Reflection for Saturday December 3 St. Francis Xavier, priest: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Have you done something to bring others to the Lord? For example, you asked a friend to go with you to the church to attend Holy Mass. Or you counseled a friend to read the Bible so that he/she could know Jesus deeply.   

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).” These words of Jesus rings loudly to our ears today than ever before. Indeed this is very true and very relevant for our times. We just need to look around our environment and we would see the sad reality that there’s are many more who don’t know Jesus.  

Our labor for God must not be limited to our vocation in the church as Preist, Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion, as Catechist, as Lectors/commentators and as members of other church ministries. We must put more flesh in our involvement in our church by going out to those who are hungry, who are physically/emotionally sick. We need to bring Jesus out to the poor of our society for they too need Jesus and surely they need Jesus to guide them.  

Even if we are ordinary parishioners by virtue of our baptism we too are called to share Jesus. A faith that grows is a faith that is shared. Beginning this Advent season and onwards let us allow Jesus to use us as His instrument of healing by helping the poor and the deprived.  

But there are those who follow Jesus based on their own terms and standards. They impose their own rule and not the rule of Jesus they follow Christ based on their own self-rule.  Thus, instead of embracing humility they choose to embrace arrogance. Instead of winning converts and followers they become the main reason why others walk away from the faith.  

A good follower has rock solid faith, is neither self seeking nor arrogant. Always humble and content to silently do his mission for the greater glory of God. Are you this kind of follower? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Sabado Disyembre 3 San Francisco Javier, pari: Mateo 9:35-10, 1. 6-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:35-10, 1. 6-8

Noong panahong iyon, nilibot ni Hesus ang mga bayan at nayon at nagturo sa mga sinagoga. Ipinangaral niya ang Mabuting Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos, at pinagaling ang mga may sakit, anuman ang kanilang karamdaman. Nang makita niya ang napakaraming tao, nahabag siya sa kanila sapagkat sila’y lito at lupaypay, parang mga tupang walang pastol.  

Kaya’t sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad, “Sagana ang anihin, ngunit kakaunti ang mag-aani. Idalangin ninyo sa may-ari ng anihin na magpadala siya ng mga manggagawa sa kanyang anihin.” Tinipon ni Hesus ang labindalawang alagad at binigyan ng kapangyarihang magpalayas ng masasamang espiritu at magpagaling ng mga may karamdaman.  

Sila’y pinagbilinan ni Hesus: “Hanapon ninyo ang mga nawawalang tupa ng sambahayan ng Israel. Humayo kayo at ipangaral ninyo na malapit nang maghari ang Diyos. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga maysakit at buhayin ang mga patay. Pagalingin ninyo ang mga ketongin at palayasin ang mga demonyo. Yamang tumanggap kayo nang walang bayad, magbigay naman kayo nang walang bayad.”

Reflection for December 2 Friday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 9:27-31

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us! When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith. And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this. But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What are you willing to do to receive healing from God? Are you willing to humble yourself and kneel before God and ask Him to give you the gift of healing? Healing is a gift that Jesus freely gives to those who have faith. Even if you will not ask for it Jesus will give it to you for as long as you humble yourself and have faith in front of Him. 

In the gospel for this Friday we have two humble blind men with rock-solid faith who cried to the Lord for healing.  Why did they cry when they could have shouted at Jesus to get His attention? They cried because they felt hope, mercy and healing from Jesus. For the two blind men Jesus was their only hope to have the gift of sight. 

Let us also ask Jesus to give us the gift of Healing for nothing is impossible for those who believe and humble themselves before God. Even the impossible is very much possible for as long as we have faith. 

Whatever that you’re going through right now, believe that Jesus will heal you. And believe that He will answer your prayers for nothing is impossible for Jesus. This is best exemplified by the two incredible blind men of deep faith in our gospel.  

How’s your faith in the Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Wisdom from the Bible - 9

 

Wisdom from the Bible - 8

 

Wisdom from the Bible - 7

 

Wisdom from the Bible - 6

 

Wisdom from the Bible - 5

 

Wisdom from the Bible - 4

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 9

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 8

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 7

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 6

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 5

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 4

 

Words of Wisdom - 4

 

Words of Wisdom - 3

 

Words of Wisdom - 2

 

Mga salita na puno ng aral at karunungan - 5

 

Mga salita na puno ng aral at karunungan - 4

 

Mga salita na puno ng aral at karunungan - 3

 

Mga salita na puno ng aral at karunungan - 2

 

Reflection for December 1 Thursday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

(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.  

“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.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What would happen to us if we always pray yet we don’t live our faith? For example, we always pray the Holy Rosary every day or we go to Holy Mass every Sunday yet we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to change us? We would easily succumb to worldly temptations and we render useless our acts of worship for God. 

The Philippines is a catholic country, in fact more than eighty percent (80%) of us are Catholics and the majority of our leaders in government are Catholics. However,  corruption is still deeply rooted in our government. Why is this so? This is for the reason that we are only good at worshipping God but we don’t allow our worship for God to transform us. 

What does Jesus want from all of us? He wants us to worship Him and allow this same worship for Him to transform us. So that we could become His true and faithful followers, it’s very easy to pray so that others would see us. However, the real qualification for us to be called a follower of Jesus is when we allow our worship for Him to transform us.  

What will happen to us if we let our prayers to transform us according to the will of God?  We would be like the wise man in the gospel 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 (Luke 7:24-25).  

Do you allow your worship for God to transform you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Wednesday November 30 Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle: Matthew 4:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you ready to respond to Jesus’ call? 

Jesus called ordinary fishermen to help Him advance the gospel, ordinary folks just like you and me. What is striking in the gospel reading was their immediate response to the call of the Lord. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew they immediately left their nets (their livelihood) and they both became a follower of Jesus. 

The same occurrence happened when Jesus called the brothers Zebedee and John. Upon hearing the call of Jesus they left their boat and their father to immediately become a follower. 

Let us take a closer look at the gospel for today because this is for us also. The four of them were ordinary fishermen, they were expert in their craft but they had no formal education about the faith.  

What does this mean to us? This simply means that a formal education about the faith is not a requirement to become an effective follower. What is important is the desire, humility and willingness to respond to Jesus. For as long as we are ready to respond we all can have a role in the mission of Jesus.  

Let us not worry if we have no formal education about our faith because this is not the requirement of Jesus. What Jesus wants from us first is for us to respond to His call, this is perhaps the first requirement responsiveness to His call.  

Jesus is always calling us to follow Him every second, every minute and hour that passes by. Let us respond to this call of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for November 29 Tuesday of the First Week of Advent: Luke 10:21-24

Gospel: Luke 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What do we need to do to fully grasp the grace of the Holy Spirit in our life? We need to be humble, we need to be childlike for such is the life of Jesus: full of humility and full of childlike trust. 

The Holy Spirit would reveal itself to us once we become humble and childlike. Thus, the Holy Spirit will give us something that others don’t have and that is the enlightenment to discern the workings of God in our life. 

Notice the childlike excitement of those who volunteer their time to serve during Holy Mass or to do volunteer work for the church. Observe their readiness to submit themselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But not everyone has this gift of feeling the profound presence of God in their lives. This is given free without any cost by the Holy Spirit to those who strive to dive deeper into our Catholic faith. 

We impede the grace of the Holy Spirit into our lives when we trust more on our wealth instead of God. When we don’t attend Holy Mass When we are self-righteous, when we are corrupt, when we curse, when we say profanities and swearwords. When we seek pornography and other sins of the flesh. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for November 28 Monday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 8:5-11

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.  

For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Do you ask Jesus to give you the gift of faith? 

What brought the centurion to Jesus? It was his great faith, when the centurion went to Jesus to ask for help for his servant he had nothing except his great faith. He firmly believed in Jesus power to heal and he used his great faith to convince Jesus to cure his servant.  

Who is this centurion? He is a roman officer and he has people under his command, he also is not a follower yet he has great faith in Jesus. Don’t we want this kind of faith as well? Of course, we all want our faith to be like the centurions. Therefore, we must prayerfully ask Jesus to give us the same faith. But do we ask Jesus to give us the gift of faith? Is the gift of faith always part of our prayer request to Jesus?  

If Jesus could give that great faith to a non-follower like the centurion why can’t He give us the same faith considering that we are his followers? Faith is a gift that Jesus freely and generously gives to anyone who humbly ask for it.  

What is our usual prayer to Jesus? Is it always to have the things of this world? Let us not forget that the things of this world are passing and temporary. While faith will not pass it will always be with us. Faith will be with us until the end, it will accompany us in our journey beyond this world going to the eternal Kingdom of the King of Kings no other than Jesus Himself. 

Give us your gift of faith O Lord Jesus, most especially the person who is reading this reflection right now. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday November 27, First Sunday of Advent: Matthew 24:37-44

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. 

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection: 

What was going on at the time of Noah? 

During the time of Noah Yahweh saw the wickedness of men that’s why He decided to destroy them. However, Noah was a blameless and righteous man and because of his righteousness he and a handful of his relatives and a few animals were saved by Yahweh.

From the time of Noah let as move fast forward to our present time. Is there still wickedness and evil today? The answer is a resounding yes!  Evil and wickedness are still prevalent today, it’s actually everywhere. For example, the unfortunate human sufferings being experienced by the people of Ukraine brought about by Russia’s aggression. Another example, whether we admit it or not many of us also continue to harbor evil and wickedness in our hearts.

On this first Sunday of advent the Lord is calling us to leave behind our sinful lives. This is best exemplified by the call of Saint Paul to the Romans in our second reading, he tells us. “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:12-14 ).

This call of renewal is also echoed by the prophet Isaiah in our first reading. He called for all people to go to the mountain of the Lord and walk with the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:3 ).  

On this first Sunday of Advent we are also reminded about the uncertainty of life. That it may end anytime that’s why we must seriously hear God’s message for us to repent and walk away from our sins and embrace goodness, forgiveness and love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 27 Unang Linggo sa Panahon ng Pagdating ng Panginoon : Mateo 24:37-44

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 24: 37-44

Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Ang pagdating ng Anak ng Tao ay matutulad sa pagdating ng baha noong panahon ni Noe. Noon, ang mga tao’y nagsisikain, nagsisiinom at nag-aasawa, hanggang sa araw na pumasok sa daong si Noe. 

Dumating ang baha di nila namalayan at tinangay silang lahat. Gayun din ang mangyayari sa pagdating ng Anak ng Tao. Sa panahong iyon, may dalawang lalaking gumagawa sa bukid kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang isa. May dalawang babaing magkasamang gumigiling; kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang isa.

Kaya magbantay kayo, sapagkat hindi ninyo alam kung anong araw paririto ang inyong Panginoon. Tandaan ninyo ito: kung alam lamang ng puno ng sambahayan kung anong oras ng gabi darating ang magnanakaw, siya’y magbabantay at hindi niya pababayaang pasukin ang kanyang bahay. Kaya maging handa kayong lagi, sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na di ninyo inaasahan.” 

Reflection for November 26 Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:34-36

Gospel: Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.  

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What will happen to us if we are so much busy with our worldly activities that we forget our intimacy with God?  We become worldly beings that exist only for this temporal world thus we cutoff any contact with God in favor of this world.  

This is dangerously happening now for example there are countries that prohibit the saying of prayers in schools. There are countries that proudly promote abortion and other anti-life measures. We must be watchful and try every possible way to counter this anti-life and anti-Christian policies and mindset espoused by the liberal minds of today. 

Where would we start? We start inside our respective families, so we bring our children to Mass, we pray the Holy Rosary and worship God as a family. We teach them the basics of our faith; we teach them how to read the Bible. And we read to them the words of God in the bible and reflect on it as a family. 

By doing so we would be deeply implanting the roots of our faith in their young minds and they will imbibe it as they grow. Therefore, they would be able to withstand whatever worldly tribulations and temptation that may come their way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Nobyembre 26 Sabado sa Ika-34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 21:34-36

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 21:34-36

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Mag-ingat kayo na huwag magumon sa katakawan at paglalasing at mabuhos ang inyong isip sa mga intindihin sa buhay na ito; baka abutan kayo ng Araw na iyon ng hindi handa. 

Sapagkat darating iyon ng di inaasahan ng tao sa buong daigdig. Kaya't maging handa kayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi ninyong idalangin na magkaroon kayo ng lakas upang makaligtas sa lahat ng mangyayaring ito at makaharap sa Anak ng Tao."

 

Reflection for November 25 Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:29-33

Gospel: Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.  

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Do you have an awareness of the kingdom of God in your life? 

Many of us are only aware today of the kingdom of this world. Thus, we are very busy to earn for our own survival and self-gratification. We allow ourselves to be eaten by the rat race culture of this world. For example, in other countries where the presence of Jesus is almost non-existent in their people. Once they encounter major failures in their life some people don’t think twice of committing suicide. 

Why is this so? Perhaps the reason behind this is they’ve already focused themselves on this world only. Every aspect of their life revolves around this world. There is no illumination of the presence of Jesus in their life. Here lies the danger of not having God in one’s life. It’s like always the end times whenever they encounter failures/problems in their life.  

We are therefore very fortunate that we know Jesus because we always have this fortress of hope and protection where we can always hold on. Whatever personal problems that we may have and no matter how bleak the future may seem. We remain hopeful and this hope is always given to us by Jesus. 

Let us therefore share the gift of Jesus with our fellowmen let us not keep this to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday November 24 Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 21:20-28

Gospel: Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.  

Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you afraid of the end of this world? 

The talk of end times always sends shivers to many most especially to those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. This topic is something that they always want to avoid as much as possible. However, if God is in your heart; who can be against you? If God is with you nothing can distress you no matter how horrifying the signs of the times are.  

For those who are losing hope; for those who continue to live in sin, for those who do not give space for God in their lives the end times is within their reach already. But there still hope for them. And this hope is given to them by Jesus; they simply have to allow Jesus to come into their lives. 

For those who steadfastly believe in God, who faithfully follow His commands. Who continuously remain hopeful notwithstanding the discouraging signs of the times. Redemption from any fear is upon them already. 

Why don’t we change our ways and why don’t we get closer to Jesus and invite Him to come into our lives? So that whatever happens to this world we’ll have neither worries nor fears for we know that we are always in God’s loving embrace.  

Let us change our ways, let us listen to the voice of God calling us all to repent through the Sacrament Confession/Reconciliation. Let us always remember that the indifference of the people of Jerusalem to Jesus resulted in their destruction. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for November 23 Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:12-19

Gospel: Luke 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony.  

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you ready to be persecuted for your faith?  

We would undoubtedly be persecuted if we decide to faithfully follow Jesus and surely we would be losing some friends as well. But we need not worry about persecution or losing friends for the sake of Jesus.  

Therefore it is very important that we don’t make the mistake of betraying Jesus for the sake of this world. We must not make the mistake of betraying Jesus for the sake of vested friendships and interest. We must be faithful until the very end no matter the persecutions and sacrifices.  

What would it benefit us if we gain the whole world yet we lose Jesus in our lives? We gain nothing except fleeting happiness which leads us to sin. We gain nothing except temporal power and riches that may fly away from us anytime.  

What would we gain if we have powerful friends if these friends bring us nothing but sinfulness which unfortunately we often times enjoy? Nothing except disturbance in our lives! Should we allow ourselves to be deceived by these false friends who only bring us further away from the love of Jesus?  

But the moment we decide to be faithful to Jesus no matter the temptations and persecutions. We’ll have peace that He only can give us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday November 22 Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr: Luke 21:5-11

Gospel: Luke 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” 

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!  

When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you afraid of the end of this world? 

Jesus mentions destruction of all the beautiful structures that we see. Everything including beautiful places of worship will be destroyed. This scenario is somewhat like the end times already. But He also tells us do not be terrified (Luke 21:9), so what would we do? Should we allow the signs of the end times to terrify us? Or we hold on to Jesus who tells us, “Do not be terrified.” Of course we hold on to what the Lord tells us. 

Earthquakes and calamities with massive proportion are happening, wars such as the war created by Russia in Ukraine and in different parts of the world are also raging. But let us take this calmly for this is bound to happen and let us not attribute these disastrous events to God as some would do. God doesn’t want this to happen to us otherwise if he wanted us destroyed God would have not sent Jesus to walk on this earth and die for us on the cross. 

There are wars in different parts of the world because we humans create it. This is brought about by humans' greed for power and resources. The same is happening with our abuse of our environment. 

There are very destructive typhoons/hurricanes because of human’s unrelenting abuse of its environment also. And what are the results? Massive destruction of lives and properties which is actually preventable if we have compassion for our environment. 

In the midst of these bleak signs of the times let us continue to be calm, to pray and to have faith in the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday November 21 Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 21:1-4

Gospel: Luke 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,  she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you give without counting the cost of giving? 

Jesus in our gospel favored the generosity of the poor widow for the simple reason that it came from her heart. There was no string attached in her giving, it did not came from her excess money, she gave whatever little amount she had. 

This gospel invites us also to examine ourselves not only when we give to our church. It invites us also to reflect our motive of giving when we give to the poor or to anyone who is in need for that matter. 

The ideal giving is to give from the heart. The amount of what we give is immaterial what is important is it originates from our hearts and not from our head. In the gospel, it was not only the poor widow who gave some wealthy people also gave. However, Jesus was more pleased with the giving of the poor widow because her giving was pure and untainted by any form of ulterior motive.     

Whatever we give from the heart comes back to us a hundredfold. In Luke chapter six verse thirty eight (6:38) Jesus tells us this: “Give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday November 20, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: Luke 23:35-43

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” 

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was soon to be king; he was a silent but faithful follower of Jesus. When he was about to be anointed as king by his brother. He told him: “My beloved brother after my anointment I will give everything under my kingdom to our people and I will live a simple life of service for them.”  His brother told him: “Why? Don’t you like power and influence? Don’t you like to be served like other kings?    

The man said, I can fully exercise my power and I will be more fulfilled if I will serve our people even until death. The baffled brother simply walked away. 

Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, a fitting homage we give to Jesus as we end the church’s liturgical calendar. 

The Kingship of Jesus is a paradox for majority of us because how could He be King when He savagely died on the cross? How could He be King when He doesn’t even have a kingdom nor armed soldiers to protect Him?  How could He be king when He served instead of Him being served? How could He be king when He was jeered, punished and then killed on the cross? 

Such is the paradox of the kingship of Jesus; if we look at it superficially it’s really not our idea of true kingship. But Jesus wants to open our eyes to His own brand of true kingship; the kingship that the kings and leaders of this world avoids like a contagious disease. 

Jesus wants us to realize that it is in our exercise of humility that we align ourselves with His kingship. It is in our exercise of service for everyone especially to those who are poor that we become living bearers of His kingship. 

We have our own divergent ideas on how it is to be a king or to be a leader. However, Jesus wants to put this divergence to rest by inviting us to learn from Him on how He exercised His kingship. A kingship of Obedience, Humility and Service to His people even unto death. 

Would you follow this path of Jesus’ kingship? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Nobyembre 20, Pagkahari ng Panginoong Hesukristo sa Sanlibutan (Dakilang Kapistahan) : Lucas 23:35-43

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 23:35-43

Noong panahong iyon, nilibak si Hesus ng mga pinuno ng bayan. Anila, “Iniligtas niya ang iba; iligtas naman niya ngayon ang kanyang sarili, kung siya nga ang Mesiyas, ang hinirang ng Diyos!” Nilibak din siya ng mga kawal, nilapitan at inalok ng maasim na alak. Sinabi nila, “Kung ikaw ang Hari ng mga Judio, iligtas mo ang iyong sarili.” At nakasulat sa ulunan niya sa wikang Griego, Latin at Hebreo, “Ito ang Hari ng mga Judio.” 

Tinuya siya ng isa sa mga salaring nakabitin, at ang sabi, “Hindi ba ikaw ang Mesiyas? Iligtas mo ang iyong sarili, pati na kami!” Ngunit pinagsabihan siya ng kanyang kasama, “Hindi ka ba natatakot sa Diyos? Ikaw ma’y pinarurusahang tulad niya! Matuwid lamang na tayo’y parusahan nang ganito dahil sa ating mga ginawa; ngunit ang taong ito’y walang ginawang masama.” At sinabi niya, “ Hesus, alalahanin mo ako kapag naghahari ka na.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Sinasabi ko sa iyo: ngayon di’y isasama kita sa Paraiso.” 

Reflection for November 19 Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 20:27-40

Gospel: Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, if someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless.  

Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally, the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 

They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well. And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Mr. X is a man who believed in the resurrection but the thing is this: he doesn’t live his life worthy enough to attain it. Will he have this heavenly resurrection? 

In our gospel for today Jesus tells us that those who are deemed worthy will attain heavenly resurrection. The obvious answer for Mr. X is he will not have a heavenly resurrection. 

Who amongst us is worthy enough to have resurrection?  Not one of us is worthy enough to have it for we are all sinners. Does this mean that we will now carelessly live our lives in sin because nobody is worthy? Of course not!  

A sinner can attain instant salvation/resurrection provided there is repentance. Let us look at the sinner on the cross with Jesus who humbly said: “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:42-43)   

We must always faithfully follow the teachings of Jesus and of the church and then let us leave everything to our merciful God. For no one among us are worthy to claim it for ourselves because salvation and resurrection are grace from God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for November 18 Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:45-48

Gospel: Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”  

And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

After cleaning the temple of impurities Jesus taught there daily, Jesus is still teaching us up to this very minute. Teaching us how to properly live our lives, teaching us that life is not so much of material and intellectual accumulation. For Jesus life is service, life is humility, life is sacrifice, life is about simplicity and the like.  

What was Jesus everyday teaching topic during that time?  We could only guess that it was about behavior when inside the temple. And perhaps He was also teaching them about life and how to properly live it. Is there a template on how to properly live our life? Of course there is and it’s no other than the life of Jesus himself. To live according to His life is the perfect life template, but would we dare to live the life of Jesus?  

Let us be teachers also like Jesus, let us teach our children about Jesus, let us teach them how to behave at church. Let us teach the life of Jesus by our way of life because it’s thru our way of life that we can best represent the Lord.  Some of us may be tempted to say that His way of life is not anymore relevant in today’s technology and internet driven times.      

But the life of Jesus is more relevant today more than ever. Think of the corruption of our value system, think of how we devalue life itself by killing it while inside a mother’s womb. Jesus is a man for all season and for all times. He is always relevant and His teachings also are always relevant regardless of time, thus; we have to listen to HIM. 

Do you always listen to the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday November 17 Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious: Luke 19:41-44

Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. 

They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Why is it that some people are so peaceful even if they have their own share of life’s burdens? The reason behind is they’ve learned to surrender everything to Jesus. They listen to Jesus by way of their active prayer life and they’ve let Jesus take control of their lives and not them taking control. 

When Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, He was very sad and He wept for its people because they did not listen to God’s call of repentance. They purposely blinded themselves to the reality of repentance. Why? Because they love to sin and they liked what this sinful world offered them. They never cared to be concerned of the punishing outcome of their sinfulness. 

Jesus loves us so dearly that He wants all of us to listen to Him. So that we could be spared of the dreadful punishment that is due to those who do not care to listen to Him. He also weeps for us every time we sin, every time we don’t listen to Him. 

When everything is said and done and we are already suffering for the reason of our sinfulness we have nobody to blame but ourselves. However, why let this very harsh event called punishment come to us? When we could actually avoid it by means of opening our hearts to Jesus call of repentance. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for November 16 Wednesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time: Luke 19:11-28

Gospel: Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. 

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. 

The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones. He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ 

Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ 

And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me. 

After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is our mission in this world? Our mission is to become productive followers of the Lord and how can we become productive followers? If we spread the faith, we avoid sin and we do good we become productive followers. If we don’t do anything we become unproductive follower. 

The good Lord would always want us to share our faith so that we could grow for this is the only way for us to bear fruit.  But many of us are afraid to share and our excuse is we don’t know anything about Jesus and about our Catholic faith. 

How could we know if we don’t strive to know more about Jesus? Therefore the secret to know more about Jesus is to discover more about Him. The more that we discover the more that we would have the tools to become His productive followers. Let us begin this discovery journey by our presence at Holy Mass.  

We therefore have to know more about Jesus so that we could mature in faith and in the process we would be able to share what we know about the Lord. Jesus has already equipped us with the needed grace through our Baptism and Confirmation. 

The responsibility is in our hands now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas