Reflection for Saturday June 23, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:24-34

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

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Reflection:

There’s this story of a mother in her mid-forties. After working hard for almost twenty years and being financially stable already she applied for early retirement. Her reason was she wanted to spend more time with her family and she also wanted to put-up a small business that she can call her own she had full trust in God that she will not fail.

After two years this mother was searching for a job again her reason was they were running out of funds already.  If you ask her what happened to her business she would dryly say that it did not prosper. And if you ask her again as to what happened to her trust in God she would ironically say that it’s much better to trust more on herself than trust God.

This mother’s trust in God was severely tested unfortunately she waivered on her belief and on her faith that God would help her succeed in her business.

There would be instances In our lives wherein we would be at a crossroad or a crucial point. Where we have to ponder if we would continue with our trust in God or we would trust more on ourselves. When there’s no more food on the table, when there’s no more money in our pocket. Should we still trust God to provide for us or we put aside our trust in God and we do it our way to earn a living?

When we say that we trust God it doesn’t mean that we will just lie down and wait for God’s blessings to come our way like manna from heaven. To trust God is to do everything humanly possible for us to earn a living without losing our faith in God: So it’s faith with action!

Jesus used birds in the sky as metaphor for His providence, birds fly and look for their food and that’s when God feeds them.  Birds don’t just stay idle in one place and wait for their food to come to them.  

That’s what we must do also we must move and look for a living with faith, move and look for our destiny with faith. As we move let us ask God to guide us, to be with us for He will not fail us and He will certainly provide for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday June 22, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:19-23

Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that your eyes represent your present predicament?

Our eyes are the doorway to our soul, if we are happy it shows in our eyes and if we are sad it also shows in our eyes. We may be able to hide our sad emotion but our eyes will eventually betray us for it will show the true emotions of our hearts.

So how can we have ever glowing eyes that is full of happiness, contentment and serenity? The answer to this is very simple: we must store up treasures in heaven by means of doing good things to our fellowmen. By helping the poor in spirit and wealth and by sharing Jesus with them.

By doing so we are already storing up true treasures in heaven where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. What are you presently storing up? Perhaps, you are very busy with the things of this world. For example, making yourself rich in the eyes of this temporal world.

However, think also that the accumulation of worldly things that keeps you busy right now will count for nothing at the end. Only God will count during that time; the relationship that you’ve built with God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday June 21, Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious: Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

If God knows what we need before we ask him, what is the use of our prayer before him? The answer is this: It is through our consistent prayer life that we get close with God. In fact the more we pray the more that we get closer to God. If we are not yet prayerful or we don’t have yet a regular prayer life, just try having a consistent prayer life. And you will be surprised by the growth of your intimacy with Jesus.

So we pray not because we want to ask something from God for indeed He knows beforehand what we need. He in fact knows everything that we need and desire today, tomorrow and in the future. We pray because we want to be best friends with God.  

When we pray with piety our whole being talks to God and He listens and in the silence of our hearts He also talks to us. We hear God whispering to us this is hard to explain but this is what occurs when we pray this prayer with devoutness or any prayer for that matter.  This kind of prayer relationship with God is a sign of a mature life of prayer.

For example, in a married life relationship the marriage bond is strengthened by constant communication between husband and wife. Through this regular communication they both mature in the marriage covenant relationship. Until such time that they know and understand practically everything about themselves even without verbal expression.

This is the same with our prayer life; the more we pray with our whole being focused to God the more that we would grow in intimacy with God. Then, there will eventually come a time that when we pray to God we will not anymore utter a single word. We will simply go down on our knees and keep silent and let our heart talk to our merciful, compassionate and loving God.

How is your prayer life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Wednesday June 20, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: 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 alms giving 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 motivates you to do good? For example in giving to the poor, what motivates you to help them? In giving to the poor Jesus has a major requirement that you should follow. Do it in secret without anyone knowing about it.

Why in secret? This is for the reason that secrecy is the language of Jesus secrecy is also a close relative of humility which Jesus embodies to the hilt.

The teaching of Jesus on alms giving is totally opposed to the teachings of this world which unfortunately many of us follow. This world teaches us to publicize and to broadcast whatever good that we do. It teaches us to post in facebook and other platforms in the internet our acts of kindness. So that those who know us may see it and consequently they will have a good impression about us.   

Why publicise? Perhaps this is brought about by our hunger for recognition. And there’s no wrong about it for we simply want to be recognized.  But Jesus is challenging us not to go  after recognition and to not publicize what we do.

Jesus is challenging us to silently fade away after we have done good to anyone. Could we measure up to this challenge of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 19, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

What is genuine love? It’s a love that doesn’t discriminate a love that embraces everybody including those who are not lovable to our eyes. The beauty of loving even those who do not love us is we show them what true love is all about. True love that emanates from Jesus Himself.

When we love even those who are not lovable we don’t only give them our unconditional love. We also teach them to give love, never mind if they will not love us in return. What is important is we teach them the language of unconditional love so that they would learn from it and hopefully be converted by it.

But is unconditional love still relevant today? For many of us today love is a two way street: You love me and I give you love in return if you will not love me I will not give you my love. But if this is our mentality the language of true love will not anymore have life. There would be no more true love and true sacrifice for the person that we love.

True love or genuine love therefore is to love without any condition/s and to love without expecting love in return. Hard to do, right? But if we truly love Jesus we would be able to freely give love, love which is not bound by the laws of reciprocity. – Marino  J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday June 18, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

(Jesus said to his disciples) 38 "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

 42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.

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Reflection:

What would 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 disagreements and quarrels, if a person will exact revenge for the injury that was caused her/him.  It would only become a vicious cycle of disagreements and quarrels that has no ending. This is the result of our unforgiveness but what if we take the high road of forgiveness and humility? Then things will be OK, there’s no hatred or any kind of bad feeling in our hearts.

It’s hard to be humble, it’s hard to forgive and it’s hard not to retaliate for the injury that was done to us. But let us look at Jesus on the cross and reflect on the wounds that we have carved on HIS body by our sinfulness. What if HE has not forgiven us, what if HE did not humble himself for us?

What Jesus gives us today are valuable lessons on humility and forgiveness that will help us build bridges instead of walls. The gospel reading for today is very easy to look at and read. But can we live it? If we abhor hostility, if we are humble and if we are truly passionately in love with Jesus we would be able to live these teachings. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday June 17, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:26-34

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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Reflection:

There's a story of a man who habitually shares inspirational and wisdom filled bible verses to his friends. He used every means available to share it such as through facebook and other social media platforms. Regardless if he would get a reply of appreciation or not he would always send it to them almost everyday.

One day, he met by chance one of those friends who regularly read his inspirational bible verses. His friend told him this: “Thank you for the daily inspirational bible verses that you’ve been tirelessly sending me, you’ve been planting the seeds of God’s kingdom in my heart. It gives me hope and it strengthens my faith in Jesus.”

In today’s gospel Jesus made use of two comparisons to describe the kingdom of God: the man who scattered seed and the mustard seed that became a great tree. Both seeds grew fruitfully and became useful, the scattered seed grew and was usefully harvested. The small mustard seed that was sown became big and had large branches where birds dwelt in its shade. 

Let us think about and ask ourselves if we have planted seeds of faith, goodness and humility in the hearts of our fellowmen. Let us think about and ask ourselves if we have planted the seed of Jesus in their hearts. So that it may also grow within them and become as big as the mustard seed where others could benefit from it.

Let us also think and reflect if we have already sown/scattered the seeds of forgiveness, mercy and love in the hearts of our fellowmen. So that it could grow and multiply in their hearts too so that they could also sow it to those around them.

We might have not have sown anything yet that will grow and bear much fruit in their hearts. Lest we forget that one of our foremost Baptismal mission as Christians is to scatter and plant the seeds of Jesus and our faith by sharing and living it.

Have you already done something to sow the seeds of Jesus words and teachings in the hearts of your fellowmen? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Saturday June 16, 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; or 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:

Do you stand by your word?

Our words are one of the essential showcase of our character. For example, if we are prone not to fulfill what we say we would eventually loss our credibility. No one will believe us anymore because the minds of those who know us have already been conditioned that we don’t stand up for what we say.

But the moment we start to value word of honor and once we only say what is true. Our moral value and credibility will never be questioned for the simple reason that we have word of honor and we always say the truth.

Many of us do not value anymore word of honor. Lying or to tell lies is just ordinary thing for many of us. We are not anymore bothered about its negative impact on our reputation. And the harm that it will create to our fellowmen, this is who some of us are today, very sad but very true also.  

To have integrity and word of honor is something that we have to imbibe and live. We have to discard any form of lying. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday June 15, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

A husband without any qualms told his wife that it’s all over for them, that they can now go on their separate lives. This is the culture nowadays; the sacredness of marriage is not anymore being respected by married couples. Adultery and divorce is always a tempting easy way out for them.

Why do these two evil instruments exist? For the simple reason that we don’t value our faith in Jesus anymore. Yes, we worship Jesus at church but we purposely imprison Jesus inside the four walls of the church. 

We don’t bring Jesus with us and we don’t allow Him to live with us. If we live the teachings of Jesus we would be afraid to even think of these two evil instruments. Much less commit and plunge our very selves into it.

But all is not lost yet, there is still hope and He is no other than Jesus. Let us bring Jesus with us, let us live His teachings and let us make Him our armor. So that we can easily protect ourselves from the scheming of the devil who always seeks to destroy the sanctity of the Marriage Covenant. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday June 14, 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:

What is the cure for anger? It’s humility.

Nobody of us are perfect once in a while we get angry but do we have the humility to make amends after we have injured someone with our arrogance? Only a  gentle person would have the courage to say I’m sorry or to apologize.

But to say I’m sorry is not easy to do, only a humble person would summon enough courage to say this magic words that have healed so many disputes and arguments. In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us teaching about anger.

Jesus tells us that we must be reconciled with those whom we have differences and had feelings of enmity. But why do we get angry in the first place? We get angry because we lack humility, we get angry because we have this superiority complex against our fellowmen.

It’s only humility that could deescalate and eventually eliminate our anger. Let us therefore pray for the grace of humility, let us ask God the Holy Spirit to give it to us. The best test of humility is our willingness to apologize and to admit our mistakes before those whom we have hurt.

Do you have the humility to apologize?  Apologize for it will set you free. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church: 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:

What is life without Jesus? It’s barren, chaotic and without peace. What is life without following the laws of God? It’s the same as well.  Jesus comes into our lives to make it meaningful and productive. Not meaningful and productive in the eyes of this world but meaningful and productive in His eyes.

When we break the laws of God we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. For example if a politician shows in his public image that he is a follower of Jesus. He will not break the law by stealing money from the coffers of the government, etc.

 He will not break the law of God by siding with those who are espousing anti poor laws such as death penalty. Otherwise he is only using Jesus to serve his own hidden agenda. Same goes for a spouse who professes to follow Jesus. He/she should not break the law by betraying the marriage covenant.

There’s always a reward that awaits those who follow the laws of God. And there’s always a reward that awaits those who follow Jesus and His commandments.

Do you always follow the laws of God and Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 12, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

How could we become salt and light in this materialistic world? We must become the extension of Jesus in this world. As Jesus became salt and light to this world for everyone of us so we too must become salt and light for our fellowmen.

But this is easier said than done, perhaps we would say; before I become salt and light for others I must become salt and light for myself first. The me first mentality and this is what this world dictates us, to be a person for ourselves first before being a person for others.

The teachings of Jesus are always in contrast to the teachings of this world and these teachings about salt and light is no exception. We know that salt preserves and it defines the taste of food. We know that light illumines a dark environment, light gives hope to a seemingly hopeless surroundings. 

As Jesus challenged HIS disciples to become living salt and light to their world. So we too are challenged by Jesus to become living salt and light to our own world today. How would we proceed from this challenge of Jesus?

Let us forget ourselves and let us start to live and teach Jesus’ teachings. For this is the only way that we could become living salt and light of this world.

Can you measure up to this challenge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday June 10, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 3:20-35

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35

Jesus came home with his disciples. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder the house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you." But he said to them in reply, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

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Reflection:    

Do you want to be a relative of Jesus? If your answer is yes, then Jesus has a requirement for you. And this is His requirement: You have to do the will of God. (Mark 3:35) If you may ask: What is the will of God for me? You have to follow the Servanthood life of Jesus.

Life of Servanthood which is perhaps outdated already for many of the modern people of this technology driven world today. The modern people of today generally subscribe to a life of modernity  which is to have what this modern world offers us.

For example, to have the newest gadget available which actually boils down to self-centeredness and the me first mindset. Therefore the life of Servanthood of Jesus is eased out for a self-centeredness life.

At the start of today’s gospel we read about Jesus living His Servanthood lifestyle. He is just through His healing ministry that’s why many were still following Him to have His healing. And by not focusing anymore on Himself Jesus was labeled as someone who is out of His mind by His relatives who was trying to control Him. 

However Jesus’ relatives did not understand His Servanthood lifestyle. Perhaps they were also eaten up already by the self-centered lifestyle or the me first mindset: My comfort first, my needs and wants first.

If we really want to follow Jesus we have to embrace His Servanthood mindset, lifestyle and way of life. We have to prioritize first the welfare of our fellowmen before our own. And if we do so we are now eligible to be called a true relative of Jesus.

Do you want to become a true relative of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

1Reflection for Saturday June 9, the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 2:41-51

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

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Reflection:

Mario was a good son and the sole provider to his siblings and parents. One day he said to his parents that he will get married, both parents were speechless and in shock. Being both retired they were full of trepidation they were silently asking themselves: Who will provide for us now?      

Just like in that short story, sometimes we make arbitrary actions that hurt and give apprehension to our relatives. They may not directly say their apprehensions because they deeply respect our independence but deep in their hearts they are anxious.  

This must be the feeling of both Joseph and Mary when Jesus purposely remained behind in Jerusalem. So they went back to Jerusalem full of anxiety and many thoughts were already running in their minds. After three days they found Jesus safe and sound in the temple intently listening to the lectures and asking questions.

At a young age of twelve Jesus already had that need to hear the words of God in the temple. It was a non issue for him if he was left behind by His parents and other companions so long as he could be in the house of God.

Don’t we feel also in our lives this urgency to hear God’s words in the celebration of the Holy Mass? The boy Jesus points us to the fact that we too must have this great need to hear the words of God and share it afterwards.

We must find time to listen to the words of God, being busy with our earthly concerns is not an excuse we must find time for God. If we can’t go to church for Holy Mass we can open the bible and read it solemnly for God speaks through us by His words in the bible.

Do you find time for God amidst your busy schedule? – Marino J. Dasmarinas