Reflection for Tuesday, February 12; Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

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 went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are you very strict with the observance of your customs and traditions?

The Pharisees were very particular of their custom/tradition they follow it to the letter. So, when they saw that Jesus’ disciples ate their meals without washing their hands—they told Jesus about it.

They said to Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" and Jesus told them: You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He went on to say, "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

We see that Jesus puts more weight on the commandments of God more than their traditions the interior rather than the exterior, the inside conversion rather than the fake exterior observance of their laws.

The conversion that Jesus desires for us is one that involves change of our hearts and mindsets. For example, from sinner we now become a non-sinner. From staying in an environment where we sinned, we now completely walk away from that environment and so on. For Jesus, what matters most is not our external appearance but our internal conversion and renewal.  

Are you sometimes quick to judge based on what you see?  - Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Monday, February 11; Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

A man sick with cancer asked the Lord, “Why am I suffering Lord”? I can’t bear my sickness anymore and I can’t bear the pain of going through the procedure of chemotherapy anymore.” 

     

In the gospel those who were able to touch the tassel of Jesus’ cloak were very fortunate for they received healing in return.  It speaks volumes of their faith. But there are also those who have faith but not physically healed. There are those who have faith but they continue to suffer from their sickness. Sometimes it may baffle us why they physically suffer considering that they also have faith that they also love Jesus.

The healing that Jesus gives us is not always physical, oftentimes its spiritual which means that we're given the grace to accept our physical sickness and the grace to completely surrender our life to the great mercy of Jesus.

There are people who are still happy in spite of their physical sickness for they’ve learned to offer to God their suffering. They’ve learned that the suffering that they’re undergoing right now is nothing compared to the suffering that Jesus went through.

There will come a time that we will also get sick and may suffer as well. Let us never forget to offer our suffering/s to Jesus. Let us ask Jesus to help us endure our suffering/sickness. Though it may be difficult, let us learn to accept it and continue to have that enormous faith in the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday February 10, Fifth Sunday 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:

A middle-aged man who was newly out of prison wanted to follow Jesus. But he would always have second thoughts if he would proceed with his desire because he was sinful. Thus, the feeling of unworthiness always creeps into him. However, there was always that inner voice that whispers to him to follow the Lord no matter his sinfulness.

Who among us are worthy to become a follower of Jesus? Nobody for all of us are sinful, all of us have offended the Lord one way or another. Yet in spite of our unworthiness we are always being called by Jesus to follow Him so that He can purify us of our sins no matter how dark those sins are. 

The Lord does not call us to condemn us of the countless sins that we have committed. He calls us so that He could restore us of our dignity which we lost through our sinfulness. He calls us to tell us that His love for us can overcome whatever sins that we have committed.

All He want from us is our yes! When we say yes to the Lord, we also would be willing to leave behind the environment which made us sin. We leave behind those people who influenced us to sin. In other words, there’s no turning back or looking back the moment we decide to follow the Lord.  

In the gospel, after Jesus performed the miracle of the great catch of fish before the very eyes of Simon and the other fishermen (Luke 5:6). Simon Peter kneeled before Jesus and he begged Jesus to leave them for they were all sinful. And therefore unworthy of His presence and the miracle that he did for them (Luke 5:8). 

However, Jesus with all the love, mercy and forgiveness in His heart told Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:10).” Right after bringing their boats to the shore, Simon and the other fishermen left everything to follow the Lord (Luke 5:11).

Regardless of your sins and your dark past Jesus is calling you as well to begin a new life with Him. Will you heed this call of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday, February 9; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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Reflection:

Do you want Jesus to teach you many things (Mark 6:34)? Therefore, you must thirst for Jesus, you must follow Jesus and you must hunger for Jesus.

Many of us today do not feel Jesus in our life because we don’t thirst and hunger for Him anymore. We thirst and hunger more for the things of this world, we follow more the false teachings of this world than abide by the teachings of Jesus.

What would it benefit you if you follow Jesus and If you give up everything for Jesus? You gain a foretaste of heaven while you are still in this world. This doesn’t mean that you will not experience anymore human difficulties once you choose Jesus over this world.

Yet you can be assured that as you go through your human difficulties or problems you are certain of Jesus abiding presence in your life. Jesus will make your difficulties lighter and Jesus will walk with you.

In the gospel for this Saturday we read about the multitude of people chasing after Jesus and His disciples. The disciples were about to rest and go through some physical and spiritual re-charging. Yet when the multitude of people discovered it they hurriedly went there leaving behind whatever worldly undertaking/s that they were doing.

When Jesus saw the vast crowd waiting for Him, He did not turn them away, never did He scold them or told them, why are you people disturbing our rest? Jesus instead pitied them. Then, He taught them and healed them of whatever sickness that they have.

Are you willing to leave everything to have a precious encounter with Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday, February 8; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:14-29

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah” still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets. But when Herod learned of it, he said “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up. Herod was the one who had John 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. Herodias 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. His 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? Her mother 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:

What does it mean when you’re constantly being bothered by your conscience? It simply means that you’ve done something wrong and the only cure for this wrongdoing is to correct it. For example, if a believer has cheated on his/her spouse she/he will naturally be bothered by her/his conscience. And this torment will not end until there’s a closure or admission of sin.

When King Herod heard about the miraculous actions of Jesus and the popularity that He was earning from the ordinary people. Herod thought of John whom he ordered beheaded it suddenly came to his mind that John was alive. But it was very clear to King Herod that he ordered John killed.

So why did King Herod thought of John when he heard about Jesus? This is for the reason that King Herod was already being bothered by his conscience. Herod did something which is terribly wrong and the price that he has to pay for his wrongdoing was the guilt of conscience which was constantly bothering him.

Aren’t we like that also when we do wrong? But what separates us from Herod is we have an opportunity to repent and admit our wrongdoing. And once we do so the guilty feeling will not be there anymore.

But why allow ourselves to be pestered by our guilt? Why not permanently delete guilt from our minds by not committing sin? Some of us may say that it’s impossible not to commit a wrongdoing or sin. Yes it may be impossible but, why not try asking Jesus to help us be clean all the time or if we sin, why not humbly apologize and admit our sin? –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Thursday, February 7; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So, they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

What were the apostles thinking when they were sent to their mission by Jesus without bringing any provision? Perhaps they were worried and questions arose like, what are we going to eat and would we be able to survive this daunting mission? But eventually their questioning minds were overwhelmed by their faith and trust in Jesus. And so, they forged on and they became successful missioners of Jesus.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how God would sustain us or how we could survive the difficulties of life. Until we learn to hold on to our faith and give our full trust and faith to the almighty hand of Jesus. Many of us fail in our many endeavors because we don’t have faith and trust in the Lord. Instead of trusting the Lord we trust on ourselves more than God. So we fail and the main culprit is our feeble faith.

Trust and faith were the two main ingredients that made the twelve apostles successful in their mission. Trust and faith in Jesus must also be our guiding light as we move on to do our mission for Christ. Or as we move on to live our life for Jesus.

Let us not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the challenges that may confront us no matter how difficult. Why? Because the Lord will always be with us to help us as we help Him advance His teaching.

In hindsight, has God forsaken anyone who helped Him spread His teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Wednesday, February 6; Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

How do you handle rejection?

Rejection is very difficult to handle. Just imagine going for a vacation to the place where you grew-up. Of course, you expect nothing less than the best reception that you could ever have.

You expect your relatives and friends to treat you affectionately and you expect everybody to be affectionate to you.  But you were rejected, how would you feel? Of course, you'll feel bad, just imagine being rejected in your own native land.

How did Jesus handle His own rejection from His townmates in Nazareth? He took it humbly He never raised His voice, He never got angry with anyone there. He could have done something sinister but He did not. He instead still did His ministry by curing a few sick people of course He could have done more miracles but He was being insulted.

The crux of the matter here is Jesus’ humility as opposed to our arrogance when somebody rejects us. Take for example in our own sphere of environment. Don’t we feel bad when we don’t get what we want?

Let us therefore take with humility every rejection that we will encounter in our lives. Let us never react with anger for this is not proper to do.  Our fellowmen would respect and admire us more if we would become calm and humble in the midst of our rejections.

Can you be like Jesus who took with calmness and humility His rejection? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday, February 5; Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr; Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

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

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

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

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

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

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Reflection:

How strong is your faith in the Lord?

Faith is what makes us believe that we will have what we want from Jesus. This is also what Jesus requires us to have whenever we have prayers and petitions for Him.

In our gospel it is very obvious that Jairus has faith, same as with the sick woman who was cured by merely touching the cloak of Jesus. However, faith in itself is not enough we have to couple our faith with our actions. Jairus did not lay idle he personally went to Jesus and in front of Him Jairus beg for the life of his daughter.

The woman did the same, even if she was sick she mightily tried to go near Jesus so that she could touch his cloak. Perhaps the woman summoned every ounce of strength that she had so that she could squeeze herself near Jesus who at that time was surrounded by His many followers.

We all have our prayers before Jesus whatever it may be. Let us pray hard with faith and let us also work hard to achieve it. And then let us let the Lord do the rest for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday, February 4; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 5:1-20

Gospel: Mark 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

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Reflection:

Have you been possessed by the devil?

This gospel episode of Jesus encounter with the man possessed by the evil spirit could happen to anyone of us. And the liberation from the possession of the evil spirit that Jesus did to this man could also happen to us. The conversion of this freed man who later became Jesus follower could also happen to us too!

But why are there possessions by an evil spirit? This happens because we distance ourselves from Jesus. Or we don’t distance ourselves from Jesus but we don’t live His teachings. By doing so we give room for the evil one to operate and take control of ourselves.

For example, yes we pray and go to Holy Mass. But how come that when temptations come along we are not able to resist it? This occurs for the simple reason that we don’t let Jesus come into our hearts.

We are often times followers in name only. Therefore, we open ourselves to the possession of the many evils of our times. What are these? Lust, betrayal of the sacred marriage covenant, addiction to pornography, allowing ourselves to be possessed by our high-tech gadgets and the like.  

We therefore have to be faithful to our discipleship with Jesus. And we have to ask Jesus to protect us from whatever evils that lurks around us. At the end of the day it's still in our hands, we have the freewill to decide. Would we allow ourselves to be tempted by the devil or we go and walk with Jesus.- Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday February 3, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:21-30

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “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, “Isn’t this 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 Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

A priest was told by a parishioner that he is doing good in how he runs his parish. The priest was all smiles and was profusely nodding his head to acknowledge the compliment. Afterwards, another parishioner went to him and told him that he doesn’t like his homilies. Because its like a long and winding road that goes anywhere without direction and substance.  The priest angrily told the parishioner to find a new priest who gives homilies where he would be comfortable.  

In the gospel, when Jesus began to speak in the synagogue, the crowd were all ears to Him and all spoke highly of Him. Things began to sour when Jesus started to spoke words that were not anymore pleasurable to their ears. So, right there and then they decided to kill Jesus even if Jesus spoke in the synagogue out of His great love for them.

There are people who like to be praised they love it very much. Praises are like wondrous music to their ears. But notice also the behavior of this very people when they are told about their shortcomings. They easily get angry even if the person who tells them about it does it out of love.

Then, the one who tells the truth out of pure concern and love becomes now the villain. The one to be persecuted, to be hated and the most extreme that may happen is that the person who’s telling the truth out of love may even be killed.

In families, it often happens that when a bad decision of the most senior member of the family is contradicted. The one who contradicts is normally criticized and sometimes subjected to humiliation. This kind of incident is not exclusive to families this happens also in friendships and in organizational environments.

Sometimes the truth that is said with love and concern would hurts us. However, this same truth will help us, will liberate us and it will set us free. It’s also not easy at times to tell the truth because it may create enmity with our friends and relatives. But who cares? For as long as we tell the truth and we do it out of love and concern we need not fear anyone.

Do you always speak the truth no matter who gets hurt? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Saturday, February 2; Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; Luke 2:22-40

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

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Reflection:

What can you offer the Lord? Would you be willing to offer your time in the service of the Lord? Perhaps, the Lord is not asking you to give all of your time to Him, even a little of our time will already suffice for the Lord. But have you dared yet to give even a little of your time to the Lord?

Mary and Joseph in compliance with their Jewish faith brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. Many of us are afraid to give our time for the Lord for there’s no money in the service for the Lord. Yes, indeed there’s no money in the vineyard of the Lord but life is not all about earning money. There’s more to life than simply earning money, we can earn all the money in this world and we still end up empty.

Have we thought of doing something for the Lord? Have we thought of doing something that would give meaning to our inner being no other than our soul? Material things are important for we also need it for our existence but it’s not the be all and end all of life.

The be all and end all of life is God. For our earthly possessions no matter how enormous will pass us by. But God will not pass us by He will be with us here in this world. And He will still be with us beyond this world.

What can you offer our Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday, February 1; Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:26-34

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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Reflection:   

A man wants to write for God but he was hesitant for he knows his limitations. He doesn’t write well and could hardly compose a decent sentence. 

Yet deep in his heart there was a persistent voice that tells him to write. He therefore submitted himself to the urgings of the inner voice. And to make a long story short, this man who can hardly create a sentence became well known for his meditations about God.

Jesus speaks about a small seed that has been scattered into the land. The seed has grown so big and was soon harvested. Jesus also speaks about a tiny mustard seed that was sown. After a while it soon became so big where birds rested in its shade.

Does God sow seed within us also with the intention of making it grow so that others could also benefit from it? Yes! God sows a seed in each and every one of us. But more often than not this small seed doesn’t grow until it eventually dies. Why? Because many of us are afraid to trust God, so we do not take action.

Surely, we will not be able to do it by ourselves. Yet if we would only learn to call on God, if we would only learn to have faith in Him. The seed that God sows in our hearts will surely blossom so that it could be useful to our fellowmen. What is this seed that God sows within us? It could be  talent, wealth or anything that would benefit or help our fellowmen.

Try to discover the seed that God has sown into your heart. Upon discovering it, don’t just keep it within yourself. Share it so that it could grow bigger, share it so that others could also benefit from it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday, January 31; Saint John Bosco, Priest; Mark 4:21-25

Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

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Reflection:

Generosity always breeds abundant blessings. For example, if we are always generous, we are always assured that whatever we give will come back to us a hundredfold more. Let us observe those who are generous or those who always lend a helping hand.  

Are they in want of anything or are they lacking in blessings from the Lord? No, they are not in want the flow of God’s blessings to them flows like a stream or a river. On the other hand, notice also those who are miser, those who seldom give help or those who are tightfisted. The blessings of the Lord come into them in trickle.  

Jesus in our gospel reading for today tells us that the measure with which we measure will be measured out to us also (Mark 4:24). Translating this in plain and simple language, this simply tells us that what we give will come back to us.

If we give generously, we would receive more than what we had given this is what Jesus is saying to us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday, January 30; Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:1-20

Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,  “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

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Reflection:

Are you open to hear or read the words of Jesus? The word of Jesus are the seed that He sows in your hearts. You can read this when you open your bible, when you go to Holy Mass and when you hear or read commentaries about the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some of us hear or read this good news of Jesus when we are burdened by our problems. Then after our problems had been solved, we once again distance ourselves from the words of God until the next problem engulfs us. We only treat God like a commodity that we only use when we are in need. Thus, the word of God does not bear fruit in our hearts and we also do not become fruitful followers of Jesus.

How could we become fruitful followers of Jesus? It’s when we read, hear and share His words. It’s when we allow the words of God to bear much fruit in our hearts that it transforms us to become a person with a new mindset soundly grounded upon Jesus. Thus, we become the rich soil that Jesus mentions in the gospel (Mark 4:20)

There are people who allow themselves to be transformed by the seeds or the words of God. For example, from being bad they become good, from being irresponsible they now become responsible, and from being corrupt they become incorruptible. Why? This is for the reason that they allowed God’s words to work miracles in their life!

Will you allow the seeds of the words of Jesus to grow in your heart so that the Lord could bless others through you?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas