Reflection for Sunday February 16, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:17-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right  eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -  unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”

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Reflection:

Everything starts in our hearts and minds, good intentions and bad intentions it all takes root in our hearts and minds first. For example successful people start their journey towards success by planting the seeds of their successful journey into their hearts and minds.

In the same vein sinful people starts their sinful journey towards hell   by thinking first about their unlawful and sinful acts. They think about it and they let it take root in their hearts after which they start to do something that is immoral or criminal.

In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus warns us not to kill and He further strengthens it deeper by saying that whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. People do not usually kill instantly they plan it, they let it take root in their hearts and minds and then they carry it out.

Anger per see is not bad because Jesus in His public ministry got angry too but for a good reason just to name a few: When He cursed the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14) and when He cleared the temple for the reason that they turned it into a den of thieves (Mark 11:15-17)..

 However, if we get angry for the wrong reason that’s when things will get ugly that may lead us to do something that is not good or even unlawful. For example, when our egos are provoked we immediately harbor ill feelings because we have a very high regard for ourselves.  This usually happens to people who are arrogant or with those who have superiority mindset. They think that they’re already above everyone else that they don’t want to be criticized anymore and the moment they’re criticized or someone contradicts them they get angry.

Jesus warns us also about committing adultery! Nowadays it’s so easy for men and women to be unfaithful to their respective spouses and to their marriage vows. We need not look at statistics anymore we simply have to look around and we’ll see that this is true. Jesus tells us that it initially begins by looking at a woman with lustful intentions. It indeed starts within ourselves in our minds and hearts then it begins to morph, then we sin by diving into that adulterous, immoral and wicked relationship.

There are many willing victims of this immoral liaison but what is the cost of this bestial behavior? Therefore, if there's temptation lurking around we have to avoid or ignore it. And the moment we do, that person will simply fade away for he/she knows that we can't be tempted.  

There is always a heavy price to pay when we succumb to these wrongdoings that Jesus mentions in the gospel. We may not realize it here in our earthly journey but the moment we are off this world then that would be our real day of reckoning.

We therefore have to listen to Jesus’ voice in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 16, Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 5:17-37

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:17-37

17 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, huwag ninyong akalain na napa­rito ako para pawalang-bisa ang Batas at Mga Propeta. Naparito ako hindi para magpa­walang-bisa kundi upang mag­bigay-kaganapan. 18 At talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: habang hindi naba­bago ang langit at lupa, hindi maba­bago ni isang kudlit o kuwit ng Batas: lahat ay matu­tupad. 

19 Kung may lumabag sa pinakamaliit na ipinag-uutos ng Batas at magturo ng ganoon sa mga tao, ituturing din siyang pinakamaliit sa Kaharian ng Langit. Ngu­nit kung may magsagawa at magturo ng mga ito sa mga tao, magiging dakila siya sa Kaharian ng Langit. 20 Sinasabi ko sa inyo na kung hindi mas ganap ang inyong kabanalan kaysa sa mga guro ng Batas at mga Pariseo, hin­ding-hindi kayo makapapasok sa Kaha­rian ng Langit.

21 Narinig na ninyo na sinabi sa in­yong mga ninuno: Huwag kang papatay; ang sinumang pumatay ay lilitisin. 22 Sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: Ang sinu­mang magalit sa kanyang kapa­tid ay lilitisin. Ang sinumang manuya sa kan­yang kapatid ay lilitisin sa Sanggunian. At ang sinumang manghiya sa kanyang kapatid ay nara­rapat lamang itapon sa apoy ng impiyerno.

23 Kaya sa paglalagay mo sa altar ng iyong hain at naalaala mong may reklamo sa iyo ang kapatid mo, 24 iwan mo muna ang iyong hain sa harap ng altar at puntahan mo ang iyong kapatid para maki­pagkasundo sa kanya. At saka ka bumalik at ialay ang iyong hain sa Diyos.

25 Makipagkasundo na sa iyong kaaway habang papunta pa kayo sa hukuman, at baka ipaubaya ka niya sa hukom na magpapaubaya naman sa iyo sa pulisya na magkukulong sa iyo. 26 Talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas hang­ga’t di mo nababaya­ran ang kahuli-hulihang sentimo.

• 27 Narinig na ninyo na sinabing: Huwag kang makiapid. 28 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: ang sinumang tumingin nang may pagnanasa sa isang babae ay nakiapid na rin sa kanyang puso.

29 Kaya kung ang iyong kanang mata ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasa­lanan, alisin mo ito at itapon! Makabu­buti pa sa iyo na mawalan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno.

30 Kung ang iyong kanang kamay naman ang nagbubuyo sa iyo sa kasalanan, putulin mo ito at ita­pon! Mas makabubuti sa iyo ang mawa­lan ng isang bahagi ng iyong katawan kaysa matapon ang buo mong katawan sa impiyerno. • 31 Sinabi rin namang: Kung may ma­kikipagdiborsiyo sa kanyang maybahay, bigyan niya ito ng katibayan. 32 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa iyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang maybahay sa ibang dahilan maliban sa kawalang-katapatan, pinapakiapid niya ito. At naki­kiapid din ang nagpapakasal sa babaeng diborsiyada.

• 33 Narinig na rin ninyo na sinabi sa inyong mga ninuno: Huwag kang sisira sa iyong sinumpaan. Tuparin mo ang sinumpaang pangako sa Pangi­noon. 34 Ngunit sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: huwag kayong manumpa sa ngalan ng Langit pagkat naroon ang trono ng Diyos, 35 ni sa ngalan ng lupa pagkat ito ang tuntungan ng kanyang mga paa, ni sa ngalan ng Jerusalem pagkat ito ang lunsod ng Dakilang Hari.

36 Huwag kang manumpa ni sa ngalan ng iyong ulo pagkat ni hindi mo kayang paputiin o paitimin ni isang hibla ng iyong buhok. 37 Sabihin mong oo kung oo at hindi kung hindi. Ano pa mang sasabihin mo’y sa demonyo na galing.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday February 15, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance. His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have? They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

Do you know how it feels to be hungry?

Having nothing to eat is an indescribable feeling of being weak. We cannot do the things that we would normally want to do. We may even limit our movement because the more we move the more that we feel the pain of hunger.

In the gospel reading; Jesus speaks about the crowd without anything to eat: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance (Mark 8:2-3)."

Then, He asked His disciples, "How many loaves do you have (Mark 8:5)?" They replied, "Seven." He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Afterwards He gave thanks, broke them and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowd. The same happened to the few fish that they have; the four thousand people were able to eat and they still had seven basketfuls of excess bread and fish.

What lesson does Jesus wants us to learn from the miracle of the loaves and fish? Perhaps Jesus wants us to learn how to give, why? For the simple reason that many are going hungry. Let us not worry of the cost of giving that would bring us because the more we give the more that we would receive.

When we give let us also not give what we have in surplus because we would not feel the true joy of giving. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday February 14, Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop: Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

Have you already witnessed a healing session?

Some of us may have already seen healing sessions on TV wherein an individual on wheelchair is suddenly able to walk. The blind able to see and those who cannot speak are able to speak again. I don’t know if these healings are true because according to an exposé some of these healings are fake. The individuals who are sick are not actually sick; they just pretend to be sick and they are actually members of the sect that conducts the healing sessions.

In the gospel we are presented with an authentic healing presided by Jesus. A deaf man who had a speech impediment is brought to Jesus for healing. To make a long story short Jesus healed the deaf man: he was able to hear and talk again.

I’d like to zero in on the personal healing actions of Jesus. They walked away from the madding crowd and once they were both by themselves Jesus conducted the personal healing. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

This healing action of Jesus is very much opposite to what we see nowadays. Healers now want it to be publicized they want to be noticed they want to maximize their media exposure so to speak! I can only speculate of their true motives.

Is it still possible for us to have this personal and one on one healing with Jesus now? Yes, a pious presence at Holy Mass or quite visit to our church’s Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel would do it for us. Jesus is there personally waiting for us to heal us of our sickness our personal hurts and pains.

If only we would discover the healing and calming presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, if only we will learn to allocate a portion of our time to give Him a visit there. We would also have an Ephphatha experience.

Our hearts and minds would also be opened to this personal and wondrous healing experience with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and with Jesus at Holy Mass. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday February 13, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:24-30

Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Reflection:

Are you persistent when you pray before The Lord?

A Greek woman went to Jesus to ask Him to drive out a demon from her daughter. What is very significant here is the woman is an outsider, not a follower of Jesus not even a Jew. But with courage and faith she went to Jesus for help, her mind was focused on reaching out to Jesus.

When she finally was able to reach Jesus, she told Him about her sick daughter. Jesus was reluctant at first to help. But she persisted and she humbled herself before Jesus after which her daughter was healed.

We all have our own problems that we carry in our hearts and we surely have brought these problems to Jesus. Let us not lose heart if we have not yet received a response from Jesus. Let us continue to persist, continue to humble ourselves before Him and untiringly beseech His guidance and help.

The woman never gave up until she got what she wanted from Jesus. So we too must never give up we must continue to badger Jesus with our humble and persistent prayers. Often times we don’t get what we want from Jesus because we easily give up. Same as with our ambitions in life; we don’t get what we want because we give up.

What if we never give up? What if we continue to persist and humbly ask the Good Lord to grant us our prayer/s? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday February 12, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

Do we discern the voice of the Lord when it speaks to us ?

When Jesus said, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” The disciples were asking Him about the meaning of His statement. As if they were saying, Come again Lord, we did not understand what you’ve said. And perhaps in exasperation Jesus said, “Are even you likewise without understanding?

In our walk with the Lord there would be times that we will not understand also the things that are happening in our lives. For example, we might ask the Lord, Why is this happening to me Lord? I don’t get your message; I don’t understand the reason of this event/s in my life.

Why is it that we don’t understand? Because we don’t listen carefully to Him or we may listen but our attention is focused on something else. If only we would learn to carefully listen to the Lord and if only we would try to live to the fullest His teaching.

But how are we going to listen to the Lord? We have to consistently go to Holy Mass. We also have to consistently read the bible which more often than not is not being read. We also have to be humble for the reason that humility is the key for us to discern the voice of the Lord.    

Then, we would know and we would understand that everything that happens in our life is for a good reason. We would discern that Jesus has a purpose why we are going through this and that trial. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday February 11, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are we fond of insisting on a rule which we do not actually follow?

Jesus criticized the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites because they were insisting on following the tradition of washing the hands before eating. But Jesus knew them very well, He knew that they were only good at pushing people to follow their tradition and manmade laws. But the irony of it all is they themselves are not following the laws that they’ve crafted.

What made Jesus an extra ordinary leader? He led by example there was no hypocrisy in His system, He practiced what He preached. Are we not like the Pharisees and scribes sometimes or even oftentimes?

We are good at telling people to do this and that, but we ourselves are not doing what we want others to do. For example in a family setting, many parents create rules and regulations for their children to follow. But they themselves do not subscribe to the rules that they’ve created.

Many of us are not being respected because we don’t stand for what we say or we don’t live what we preach. We say something today and then we violate with impunity what we’ve said. We must always be like Jesus who always put to living actions His words and teachings.

Thus, we would earn the respect that we richly deserve.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday February 10, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virgin: Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

Why do you pray to Jesus? Perhaps you pray to Him because you want to offer all your cares and worries to Him.

In our gospel, people went to Him upon learning that Jesus was within their environment. They brought along their sick and perhaps all of the problems that they’ve been keeping in their hearts. They wanted healing for their body and soul and Jesus did not disappoint them.

Whenever we go to Jesus and we ask Him for something let us always expect that He will grant us what we want from Him. Physical healing, emotional healing and any other healing that we want Him to grant us. if we believe that Jesus has already healed us then we are healed already! We have nothing to worry anymore; it’s all in our state of mind.

But how about those who pray to Jesus for physical healing but they are not healed. Yes there are countless instances that we pray yet we don’t receive physical healing. Physical healing  is only a minute/tiny part of the healing that we receive from Jesus.

What we have to always recognize and be thankful for is the emotional and spiritual healing that He generously gives us without fail whenever we go to Him.

If you’re not healed physically you need not worry! The faith that you have in your heart is more than enough for you to pull you through whatever worries and sickness that you may have.

Simply believe and have faith and let Jesus take control of the rest.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday February 9, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

In a far-flung place stood a school building that was not being utilized for so many years. The community within the school was hoping that one day a teacher would come and educate them.

One morning the whole community was surprised because for the first time in so many years they heard the school bell rung loudly. So they excitedly went to their school building. There, they saw a nun who introduced herself to the community as their volunteer teacher.

Every day the nun would patiently teach them and after a few months had passed many positive transformations occurred. They already know how to read and write, they learned how to be more respectful and helpful. And more importantly the community was taught about the existence and importance of God in their lives.   

After five years of teaching and seeing to it that the noble educational program will continue even without her  the nun was now set to leave them. And naturally everybody from that community was sad and many were crying. To assuage their feelings the nun promised to visit them once in a while.

In today’s gospel Jesus tells us that we are the salt and light of the world. What does salt bring to our food? It defines and gives taste to our food. Light gives us hope, it eliminates darkness and hopelessness.

 This we also have to do, we have to become salt and light to our fellowmen. As salt gives taste we also have to give meaning to the lives of our fellowmen. As light eliminates hopelessness and darkness we also have to become the light in the lives of our fellowmen. 

Being salt and light in the lives of our fellowmen is not easy to do! Why? Because we would be disturb from our own comfort zones and we would be investing something from ourselves for us to make a positive difference in their lives.

Nevertheless, everything will be worth it because our effort will bear fruit in the end, we may not see it in our own lifetime. But it will certainly bear much fruit. Why? Because we dared to obey Jesus voice in the gospel which tells us to become salt and light in the lives of our fellowmen. 

Have you already become salt and light to your fellowmen, to your family and to your church community? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday February 8, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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Reflection:   

A woman went to her neighbor to seek advice for her many problems. The neighbor asked the troubled woman this question: “Is Jesus an integral part of your life? For example, do you always pray to the Lord? Do you always attend Holy Mass?” The woman said no, and then the neighbor advised her to make time for Jesus.

In the Gospel, a vast crowd was running after Jesus (Mark 6:34) because they knew that Jesus would straighten out their lives. They were not only after Jesus because they wanted to be cured and fed. Some perhaps were pursuing Jesus because they wanted to simply see Him and that would be enough for them to heal their body and soul. 

The vast crowd who was following Jesus wherever he goes saw in Jesus a good shepherd who will not only feed and heal them. They also saw in Jesus someone who will give them precious advice and guidance. 

What does this mean to you? 

This means that whenever you have issues and concerns in life that seem difficult to resolve, you have to go to Jesus in prayer. You need to bend your knees before Him and ask for His help and guidance. Because Jesus is always there for you ever ready to guide and help you as you encounter the many challenges of your life. 

Do you always pray to the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday February 7, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:14-29

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah” still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets. But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Reflection:

Do you have the courage to denounce a wrongdoing or to be more specific an act of adultery?

John courageously denounced the adulterous affair of King Herod and Herodias that is why he was imprisoned by King Herod. Not only that John was imprisoned soon after he was beheaded upon the request of Herodias. John paid dearly for speaking against immorality and for speaking about the sanctity of marriage.

Many marriages right now are breaking apart, many immoral relationships are ongoing for the simple reason that nobody dares to speak against it. We must speak against any form of immorality and adultery, against any attempt to violate the sacred vows of marriage no matter what it may cost us. We need not worry about the after effect of our righteous action for Jesus will take care of us.

Some marriages fall apart because there are relatives and spouses who choose to be silent instead of speaking against it. Why? For the simple reason that they are afraid to offend or hurt the feelings of their relatives and spouses. They are afraid that it might create permanent separation and enmity. But why be afraid if what we do is right? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Thursday February 6, Sts. Pedro Bautista, Paul Miki and Companions: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

What is the advantage of not being attached to worldly things? We learn to trust on the providence of God and we learn that the things of this world do not matter for its temporary and fleeting. We learn that our faith in God is more than enough to compensate for our lack of worldly things.  

Come to think of it, how much money do we need to earn in our lifetime that there are people who work their butts out to earn money? Money that if we are not discerning could even contribute to our being sick! And then at the end this same money that we’ve earned so hard may not even be enough to pay for our hospital bills!

In the gospel, when Jesus told His disciples not to bring, food, money and the like. He was essentially telling them not to worry for He would provide for them. If God can provide for the birds and other animals will He not provide for us whom He created in His image (Genesis 1:27)?

Many of us are so concerned with the material and physical aspect of life such as the clothes that we wear. The high-tech gadgets that we have but in close retrospection we actually can live even without these material things.

Our problem is we allow this world to dictate upon us. This is the reason why many of us punish ourselves to work so hard to earn money. For what? So that we could show off how wealthy we’ve become?

Jesus invites us to rethink our style of living for we may have already become slaves of this world. Rather than become His faithful and trusting followers. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Wednesday February 5, Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr: Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

Was Jesus expecting to be treated like a powerful celebrity when He went back to His hometown? No, because it was not in His character to flaunt Himself. As much as possible Jesus wanted to be treated like an ordinary person, never did He desire publicity and recognition. Jesus did miracles without any fanfare and hype and we attribute this to His humility.  

Let us think about us as individuals, don’t we desire recognition and don’t we crave to be listened?  We love it the moment we hear people recognizing the things that we do and this is due to our yearning to satisfy our bloated egos. Isn’t possible for us to be humble and low profile like Jesus?

As we do good things or anything that we do for God let us not seek to be recognized let us simply fade away. Let us not seek adulation for those who crave adulation are also abandoned like a hot potato. Those who crave for admiration ultimately ends up in disgrace.

Let us not be disheartened if we will not be recognized or honored for these are just temporal honor/s given by temporal humans like us. In everything let us seek the humility of Jesus, Let us seek the silent recognition of Jesus rather than the noisy, fake and temporal recognition of this world. –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Marino J. Dasmarinas @Mary Immaculate Parish, Don Lauro Avenue Levitown Estate Bicutan, Betterliving, Parañaque City (Feb. 2, 2020)