Reflection for Saturday August 20, Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church; Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Do you lead by example?

The principle of leadership by example is one wherein the leader set the standards to be followed and he himself leads the way in following the said standards. In the same manner parents should set the benchmark in their home and they live to the hilt these benchmark for their children to emulate.   

On the other hand bad or lousy leaders will tell their people to do this and that but they will not do what they command. They preach the standards but they do not practice what they preach. Same as with irresponsible parents; they will tell their children to observe this and that discipline but the irony is they themselves do not do what they tell their children.

The Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus were the religious leaders and they were supposed to lead by example. But they did not; they were only good on giving commands/orders but when it comes to living it they were badly deficient.

Perhaps, this was one of the reasons why the common people of that time started to gravitate towards Jesus. Because they saw in Jesus someone who leads by example; someone who empathised with them, someone who ate and mingled with them; in other words Jesus lived what He preached. 

What is the lesson of our gospel for us?  We must always be true with our words and actions. We must not be like the Pharisees and scribes in our gospel: For they were only good on preaching but very deficient in practicing and living what they preach.  

We must always be like Jesus; for He lived what He preached in other words Jesus is always true to His words and actions.

Do you always live what you preach and are you always true to your words? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday August 19, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 22:34-40

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

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Reflection:

Can you measure the length and width of true love?

The length and width of true love is something that we cannot measure no matter how hard we try to measure it. We will be willing to give everything for the sake of this true love and this is what our love for God should be.

If we love God we would be willing to do everything for Him including to give our life for the advancement of His kingdom here in this world. If we love God we would be willing to forgive those who have hurt us no matter how deep the would it inflicted upon us.

The martyrs and saints of the church best exemplify this greatest commandment of love and forgiveness. They lived it to the hilt that they willingly gave their lives for the sake of their great love for God.

We often times say that we love God but when we are confronted with difficult situations such as giving something very important out of ourselves. We capitulate thus we betray our self- serving profession of love for God. Same with when we are challenged to forgive those who’ve hurt us.

True love for God is the willingness to give our time, our treasures and even our life for the advancement of God’s kingdom. True love for our neighbor/s is our readiness to forgive somebody even if she/he does not ask for our forgiveness. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday August 18, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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Reflection:

There was a man who died; a few moments after his death he saw two places one was with fire and with souls in terrible torment. The other one was a brightly lighted and heavenly place with joyous souls. An Angel asked him where would you chose to be? The man quickly replied: I chose the heavenly place with pearly gates.

When he was about to enter the pearly gates he was barred from going there. Then a loud voice boomed and told him: Why are you trying to desperately enter now? Do you remember when you were still alive? I invited you to church for countless times but you did not give any importance to my invitations. You gave more priority to your temporal earthly activities.

In our gospel Jesus gives a parable about a wedding feast, the king ordered the servants to invite the chosen guests. But they were all busy so they ignored the invitation they instead went to their usual daily tasks. One was busy with his farm, another with his business. And how about the others? They maltreated then killed the messengers of the king.

The king represents God and He perpetually invites us all to be present in the weeding banquet that is the celebration of the Holy Mass. We oftentimes hear people urging us to be present in the Holy Mass, to read the bible, to pray and be connected with God. They are the messengers or servants of God sent by Him for us to be closer to Him. For God desires our intimacy with Him this is the primary reason why He always invites us to His feast.

But what is our reaction to His perpetual invitations? We often times ignore it for the reason that we are so much busy with the things of this temporary world. We ignore it until we become aware of our own mortality so we are forced to know and discover God because we are already in dire need of Him.

Why wait for that time when we are already sick or near death?   Why not respond now to His invitation while we are still in the pink of health? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday August 17, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.

Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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Reflection:

A lady who was always envious of her neighbors would always complain to God why they are rich while she is not. Considering the fact that during weekends she is in the church doing volunteer work. Thus, she thought that God is being unfair to her. 

Months and years had passed, her complaint to God was still the same: “Why is it that they are rich while I am not?  Then, one night she had a dream and in that dream God said to her: You only measure the blessings that I bestow upon you by the money and properties that you possess.

God further said to her: Yes you are not blessed materially but look at your very successful and very well brought-up children. Look at your loving husband that has been faithful to you since day one of your married life. Look at your health, nobody amongst your family members has been to a hospital for health issues. Suddenly the woman had a realization that she was far more blessed by God than her neigbor.

The workers in the vineyard who worked early complained about wages and that is material wealth or money! They failed to realize that they were first assured of the day’s work by the landowner early of that morning. And surely it created already a guarantee that they have something to feed to their families for the coming days. Unlike those who came in late who were not assured until late in the afternoon that they would have money to buy food for their respective families.

When we account the blessings that God gives us let us not solely focus on money or any material wealth because we might complain also. Let us rather have a holistic appreciation of God’s blessings for us. Such as peace and good health in our respective family, faithfulness and tranquillity in our married life . Plus many more blessings that cannot be compensated by any amount of money. 

Are we not often times like the lady who envied her neighbors? Are we not often times like the workers in the vineyard who complained because they were so fixated on the wage that they had received? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday August 16, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

What have you given up for your love of Jesus? Have you given up your vices and your sinfulness?

In the gospel Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Perhaps this is also your question before Jesus, What will there be for me your follower? Ah, Jesus would probably say, there would be peace in your life, there would be less human created stress and so forth.

But judging from the life of Jesus and of those who faithfully followed Him its hardships, sacrifices, poverty and even martyrdom. Now that you have an idea, would you still follow? You should still follow Jesus even if people will persecute you for following Him, even if there would be hardships and sacrifices. For this is the true measure of your discipleship.

Remember that before gold becomes a magnificent piece of jewelry it passes through severe testing by fire. And before a diamond is made it goes through several hard processes that involves crushing, cutting and refining.

So is your life with Jesus, there would be humps and bumps here and there. But nothing to worry about these humps and bumps for its just part of the testing of your faith and certainly part of your purification.

Will you still faithfully  follow Jesus from now on notwithstanding the humps and bumps in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

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.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on 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 has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

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

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Reflection:

Selfless love for others is a rare virtue nowadays; what we have now is the me first or self centered attitude. Before we give ourselves to others we see to it that we are first taken care of. It’s our need first before the needs of others we seldom become a person for others anymore.

 We thus overlook the fact that when we are selfless we make others joyful and happy. We bless others when we give something out of ourselves and we often overlook that the blessing that we give silently comes back to us in many forms.

The Blessed Mother is not like us; she is very concerned with the welfare of others than her own well-being. Notice how the Blessed Mother went to her cousin Elizabeth and stayed there until she gave birth. She made sure first that her cousin would be through with her delicate pregnancy before she left her.  

In this day wherein we are overly concerned with our own happiness and fulfilment the Blessed Mother gives us valuable lesson to live by.

She tells us not to be overly concerned with our own welfare we must look after those who are in need of our love even if we ourselves need love. Who are those who badly need our love and care? The Blessed Mother and Elizabeth are both mothers so for obvious reason first and foremost it’s our mothers.

They are slowly getting old and we may not know it they may quietly leave this world anytime. Let us give our very own mothers our love while they can still appreciate it, express your love for them now say it now. Don’t say that you love them when they’re bodies are cold and not responsive anymore for it’s useless already.

What will it cost you if you express your love for your mother? Nothing except a very little fraction of your voice and saliva and what will be the effect on them? Oh, immeasurable! It will energize and reinvigorate them to say the least.

 There are many who are in need of our love these days they may not say it but they need it. We must look after them even if we will not gain any material things from doing it. Life is never measured by ownership of worldly things; true life is measured by our selfless acts of love and kindness.

On this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary let us look at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s  very real and selfless expression of true love.  And let us ask ourselves this question: Do I love as the Blessed Mother gave her love and concern to her cousin Elizabeth? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Sunday August 14, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

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Reflection:

A sinful man was invited by his friend to attend a parish renewal program. The sinful man was already tired of living a life of sin and he wanted to rid himself of any form of sinfulness. So, he said to his friend, “Ok I will attend.” While in the process of formation he was enlightened about how sin destroys a person and prevent a person from having a personal relationship with Jesus.

After the renewal program was through the sinful man decided to let go of friends who had brought nothing to his life but sin. Thus he was hated by his former friends and was even threatened with physical harm.    

When we decide to live a life according to the will of Jesus we have to expect conflict and misunderstanding. We have to be ready to be hated or lose some of our friends and even our family members as well for this is the reality of following Jesus.

When you truly follow Jesus you set aright what is wrong. You will have the fire in your belly to leave those who do nothing to you except to influence you to sin. You will have the fire in your belly to correct those who continue to sin no matter what it may cost you.

Jesus in the gospel talks about division, He tells us: From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (Luke 12:52-53).”

Indeed, there are times that division has to occur for good to triumph over evil. Division has to occur so that a wayward behavior can be set aright. We need not worry about the outcome of this kind of division for the reason that this division is a division that purifies a person from the impurities of sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday August 13, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:13-15

Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

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Reflection:

What can you remember from your childhood?

Many of our present values and habits were given to us when we were children. For example the habit of going to church for Holy Mass.  If our parents brought us up by bringing us to church for Mass, we surely would grow with this saintly habit until we grow old and die.

Another example is if our parents taught us good manners and values. We would also imbibe these manners and values. This is always the situation: We will grow with the values and habits that were taught to us when we were children.

What if we were not given the proper values by our parents? We may grow up without manners and conduct. We may have friends who are bad influence to us, friends who would introduce us to vices and other things that are not good. 

Jesus said in the gospel, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them.” Why were the disciples preventing the children from going to Jesus? Perhaps they wanted Jesus to rest because He was tired.

What is the message of Jesus for us? Jesus wants us also to introduce our children to HIM by teaching them about HIS life and teachings written in the scriptures. Jesus wants us also to bring along our children to the celebration of the Holy Mass.

If we introduce our children to Jesus by way of educating them about His life in the bible. If we bring our children to Holy Mass we can sit back and relax for we are already assured of a secure future for our children.

Have you consciously introduced your children to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday August 12, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:3-12

Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

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Reflection:

How’s your marriage?

Every marriage relationship has its own imperfections and it passes though some bumps and humps. Ask any married couple and they will silently say that they have their own share of disagreements and issues.

If they have their problems why do they stay in their marriage covenant and try very hard to make it work? They stay and try hard to make the marriage work because they believe in the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage.

Problems and issues are part of the marriage journey but notice also that as you move forward with the married journey. You would also discern that problems and issues will start to dissipate until it eventually disappears. Therefore what will remain is your love for each other and your willingness to sacrifice for the marriage to be forever.  

Be tolerant therefore when you pass through problems in your marriage; stretch your patience. Forgive, never think of separation as an option and pray as a family. Always remember that the family that prays together stays forever. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday August 11, Saint Clare, Virgin; Matthew 18:21-19:1

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

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Reflection:

What will happen to us if we are forgiving? We feel light, free and there’s no pent-up emotions in our hearts that makes life so heavy for us.  What will happen to us if we don’t forgive? There’s always a heavy burden in our hearts that does nothing to us except to attract negative emotions even sickness.

 Take for example if we see someone who has wronged us which we have not forgiven yet. Our face may turn red an indication of sudden surge of our blood pressure that may become fatal and could result to other health complications.

Therefore it’s always better to be forgiving; this doesn’t mean that when we forgive we forget the lesson/s why we forgave. When we forgive those who’ve wronged us we let bygones be bygones yet the lesson/s learned will remain for this will help us grow and become better individuals. 

In our gospel for today Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. In simple terms Jesus is teaching us that we must always be forgiving no matter how severe the injury done to us. Because when we don’t forgive we only imprison ourselves to this vicious and injurious emotion called hatred.

But let us say we really can’t forgive, let us go down on our knees and pray to Jesus and let us ask Him to heal us and give us the grace of forgiveness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday August 10, Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr; John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

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Reflection:

Do you love your life in this world?

Jesus gives us today a contradictory statement by saying: “Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” How could this be?

The simple answer to this paradox is this: We love our life if we love the trappings of this world such as wealth, power and other worldly possession. It also includes other self-centered attitudes such as greed, lust, arrogance, egotism to name a few. We will certainly lose our life if we could identify to any of these characteristics.

We hate our life in this world but preserve it for eternal life if we have Christ like behaviors such as: Humility, Selflessness, Prayerfulness, Kind heartedness, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion and many more Christ like virtues.

Therefore we are given two choices: To love our life in this world or two hate it. Surely there would be those who will choose to love their life in this world but for what price? 

The problem of loving our present life for the sake of this world is we are slowly but surely closing the door for Jesus to enter our life. Yet we open it widely for the Devil to enter and eventually drive our life.

Discover the true meaning of life by serving Christ or by loving Him. Discover the true meaning of life by denying yourself of the many useless and sinful excesses of this world.

Have you already discovered the true meaning of life – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday August 9, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

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Reflection:

Many of us if not all of us put premium in recognition.  For example we love it when people recognize our effort and when they commend us for what we do. We nod in approval and deep inside us we feel that we are great already for the recognition that we have received.

In our gospel the disciples asked Jesus about who is the greatest in His kingdom. In reply to their question Jesus called a child and told them, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Jesus obviously did this to teach His disciples about the great virtue of humility.

Perhaps Jesus was telling Himself, did they follow me because they want to be great in my kingdom? Did they follow me for the reason that they want to be recognized? Don’t they know that to follow me is the beginning of forgetting of oneself and any personal agenda/s? Don’t they know that the true essence of discipleship lies in humility?

Many of us today are like the disciples, we want greatness and recognition for the things that we do for the church and our fellowmen. But God did not made us to be great and to be recognized we were made by God to be humble.

Therefore, in whatever that we do; let us not aspire to be great or to be recognized. Let us humbly do what we have to do, for this is what Jesus wants us to do.

Let us not worry about recognition, greatness and honor for it will eventually come. Once we humbly do everything for the greater glory of God and not for our own glorification. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Monday August 8, Saint Dominic, Priest; Matthew 17:22-27

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

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Reflection:

Do you generously give to your church?

The gospel speaks about the payment of the temple tax. Even if they were exempted from paying the temple tax Jesus still instructed Peter to pay the temple tax. Perhaps Jesus did this for the reason that He wants to contribute something for the maintenance of the church and its facilities.

This generous payment of the temple tax by Jesus somehow invites us to examine our generosity to our church as well.  Are we generous to our church? Do we give generously at Holy Mass during offertory?

We have to be generous to our church so that it can have funds not only for the maintenance of its facilities. But also for the welfare of those who are working for the church. The money that we give to the church is not only for the church it is also for the poor.

We may  not know this but the church takes care of the poor, the church doesn’t blare it but it silently help the poor and those who are in need. Therefore we have to generously give to our church and whatever we give to our church will come back to us a hundredfold.  

What may come back to us may not necessarily be through financial rewards. It can be peace and harmony in the family; it can be good health and many more blessing that does not involve money.  

Do you generously give to your church and to those who are doing something to spread the words of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday August 7, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 12:32-48

Gospel: Luke 12:32-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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Reflection:

A rich man gave everything that he owns to a charitable organization. When he was asked why  he gave his material riches, he simply said: What will I do with my material wealth, I can’t bring this to my grave and my  ownership of this wealth will not in any way help me go  to heaven when I die.  

Can we buy our way to heaven after our journey in this world is over and done with already? No we cannot buy our way to the kingdom of God no matter how rich we are we simply cannot buy heaven. This is for the simple reason that heaven is not for sale and certainly heaven is not for those who are so enamored and enslaved by their material riches.  

So, what is the key to enter heaven? The key is to give away what you have so that others may live and have life with what you have. Many of us cannot give even a little because we are so possessed by our material wealth.

But what is material wealth compared to the kingdom of God? What are we going to do with material wealth if God has no role in our life? And if it only creates distance from our relatives and friends? What are we going to do with our material wealth if we cannot enter heaven after we die?

In the gospel Jesus tells us this: Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy (Luke 12:33).

Do you allow material wealth to possess you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas