Reflection for Thursday October 13, Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Why were the Pharisees and scribes angry with Jesus? It was for the reason that Jesus was telling the truth about their hypocrisy and double speak!  The truth hurts but Jesus doesn’t mince words He tells it as He sees it.  So Jesus tells it directly to them without fear because He wants them to open their minds about their pretentions and double standard.

When somebody corrects us and tells negative things about us; let us accept it as a constructive criticism and let us look at it on a positive way.  Where we can learn and further improve, if we close our minds to criticism it’s like saying that we don’t want to improve. And those who do not want to improve and those who refuse correction will never become better individuals.  

Let us remember that nobody is perfect except God. We all have our own flaws and shortcomings and these are natural for we are imperfect humans. We all are subject to our own frailties and weakness.  What is important is we accept corrections and we make it as our reference point for us to become better and useful citizens of this fleeting world.   

Let us therefore always be humble let us be open to advice, let us always be open to reproaches and let us make these as a springboard for us to become a much better person. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday October 12, Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you live what you say? For example you will say to your children that they should live simply yet your lifestyle is not simple because you want expensive things. How will your children follow and believe what you say?

Jesus is angry with the Pharisees because many of them were full of pretension their external actions were very much different with their internal thought. They command the people to do this and that yet they themselves were not willing to do it.

What Jesus wants for the Pharisees then and for us now is to lead by example; let us mean what we say and live what we say. This is where we are often lacking, yes we go to church and yes we worship God. But do we translate these to living acts of faith?

Let us not be like the Pharisees and the scholars of the law who are very good only at giving orders. Let us be like Jesus who put into action every word and phrase that He said.

Jesus lived every word that He preached, for example Jesus preached simplicity of lifestyle, He therefore lived this simple lifestyle. Jesus preached about forgiveness and He lived His preaching of forgiveness as well.

Do you live a simple lifestyle and are you forgiving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for Tuesday October 11, Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:37-41

Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Maria is very particular with external appearance she would always dress well. The exterior of her house was always refreshing to the eyes. Her neighbor was wondering how come she’s able to afford such luxuries considering that she had no job to speak of?

 One morning a rich woman was shouting in front of her house telling her to leave her husband alone otherwise she would be forced to bring her to court for having a relationship with a married man.

Many of us are very particular with what others will see from us. As much as possible we would always try to paint an attractive picture of ourselves. This is who many of us are, very much driven with the exterior, fleeting and those that do not last for a lifetime.

Jesus is not taken with this show of misleading exterior appearance. What counts for Jesus is our attitude most especially when nobody sees us. For example, how do we react when we see a poor in front of our house. Do we do something to help the poor? Or we simply don’t care; anyway no one is looking at us, so might as well not mind the poor.

Jesus knows everything about us, we cannot keep anything from Him. He knows our hidden secrets, our double talk and the façade that we try so very hard to display so that we could create an impression of wealth and extravagance. - Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday October 10, Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:29-32

Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you ask for signs from before we decide on something? For example, if you’re a female, would you ask for a sign if the man courting you is the right one for you? And based on that sign you now would decide to say yes or no to that man.

Jesus is much bigger than the signs that we ask for from God. If we have Him in our hearts we need not ask anymore for signs. But do we allow Jesus to have a special place in our hearts? Jesus has a simple request for all of us for Him to dwell in our hearts. The simple request is our repentance from all of our sins. This is His simple request for all of us, so that He could dwell in our hearts.

During the time of Jonah the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah’s call of repentance. Otherwise there would be destruction upon them. So they listened, they’ve put on sackcloth to show God that they are sorry for the many sins that they’ve committed and they are ready to walk away from it.

Why do we continue to embrace sin when it will not do us any good? Why do we continue to embrace sin when we know for a fact that sin is evil and it eventually will destroy us? It’s very hard to comprehend why many of us continue to sin. Perhaps we continue to sin because we don’t allow God to come into our life.

If you will love this world more than you love God you certainly will continue to sin. However, God is always there for you no matter how sinful you are, ever ready to embrace you with His infinite love and forgiveness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Prayer:

I am sinful creature of this world O Lord and I am tired of sinning for it has not brought anything good into my life. I seek for your forgiveness O Lord and I seek for your love, this I pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.    

Reflection for Sunday October 9, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 17:11-19

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you believe in the healing power of Jesus?

There is a true story of an eighteen year old young man who was diagnosed with a severe sickness. His doctor told him that he needs to undergo a dangerous operation upon reaching the age of thirty five otherwise he will die. Having nothing except his faith this man relied on nobody except Jesus.

As years passed by this man eventually reached the age of thirty five yet nothing serious has happened to him neither did he go through a dangerous operation. He is still alive and in the pink of health. In gratitude for the healing that he received from Jesus he is right now silently doing his little share to advance the words of God.

Our faith in Jesus can easily heal us of any form of sickness no matter how severe. We simply have to ask Jesus with faith and He surely would give it to us. Yet in every healing that we receive from Jesus there is also that unwritten responsibility that we have to do which is to give thanks and to pay it forward in whatever means possible.  

The ten lepers who were healed by Jesus obviously had faith otherwise they would have not been healed.  But amongst the ten it was only the Samaritan who did not forget to go back to Jesus to humbly express His thanksgiving. How about the nine who were also healed, where did they go? Perhaps they went back to their old environments and resumed their life there.

Whom are we going to emulate here the nine Jews or the humble Samaritan?  The answer is no brainer we have to follow the example of the thankful and humble Samaritan.

Do you always express your humble thanksgiving to Jesus by helping those who are in need most especially the sick? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Saturday October 8, Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:27-28

Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you observe and hear the word of God?

Why is there abortion, terrorism, crime, abuse of the environment, egocentric people and so forth? Because we don’t hear and observe the word of God. There are those who listen to God’s words but they don’t live it.

Jesus is not a self-centered God same as with the Blessed Mother they don’t want honor for themselves. Truth be told, honor is the least that they want; let us look at their lives, did they run after honor? They shunned it! They simply listened to the word of God and followed it.

This is actually the cure for the chaotic world that we are in right now: To hear/read the world of God and follow it. We mustn’t not seek personal honor that only deluge our bloated egos.

We have to remember that we only become effective followers of the Lord when we model our lives with the simple and humble lives of the Jesus and Mary. Our modern and technology driven times would always dictate us to chase upon honorific titles.

To love the limelight and be the center of attention but it‘s actually nothing before God. What counts in the heart of God is our readiness to humbly hear His word and live it. Thus, we become blessed in His eyes.

Do you listen to the word of God and do you live it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday October 7, Our Lady of the Rosary; Luke 11:15-26

Luke 11:15-26 

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me,  and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Does Jesus deserve the accusation that He is a demon? Has he done any demonic actions to earn the accusation? No Jesus doesn’t deserve the accusation  and He surely has not done any actions contrary to His mission. None at all!

The crowd’s accusation originates from the deceit and envy in their hearts. And who planted that deceit and envy? It’s Beelzebul the prince of demons himself! So it was actually the accusers who were in fact possessed by the demon.

We must be careful not to allow deceitful/envious and other negative emotions to takes root in our hearts for these are temptations that originate from the devil. We should instead fill our hearts and minds with thoughts that are Godly.  Of course we must choose to be with Jesus for this is always the correct choice.  If we are not for Jesus, then we are against Jesus there’s no middle ground.

Why should we choose to be in the company of the devil when it will not do any good to our lives? The devil will bring us nothing but problems and perdition.  Although he often times disguises his diabolical intentions and himself through the many attractive things of this world.  

We should therefore be discerning because the devil may already be enticing  us without us knowing it. How would we able to discern if the devil is already laying his enticement upon us? We have to be close to Jesus and should not walk away from Jesus, for this is the only way that we could discern the presence of the devil.  The same devil who always seeks to destroy us by trying his very best to snatch us away from the love of Jesus.

Let us therefore always align ourselves with Jesus and let us never compromise with anything that is wrong and evil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday October 6, Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:5-13

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you believe in the power of persistence? The power of persistence tells us that for as long as we don’t give-up. And for as long as we continue to trust in Jesus we would be able to have what we want. Therefore persistence always pays off, but should we continue to persist when the horizon is dark?

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that we have to persist even if it seems useless to persist for those who persist are always rewarded by God. Come to think of it, persistence gives us great rewards even in our worldly activities. Take for example an average student who persist in his studies he surely would be able to hurdle his studies because he is persistent.

However, not all of us have persistent mindset; many of us are easily discouraged when we see no positive result with what we are doing. So we fail and fail to achieve what we want because we gave-up without trying very hard first.

Lest we forget, many or almost all of our life’s battles are won because we are persistent but why do we persist? We persist because we believe that God always rewards those who are persistent and those who couple their persistence with humble and expectant trust in God. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Wednesday October 5, Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 11:1-4

Gospel: Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you often invoke the name of our Holy God? For example somebody is sick in the family, do you pray over that family member by invoking the very powerful name God or Jesus? The name of God is very powerful it can cure us of our many sickness if we would pray it with faith.

When one of Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach him how to pray Jesus told the man first that the name of God is holy. Being holy it’s therefore sacred and powerful and this we can always call upon whenever we want.

What should we do so that we can always call upon this holy and powerful God? We should strive to live holy lives as well and we should strive to know more about God. The moment we try to live holy lives and the moment we strive to know more about God through Jesus. We surely could invoke His mighty name anytime.

You therefore have to run away from anything that would make you sin for this is the beginning of holiness. You also have to strive to know more about God and Jesus by reading your bible and by making yourself available for Holy Mass.

Try doing these two and you will see that you would be able easily call upon the name of our Holy God anytime most especially during distressful times. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for Tuesday October 4, Saint Francis of Assisi; Luke 10:38-42

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Like Martha are we anxious and worried about many things?

This story of Martha is our story also. Are we not too busy with the daily grind of this temporary life that we don’t have anymore time to pray and listen to Jesus? Many of us are somewhat like  Martha very busy with worldliness and what happens when we have no more time to listen to Jesus?

There’s disintegration in the family simply because we have no more time to listen to Jesus. There is still life after this present life that we are in and we can best prepare ourselves to go there if we will always take time to listen and be one with Jesus thru the celebration of the Holy Mass.   

Many modern parents today are often very busy with their own worldly activities. They hardly have time to take care and counsel their children. Thus, they try to compensate their lack of personal interactions with their children by giving them money and the latest gadgets that do more harm than good to them.

What would happen to us if upon waking-up in the morning we storm-out of bed, eat our breakfast and be busy with our daily activities? We become citizens of this world that are distant from Jesus.

How about if we take time first to thank Jesus for His many blessings? We pray and listen to Him even for a brief moment; we can always create time for God if we would want to. This would surely make us closer to Jesus, we will learn more from Him and we will become more sensitive to what He wants us to do for Him.

When Jesus entered a village and subsequently went to the house of Mary and Martha. It was Mary who took time to sit beside at His feet to listen to Him. Thus Mary imbibed everything that Jesus wanted to tell her. By listening to Jesus she learned from Him and developed a much deeper friendship with Him.

Martha on the other hand was very busy preparing food for Jesus she forgot that Jesus was not after what she was doing. Jesus wanted her to be like Mary, He wanted her to also listen to Him.

By listening to Jesus we learn from Him and we develop a much deeper friendship with Him. Do we always take time daily even for a brief moment to pray and listen to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Monday October 3, Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 10:25-37

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How do we express our love for God and neighbor?

 It is by caring for those who are in need no matter who they may be. For so long as they’re in need we should help them but there are those who are so withdrawn that even if they’re in need they find it hard to ask for help. There are people who are like this; they’re in need but they don’t ask for help because of low self-esteem and shyness.

 What should we do? We must be sensitive to their plight, we must not be stonehearted we should help without being asked for help.

The question of the scholar of the law is perhaps also our question before Jesus: How can we inherit eternal life? And Jesus referred them to what was written in the law; Love of God and love of our neighbor; these are the two keys to have eternal life.

Jesus further reinforced these two teachings with a story of a man who was victimized by robbers. As he lay half-dead a priest followed by a Levite both prominent people passed by but they did not lift a finger to help him. Afterwards a Samaritan came and he surprisingly helped the man, then not content with helping him the Samaritan brought the man to an inn to be properly nursed there.

It’s not enough to say, we love God and our neighbors for these are mere words that are empty. We put life and meaning to these two greatest commandments when we become like the Samaritan. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday October 2, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 17:5-10

Gospel: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the character of a good and faithful servant? He/she submits to his master. And whatever lawful orders that his master tells him to do he does it even if it’s very difficult.  Therefore a servant is always obedient and faithful to his Lord and master.

Who are we in this fleeting world? We are mere servants! Who do we serve? Many of us are serving this world, for example when we work and work and we sacrifice our love and worship for God in favor of our work and other worldly preoccupations this world becomes our lord and master.

We become obedient to the dictates of this world, whatever this world would tell us we obey it without question. However, the problem is, this world is not a good lord and master. In fact this world is the worst lord and master that we could ever have.

The moment we allow this world to be our Lord and master it will hold us by our necks and never let go of us until we become slaves of this world. And when we become slaves of this world we will eventually die a life devoid of purpose.

Who then is the Lord and Master that we should follow? The same Lord and Master of the apostles whom they humbly asked to increase their faith, none other than Jesus.

Who is your Lord and Master? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday October 1, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church; Luke 10:17-24

Gospel: Luke 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Why did Jesus caution the disciples not to rejoice for their human triumphs? The reason for this is there may be a tendency for the disciples to take pride with what they have achieved.

As if Jesus was telling them, when you’re doing your vocation for me. Don’t ever forget to always be humble. To always avoid singular or collective honors, for you were not called to be my followers to reap honors. You were called to bring people to me no other reason but to bring your fellowmen to me.

 

This also is very much applicable for us. Let us not rejoice because we have brought people closer to Christ. Let us not rejoice because we have influenced our fellowmen to read the bible, to go to Holy Mass or to take seriously their faith.

If we follow to the letter this directive of Jesus, we leave no room for the sin of pride and arrogance to take foothold in our lives. And what will remain? Humility only humility and this must always be our guiding light. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday September 30, Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church; Luke 10:13-16

Gospel: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you listen to Jesus’ call of repentance?

 Repentance is a perpetual call from Jesus and we must listen to Him. What will happen if we will not listen?  There would be punishment and it will not certainly come from God; punishment will originate from the outcome of our sinfulness.

For example a woman who had been advised by her relatives to stop her adulterous affair. Instead of listening to her relative’s admonition he persisted. Eventually they were caught by their respected spouses; you can just imagine the punishment that they'll receive.

There’s a lot more examples of those who did not listen, so they received their deserved punishment. Punishment which did not come from God, It originated from their stubbornness and refusal to heed God’s call of repentance.

So why not repent and listen to the voice of God who always calls us every minute of the day to change our ways for the better? Are we not afraid of the punishment that is surely forthcoming?

In the church true repentance happens when we humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. – Marino J. Dasmarinas