Reflection for September 22, Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:19-21

Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

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Reflection:

How could we become relatives of Jesus? We have to hear and live His words, it’s not enough to hear only we have to act and live it as well. Many of us forget that we effectively preach the words of Jesus by the way we live and we put more flesh to our faith living it.

In a family setting, children learn about their faith when their parents teach them about it. They further learn more when what are taught them is lived by their parents. Thus the family becomes stronger and united and is able to face whatever trials that it may encounter.

What if parents are simply content with teaching without living their faith? There would be failure of effective transmission of the faith. And the children will not fully imbibe what was taught them for the simple reason that their parents did not walk their talk.

In the same breath; we become effective teachers of the faith when we practice what we preach. We gain entrance to the family of God for the same reason as well. Let us therefore not be content by simply hearing the words of Jesus let us live also no matter how tempting the offer of the devil not to live it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 21, Monday Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist: 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:

Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him? He calls us out of His great love for us. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be eaten alive by the many sins of this world. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to suffer in hell after our lives in this world is over and done with already. 

We have in our gospel a sinner named Matthew a corrupt tax collector who was called by Jesus to follow Him. Even if Matthew is a sinner deep in his heart he knows Jesus. Matthew knows deep in his heart that in Jesus he would find healing and forgiveness. Matthew knows deep in His heart that in Jesus he has somebody who will not condemn him but would be very much willing to listen to his desire to repent and become His follower.

Therefore, when Jesus told Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9) he immediately left everything behind him and followed Jesus. When Matthew heard Jesus telling him to follow Him, Matthew heard the sweetest words that he would ever hear in his entire life. It made Matthew whole once again for he has been broken by sin throughout his adult life.

Perhaps Matthew burst into tears when he heard Jesus told him to come and follow Him. It was tears of unexplained happiness, tears of relief and freedom from the enslavement of the devil.

Do you also want to feel how Matthew felt during that very day that Jesus called him to come and follow Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 20, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst and putting his arms around it, he said to them “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but the One who sent me.

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Reflection:

What is the most important virtue of a follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking anything in return. He doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to be known, powerful and popular.

While Jesus and His disciples were passing through Galilee, He was discussing to them about the things that will happen to Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention for the reason that they were preoccupied discussing who among them is the greatest. What an ego trip for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus they were burnishing among themselves their own self-image. They were discussing who among them is the greatest.

During that instance the desire to humbly follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly prop-up their own self-image. And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this world.    

If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to be in-front. We have to be humble and simple at all times for this is the only way whereby we can bring others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for September 19, Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:4-15

Gospel: : Luke  8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

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Reflection:

What do you usually do when you encounter the words of God? For example when you go to Holy Mass do you carefully listen to the readings most especially the gospel? Do you allow it to disturb your conscience? Do you allow it to carve a space in your heart that you think about it even if you’re already in your house?

Do you read your bible regularly and when you read it do you allow it transform you?  The bible is the words of God, He created it to transform us. God created it also for us know Him more, so that the God that is distant would now become the God who is with us and the God who walks with us.

The seeds that was sowed that Jesus mentions in the gospel are the very words of God. These words are very powerful it could transform our lives if we would allow it. It could create calmness and serenity within us if we would reflect on it.

  

But many of us are so busy that we hardly have time for these seeds that God so generously showers us. Many of us do not mind it anymore until we hit a roadblock in our lives. Thus we are reminded of God we instantly hurry to go to Him simply because we hit rock bottom.

But why wait for that roadblock to hit us before we allow the words of God to flourish and bear much fruit in our hearts? – Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Reflection for September 18, Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:1-3

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

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Reflection:

Who are the majority crowd during Sunday Holy Mass or daily Holy Mass for that matter? The majority are women, who are the majority who volunteers for church work? It’s women again! During the time of Jesus and as it is today the silent workers and supporters of Jesus and His church are women.

When Jesus was dying on the cross the majority of those who remained loyal to Him are women too (Luke 23:49)! The same when Jesus resurrected, the loyal woman supporters of Jesus saw Him first (Luke 24:9–11).

The gospel this Friday mentions Jesus, the twelve apostles and a number of women with different backgrounds. Some are sinners, some are rich and some are poor also. What brought these women with diverse background together? What made them silently support Jesus?

It’s their love and loyalty to Jesus. The same love and loyalty to Jesus that fuels the many women of today. To silently support Jesus and the church that He founded through peter.  

Like the women in the gospel who followed and provided help for Jesus. We too are being challenged to humbly follow Jesus and provide support for the church that He founded. 

What can you contribute to Jesus and the church today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for September 17, Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-50

Gospel: Luke Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus would forgive you of your many sins? The woman in the gospel who is a big time sinner and presumably a prostitute believe in her heart that Jesus would forgive her. Uninvited she went to the house of the Pharisee where Jesus was. And there she humbled herself before Jesus by kissing his feet, washing the same feet with her own tears, anointing it with an ointment and wiping it with her own hair.

What the woman did is a humble gesture of repentance and submission. It was her way of telling Jesus that she now wants to lead a new life. A life free from any form of sin, her gesture is also a gesture of love and repentance. Thus, she was forgiven by Jesus and thereafter renewed by the power of forgiveness by Jesus.

All of us commit sin and through this sin that we commit we also offend Jesus. But we have nothing to fear for all of our sins can be forgiven and thereafter wiped-out by Jesus. All we have to do is to humble ourselves before Him, tell Jesus our sins and ask for His forgiveness.   

Perhaps you’re asking yourself this question: How would I be forgiven by Jesus of my many sins? Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/ Confession we are also forgiven by Jesus with our many sins.

Do you want to lead a new life? A life free from the enslavement of the devil a life free from sin and guilt? If your answer is yes, humbly submit yourself to this Healing and liberating sacrament. The moment you do you would feel that something heavy and burdensome has been taken-off from your back. 

Would you have the humility to submit yourself to this process of healing and renewal? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 16, Wednesday Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs: Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

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Reflection:

Are there people within your sphere of environment whom you find difficult to understand? For example, a friend who has nothing good to say about you. He always finds fault and is very quick to judge you. Yet he purposely closes her/his eyes on the good things that you do.

During Jesus time there were also many who found fault with Jesus and John the Baptist. John because of his life of ascetism and life spent more in the wilderness. John was labelled as possessed by the devil. Yet they choose to ignore the call of John for repentance and renewal of their lives.

They also did the same with Jesus, they labelled Him as friend of tax collectors and sinners. For the simple reason that Jesus once in a while mingles with them with the objective of converting them. Yet they also purposely closed their eyes to the countless healings and miracles that Jesus did.

In spite of all of these people who makes it their mission to make life difficult for us. Let us focus on Jesus and His teachings, let us simply do what is right regardless of what others may say and think about us. For if God is with us who then can be against us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 15, Tuesday Our Lady of Sorrows: John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

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Reflection:

It was heartwrenching for Mary to see her son Jesus dying on the cross. It was doubly heartwrenching also for Mary to hear her son Jesus entrusting her to the care of by His beloved disciple John.

Separation like that of the separation of Jesus and His mother Mary is always painful even sorrowful. But such is life, all of us have to go through some pains and sorrows in our lives. Nobody is exempted from this process, whether we are rich or poor we have to go through the process of separation from our loved ones.

In the midst of her sorrowful separation from her dying son. Mary was entrusted by her son Jesus to His beloved disciple John. In this gospel episode we see the great love of Jesus for her mother. We also see the great love of Mary to her son Jesus for Mary did not leave Jesus until His last gasp of breath on the cross.

This gospel invites us to reflect on, how are we as a son/daughter to our mothers? And how are we as mothers to our children? – Marino J. Dasmarinas         

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 15, Martes Mahal na Birheng Nagdadalamhati; Juan 19:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Juan 19:25-27

25 Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae ng kanyang ina, si Maria ni Cleofas at si Maria Magdalena. 26 Kaya pagkakita ni Jesus sa ina at sa alagad na mahal niya na nakatayo sa tabi, sinabi niya sa Ina: “Babae, hayan ang anak mo!” 27 pagkatapos ay sinabi naman niya sa alagad: “Hayan ang iyong ina.” At mula sa oras na iyon, tinanggap siya ng alagad sa kanyang tahanan.

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Repleksyon:

Nakakaantig ng puso para kay Maria na makita na ang kanyang minamahal na anak ay  unti-unti ng nawawalan ng buhay habang naka bayubay sa krus. Napakasakit din para kay Maria na marinig mula sa kanyang anak na siya ay ipinakakatiwala na sa pangangalaga ng kanyang alagad na si Juan.

Ang paghihiwalay natin sa ating mahal sa buhay  ay palaging masakit. Pero ganito talaga ang buhay. Lahat tayo ay dadaan sa ganitong pasakit sa ating buhay hindi lang natin alam kung kalian. Walang hindi makakaranas sa ganitong proceso ng kalungkutan sa buhay.

Sa gitna ng kanyang madalamhating pagkakahiwalay  sa kanyang minamahal na anak. Si Maria inihabilin at ipinagkatiwa ni Jesus sa kanyang tapat at minamahal na alagad na si Juan. Dito po natin makikita kung gaano  kamahal ni Jesus ang kanyang inang si Maria. At ganon din ang pagmamahal ni Maria sa kanyang anak na si Jesus dahil hindi iniwan ni Maria si Jesus hangang sa huling hininga ng kanyang buhay.

Iniimbitahan din po tayo ng mabuting balita na mag reflect din. Kumusta ba tayo bilang mga anak sa ating magulang? At kumusta rin ba tayo bilang mga magulang sa ating mga anak? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday September 13, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 8:27-35

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”  Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

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Reflection:

A man was given a choice to be with his mother or to continue to work in a foreign country. Without much thought this man chose to continue working abroad, he chose money rather than sacrifice his selfish ambition. He chose money rather than be with his mother.  

Are you ready to sacrifice your personal ambition so that Jesus teachings could continue to spread? For example would you resign from your job to do something for the greater glory of God?

Perhaps you will not give up your worldly life for a life of sacrifice with Jesus. Who would give-up a life of ease and comfort in this world in favor of a life with Jesus? Maybe only a few because in truth and in fact to truly follow Jesus is not easy.

But we were not brought into this world by God to become creatures of this world. God brought us into this world so that we could do something to partake with the mission of His son Jesus. This is the desire of God for each and every one of us: to help Jesus spread His mission.

Thus we have to be ready to carry our own cross for Christ no matter how heavy it may be. We have to be ready to lose our life in this world so that we could find its real purpose and meaning with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for September 12, Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:43-49

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

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Reflection:

What will happen to a child when he/she is taught with proper values and when this very values and lived by his/her parents?  The child will grow-up to become a good and God loving person. This is always the result whenever a child is properly taught by his/her parents.

On the other hand, if a child is not taught with proper moral values and the parents do not live the same moral values. We could be assured that this child will grow-up with a distorted sense of values. For the simple reason that he/she was not taught about it or saw it being lived by his/her parents.         

In our gospel reading this Saturday Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit (Luke 6:43-44). The good tree is the parents and the good fruit is their child.

Jesus tells us that whatever good that we teach our children will be imbibed by them. And the good that we do and teach our children will form a great part of their rock solid moral foundation.

Many of the modern parents of today are always busy with work. They hardly have time to teach their children about good moral values much less love of God. So what children are they rearing? Children that are lacking in values and love of God and nobody are to blame for this but the parents.

Do you still teach your children about good values and love of God? Do you live it also? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 12, Sabado sa Ika-23 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon; Lucas 6:43-49

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:43-49

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad, 43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masama ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi maka¬pa¬mumu¬nga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang bawat puno sa bunga nito. Hindi makapi-pitas ng igos mula sa tinikan ni maka¬aani ng ubas mula sa dawagan. 45 Naglalabas ang taong mabuti ng mabuting bagay mula sa yaman ng kabutihan sa kanyang puso; ang masama nama’y naglalabas ng masamang bagay mula sa kanyang kasamaan. At sinasabi nga ng bibig ang uma¬apaw mula sa puso.

 46 Bakit pa ninyo ako tinatawag na ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ gayong hindi naman ninyo tinutupad ang sinasabi ko? 47 Ilalarawan ko sa inyo ang lumalapit sa akin at nakikinig sa aking mga salita at tumutupad nito. 48 May isang taong nagtatayo ng bahay, na humukay nang malalim at sa batuhan inilagay ang mga pun¬dasyon. Pagdating ng baha, hinampas ng agos ang bahay na iyon pero wala itong lakas para yanigin iyon sapagkat mabuti ang pagkakatatag niyon. 49 At kung may nakaririnig ngunit di naman nagsasagawa, matutulad siya sa nagtatayo ng bahay sa ibabaw ng lupa na wala namang pundasyon. Hinam¬pas ito ng agos at kaagad bu-magsak. Anong laki ng pagkawasak ng bahay na iyon!”

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Repleksyon:

Ano po ang mangyayari pag ang isang bata ay tinutuan ng mabuting paguugali at kung itong mabuting pag uugali ay isinabuhay rin ng mga magulang? Ang bata ay lumalaking mabuti at may pagmamahal sa Diyos. Ito po ang palagiang resulta pag ang bata ay hindi pinababayaan ng kanyang mga magulang.

Pag ang bata naman ay hindi tinuruan ng mabuting asal ang at kanyang mga magulang ay hindi nagsasabuhay nito. Maasahan natin na ang bata ay lalaking hindi mabuti ang paguugali. Ito po ay sa dahilan na siya ay hindi tinuruan tungkol dito at lalong hindi  rin niya ito nakita sa kanyang mga magulang.

Sa atin pong mabuting balita ay sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad, 43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masama ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi makapamumunga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang bawat puno sa bunga nito (Lucas 6:43-44). Ang mabuting puno ay ang mabuting magulang at ang mabuti at mabait na mga anak ang siya nilang bunga.

Sinasabi po sa atin ni Jesus na anumang kabutihan ang itinuturo at ituturo pa sa ating mga anak ay kanilang isasabuhay. At itong mga kabutihang ito ay siyang magiging matatag at matibay pundasyon ng kanilang mga buhay habang sila ay lumalaki

Marami po sa makabagong magulang ngayon ay palaging abala sa kanilang mga trabaho. Wala na silang panahon na turuan ang kanilang mga anak tungkol sa mabuting pag-uugali at magmamahal sa Diyos. At ang dahilan nito ay ang kanilang mga pabayang mga magulang.

Tinuturuan mo parin ba ang iyong mga anak tungkol sa mabuting pag-uugali at pagmamahal sa Diyos? Isinasabuhay mo rin ba ito? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 11, Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-42

Gospel: Luke 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

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Reflection:

What is the sure-fire recipe for failure in marriage? It’s the judgmental and self-righteous attitudes of both spouses. When a spouse is quick to draw judgment and if he/she only listens to himself/herself. We can be assured that somewhere down the road the marriage vehicle will stop and will eventually permanently break apart.

Many marriages fall apart because of the tunnel vision of many spouses. They run their respective marriages with dominance, they never allow democracy to grow and eventually thrive within the marriage covenant.

Marriage is always a democratic and participatory union. Never it has become an autocratic and one sided union between two different and unique individuals. Therefore the best recipe for success in marriage is not to allow judgmental mindset to rule the marriage. To allow democracy to carve its own space in the marriage.

In the gospel for this Friday, Jesus warns about being judgmental. Wherein we only choose to see the fault of the other person yet we purposely don’t notice our own shortcomings. We are quick to point an accusing finger yet we don’t have the courage and humility to point the same accusing finger to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for September 10, Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

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Reflection:

What will liberate us from hatred? Its forgiveness, when we truly forgive every form of hatred disappears in our hearts. We become free we exude nothing but positive aura to our fellowmen. But human as we are we from time to time succumb to hatred thus we allow it to control us instead of us controlling it.

What is the cure for hatred? Its love, forgiveness and humility; these three can conquer hatred. And it can free us from emotions that bring nothing to us but disgust. This could even result to the disruption of our day and we will not be able to function properly.

In our gospel reading Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28). Difficult as it may seem; nonetheless if we want to be free from the enslavement of hatred we have to follow what Jesus is telling us.

It’s only through forgiveness that we would be free from hatred. It’s only through the way of forgiveness and love that we could become true followers of Jesus. There’s no other way but love and forgiveness.

Would you be willing to forgive those who’ve hurt you? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas