Reflection for July 17, Wednesday: Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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Reflection:

What is the life of Jesus? It’s a life of simplicity, prayer and humility.

Simplicity is synonymous with humility and this is the life of Jesus, this ought to be our life too. Jesus even if He was equal with God. Jesus always found time also to pray regularly to  the Father: To communicate with Him, unburden to Him and praise Him. This we ought to do also.

To grow in wisdom, we need to be simple and humble. God doesn’t want self-righteous, self-centered and ego tripper personalities. Unknown to us, if we are simple and humble we are also creating a fertile environment for God to come and dwell in our heart. Unknown to us our simplicity and humility radiates through our persona and this is felt by those whom we encounter.

As what Jesus did, it is very important that we reserve time for God to talk to Him and feel His presence in the stillness of our hearts and minds. This will strengthen our bond with God. A good point to start is to have a prayer time every morning upon waking up.

It’s here where our minds are still fresh and not yet cluttered by the daily worries of life. The same thing at night when we are about to sleep, let us also pray and talk to God. We thank HIM for the day that HE gave us and we humbly ask HIM to be with us as we take our temporary rest at night.

If we think we don’t have yet the virtue of humility let us be patient and continue to ask the good Lord to bless us with the grace of humility. For its only through our humility that we will know God and HIS great plan for us.

Do you live humility and do you always find time for Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 16, Tuesday: Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

Why do we sin?

We sin because we allow the devil to take control of our lives. Once the devil is in control already sinning becomes an ordinary routine. We don’t anymore have guilt of conscience, we become numb already from the criticism. We even have the temerity to be angry to those who are criticizing us.

So we enjoy sin since it brings us endless earthly gratification. Until we get caught and so we receive our due punishment. But why keep on sinning and why wait until we get caught? Why don’t we stop sinning, permanently walk away from it and embrace the unconditional love of Jesus?

In our gospel reading for today we notice Jesus reproaching the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. For they refused to hear God’s call for them to permanently walk away from their sinfulness.

Every now and then God will gently nudge us to remind us that there’s no good with sin. That sinning will bring us nothing but problems and misfortunes. We may enjoy the fruits of our sinfulness but this kind of enjoyment is short lived. Eventually we will be caught and be punished.

Why not walk away from sin and embrace the forgiveness, mercy and love of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 15, Monday: Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; Matthew 10:34—11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34—11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

There’s a saying that goes, “No pain no gain”. How could there be gain in pain? Why not gain without pain? When you gain something without pain what you gain can easily fly away and it can easily be forgotten. But when you gain something that is accompanied with pain, sweat and sacrifice you will treasure it and properly take care of it.

Would you be able to know Jesus more deeply without going through life’s many pains? No you will not gain Jesus and you will not have an up close and personal encounter with Him. For there’s no easy way going to Jesus.

 you have to pass through the many painful obstacles of life in order to find Jesus. You may even have to give up every inch of your worldliness in order to find Jesus. Therefore self-sacrifice is an important ingredient in finding Jesus in your lives.

Would you be willing to go through pains and sufferings so that you could experience an encounter with Jesus? If you really desire an encounter with Jesus in your life you have to embrace suffering/s and pains.

But worldly life has already conditioned us to veer away as much as we could from our crosses and pains. No small wonder that many if not majority has not yet found Jesus in thier lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 14, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:25-37

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Reflection:

A man said to his beloved, “I love you until the end of my life.” However, when the man saw another woman who winked at him. He left his beloved whom he promised to love until the end to be with the another woman who winked at him. How do you love? Do you love like this man or you love like God?

In the gospel a man fell victim to robbers and they left the dying man on the road to die. The priest and the levite passed by but did not help the dying man.  Either one of them were expected to help the dying man because both were serving in the temple of God. But they did not.  

Then came the Samaritan who walked on the same road. Unlike the priest and the levite who ignored the dying man. This samaritan took time to help the dying man and the Samaritan even brought the dying man to an inn so that he could be nursed.  

What if the Samaritan did not pass by? The victim may have died due to the indifference of the priest and Levite. Fortunately the Samaritan who was the exemplar of perfect love which is the love of God passed by otherwise the victim might have died.

Perhaps, many of us who profess to love and worship God fail to translate this love to an authentic love for our neighbor. Why? Because when the going gets tough many of us simply ignore the neighbor in need. Thus, we become like the priest and levite who indifferently walked away from the dying man.

The Lord wants us to always be like the Samaritan who went out of his way to help the dying man. For the simple reason that the action of the Samaritan represents the love and mercy of God. Love and mercy that we must all emulate. – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for July 13, Saturday: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

What is the mark of a true and faithful follower of Jesus? It’s the mark of obedience, a true follower will obey the command of Jesus to share His good news. But you  may say that sometimes it’s hard to share Jesus because the environment is not conducive for sharing Jesus. If this is the case when are you going to share Jesus?

If you wait for the right environment to share Jesus. That right environment may not come at all, so you will not be able to share Jesus.  As the apostles were commissioned by Jesus to share the gospel we too are tasked to do the same. Let us not wait for the right environment to share Jesus because every environment is right for Jesus.

No harm will fall upon you if you share Jesus because you are sharing the good news of humanity’s salvation. If you share Jesus you will be able to change lives and you will be able to give hope which many badly needs today.

The apostles treated with sacredness their commissioning from Jesus and as a result of it they became very successful in their mission. How about you? When are you going to share Jesus? Would you still wait for the right environment? It may not come.

Why not share Jesus now? And in the process be blessed by Jesus as Jesus blesses others’ lives though you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 12, Friday: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

There was a very corrupt high ranking government official who had a stirring turnabout in his life. From being corrupt he became saintly and from thereon he never engaged in any form of corruption. His saintly lifestyle eventually became his cross because he was maliciously persecuted by his former cohorts in his corruption activities.

Does it pay to leave our sinfulness for the sake of Jesus? Does it pay to leave behind friends who bring us nothing but sinfulness? Of course it pays! It may not be easy, we may be persecuted, scorned and even be harmed. However all of these dangers and earthly imbalances in our life are nothing compared to what Jesus will bring into our life.

We must always expect persecution the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. We should expect to be looked down, expect insulting comments. Nonetheless; let these persecutions strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus.

Almost all of the apostles were severely persecuted for faithfully following Jesus. They were persecuted by this world yet God exalted them for their faithfulness to Jesus.

How about you which would you prefer the immoral and corrupt enticements of this world or the initially difficult but eventually rewarding path towards Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 11, Thursday: Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot; Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

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Reflection:

Have you already shared Jesus using the internet?

Lady A, is an internet fanatic she would always share anything about herself on facebook. Simply to create an impression about how good her life is. But is it really her real life or it’s simply a facade of her real life?

Some of us are actually like Lady A, we are fond of sharing our every activity even non- essential activities via the internet most especially via facebook. But have we shared Jesus or anything that relate to Jesus using the internet?

We have in the gospel the commissioning or sending off of the apostles. They were told by Jesus to share the good news of our salvation. They did their mission by advancing the teachings of Jesus and the many miracles that He did.

The apostles did not share anything about themselves it was always about Jesus and never about themselves. For a change why not think of sharing Jesus instead of sharing yourself using internet? If you share Jesus you would change and bless lives and in the process you would also become a blessing for others. 

Would you share Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 10, Wednesday: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

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Reflection:

How can we effectively evangelize? We must always be connected with Jesus in our words and deeds. We can never be effected evangelizers of Jesus' teachings if we only preach it and not live it.

Except for Judas who betrayed Jesus, the other eleven apostles were effective messengers of Jesus’ teachings. For the simple reason that they preached it, they lived it and even gave their lives for it.

 They were simple people some were fishermen, they were like us sinners as well. In the eyes of men they may not be worthy to become Jesus apostles but Jesus called them and qualified them.

Jesus is neither a discriminating God nor a condemning God, He is a God of love, mercy and compassion. He therefore calls us all to turn our backs from our sinful lives and become His followers that will help Him advance the good news of His love and compassion.

You may say that you are not worthy to be called, but who is worthy? Nobody because we are all sinners what Jesus is after is your yes to His call. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 9, Tuesday: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Reflection:

Are you quick to hurl accusations without careful thought?

After driving out the demon from the man Jesus is now accused by the Pharisees of being the prince of demons. A wild accusation that has no basis at all, the sole basis of their accusation was their hatred towards Jesus. Why? Because He was easily becoming popular among the masses thus they saw Jesus as a threat to their rule.

Perhaps, some of us are like the Pharisees every once in a while? We hurl baseless accusation against our fellowmen simply because we have an axe to grind against them. For example, some of us may accuse somebody of wrongdoing because we simply want to get back against someone who did us wrong in the past.

Hurling baseless accusation is not only exclusive in church organization. In general terms this happens also among friends, people in politics particularly during election. But why throw baseless accusation? Why not become friends and co-exist peacefully? If we are true followers of the Lord we will not dare try to destroy the reputation of anybody.

In the latter part of the gospel, seeing how enormous the crowd. Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Indeed, the laborers in the vineyard of the Lord are so few. This statement of Jesus still rings true up to this time. Many do not know Jesus very well we therefore have to share and live the teachings of Jesus.

Would you help advance the teachings of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 8, Monday: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do you always compliment your faith with actions? Our faith in God is measured by our actions.

In the gospel there’s the official full of faith that went to Jesus and told Him: “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live (Matthew 9:18).”

There’s also that woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve long years that came up behind Him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured (Matthew 9:21).”

We too have our own stories about our faith in Jesus. Our faith stories didn’t just happen by accident it happened for a reason. We supported our faith with actions and after which we rested it on Jesus’ mercy, love and compassion.

The same mercy, love and compassion that He gave to the official’s daughter. The same mercy and compassion that He had given also to the woman who had been suffering hemorrhages for twelve long years.

Let us therefore continue to have an unwavering faith in Jesus. And let us support our faith with our actions and God’s mercy, love and compassion will be upon us too.

How’s your faith in the Lord? Is it always faith with actions? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday July 7, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

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Reflection:

A young man decided to become a follower of Jesus but he did not leave behind his worldly lifestyle. He still was living his sinful and luxurious life and he did not cut his ties with his friends who loved this world more than God. After a few months he noticed that he was not able to convince anyone to follow the Lord.

How could we become effective bearers of the teachings of Jesus? We must live simply and we should depend on Jesus in everyday of our lives. This doesn’t mean that we just lay idle and wait for the manna from heaven to fall upon us in a silver platter. This means that we still have to work hard but at the same time we have to live simply. And let the values and teachings of Jesus take control of our life.   

Is it still possible to live simply today where the culture of greed, materialism and accumulation rules? Of course it’s still very much possible it’s actually upon our hands on how we would live in this world. Would we let the culture of greed, materialism and accumulation rule over us? Or we let the simple lifestyle of Jesus take control of us?

When Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples to their mission He advocated simple living and total dependence on Him. Why? Because it’s only through this that they could become effective bearers of the good news of Jesus. It’s only through this way that they would be able to convince others to follow Jesus.

If we want to become an effective and fruitful laborers of the Lord we have to learn to live a simple life. And we have to learn to trust in the providence of the Lord rather than trust in our own selves. For the simple reason that this is the lifestyle of Jesus: He lived a simple life and Jesus did not trust on himself He trusted on the will of God.

How are you living your life today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 6, Saturday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

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. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What can make us complete? Its Jesus he only can complete us, the things of this world no matter how enormous will never complete us. Our treasures and power will never complete us and if these are not handled properly this may even destroy us.   It will never fill our longing for God because our love for the things of this world only brings us farther from God.    

John’s disciples asked Jesus: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus meaningfully answered them: "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The wedding guests are the followers of Jesus and the bridegroom is no other than Jesus himself.

Just like in a wedding banquet wherein the guests are forever joyous the same also with us. We become renewed, happy and complete for we are already with Jesus. We permanently leave behind every aspect of our old sinful selves and everything that makes us sin.

We also throw our fears of what tomorrow may bring us for the simple reason that we are already with Jesus. With Jesus the fear of the unknown is permanently banished from our system, what would remain is our faith in our Lord and savior. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 5, Friday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Do you feel that Jesus is calling you to live a new life, a new life free from of sinfulness?

Aside from Matthew whom Jesus called to follow Him we too are being called by Jesus. We may say that we are not worthy to follow Jesus but who amongst us are worthy? No one for we are all sinful creatures of this world.

Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him for the precise reason that he was a sinner. This is the character and mission of Jesus to call every sinner to follow Him. But why is it that even if we know that we are called to repentance we still continue to sin? We refuse to leave behind us our sinful ways.

This is indeed very puzzling, why is it that many of us ignore Jesus call for us to follow Him? Does this mean that we love this world more than we love Jesus? Does this mean that Jesus is losing influence over us and the devil is slowly but surely gaining control of our lives that is why we refuse to heed Jesus’ call to a life of renewal and repentance?

Why did Matthew follow Jesus call? Perhaps somebody had shared to him the love and unfathomable mercy of Jesus. Somebody had lived his faith in Jesus and Matthew heard and saw it, that’s why it was not anymore difficult for Matthew to recognize and follow Jesus.

The challenge before us is to share and live our faith in Jesus to the many Matthews (Sinners) of our time. They may not have heard yet anything about Jesus that is why they keep on sinning until this very day. Why not share the mercy and love of Jesus?

Would you share Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for July 4, Thursday: Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Can we obtain the same forgiveness which Jesus gave to the paralytic?

 Yes we can! The same forgiveness is given to us by the priest who acts in Persona Christi (In the Person of Christ) the moment we humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. However, the sad part is this: Not everyone is aware of this grace of forgiveness!

If only they have an awareness of the grace that is given to us by Jesus when we submit ourselves to this sacrament. They would not think twice to humbly submit to this healing Sacrament.

A large part of the blame why not everyone is educated about this sacrament lies in us who know the enormous gift of the Sacrament of Confession. Because we don’t bother to share what we know and we don’t live and pay forward the grace that we receive from Jesus through this sacrament.

It’s never too late to repent, it’s never too late to ask God to heal us of our many sickness caused by our sinfulness. Let us go and humbly submit ourselves to this healing sacrament and let us not also forget to share the grace that we have received from this healing Sacrament.

Will you humbly submit yourself to this healing Sacrament today or perhaps in the coming days? – Marino J. Dasmarinas