to be faithful to your spouse until the very end.

Our Baptismal covenant with the Lord is faithfulness to the teachings of the church. Have we been faithful to the teachings of the church and have we already shared and lived its teachings? 

God through the angel Gabriel has rewarded the faithfulness of Elizabeth and Zechariah. There’s also a reward in store for us all for so long as we would be faithful to the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday June 23, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Luke 9:11b-17

Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

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Reflection:

What would happen when we become very familiar already with a person who is special to us?

When we are familiar already with a person who is special to us the tendency for us is to eventually look at that special person as ordinary. For example, during courtship the future spouse would be treated specially by the man or woman.  They would exchange countless gifts between them. Then, they eventually marry and after many years of being married. The special treatment would somehow become ordinary for many couples. Why? Because they’ve both grown too familiar with each other.

Perhaps, the twelve apostles were already too familiar with Jesus. They’ve been with Him for almost three years day in and day out. They’ve been witnessing left and right miracles from Him and slowly witnessing miracles became an ordinary occurrence for them.

That’s why as the day was drawing to a close. The apostles approached Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here (Luke 9:12).”

Because of their familiarity with Jesus they forgot that Jesus can easily feed the crowd that was following them. They all of a sudden forgot the many miracles of Jesus. The spark in their eyes was unexpectedly gone all because of their familiarity.

There are times that this happens to us too! We seem to be familiar with Jesus already that He becomes an ordinary person to us. We forget that He is very much capable of making miracles in our life. We forget that His Body and Blood are always there for us to partake during Holy Mass. We forget that the same Body and Blood of Jesus can always infuse vigor and life to our weary lives.

Whenever we go to Holy Mass and receive Jesus’ Body and Blood during Holy Communion. It is always an assurance that Jesus is always there for us. Ever ready to reinvigorate our tired bodies and spirits. Ever ready to infuse vitality, freshness and life to our drained minds.

Are you feeling tired and weary caused by the many challenges that you’ve been facing lately? Why not attend Holy Mass and let the Body and Blood of Jesus strengthen you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 22, Saturday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:24-34

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

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Reflection:

Mr. A is a worrisome person he always loses sleep about the little things in life. For example, if he sees a black cat he would worry about it because it’s a sign of bad omen for him.

Mr. B is a man of deep faith he never worry about anything in life because he learned to trust everything to the Lord. Although both of them are of the same age Mr. B looks a lot younger than Mr. A and Mr. B’s personality is more vibrant than Mr. A the worrisome guy.

Indeed, why worry about this life?  We have to learn to live a worry free life and we have to learn to trust God more than we trust ourselves or more than we trust anyone in this world. What would we gain if we worry a lot? Nothing except more worries!

In the gospel, Jesus is telling us not to worry about anything in this world for he will provide it for us. This seems hard to believe but this is true. If we would only learn to trust the Lord and let Him take full control of our lives. We would discover that God always provides and always takes care of everything including our worries. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 21, Friday: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious; Matthew 6:19-23

Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

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Reflection:

What is the advantage of not keeping earthly treasures?

We have less worry to think about imagine for example if we have many earthly treasures we would always be thinking on how to further grow it or how to keep it safe. These are just the few disadvantages of having earthly treasures; the more we have riches and material things the more that we think and worry about it.

What if we decide to give up our material riches for the sake of the kingdom of God? What will we gain from it? We certainly will have peace of mind. We will have no more worries to think about and we will be free as a bird always ready to fly towards heaven anytime. Why? Because we have no attachment with material things.  

The Lord always calls us to store treasures up in heaven where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. What are these heavenly treasures? These are our faith, our good deeds towards our fellowmen and our acts of love and humility. These are pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 20, Thursday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

(Jesus said to his disciples) “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

How do you pray? 

Do you pray with a set of structured prayer such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and many other prayers? Nothing is wrong with these prayers for it brings you closer to God. What is important is, when you pray you dive inside your prayer this means that your whole being is in communion with your prayer.

There is no wrong either with our spontaneous/personal prayers for these are prayers that originate deep in our hearts.  Our whole beings are with our prayer, and by doing so we establish our connection with the Good Lord.

So we know how to pray and that is very good! But let us think about the many others who do not know how to pray (There are many of them). Perhaps we can make it our mission in life to teach them how to pray and in the process introduce them to Jesus.

Let us do something about this and let us also share this prayer that was taught by Jesus to His disciples. We become productive followers of Jesus when we pay forward whatever we know about Jesus most especially this prayer that HE taught us to pray.

Have you shared the Our Father prayer? – Marino J. Dasmarinas