Reflection for January 2, Saturday; Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors; John 1:19-28

Gospel: John 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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Reflection:

Are you sometimes tempted to assume honor that is not for you? John had the opportunity assume who he was not but he did not succumb to the temptation of fleeting power, adulation and popularity.

We cannot compare to John the Baptist in every aspect of his virtuous life. His humility is beyond question; his steadfastness to fight for what is right and moral is worthy of our emulation. John remained true to his mission as the precursor of Jesus.

How about you? Are you humble enough to let others take credit for an endeavor which was partly realized with your help? Are you humble enough to simply be on the sidelines when you have all the opportunity to be in the frontlines?

 It’s very tempting to ego trip and take credit for something that is not for us. But the gospel is telling us that we must be humble at all times. We must not bestow upon ourselves our own achievements we should rather let others bestow it upon us and humbly accept it.

John teaches us that true greatness before the Lord is only possible through humility no other way but through humility only. Never mind the adulation or praises of the crowd for these are intoxicating, temporary and passing.

Never mind if others are taking credit for the good that you’ve done for God is not sleeping anyway. God sees everything that we do we cannot hide anything from Him. Not only that God sees us; He also knows our hidden and unhidden motives.

Always be humble if you want to be close to Jesus and always be humble if you want to grow in faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for January 1, Friday; Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Luke 2:16-21

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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Reflection:

Today is the first day of the year 2016! We celebrate today the Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God, this is also a holiday of obligation here in the Philippines. Thus we are all required to attend Holy Mass today.

Amidst the joy of the people around her the Blessed Mother just kept silent and she deeply reflected on the miracle that has unfolded before her. Surely, one of the things being reflected by the Blessed Mother was her being chosen as the Mother of God.

 Maybe she was asking herself: “Why was I given this great honor to become the mother of the Messiah?” Perhaps this is also what is in our minds; among the many women during her time why Mary and not other women?

God works in mysterious ways; He does things by His will.

Sometimes this also happens to us, for example in our career pathing. We wonder why we are in a certain arena of life when we did not even consider being in that field, not even in our wildest dreams. God has put us in our vocation or God has put us where we are today for a good reason. Therefore we need to do right and make a big difference in the lives of others.

Upon deep reflections the Blessed Mother realized her enormous responsibilities. Thus she lived and imbibed it with all her heart and she therefore raised Jesus to become a Man for others and not a man only for himself.

We may be in different field of endeavors in the vineyard of the Lord or in other field of life. However like the Blessed Mother we too are called to realize our enormous responsibilities. We are called to live and imbibe this not with arrogance and brashness but with humility and gentleness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 31, Thursday; Seventh day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; John 1:1-18

Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,

because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

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Reflection:

Before the process of creation there was already God (Genesis Chapters 1 and 2) He is the same God who knocks in our hearts; who wants to permanently dwell in our lives, He is the same God who always tells us that we must always do good and be His light in this world.

John was the precursor for Jesus, he prepared the way for Jesus with all humility; he rightfully deflected all the attention that was being given to him when he said: "I am not the Christ and I am not even worthy to untie His sandals strap (John 1:27)."

Do we zealously follow the example of John?

  

It is always thru our daily lives that Jesus is best seen through us: The way we talk the way we behave. Most especially when nobody is looking at us and it is through these unguarded moments that Jesus is truly made visible through us.

John lived his life with one sole purpose and that is to prepare the way of the Lord. There was no pretension nor double speak he humbly lived his purpose driven life for Jesus.  As we near the end of this year and we begin the forthcoming year. We are challenged by the gospel to let the light of Christ shine brightly in our lives with no pretension and no ulterior motives.

Finally, before we depart 2015 let us reflect on the things that we’ve done to advance the mission of Jesus. Have we become His light in this world? Have we enlightened others about the true light that is Jesus?

May you all have a prosperous, meaningful and Christ filled 2016 and God bless you all! – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for December 30, Wednesday; Sixth day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Luke 2:36-40

Gospel: Luke 2:36-40

There was 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.

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Reflection:

What should we do to grow in wisdom about God? We should invest time with God. This is the secret on how to grow in wisdom about God. The prophetess Anna was eighty four years old, because of her advance age she could have simply stayed in their house, take things easy and do things her way but she did not.

She invested the remaining years of her life with God she stayed in the temple she fasted and prayed there. No wonder she was filled with wisdom about God, if she did not spend time with God she surely wouldn’t be wisdom filled.

Where do we spend most of our time in this world right now? Do we spend most our time by chasing the many pleasures of this world and we only give God a little of our time if at all we give God our time?

 When are we going to spend more time with God? When we are already sickly and old for the reason that we are already retired and in need of God for the reason of our sickness? Let us not wait to grow old before we take God seriously, let us not wait for us to get sickly before we invest time with God.  Let us give God our time right now while we are young and strong.

The mistake of many is they only go to God when they are already old and sickly. Some would even say this; I will serve God now because I am already retired and have nothing to do anymore. 

In our gospel the prophetess Anna was a constant presence in the temple she worshipped God day and night with fasting and prayer. Did she only give her time for God when she became old? Of course not! Even when she was younger she was already a fervent worshipper of God.

How about you when are you giving some of your precious time for God? The best time to invest with God is now not tomorrow, not in the coming days or months but now. For we don’t know what may happen to our tomorrow we have to seize the moment now and lean towards God now.  

Are you willing to give God some of your time right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for December 29, Tuesday; Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Luke 2:22-35

Gospel: Luke 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him 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:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of 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.”

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Reflection:

Do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Surely the Holy Spirit was with Simeon because he knew beforehand the destiny of Jesus. Not everyone is given the kind of wisdom that Simeon has. Let us take a look how the gospel reading described Simeon: “This man was righteous and devote (Luke 2:25).” We know now the hidden secret on how to have the grace of the Holy Spirit—we have to be righteous and devout.

Righteousness in terms of what? Righteousness in terms of how you live, you have to be morally upright at all times. You don’t have to do wrong or compromise with whatever is wrong.  This is hard to do initially but as you live and practice righteousness you would notice that it will become part of your system already. Thus you will now slowly but surely detest whatever forms of sin and evil.

You also have to be devout in the observance of your faith. When it’s time for Holy Mass you have to leave everything behind for your highest form of worship for God. Same as when it’s time for your private moment with God through personal and structured prayers. Your devoutness to your faith will always bring you closer to Jesus. Thus you will always feel the presence of Jesus in every minute of your life.

The Holy Spirit will not be upon you if you continue to sin and do things that are against the will of God. It is a gift that God the giver of the Holy Spirit freely gives to those who are open to receive it.

Aspire to be righteous and devout and see the positive transformation that it will create in your life and in the lives of those around you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday December 27, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Luke 2:41-52

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

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Reflection:

How’s your family today?

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family a very appropriate feast for our times today. The families of today are a lot more different from the families of yesteryear. I think there are more broken families today; I think the family of today is constantly under attack from various secular environments.

Father Patrick Peyton the famous rosary priest has beautifully said: “The family that prays together stays together.” This was more than fifthly (50) years ago when families were still conservative and closely knit. Today we seldom see families going to Mass together everyone in the family nowadays have their own personal activities that tend to destroy the close bond of the family.

Today there’s the influence of the internet everyone in the family now has its own smart phone and tablet that keeps family members selfish and busy. Fifthly, thirty or even twenty years ago there was no internet and smart phones families were so simple then; so unlike of the modern and complicated families of today.

So what should we do to bring back the close bond of the family and to prevent families from breaking apart?  We have to infuse back prayers and worship for God in the family. How many families are still praying the Rosary today? How many families are still worshipping Jesus at Holy Mass today?

The domestic church that is, our respective families are under attack today. By whom? By the devil disguised as a hi-tech gadget such as smart phones, tablets and the like. High tech gadgets are not evil per se, it becomes evil when we allow it to control and enslave us. 

We must do our humble share to re-energies our respective families and we could only do this if we will put Jesus at the center of our family. Nowadays many families are somewhat hesitant to put or adopt Jesus as a member of their family they instead willingly adopt the many inducement of the world. That is why there are many families that are breaking apart.

Let us invite Jesus to become a member of our family and the first step that we must do is to faithfully go to Holy Mass and live the valuable teachings that it bestows upon us.

How’s your family today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for December 26, Saturday; Saint Stephen the first martyr; Matthew 10:17-22

Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

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Reflection:

During this season of Christmas we savor the many good things about life. Such as food, gifts and other beautiful things that will satisfy us. But there will come a time that we will be called to live our faith to the fullest. This simply means that we’ll have to witness for our love and faith for Jesus. This witness for Jesus may require us to pass through hard times or it may even require us to even give our very own life.

Saint Stephen the first martyr of the church whose martyrdom we remember today. Is one of those who witnessed for Jesus until the very end of his life. He advanced the faith and did great things in the name of Jesus. But he was eventually savagely killed for witnessing for Jesus.

In this modern time of internet and other modern gadgets we are still called to witness for our faith in Jesus. We are called to use every means available so that Jesus will become more relevant. More relevant in the hearts and minds of the modern people of today most especially the young ones for they are the future of the church.

Have we already witnessed for Jesus? Have we already been persecuted for our love for Jesus? Let us not be disheartened if we’ve been through these tests of faith for these are part and parcel of our witness and discipleship for Jesus. Let us make Jesus more relevant today as what Saint Stephen did during his time. Let us not be afraid of the severe consequences that may befall us.

We have nothing to fear if Jesus is with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 25, Friday; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord- Christmas Day; John 1:1-18

Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

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Reflection:

During Christmas there are two primary mindsets that are in our mind: The mindset of receiving and the mindset of giving or making a positive difference in the lives of others. The mindset of receiving creates a feeling of expectation and excitement.

The mindset of giving creates a burning desire within us which is fuelled by Jesus Himself. We give something that comes from our heart we give something that would be very useful and meaningful to the receiver. We don’t only give for the sake of giving.  

Today God gave us His Son Jesus the word that became flesh that dwelt amongst us. The light that shines in the darkness, the light that gives life, enlightenment and direction.

The true essence of Christmas is the mindset of giving; it doesn’t matter if we don’t receive anything for so long as we give. This is what God wants us to do; to learn how to give as He had given us His only begotten son so we must give. 

What a big difference will it make to a very poor family this Christmas if we will give them something to eat (not from our excess!). What a huge difference will it make if we will give them something to wear (not from our surplus!).

A few more hours Christmas Day will be over. Have you already given something very meaningful something that would bring the receiver closer to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for December 24, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:67-79

Gospel: Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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Reflection:

Do you acknowledge the many blessings that God has given you? For example: The air that you breathe, your loving family, the good health that you have and there are many more blessings that God showered you. Do you always remember to thank the Lord for all these blessings?  Or you are already used to these blessing that it becomes ordinary for you already.

The devil would always lure us to get busy with worldly things so that we would eventually forget God. So what are the results? We will not anymore fear God, we will lose our guilt of conscience. We will therefore mindlessly commit sin such as abortion,  infidelity and many more sins against God.

Zechariah was well aware of the many blessings that God has showered him and his family that’s why he praised Him. In good times and in bad he never walked away from God he remained faithful to Him. We must also be fully aware of the many blessings that God has been showering us. And we must always be grateful for all of these blessings by sharing it with those who are poor. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 22, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:57-66

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66

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

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Reflection:

Do you have a prayer before the Lord? Do you follow the will of the Lord for your life?

The pious couple of Zechariah and Elizabeth had a prayer before the Lord and their prayer was for them to have a child. After a long period of time their prayer was granted by the good Lord for they were given the gift of a child. Thus, it was an answered prayer for the pious couple.

But that is not the end of the story, the good Lord through an angel told the couple to name the child John. And so they named him John contradicting the wishes of their relatives and perhaps the custom of naming a child after their parents. The pious couple of John and Elizabeth followed the will of the Lord and named the child John which means gracious gift of God.

What is the implication of the gospel for your life?

You have to be persevering and persistent in your prayer. And you should not waver for God rewards those who persevere and those who are persistent. It may take time for your prayers to be granted but it surely will be granted not based on your own time but based on God’s time. 

Oftentimes you want to chart your own destiny, your own personal journey and somehow through your hard work you were able to achieve what you want. Yet there is still that void and emptiness. Why? This is for the reason that you carved your own destiny, your own personal journey. You did not follow God’s will for you, the God who has been manifesting in your life. The same God who has been silently speaking to you though the events of your life. 

If only you would learn to be persevering in your prayer. If only you would follow God’s will for you. There surely will be no more emptiness in your life and you will not be longing for anything more in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 22, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:46-56

Gospel: Luke 1:46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

Why did Mary remain with her cousin Elizabeth for three months? Why not leave her after one or two months? Mary left after three months because she wanted to ensure that she would be by her side if she gave birth.

Considering that during that time Mary was also pregnant with Jesus she could have simply excused herself and went home to rest. But she did not she saw to it that she would first take care of her cousin’s needs before her own. 

By serving her cousin Mary proclaimed the greatness of the Lord who was with her. Perhaps in the infinite mind of God He was telling Mary you want to praise me? Then learn to serve your cousin first. You want to praise me? Forget yourself first because it’s in forgetting of yourself that you could best highlight my abiding presence in your life.

You can indeed best serve and praise God by serving others. And by forgetting yourself so that those who are in need may live and have life. You can never serve God if your focus is always yourself and your own selfish needs and wants. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent; Luke 1:39-45

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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Reflection:

An adopted man wanted to find out who was his real mother. So he asked his adoptive parents about the whereabouts of his biological mother. He was told that she lives in a faraway place. He told his parents; even if she lives in a faraway place I will go and find her for I owe my life to her.

 So he went to the faraway place and he found his mother, already very old and sickly. The son told his mother, I am your son I am here to take care of you and I will never leave you alone from now on. The mother unabashedly cried and said, thank you for finding me and I am very sorry for giving you away.   

Mary and Elizabeth must have been very close relatives and both may have known each other since childhood. Otherwise Mary would have not endeavored to go to a faraway place to visit and stay for six months with her cousin Elizabeth.

In her visit to her cousin Elizabeth Mary imparts to us the importance of having concern for the welfare of others. Mary imparts to us that we should learn to forget our own needs in favor of those who are in great need of our help and care.

Mary imparts to us the importance of reaching out and building bridges instead of walls. And last but certainly not the least Mary shows us the importance of giving Jesus to others. For this is the greatest gift of love that Mary brought to her cousin: She brought and gave Jesus to her.

Five more days and it will be the birth of Jesus. Think of a relative or a dear friend whom you have not seen or been in-touch with for a long time. Then reach-out to that friend or relative if your physical presence is not possible. Reach-out by communicating via the internet using every available platform available at your disposal. A simple hello, how are you or God bless you will surely lift their morale. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for December 19, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent; Luke 1:5-25

Gospel: Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

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Reflection:

How profound is your faith in God? Does your faith in God create awareness in you that nothing is impossible with God?

We have in our gospel Zechariah a priest who is in the twilight of his life. For the reason of his advance age Zechariah thought that he would never have a child. Until the Lord through an angel intervened and granted what he long for but Zechariah still did not believe.      

Nothing is impossible with God for those who believe; unfortunately Zechariah was deficient in this aspect. The possible for God was impossible for him. Considering that he is a Priest his faith seems to be shallow. But we can’t blame Zechariah for he was just being realistic; he and his wife Elizabeth were both old already.

Once in a while we also pass through this episode of unbelief and lack of faith. Amidst this episode, let us not lose focus on the fact that nothing is impossible with God for those who believe and have faith.  

We may have dreams or aspirations in life that may seem impossible for us to achieve and we naturally doubt. But let us not doubt let us continue to silently work for that seemingly impossible dream. Then let us leave everything to God’s providence let us ask Him to bless and guide us as we aspire for this impossible dream.

Do you believe that God will give you what you’re praying for? If you believe and you have strong faith you will have it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 18, Friday of the Third Week of Advent; Matthew 1:18-25

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

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Reflection:

If only all husbands are like Saint Joseph, there would be no broken marriages; there would be no suffering wives, there would be no suffering children that ultimately bear the trauma of their parents’ separation.

Joseph initially planned to divorce Mary quietly until the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-22).”

When he woke up, he humbly did what was commanded to him by the angel of the Lord. What if Joseph brushed aside the message of the Lord? The Blessed Mother would have been in a very difficult situation. She could have died through stoning a brutal punishment for those who bore a child out of wedlock.

 There would be no birth of Jesus; therefore there would be no savior for mankind. But thanks to Joseph who listened to the Lord. With Joseph’s acceptance of the responsibility the plan of God was laid out without anymore hindrance.     

God has a plan for you also, just like Joseph who listened and obeyed; God wants you also to listen and obey.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas