Reflection for Sunday September 20, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise.

Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’  When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage.

So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you sometimes think that God is not treating you fairly? For example, you are faithful to Him, you follow the commandments and you always try to do your best to do good. But you still encounter trials and problems in your life.

The ways of God are unfathomable there are times that HIS decisions are hard for us to comprehend. But that’s how God is; HE does not think the way we think. HE doesn’t decide the way we decide. God is infinite and we are simply finite beings of this world.

We will not be able to comprehend the ways of God no matter how hard we try to comprehend it, we will not. But come to think of it, who are we to question God’s decisions and  infinite goodness? We are mere mortals with a very limited shelf life in this world. Instead of questioning the mysterious ways of God in our lives, why not simply work hard, be a good and faithful follower and trust HIM our lives no matter what may befall us?

In the gospel Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who invited workers to work in his vineyard. Many were invited to work at different hours during that day. Some were invited presumably at 8 in the morning, some during 9 in the morning. And then the last group of workers that were invited was during 5 pm the last hour of work already.   

When evening came every worker was summoned to receive their wages for their day’s work. The first batch that received their wages were those who came at 5 pm the last hour of work and to their surprise they received the full wage for the day.

Therefore those who reported to work the first hour of the morning were expecting a bigger wage. But to their disappointment they received the same wage with those who worked at 5 pm. So, they complained to the landowner for what they perceived to be an injustice that was done to them. However, the landowner told them that there was no injustice and cheating on the wages that was paid because they agreed to be paid with that amount from the outset.   

There may be times that we may feel that God is not treating us fairly. For the reason of the many challenges and trials that we face in our lives. But that feeling is wrong because God is always good and fair to us. It is rather us who fail to discern the goodness, wisdom and infinite mercy and generosity of God.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 19, Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:4-15

Gospel: Luke 8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.

As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the essence of life if it’s not lived with God? A meaningful life is always a life lived with God. If we live life without God life automatically becomes meaningless. Even if we have all the material wealth and power if we have no God life is still without meaning.

Jesus gives us a parable about the seeds that fell on four different surfaces. The first three surfaces were empty of the presence of God therefore the seeds that fell on these surfaces eventually died.

The fourth surface or soil is the perfect one because it is the good and productive soil. Don’t we also want to be connected with this productive soil? When we are connected with this productive  soil we live a meaningful life in this world. Thus, we can only become good and productive citizens of this world if we would always be connected with this productive soil which is Jesus.

For without connection with the Lord we wouldn’t be able to grow in wisdom. And we certainly will not be able to live a profound and meaningful life in this world.

Are you always connected with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for September 18, Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:1-3

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Who are the majority crowd during Sunday Holy Mass or daily Holy Mass for that matter? The majority are women, who are the majority who volunteers for church work? It’s women again! During the time of Jesus and as it is today the silent workers and supporters of Jesus and His church are women.

When Jesus was dying on the cross the majority of those who remained loyal to Him are women too (Luke 23:49)! The same when Jesus resurrected, the loyal woman supporters of Jesus saw Him first (Luke 24:9–11).

The gospel this Friday mentions Jesus, the twelve apostles and a number of women with different backgrounds. Some are sinners, some are rich and some are poor also. What brought these women with diverse background together? What made them silently support Jesus?

It’s their love and loyalty to Jesus. The same love and loyalty to Jesus that fuels the many women of today who silently support Jesus and the church that He founded through peter.   

Like the women in the gospel who followed and provided help for Jesus. We too are being challenged to humbly follow Jesus and provide support for the church that He founded. We all know that because of the Covid-19 pandemic the church is financially suffering also. So we have to help the church in whatever way we can.

What can you contribute to Jesus and the church today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for September 17, Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-50

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.

Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus would forgive you of your many sins? The woman in the gospel who is a big time sinner and presumably a prostitute believe in her heart that Jesus would forgive her. Uninvited she went to the house of the Pharisee where Jesus was. And there she humbled herself before Jesus by kissing his feet, washing the same feet with her own tears, anointing it with an ointment and wiping it with her own hair.

What the woman did is a humble gesture of repentance and submission. It was her way of telling Jesus that she now wants to lead a new life. A life free from any form of sin, her gesture is also a gesture of love and repentance. Thus, she was forgiven by Jesus and thereafter renewed by the power of forgiveness by Jesus.

All of us commit sin and through this sin that we commit we also offend Jesus. But we have nothing to fear for all of our sins can be forgiven and thereafter wiped out by Jesus. All we have to do is to humble ourselves before Him, tell Jesus our sins and ask for His forgiveness.   

Perhaps you’re asking yourself this question: How would I be forgiven by Jesus of my many sins? Jesus forgives us of our many sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/ Confession.

Do you want to lead a new life? A life free from the enslavement of the devil a life free from sin and guilt? If your answer is yes, humbly submit yourself to this Healing and liberating sacrament. The moment you do you would feel that something heavy has been taken off from your back. 

Would you have the humility to submit yourself to this healing and renewing sacrament? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 16, Wednesday; Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs (M): Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are there people within your sphere of environment whom you find difficult to understand? For example, a friend who has nothing good to say about you. He always finds fault and is very quick to judge you. Yet he purposely closes her/his eyes on the good things that you do.

During Jesus time there were also many who found fault with Jesus and John the Baptist. John because of his life of asceticism and life spent more in the wilderness. John was labelled as possessed by the devil. Yet they choose to ignore the call of John for repentance and renewal of their lives.

They also did the same with Jesus, they labelled Him as friend of tax collectors and sinners. For the simple reason that Jesus once in a while mingles with them with the objective of converting them. Yet they also purposely closed their eyes to the countless healings and miracles that Jesus did.

In spite of these kind of people. Let us focus on Jesus and His teachings, let us simply do what is right regardless of what others may say and think about us. For if God is with us who then can be against us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 15, Tuesday; Our Lady of Sorrows (M): John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27 

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How can we put flesh to the command of Jesus to John: “Behold your mother.” It’s to respect and take care of our universal mother and our biological mother. The blessed Mother must be respected and venerated by all of us in what way? By giving her honor the way the church honors her.

We must follow what the church teaches us about the veneration and respect that we must give the Blessed Mother. For example in the praying of the Holy Rosary, the church encourages us to make the rosary as our family prayer because this will keep the family together. And this is true!

How about the love, respect and care that is due to our own mothers? Do we give them love, respect and care? Many mothers are silently suffering because they are not properly taken cared of, they are not respected and loved anymore.

We must always give our mothers what is due them, we must always express our love for them while they’re still here in this world. We all know that they are in the twilight of their years already so we must give to them what they truly deserve.

Let your mother feel that you love her, you respect her and you care for her. Be patient also with her for she is in the twilight of her years. Be forgiving also to her because she commits mistakes every now and then for she is getting old.

When will you give your love, respect and care for your mother? When she’s not anymore able to hear it, feel it and respond to it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 14, Monday; The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast): John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

How do we usually love? We love those who love us. For those who do not love us we also have a tendency not to love them in return. This reaction is perhaps influenced by our human frailties and our natural human reaction.

Unlike how we love the love of God is encompassing, it’s for everyone of us. Even if we are sinners God’s love is still ours to claim for it’s always there for us. We are in fact are always within the ambit of God’s love no matter who we are.

When we love we always love with measure, or we calibrate the love that we give to the love that we receive. But in hindsight why don’t we try to love as how God loves? Why can’t we also love even those who don’t love us back and even those who hate us?

One of the important sign of a true and faithful follower of God is when we are able to love even those who don’t love us back. When we are able to forgive even those who don’t ask for our forgiveness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday September 13, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 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.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about an unforgiving man who would always harbor resentment towards those who have hurt him. Be unforgiving was always his attitude towards those who did him wrong until he had a heart attack. After he recovered from his sickness he decided not to keep any resentment anymore and he subsequently felt like a bird freed from a cage.  

Is it normal for us to harbor resentment/anger? Yes of course for we are humans with emotions. But we must not let our anger/resentment control us by allowing it safe harbor in our hearts for so long. Therefore, after that moment wherein we let our feeling of resentment control us let us quickly allow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness to take over our selfish and destructive feelings. 

In the gospel Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22).

This is a very simple yet very effective teaching about forgiveness for us from Jesus. In other words The Lord is saying to us that we should always be forgiving. It’s normal for us to be hurt but let us not allow these hurtful feelings to control and to wound us permanently. Hence, we can only be freed from the vicious control of anger which by the way comes from the devil, if we forgive those who have hurt us.

What if we don’t forgive? We are only hurting ourselves if we don’t forgive and we only put ourselves in an invisible prison cell called unforgiveness. And then this unforgiveness will sooner or later bring us down until we self-destruct.  

What if we follow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, how would we feel?  We feel light and free and we have no burden in our hearts. Don’t we all want to feel light, to feel free and without any burdens and hurtful feelings in our hearts?

There are two options before us: To follow Jesus’ teaching on infinite forgiveness or we continue to punish and burden ourselves by unforgiveness. The wisdom filled choice is to follow Jesus’ teaching. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Setyembre 13, Ika-24 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: 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.”

1Reflection for September 12, Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:43-49

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Who is the foundation of your life? If Jesus is the foundation of your life you’re in the hands of the most powerful rock of this world. Nothing can defeat you and nothing can destroy you because your life is strongly anchored upon Jesus.

Should we rest already and feel secure because our lives are anchored now in Jesus? No, because we have a mission and our mission is to share the gentleness and love of Jesus to our fellow men and women. We have to remember that we are the good tree that Jesus mentions in the gospel and out of our goodness we must share our fruit which is no other than Jesus.

Let us not keep our love for Jesus to ourselves let us share this radiant love with others so that they too will feel the love of Jesus. They too will feel the healing and forgiveness of Jesus because Jesus is very much needed today more than any other time in our history.

There are many who live their lives without the guidance of Jesus. If we care share Jesus even to only one of them we have already fulfilled our mission as His fruitful follower. And who knows by our courage of sharing Jesus we may change lives because we cared to share Jesus.  

Will you share Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 11, Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-42

Gospel: Luke 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the sure-fire recipe for failure in a friendship? It’s the judgmental and self-righteous attitudes of those inside the friendship relationship. When a friend is quick to draw judgment and if he/she only listens to himself/herself. We can be assured that somewhere down the road the friendship vehicle will stop and will eventually permanently break apart.

Many friendships fall apart because of our tunnel vision. We manage it with dominance, we never allow a two-way street or a give and take relationship thrive inside it. And so the friendship eventually falls apart.

Friendship or any kind of relationship is always a democratic and participatory relationship. Never it has become an autocratic and one sided relationship between two or more different and unique individuals. Therefore the best recipe for success in friendship is not to allow a judgmental mindset inside the friendship.

In the gospel for this Friday, Jesus warns about being judgmental. Wherein we only choose to see the fault of the other person yet we purposely don’t notice our own shortcomings. We are quick to point an accusing finger yet we don’t have the courage and humility to point the same accusing finger to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for September 10, Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27- 38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

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

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

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who would always feel pain in his heart whenever he sees her sister who had done him wrong. It was always like that for many years until he had a near fatal heart attack. He reflected deeply about what happened to him until he finally decided to forgive his sister.   

What will liberate us from hatred and negative emotion? Its forgiveness and love. The moment we truly forgive and love every form of hatred and negativity disappears in our hearts. We become free we exude nothing but positive aura. But human as we are we from time to time succumb to hatred thus we allow it to control us instead of us controlling it.

What is the cure for hatred? Its love, forgiveness and humility; these three can conquer hatred. And it can free us from emotions that bring nothing to us but sickness, disgust and negativity. This could even result to the disruption of our day hence we will not be able to function properly.

In our gospel reading Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28). Difficult as it may seem; nonetheless if we want to be free from the enslavement of hatred and negative emotions, we have to follow what Jesus is telling us.

It’s only through forgiveness and humility that we would be free from hatred. It’s only through the way of love that we could become true followers of Jesus. There’s no other way but the way of love, humility and forgiveness.

Would you be willing to forgive those who’ve done you wrong? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 9, Wednesday, Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest and religious: Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Imagine Jesus reading to you the gospel for today. How would you feel? Would you feel blessed?

The poor, hungry, weeping, hated and insulted are blessed by Jesus. No matter what others may say about them they are blessed by Jesus. But human as we are we hunger for the luxuries of life, who would not want worldly luxuries?

But if these luxuries would bring us away from Jesus and would bring us to embrace this world and eventually sin. What benefit would it give us? Would we still embrace it?  We must be discerning at all times because the devil is always actively seeking us to snatch us away from the love of Jesus.

If you are poor in the eyes of this world yet you have Jesus in your heart, then you’re the richest and most blessed person in this world. Why? Because you choose to center your life in Jesus the same Jesus who will bring you to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for September 8, Tuesday, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast): Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob 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. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

We celebrate today the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Who brought us here in this world? It’s our Mothers. Who formed us during our younger years? It’s our mothers as well. To whom do we largely attribute who we are today? We attribute it to our mothers.

Jesus throughout His lifetime was guided by the Blessed Mother. From His birth up to His death on the cross the Blessed Mother was there for Him. She is the ever present and patient mother who nurtured Jesus, who guided Jesus and who never left the side of Jesus until His last gasp for breath.

This is primarily the reason why we give so much honor to the Blessed Mother; this is the reason why we ask her to bring our prayers before Jesus. Because we firmly believe that the Blessed Mother can influence Jesus to grant us our prayers.

Any righteous son will listen to his mother's request this is what we believe that’s why until now our devotion to the Blessed Mother is as strong as ever. On this birthday of the Blessed Mother let us continue to honor Her, let us continue to spread our devotion for Her.

Let us also take a closer look at our own mothers. They are getting old, their formerly nimble bodies are getting slower and weaker by the day. Let us take care of them and let us honor and love them for they’re the mirror image of the Blessed Mother.

How's your devotion to the Blessed Mother? How’s your Mother? Are you properly taking care of her? - Marino J. Dasmarinas