Reflection for Thursday March 26, Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:31-47

Gospel: John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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Reflection:

How do we testify our life as a follower of Jesus? The best testimony of a follower is how he/she lives his own life. Does he live his life with forgiveness, humility, simplicity, sacrifice, unconditional love and the like?  Many of us call ourselves follower of Jesus but when it comes to forgiving those who’ve hurt us we cannot forgive.

If we cannot forgive those who’ve hurt us we then are followers in name only and sad to say many of us are like that: Followers in name only. On the aspect of humility; we can best testify that we are followers of Jesus when we don’t seek prominence and we silently do our work for the lord without any fanfare or publicity.

On the aspect of simplicity, Jesus is the supreme model of simplicity. He is content with whatever that He possess Jesus did not desire expensive things and other appendages. Many of us live complicated lives for the simple reason that we live the life of this world rather than live the life of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Wednesday March 25, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Among many women why was Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus? This is for the reason that Mary was humble and compliant to the will of God. Mary did not say I will not submit to the will of God because I have my own will for myself Mary humbly said yes.

The Lord always chooses and uses the humble and the compliant for the realization of His plans in this world. Simply put Mary humbly submitted her own humanity to the wisdom of our all-knowing God. Like Mary do we always submit to the wisdom of God? Or we only submit when it favor us when it doesn’t favor us, we decline God’s wisdom and submit to our own will.

God’s wisdom is always for our own betterment. We may initially see it as something that is very hard to follow because we would be pulled out from our own comfort zones or from our own sinful zones. But at the end we would realize that the plan of God is correct and it’s for our own good.

Today being Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Let us reflect upon the Blessed Mother’s humility and compliance to the plan and will of God. That the plan of God is always designed for our own good. We may not understand it now but God’s plan is always for our own good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday March 24, Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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Reflection:

Imagine that Jesus is in front of you and He tells you this question:  “Do you want to be well?” How would you reply? Of course you will say, Yes I want to be well! After which Jesus will tell you, then go humble yourself before me in the Sacrament of Confession. Then you tell Jesus some other time Jesus I’m busy right now and with the passing of days you eventually forgot about the command of Jesus to go to the Sacrament of Confession.

Many of us want to get closer to Jesus and we want to be healed by Jesus. Yet we don’t bother to humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Confession. In this sacrament we are healed from our spiritual sickness and we may not know it that through His infinite grace we are also healed from our many physical sickness.

When we humble ourselves through this sacrament we allow Jesus to wash away all our sins no matter how severe. We entrust ourselves to the healing mercy of Jesus. Saint John Paul II once said:  "Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God." 

The disabled man in our gospel for today who had been sick for thirty eight long years was instantly healed by Jesus because he obeyed His command. The disabled man did not care if it was a Sabbath day, a day of rest for them. What was important for him was to obey the command of the Lord.

In the midst of the Wuhan Covid-19 virus which is currently savaging our country and the world. Would you submit yourself to the Sacrament of Confession after we have defeated this Wuhan Covid-19 virus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday March 23, Fourth Week of Lent: John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.

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 Reflection:

A  woman was praying to have a boyfriend she however did not get what she wanted from the Lord. So she did not pray anymore and permanently distanced herself from God. For the simple reason that she did not get what she was praying for.  

For many of us miracles are very important anchor of our faith in Jesus. For example, the royal official’s son in our gospel who was cured by Jesus; he and his household believed immediately because his son was healed.

What if Jesus tested their faith? Would they still believe even if there was no occurrence of healing? Perhaps they will not, and then the father would have searched for someone else who could heal his son.

Our discipleship in Jesus or our faith in Jesus must not only be anchored on miracles alone. It must be based on our deep friendship with Him. Regardless if we’ve experienced miracles or not, immaterial if we gained material blessings or not we must continue to believe, follow and have faith in Him.

We have in Jesus a friend who will always be honest to us. There will be times that he will say no to us. Let us not be disheartened with these rejections from Him for He always knows what’s best for us. Let us remember that it’s not us who knows what is best for us it’s always Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday March 22, Fourth Sunday of Lent: John 9:1-41

Gospel: John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is, " but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am." So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." And they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know."

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said,"He is of age; question him."

So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen. 

Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" They ridiculed him and said, "You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from." The man answered and said to them, "This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. 

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." They answered and said to him, "You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind."

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains.

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Reflection:

In a faraway place lived an arrogant king who was advised by his people to prepare for an incoming dreaded disease. The king arrogantly told his people that they need not worry because he will immediately kill the dreaded disease the moment it arrives in his kingdom.  Soon after, the dreaded disease arrived and because of his arrogance and laxity his kingdom was ravaged by the dreaded disease.   

Arrogance is a spiritual sickness that blinds a person of the power of God. When a person is arrogant he thinks that he is bigger than God as such he belittles the power of God. But we all know that when a person belittles the power of God that person sooner or later will eventually be brought down to his knees by God.

In the gospel, we read about a blind man who was cured by Jesus but some Pharisees did not believe the man. Considering that the former blind man was personally witnessing about the power of Jesus the Pharisees should have believed but they did not. 

Why is it that some of the Pharisees did not believe the personal witness of the former blind man cured by Jesus? It was simply because of their arrogance! The Pharisees were powerful Jews; they were strict observers of their Jewish laws and tradition. And it happened that the blind man was cured by Jesus on the day of Sabbath which was a day of rest for the Jews. As such no healing activity should happen on that day.

So, some of the Pharisees did not believe Jesus and they also belittled the former blind man cured by Jesus. What if they believed in the power of Jesus and what if they did not belittle the former blind man? They too could have benefited from the power of Jesus and they could have learned valuable lessons from the former blind such as lesson about humility, lesson about obedience to the Lord and lesson about faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 22, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 9:1-41

Mabuting Balita: Juan 9:1-41

1 Sa kanyang pagdaan, nakita niya ang isang taong ipina­nganak na bulag. 2 Tinanong siya ng kanyang mga alagad: “Rabbi, sino ang nagkasala at ipinanganak siyang bulag: siya ba o ang kanyang mga ma­gu­lang?”

3 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi dahil nag­kasala ni ang kanyang mga magulang kundi upang mahayag ang mga gawa ng Diyos sa kanya. 4 Kailangan nating gawin ang mga gawa ng nagpadala sa akin sa­man­­talang araw pa. Duma­rating ang gabi at wala nang maka­gagawa. 5 Habang nasa mundo ako, liwanag ako ng mundo.”

6 Pagkasabi niya ng mga ito, lumura siya sa lupa at gumawa ng putik mula sa lura at nilagyan ng putik ang mga mata ng tao. 7 At sinabi sa kanya: “Pumunta ka’t at mag­hilamos sa pala­nguyan ng Siloam (na kung isasalin ay sinugo).” Kaya pumunta siya at nag­hilamos at umalis na naka­ka­kita.

8 Kaya sinabi ng kanyang mga kapit-bahay at ng mga dating nakakapansin sa kanyang nagpapalimos: “Di ba’t ito ang nakaupo at namamalimos?” 9 Si­nabi ng ilan: “Ito nga siya!” At sinabi naman ng iba: “Hindi! Kamukha lamang siya.” Ngunit sabi niya: “Ako siya!” 10 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Paano napadilat ang iyong mga mata?”

11 Sumagot siya: “Gumawa ng putik ang taong tinatawag na Jesus at pina­hiran ang aking mga mata at sinabi sa akin, ‘Pumunta ka sa Siloam at mag­hilamos.’ Kaya umalis ako at naghi­la­mos at naka­kita ako.” 12 Sinabi nila sa kanya: “Nasaan siya?” Aniya: “Hindi ko alam.”

13 Dinala nila siya sa mga Pariseo, siya na dating bulag. 14 Araw ng Pahi­nga noon nang gumawa ng putik si Jesus at nagpa­dilat sa kanyang mga mata. 15 Kaya muli siyang tinanong ng mga Pariseo kung paano siya nakakita. At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Nilagyan niya ng putik ang aking mga mata at naghi­lamos ako at naka­ki­ta.”

16 Kaya sinabi ng ilan sa mga Pariseo: “Hindi mula sa Diyos ang taong iyon dahil hindi niya ipinangingilin ang Araw ng Pahinga.” Ngunit sinabi naman ng iba: “Paanong magagawa ng taong maka­salanan ang ganitong mga tanda?” At nahati sila. 17 Kaya sinabi nilang muli sa bulag: “Ikaw, ano’ng masasabi mo tungkol sa kanya pagkat mga mata mo ang pinadilat niya?” At sinabi niya: “Siya ang Propeta!”

18Hindi nga naniwala ang mga Judio na dati siyang bulag at nakakakita na, hang­gang ipatawag nila ang mga ma­gulang ng taong nakakita. 19 At tina­nong nila sila: “Ito ba ang inyong anak na sinasabi n’yong ipinanganak na bulag? Paano’t nakakakita siya ngayon?”

20 Kaya sumagot ang kanyang mga magulang: “Alam naming ito ang aming anak at ipinanganak siyang bulag. 21 Pero hindi namin alam kung paano’t ngayo’y nakakakita siya, at wala kaming kaalam-alam kung sino ang nagpadilat sa kan­yang mga mata. Siya ang tanungin n’yo. May edad na siya at makapangungusap mismo tungkol sa kanyang sarili.”

22Sinabi ito ng kanyang mga magu­lang dahil takot sila sa mga Judio. Sapagkat napagkasunduan na ng mga Judio na itiwa­lag sa sinagoga ang sinumang kikilala sa kanya bilang Kristo. 23 Dahil dito kaya sinabi ng kan­yang magulang: “May edad na siya. Siya ang inyong tanu­ngin.” 24 Kaya makalawa nilang tinawag ang taong dating bulag at sinabi sa kanya: “Umamin ka sa harap ng Diyos. Alam naming makasalanan ang taong ito.”

25 Kaya sumagot siya: “Kung maka­salanan siya, hindi ko alam. Iisa ang alam ko: bulag ako noon at ngayo’y nakaka­kita.” 26 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Ano’ng ginawa niya sa iyo? Paano niya pinadilat ang mga mata mo?” 27 Sinagot niya sila: “Sinabi ko na sa inyo at ayaw n’yong makinig. Ano’t gusto n’yo na namang marinig? Hindi kaya gusto n’yo ring maging mga alagad niya?”

28 At nilait nila siya: “Alagad ka niya pero mga alagad kami ni Moises. 29 Alam naming kay Moises nangusap ang Diyos pero hindi namin alam kung saan galing ang taong ito.” 30 Sumagot ang tao sa kanila: “Ito nga ang kataka-taka: hindi n’yo alam kung saan siya galing at pinadilat niya ang aking mga mata. 31 Alam natin na hindi dinidinig ng diyos ang mga maka­salanan pero kung merong maypitagan sa Diyos at ang kalooban niya ang ginagawa, dinidinig niya ito.

32 Kailan­ma’y wala pang narinig na may naka­pagdilat sa mga mata ng isang ipina­nganak na bulag. 33 Kung hindi siya galing sa Diyos, wala siyang anumang magagawa.” 34 Sumagot sila sa kanya: “Tinu­tu­ruan mo ba kami, ikaw na ipina­nganak na tagos ng mga kasalanan?” At ipi­nagta­buyan nila siya palabas.

35 Narinig ni Jesus na ipinagtabuyan nila siya palabas. At pagkatagpo niya sa kanya, sinabi niya: “Nananalig ka ba sa Anak ng Tao?” 36 Sumagot siya: “Sino po siya upang manalig ako sa kanya?” 37 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Naki­kita mo siya at siya ang nakikipag-usap sa iyo. (38 Aniya: “Nananalig ako, Pangi­­­noon.” At nagpa­tirapa siya sa kanyang pa­anan. At sinabi ni Jesus:) 39 Sa paghatol ako dumating sa mun­dong ito: makakakita ang mga walang paningin, at magiging bulag ang mga nakakakita.”

40 Narinig ito ng ilang Pariseo na nasa tabi ni Jesus at sinabi nila sa kanya: “E di bulag din kami?” 41 Suma­got sa kanila si Jesus: “Kung sakaling bulag kayo, wala sana kayong kasa­lanan. Ngunit ngayong sinasabi n’yong ‘Nakakakita kami,’ nama­ma­lagi ang inyong kasalanan.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday March 21, Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Is humility the weakness of God?

We see in the gospel the humility of the tax collector. He humbly admitted to God his own sinfulness. He was very much aware that before God he was nothing and deserves nothing. This was the reason why the tax collector went home possessing the favor of God.

The secret therefore to gain the favor of God is humility and awareness of our own shortcomings and limitations. The tax collector who gained the favor of God was truly aware of his own sinfulness. He did not attempt to hide it from God, did he know that God knows everything about him? Perhaps he did not know, what he was sure of was his own sinfulness that’s why he humbly asked mercy from God.

It is a given fact that the humble has the eyes and ears of God. The humble doesn’t only gain the favor of God he also gains the respect of his fellowmen. Many of us do not want to be humble because we see it as weakness. But humility is not a weakness it’s actually a strength! For the simple reason that those who are humble are more respected than those who are not. 

However, to become humble before Jesus and our fellowmen is not easy. For the reason that this entails sacrifice and swallowing of our bloated egos. This entails awareness that we have nothing to be proud of before the presence of God.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton once said: “The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain entry to heaven. We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain the favor and guidance of God. And we therefore have  to be humble if we want to gain the respect of our fellow men and women. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday March 20, Third Week of Lent: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

How do we manifest our love for God?

To love God is to discover more about Him, thus we need to thirst and hunger for Him. We need to always be present at Holy Mass and feel His presence there.  We need to read the bible and be faithful to its teachings.

If we would read the first four gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we will have a better appreciation of the true to life story of Jesus.  To love God is to live His teachings as well.

After we have fully expressed our love for God the next commandment will automatically set in (We shall love our neighbor as ourselves). What is this love for our neighbor? Is this a selective kind of love or an encompassing love?

The love for our neighbor should always be an encompassing love and not a selective love. Sometimes this is where we are deficient because we only choose the neighbor that we love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday March 19, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

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Reflection:

Do you always obey the will of the Lord for your marriage? For example the will of God for the marriage covenant to be forever and not to be stained by any hint of infidelity. Are you ever faithful to this marriage covenant in your thoughts and actions?

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Aside from being responsible father and husband to Jesus and Mary, what else makes Saint Joseph so especial? Joseph humbly and quietly followed the will of the Lord.

Saint Joseph accepted without question what God wanted him to do. Yes he was planning to quietly divorce Mary. However, the moment the angel appeared in his dream to convey God’s message for him. He never questioned the will of the Lord. He humbly and quietly followed what the angel told him to do, he loved Mary and Jesus deeply and he responsibly took care of them.

Let us reflect on the humility of Saint Joseph and compare it with our humility before God and our fellow human beings. Let us reflect on the submissiveness of Joseph to the will of the Lord and compare it with our own submissiveness to the will of the Lord regarding our fidelity with the marriage covenant. 

Let us reflect on the sacrificial and deep love of Joseph towards Mary and Jesus and compare it with our love for our respective wives and children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 18, Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

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.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus? It’s barren, chaotic and without peace. What is life without following the laws of God? It’s the same as well.  Jesus comes into our lives to make it meaningful and productive. Not meaningful and productive in the eyes of this world but meaningful and productive in His eyes.

When we break the laws of God we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. For example if a politician shows in his public image that he is a follower of Jesus. He will not break the law by stealing money from the coffers of the government, etc.

 He will not break the law of God by siding with those who are espousing anti poor laws such as death penalty. Otherwise he is only using Jesus to serve his own hidden agenda. Same goes for a spouse who professes to follow Jesus. He/she should not break the law by betraying the marriage covenant.

There’s always a reward that awaits those who follow the laws of God. And there’s always a reward that awaits those who follow Jesus and His commandments. It may not be the reward that we expect it to be but there would certainly be a reward.

Do you always follow the laws of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 17, Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Why is it that many of us are not able to forgive? This is for the reason that we think highly of ourselves and we think that we are superior than the person who sinned against us. Unforgiveness also emanates from our arrogance, pride and lack of humility. Unforgiveness is also a sign that we love ourselves more than we love Jesus. 

If we truly love Jesus and if we really are humble we would be forgiving no matter how deep the wound that had been inflicted upon us. For example, if a wayward spouse would ask for forgiveness we would think deeply upon it and would eventually forgive. 

If we would continue to provide safe harbor for hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts, we are only creating an invisible prison cell within ourselves. Prison cell that perpetually punish and enslave us.

In our gospel, Peter asked Jesus: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). This simply means that forgiveness should be never-ending or limitless.

Those who are truly humble and those who truly love Jesus are the ones capable of unlimited forgiveness. Otherwise we simply are great pretenders: Pretenders to be humble and lovers of Jesus.

Are you forgiving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Marso 17, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 18:21-35

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 18:21-35

21 Nagtanong naman si Pedro: “Pa­nginoon, gaano kadalas ko naman dapat patawarin ang mga pagku­kulang ng aking kapatid? Pitong be­ses ba?” 22 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi, hindi pitong beses kundi pitumpu’t pitong beses.

23 Tungkol sa kaharian ng Langit ang kasaysayang ito. Isang hari ang nag­pasyang pagbayarin ng utang ang kanyang mga utusan. 24 Nang simulan niyang suriin ang kuwenta, ini­harap sa kanya ang isang may utang na sampung libong baretang ginto. 25 Dahil walang ma­ibayad sa kanya ang tao, iniutos ng panginoon na ipagbili at maging alipin siya kasama ng kan­yang asawa, mga anak at mga ari-arian bilang bayad-utang.

26 At nagpatirapa sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at ba­bayaran kong lahat ang utang ko.’ 27 Naawa sa kanya ang hari at hindi lamang siya pinalaya kundi kinansela pa ang kanyang utang. 28 Pagkaalis ng opisyal na ito, nasa­lu­bong ni­ya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Si­nung­gaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo!’

29 Nagpa­tirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nag­sabi: ‘Big­yan mo pa ako ng panahon, at baba­yaran kong lahat ang utang ko sa iyo.’ 30 Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipina­kulong ito hanggang maka­bayad ng utang. 31 Labis na nalungkot ang iba nilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nang­yari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kani­lang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pang­yayari. 32 Ipinatawag naman niya ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat ng iyong utang nang maki­usap ka sa akin. 33 Di ba dapat ay naawa ka rin sa iyong kasamahan gaya ng pagkaawa ko sa iyo?’ 34 Galit na galit ang panginoon kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang utusan sa mga tagapag­pa­hirap hang­gang mabaya­ran nito ang lahat ng utang.”

35 Idinagdag ni Jesus: “Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi pata­tawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for March 16, Monday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. When the people in the synagogue heard this they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Do we expect Jesus to bless us abundantly because we always pray and do good? How would we feel if our expectation is not meet by Jesus with the same expectation that we have?  Would we now be indifferent to Jesus?

We cannot fathom the mind of God, there are times that His decisions will not fit our own comprehension. We nevertheless should continue to be faithful to Him even if His will is often times not attuned to our own will. In His own time God would eventually give us what we want. We simply have to be patient.

In our gospel the people of Nazareth is angry with Jesus for the simple reason that what Jesus said did not fit their expectation. Their minds were already conditioned to believe their own expectations. But we cannot read the mind of Jesus and we cannot put Jesus in a box because His decisions and His answers to our prayers are often times out of the box.

We simply have to believe and hold on to our faith in Jesus no matter what happens. Even if sometimes or even often times His decisions doesn’t fit our own selfish expectations. Who knows one of these days Jesus will suddenly give us what we want. During these times when we least expect Him to give it to us.

Let us continue to have faith in Jesus even if He is not meeting our expectations for He knows what is best for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday March 15, Third Sunday of Lent: John 4:5-42

Gospel: John 4:5-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink, ' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;  where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?"

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."

Jesus said to her, "Go call your husband and come back." The woman answered and said to him, "I do not have a husband." Jesus answered her, "You are right in saying, 'I do not have a husband.' For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.

What you have said is true." The woman said to him, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one speaking with you."

At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you talking with her?" The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done.

Could he possibly be the Christ?" They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Could someone have brought him something to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'In four months the harvest will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work."

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world."

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Reflection:

What do you see in the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well? Do you see the desire of Jesus to evangelize the Samaritan woman? Yes, Jesus obviously desired for the conversion of the woman to become His follower. But Jesus did not do His evangelization the conventional way.

Jesus evangelized the Samaritan woman using the water at Jacob’s well as His vehicle for her to be evangelized.  Jesus asked the woman to give Him a drink (John 4:7) and after that their conversation went on until the Samaritan woman was convinced by Jesus to believe in Him.

Evangelization the Jesus way is very different from our way of evangelization. He evangelizes using some characters, in this gospel episode the characters of well, water and His desire to drink the water from that well.

From thereon, Jesus opened another conversation until it delved to the personal background of the woman. Jesus did His evangelization with gentleness, diplomacy and humility. And the result was, He eventually converted the woman to become a believer and follower. After which the town mates of the woman became also Jesus followers courtesy of the personal witness of the woman herself.

We therefore have to follow the out of the box method of evangelization of Jesus using gentleness, diplomacy and humility. Let us not like be the others who evangelize by means of memorized yet selective bible passages. Bible passages that serves their own ends to denounce other Christian religions.

How do you evangelize? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas