Reflection for Sunday March 10, First Sunday of Lent: Luke 4:1-13

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me,  and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

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Reflection:

A man gave in to the temptation of an adulterous affair, he was always being advised by his sister to cut-off the immoral relationship. But he did not listen, he reasoned that his wife would never catch him. Indeed, he was not caught but when he died his soul was immediately brought by the devil to hell.

Today is the first Sunday of Lent and we read that Jesus was tempted by the devil three times. The first one is to transform the stone to become bread, second is to worship the devil in exchange for power and glory and the third is to jump from the parapet. Filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus rejected these three temptations after which He walked away from the devil.

Why do we succumb to temptations? Why can’t we refuse or simply walk away from the devil? The answer is very simple.  We take control of our lives instead of God. Instead of following the authority of God, we follow our own sinful rules which is actually fed into our minds by the devil.

  

We will get nothing but hell if we follow the rule of the devil. We will get nothing but misery if we sell our souls to the devil. What happened to Judas when he succumb to the temptation of the devil to betray Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5)? Did Judas profit anything from betraying Jesus? We will also not profit anything good if we succumb to the devil’s many temptations.

Let us make this lent a time to deeply strengthen our relationship with Jesus. So that we would be able to ward off whatever temptations that the devil will dangle before us.

What are the things that you’re doing to deeply strengthen your relationship with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Marso 10, Unang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Lucas 4:1-13

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 4:1-13

1 Umalis mula sa Jordan si Jesus na puspos ng Espiritu Santo at naglibot sa disyerto na akay ng Espiritu 2 sa loob ng apatnapung araw; at sinubok siya roon ng diyablo. Hindi siya kumain ng anuman sa loob ng mga araw na iyon at sa katapusa’y nagutom siya. 3 Sinabi sa kanya ng diyablo: “Kung ikaw ang anak ng Diyos, iutos mo sa batong ito na maging tinapay.” 4 Ngunit sumagot sa kanya si Jesus: “Sinasabi ng Kasulatan: Hindi sa tinapay lamang nabu-buhay ang tao.”

5 Pagkatapos ay itinaas niya si Jesus at ipinakita sa kanya sa isang kisap-mata ang lahat ng kaharian sa mundo. 6 Sinabi ng diyablo sa kanya: “Sa iyo ko ibibigay ang kapangyarihan sa lahat ng ito at ang kaluwalhatiang kalakip nito dahil sa akin ito ipinagkatiwala at maibibigay ko ito sa maibigan ko. 7 Kaya mapapasaiyo itong lahat kung magpapatirapa ka sa harap ko.” 8 Ngunit sumagot sa kanya si Jesus: “Sinasabi ng Kasulatan: Ang Panginoon mong Diyos ang iyong sasambahin at siya lamang ang iyong paglilingkuran.”

9 Pagkatapos ay dinala siya ng diyablo sa Jerusalem at itinayo siya sa nakausling pader ng Templo at sinabi sa kanya: “Kung ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos, tumalon ka mula rito paibaba 10 sapagkat sinasabi ng Kasulatan: Iniutos niya sa kanyang mga anghel na pangalagaan ka at 11 bubuhatin ka nila para hindi matisod ang iyong paa sa bato.” 12 Ngunit sumagot si Jesus sa kanya: “Nasasaad: Huwag mong hamunin ang Panginoon mong Diyos.” 13 Kaya matapos siyang subukin ng diyablo sa lahat ng paraan, nilisan siya nito hanggang sa takdang panahon.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon   

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Repleksyon:

May isang lalaki na nag patukso sa isang bawal na pag-ibig. Siya ay palaging pinapayuhan ng kanyang kapatid na putulin na nya ang kanyang bawal na relasyon. Pero hindi siya nakinig at ang sabi pa niya ay siya ay hindi naman mahuhuli ng kanyang asawa. Hindi nga siya nahuli ng kanyang asawa. Pero ng siya ay namatay na ang kanyang kaluluwa ay agad na dinala ng demonyo sa impeyerno.

Ngayon po ay unang linggo ng kuwaresma at mababasa natin na si Jesus ay sinubok ang demonyo ng tatlong beses. Ang una ay gawing tinapay ang isang bato. Ang ikalawa ay bibigyan siya ng kapangyarihan  kung mag papatirapa siya sa kanyang harapan. At ang ikatlo ay ang tumalon siya sa nakausling pader ng templo pero ito ay hindi ginawa ni Jesus.

Bakit ba ang tao nag papatukso sa dimonyo? Bakit ba hindi nalang natin ito tanggihan? Simple lang ang sagot diyan at ito ay sa dahilan na mas gusto natin na tayo ang masusunod at hindi ang Diyos. Imbes na sundin ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos ay mas sinusunod natin ang ating gusto  na hindi maganda na palaging iminumungkahi sa atin ng demonyo.

Wala tayong makukuha kundi ang imperyerno kung susunod tayo sa gusto ng demonyo. Wala tayong makukuha kundi ang kapighatian kung ibebenta natin ang ating kaluluwa sa demonyo. Ano po ba ang nangyari kay Judas ng siya ay nagpatukso sa demonyo na ipagkanulo si Jesus (Mateo 27:3-5)? May nakuha bang mabuti si Judas ng ipinagkanulo  niya si Jesus? Wala rin po tayong makukuhang anumang mabuti pag tayo ay nag patukso sa mga pagsubok ni satanas.

Gawin po natin ang kuwaresmang ito para mas mapatatag pa ang ating relasyon kay Jesus. Para maiwasan natin ang anumang pagsubok at tukso na gagawin sa atin ng demonyo.

Ano bang mga bagay ang ginagawa mo para mas mapalakas pa ang iyong relasyon kay Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday, March 9; Saturday after Ash Wednesday; Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Who are the modern day sinners that Jesus wants to call to repentance? It’s no other than us, we are sinners; we sin through our thoughts, actions and words. Like the tax collector Levi, Jesus calls us to follow Him, to leave behind us our sinfulness.

Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him? He wants to build a deeper friendship with us. And this would only happen if we would choose to respond to His call. Rather than respond to the call of the devil who always calls us to sin.

When we respond to the call of Jesus we ensure ourselves of a meaningful life. This doesn’t mean that the moment to we say yes to Jesus we would be free from worries and trials. We would still have our own share of trials and worries. Yet in the midst of our worries and trials we will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in our lives. 

If we decide to follow Jesus there would be people who will despise and perhaps belittle us. But we have nothing to worry with those who will despise us. What is most important is we chose to leave behind our sinfulness in favor of Jesus’ call.

To leave behind our sinfulness is not easy to do because the devil will not easily let us go. Nevertheless, nothing is impossible for Jesus all He asks us is our yes and our firm desire to leave behind our sinfulness.

Lest we forget, a sinful life is a life in union with the devil and a sinful life is a problem filled life. Let us therefore respond to this call of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday, March 8; Friday after Ash Wednesday; Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15 

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast.”

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Reflection:

What does fasting do to us? It cleanses our bodies, when we fast we dictate on our bodies rather than our bodies dictating on us. For example, when we see  delicious food, our bodies would normally dictate upon us to eat that delicious food. This is always the scenario: Our bodies dictate upon us and we succumb to it.

However, when we fast, it’s the other way around we don’t succumb to this dictate we contradict it, for what reason? For the observance of certain customs and tradition in this case we can cite our fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

In our gospel, Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees why His disciples were not fasting. Jesus answered them this: They are not fasting for the reason that the bridegroom (Referring to Himself) is still with them. Therefore their tricky question was properly answered by Jesus.

Literal fasting when done for a good reason is valid but when it’s done for people to see or to get praise from people. It becomes invalid or useless it’s much better not to fast when we do it for show.   

But there’s a much meaningful and permanent fasting that God wants us to do. We permanently fast from oppressing others, we permanent fast from our arrogance and high sense of ourselves and we permanently fast from our greed and indifference.

Are you capable of doing these forms of fasting? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Thursday, March 7; Thursday after Ash Wednesday; Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

What would you do after hearing Jesus say this: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

What will register in your mind for sure is Jesus statement about His suffering and death. What will register in your mind is His statement that those who would want to follow Him must learn how to deny himself and carry his cross daily.       

This is for the reason that we are normally unenthusiastic with suffering, death and sacrifice. Who would want to suffer, who would want to die at a young age and who would want sacrifice in his life? We don’t want all of these because this entails hardship and more.

But this is real life with Jesus, if we really want to feel His abiding presence in our lives. Then, we must be prepared to suffer, for what reason would we suffer for? We will suffer in our discipleship with Jesus because Jesus Himself suffered. Even if He has the power He did not exempt Himself from suffering.   

What would you gain after suffering for Jesus sake? You will be with Jesus in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday, March 6; Ash Wednesday; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

What is the relevance of Ash Wednesday to your life? 

Today is Ash Wednesday; this is the start of our forty days journey of self-examination and self-reflection of our journey with the Lord and and our journey in this fleeting world. We examine ourselves if we were able to shun the many sins and temptations of this world in favor for our love for God.

We also examine our attitude when we give Alms, when we Pray and when we Fast. Do we do these acts of piety to serve our own intentions or the intentions of God? Many of us do these acts of piety to show to the whole world our own intentions.

As we go to the priest or to the ministers of the church for them to impose ash with the sign of the cross on our foreheads. We are reminded that someday we shall become ash and our mortal bodies will forever be part of this world.

We will leave behind whatever temporal achievements, learning and riches that we have acquired. And after that be forgotten and permanently fade away from the memory of this world. 

But God will not forget us if only we would learn to repent and permanently walk away from anything that makes us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday, March 5; Eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:28-31

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

A worldly man had a dream in that dream he saw Jesus calling him to leave behind his life of sin and follow Him. The morning after the man seriously thought about this dream and he was in a dilemma as to how he will survive once he decides to follow Jesus. Night time came and he had a dream once again and he heard Jesus told him not to worry for He will provide for Him.

With these encounters with Jesus, he decided to leave behind his sinful life and he decided to follow Jesus. After which he was never in want of anything he was very well provided by Jesus.

It is hard for many of us to decide to follow Jesus for the reason that it is not financially rewarding to follow Him. But life is not about storing-up treasures in this world there’s more to life than accumulation of earthly wealth. Life is also about following the footsteps of Jesus and about making a positive impact in the lives of others.

Never would we find the real meaning of life by following the dictates of this world. It's only in following Jesus that we would discover life and its true meaning.

Why not slowly shift the orientation of your life from a life of worldliness to a life in the company of Jesus? If you do so you will also begin to live a more meaningful life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday, March 4; Eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:17-27

Gospel: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

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Reflection:

A businessman was on his deathbed, being his last moment in this world, his wife and all of his children were there. Seeing them all he suddenly had a worried face and said: why are you all here? Who’s tending the business? He was in the throes of death, yet his mind was still fixated on his material wealth.

What must we do to inherit eternal life? Jesus tells us to follow the commandments and sell what we have and give the proceeds to the poor and follow Him. This is how Saint Francis of Asisi lived his life. He was the son of a rich merchant but he disowned all of his inheritance he instead chose to help the poor. He lived a life of simplicity and poverty relying more on God’s providence than on this world.

There are people who are overly concerned with their material wealth as if they can bring it to their grave. Some are even willing to sell their soul to the devil just to be rich. We should not invest on these things for all these are temporary and it could be taken from us anytime.

We should rather focus more on God rather than on this world. We should help those who are in need and steadfastly follow Christ. Nothing is wrong with being rich for as long as we don’t make riches our God and this we can do best by sharing it. Let us always remember that we are just stewards of the things that we have. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday March 3, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-45

Gospel: Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

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Reflection:

A woman saw a handsome man. The handsome man sensing that the woman was looking at him looked as well to the woman. Their eyes met and she immediately fell in love with the handsome man. After a few weeks they got married, but two months after their marriage the domineering and arrogant behavior of the man started to unravel. 

Are you easily swayed by outward appearance? For example, you saw a handsome man or a beautiful woman and you were immediately attracted to that person.  An attractive outward appearance is very deceiving. Why? For the simple reason that we will not fully know the true character of the person based on what we see.

What we see is simply a façade it can be faked. The exterior is not the true color or true character of the person. The true color or character lies hidden in the heart of the person. And we can only discover this hidden character once we get to know the person better.

Many young people today are easily lured to this trap of outward appearance. This is what attracts them to their future wife or husband. However, after marriage the hidden, dark and true character of their spouse will begin to show.

This also applies in relationship concerning friendship. We must not make friends with someone simply because the person is rich or influential. We should be friends with a person because of the good character of that person. It doesn’t matter if the person is poor what is important is the character and the goodness that emanates from that person’s heart.    

In our first reading according to the book of Sirach it says: one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind (Sirach 27:6). And in our gospel Jesus tells us: “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).”

So, what are we going to do so that we will not fall into this false impression based on the exterior appearance? We have to know the person better by way of speaking to that person. By carefully discerning his/her utterances or the words that he/she speaks. 

Because what he/she speaks comes from the heart and what originates from the heart is the measure of a person’s true character. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Marso 3, Ika-8 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 6:39-45

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:39-45

39 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad ang isang talinhaga: “Puwede nga kayang akayin ng isang bulag ang isa pang bulag? Di ba’t kapwa sila mahuhulog sa kanal? 40 Hindi higit sa kanyang guro ang alagad. Magiging katulad ng kanyang guro ang ganap na alagad.

41 Bakit mo tinitingnan ang puwing sa mata ng iyong kapatid? At di mo pansin ang troso sa iyong mata. 42 Paano mo masasabi sa iyong kapatid: ‘Kapatid, pahintulutan mong alisin ko ang puwing sa mata mo,’ gayong hindi mo nga makita ang troso sa mata mo? Mapag­kunwari! Alisin mo muna ang troso sa mata mo, at saka ka makakakitang mabuti para alisin ang puwing sa mata ng kapatid mo.

43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masa­ma ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi maka­pa­mumu­nga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang ba­wat puno sa bunga nito. Hindi makapi­pitas ng igos mula sa tinikan ni maka­aani ng ubas mula sa dawagan. 45 Nag­lalabas ang taong mabuti ng mabuting bagay mula sa yaman ng kabutihan sa kanyang puso; ang masama nama’y naglalabas ng ma­sa­mang bagay mula sa kanyang kasamaan. At sinasabi nga ng bibig ang uma­apaw mula sa puso.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon   

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Repleksyon:

May isang babae na nakakita ng isang guapong lalaki. Nang mapansin ng lalaki na tinitingnan siya ng babae ay tumingin din siya sa babae. Nag panagpo ang kanilang mga mata at ang babae ay kaagad agad na umibig sa lalake. Pagkalipas ng ilang lingo sila ay nag pakasal ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ay unti-unting lumabas ang hindi mabuting pag-uugali ng lalake.

Madali ka bang mabighani ng panlabas na kaanyuan? Halimbawa ay may nakita ka na magandang babae o guapong lalake at ika’y kaagad na humanga sa kanya. Kaya ang nangyari ay ibinigay mo kaagad ang iyong puso sa kanya. Ang panlabas na kaanyuan kadalasan ay hindi totoo. Bakit? Dahil hindi natin lubos na makikilala ang tao sa pamamagitan lamang ng kanyang anyong panlabas.

Ang anyong panlabas ay isang pakitang tao lamang. Ang panlabas na anyo ay hindi ang tunay na kulay o ugali ng isang tao. Dahil ang tunay na kulay at ugali ay nasa puso at ito ay atin lamang malalaman pag mas nakilala na natin ng ang isang tao.

Sa ating modernong panahon ngayon ay maraming kabataan ang akaagad-agad ng nasisilo ng panlabas na anyo. Ito ang nagiging instrumento para mabighani sila sa kanilang magiging asawa. Pero, pag sila ay natapos ng ikasal ang totoong at kadalasan na masamang pag uugali ipinapakita na nya. 

Ang ganitong sitwasyon ay angkop na angkop din sa sitwasyon ng pakikipag kaibigan. Dapat hindi po tayo nakikipag kaibigan sa isang tao dahil siya ay mayaman o maykapangyarihan. Kailagan tayo ay nakikipagkaibigan dahil mabuti ang isang tao. Hindi na bale kung hindi siya mayaman o makapangyarihan basta ang importante ay ang nangagaling sa kanyang puso ay pawang kabutihan lamang.

Sa ating pong unang pagbasa ayon sa aklat ni Sirac ay ito ang sinasabi: Sa sinasabi naman ng tao nakikilala ang kanyang damdamin (Sirac 27:6). At sa ating mabuting balita ay ito ang sabi ni Jesus: “Sinasabi nga ng bibig ang umaapaw mula sa puso (Lucas 6:45).”

Ano po ang dapat nating gawin para hindi tayo mahulog sa patibong ng panlabas na kaanyuan? Dapat po ay lubusan muna nating makilala ang isang tao sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag usap sa kanya. At sa pamamagitan ng masusing pakikinig sa kanyang mga sinasabi.

Bago natin siya pagkatiwalaan. Dahil ang kanyang mga sinasabi ay nagmumula sa kanyang puso at ang nag mumula sa kanyang puso ang sukatan ng tunay nap ag-uugali ng isang tao. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday, March 2; Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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Reflection:

Have you introduced Jesus to your children?

According to an explanation there was a valid reason why the children were prevented by the disciples from going to Jesus. But Jesus saw how the children wanted to go to Him so He broke the barrier that separates Him and the children by letting them go to Him. Jesus did not only allow the children to go to Him. He even embraced them, blessed them and placed His hands upon them.  

This is Jesus for you and me, ever willing to be disturbed by anyone. Ever willing to embrace, bless and lovingly place His guiding hand upon us. Jesus is not a distant God, He is a God that is with us; a God that is very sensitive to our needs and prayers.

Therefore, let us always go to Him with reckless abandon like little children for He is always there for us. Sometimes we don’t feel the love of Jesus for the reason that we don’t go to Him with the trusting attitude of a child. We don’t go to Him with the humility of a child.

In the last sentence of the gospel Jesus embraced, blessed and placed His hands on them. If you’re a parent and you are not yet doing these acts of love to your children, why don’t you do it to them? It will surely give them a sense of security and assurance that they are always loved by you and that you're always there for them. The same feeling of security and love that Jesus always generously showers upon us.

Do you always pray for your children and do you always embrace them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday, March 1; Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

Are you faithful to your marriage vows?

When a man and a woman are wed in the Catholic church the Priest pose this question to them: "Do you take__as your lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold, to this day onward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?"

The man and woman will answer: I do.

The Marriage bond is forever, but the reality of it all is some married couples separate. I know of three married couples who were married in the church, couple # 1: husband simply left his wife and two very young children. Couple # 2: The wife left the husband even though they already have a baby. Couple # 3: The wife carried an adulterous affair for more than three years. Within that span of time the wife was constantly being reminded by her husband to stop it if she was doing it. But the adulterous wife did not listen until it was fully discovered by her husband.

Oftentimes couples separate for selfish reasons. They only care of what they want and feel; they don’t give an iota of concern to the feeling of their spouse and children. Instead of separating, why not walk away permanently from whatever that makes us sin and give love a second chance and why not ask Jesus to heal the marriage?

Jesus said to his disciples: a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Mark 10:7). So, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Then he said again: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery (Mark 10:11-12).”

The Sacrament of Marriage is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, the first miracle made by Jesus was when he made water into wine in the wedding at Cana. The Priest that presides in the wedding ceremony does it in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus himself said it: “What God has joined together; no human being must separate (Mark 10:9).”

Are you doing something to preserve the sanctity of your marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday, February 28; Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 9:41-50

Gospel: Mark 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

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Reflection:

Are you generous to the church and those who volunteer their time for the church?  

Many find joy in giving to the church and its workers without strings attached on it. If we’ll ask them why they are so generous towards the church and its workers. They will say that they just want to share what they have with those who labor in the vineyard of the Lord.

 What they don’t notice is that whatever they gave they receive it back in various forms. Such as financial blessings, good health, peace in the family and so forth. Their blessing flows like a stream that never runs out of water, this is the reward of those who are generous.

Why not try also being generous to the church and its workers? Why not be generous to anyone who needs your help and see for yourself the great blessings that will come your way? Saint Francis had said: “It is in giving that we receive.” Surely the more you are generous with what you have the more that you will be blessed by God.

Jesus said to His disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday, February 27; Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

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Reflection:

Have you encountered an arrogant person?

Arrogance and superiority complex are something that enslaves us every once in a while. We sometimes think that we have the monopoly of knowledge about Jesus. But Jesus tells us that we don’t have it all. In addition, Jesus tells us that His name is not exclusively for us it’s for everyone even to those who don’t believe in Him.

The same is true with our daily personal lives. There are times that we fall to the trap of self-righteousness. We look down on our less educated and materially handicapped brothers and sisters.

 But this is very wrong. Before the eyes of God almighty we are all equal none of us have an upper hand as far as He is concerned. So, let us at all times be tolerant, humble and gentle towards our fellowmen.

Most especially to those who have less in life, those who are uneducated. Those who are struggling to follow the Lord. Why? Jesus is with them also. – Marino J. Dasmarinas