Reflection for February 3, Tuesday; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”

But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you have a prayer before Jesus? Pray for it never give up and continue to badger Jesus with your prayer. For this is the secret for you to have what you wish for from Jesus. Everything should start with faith and once we start our interaction with Jesus with faith. everything will simply fall into place including what we wish for from Jesus.

But how can we grow in faith? We should humbly ask Jesus to give us the gift of faith not only that we ask Jesus for the gift of faith. We also should reach out to Jesus through our prayers, our presence at Holy Mass and by reading the most precious book of all books which is the Holy bible.

The woman in our gospel has been bleeding for twelve long years she went to anyone who could cure her to no avail. Then she heard about this healer named Jesus and from thereon she started to have faith in Jesus. And her faith impelled her to reach out to Jesus she even said to herself, If only I could touch a portion of His clothes I would be healed.

All of us have heard about Jesus but not all of us are praying for this gift of faith. Not all of us are constantly reaching out to Jesus by means of our prayers and pious presence at Holy Mass. Not all of us have a habit of reading and reflecting on the words of Jesus in the bible.

Some of us may even say, I’m very busy I have no more time to do these acts of faith. How then can we grow in faith? How then can we be friends with Jesus? How then can we have healing from Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 2, Monday the Presentation of the Lord; Luke 2:22-40

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What can we offer the Lord? Are we willing to offer our time in the service of the Lord? The Lord is not asking us to give all of our time to Him I think even a little of our time will already suffice for the Lord. But have we dared yet to give our time to the Lord? Mary and Joseph in compliance with their Jewish faith brought Jesus to Jerusalem to offer Him to the Lord.

Many of us are afraid to give our time for the Lord for there’s no money in the service for the Lord. Yes indeed there’s no money in the vineyard of the Lord but life is not all about earning money. There’s more to life in fact than simply earning money and there’s more to life than having all the power and material wealth in this world.

Have we thought of doing something for the Lord, have we thought of doing something that would give satisfaction to our inner being no other than our souls?

Material things are important for we also need it for our existence but it’s not the be all and end all of life. The be all and end all of life is God. For our earthly possessions no matter how enormous will pass us by. But God will not pass us by He will be with us here in this world. And He will still be with us until after our temporal journey in this world is over and done with already.   

What can we offer our Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday February 1, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God! Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A gay person was trying very hard to change his ways, he wanted to become straight for He was already tired of his hidden life.  But every time he tries to change the devil would always present itself to him and he would always succumb to his evil temptations.

He had a dream one night and in that dream Jesus told him, “I will change you if you will allow me to change you.” Oh yes my Lord he told Jesus and Jesus subsequently told him, read the book that contains me. Read more about me there and let my words sink into you.  As he woke-up in the morning the first book that he saw was their dusty bible. He read it and from thereon he read it everyday and true enough he was changed by Jesus.        

Do you want to feel the authority of Jesus? Begin by knowing more about His life by reading your bible. Try reading it initially by yourself and as your read try to feel every words of Jesus reflect on it and let it sink in to you. Do this daily, let Jesus speak directly to you and then notice the authority of Jesus working in your life.

As you let His authority work in your life notice the change that will happen to you. Perhaps if you’re self-centered you will now slowly but surely become more Christ centered. If you’re arrogant and domineering you will now become humble and gentle. However for this to happen, you have to know more about Jesus.

You have to recognize His authority over you and this could only happen if you will take time to know more about His life changing story in the bible. This could only happen if you will give Jesus even a little of your precious time everyday.   

Do you want to feel the authority of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 31, Saturday St. John Bosco, Priest; Mark 4:35-41

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still! The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Was Jesus only testing the faith of His disciples? If He was, then Jesus found out that His disciples was terribly wanting in faith. Jesus calmed the violent sea storm to assure them all that He was in control of everything.

We too will encounter storms in our life. How would we handle these storms? Will we allow these storms to defeat us and prevent us from living our lives? Or we continue to become calm under duress caused by these life storms?

The obvious answer is we will continue to be calm no matter how difficult the storm/s that we will be encountering. For the reason that we have Jesus in our life, we know that Jesus will take charge of every life storm that we will be encountering.

We are often times easily rattled by our life storms or problems because we are lacking in faith. If only we will learn to trust Jesus more than we trust on ourselves. If only we will not lean on our own finite understanding. We will then be able to discover how mightily powerful Jesus is. That Jesus is more than enough to defeat any kind of life storms that we will be encountering in our lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Patuloy po tayong mag alay ng Panalagin, Pagtulong at humingi ng HUSTISYA sa apat-naput-apat (44) na mga BAYANING PULIS NG PNP-SAF na nag-alay ng kanilang buhay sa Mamasapano Maguindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/669179/aquino-reaches-out-saf-44-relatives-not-convinced

Reflection for January 30, Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:26-34

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you want to have and feel the kingdom of God in your life? Then you should open your life to God. In everyday of your life God showers you with every blessing that He could give you. But do you notice and acknowledge these blessings that God gives you? For example the blessing of a new life when you wake up in the morning, the sunlight, the air that you breathe and so forth. Do you care to thank God for all of these blessings?

Acknowledgement of God’s many blessings is the first step for you to have and feel the kingdom of God in your life. When you recognize the majesty and power of God you also open your life to His kingdom. And you let God come into your life; eventually you let God rule your life.

Then little by little you let God take charge of your life and not you anymore taking charge of your own life. This is where the kingdom of God begins to take root in your life. It grows little by little until it blooms where others can take shelter and comfort.  

 Jesus in our gospel for this Friday mentions about the small mustard seed which is none other than Himself and His kingdom. This small mustard seed once acknowledge and recognized by the soil (Which is no other than you). Begins to sprout until it blooms and eventually grows bigger so that those who are in need could take shelter and sanctuary.

Do you always acknowledge, recognize and thank God for all of the blessings that He gives you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 29, Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:21-25

Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear. He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you take time to share what you know about God? Do you live the faith that God has given you? Our knowledge and faith about God will further blossom if we learn to share it. We will  also grow in faith as we care to share it. But have we thought of sharing God?

Sometimes we are afraid to share God because many of the population of today are not anymore centered on God. They are more centered on how they could earn a living, centered on the material side of this world and how to survive in this world. But what kind of people are we growing if they will be more focused on this world than God?   

Jesus in our gospel mentions about a lamp that must not be hidden under a bed for it will have no use at all! Jesus mentions about a lamp that is put in a lampstand so that it will serve as a guiding light where others could gain wisdom and enlightenment from it.

Your knowledge about God and your faith is the lamp of your life. You must not keep it to yourself! You must share and live it so others would be enlightened by it! There are people who don’t know God because there are people who don’t care to share and live what they know about God.

Therefore, bring the lighted lamp of Jesus into your own environment and bring the lamp of Jesus into your own family. So that they could be enlightened and transformed by Jesus, this you will do with utmost humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Mag alay po tayo ng panalangin para sa mahigit na apatnapung BAYANING PULIS ng PNP-SAF na pumanaw sa Maguindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/668355/state-honors-promotions-to-be-accorded-fallen-saf-men

Reflection for January 28, Wednesday; Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor; Mark 4:1-20

Gospel: Mark  4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,  “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you open to hear or read the words of Jesus? The word of Jesus are the seed that He sows in our hearts. We can read this when we open our bible, when we go to Holy Mass and when we hear or read commentaries about the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some of us hear or read this good news of Jesus when we are burdened by our problems. Then after our problems have been solved we once again distance ourselves from the words of God. We only treat God like a commodity that we only use when we are in need. Thus the words of God does not bear fruit in our hearts and we also do not become fruitful followers of Jesus.

How could we become fruitful followers of Jesus? It’s when we read, hear and share His words. It’s when we allow the words of God to bear much fruit in our hearts that it transforms us to become a person with a new mindset soundly grounded upon the words of God. Thus we become the rich soil that Jesus mentions in the gospel (Mark 4:20)

There are people who allow themselves to be transformed by the seeds or the words of God. For example from being bad they become good, from being irresponsible they now become responsible, and from being corrupt they become incorruptible. Why? This is for the reason that they allowed God’s words to work miracles in their life!

How about you? Will you allow the words/seeds of God to heal and transform you?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 27, Tuesday; Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 3:31-35

Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you. But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers? And looking around at those seated in the circle he said “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

In what way could we become a relative of Jesus? It’s when we do acts of mercy and compassion toward anyone in need. It’s when we help Jesus spread His good news of salvation to others most especially to those who have not heard yet of His gospel message.

To do good to our blood relatives is already a given fact of life. We help them because we are connected with them by consanguinity or through common family tree. Jesus in our gospel wants to stretch further our acts of mercy and compassion He wants us not to limit these acts of mercy and compassion to our own family circle only!

Say for example what if Jesus would ask us, could you also give the same help to a complete stranger in need? The same help that you would normally give to your blood relative/s? This is very difficult to do: To give help to a stranger with the same amount of help that we would normally do to our blood relative/s.

Nonetheless, this is the challenge for all of us if we want to be called a relative of Jesus: We must help anyone in need! In hindsight, why did Jesus said that whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother? Perhaps the purpose of which is to measure our desire to become a relative of Jesus.

Come to think of it, who wouldn’t want to become a relative of Jesus? Of course we all want! Therefore we must do good at all times to anyone and we must extend help to anyone for this is the will of God for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 26, Monday; Sts.Timothy and Titus, Bishops; Mark 3:22-30

Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the antidote to evil possession or who can defeat the devil? It’s no other than Jesus only Jesus can defeat the devil. As time progress the devil also progresses; before we only attribute the presence of the devil to evil possession.

 But not anymore today! The devil of today doesn’t only present itself by way of evil possession. It presents itself in manifold ways such as: greed, lust enslavement to the modernity of time and so forth. Who can defeat the devil today? It’s still Jesus the same Jesus that defeated the devil in our gospel.   

Jesus doesn’t change He is the same Jesus yesterday, today and tomorrow. His power to defeat the devil is still present today as it was present yesterday. But do we allow Jesus to dwell in our lives? Do we still have time for Him in this era of high-technology and high-definition gadgets?  

We must at all times give time for Jesus so that we could always ward off the devil from our midst. If you always have Jesus in your life you give no room for the devil to dwell in your life.

Do you give time for Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday January 25, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:14-20

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the prerequisite in following Jesus? Its repentance and belief in His gospel message, we cannot follow without repentance and firm belief in His gospel message.

 When Simon, Andrew, James and John responded to His call they did not simply respond. Along with their response to Jesus came their desire to repent. They also did not only leave behind them their livelihood and families they also left behind their sinfulness or anything that made them sin.

When the four of them went along with Jesus to become fishers of men they were already renewed by Jesus. They were also equipped by Jesus with practically anything that they would be needing as they go about their mission.

What is the relevance of the gospel to us and to our faith life? We too are being called by Jesus to a life of renewal and repentance. We too are being called by Jesus to follow Him and become fishers of men. Why does Jesus calls us to a life of renewal and repentance? This is for the reason that we are all sinners, no one of us is sinless.

The recent visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines was not only a visit per se. It was also a clarion call for all of us for a life of renewal and repentance. Hundreds and millions of us went to the streets to see the Pope and to greet him. What now after that encounter with Pope Francis?

Let us not waste our encounter with the Pope by doing nothing let us allow it to move us towards our renewal and repentance. The visit of the Pope was also Jesus' direct call to all of us to follow Him so that we too could become His instruments of renewal and repentance by doing so we become fishers of men too!    

To positively respond to Jesus' call of repentance and belief in His gospel message is the best action that we could ever do to our life.

What are we going to do to this call of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 24, Saturday; St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor; Mark 3:20-21

Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What happens when we get to serious with our vocation for the Lord? They normally would label us as someone who is out of his/her mind. For example when we prioritize God over money, when we shun friends even relatives from our environment friends/relatives who do not bring us any good. and instead we focus our time and energy  for the glory of God. They would really label us as somebody who is out of his/her mind.

But come to think of it, who is out of his/her mind? Those who focus their time and energy for the greater glory of God or those who focus their time and energy to this world only? If you focus your attention to this world what will happen to you when you die? Where will you end up if you allow yourself to be possessed by this world?  

Jesus was labeled as out of His mind for the reason that He was very zealous in His mission for the Lord. He allowed Himself to be possessed by His mission for the Lord rather than embrace worldliness.

There really are people who will not understand us for the things that we do for the greater glory of God. We must move on nevertheless and continue doing our mission for Jesus. Let us just pray for the enlightenment of those who do not understand or refuse to understand what we do for the Lord.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 23, Friday of the Second Week; Mark 3:13-19

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee,and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the relevance of the selection of the twelve apostles to you? It reminds you that you also have a mission for the propagation of the faith. You may say, I know nothing about the faith therefore I can do nothing for I know nothing.

The twelve that was chosen by Jesus know nothing also about the faith; many of them were in fact laborers and sinners. Yet they were called by Jesus to follow Him. Therefore to say that you know nothing is not an excuse because you will know if you will only try to know something about the faith.

Jesus will not fail you He will even equip you so that from knowing nothing you will now know something. And this something that Jesus will give you will soon grow if you will continue to respond to His call.  

Be not afraid to respond, be not afraid to dive into the deep waters of our faith for Jesus will always be with you. Begin your mission in your family first which is your domestic church. Gently evangelize them about Jesus and about our Roman Catholic faith through your healing words and actions. – Marino J. Dasmarinas