Reflection for Sunday September 22, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:1-13

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Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.  He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one.  To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another the steward said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ The steward said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?  If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant 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 both God and mammon.”

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Reflection:

A businessman that got sick with a severe ailment bargained with the Lord so that he could be healed. He said to the Lord, “Heal me o Lord and I will give away the riches that I have. I will not focus anymore on growing my business empire. What I would focus on is to give my riches to those who are in need of it.” The businessman was miraculously healed thus he fulfilled his promise to the Lord. 

What is keeping you busy right now? Many of us are so busy with our own selfish issues like growing our wealth that we sacrifice our health over it. We also sacrifice our concern for the poor to feed our self-serving concerns. But what would we gain if we are only focused on ourselves? Nothing except the bloating of our egos.

In the gospel for this Sunday, when the steward was notified that he would be fired by his master from his stewardship. The steward decided to make a positive impact on the lives of his master’s debtors. He did this by lessening the amount of the debt that they had with his master.

We are also mere stewards of the things that we have in this world as such we too could be fired anytime as well. That firing might come in the form of sudden sickness or even sudden death. What if we are not prepared when that firing comes? What would happen to our souls and where would we end up? 

But we are still alive, thus we still have time to change our mindsets. From the mindset of I, Me and Myself why not change that mindset and focus it towards our poor relatives, neighbors and friends? Jesus would surely commend us if we do so.- Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 21, Saturday; Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist: 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:

Does Jesus have a soft spot for sinners? Yes Jesus has a soft spot for all of us sinners. For example in our gospel HE called a tax collector and a sinful man named Matthew. After calling Matthew Jesus went to his house to dine with tax collectors and sinners.

All of us are sinners and Jesus is continuously calling upon us to leave for good our sinfulness and follow HIM. The gravity of our sins are not anymore important for Jesus what is important for HIM is we respond to HIS call same as how Matthew in our gospel responded.

Perhaps you may ask, why is Jesus calling us to follow HIM? Among many other reasons Jesus wants us to be freed from the bondage of sin; HE wants us to be enlightened by HIS grace. And Jesus wants to save us from hell where Satan holds court. These are the reasons why Jesus is calling us to follow HIM.

Your life will never be the same again once you accept this call of Jesus. There will be healing in your family; you will now become averse to commit any form of sin and you will be freed from its bondage.  

Why not respond and observe the miracle and healing that Jesus will bring into your life the moment you respond to His call? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 20, Friday; Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 8:1-3

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

1 Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve  and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,  Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

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Reflection:

Have you already preached or even shared the good news about Jesus? The gospel today opens our eyes to the preaching ministry of Jesus. Have you shared Jesus? For example through your life, through actual preaching or sharing or even writing in the internet anything that deals about Jesus.

An active follower is not ashamed to share Jesus, he/she find ways and means to share the teachings of Jesus. Let us reflect on this for we may have not yet shared Jesus or yes we have already shared Jesus but we don’t actually live what we have shared or preached about Jesus.

Be not be afraid to share Jesus for by sharing Jesus you will straighten crooked lives. By sharing Jesus you are able to give hope to the hopeless and by sharing Jesus you save lives. Jesus is alive up to this very moment  and He wants to be in your heart. However, the dwelling of Jesus in your heart can only be facilitated when you begin to share Him.

It is therefore incumbent upon you to share Jesus and to let others know about the Lord. So that they too would also be transformed by Jesus the same way that Jesus is continuously transforming you up to this very hour.- Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 19, Thursday; Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-50

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.

Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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Reflection:

What compelled the woman to wet the feet of Jesus with her tears? What compelled her to wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair and to kiss Jesus’ feet and anoint them with an ointment?

It was her sinfulness, she was already tired of living her life in sin that’s why when she learned that Jesus was in Simon’s house. She did everything to get near Him so that she could humbly honor Him with whatever humble gesture that she could offer Jesus.

The repentant woman went to Jesus she did not verbally ask Jesus for forgiveness. But it was very evident that through her actions she wanted Jesus to forgive her of her sinfulness. She wanted a renewal on her life which no one could give her except Jesus. By her actions Jesus recognized her desire for forgiveness and renewal, therefore her sins were forgiven.

Never did she think that Jesus would condemn and judge her she simply focused on her need to be forgiven. This is Jesus for all of us, a God who will never condemn our sinfulness no matter how serious. A God who will never judge us based on the sins that we have committed in the past.

What is important for Jesus is for us to completely walk away from our sinfulness. The here and now which is free from any form of sin. Never mind the past sins for as long as we have the humility to ask for forgiveness and to walk away from it all.

The humble gesture of the woman was her way of asking for forgiveness of her past sins. The woman spoke to Jesus through her heart, she spoke through her acts of humility. Thus, Jesus heard the desire of her repentant heart. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 18, Wednesday; Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

(Jesus said to the crowds) 31 “Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. 35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

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Reflection:

Why did the Pharisees and scribes refuse to hear the message of conversion and hope of John and Jesus? There are many reasons why they refused to hear their message of conversion. But primarily Jesus and John were nobodies for them; they (Pharisees and scribes) were the ruling class and rulers of their time. So why hear the message of these two nobodies?

By their contemptuous treatment of John and Jesus they deprived themselves of a meaningful life. A life that is not based on earthly power but based on a higher power that is beyond this world.

Why do many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus as well? Because we love this world more than we love the wisdom filled words of Jesus and John. This is the reason why so many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus.

But what would it do us if we amass all the things in this world if we are without Jesus? Could we bring to the next life the wealth that we have amassed in this world? Could our love of earthly wealth help us gain passage to heaven?

What if we hear and ponder the conversion message of John and Jesus?  We will certainly gain entry to heaven even if we are materially poor in this present and fleeting world.  

It’s absolutely better to be materially poor yet have Jesus in our lives than to be rich without Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for September 17, Tuesday; Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:11-17

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

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Reflection:

 What does Jesus do to our life?

He makes miracles for us everyday some of us notice these miracles that’s why we always thank HIM everyday through prayers. Many of us also do not notice this, so we live our lives without being aware of the goodness of Jesus.

While on their way to Nain Jesus saw a funeral march with a grieving widow. Jesus saw her approached her and told her, “Do not weep.” And thereafter HE approached the coffin of her son and HE said, Young man I tell you arise! The grieving widow suddenly became joyous and thankful for the reason that Jesus brought to life again her only son.

This is Jesus for you and me, a God who heals, a God who create miracles. And a God that is always by our side ever ready to help us in whatever way. Therefore, in everyday of our life we must strive to walk with Jesus. We must discard any actions and thoughts which would only make us sin.

Do you make a conscious effort to avoid sin or distance yourself away from people who influence you to sin? Have you recently thought of submitting yourself to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 16, Monday; Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs: Luke 7:1-10

Gospel: Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

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Reflection:

Do you always favor your rich relatives and friends?

The concern of the centurion/military officer for his slave was very admirable; just imagine he went to Jesus to ask for healing for his very sick slave. The centurion/military officer’s love for his slave was very pleasing to Jesus that’s why Jesus granted his pleading.

To whom can we compare the slave today? The slaves of our time are the poor people that we know, whose status in life is way way below us. Oftentimes our concern for the poor is very different from those who are rich.

Many of us have two sets of standards of concern for our friends who are poor and rich. Many of us lean towards our rich relatives and friends for this are what is normal for us: go for the rich relatives and friends first.

Jesus would always wants us to help and pray for those who are in need specially the poor for they are closest to His heart. This doesn’t mean that we neglect the rich but if there would be a choice to whom would we extend help first.

 It’s no brainer that we go to the poor first, we have to prioritize them over the rich. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 15:1-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  So to them he addressed this parable. “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.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.  When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.  And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

A wife told his Godly husband: “Don’t mingle anymore with our neighbors for they are drunkards and sinful.” The husband told his wife, “If I would not mingle with them how could I convince them to walk away from their sinful lives and how could I show them that God still cares for them?” Oftentimes we are like that wife we feel that we are more holy and less sinful than others but that is far from the truth.

Holier than thou and feeling of self-righteousness these were the attitudes of the Pharisees and the scribes. When they complained that Jesus was mingling with tax collectors and sinners.

So, Jesus gave them three parables for them to realize that He doesn’t discriminate, that His love, forgiveness and mercy is for everyone. The Lord looks for and welcomes everyone no matter how sinful and poor. This is also the message of Jesus for us all sinners thru these parables in the gospel.

In the first parable, the shepherd of the hundred sheep did not stop looking for the one who got lost. Never minding to temporarily leave the ninety-nine. And after finding the one that got lost he joyfully put it on his shoulders to bring it home. In the second parable of the lost coin, the woman searched diligently for the lost coin until she found it again.

In the third parable of the lost son, when the lost son had a realization of his misdeeds. He humbly decided to go back home, not certain if his father would accept him again. But lo and behold when his father saw him coming home he ordered his people to prepare a big banquet for the lost son. Then, the father full of love run to his repentant son embraced and kissed him as if saying, “Everything is forgiven my son.”

God in His infinite love, mercy and forgiveness is always looking for us sinners. Why? Because the Lord wants us to completely walk away from our sinful life. The Lord wants us to live a new life completely free from any form of sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for September 14, Saturday; The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus  said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

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Reflection:

Why do we suffer and what is the purpose of our suffering in this world? We suffer because we refuse to embrace the love of God. Human suffering is not a suffering that God created for us because it’s us who create our own suffering/s. And when we suffer many of us point not to ourselves as the culprit.

Think about the many wars that the powerful leaders of this world have created. Think about the many personal and family problems that many of us have created for ourselves. Nevertheless in the midst of our self-created sufferings there’s hope and this hope is being offered to us by Jesus on the cross.

Perhaps, many of us are averse to look at this cross of Jesus because we are reminded of Jesus’ own sufferings. We are reminded that to suffer entails hardship and sacrifice. But how would we know that there’s hope, healing and salvation in the cross of Jesus if we will not look up to it? If we will not embrace it and if we will not hold on to it?   

In our first reading the people that were saved by Moses from the slavery of Pharaoh created their own sufferings by complaining to Moses about their hardships. And by complaining they were severely punished by God yet they would also be saved by the same merciful God. That is If they’ll would look up to the bronze serpent mounted on a pole. We all know that the bronze serpent that was mounted on the pole that healed the suffering people in our first reading is now represented by Jesus on the cross in our gospel.   

We have so many sufferings in this world and majority if not all of these sufferings are created by us that we ironically sometimes blame on God. Nevertheless our merciful God so loved us that He let His only begotten son to die on the cross for our salvation.

Do you have a cross with Jesus nailed upon it in your house or in your room? Look at it hold it if you could and prayerfully ask Jesus to heal all your pains and sufferings. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 13, Friday; Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor: Luke 6:39-42

Gospel: Luke 6:39-42

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.”

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Reflection:

In courtroom litigation before a judge gives his verdict or judgment he sees to it that every witness from the opposing sides are heard. This assures that whatever decision that the judge would give, is appropriate and based on the facts of the case.

Do we not oftentimes act as judge in our own sphere of environment? For example, a father or a mother acts as a judge when he/she gives orders to their children not to do this and that.  They also act as judge when they admonish and give disciplinary actions to their children. 

But in giving judgment or orders, do we see to it that we are worthy to give judgment?   If we are worthy of the judgment that we give then that is very good for our orders would be followed. But what if we are not good role models? Here the problem lies, for we are not worthy to give judgment.

The gospel tells us that before you give judgment to anyone you must see to it first that you have the moral authority and ascendancy to give that judgment. And how would you do this? You always have to have a self-reflection about yourself, such as, am I a good role model? Do I follow what I tell others to do? Well and good if you are a good role model and if you lead by example.

But what if you are not?  Then, the judgment or order that you give will simply not be heard it will simply fall on deaf ears. Therefore you have to be a good role model. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 12, Thursday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

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Reflection:

How do you love?

All of us will agree that we can easily love those who give us love in return. But are we willing to love those who’ve hurt us or those who continue on hurting us? Mother Teresa once said: “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” A wife or a husband who truly love would continue to love his/her spouse notwithstanding the betrayal/s.

Many marriages fail because we put limits on how we give love. For example, if a wife discovers that her husband is playing around with fire. The reaction of the wife is perhaps to take revenge and play with fire also and not to anymore love her philandering husband. But what will happen if our attitude is like that? There would be many broken marriages, there would be many suffering children simply because we put limits on how we give our love.

Jesus in our gospel is advising us to change this mindset of reactive love. And to bring our understanding of love to a much higher level. Perhaps, to the level of God’s love for us.  But are we capable of raising to a higher level our love and on how we give love?

If we truly love Jesus we would be able to forgive and once again love a spouse who betrayed us. We would be able to love our siblings/relatives who’ve hurt us and who don’t want to listen to our well-meaning advice/s. We would be able to love a friend who betrayed our trust.

Jesus tells us in the gospel:  For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same (Luke 6:32-33). - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 11, Wednesday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to be poor, to be hungry, to weep and to be insulted for your steadfast faith in Jesus? Surely, these questions will drive you to think hard because it’s not easy to be poor to be insulted, to weep and be hungry for the sake of your steadfast discipleship.

But if this is the means for us to gain intimacy with Jesus we have no other way but to embrace these hard choices. But how many of us are willing to embrace this kind of life? Come to think of it, are these choices really hard? Is it really hard to be poor, hungry, to weep and to be insulted?

It is hard if Jesus is not with us but if Jesus is with us and if He walks with us. To be poor, hungry, to weep and be persecuted becomes a blessing for us. For the simple reason that this assures us of a life with Jesus in heaven after our life in this world is over and done with already.

What would it benefit us if we are rich, powerful and if everyone is praising us to high heavens if it drives us to sin? If Jesus is not in our life or if Jesus is just a miniscule particle in our life? The best choice is to have a life with Jesus even if it would entail sacrifices and hardship. 

What is your choice? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 10, Tuesday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:12-19

Gospel: Luke 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus called the twelve to be His apostles?

There was a reason why Jesus called the twelve disciples to be His apostles and that is to help Him spread the good news of our salvation. Looking back on the lives of these apostles except for Judas all were faithful servants of the Lord. They were His eyes and ears they were His collaborators in His mission.

The apostles did not lead lives of ease and comfort in fact except for Judas almost all of them were martyred in doing the mission that Jesus bestowed upon them. What is the significance of this call on the apostles in our lives?

By virtue of our Baptism we too are called to collaborate with Jesus and the apostles to spread the good news of our salvation. We are called to lead Holy lives so that others may see Jesus in us; we are called to be patient, to persevere and to be enduring in our discipleship.

If we say that we love Jesus it amounts to saying that we are always ready to suffer and to be humiliated for the sake of the advancement of His kingdom. This is the mark of a true and faithful disciple/apostle.

Are you ready to sacrifice for Lord? You will be rewarded someday when you do so. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 9, Monday; Saint Peter Claver, Priest: Luke 6:6-11

Gospel: Luke 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

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Reflection:

What is the Sabbath day? It is a sacred day for the Jews, it’s their day for the Lord. We can compare the Sabbath day to our observance of Sunday our own day of rest and day for the Lord also.

The question that arose from the minds of the scribes and Pharisees was this: Would Jesus cure on a Sabbath day? Which was prohibited by their Jewish religion? When Jesus cured the hand of the man with a withered hand it did not mean that He was disrespecting the Sabbath day.

Jesus simply saw an opportunity to show His infinite compassion and love for the sick man. Thus Jesus healed the man with a withered hand even if it was prohibited by their religion. Jesus is showing us that if we want our faith to be effective we have to humbly show compassion and love too!

Jesus attracts people for the simple reason that He is always ever ready to show His compassion and love to anyone who seeks it. His love and compassion does not choose what time or day. He would always be there for so long as there’s someone in need of His help. – Marino J. Dasmarinas