Reflection for Monday, January 21; Second Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 2:18-22

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

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Reflection:

A renewed catholic has said that his life was never the same since he had a personal relationship with Jesus. He said that since he met Jesus he was always joyful.  And even if there were problems he always ensures that it would never ruin his day. His reason for his newfound joyfulness and happiness is his reenergized faith in Jesus.

Fasting in the context of our gospel reading for today is connected with self-sacrifice or self-denial. Which is actually not bad because it strengthens a person’s faith and dependence on God. But there is something that is very much supreme than fasting and it’s no other than Jesus! If Jesus is in our life we have to rejoice.

For the reason that Jesus will teach us to fast without anyone else knowing it and this is the more important form of fasting: fasting that is not for show and fasting that is not seen and known by anyone except Jesus.

The disciples of John and the Pharisees in our gospel were after the exterior fasting. Fasting that could be seen by our naked eyes and Jesus surely hates this kind of superficiality. If we are already with Jesus we would not be concerned anymore about superficial fasting. For the simple reason that we will fast without broadcasting it for the world to hear and see.

Nobody will know about this kind of fasting except you and Jesus. And this would surely happen the moment you learn how to surrender yourself to the Love, Mercy and Compassion of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday January 20, Feast of the Santo Nino (Philippines): Luke 2:41-52

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

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Reflection:

Today here in the Philippines we celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Nino (The Child Jesus) this is a special event celebrated by the church here in the Philippines duly authorized by the Vatican. There’s festive mode in almost all of the churches here especially those whose Parish church is named after the Sto. Nino. However, the Philippines being a third world country is also poor and there’s a whole lot of suffering and hungry people specially children. 

Just this morning around our neighborhood there were two very poor children one was around seven years old and the other was around ten. I assumed they were brothers they were both scavenging.

They were carrying two half-empty sacks with plastics, bottles, steels and other things that they could salvage/recycle to sell then buy for their food. At a distance I saw that the two were being harassed and insulted by children residing in our community. Then, suddenly the two poor children were being bullied and manhandled already. So, I went to them to intervene and I let go of the two poor children.

I also know of a family with five children the father has a stable job the mother has none. The children are so thin because they are neglected. The father drinks with friends often and the mother doesn’t know how to budget their money. And she also has her own set of wayward friends. Therefore, who suffers? It’s their children again.

These are but two sad stories of suffering children. There’s a lot more out there I’m sure and who is to blame for this? It’s their irresponsible parents! So, where’s the influence of the Sto. Nino? Here lies the problem of our superficial faith, faith that is not imbibed and lived. We celebrate this special feast festively but many parents don’t properly take care of their poor, neglected and hungry children.

In the gospel Mary and Joseph are both exemplar of righteous and responsible parents. Upon taking notice that Jesus was not with them on their way home. They went back and never stopped searching for Jesus until they found Him in the temple in the company of teachers. He was listening to them. The child Jesus was also well taught of proper values by the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph for the reason that He was obedient to them.

It’s not only the children of the poor who are neglected; even the rich children are neglected as well. Some rich parents have this wrong notion that money can substitute for their love, care and time. They pamper their children with money, the latest smart phones and other material things. Therefore, what happens is that these rich but neglected children turn to other vicious things upon entering puberty and adulthood.

On this feast of the Sto. Nino. Let us pray that both poor and rich parents would have the enlightenment and responsibility. To know how to properly care of their long-suffering children. Let us also pray that the rich will not be insensitive to the needs of the poor children. They are many let us look around the peripheries in our respective communities. Perhaps, we can help in whatever way.

Are you a responsible and Godly parent? And would you be willing to help the poor and neglected children? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Sunday January 20, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 2:1-11

Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from — although the servers who had drawn the water knew —, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

How influential is your mother to you? Do you always listen to her whenever she speaks to you?  Influence is something that Mary has over her son Jesus not only that she exercised influence over Jesus. She also has the listening ear of Jesus.

The backdrop of Jesus’ first miracle is the wedding at Cana that run out of wine. The wedding feast could have already been over in that instance but Mary was there to save the day. She went to Jesus for the reason that she knows that she exercised influence over her son. Mary also knows that she has the listening ear of Jesus. 

What does Mary teach us? She teaches us that we always have to go to Jesus when we have issues in our life. We have to let Jesus take over the driver seat not us taking over it, we have to be patient and not be demanding toward Jesus.

This simply means that we have to let Jesus answer our prayers on His own time and terms. Not us dictating the time and terms of our prayers before our Lord. Mary is also silently teaching us about humility, patience and acceptance of the will of God for our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday, January 19; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me. And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples,  “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard this and said to them “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Are we sometimes quick to judge those who sin? For example, we judge somebody as sinner because of his/her sinful lifestyle.

However, the moment we judge we also begin to distance ourselves from the person that we judge. And in doing so we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to convert this person.

Those who sin are not permanent sinners there comes a certain point in their life that they want to change. This change is facilitated when they are not judged for the things that they’ve done. Instead, they are listened, forgiven and given the freedom to live a new life.  

Jesus in our gospel reading did not judge Levi a tax collector and labeled as a sinner by those who know him. What did Jesus do? Instead of judging or even condemning Levi; He went to Levi talked to him and told Levi to come and follow Him. And immediately Levi left whatever that he was doing and followed Jesus.

What if Jesus judged Levi as sinner and told Levi that that he deserves to be roasted in hell? There would have been no conversion and healing on the part of Levi. These acts of mercy, compassion and forgiveness of Jesus should serve as a lesson for all of us.

If we want conversion from sinners, we should not judge them. Because who are we to judge when we are also sinners like them? We should instead help them live a new life permanently away from their former sinful lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday, January 18; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Reflection:

What would you do if a sick person who is poor will ask you for help? Will you bring him to a hospital or would you simply ignore and move on with your life?

The gospel for today gives us direction on what to do whenever somebody asks us for help regardless of who this somebody is. We must help in whatever way the person in need this was the deed that was done by the four men who went to the roof of the house where Jesus was staying.

The four men brought the paralytic to Jesus. They did not care if they have to open the roof of the house so that they could bring the paralytic in front of Jesus. What is important for them is to extend help to the paralytic in whatever forms and ways.  

What happened to the four men after the paralytic was healed and forgiven of his sins by Jesus? They simply fade away into the sunset; they did not receive any words of appreciation from the crowd and from the man that they’ve helped.

But certainly, as they walked away and mingled with the crowd. They carried in their hearts this unexplainable happiness. Happiness that no human could give them, happiness that no amount of money could satisfy them and happiness that only Jesus can give them. 

This unexplainable happiness was given to them by Jesus for a job well done. And for getting out of their own comfort zones so that they could give comfort and help to someone in need.

How about us, what would we do if a sick person who is poor would ask us for help? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Thursday, January 17; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Reflection:

There was a man who had a kidney failure. To temporarily extend his life he would submit himself to a twice a week dialysis treatment. After two years of searching for a donor he finally found a poor relative who was very willing to donate one of his kidneys.

To facilitate fast matching and compatibility the donor was invited to stay with the family of the sick man. He was treated well until it was found out during the battery of test that he had AIDS.  Naturally he was not anymore fit to be a donor and fearing contagion all his things were isolated by his relatives including his utensils.

After the discovery that he has AIDS their behavior towards him radically changed as well. He was not welcome anymore and he felt his relative’s isolation and ill-treatment. After a few days he was asked to leave them permanently.

In our gospel we have a man with leprosy (a contagious disease) who humbly went to Jesus He knelt and begged Jesus to cure him. Jesus had nothing in His heart but mercy and compassion for the man He touched him and was immediately made clean. 

By touching the man with leprosy Jesus broke the stereotyped ill-treatment of those who were sick with leprosy. By touching the man with leprosy Jesus shows us that Love, Mercy, Compassion are more powerful than any dreaded disease.     

As we move forward in this journey called life we shall be meeting or will be acquainted with people with contagious disease. Or people who are sinful or who lived wayward and misguided lives. Let us not scorn them, let us not avoid them and let us not judge them for what they’ve done.

Let us rather show them our Love, Mercy and Compassion. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday, January 16; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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Reflection:

Is prayer for healing always part of your daily prayers to Jesus? Perhaps not because we oftentimes confine Jesus’ healing to physical sickness. But in reality, Jesus doesn’t only heal physical sickness He can heal everything that ails us. For example, our sickness called arrogance, our sickness called greed, our sickness called lust and so forth. All of these can be healed by Jesus.

There’s a story of an arrogant man who would always want to dominate anyone who would be associated with him. Eventually he noticed that he would always be deserted by his friends. He also became aware that even his family would oftentimes avoid being associated with him.

He knew deep in his heart that the reason of their aversion towards him was caused by his dominating and arrogant behavior. So, he prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal him of his arrogance. After a few weeks those around him noticed a change in his behavior.

From being arrogant he became humbler, understanding and not anymore dominating like a boss. With His healing of his arrogance he gained more friends and his harmony with his family was restored.  

We must not confine Jesus healing to physical healing only for the simple reason that Jesus physical healings are but a surface of His infinite power. Jesus can heal everything that ails us, including sickness that nobody knows except us; we simply have to humbly ask Him for this healing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday, January 15; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “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, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

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Reflection:

What is the modern day unclean spirits that could possess us now? It’s our greed, our lack of concern for others, our arrogance, our lustful desires and so forth. Who can defeat these evil spirits that enslaves us? It’s our faith in Jesus! But the big question is do we still have faith in the Lord? Do we always communicate with Jesus through our prayers? Do we thirst for Jesus by always desiring to partake of His body at Holy Mass?

Evil/unclean spirit has no chance to possess us when we are always in union with Jesus. Those who are possessed by evil spirits are those who distance themselves from Jesus. Just try to always get connected with Jesus and you will see that you will always be shielded from the possession of the evil one.

In our gospel for today, Jesus powerfully told the evil spirit that possessed the man to come out of him. And the evil spirit had no choice but to obey the authoritative command of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus has power and authority over anything including the many modern day evils that controls us!

But come to think of it, why was the man in our gospel possessed by an unclean spirit? Why was he among the many people in the synagogue? He was lacking in faith in Jesus otherwise he would have not been possessed.   

Let us always strive to always get in touch with Jesus for He is always there for us. By doing so we free ourselves from the possession of the devil and the many modern-day evils that lurks around us today.

Do you always create time to reach out to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday, January 14; First Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:14-20

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel. As he passed by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

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Reflection:

There’s a saying that death is like a thief in the night it comes to us when we least expect it. What if for example death surprisingly visits us at night? What would happen to our soul? Where would we end up? We don’t know when death will come to us, we don’t also know what will happen to us and where would we be. Only God with His infinite wisdom knows about it.

In the gospel Jesus calls for repentance and belief in His gospel message. What is the relationship of death to Jesus call of repentance and fidelity to the gospel? Since death is unpredictable Jesus prepares us for this eventuality anytime by calling for our repentance and belief in His gospel message.

This call of repentance of Jesus is not a once in a lifetime call. This is a lifetime call of Jesus for us. He calls us to repentance for as long as we live. For He knows all about our sinfulness; even the sin/s that nobody knows except us, Jesus knows about it also!

What if we don’t heed this call of repentance of Jesus? We then continue to sin we continue to allow the devil to get hold of us and this is very frightening! For the devil will not bring us any good, we may enjoy the enticements of the devil for a period of time. However, time will come that it will eventually destroy us.

Therefore, we must listen to this call of repentance of Jesus and we must also read, live and believe His gospel message. Our life will turn for the better the moment we decide to repent and embrace the gospel message of Jesus.

If you listen to Jesus’ call and leave behind whatever sins that you have committed. You will begin to live a new life, a new life with peace, a new life with contentment and a new life of hope in the Lord.   

Are you willing to repent and embrace Jesus’ gospel message?  -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday January 13, The Baptism of the Lord: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

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Reflection:

A king is to embark on a mission to increase the influence and territory of his kingdom. Before embarking on his mission he first saw it fit to seek the guidance and blessing of his father. So, the king went to his father's palace and asked for his father's anointing. And the king was subsequently anointed by his father. 

Before actually doing His ministry, Jesus was first baptized by John in the river Jordan. Through John Jesus was blessed by God and thru a Dove the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.

By His baptism Jesus first seek God’s blessing before starting His ministry of Salvation. By His baptism Jesus also showed that He was in solidarity with the people who were seeking to be baptized by John. being the anointed of God He need not go through the baptismal process but He chose to be baptized to show that everyone needs God’s anointing and blessings.

As Jesus went thru His three years public ministry this baptismal grace was with Him and constantly strengthening Him. Do you allow yourself as well to be strengthened by this same Baptismal grace? Do you still remember the date when you were baptized?

We are now being invited by the gospel to remember this very important if not the most important episode in our life. We must also be faithful to our own baptismal mission which is to become partners with Jesus in spreading the good news of His salvation.

Are we not lacking in this aspect of living our own baptismal mission? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for January 12, Saturday after Epiphany; John 3:22-30

Gospel: John 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.

So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

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Reflection:

Are you not insecure when someone is given more importance than you?

The followers of John and a Jew went to him to say that somebody was also baptizing. And He was attracting crowd more than that of John. As if they were urging John to go to that man (who was actually Jesus) and rebuke Him.

But John told them that the man (Jesus) who was also baptizing was far more greater than himself. John knew where his place in the plan of God, he perfectly knew that he was not the anointed one.

By John’s acceptance of his role in the plan of God, he accelerated Jesus’ mission of evangelization and salvation. He gave way to Jesus for the common good of the people that they swore to serve.

Rivalry is an ever-present issue among church workers, among siblings and even married couples. But come to think of it, instead of having rivalry, why don’t we learn to accept our roles? Why not cooperate and build bridges instead of walls?

In this gospel episode we learn from John’s humility. John is humble enough to accept his role in the plan of God. John knew where his rightful place in the plan of God. John is ever ready to give way to Jesus anytime because he was humble and self-effacing.

Are you humble and self-effacing as well? And are you ready to simply fade away for someone who is more qualified than you are? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for January 11, Friday after Epiphany; Luke 5:12-16

Gospel: Luke 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

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Reflection:

Do you remember the thief who was on the cross with Jesus that got an instant salvation? The thief humbled himself before Jesus that’s why he said: “remember me when you come into your kingdom” Jesus immediately replied and said: “Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:42-43).

In today’s gospel we have a man sick with leprosy; he humbled himself before Jesus and said: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately.

The man on the cross and the man sick with leprosy both got what they wanted from Jesus for they both humbled themselves before Him. If they did not humble themselves before Jesus, they would have not received their request from Jesus.

What does this gospel episode convey to us? It tells us that we must at all times be humble when we approach the Lord. Whatever burdens that we have we bring it to Jesus with humility. Because humility is the key to obtain blessings from Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 10, Thursday after Epiphany; Luke 4:14-22

Gospel: Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He 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.

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Reflection:

Do you always see to it that the words that you say are always motivating and remarkable? For example, in your house, do you always see to it that you avoid negative words or words that creates stigma to those who hear and receive it?

Your words are very powerful it can build or destroy a person or a child. If your words are always words that condemns or words that brings down the dignity of a person or a child. We can be sure that this person or child will have an inferiority complex. He will lose confidence in himself which is very important for a person growth and development.

When Jesus preached in their synagogue He spoke words that builds, words that gently informs and words that heals and motivates. Why? Because this is the innate character of Jesus, He would always see to it that when He speaks His words would be forever treasured in the hearts of those who receive it. And up until today when His words are read in the bible those who read it are moved and changed toward a better life.  

In our gospel, after Jesus preached in the synagogue those who’ve heard Him had nothing but respect and admiration toward Him (Luke 4:22). This is for the fact that Jesus words are always healing and motivating. Never words that curses, never words than injures the feelings and never words that downgrades the human dignity.

How about us? What are the usual words that emanates from us? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for January 9, Wednesday after Epiphany; Mark 6:45-52

Gospel: Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

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Reflection:

What do you do when you encounter turbulent storms in your life?

Each one of us encounters storms in our life, some of us are able to survive these life storms and bounce back. Some unfortunately are not able to get-up again they wallow in self-pity and they live problematic lives for so long as they live.

What is the secret of those who are able to survive and bounce back? It’s not their money; it’s not their friends not even their strong family support. They’re able to survive and bounce back because of their faith that is strongly anchored on Jesus.

All of the possessions and power that we see and grasp will eventually pass us by. But there’s one that will be with us until eternity and that is Jesus. In this internet and social media driven world that we are in right now, Jesus seems to be irrelevant already to many. Let us not make that mistake of consigning Jesus to irrelevancy because we need Jesus today more than ever.  

Get to know Him deeply, try reading the first four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible (New Testament). And be a regular presence in the celebration of the Holy Mass for Jesus is also there. So that you’ll survive whatever storms that you may encounter in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas