Reflection for Saturday September 1, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:14-30

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

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Reflection:

What are you doing with the talent/s that was entrusted to you by the Lord?  

Unlike the first and second servants who were productive. The third servant was not, he was simply lazy to grow what was entrusted to him.  He could have invested it, he could have done something to make it grow but he never did. If we allow laziness to conquer us it will eventually paralyze us and it will prevent us from becoming fruitful followers of God.

Each and everyone of us was given by the Good Lord talents according to our abilities. Let us make the most of this talent/s that He has given us by using it for His greater glory. Let us not be discouraged by our limitations and struggles for God is always there to guide and help us.   

Let us not say that we can’t do anything to help Jesus advance his teachings in this world. This is for the reason that we can really do our share most of us are just lazy or we don’t make time for it. However, we would desire it we can, if there’s a will there’s a way that is how plain and simple it is.

What are the talents that the Good Lord entrusted you? Use it not only for your own advancement, use it not only to gain riches in this world. Use it also to advance His kingdom in this world for this is the best thing that you can ever do with your entrusted talent/s. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday August 31, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:1-13

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

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Reflection:

What is the advantage of being prepared? You are always ready for what may happen during any time of the day.

In the gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (John 25:13). Indeed, nobody knows the moment of His coming, that’s why it is a must that we always do good. As much as possible we must avoid doing things that would hurt us (sin) and the feelings of others especially to those who are close to us.

It is very easy to say that we will always be prepared for His coming but sometimes it is only lip service without real conviction to do so. We are easily tempted to sin again, to hurt people again, to ignore those who are in need most specially the poor. To be egoistic and have that superiority attitude again. 

We are like that, we are only good for a short period of time then we wrap ourselves again with sin. Why is this so and what must we do to avoid backsliding to our sinful behavior again?

We must have a continuous encounter with Jesus through our attendance at Mass, through the Sacrament of Confession, through our prayers, through reading the Bible and through our visits to the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

For this is the only way for us to keep ourselves from backsliding into sinfulness again.  Hence, we would always be prepared. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday August 30, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 24:42-51

Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

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Reflection:

There’s a story of a woman who transferred to her newly built house. In her two years stay in the said house she had it blessed three times already. And her reason was she always had a feeling that something eerie was going to happen to her in that house. When she was asked if she always has time for God she said that she doesn’t have.

What does it mean to stay awake? It means to always be ready for whatever that may come into our life. We have to be reminded that life is so full of surprises that we cannot predict what may happen to us in the next seconds and minutes.

Earthly preparation is always prudent but nothing beats being prepared spiritually. For spiritual preparation is the best preparation that we could ever do. Whatever that may hit us if we are spiritually prepared we are very sure that we would rise up again. For the simple reason that we are connected with God and who could bring us down if we have God? Nobody!

Let us therefore always be prepared by having a special bond with Jesus. We can begin by reading about His life in the bible. And my making ourselves available for Holy Mass most especially during Sunday.   

Are you always prepared? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday August 29, The Passion of Saint John the Baptist: Mark 6:17-29

Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you. He even swore many things to her “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom. She went out and said to her mother “What shall I ask for? She replied, “The head of John the Baptist. The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist. The king was deeply distressed but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Reflection:

Where does John the Baptist’s courage comes from? John’s courage emanates from God, he draws strength from God. It’s God who fuels John’s motivation to denounce the immorality of Herod and Herodias.

Faced with a very powerful man, John never thought of backing down. He stood his ground and simply followed the dictate of the Holy Spirit.

When faced with the same dilemma would we be able to stand our ground and look straight in the eye those who are corrupt and immoral? Or those who are straying from the right path? For example, if you sense that your spouse is having an adulterous relationship, would you pretend to see nothing and hear nothing? Of course not! You have to denounce it no matter what happens.

Many martyrs and saints of the church took the difficult path of John and like John they paid dearly for it. This is how it is when we are true to our discipleship with Jesus. We have to be ready to sacrifice a big part of our life or even our very life so that evil will not triumph over good.

To do nothing, to pretend to hear and see nothing in spite of the obvious stench of immorality and other wrongdoings is consenting to evil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Tuesday August 28, Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 23:23-26

Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

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Reflection:

Why do you follow Jesus? Do you follow Him because you are obliged by your faith or you follow Him because of your deep love for Him? When you follow Jesus because you see it as your obligation; it will not create a deep transformation within you. You simply follow for the reason that it creates a positive self-image for you and it ends with the positive self-image: No interior cleansing and transformation.

When we follow Jesus because we love Him, we allow the love of Jesus to deeply transform us. For example, if we follow Jesus because we love Him, we will be forgiving, we will not store hatred in our hearts. And we will abhor anything that is bad and evil because we give Jesus the freehand to transform us.

Our discipleship with Jesus must always be rooted in our love for Him and not because this is dictated by our faith. For this is what true discipleship is all about, a discipleship that creates a very deep transformation within our being.

Let us therefore examine ourselves and reflect for we may be only following Jesus because we are obliged by our faith or even by our position in the church and community. If this is so, it’s about time that we allow Jesus to interiorly renew us. 

This would only commence when we forgive those who’ve hurt us. When we are willing to build bridges than walls and when we humble ourselves before those whom we've hurt by asking for their forgiveness. - Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday August 27, Memorial of Saint Monica: Matthew 23:13-22

Gospel: Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

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Reflection:

What is the meaning of the word woe?

Woe is a word that has a negative meaning and Jesus has three woes addressed to the Pharisees and the Scribes. Why? This is for the reason that many of the Pharisees and scribes are hypocrites. They teach their subjects to practice this and that yet they themselves are not practicing what they are teaching and preaching.

These woes are not exclusively addressed to the Pharisees and Scribes, this is also for many of us who are hypocrites. We who are not true to our word and we who often are good only with worship for God yet very much wanting in living our faith.

But it’s not yet late for us to turn things around, to make amends with God. For the simple reason that all of us no matter how sinful have hope before Jesus. For Jesus condemnation is not forever. He can easily erase His condemnation and replace it with mercy, forgiveness  and love.  

Remember the sinner who was crucified with Jesus? He was originally sinful but he repented, thus Jesus brought him along to paradise. (Luke 23:43). Let us therefore repent from our sinfulness while we still have the luxury of time. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday August 26, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:60-69

Gospel: John 6:60-69

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

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Reflection:

A man who would always attend Sunday Mass stopped doing so. His reason was he cannot believe that the ordinary bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus after consecration. Hence, he lived his life without the presence of Jesus through Holy Mass.  He felt emptiness even if he was materially wealthy.

Do you believe the claim of Jesus that He is the Bread of Life? Many of the followers of Jesus were scandalized about his pronouncements that He is the Bread of Life. That whoever comes to Him will never hunger or thirst (John 6:35).

They detached themselves from following Jesus and perhaps they returned to their former way of life. Possibly it was a life of sin and emptiness, they chose to regress rather than to progress with Jesus. Why did they walk away? It was influenced by their unbelief towards Jesus.

Those followers who chose to walk away missed the golden opportunity to know more about Jesus. They also missed the chance to witness more miracles from Jesus. What else did they miss? They were deprived of Jesus daily abiding presence.

Those who walked away simply did not believe and they saw it fit to simply trust on their own understanding. Than have faith in the pronouncement of Jesus. This is what ails many of us: We trust more in our finite minds than have faith in Jesus.

  

How about you? Are you also walking away from Jesus? Stay with Jesus, never leave Him, always connect with Him more than you connect with your smart phone and other gadgets. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday August 25, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Do you lead by example?

The principle of leadership by example is one wherein the leader set the standards to be followed and he himself leads the way in following the said standards. In the same manner parents should set the benchmark in their home as they live to the hilt this benchmark for their children to emulate.   

On the other hand bad or lousy leaders would tell their people to do this and that but they will not do what they command. They preach the standards but they do not practice what they preach. Same as with irresponsible parents; they would tell their children to observe this and that discipline but the irony is they themselves do not do what they tell their children.

The Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus were the religious leaders and they were supposed to lead by example. But they did not; they were only good on giving commands/orders but when it comes to living it they were badly deficient.

Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the common people of that time started to gravitate towards Jesus. Because they saw in Jesus someone who leads by example; someone who empathized with them, someone who ate and mingled with them; in other words Jesus lived what He preached. 

What is the lesson of our gospel for us?  We must always be true with our words and actions. We must not be like the Pharisees and scribes in our gospel: For they were only good at preaching but very deficient in practicing and living what they preach.  

We must always be like Jesus; for He lived what He preached in other words Jesus is always true to His words and actions. Jesus leads by example and He walked His talk.

Do you always live what you preach and are you always true to your words? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday August 24, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle: John 1:45-51

Gospel: John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth. But Nathanael said to him “Can anything good come from Nazareth? Philip said to him, “Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him. Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this. And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

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Reflection:

How do you encounter Jesus in your life? The best encounter with Jesus that you could ever have is through the Holy Mass. Because it’s through this sacred celebration that you always unite with Jesus.

But can you have an encounter with Jesus if you seldom go to Holy Mass? If you only go to Holy Mass because you feel like going then if you don’t or you have other activities you sacrifice your presence at Holy Mass for your worldly preoccupations?

Nathanael in our gospel had an encounter with Jesus. And he was never the same again after that encounter for he was profoundly blessed by Jesus.

Our spiritual development hinges on our hunger and thirst for Jesus inside the Holy Mass. The more that we hunger for it the more that Jesus becomes more real to us. And the more that we feel His abiding presence in our lives. 

The more also that we are freed from our fears, worries and vulnerabilities from the evil scheming of the devil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday August 23, St. Rose of Lima, Virgin, Secondary Patroness of the Philippines: Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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Reflection:

Do you always honor the invitation given to you?

Jesus compared The Kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. When it was the day of the wedding feast none of the invited guest arrived for they all had their preoccupations. How could they refuse the graciousness of the king?

The kingdom of heaven and the wedding feast that Jesus speaks about is within our midst which is the celebration of the Holy Mass.  And just like the king who invited guest, Jesus is inviting us also to be present at Holy Mass most especially during Sundays. But do we make time for Holy Mass?

Like going to a wedding banquet where the invited guests prepare their most elegant clothes. Do we prepare ourselves before going to Holy Mass by having prior knowledge of the gospel and the other readings?

In our gospel, the expected guest refused the invitation of the king so the king was disheartened by their refusal. The king then instructed his servants to go out again and invite anyone (bad and good alike) they could find and many came to the wedding banquet and ate to their hearts content.     

Perhaps, many of us do not also honor this invitation of Jesus to be present at Holy Mass. Why? Is it because we are also busy like the invited guest in the gospel? We are missing heaven on earth when we refuse to honor this invitation of Jesus for us to go to His wedding banquet which is none other than the celebration of Holy Mass.

Do you always honor this invitation of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday August 22, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.

Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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Reflection:

Can we measure the breadth and width of God’s love for us? No, because God’s love for us is not bound by any form of measurement. God loves us infinitely no matter who we are and no matter the sins that we have committed.

The landowner in our gospel which represents God solicitously invited in so many instances workers to work in His vineyard. He did not care about the time that they present themselves for work. What was important for God was they respond to His invitation to work for Him in His vineyard.

The love of God for us is so immense that He wants us to go to Him irrespective of who we are. He continuously invites us to a new life with Him. We are precious to God we are dearly loved by God that’s why His invitation is always there for us, it’s ours to take anytime!

Many of us may say that we are not anymore worthy of this immense love of God because of our sinfulness. No, the more sinful we are the more that we become worthy of this great love of God. We must therefore respond to this invitation of God for us to go to His vineyard so that we could renew our lives and walk away from all of our sinfulness.

Will you respond to this invitation of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday August 21, Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope: Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

Where do you anchor your life? Do you anchor it in your worldly wealth?

Fortune and even fame is not a guaranty to have inner peace and serenity. We may have all the material wealth of this world but it amounts to nothing if we are without inner peace and if we don’t have God. We simply have to look at the many rich, famous and powerful people who commit suicide.

In our gospel Jesus said to the disciples, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. This is in reference to the rich man who couldn’t give up his treasures in favor of the poor and his discipleship with Jesus. That rich man was actually invited by Jesus to become his follower but he declined the glorious offer because he held on to his wealth.

It’s not actually bad to be rich, but it becomes a hazard to our well-being when we make our riches our God. That we are not willing to let it go for anything even for the sake of the kingdom of God. Therefore, when we are so in love with our fleeting wealth we become capable of doing anything that Jesus abhors.  

For example, allowing ourselves to be captured by wealth that we make it our God. Allowing our greed for wealth to engage in corruption just to have it and so forth.  

Jesus said in our gospel that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God. This statement of Jesus is simply a hyperbole that carries so much weight and meaning.

Come to thinks of it, is it bad to get rich? Of course not for as long as we don’t make our earthly wealth our God.   Instead, why not use wealth to help advance the kingdom of God? For the simple reason that the more that we give away our riches  the more that we become fit for the kingdom of God.

God created us to freely aspire for His kingdom in heaven and not to be permanently imprisoned by our riches in this world. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday August 20, Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 19:16-22

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

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Reflection:

Would you give up everything to follow Jesus?

So near and yet so far, perhaps this was the predicament of the man who asked Jesus on what must he do to have eternal life. He already did everything that was asked of him until Jesus told him to sell everything in his possession and give the proceeds to the poor then follow Him. The man quietly walked away for the reason that he can’t let go of his many earthly possession.

Somehow this man represents many if not all of us we who find it very hard to let go of our earthly possession in favor of helping those in need. What is with wealth that we cannot let go? We cannot bring it to our graves we cannot even possess it anymore when we are already old for someone will possess it for us or even hide it from us.

Saint Francis of Asisi was from a noble and rich family he gave everything to the poor so that he could follow God’s will for him.  God’s will for us also is to give up our riches so that others may live from it. This is very hard to do that requires radical change of mindset for us to fully embrace it.

Perhaps if we are not willing to give up everything because we also have our own family to feed and take care of. We can give something for the poor because it’s only through giving up of something that we treasure in this world that we could follow Jesus.    

Are you like the young man in our gospel who walked away from Jesus because he had many possessions? Or you are like Saint Francis of Asisi who gave up everything to the poor so that he could follow God’s will for him. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday August 19, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:51-58

                                                                      Gospel: John 6:51-58

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

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Reflection:

The story is told about a non-practicing catholic whose house was located across the church. Every morning his wife would wake him up to accompany her to go to church to attend Holy Mass but he would always refuse. For so many months it was always like that every early morning. Out of curiosity he decided to go with his wife just to see what was going on during Holy Mass.

Upon going inside the church the Holy Mass had just started and to his amazement he saw angels all over the altar especially near the tabernacle. During consecration instead of the Holy Host, he saw real flesh being raised up by the priest for the faithful to adore. Thereafter the man became a faithful believer and a regular presence in the daily celebration of Holy Mass.

When Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”(John 6:51) The Jews did not believe Him.  In fact they said, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (John 6:52) Indeed, how come that the Sacred Host that we receive during Holy Communion becomes the body of Jesus? It takes deep faith to believe the real presence of Jesus’ body and blood during Holy Communion. Obviously, the Jews who were complaining about this brave declaration of Jesus did not have faith.

How about us? Do we believe in this Bread of Life discourse of Jesus? Do we believe that it is Jesus’ Body, Blood and Divinity that we are going to partake during Holy Communion? After receiving Jesus do we still kneel and deeply communicate with Him? Or we just kneel because that’s the gesture that we have to do and we do it just for the sake of doing it?

Many are always going to Holy Mass every Sunday or even almost everyday but not everyone goes through the process of conversion. For the simple truth that we don’t allow ourselves to be converted by the Body and Blood of Jesus.

We persist to dominate Jesus since we refuse His call to walk away from our sinfulness. We continue to increase and Jesus continue to decrease because we persist to do things our way and not let Jesus show us the way.

Do you believe in this Bread of Life Discourse of Jesus? Do you believe the pronouncement of Jesus that you will live forever when you always partake of His Body during Holy Communion?

There can be miracle in your life when you begin to believe! – Marino J. Dasmarinas