Reflection for Wednesday June 21, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

What does Jesus teach us today? It’s about humility and modesty, keep your every acts of piety in secret and don’t trumpet it to the whole wide world including the world of social meadia for HE knows everything. But the world that we are in now is influencing us to discard this teaching of Jesus and embrace publicity and advertising.

Just look at the many vehicles of publicity in the internet such as facebook, instagram, twitter and the like. What are they dictating to us? It dictates us to publicize almost everything that we do, including our acts of piety.

Nothing’s wrong to embrace these social media flatforms if we use it to advance our advocacies with humility. Yet it becomes wrong when we use it to proudly show to the whole wide world the good that we do . Perhaps Jesus is telling us not to worry if nobody would notice our acts of kindness and piety for HE knows it already.

What is important is we do everything for Jesus and for the greater good of HIS people. It doesn’t matter anymore if we would be noticed or not if people would compliment us or not. What is important is we know that we have a God who knows everything including our unpublicized acts of humility and piety. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 20, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48                             

43 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Reflection:

A wife was betrayed by her husband for a younger woman. After years of separation the wife learned that her husband was now sick. So, because of her unconditional love for her husband she went to him and without asking any question she brought her husband to the hospital to heal.

Jesus in our gospel today gives us teaching about unconditional love. A love that pervades everyone. Including those who have hurt us or continue to hurt us, this is very hard to do but this is who Jesus is. He gives us teachings that are seemingly hard to follow based on our human standards. However if we are really devoted to Him we will obey and follow.

What would happen to us if we follow the teachings of Jesus? For example His teaching in today’s gospel about loving and praying for our enemies and persecutors. We free ourselves from undeserved hatred which does not bring us any good anyway.

Let us observe ourselves when we carry hatred in our hearts. We feel that we may explode anytime and this is very bad for our health most especially to our blood pressure. Observe also when we don’t carry any hatred in our hearts, we feel light and we invite the blessings of Jesus to come to us.

Will you follow this teaching of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday June 19, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

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Reflection:

What will we gain if we exact revenge to those who’ve aggrieved and injured us? Nothing except further enmity and injury then at the end there will be no winners only losers.

Take for example conflicts in married life, if a wife would revenge for the injury that was caused her by her husband say for example infidelity. The marriage covenant will fall-apart and both parties including their children will end-up as losers.

With this new command to His disciples Jesus supersedes the law of retaliation and Judgment written in the Old Testament (Leviticus and Deuteronomy).

Jesus gives us valuable lessons on humility that can help us build bridges instead of walls. This command of Jesus will also help us avoid conflicts and misunderstanding.   Can we live these teachings of Jesus? If we abhor hostility, if we are humble and if we truly love Jesus we would be able to live these teachings.

Mohandas Gandhi an Indian icon of non-violent political resistance had said: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” This simply means that nobody wins with revenge, in the arena of life the more that we itch for revenge the more that we destroy ourselves.

Instead of exacting revenge why not put on the armor of Humility, why nor learn to pray for those who’ve stepped on our dignity. This is very hard to follow but we must follow because this is what Jesus is teaching us.

If we would always retaliate to any injury done to us we would end up destroying ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

1Reflection for Sunday, June 18; Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; John 6:51-58

Gospel: John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.

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Reflection:

St. Catherine of Genoa was a daily communicant also, it was said that during seasons of Advent and Lent she lived without food.  She was nourished by receiving Jesus daily through Holy Communion.

During the thirteenth century in Italy there was a priest who almost lost his faith in the reality of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist. Right before the “Lamb of God,” wherein the priest breaks the host to put a little part of it into the chalice, the host in his hands began to bled profusely It bled over his hands on the corporal and on the altar cloths.

There are many more written and unwritten Eucharistic Miracles that happened and will still happen in the future. How about us have we personally experienced any form of miraculous Eucharistic occurrence? Perhaps we have not experienced it yet or we’re not just aware that Jesus through His Body and Blood is actually changing us to become the person that He wants us to be.

Is it possible that something miraculous would happen to us if we faithfully receive Jesus at Mass?

If we would faithfully and piously receive Jesus in every Holy Mass it is not impossible that He will transform us the way He wants us to become. Take for example a man who is a chain smoker and alcoholic; what will happen to him if he will not stop smoking and drinking?

 He will surely get sick with deadly cigarette and alcohol related ailments. On the other hand take also for example a health conscious man who always exercises and who only eats fish and vegetables. Of course he will look good and healthy because that is his regular regimen.

The same is true if we would faithfully attend Mass and receive Jesus regularly during Holy Communion. There would also be a transformation within us we may not notice it but others will become aware of it. This is the miracle that often times we are not aware of.

The Body (and Blood) of Jesus that you receive during Holy Communion creates a big difference in your life because Jesus comes into you. You become one with Jesus during Holy Communion and if you would allow it.

The same Jesus will transform you to become the person that He wants you to be. For example if you are sometimes arrogant you will not anymore become arrogant instead you will become more humble. And this change of behavior is made possible courtesy of Jesus whom you always receive with awe and reverence during Holy Communion.    

Do you always receive Jesus with awe and reverence during Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday June 17, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:33-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One."

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Reflection:

What is the secret to a successful marriage? Simple and that is not to break the vows of marriage that goes: I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." This is basically one of the secret to a successful marriage.

Nowadays the vows of marriage are violated with impunity this is the reason why many marriages is being torn apart. But we have nothing to blame except ourselves for many of us don’t value it anymore.

In our gospel for this Saturday Jesus tells us to make good to the Lord all that we have vowed and this surely include our marriage vows. Which we stated before the Lord in the person of the priest who acts on behalf of Jesus.

Jesus also tells us not to swear or promise. Why? For the simple reason that swears and promises are made to be broken. Instead of swearing or promising let us simply do what we have to do in doing so we gain the respect and admiration of our fellowmen. In hindsight isn’t true that our actions speak louder than our words?

In married life or in any instance of life actions of love are always more powerful than words of love.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday June 16, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

(Jesus said to his disciples) 27 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body  be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole  body go into hell.  31 "It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'  But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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Reflection:

Why is there adultery? This is for the reason that we don’t value the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage anymore. We treat marriage as a contract that we can violate anytime we want to violate it.  Why do many of us are not afraid to violate our marriage covenant? This is for the reason that we don’t love God anymore.

The root cause of adultery is our lack of proper instillation of the values of God. And who is the culprit about our lack of values about God?  No other than our parents! Many of today’s parents pamper their children about the material things of this world. Such as money, material possessions and so forth, yet when it comes to the values about God they seldom care to teach them. Parents such as these rear children that are not anymore afraid of God and children that have no values about God yet they know God. 

What must we do therefore? We must teach our children about the values of God and as parents we must also see to it that we are committed until the end to our marriage. Parents are the best role models for their children. If they observe their parent committed to their married life. They too would grow up to become committed to their own marriage.

In our gospel for today we see how Jesus abhors adultery. For the simple reason that the mission and reason of marriage for both husband and wife is loyalty until the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday June 15, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:20-26

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

A man who was full of anger in his heart suddenly died. When he was about to enter the pearly gates saint Peter suddenly appeared and refused him entry.  When the man asked, why? Saint Peter told Him that when he was still alive his heart was full of anger and arrogance.

Death is uncertain it may come to us anytime.  What if we suddenly die with our hearts full of anger and arrogance?  Many had been brought to perdition by anger and arrogance yet many of us still don’t learn our lesson. Anger and arrogance are emotional disease that originates from our egos, high sense of ourselves and our lack of humility.   

In our gospel we find Jesus giving us lessons on humility. He tells us: if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him (Matthew 5:23-25).

It’s not easy to imbibe humility but if we only know that humility makes us closer to Jesus. If we only know that humility would save us a lot of trouble even grievous ones. We would not think twice to imbibe humility we may even run after it and embrace it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday June 14, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to give your life for someone you love?

Jesus in our gospel for today speaks about Himself as the fulfillment of the law. In effect Jesus was telling the disciples I am now the fulfilment of those commandments from the Old Testament.

For example the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) which God gave to Moses in the mountain of Sinai. Jesus summarized these ten to become the two greatest commandments which states: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).”

Jesus summarized the ten commandments thus it became the two greatest commandments of love. Indeed if we really have Jesus in our lives there would be no room for hatred, condemnation, self-righteousness, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

What will remain in our hearts is love for love is the advocacy and language of Jesus. Not a selective kind of love but love for everyone of us no matter who we are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for Tuesday June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

A poor and sickly man went to a doctor to ask if he could help him be confined in a hospital without paying anything. Seeing the plight of the poor man the doctor said yes without any hesitation. The doctor did not stop there he saw to it that he would extend the best possible help to the poor man by shouldering all the medicines that he would be needing.

As the doctor made his many visits to him the poor man noticed a gleaming pin that was always attached to his collar . So he asked, what is that little pin on your collar? The doctor told him that it’s Jesus, the poor man simply smiled and told the doctor, Now I know why you’re so helpful and caring.

In the gospel Jesus tells us that we must become the salt of the earth that gives meaning to the lives of our fellowmen. We must not become tasteless salt that does not give meaning anymore. Is it possible for us to become useless/tasteless salt of this world? Of course it is, this becomes a reality if we are uncaring, indifferent and numb to their needs.

Why is there unfair distribution of wealth in this world? The rich and influential keeps getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. This is for the reason that many rich are unconcerned for the welfare of the poor. They are only concerned for their own wellbeing. There are even powerful politicians who without conscience steal money allocated for the benefit of the poor. 

Jesus tells us that we are to become the light of this world. What does this mean to you and me? What does this indicate to you as a father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister? This means that we must always become a positive influence, a good role model and a character formator.

We must be somebody who brings the light of Jesus to our fellowmen. And we do these virtuous actions not for us to carve our personal glory. But we do these moral acts for the greater glory of God and not for our own glory. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday June 12, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

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Reflection:

There is this story of a poor family; they were poor based on the standard of this world they live in a shanty, they wore tattered clothes yet they were happy. When they were asked on how come that they were happy in spite that they were materially poor the father said: “We follow Jesus, we subscribe to His teachings and He’s part of our family. 

After descending from the mountain Jesus sat down and taught those around Him about the Eight (8) blessings of the Beatitudes. What were these Beatitudes all about? It is the secret of true disciples for Christ. When Jesus told those around Him about these Beatitudes He was actually saying to them that this is how my life is in this world but don’t you all worry for I am happy in following all these.

Jesus closed Himself to the comforts of this world He never embraced it. Let us all remember that the happiness of this world is extremely different from the heavenly happiness that Jesus offers us. He knew that what the world gives and dictates are nothing compared to what God the Father would give Him.

In effect, Jesus is telling us through these Beatitudes to be like Him, to follow Him to always be with Him for these are all His characteristics.

But isn’t it hard to follow all these qualities of the Beatitudes? Isn’t it hard to follow Jesus?  Yes it’s hard for the simple reason that the life of Jesus in this world was full of hardship and persecution. However the hardship that Jesus went through was nothing compared to what was waiting for Him in heaven.

Thus, our focus should always be heavenward never mind the present hardship that we may encounter. For it has a purpose and that is to prepare us for our ascent to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 11, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity; John 3:16-18

Gospel: John 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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Reflection:
There is a legend that while Saint Augustine was walking along the beach. Trying to understand how could there be three Persons in one God, he met a small child who was using a seashell to scoop water from the sea. 

The child would run back to the beach and pour the water into a small hole he dug in the sand. Augustine watched then asked the child what he was doing the child replied, I’m putting the sea into this hole.

 Augustine subsequently said: That is impossible for the simple reason that the hole will not contain the vast ocean. The child said to Augustine: “What you’re trying to understand is also impossible, you will not be able to uncover the mystery of the Holy Trinity.  

 Today is the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity the three persons in one God. God the Father (the creator) God the Son (Jesus our Savior) and God the Holy Spirit (our Sanctifier). They are three distinct personalities and yet they are one. This is the mystery of the Holy Trinity; they are three yet one.

It’s hard to understand why the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one. But if we would be faithful to the teaching of our faith we would discover that we will not anymore be curious why they are three yet one. God himself thru Jesus and the Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom to simply believe this mystery.

The secret therefore to unraveling the mystery of the Blessed Trinity is to humbly believe and have faith. There are those who believe but at the same time they also try to discover this mystery.

They think that they could understand it through their intellect only to find out they cannot. When we walk with God and seek to discover more about him we should walk with our faith and not with our sight.

This is also the secret to understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity: To simply trust on our faith and not on our sight. To simply hold on to God's infinite wisdom and not on our finite understanding. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Saturday June 10, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:38-44

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a poor woman who saw Jesus. Having nothing she went to Jesus to beg for alms. But to her surprise Jesus asked him this question: What can you give me instead? The poor woman said to Jesus: “I’m poor I have nothing to give you.” But the poor woman lied because she had some penny in her pocket that he could have given to Jesus.

The poor widow in the gospel is the opposite of the poor woman in our story. For the reason that she gave everything she has she did not lie and she gave from the wellspring of her heart. Assuming that God would respond to both of them: What would God give to the poor woman in our story and to the poor widow in our gospel? 

When we give to God let us give from the wellspring of our hearts no matter how small so long as it is from our hearts. Let us do the same also when we give to our fellowmen especially the poor.

Let us not hold back when we give to the poor because when we give to them we give to Jesus. And whatever we give to the poor comes back to us a hundredfold.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Wednesday June 7, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:18-27

Gospel: Mark 12:18-27

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid to die?

A sick man was given by his doctor two more months to live. After hearing the judgment of his doctor the man kneeled before God and beg Him to indefinitely extend his life. Why are we afraid to die? Because we have strong attachment to this world and we don’t know also what awaits us after we die. 

When Jesus was asked by the Sadducees whose wife would the woman be in the after life. Jesus told them that she will not belong to anyone of them because life in heaven is totally different from our present life.

There is an afterlife and there is heaven as Jesus tells us in the gospel.  So while we are actively journeying with our present life. We must always see to it that we live our lives according to the will of God. Not according to our own sinful will but according to the will of God.

Why? This is for the reason that we want to go to heaven when our time in this world is over and done with already. Let us not be blinded by the glitters of this world for all that we have here no matter how expensive we will leave behind at some point in our lives.

Let us look forward to heaven for this is where all of us are intended to be someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Tuesday June 6, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:13-17

Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, “Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.

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Reflection:

Do you always do what is right and just? The Pharisees and the Herodians were testing Jesus about the just payment of tax to Caesar. Jesus knew about their evil scheming so He simply told them, “Whose image is in the coin”? And they told Jesus that it was Caesar’s image that is imprinted on the coin.

Thus, Jesus told them that they should pay to Caesar for the simple reason that he is the governing authority. And then Jesus told them to give to God what belongs to God (Mark 12:17).

The million dollar question now is, what belongs to God or what is for God? What belongs to God that we must give Him is the time that we have to freely give Him. Such as our daily time for prayer: upon waking up in the morning and before retiring at night.

The weekly time that we have to freely give Him during Sundays at Holy Mass. And other forms of worship and service to our community by way of serving in our parish church community, these we have to give to God as well.

Then you may ask, what then would I receive in giving God what is due to God? You will receive peace of mind and you will have heaven when your journey in this world comes to end. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas