Reflection for Saturday July 7, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

Do you already have Jesus in your life? When you already have Jesus in your life you are already like a fresh wineskin. Fresh or new wineskin is sturdy and strong. It can withstand the pressure when a new wine is poured into it.

This is what we become when we already have Jesus in our lives. We can withstand whatever problems that life would bring to us. Nobody and no problem no matter how difficult can break us because we have Jesus in our lives.

It’s so hard for many of us to feel the presence of Jesus because we hardly have time for Him. We don’t invest time with Jesus yet we can invest time for other worldly things. Some of us would even reason out that we hardly have time to be with Jesus because of the many pressures of life.   

But how come we have time for worldly things? For example, why is it that we can squeeze in chit-chat or gossip time?  If we can chi-chat and do other worldly things why can’t we have time for Jesus our life giver? This is the paradox of our modern time right now: We don’t have time for Jesus yet we create time for other worldly things.

If you want to have a fresh and positive viewpoint about your future and about life in general. Let Jesus come into your life do not close your heart to Him in favor of the things of this world. Which would bring you nothing at the end except more troubles and pressures. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Friday July 6, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Does Jesus have a soft spot for sinners? Yes Jesus has a soft spot for all of us: sinners. For example in our gospel HE called a tax collector and a sinful man named Matthew. After calling Matthew Jesus went to his house to dine with tax collectors and sinners.

All of us are sinners and Jesus is continuously calling upon us to leave for good our sinfulness and follow HIM. The gravity of our sins are not anymore important for Jesus what is important for HIM is we respond to HIS call same as how Matthew in our gospel responded.

Perhaps you may ask, why is Jesus calling me to follow HIM? Among many other reasons Jesus wants us to be freed from the bondage of sin; HE wants us to be enlightened by HIS grace. And Jesus wants to save us from going to the kingdom of the devil. These are reasons why HE calls us to follow HIM.

Your life will never be the same again once you accept this offer of Jesus. There will be healing in your family; you will now become averse to commit any form of sin and you will be freed from its bondage.  Are you not tired of sinning? Are you not tired of a life without peace and contentment?

Why not respond and see for yourself the miracle and healing that Jesus will bring into your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday July 5, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew  9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, :Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

What does this story of the paralytic who was brought to Jesus tells us? It tells us that we too need to go to Jesus for Him to heal us and to forgive us of all our sins. This tells us as well that we also need to bring others to Jesus to be healed and forgiven by Him too!

We all have a need for Jesus in our lives. We may not need Him now because we are in the pink of health and financially capable. But time will certainly come that we will be forced to go to Jesus even beg Jesus so that He could heal us also.

Let us not anymore wait for that time to come when we are already sick before we go to Jesus. Let us go to Him now while we are still healthy, let us not delay for tomorrow may be late already.   

In like manner we too are encouraged by the gospel to bring others to Jesus. This we could do best through our acts of love, mercy and compassion. The reason behind is we can’t bring others to Jesus without loving them, without showing them our mercy and compassion.

We certainly can’t bring others to Jesus if we are judgmental, not merciful and not compassionate. Let us be more patient with them. So that they could be enlightened by Jesus as Jesus has enlightened us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Wednesday July 4, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:28-34

Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

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Reflection:

What can demons do to us if we have Jesus in our lives? Nothing absolutely nothing! We are untouchable by any demonic power if we have Jesus in our lives. But do we still have Jesus in our lives today?

This is the big question now; do we still have Jesus in our lives today? Or it might be that we are very preoccupied with worldliness that we hardly have time for Jesus anymore. And when we hardly have time for Jesus that is when the devil comes to swiftly possess us.

As evidenced by our gospel today, the demons were no match for Jesus they capitulate in surrender to Jesus. This is the power of Jesus; it can subject anyone including the devil to HIS will. But it’s sad that many of us today don’t realize this anymore for the simple reason that we have no more time for Jesus yet we create time for this world.

 Where are we leading if we go with this world? It will lead us closer to the devil hiding beneath the many pleasures of this world. We must realize this urgency before it’s too late. Let us disengage ourselves from our worldliness and let us engage Jesus for we will never go wrong with HIM.  

The closer we go to Jesus the farther we go away from the devil. The closer we go to Jesus the more that we have peace and serenity in our lives. Do you believe this? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday July 3, Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle: John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

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Reflection:

What moves us to be present at Holy Mass? It’s our deep faith in Jesus, we allocate time and we prepare ourselves for this union with Jesus. But there are times that we get disappointed with the homily of the priest. So instead of going back to Mass some of us would purposely miss it and we will just be content on watching tv Mass.

But is this correct? No it’s not! Whenever we purposely fail to voluntarily submit ourselves to the celebration of the Holy Mass. We also deny ourselves deeper intimacy with Jesus and as a result of this we miss the opportunity to further deepen our faith in Him.

Thomas was nowhere to be found when Jesus made himself visible for the first time to His apostles. Where was he around that time? Perhaps he was just around the vicinity pondering about his faith and the role of Jesus in his life.  Perhaps he was also questioning his discipleship in Jesus. However, amidst the questioning and doubt he finally went to see Jesus.    

What made Thomas go to see Jesus this time? It was his deep faith and longing for his Lord and Master. May we all have this deep faith and longing for Jesus so that we would always be present at Holy Mass. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Monday July 2, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

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Reflection:

Are you always generous with the God given talents or gifts that you have?

In the first sentence of the gospel it would appear that Jesus was trying to evade the crowd that has been following Him for healing. But no the situation is not as what it appears it was rather time for Jesus to move on and share His gift of preaching and healing with other places.

Jesus is an itinerant preacher and healer; as much as possible He wants to share His many super natural gifts with as many people as He can. This is the reason why He wants to go to other places as much as He can. For the reason that Jesus’ wants to share His talents without expecting anything in return.

Each of us has been blessed by God with gifts/talents that He wants us to share. It may be the gift of preaching, it may be the gift of writing about God it may be the gift of empathy, unconditional love and concern. It may be the gift of attentively listening to those who are burdened, it may be the gift of material wealth and the like.

Let us generously share these blessings let us not hoard it for ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 1, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer? Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

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Reflection:

A woman who was diagnosed with terminal sickness was given by her doctors only two months to live. Even if her health was already failing this woman had incredible faith, even if she was already getting weaker by the day she would try very hard to attend Holy Mass daily. 

It eventually came to a point that she was too weak to get up from her bed. Hence, she requested their parish priest to visit her so that she could be administered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. And thereafter every Sunday she would be visited by an Extra-Ordinary  Minister of the Holy Communion to give her the Body of Christ.

After a month of receiving the Body of Christ brought to her by the Extra-Ordinary  Minister of the Holy Communion. The woman was amazingly able to get up again. She regained her strength and was able to attend once again their daily Mass. When she was asked who healed her she would always give praise to Jesus and her strong faith in Him.

We have in our gospel two incredible stories of faith one is the synagogue official named Jairus and the other one is a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve long years. Both of them got what they wanted from Jesus, in the case of Jairus healing for his daughter and the woman healing for her sickness that had been enslaving her for twelve years.

Jesus granted them both what they want because they both have rock solid faith. Not only that they have faith they also manifested their respective faiths by their deeds or actions. For example, in the story of Jairus he went out of his way to personally go to Jesus to ask Him to come to his home and lay His hand on his daughter.

The woman afflicted with hemorrhages did the same, upon hearing that Jesus was near her. She went to Him with the intention of touching a part of His clothes and that would be enough for her to be healed by Jesus. So, she went to Jesus; touched His cloak and she was immediately cured. Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction (Mark 5:34)."          

Just like Jairus and the sick woman our faith in Jesus must always be coupled with action. If we pray to Jesus to grant us something we must not lay around idly we must work for it and ask Jesus with faith to grant us what we want. It must always be faith with action not faith without action.  St. James said: What good is it to profess faith without showing works?” “Such faith has no power to save you (James 2:14).”   

How is your faith in Jesus is it always coupled with action? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Saturday June 30, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:5-17

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you. And at that very hour his servant was healed.

Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him.

When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus a magnet to people most especially to who are in need? This is for the reason that Jesus never refused anyone who asked for His help most especially those who are persistent. Jesus was always available, Jesus would always have time for them regardless of who they are and where they came from.

The centurion/soldier in our gospel came from a faraway place and certainly not a follower of Jesus. But he knew Jesus and he heard of His miracles so he ventured to see Him. And when he saw Jesus he asked him to cure his servant. Jesus never had any second thought of helping the centurion; he even offered to go his house to personally cure his servant.

This gospel episode invites us to reflect if we also make ourselves available to those who are in need of our help. Often we are not willing to help because it will disturb us. It will affect our personal finances and schedules and so forth. However, it’s not every day that we are asked for help.

The best way to share our faith and to share Jesus is not though eloquent or bombastic preaching. The best way to share our faith and to share Jesus is when we make ourselves available most especially to those who are in need. And to those who cannot give back the help that we give them.       

Do you take time to make yourself available to those who are in need especially the poor? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday June 29, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: Matthew 16:13-19

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Reflection:

How well do you know Jesus?

After Peter correctly answered the question of Jesus about His true identity. Jesus told Peter that the enlightenment to know Him came from God and not from him. Thus, being the anointed one Peter was chosen by Jesus to be the first head of the church. It was not by Peter’s own effort that he was chosen it was God who chose Peter.   

How many times have we credited ourselves for our achievements and success?    How many times have we owned to ourselves our knowledge about God? Many of us would always attribute to ourselves and through our hardwork everything that we know and have.

But the truth is what we know and have right now is purely a gift from God. Amongst the many we were chosen by God with those gifts not for us to boast about it. But to humbly use it for the greater glory of the kingdom of God in this world.

The Apostles Peter and Paul used their God given gifts to humbly advance God’s kingdom.

How about us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

1Reflection for Thursday June 28, Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr: Matthew 7:21-29

                                                                     Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

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Reflection:

Does a priest have a safe passage to heaven? Does a nun have a safe passage to heaven?  Does a Catholic blogger like me have a safe passage to heaven?

The answers to all of these questions are no! Nobody has a monopoly of heavenly dwelling, everyone of us has a chance provided we do the will of God and we live our lives according to how God wants us to live it.

So what are we going to do? We have to live what we preach and teach for if we don’t live what we preach and teach we have no chance of entering heaven someday. Many are only good with teaching and preaching and it ends there. So very much like the false prophets who were only good at preaching and teaching but live unholy lives.

Jesus himself tells us this: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

Jesus knows everything about us! If to our fellowmen we could sugarcoat our image as Godly with Jesus we cannot. For He knows our deepest secrets, He knows if we are only pretending to be Godly.

Jesus knows as well the secret lives that we live and the hidden sins that we commit we can’t hide anything from Him. We therefore must reform and leave behind anything that makes us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Wednesday June 27, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them."

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Reflection:

Do you know of someone who would say that he/she speaks for God but his/her actions say otherwise?

There were many false prophets during the time of Jesus and even before the time of Jesus. They would claim to speak for God but their actions betray their true motives. There are also many false prophets nowadays, by their glib tongues they gather many adherents but soon enough they’re exposed as frauds by their own words and actions.

Good relatives and friends are somewhat like prophets they guide us and they bring us closer to God. But we should also be wary because there are friends and even relatives who would bring us away from God.

They only take advantage of us and the moment they already achieve their objective they immediately evaporate from our sight. We therefore have to be discerning and careful.

So, we must be watchful of these people for they are like leeches that will cling to us only to leave us in a huff when they find out that we are not anymore useful to them.  False prophets are like that as well, they are good at manipulating and using their followers to serve their selfish agendas. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday June 26, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

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Reflection:

What is the difference between a narrow gate and a wide gate? It’s hard to enter the narrow gate, you may have to twist your body so that you could pass through it. How about the wide gate? You simply can walk through it no twisting and no discomfort whatsoever.

You may ask, what is the relationship of the narrow gate with Jesus? The narrow gate is the gateway to knowing Jesus. The narrow gate is the gateway toward having a personal encounter with Jesus. In what way would this narrow gate lead you to Jesus? This narrow gate will entail for you to make some sacrifices. It will entail you to do things that you are not normally used of doing.

For example, in fulfilling your Sunday Holy Mass obligation, in abhorring sin or in reading the Holy Bible. You may not be comfortable  of doing this because this requires effort and time. Yet if you dare do this it will lead you to Jesus and it will lead you to know more about the many truths concerning the church.

If you want to find the true meaning and purpose of your life and if you want to know Jesus more deeply. You have to pass thru this narrow gate for this is the way that would lead you to a life of purpose with Jesus. Forget the wide gate which consist of the many sinful worldly enjoyment, it will lead you nowhere it will even lead you to destruction.

Will you dare enter this narrow gate? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday June 25, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:1-5

Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

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Reflection:

Why are many of us judgmental? This is for the reason that we feel superior than the person that we are judging or we have this attitude of dominance and arrogance. Otherwise if we don’t feel superior we would not dare judge our fellowmen.

But very clearly in our gospel for today we hear Jesus telling us to stop judging. This is difficult to follow for those who have superiority complex but easy to follow for those who are docile, and humble.

It’s always very tempting to be judgmental most especially if the person is at fault. However, what would we get from judging others? Nothing except to increase the value of our arrogance and to increase the worth of our egos! Instead of judging, why not simply advice and impart words that heals rather than words that condemn.  

When we perceive that someone is a sinner let us always think that we are sinners too! So that we would not be tempted to judge them. The reality of life is we are all sinners that is why we have no right to condemn or to judge our fellowmen.

We can only bring others to Jesus when we are not judgmental, when we are compassionate, loving and forgiving. For who are we to judge? Even Jesus doesn’t judge, therefore; we have no right to judge.  

There are sinners because many of us do not dare impart and live Jesus’ compassion, forgiveness and love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday June 24, Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."

But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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Reflection:

A married couple in their late-thirties was finally blessed by God with a child. They were so happy for they thought that they would not have a child anymore. Therefore, the married couple promised God that they would properly take care of this child. They also said to God that they would teach this child how to be simple and humble and they would introduce this child to Him by bringing the child with them whenever they would attend Holy Mass. 

What does a new born child brings to a family? It brings unfathomable joy and rejoicing. This was how the couple Elizabeth and Zechariah felt during that time. The new born child did not only bring joy to his parents, he also brought healing to his father Zechariah who had problem with speaking.

Do you properly take care of your child? This child that is given to you as a blessing by God? Do you teach your child about God and your faith? Do you teach this child to be humble and to live simply? Do you bring this growing child to church for Holy Mass?

What can we learn from the nativity of Saint John the Baptist? We learn that there is a reward that awaits for parents who are faithful to the will of God. We learn that when a child is taught about values of simplicity and humility the child would grow up to be simple and humble as well.

John grew up as a simple and humble man, he grew up faithful to God’s will for him. We cannot only attribute these virtues of John to God alone. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah (his parents) played also an important role in instilling him these virtues of humility and simplicity. Zechariah and Elizabeth did not only teach John about simplicity and humility. They spent time with the child John and both of them lived humility and simplicity also.   

Many children today are being pampered and spoiled by their parents. They buy their children the newest gadgets to supposedly show their love. However, giving them the latest gadgets is not a show of love.

It’s in fact a testament of parent’s lack of real and unconditional love towards their children.  Real and unconditional love is when you spend time with your children and you don’t count the cost of the time that you spend with them. You simply savor and treasure that time for you know that the time spent with your children is a time well spent which no money or gadgets can replace.

Do you still bond with your children by giving them your time? Do you live the virtues of humility and simplicity and do you teach your child how to be humble and simple?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas