Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Setyembre 15; Sabado: Mahal na Birheng Nagdadalamhati: Juan 19:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Juan 19:25-27

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Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae ng kanyang ina, si Maria ni Cleofas at si Maria Magdalena. 26 Kaya pagkakita ni Jesus sa ina at sa alagad na mahal niya na nakatayo sa tabi, sinabi niya sa Ina: “Babae, hayan ang anak mo!” 27 pagkatapos ay sinabi naman niya sa alagad: “Hayan ang iyong ina.” At mula sa oras na iyon, tinanggap siya ng alagad sa kanyang tahanan.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon

Reflection for Friday September 14, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

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Reflection:

Do you ever wonder why the cross in the sanctuary  is always situated higher than anyone else inside the church? Do you ever wonder why many of us take time to look up to Jesus on the cross?

The cross inside the church is above all for the reason that it’s meant to be looked up and reverenced by us. For without the cross with Jesus hanging upon it there would have been no salvation for all of us. This is the reason why we deeply respect the cross of Jesus. On that same cross of Jesus, we find healing, we find forgiveness and we freely unburden our heavy loads on that cross of Jesus. 

Sometimes it’s very intimidating to look up to the cross of Jesus for it literally means suffering and supreme sacrifice. Nevertheless, we have to look up to that cross because it’s our source of strength and salvation as well. This is the paradox of Jesus’ cross it’s a symbol of hardship and sacrifice yet it’s also a symbol of strength and salvation.

If you are carrying a cross right now whatever that cross may be, close your eyes and say a prayer. Then offer your cross to Jesus and humbly ask Jesus to help you carry it for He will never forsake you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday September 13, St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

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Reflection:

How do you love?

All of us will agree that we can easily love those who give us love in return. But are we willing to love those who’ve hurt us or those who continue on hurting us? Mother Teresa once said: “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” A wife or a husband who truly love will continue to love his/her spouse notwithstanding the betrayal/s.

Many marriages fail because we put limits on how we give love. For example, if a wife discovers that her husband is playing around with fire. The reaction of the wife is perhaps to take revenge and play with fire also and not to anymore love her philandering husband. But what will happen if our attitude is like that? There would be many broken marriages, there would be many suffering children simply because we put limits on how we give our love.

Jesus in our gospel is advising us to change this mindset of reactive love. And to bring our understanding of love to a much higher level. Perhaps, to the level of God’s love for us.  But are we capable of raising to a higher level our love and on how we give love?

If we truly love Jesus we would be able to forgive and once again love a spouse who betrayed us. We would be able to love our siblings/relatives who’ve hurt us and who don’t want to listen to our well-meaning advice/s. We would be able to love a friend who betrayed our trust.

Jesus tells us in the gospel:  For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same (Luke 6:32-33). - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday September 12, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

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Reflection:

Imagine Jesus reading to you the gospel for today. How would you feel? Would you feel blessed?

The poor, hungry, weeping, hated and insulted are blessed by Jesus. No matter what others may say about them they are blessed by Jesus. But human as we are we hunger for the luxuries of life, who would not want worldly luxuries?

But if these luxuries would bring us away from Jesus and would bring us to embrace this world and eventually sin. What benefit would it give us? Should we still embrace it?  We must be discerning at all times because the devil is always actively seeking us to snatch us away from the love of Jesus.

If you are poor in the eyes of this world yet you have Jesus in your heart, then you’re the richest and most blessed person in this world. Why? Because you choose to center your life in Jesus the same Jesus who will bring you to heaven someday and not in this temporary world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday September 11, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:12-19

Gospel: Luke 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people  from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

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Reflection:

Is prayer part of your life that it seems that your day is not complete without prayer? Before making the very important decision of choosing His twelve apostles Jesus went first to a mountain to pray. There, He spent the night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).   

Prayer is our hotline to God this is our means to connect with Him. Through our prayer we invite God to come into our lives. With our regular habit of prayer the God that is distant now becomes the God that is with us and the God that walks with us.

What does prayer brings us? Through our prayer we connect with God, thru prayer God calms us, God comforts us, God guides us and He gives us wisdom to make the right decisions in life, to name a few.

Who amongst us wouldn’t want God to be with us and walk with us? Of course we all want the presence of God in our lives this is the reason why we must always have time for God through our prayer. Our prayer life must not take a backseat over our worldly undertakings; it must be prayer first before our many worldly activities.

 What would our worldly riches mean to us if we don’t pray?  What is the use of wealth and power if God is just a superficial entity in our lives or if we are without God?

Someday we will die and everything that we have accumulated in this world will not anymore matter to us. What will only matter during that time is our relationship with God built through our active and fervent prayer life.   

Do you always give first priority to your prayer life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday September 10, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:6-11

Gospel: Luke 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.

But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

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Reflection:

Are you selective when it comes to making a positive difference in the life of your fellowmen? For example, if you see someone who is in dire need of your help, do you immediately help? Or you’re sometimes constrained by the events around you. 

To make a positive impact in the life of others is always in season there’s no exception in doing good even if it’s a sabbath day. Jesus proves this point by healing a man’s withered hand amidst the protestation of HIS usual critics, the Pharisees.   

Jesus was not afraid to defy the powers that be during His time. The powers that be who were only good at commanding and implementing their laws and traditions. But sorely lacking in living their faith and helping their people. The powers that be who only want to be served and to be treated with respect even if they don’t deserve it.

In the three years public life of Jesus, He would always heal without discrimination. He was not afraid even if there was threat of physical and verbal abuse. His main priority was to impart His help to everyone in need and to serve and not to be served. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday September 9, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

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Reflection:

A young man was complaining to his father who was a Eucharistic minister that he doesn’t feel the presence of Jesus in his life. His father told him, examine your lifestyle, you are always out with your friends. If your home you’re always in front of the computer if not you are tinkering with your smart phone or and watching tv. The father further said, if you continue with that lifestyle you will really not feel the presence of Jesus in your life.

How can we have an up close and personal encounter with Jesus? It’s when the environment around us is silent there’s no presence of anyone except us and Jesus. This is always the most conducive environment for us to have an encounter with Jesus.  It’s very difficult to encounter and feel the presence of Jesus when there are many people around and when there is noise.

In the quietness of your life you will be able to encounter and feel the healing presence of Jesus. And in the quietness of your life you would be able to hear the voice of Jesus. Telling you what you need to hear so that you can have the motivation and energy to move on amidst the noisy grind of your life.

Do you feel the presence of Jesus in your life? If no, then try to live a quite life and try to give time for Jesus more than you give time in satisfying your pleasure seeking and loud lifestyle. This doesn’t mean that you will be isolating yourself from your friends and usual environment.

This simply means that you’ll lessen the noise in your life and you lessen your engagement with worldly pleasures. Yet you still connect yourself to this world not anymore to seek earthly pleasures. But to seek people who are engaged with earthly pleasures so that you could bring them closer to Jesus.

The deaf mute man in our gospel was healed by Jesus not in the midst of the noisy crowd. Jesus instead brought the deaf mute man away from the crowd. To be with Him alone in a quiet place and in the stillness of the environment Jesus healed him (Mark 7:33-35).

Do you regularly have your own quiet time with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Saturday September 8, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar.Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

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Reflection:

Do you remember the birthday of your mother? You surely know it because she is your mother and without her you would not be here in this world.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Blessed Mother is the mother of Jesus and our universal mother as well. Why do we give so much honor and reverence to the Blessed Mother? The answer is very simple: she is the mother of Jesus. Without the Blessed Mother Jesus would have not been born.

From the beginning God looked to the Blessed Mother to be the human mother of Jesus. There was no other choice for God but the Blessed Mother only the Blessed Mother. Why? This is for the reason that the Blessed Mother has all the virtues to deserve the honor of being chosen as Jesus’ mother. Therefore, she was blessed by God when she conceived the child Jesus through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

What can we learn from the nativity of Mary? We learn that we need to live a virtue filled life in this world. We need to discard our arrogance and replace it with humility. We need to trust more on our infinite God rather than trust our finite minds.

Happy birthday Mama Mary and always pray for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday September 7, Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:33-39

Gospel: Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.

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Reflection:

Could you discover the purity of a person heart by mere observance of tradition or ritual such as fasting? No, because that is only superficial and besides what is external does not totally represent the inner being of an individual.

For example, if a person is always at church could we now say that he/she is holy? Of course not! We still need to know more about the person so that we could discover more about his/her character.

Jesus was questioned by the scribes and Pharisees, why His disciples were not fasting like them and the followers of John the Baptist. The simple answer of Jesus was they can’t fast yet because He is still with them.

Fasting is actually good because it cleans and purifies our bodies but what is the use of fasting if we continue to sin? What is the use of fasting if we just use it as our standard to judge others who are not fasting? What is the use of fasting if there’s no inner transformation and conversion?

There is more to life than mere observance of self-serving laws and traditions such as fasting. Inner conversion is better than fasting, not having a self-righteous mindset is better than fasting and humility is better than fasting.

Mercy and forgiveness are better than fasting. Most of all, a life  with Jesus is far better than fasting.- Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday September 6, Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:1-11

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch. Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

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Reflection:

What is it with Jesus that He can make ordinary fishermen to become fishers of men? This is for the reason that all things are possible with our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.

The encounter of Simon Peter and the other fishermen with Jesus by the lake of gennesaret is a magical and whirlwind encounter. It was an encounter that transformed their very lives! An encounter that moved them out of their own comfort zones so that they could follow Jesus.

We too have our own encounter/s with our Lord. We encounter Him through the celebration of the Eucharist/ Holy Mass. We encounter Him when we take time to read His very words in the bible. We encounter Him in the Sacrament of Confession and we encounter Jesus through the poor that we see everyday.

All of these encounters with Jesus are specifically designed to transform us. So that like Simon Peter and his companion of fishermen we too could be converted and become Jesus’ followers. Our every encounter with Jesus is always precious and magical. Let us therefore allow these encounters to purify and transform us.

What if you encounter Jesus today? Will you also leave everything to follow Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Wednesday September 5, Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:38-44

Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

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Reflection:

Have you asked Jesus to heal somebody close to you? Have you brought to Jesus a relative or a friend? Your faith and relationship with Jesus becomes more meaningful when you are able to bring/introduce someone to Him. For the reason that this means that your faith has already matured and is bearing fruit already.

In the gospel for today, Simon’s humbly asked Jesus to heal his mother in-law who was sick with fever. And immediately Jesus went to her and immediately healed her. What if Simon did not asked Jesus to heal his mother in-law? Of course his mother in-law would have not been healed but she was healed courtesy of Simon’s prayerful and humble intercession.

This act of Simon of asking Jesus to heal her mother in-law is a very good reminder for us. That we too must see to it that we also pray to Jesus to heal and enlighten others most especially those who are close to us. Many are very much in need of enlightenment and healing from Jesus. Let us not take for granted the power of our prayerful intercession for others most especially for the sick and for those who are not enlightened yet about the love of Jesus.

This is for the reason that our prayerful intercession for them can heal and change them. For example, Saint Monica (the mother of Saint Augustine) she was forced to marry a non-believer but through her unceasing prayer she was able to convert her husband to the catholic faith.

Saint Monica also unceasingly prayed for 17 long years for the conversion of her son Augustine who was living a life of sin at that time. And through her humble and persevering prayers she was eventually heard by God.  

Have you already brought somebody closer to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday September 4, Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:31-37

Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

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Reflection:

Do you give time to read the words of Jesus in the bible and do you give time for Jesus at Holy Mass? Many of us do not have time but when it comes to worldly things we create time.

If only we would give time for Jesus we would certainly feel His authority and power working within us. How does the authority and power of Jesus work in us? For example, if during the time that you still don’t know Jesus you were temperamental. After discovering Jesus in your life you will now become calm and peaceful.

If before you are easily affected by sad events that come your way. Not so much anymore now, for the simple reason that you already learned to surrender your life to Jesus. There are other true stories of transformed lives all because of Jesus. These are example of Jesus power and authority at work in your life.

But many have not yet experienced the power and authority of Jesus in their life. So, what are you going to do? You who have already experienced the transforming power and authority of Jesus! You have to lead them to Jesus, you have to encourage them to open and read the bible and you have to encourage them to go to Holy Mass.

You certainly will be blessed by Jesus if you do so. Perhaps not material blessing for its temporal and fleeting anyway. What Jesus will give you is His friendship and His abiding presence in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday September 3, Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church: Luke 4:16-30

Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Have you went back to the place where you grew up?

Homecoming is always an event that we look forward to because of the warmth of the reception that we receive from our relatives and friends. Take for example if you’ve not been to your childhood place for a number of years. Just imagine the warm welcome that you’ll receive from your relatives and childhood friends. However, not all homecoming are filled with warmth and welcoming people there are sad homecomings also.

Jesus was initially admired and was warmly received by His town mates for He spoke with brilliance. But when He spoke of something that His town mates did not like to hear the admiration turned to derision and the warm reception became cold as ice.  This led His town mates to push Him away towards a hill so that He would fall and be killed. What a sad ending of His coming home, Jesus certainly did not expect this kind of sad homecoming.

But this is the reality of life, people will like us for as long as they like what we say even if what we say is already false for as long as its music to their ears. But when we talk about the truth they will not like us anymore. They will also drive us away as if we are carrying a contagious disease.  And the worst part is they may attempt to harm us.  

Nevertheless, we must not be cowed from speaking the truth even if it will hurt those who would hear it. This is for the reason that by speaking the truth we correct what is wrong. And by speaking the truth we create awareness that good will always triumph over evil. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday September 2, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.

“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

A middle-aged wife would always be seen by her husband every morning carefully fixing herself most especially her make up before going to work. There was one morning that the husband inquired: “Honey, why are you very particular with your physical appearance.” The wife retorted, “I need to look good so that I would always look fresh and young.”

In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding His followers who were not observing the external tradition. However, Jesus would have none of it because for Jesus external observance is simply a facade. What is important for Jesus is what is in our hearts.

Many of us are like this middle-aged woman very particular with our external appearance and the external impression that we would convey. However, what is the use of external impression if we don’t follow the commands of the Lord? What is the use of a pretty/handsome appearance if we are spewing expletives and scorn?

Physical appearance is useless for its passing and temporary what is important is what is inside us. Like the goodness and pureness of our hearts which we translate to actual acts of love, mercy and compassion. What is important is we do good without seeking recognition, honor and adulation.  

What is important is we follow the commands of the Lord and not follow the temptation and command of the devil. The commands of the devil which are always disguised as attractive and tempting yet it leads us to emptiness, nothingness and brokenness at the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas