Jesus said to them, “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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you,
Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the
netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects
me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you listen to Jesus’ call of repentance?
Repentance is a perpetual call from Jesus and we must listen to
this call. What will happen if we would not listen? There would be
punishment and it will not certainly come from God; punishment will originate
from the outcome of our sinfulness.
For example, the sin of adultery some spouses engaged in this bestial act
notwithstanding the danger and punishment that would befall them. Where would
this kind of sin eventually lead? This will eventually lead to despair,
nothingness and despair.
There’s a lot more examples of those who did not listen, so they received
their deserved punishment. So why not repent and listen to the voice of God who
always calls us every second of the day to change our ways and walk away from
sin? The longer we commit sin the deeper we dig a hole for us into the deepest
abyss hell.
We therefore have to listen to Jesus and walk away from sin while we still
have time. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus appointed seventy-two other 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 his 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.’ Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into
the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that
we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell
you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Would you be willing to be an ambassador of Jesus?
It’s hard to respond to this call of Jesus to follow Him most especially
when you see nothing but challenges. For example, provisions are very scarce,
nobody wants to be with you for the simple reason that they don’t love God as
much as you do.
What would you do then? You must carry on! The harder the challenges in
front of you the firmer your resolve to follow. The enemy of God which is no
other than the devil will continue to badger you to give up. It will continue
to paint a picture of hopelessness with what you do for Christ so as to
discourage you. But you must not give up. You must continue to hold on with
your desire to partake with the mission of Jesus.
The statement of Jesus that the harvest is abundant but the laborers are
few is as true as the sunshine today. Each day we see the decline of the
morality and values of many people. Each day we see the debasement of the
sanctity of marriage. Each day we see the disintegration of families most
especially in the so called first world countries. This is the abundant harvest
that Jesus pertains today.
Don’t say that you don’t see any abundant harvest. Look in your own
sphere of environment and you’ll see them. Focus on them; share Jesus with them
by your words or your lifestyle for they are your abundant harvest. Don’t worry
about anything for Jesus is with and He will provide for you. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the
Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not
enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the
greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this
in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my
heavenly Father.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why did the disciples ask Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of
heaven?” Were they expecting that Jesus would tell them that they’re the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they are His disciples?
Instead, Jesus called a child and said: “Amen, I say to you, unless you
turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of
heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)
The key that can unlock for us the kingdom of heaven is the humility of a
child that we must always emulate. The key that can invite the grace of the
Holy Spirit upon us is the same childlike humility.
It’s no brainer to ask why a child and not an adult? Unlike
adults, children have the simplest and purest minds. Children are not tainted by
any form of sin and they are docile humble and obedient. Adults like us are
sinful we defy God’s commandments to satisfy our whims and caprices.
Life nowadays is not easy as well many of our children today are also
more exposed to poverty than before. Just look around and you will see. What
intervention can you do to help these children? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
When the days for Jesus to be 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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why did Jesus decide to enter a Samaritan village when He knew that He
would not be welcomed there? He could just have passed by and not went there,
He could have chosen another way to avoid passing through the Samaritan
territory. But He chose to go to a place where He was not welcome.
This perhaps we could attribute with the deep desire of Jesus to build
friendship and to reach out even to those who are hostile to Him. The
Samaritans knew that Jesus was a Jew going to Jerusalem an area that the
Samaritans dislike.
What does Jesus teach us in this gospel episode? We need to reach out
also even to those who are not welcoming of us. We need to do this so that we
could offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to them. If they would not
accept our offer it’s up to them what is important is we do what we have to do
as followers of Jesus.
It’s not easy to offer peace and friendship to those who do not want our
friendship. And it’s not easy to humble ourselves before others most especially
before those who dislike us. But this is the way of Jesus, He did not only made
Himself available to those who like Him. He also offered Himself even to those
who despised Him.
Are you willing to offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to
those who dislike you? Are we willing to reach out and humble yourself before
them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the
greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and
placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one
who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in
your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our
company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against
you is for you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What does a child represent? It represents humility and obedience.
The disciples were arguing who among them is the greatest. Therefore
Jesus brought in a child to impart to them lessons about humility and obedience
to the will of God. When a person is humble he doesn’t care about who is the
greatest. What he only cares for is to serve never mind if there is no
recognition for as long as he is able to serve.
In the vineyard of the Lord to be the greatest must not be an objective
of anyone. The objective that a person should rather have is to be the servant
of everyone. When a person aims to be a star in his discipleship for the Lord
he also strips himself of the right to serve the Lord. Because how can he be
authentic in his discipleship if his motives are not? How can he truly serve
the Lord if his objective is to be the star of his group/ministry?
It’s not for anyone to seek greatness when he is serving in the vineyard
of the Lord. It’s for God to bestow greatness and God always bestows it
generously to those who are humble. Never He bestows it to those who seek it to
serve their selfish agendas. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple
garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door
was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten
his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was
carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was
buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes
and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip
the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment
in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what
was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but
now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent
anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your
side to ours. He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them lest they too come to this
place of torment. But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen
to them. He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham but if someone from the dead goes to them,
they will repent. Then Abraham said ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A dying rich woman had a dream about Jesus asking her if she wants to be
in heaven when she dies. The dying woman said: “Yes my Lord I want to be in
heaven when I die.” Then, Jesus asked her again: “Would you be willing to give
your treasures to the poor?” The woman replied, “Yes my Lord I will give all I
have to the poor.” So she donated all her treasures to the poor. After a few
days the woman died and true enough her soul was immediately welcomed by the
Lord in heaven.
Does the poor have a purpose in the life of the rich? Yes they have! The
poor closes the gap between the rich and God, the poor brings God closer to the
rich for the poor is very much loved by God. Jesus himself said that whatever
we do to the poor we do unto Him (Matthew 25:40).
We have in our gospel the characters of the nameless rich man and the
poor man Lazarus. The nameless rich man is insensitive to the needs of the poor
man Lazarus. Why? Because the rich man perceived Lazarus as good for nothing,
Lazarus will simply disturb him.
What if the rich man knew beforehand that at the back of his door stands
God in disguise in the person of the poor man Lazarus? Who unceasingly knocks
to bring him more blessings and to save him from going to hell? He would have
immediately opened his door and give Lazarus every precious things and every
royal treatment that he could give him.
But the rich man never recognized the presence of God in Lazarus, he
instead indifferently continued with his insensitive behavior.
How can we connect this gospel to our own personal lives? We see and
encounter the materially and spiritually poor almost everyday. Are we doing
something to fill their empty stomachs and spirits? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his
disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be
handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was
hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to
ask him about this saying.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand the ways of the Lord in
your life? Everyone of us perhaps experience this kind of dilemma. For example,
when you pass through severe testing in your life that may lead you to question
God. Some may even say this question before Jesus: “Why do I have to go through
this difficulty in my life when I follow you?”
When we pass through these kinds of trials in our life. We simply have to
remember that we are created beings of God with finite minds. As such our
intellect is limited no matter how intelligent some of us may be. Thus, we
really won’t be able to comprehend the ways of God. We simply have to submit to
the will of God and we simply have to firmly hold on to our faith in our
infinite God.
Therefore when we go through some episodes in life that may seem
difficult for us to understand. Let us never be afraid to question God, “Why do
we have to go through this trial.” Yet after questioning God let us firmly hold
on to our faith in Him and continue to believe that He has a purpose why we’re going
through this kind of trial/s. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the
Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has
arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in
reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this
to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the
elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day
be raised.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
If Jesus would ask us, who am I to you? How would we answer Him? Would we
answer based on what we know about Jesus or we answer Him in a much profound
manner like you are my Lord, Savior and my God and I feel your abiding presence
in my life everyday.
We must not limit our knowledge about Jesus to what we read or up to what
only our minds would feed us. We must dive deeper than that in such a way that
Jesus is already part and parcel of our daily life. This only means that we
read and live His teachings.
We become more productive followers of Jesus if we read and live His
teachings because this would open us to a much deeper intimacy with Him. We
read Jesus’ life and teachings in the bible. If we only read or hear and we
don’t live His teachings our discipleship is lacking in substance.
We have to know Jesus and then we have to live Jesus these two (Know and
live) must always go together. For this would help us endure the many
trials/even sufferings that we would be facing as we exist in this world.
Do you read the life of Jesus and do you live the teachings of Jesus? - Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly
perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead” others
were saying, “Elijah has appeared” still others, “One of the ancient prophets
has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I
hear such things? And he kept trying to see him.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Have you experienced being bothered by your conscience?
At the back of his mind Herod was silently asking himself: Who is this
man who is doing what John did? He certainly is not John because I beheaded
John.
Why was Herod bothered by Jesus’ actions? Because Herod thought that John
had risen from the dead and now he is again doing what he has been doing: To
call for repentance, to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt, to heal and so
forth. It was a disturbing déjà vu for the powerful Herod.
Herod was surely bothered for he knows that what he did against John was
against the law of men and God. But Herod was the supreme power during that
time. And as such he could practically do whatever he wants and nobody would
dare cross his path or run after him.
But Herod’s power is limited to this world alone. There’s a much bigger
power which controls everything in this world and everything that is beyond
this world and that is God! Therefore the greater power which is God was
already bothering the mind of Herod. Perhaps Herod was already losing sleep and
incessantly being disturbed by his conscience because of what he did to John.
What is the lesson for us in this gospel episode? Worldly power no matter
how enormous has its limitations too! Because God can pierce and burst that
power whenever He wants. God can do something that is unseen by others to
punish a seemingly powerful and arrogant person.
Therefore we should be careful on how we exercise our power we should not
abuse it! We should know that it has its own limitations. And once we transgress
the limitations of our power the justice of God would be upon us to haunt us as
it haunted Herod. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all
demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither
walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second
tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for
those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from
your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village
to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you depend on yourself or on God? These are the two basic questions
that we face up to everyday. What does it mean to depend on yourself? It means
that you rely on yourself alone. You depend on your own strength and
understanding and God has no place in your heart.
When you depend on God it doesn’t mean that you will relax. And let the
blessings of God come into your doorstep like the mailman putting your mail
into your mailbox. When you depend on God you simply do everything within your
power to have what you want or to achieve what you want. But at the end of the
day you humbly submit everything to the will of God and not to your own selfish
will.
When Jesus told the apostles to take nothing for their missionary journey
(Luke 9:3). Was He telling them to take nothing because everything that you
need will simply fall from heaven to your lap? Of course not! Jesus was rather
telling them to do what they were commissioned to do and not to worry because
He will use people of faith to provide for their provisions.
This is basically the same on how we live and share our own faith. We
don’t have to worry about anything. Because Jesus will provide for us for as
long as we work for the fulfillment of our own Baptismal mission which is to
help the Lord spread the Good News of our salvation.
Have you already done something to share Jesus and His teachings? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join
him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are
standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My
mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you consider yourself as a relative of Jesus?
Very clearly Jesus tells us that we could only be called His relatives if
we hear His word and act on it. What if we don’t hear His word and don’t act on
it? Does this mean that we are not anymore related to Jesus?
For example, if you have a wayward relative who doesn’t listen to
your advices. Would you treat him as not your relative anymore? Will you
condemn him to eternal damnation? Of course not!
Jesus said this statement, (My mother and my brothers are those who hear
the word of God and act on it). To convey a message to the crowd and to us too
that we must at all times abide by His teachings.
But human as we are, we sometimes wander away and we sin thus we distance
ourselves from Jesus. However the tie that binds is still there, Jesus still
pines for us. He patiently looks for us and eager to bring us closer to Him so
that He could embrace us once again.
If you are a sinner (as we all are) remember that you are still very much
loved by Jesus and you are still a relative of the Lord notwithstanding your
many sins. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a
vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that
those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not
become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from
the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you sometimes put a facade of who you truly are or do you sometimes
live a double life?
We cannot hide our real identity no matter how hard we try to hide it for
there will eventually come a time that we shall be unmasked. For example, we
pretend that we are good but deep inside we are not, etc.
Our pretension will work to a certain extent we may even fool our
fellowmen with our pretensions. However, there shall come a time that we will
be unmasked no matter how hard we try to conceal our true identity. And this
unmasking will truly expose us as to who we really are.
In the gospel Jesus tells us: There is nothing hidden that will not
become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Indeed no secret is kept secret forever and every facade that we put forward
will eventually be exposed.
No secret last forever most especially dark and hideous secrets,
therefore it’s better to live an upright and moral life. If we have dark
secrets let us walk away from it. And after that let us move forward to live a
new life worthy in the eyes of the Good Lord and men. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
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
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.”
+ + + + + + +
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
