Reflection for Friday August 10, Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr: John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

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

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Reflection:

What does it mean to hate your life in this world? It’s to give your life in the service of Jesus so that through you others may know Jesus. When you do not give your life for the mission of Jesus and just keep it to yourself you will not grow in wisdom and faith. Yes, you will grow in worldliness and hedonism but eventually your life will come to a halt. And that’s basically the end of it.

When you choose to give your life for the mission of Jesus you will not anymore enjoy this world as you enjoyed it before.  Yet you will also discover a more profound and deeper meaning in your life that only Jesus can give you.

 Why? Because you chose to give your life for the mission of Jesus. You chose to throwaway your life away from worldliness going to the direction of Jesus so that you could walk hand in hand with Him.

As Jesus gave away His very own life on the cross so that God’s kingdom in this world could grow and flourish. We too should not be afraid to give away our life for the sake of the kingdom of God for this is where the true essence and meaning of life lies.

Have you already found the true essence and meaning of life with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday August 9, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 16:13-23

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and 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.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

About ten (10) years ago, Every Sunday I would regularly go to the house of a sick 85 years old former Eucharistic minister to give him Holy Communion. He was poor and was renting a small house with his children. It would seem that he was suffering but he was always thankful for the blessings of Jesus every Sunday. I never heard him complain about his suffering.

When Jesus was giving some hints of His forthcoming sufferings and eventual death; Peter rebuked Him by saying: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22) Just like Peter many of us are averse with sufferings; we want to avoid it as much as possible. Perhaps this is our human nature; we don’t want to suffer for the simple reason that it’s difficult.

But sufferings are part and parcel of life. No matter how we deftly avoid it, it will eventually catch us along our journey in this world. However, if we have Jesus in our life we will never complain about our physical suffering/s.

How about Jesus? Is HE averse with sufferings? No, HE is not, in fact HE told HIS disciples that HE would be suffering greatly from the hands of elders, chief priest and scribes then eventually be killed by them. (Matthew 16:21) Why is Jesus not afraid of suffering/s? This is for the reason that Jesus knows that God is with Him.

Jesus embraced HIS sufferings for the reason that HE knew that it was part of HIS mission of salvation. HE let go of HIS life and HE entrusted it to almighty God.

Life is not always how we like it to be, there would come a time that we will encounter hardships and sufferings. Let us not lose sleep about this, let us simply trust our all knowing and all loving almighty God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday August 8, Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest: Matthew 15:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

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Reflection:

What is faith to you? Faith is when you believe without seeing what you believe. Faith is when you persist to ask the Lord even if it seems that He is not listening to you.

The Canaanite woman had this kind of faith, she never gave up on her prayer request for Jesus to heal her daughter tormented by a demon. There were many obstacles against her foremost of this was her being not a Jew but it did not matter to her. She persisted and she even argued with Jesus until she passed Jesus’ examination of her faith on Him. After which her daughter was healed by Jesus.

This gospel relates with our own journey of faith in Jesus also. We could be that Canaanite woman who badgered Jesus no end until she got the healing that she wanted for her daughter.

 However, unlike the woman from Canaan who persisted until the very end we may not have the will to badger Jesus. We may have quit already and said to ourselves, I give up on my prayer for Jesus because He seems to be deaf. What we do not know is it's just a part of the testing of our faith.

Every trial that we go through is our own test of faith; we may be going through some trials right now. We may be asking ourselves, why am I going through these difficulties? Let us not give up and let us continue to have faith for the Lord will soon answer our prayer/s with faith. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday August 7, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:22-36

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

Do you create time for the deepening of your friendship with God?

Jesus has that time, He always make it a point to be by Himself to pray and speak to God. To speak to God was His energy booster it inspired Jesus to move on and continue His difficult mission of salvation.

In this modern frenetic life that we have which is dictated by hedonism and materialism we seem to hardly have time in prayer for God.  we have less time to know more about the life of   Jesus in the bible.

Why? Because we allow ourselves to be overpowered by the demands of this fleeting world.  If we can create time to renew our ties with our relatives and friends. If we can create time to browse our facebook and other social media accounts.

Why can't we create time for the Lord in prayer? Let us not forget the giver of everything that we have is the Lord. Many of us may not believe this but it’s really God who is the author of all the things that we have in this world.

What if we suddenly die, where would we go if we have not developed a friendship with Jesus? The devil might immediately snatch our souls and forcefully bring it to his kingdom. When we always have time for Jesus it would be very hard for the evil one to bring us to his kingdom.   

Hence, you have to have your daily quite time with the Lord. it doesn’t matter how short for as long as you always have time for Him in prayer for it will help you ward off the many temptations of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday August 6, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord: Mark 9:2-10

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

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Reflection:

What if Peter, James and John refused to go with Jesus to the mountain of transfiguration? They would have missed the once in a lifetime experience of heaven. They would have missed seeing Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. They would have missed seeing Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah. (The great prophets of the Old Testament). They would have missed the opportunity to hear the voice of God telling them: This is my beloved Son. Listen to him (Mark 9:7).    

But they did not refuse the invitation of Jesus they simply obeyed and went with Him to the mountain of transfiguration. Thus, they had that sudden experience of heaven. And they knew from thereon that if they would only be faithful to their discipleship for Jesus they already have their own dwelling in heaven.

Perhaps, when Jesus told Peter, James and John to go with Him onto the mountain of transfiguration. Jesus was also testing the three of them.  He was testing the strength of their faith and discipleship for Him. They passed their test of faith just like Abraham who passed his own test of faith also. 

Thus, Peter, James and John were richly rewarded by God. The reward for the three disciples were the foretaste of heaven among others. As long as we live in this world we will also have our own tests of faith. It will come to us in different forms and shapes. Let us remain faithful no matter how hard and difficult the tests.

For there’s always a reward for those who would be faithful and what is the reward? Life in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday August 5, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:24-35

Gospel: John 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

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Reflection:

Every Sunday, I would go to the house of an eighty seven (87) years old woman to give her Holy Communion. One thing that always catch my attention is this: Whenever I enter their house I would always see a corporal neatly laid on a table and there is always a candle waiting to be lighted. Therefore, I would immediately take out my pyx open it to expose the Bread of Life after which I put it in the corporal. And right there the 87-years-old woman would bow her head in worship and reverence for Jesus.

There was one Sunday that the rain was very strong. Hence, I stayed for a little while and I asked her: Were you a volunteer church worker during your younger years? And she said, yes I was, I was a catechist for so many years. I would teach those who would go through their first Holy Communion. That the bread that they’re going to accept is none other than the Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself.

I immediately concurred and said to her; the same Bread of Life which keeps you strong and which keeps on nourishing you every Sunday and she emphatically said: Yes!

In the gospel, Jesus tells the crowd who followed Him to Capernaum: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."(John 6:35) Why did Jesus reveal Himself to them? 

This is for the reason that they were following Him because of the loaves that they ate (John 6:11) not because of Himself. They did not follow Jesus because they love Him they followed Jesus since He fed them with loaves. If Jesus did not feed them they would have not followed Him to Capernaum.

Like the crowd who followed Jesus to Capernaum many of us follow Jesus for the reason of the material things that we can receive from Jesus. However, Jesus is way more than any material things that we can receive in this world.

In following Jesus we should follow because we love Him, because we want to give ourselves to Him and we want to share in His mission. These are the right reasons to follow Jesus!

The 87 years old woman followed Jesus for the right reasons, she gave a part of her life to Jesus by serving as a Catechist. And now that she is in the twilight of her life the eternal Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself is always with her every Sunday. Nourishing her, giving her hope and assuring her that she would be with Him in heaven someday.

How about you, why do you attend Holy Mass, why do you partake of the Bread of Life during Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday August 4, Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest: Matthew 14:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him. Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him “It is not lawful for you to have her. Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

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Reflection:

Who is King Herod? King Herod is a tyrant, a leader who will never think twice to supress anyone who dares cross his path. He will not only suppress, Herod could even order the killing of anyone he wants so that he could remain in power.

Respect for human rights is not part of the vocabulary of Herod, abuse of human rights and dignity is. This is the reason why John the Baptist was imprisoned. John did nothing wrong he simply said what was to be truthfully said yet John suffered for it. 

Many leaders are like King Herod, they would bully themselves with the use of strong words to  achieve what they want . We must be very careful and watchful of these kind of leaders for they would not do us any good. They will only bring us to perdition and they would only bring shame to the country which they lead.

Let us be observant about their pronouncements most especially off the cuff pronouncements for this is where they reveal their true personalities. This is where we could get a glimpse of the true character of a leader. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday August 3, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:54-58

Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son' Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas' Are not his sisters all with us' Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

Are you quick to disrespect your fellowmen based on what you know about them?

Disrespect had been the feeling of Jesus’ town mates toward Him because they were familiar with Him. To them He was just a carpenter’s son; they knew Him so well that‘s why they belittled Him.

But looking deeper into their hearts we may also see that they were full of envy and hatred toward Jesus. They were envious of the adulation that Jesus received from the people. Envy and hatred are harmful emotion that darkens our judgment. It prevents us from achieving total wellness in both mind and body.

Jesus knew of His townmates envy, disdain and lack of faith in Him that’s why He did not do miracles in His native place. If only they were not disrespectful and judgmental of Jesus. If only they were not lacking in faith, they could have received many miracles and healings from Jesus.

Do you sometimes act like the town mates of Jesus? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday August 2, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:47-53

Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

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Reflection:

Do you know how to fish using a net?

When a net is thrown into the sea it catches every fish that it could. It doesn’t discriminate it gets everything that is within its reach.

Our church is like a net thrown into a sea of humanity. It doesn’t categorize neither discriminate. Everyone is welcome; good or bad, black or white, sinner and non-sinner everyone is welcome to enter our church. For this is what Jesus wants us to do; invite everyone to enter and eventually join our church.

But don’t we somehow discriminate and judge others for the simple reason that we don’t like them or we don't like what wear and do? The moment we judge, it’s like saying that God only wants the righteous to be in HIS church. It’s like saying that the net which is thrown into the sea is a discriminating net, but it’s not. For the net is for every fish that it could catch.

This is perhaps an eye opener for all of us; we who are often times judgmental and we who discriminate. Let us leave judgment to the Lord for who we are to judge. Let us humbly continue to share and live our faith with the end in mind that we could convince others whomever they maybe to follow Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday August 1, Saint Alphonsus Liguouri, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 13:44-46

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

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Reflection:

What are you willing to give up to have the kingdom of God in your life?

Jesus depicted His kingdom as treasure and pearl that whoever would find it will give up everything just to have it. Indeed, the kingdom of God is a priceless treasure and pearl that we must all try very hard to possess. For what it will do us if we have treasures in this world yet we don’t have God in our lives.

The riches of this world are all passing and temporary we will leave it all somewhere along the path of our lives. Whether we like it or not we have to leave everything that we have in this world. So what will remain?

The one that will forever be there for us is God; the one that shall bring us to heaven is our steadfast faith in God. These temporary things that presently surround us will not be able to bring us to our eternal heavenly destination. It’s only through God that we will be able to go to heaven.

In our gospel; the person found the true treasure of life that is Jesus; he willingly gave up everything just to have Him. The same also with the merchant when he found the true pearl of his life that is Jesus he sold everything in his possessions so that he could possess the greatest pearl that is Jesus.

Let us not yield Jesus for the temporary riches and trappings of this world for what is inside this world are all temporary and passing. But Jesus will always be there for us until we are able to reach His kingdom in heaven.

Would you give up your worldly possessions for the kingdom of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday July 31, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest: Matthew 13:36-43

Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

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Reflection:

How are you living your life today? Are you living it in accord with what Jesus wants you to live it?

 Many of us live life as if there is no tomorrow, we live life to enjoy whatever this world could offer us, including sin. But life lived for this world alone is not the real life; there is something more profound than the life that we enjoy in this fleeting world. 

  

The profound life is a life lived in the company of Jesus. But how could we discover the movement of Jesus in our lives? There are so many ways to discern this movement of Jesus in our lives.

For example you will discover that Jesus wants to have a deep friendship with you through a relative or a good friend. Through a written commentary that you just read out of nowhere and this written commentary made you think about how you are living your life today.

The good friend and the written commentary that you’ve read are part of the many seeds that Jesus sows in your heart. And Jesus expects nothing less from you than to listen to Him because Jesus always wants nothing but the best for you.

At the end of the gospel Jesus speaks about harvest time or judgment day. When would this be? This will be at the end of our lives, when we die to be more specific. We will be judged according to what we’ve done in this world. If we listened to Jesus we will have a place in His kingdom.

How are you living your life today? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Monday July 30, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:31-35

Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.

He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

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Reflection:

Almost everything in life starts small. For example, when we were born in this world we were small. Then, due to the nourishment that we received from our parents we got bigger and bigger, this is how life starts.

What would make us grow in faith so others could benefit from us? It’s the spiritual nourishment that we give to our life. For example, we go to church and attend Holy Mass without fail and we enrich our minds by our reading of the bible. As we do these acts of faith we would be surprised to discover that we slowly grow in faith. And we will be further astonished that as we grow in faith we also learn how to share our faith. 

  

these two parables that Jesus gives us today in the gospel is a reminder for all of us. We, who all want to grow in faith. If we want to grow in faith and if we want others to benefit from our wisdom. 

We must therefore feed ourselves with our regular presence at Holy Mass, we must feed ourselves by way of regular reading of the bible and we must not forget to translate what we learn from Holy Mass and reading of the bible to actual acts of faith.

Jesus will certainly want us all to grow in faith. But how can we grow in faith and how can others benefit from us through our faith? If we seldom attend Holy Mass and if we seldom read the bible? How can we grow in faith if we seldom pray the Rosary? And how can we grow in faith if we don’t help those who are in need most especially the poor?

Our faith is a gift from God but we must also nurture this gift of faith by our actual acts of faith so that it could grow. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday July 29, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:1-15

Gospel: John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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Reflection:

Do you thirst for the spotlight after we’ve done something important? More often than not it’s yes! We all want to be in the spotlight to be the one holding the starring role. In other words we want attention and honor given to us.

But how did Jesus handle Himself after miraculously feeding the five thousand who were following Him?  Not minding the adulation and spotlight, Jesus simply walked away from them all and went to the mountain to be alone with God.

Jesus was supposed to be proclaimed king by those He fed. But Jesus did not want that kind of worldly honor and attention. What was important for Jesus was He did what was expected of Him. Jesus is so unlike with all of us, we who always thirst for honor and recognition.

By His action of shunning recognition and honor Jesus is teaching us humility. He is teaching us that after we have done our part for the greater glory of God it’s time to move on. It’s time to silently evaporate from the prying eyes of the crowd and be alone with God so that God could strengthen us and make us humbler.

Let us not look for the spotlight when we serve God or when we do things for God. Let us be content to silently fade away and let the goodness of God create a lasting impression in the hearts of those that we serve.  

How do you serve God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday July 28, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:24-30

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from? He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes contradict the will of God for your life? For example, a married man and woman who choose to engage in a sinful and adulterous relationship. It's no-brainer that the will of God for both of them is not to engage in that immoral relationship. But, they disregarded God’s will to satisfy their lustful, shameless, wicked and bestial will.

Perhaps we wonder, why there are people who choose to go against the will of God. Instead of living  life attuned to the desire of God they live it according to what they want even if what they want is sinful. Therefore, in pursuing what they want they immerse themselves into hedonism and sin. Thus, they become the sales representatives or the walking advertisements of the devil in this world.

However, why does Jesus allow sin? Why does He allow it to exist and in the process temp or even destroy us, when He can easily eliminate even exterminate it from our environment?

God has a purpose for allowing sin to exist. For us to avoid, confront and eventually kill it. We must remember that by virtue of our baptism we became Jesus’ extension in this world. Hence, Jesus expects us not only to avoid, not only to confront but to kill sin immediately the moment it rears its devious head.  

What if they will not or we will not stop sinning? We must prepare for its many consequences including death. In the Bible Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Nevertheless, why go to the extent of experiencing the very painful wages of sin when we can avoid or walk away from it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas