Reflection for Sunday June 30, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:51-62

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."

And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." To him Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you thinking of following Jesus? Many want to serve the Lord or serve in the church for the wrong reasons. Wrong reason number one: I want to follow Jesus because I want to become popular in my community. Wrong reason number two: I want to follow Jesus because I want to be influential and powerful in my community.

When Jesus was not allowed entry to Samaria. The disciples James and John immediately asked Jesus:  "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them (Luke 9:54)?" During that instance, James and John had the mindset of a typical follower who follows for the reason of influence and power.  

Why do you want to become a follower of Jesus or why do you want to serve in your church? Is it because of prestige, power and honor? If your answer is yes, you have the wrong reason in following the Lord. Why? Because true followership for Christ entails tons and tons of sacrifice. It requires boundless humility and huge amount of perseverance.

One way or another some of us may have felt that we were called by God to serve Him and His people. Let us always remember that this call is always to help Jesus carry His cross. This call is not for us to reap honors, power and prestige. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for June 29, Saturday: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; Matthew 16:13-19

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you know Jesus? Yes you know Jesus but do you feel the presence of Jesus in your life? Knowing and feeling Jesus are two different things. Many of us know Jesus but not as many feel His majestic presence. We don’t feel the presence of Jesus in our hearts because we lack time for Jesus.

Peter did not only know Jesus, he felt also the presence of Jesus in his life. Peter felt the presence of Jesus in his life because Peter gave time for Jesus. Among the disciples it was Peter who was always with Jesus it was Peter who had more time for Jesus. 

Peter went with Jesus to the mountain of transfiguration. When Jesus walked on water Peter saw Jesus and even asked Jesus if she could go to him. And there were many other events that Peter was always in the company Jesus.

Paul initially was a persecutor of the church. But in spite of being a fierce critic of the church Paul allowed Jesus to take control of his life. Thus, from being a persecutor Paul became a zealous propagator of the church. He became one of its foremost missioner.

If you want to feel the presence of Jesus in your life. You only have to do one thing and that is to spend more time with Jesus. Be with Him at Holy Mass, hear Him speak to you by  reading your bible. Hear Him assuring you of His abiding presence in your life through your prayers.

Do you want to feel the presence of Jesus in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for June 28, Friday: Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; Luke 15:3-7

Gospel: Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A wayward daughter who had four children from four different men was disowned by her parents. The distraught daughter had nowhere to go. While mulling about reforming her life she went to a convent to seek advice and temporary shelter from the nuns there.

There are really times that we tend to give up already on those who are lost and wayward. We don’t take into account the fact that they are also very much capable of reforming their lives. We don’t take into consideration that we too are sinners and Jesus has not given up on us no matter how many times we’ve offended Him.

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. And we see in the gospel the Sacred Heart of Jesus, His heart that never gives up. His heart that is very much willing to temporarily leave behind the many to seek out the lost and misguided.

If we are quick to condemn Jesus doesn't condemn. If we give up already on the lost and misguided, Jesus will never gives up on them.   

Do you have a misguided/wayward relative or friend? Don’t give up on them look for them and when you find them share to them the enlightenment which Jesus gave you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 27, Thursday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:21-29

Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to them solemnly ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What would ensure your entry to the kingdom of God when your time is up in this world? It’s your faith built and anchored like a rock in Jesus. What does this mean? It means faith that is not in name only. It’s rather faith that works and faith that is lived so that others may benefit from it.

How easy it is to us to say that I have faith, I am a Christian and a followers of Jesus. But do we put substance to these declarations and do we live these pronouncements? If we do, then well and good but if we don’t yet, it’s never too late to renew and strengthen our faith and commitment to Jesus.

In every hour of your life God gives you the chance for you to make alive your dormant and sleeping faith. God wants you to do this so that you would become like the wise man in the gospel. Who built his house around the rock which nobody could move or destroy not even the strongest storm.

We all face or will still be facing our own respective battles with the storms of life. Do you know what would make you survive these storms? It’s your rock solid faith in Jesus, faith that is not kept to oneself alone, it’s rather a faith that is lived and shared.

How’s your faith in the Lord right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 26, Wednesday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Do you value external appearance?

To many people first impression is very important. External appearance also is very much valued by them. But first impression is usually false and external appearance is normally fake. How would we know the real character of a person? Listen to his/her language, watch his/her actions and get to know that person better.

There are times that we are easily taken by external appearance only to discover later that it is not real. The modern world that we are in right now is full of unreal and pretentious people. Let us therefore not be taken by first impression and by our naked eye for its usually false.

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about false prophets, who are these people? They are the ones who are good at speaking about God but very much lacking in living the teachings of God. They put up a very good external appearance so that so that their followers would not uncover who they really are.

They manipulate their followers to entrench themselves in their ivory towers. They tell their followers to practice this and that ritual but they themselves don’t practice it. There are many false prophets today we have to be careful and discerning. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 25, Tuesday: Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

There is a story of a boy who was neglected by his irresponsible parents. A kind-hearted relative saw something from this boy who was always at the church to do volunteer work and attend Holy Mass. So he offered to take care of this boy and without any hesitation the negligent parents immediately agreed.

To make a long story short the boy stayed with his relatives who took care of his education and other needs. To compensate for his free board, education and lodging he worked for them by helping with the household chores and other basic house work. Years quickly passed by and this good and hardworking boy became very successful.

What is the narrow gate that Jesus wants us all to enter? This is the narrow gate of hardwork, the narrow gate of life with Jesus and the church that He founded.

Not many of us now are truly hard-working we want shortcuts, for example to become rich many engage in corruption and other illegal acts. Not many of us now do volunteer work for the church because we are very selfish with our time and treasure. Not many of us now are fulfilling our Sunday Mass obligation; we just go to Mass if we want to go.

Indeed, those who enter or pass thru the narrow gate and find it are few but these few will always be rewarded someday by Jesus himself. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for June 24, Monday: the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist; Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Have you been faithful to the Lord?

To continuously propagate the name of a certain clan it is customary to name a newly born child after his father’s name. This was in the mind of the relatives who proposed that the newly born baby of Elizabeth be named after his father Zechariah.

 But Zechariah had previously had an agreement with the Angel Gabriel when he appeared to him in the sanctuary that the baby would be named John (Luke 1:13). True to their word both Elizabeth and Zechariah did not renege on their agreement with the Lord through the angel Gabriel.

 Their faithfulness to God’s covenant was further rewarded when Zechariah was able to speak again. What is the implication of this for us? This tells us that the good Lord has a reward for those who are faithful to Him. Are we always faithful to the Lord?

 We too are being reminded by this gospel to be faithful to our own covenants with the Lord. You may be asking yourself: What is my covenant with the Lord? There are many, I will just mention a few. If you’re married your covenant with the Lord is to be faithful to your spouse until the very end.

Our Baptismal covenant with the Lord is faithfulness to the teachings of the church. Have we been faithful to the teachings of the church and have we already shared and lived its teachings? 

God through the angel Gabriel has rewarded the faithfulness of Elizabeth and Zechariah. There’s also a reward in store for us all for so long as we would be faithful to the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday June 23, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Luke 9:11b-17

Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What would happen when we become very familiar already with a person who is special to us?

When we are familiar already with a person who is special to us the tendency for us is to eventually look at that special person as ordinary. For example, during courtship the future spouse would be treated specially by the man or woman.  They would exchange countless gifts between them. Then, they eventually marry and after many years of being married. The special treatment would somehow become ordinary for many couples. Why? Because they’ve both grown too familiar with each other.

Perhaps, the twelve apostles were already too familiar with Jesus. They’ve been with Him for almost three years day in and day out. They’ve been witnessing left and right miracles from Him and slowly witnessing miracles became an ordinary occurrence for them.

That’s why as the day was drawing to a close. The apostles approached Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here (Luke 9:12).”

Because of their familiarity with Jesus they forgot that Jesus can easily feed the crowd that was following them. They all of a sudden forgot the many miracles of Jesus. The spark in their eyes was unexpectedly gone all because of their familiarity.

There are times that this happens to us too! We seem to be familiar with Jesus already that He becomes an ordinary person to us. We forget that He is very much capable of making miracles in our life. We forget that His Body and Blood are always there for us to partake during Holy Mass. We forget that the same Body and Blood of Jesus can always infuse vigor and life to our weary lives.

Whenever we go to Holy Mass and receive Jesus’ Body and Blood during Holy Communion. It is always an assurance that Jesus is always there for us. Ever ready to reinvigorate our tired bodies and spirits. Ever ready to infuse vitality, freshness and life to our drained minds.

Are you feeling tired and weary caused by the many challenges that you’ve been facing lately? Why not attend Holy Mass and let the Body and Blood of Jesus strengthen you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 22, Saturday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:24-34

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Mr. A is a worrisome person he always loses sleep about the little things in life. For example, if he sees a black cat he would worry about it because it’s a sign of bad omen for him.

Mr. B is a man of deep faith he never worry about anything in life because he learned to trust everything to the Lord. Although both of them are of the same age Mr. B looks a lot younger than Mr. A and Mr. B’s personality is more vibrant than Mr. A the worrisome guy.

Indeed, why worry about this life?  We have to learn to live a worry free life and we have to learn to trust God more than we trust ourselves or more than we trust anyone in this world. What would we gain if we worry a lot? Nothing except more worries!

In the gospel, Jesus is telling us not to worry about anything in this world for he will provide it for us. This seems hard to believe but this is true. If we would only learn to trust the Lord and let Him take full control of our lives. We would discover that God always provides and always takes care of everything including our worries. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 21, Friday: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious; Matthew 6:19-23

Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is the advantage of not keeping earthly treasures?

We have less worry to think about imagine for example if we have many earthly treasures we would always be thinking on how to further grow it or how to keep it safe. These are just the few disadvantages of having earthly treasures; the more we have riches and material things the more that we think and worry about it.

What if we decide to give up our material riches for the sake of the kingdom of God? What will we gain from it? We certainly will have peace of mind. We will have no more worries to think about and we will be free as a bird always ready to fly towards heaven anytime. Why? Because we have no attachment with material things.  

The Lord always calls us to store treasures up in heaven where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. What are these heavenly treasures? These are our faith, our good deeds towards our fellowmen and our acts of love and humility. These are pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 20, Thursday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

(Jesus said to his disciples) “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

How do you pray? 

Do you pray with a set of structured prayer such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and many other prayers? Nothing is wrong with these prayers for it brings you closer to God. What is important is, when you pray you dive inside your prayer this means that your whole being is in communion with your prayer.

There is no wrong either with our spontaneous/personal prayers for these are prayers that originate deep in our hearts.  Our whole beings are with our prayer, and by doing so we establish our connection with the Good Lord.

So we know how to pray and that is very good! But let us think about the many others who do not know how to pray (There are many of them). Perhaps we can make it our mission in life to teach them how to pray and in the process introduce them to Jesus.

Let us do something about this and let us also share this prayer that was taught by Jesus to His disciples. We become productive followers of Jesus when we pay forward whatever we know about Jesus most especially this prayer that HE taught us to pray.

Have you shared the Our Father prayer? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 19, Wednesday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; 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 others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

In the gospel Jesus gives us three commands:

1. 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 (Matthew 6:2).

2.  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 (Matthew 6:5).

3. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting (Matthew 6:16).

Jesus reminds us to have an interior self-examination about our lives.  How are we living it right now? Do we live our lives so that others may notice us? For example, in doing good deeds, why is it that some if not many of us post it on social media? Is it for others to know that we are doing good?  Are we only using God so that we will gain the admiration of our fellowmen?

Jesus advocates humility and secrecy in doing things for Him. We should not boast of the things that we do for God and for our fellowmen. Otherwise it’s all useless and chasing the wind. Jesus knows everything about us; our motives and the real reason why we do things for Him. He knows if we are only using Him to advance our own self-serving agendas.   

Let us re-direct our motives and from now on let us do things for the Lord in secrecy. Without posting it on facebook and other social media platforms. No one will know except you and the Lord.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for June 18, Tuesday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you capable of loving your enemies?

In the gospel Jesus calls us to a deeper form of love: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44).

It’s not easy to give love to someone who betrayed your trust. But that’s what Jesus is telling us: to love unconditionally. Regardless of the hurts and betrayal done to us we still need to love and pray for those who’ve hurt us.

There’s no winner when we respond betrayal with betrayal, anger with anger. In spite of the injury done to us, why not try to still be meek and forgiving and leave everything in the hands of the Lord? God doesn’t love us selectively; He doesn’t love us because we follow His commands. He still loves us even if we’ve betrayed Him so many times.    

God loves us without any preconditions; He lets the sun rise and the rain to fall on all of us sinners. Therefore we have to love even our enemies and one of the ways to do this is not to wish them harm. Notwithstanding  the hurt that they’ve inflicted upon us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 17, Monday: Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What will happen if we would become kind to our enemies, if we will not respond to their mocking? The enemy will simply go away or they might even become our friend. There is so much hatred in this world because we respond to hatred. We perpetuate the cycle of anger by anger.

When we respond to hatred and violence we allow the evil one to take hold of us. And when the evil one takes control of us it will do nothing but destroy us. And bring us closer to his kingdom where everyone has hatred in his/her heart. 

In our gospel Jesus convincingly destroys the evil of hatred by love and humility.  Jesus tells us this: “I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well (Matthew 5:39).

Are we capable of loving those who despise us and are we willing to humble ourselves before them? Should we confront them or we simply ignore their insults and anger? Many regrettable acts of anger would have been avoided if only we have love and humility in our hearts.

Prayer: O dear Lord we pray that you give us the virtue of Humility, Forgiveness and Love. Sow in our hearts everything that is good. Sow in our heart gentleness, forgiveness and compassion. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas