Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 22 Lunes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 8:1-11

 

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:1-11

1 Pumunta naman si Jesus sa Bundok ng mga Olibo. 2 Maaga siyang muli sa Templo, at naglapitan sa kanya ang lahat ng tao, at pagkaupo niya’y, na-ngaral siya sa kanila. 3 Dinala naman ng mga guro ng Batas at ng mga Pariseo ang isang babaeng huling-huli sa pakikiapid. 

Pinatayo nila siya sa gitna, 4 at sinabi nila kay Jesus: "Guro, huling-huli sa akto ang babaeng ito na nakikiapid. 5 Iniutos sa amin ni Moises sa Batas na batuhin ang ganitong mga babae; ano naman ang sabi mo?” 6 Sinabi nila ito bilang pagsubok sa kanya upang may maiparatang sila sa kanya.  

Yumuko naman si Jesus at nagsulat sa lupa sa pamamagitan ng kanyang daliri. 7 Nang magpatuloy sila sa pagtatanong sa kanya, tumindig siya at sinabi sa kanila: “Ang walang sala sa inyo ang unang bumato sa kanya.” 8 At muli siyang yumuko at nagsulat sa lupa.  

9 Ang mga nakarinig nama’y isa-isang nag-alisan mula sa matatanda, at naiwan siyang mag-isa pati ang babae na nasa gitna. 10 Tumindig si Jesus, at sinabi sa kanya, “Babae, nasaan sila? Wala bang humatol sa iyo?” 11 At sinabi niya: “Wala, Panginoon.” Sinabi ni Jesus: “Hindi rin kita hahatulan. Humayo ka at mula ngayo’y, huwag nang magkasala pa.”  

Reflection for Sunday March 21, Fifth Sunday of Lent: John 12:20-33

Gospel: John 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. 

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven “I have glorified it and will glorify it again. The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder but others said, “An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man sick with cancer that asked the Lord, why me O Lord? I do not deserve this severe sickness! But he said, “I will embrace this trial in my life for I know that you have a good reason why I have this affliction.”  From thereon he resigned from his job and devoted his remaining time in this world on spreading the word of God. He was very successful in his new vocation for he led many to Jesus. 

There are instances in life that we have to encounter trials for us to lose our life in this world. And give this very same life a new breath of life in the vineyard of the Lord. Such is God when He wants to call us to advance His kingdom. He creates mysterious instances for us to find Him. 

 But how would we know that the good Lord has a mission for us?  We simply have to become sensitive to His call and be ready to leave everything and embrace something that is worthy and noble even if it is not easy to do. We could only find this new kind of life when we are ready to abandon everything into the hands of God. 

In the gospel, Jesus is already insinuating of His coming arrest, passion and death on the cross. In His humanity Jesus had His own trepidation during that fearful time. So He simply left everything into  the  hands of God. It was not easy for Him to do but Jesus had to embrace it so that He could fulfill His mission of salvation. 

There comes a point in your life that you also have to make a choice in order for you to find the real essence and meaning of your life. This is not easy to do most especially if you are already used to the present life that you have. But how can you find the real meaning of your life if you are afraid to hear the call of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 21, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 12:20-33

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:20-33

20 May ilang mga Griyego sa mga umahon para sumamba sa Piyes­ta. 21 Kaya lumapit sila kay Felipe na taga-Betsaida ng Galilea at ipina­kiusap sa kanya: “Ginoo, gusto naming makita si Jesus.” 22 Pinuntahan at sinabihan ni Felipe si Andres. Pinun­tahan naman at sinabihan nina Andres at Felipe si Jesus. 

23 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila: “Duma­ting na ang oras para luwalha­tiin ang Anak ng Tao. 24 Talagang-talagang sina­sabi ko sa inyo, nama­malaging nag-iisa ang butil ng trigo kung hindi ito nama­matay pag­kahulog sa lupa. Ngunit kung mama­tay ito, nagdudulot ito ng mara­ming bunga. 

25 Nagpapahamak ng kanyang sarili ang umiibig dito ngunit iingatan naman ito para sa buhay magpakailanman ng napopoot sa kanyang sarili sa mun­dong ito. 26 Patuloy akong sundan ng nagli­lingkod sa akin at kung nasaan ako, naroon din ang aking lingkod. Kung may nagli­­lingkod sa akin, parara­ngalan siya ng Ama. 

• 27 “Ngayo’y nababagabag ang aking kalu­luwa. Sasabihin ko bang ‘Ama, iligtas mo ako sa hatid ng oras na ito? Ngunit dahil dito kaya ako sumapit sa oras na ito. 28 Ama, luwalhatiin mo ang iyong Panga­lan.” Kaya may tinig na nagmula sa langit: “Niluwalhati ko at muli kong lulu­­wal­ha­tiin.” 29 Kaya pagkarinig ng mga taong naroon, sinabi nila: “Ku­mulog!” Sinabi naman ng iba: “Nangu­sap sa kanya ang isang anghel.” 

30 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi alang-alang sa akin kaya ito ipinarinig kundi alang-alang sa inyo. 31 Ngayo’y paghu­hukom sa mun­dong ito; ngayon itataboy palabas ang pinuno ng mun­dong ito. 32 At kapag itinaas ako mula sa lupa, hihila­hin ko sa akin ang lahat.” 33 Sinabi niya ito para bigyang-tanda ang uring kamatayang ikamamatay niya.

Reflection for March 20 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 7:40-53

Gospel: John 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet. Others said, “This is the Christ. But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived? So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.  

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him? The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man. So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed. Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing? They answered and said to him “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”  

Then each went to his own house.

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Reflection:

Do you find time to read the words of Jesus in the bible with reverence? 

You allow the Lord to speak to you when you read the words of Jesus in the bible with reverence. And this encounter will transform you and create a positive impact in your life. There would be renewal in your life and you will live a life that has new meaning and purpose.  

The guards who were supposed to arrest Jesus were suddenly changed by the very words of Jesus. Thus they were not able to carry out their mission they instead became secret followers of Jesus. This is the great mystery of the words of Jesus the moment you begin to read it.  

Just try reading His words in the bible with reverence and notice how it will sink to you and how it will soon transform you. There’s great power in the words of Jesus if only we would try to read and reflect upon it.  

But do we still have time to read His words in the bible today? Today wherein our time is occupied by our worry about covid-19 on how we can avoid getting sick of it. We must create time for this noble endeavor regardless of what is happening around us. Because this is our ticket to have a personal encounter with Jesus and this is also our ticket to have calmness in the midst of the uncertainties around us.  

Never mind if you will read the words of Jesus for the very first time in a very long time. For the Holy Spirit will always be there to open your mind and walk you through it. After a period of time of reading the bible you will notice a positive transformation in your life.  

Positive transformation that will change you and those around you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for March 19 Friday 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:

Are you obedient to the will of God? 

When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant he decided to quietly separate from her. Quietly because Joseph is a quiet and humble man. As much as possible Joseph did not want to create any scene that could result to Mary’s being ostracized by her town mates.    

Perhaps the devil was already insidiously trying to provoke Joseph to do something that would humiliate Mary. But Joseph calmly defeated whatever evil machinations the devil had. He defeated this by listening to what the angel told him to do thus Joseph faithfully loved and protected his family. By his action of obedience to the will of God we can safely conclude that Joseph loved Mary deeply. 

Many fathers today easily give up when their marriage is tested by fire, they easily succumb when tempted by the devil. And they do not anymore listen to the voice of God who always tells them to keep the sanctity of marriage and family life. 

Let us be inspired by the life of Saint Joseph: His humility, His obedience to the voice of God. His unconditional love and protection for his wife and his child. 

Saint Joseph Patron Saint of Fathers, Patron Saint of Family and Patron Saint of Happy Death we beseech you to always pray for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for March 18 Thursday of the 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 are you as a witness for Jesus? Do you live and share His teachings? A good witness for Jesus is someone who walks with Him all through the seasons of his/her life. What would you get for witnessing for Jesus? 

There would be instances that you would be ridiculed. It doesn’t matter anyway because everything is worth it for Jesus including the ridicules and chastisement. You may not immediately see the fruits of your witnessing for Jesus but in His own perfect time you shall harvest those fruits. 

In our gospel Jesus mentions John the Baptist who prepared the way for Him. John told those who were acclaiming him to be the messiah that he was not. He told them that somebody greater is to come after him and He was none other than Jesus. 

John was an effective witness for Jesus because he did not grab the credit that was only due for the Lord. He was content to fade away so that Jesus would be highlighted more. With John’s witness for Jesus we are educated about lessons on witnessing and humility.  

That humility is one of the best if not the best virtue that we could harness so that we can effectively bring and lead others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 17 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:17-30

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. 

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 

For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. 

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

What does faith do to us? It makes us believe in something that is hard to believe for many. 

In the gospel Jesus mentions of His equality with God.  Do you believe it? If you do, count yourself as blessed for others do not believe. After believing in the equality of Jesus and God the Father, what should you do next? You must obey His teachings and help Him spread the good news of His salvation for this is His will for you. 

As we journey in this world there would be instances that we would veer away from Jesus and disobey His commands. We would embrace the teachings of this world, we would embrace sin and in the process we slowly but surely are creating distance between us and Jesus. 

But all is not lost no matter how despicable the sins that we have committed. The infinite love of Jesus is always there for us, it’s there for us to take and to ask for. Therefore, let us be aware of this infinite love and mercy of Jesus while we still have the luxury of time in this world. Let us go to Him and let us turn our backs from sin. 

In the latter part of the gospel Jesus mentions about judgment that would befall those who have done evil. Let us not wait for that judgment to come to us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 16 Tuesday of the 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:

How does it feel to be sick? Those who got sick already would answer that it doesn’t feel good to be sick for you feel weak and can’t function properly. Absurd as it may sound but sickness is sometimes God’s gift to us for it’s through our sickness that we get to know God more deeply. It’s through our getting sick that we are reawakened of the presence of God. 

The blind man in our gospel had this kind of experience. He was beside the pool waiting for someone to help him immerse in the pool. He didn’t know Jesus thus he did not ask Jesus to heal him.  Jesus by Himself desired to appear to this man and He healed him right there. If the man was not sick Jesus would not have appeared to him.   

It’s through our sickness often times that Jesus strongly manifest Himself to us. Through our getting sick we get a clearer picture of who Jesus is. If Jesus healed the man in our gospel without asking for it, would He not heal us as well? We who know Him and we who always pray to Him.    

There's always a silver lining when we get sick, we may not know it immediately but there's certainly a silver lining. And the silver lining is to have that golden opportunity to know Jesus more deeply. 

Do you always call on Jesus when you are sick? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for March 15 Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54

43 After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.  

And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live."  

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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Reflection:

How profound is your faith in Jesus?  

To have faith is to believe in something that you don’t see yet. The official in the gospel who begged Jesus to heal his sick son has this kind of faith. He wanted Jesus to go and personally heal his son who at that time was near death.  

But Jesus did not give in to his request, Jesus simply told the official, “Go; your son will live.” So he went home without Jesus but with faith in the words of Jesus in his heart. And when he arrived home his son was already recovering.  

To believe in something that we don’t see yet is very difficult to do most especially for those who have feeble faith. But for those who have faith, they will believe no matter the odds against them. If the official in our gospel did not believe in Jesus his son would surely not been healed. But he believed!  

We all have our own petitions before the Lord. He asks us nothing but to have faith for He will take care of everything. What are your petitions before Jesus? Simply believe, have faith and work for it also for He will never fail you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for Sunday March 14, Fourth Sunday of Lent: John 3:14-21

Gospel: John 3:14-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “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. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who was being convinced by her neighbor to leave the Catholic Church. So, the woman asked her neighbor, “Why would I leave the Catholic church to join your church?” The neighbor said to her: “Because you have images in your church which is prohibited in the bible and you worship those images.” The woman said: To have images are allowed in the bible and we don’t worship those images.  

Why do we have images in the Catholic Church? Is there a specific passage in the bible that refers to this? There are actually many passages in the bible that God commanded his people to create images. One of these is cited in the gospel reading for today. (Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Jesus was referring in this Old Testament passage (Numbers 21:4-9). Then, Jesus said: “So that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” 

Those who are deep in their Catholic faith know what Jesus is talking about. We know that our deep faith in Him will carry us through eternal life. We know that our life here on earth is just temporary and fleeting and this can be taken away from us anytime. But we don’t worry about it for we know what awaits us in our afterlife.  

Let us shift our attention to this bible passage: “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.” (John 3:16)  

The love of God for us is always ours for the taking it’s perpetually there for us and it’s free it’s given by God to us without strings attached on it. God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. Can we fathom God’s love for us? No we cannot! Our finite minds will not be able to comprehend the infinity of God’s love.  

How come that there are those who are not aware of this eternal love of God? The answer to this question is very simple—their life is so much taken by the lure of riches, trappings and worries of this temporary world. This is the reason why they are not aware of this great love of God.  

If only we would make ourselves available for Holy Mass most especially Sunday Holy Mass If only we would regularly find time to read the bible the grace of the Holy Spirit would be upon us. And it would slowly but surely give us the gift of awareness of the love of God.  

Let us always make time to know more about God, let us nurture it until it blossoms in our hearts. Why? Because the time we invest with God will become our key to the doorway of heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 14, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 3:14-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:14-21

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang ahas sa disyerto, gayundin dapat itaas ang Anak ng Tao 15 upang mag­karoon ng buhay magpakailanman ang bawat nananalig sa kanya. Ganito nga kamahal ng Diyos ang mundo! Kayat ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak upang hindi na ma­wala ang bawat nananalig sa kanya kundi magkaroon ng buhay magpa­kailanman. 

Hindi nga sinugo ng Diyos sa mundo ang Anak upang hukuman ang mundo kundi upang maligtas ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya. 18 Hindi hinuhukuman ang nananalig sa kanya. Ngunit hinu-kuman na ang hindi nana­nalig pagkat hindi siya nananalig sa Ngalan ng bugtong na Anak ng Diyos.  

Ito ang paghuhukom: dumating sa mundo ang liwanag pero mas minahal pa ng mga tao ang karimlan kaysa liwanag sapagkat masasama ang kanilang gawa. 20 Ang gumagawa ng masama’y napopoot nga sa liwanag at hindi lumalapit sa liwanag, at baka malantad ang kanyang mga gawa. 21 Lumalapit naman sa liwanag ang gumagawa ng katotohanan upang mabunyag na sa Diyos ginagawa ang kanyang mga gawa. 

Reflection for March 13 Saturday of the 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 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

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Reflection:

Have you tried practicing the virtue of humility? When you practice humility all things will be alright with you. For example, you will not anymore harbor resentment and anger towards anyone and your day will be free from any form of stress. 

You will have a positive disposition, you will be able to accept whatever that may come to you even humiliation and trials no matter how severe. Your fellowmen will silently look up to you and admire you without you noticing it. 

Humility therefore is like an effective medicine that cures us: it cures us of our arrogance, our need for attention and most importantly it brings us an awareness of our own sinfulness and our need to get close and be forgiven by God. 

In our gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector that went to the temple to pray. The tax collector obviously wants to live a new life, and he wants to be reconciled with God. Moreover, he obviously wants to be cured of his sinfulness that’s why he humbly submitted himself to God and God did not disappoint the tax collector. 

We have everything to gain and nothing to lose if we decide to imbibe and live humility. We will have a positive disposition, we will have peace and contentment and most importantly we will gain the forgiveness of our merciful God. 

Are we ready to abandon ourselves to God by humbly acknowledging our own sinfulness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for March 12 Friday of the 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:

Why did Jesus give us these two timeless and greatest commandments about love? Because we need these two instructions about love to heal the world of its many sufferings. For example if only there’s authentic love for God in the hearts of the rich there would be no more suffering and hunger amongst the poor. 

But many of them don’t have the love of God in their hearts that’s why they continue to oppress and take advantage of the poor. They love themselves more than God, they love temporal power more than they love the people of God. 

Let us hear the command of God to us: Let us love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. Let us also allow God to use us as his vehicle so that those who are alien to the love of God would feel it through us. And those who don’t know God will come to know God  because of our unconditional love for them. 

Let us little by little conquer the enmity of this world with our love for God and for our neighbors. And let us not only love those who will love us back or those who are lovable to our eyes. 

Let us also love even those who have hurt us deeply and those who have been making life difficult for us because it’s through our exercise of unconditional love for them they would be enlightened of God’s love.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for March 11 Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 

And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe.  

But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

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Reflection:

Is the devil real? 

The devil is real and he's a pervading influence in our society and in our political system as well. Why is the Philippines still a third world country considering that it has rich human and natural resources? The reason is many of our leaders have allowed themselves to be seduced and manipulated by the devil. The devil in the guise of corrupted wealth and power always offers himself to our politicians in exchange for their honest to goodness public service and governance. 

In the same vein, the devil is also a presence inside the  family. This is the reason why there are separation and infidelity inside the marriage covenant. Who can defeat the influence of the devil in our society’s political system and in our respective families? It’s our practice of our faith in Jesus. 

Many of us profess to be believers in Jesus and many of our politicians are graduates of catholic schools. Yet there are many plunderers and killers in government nowadays, yet there are many broken families. Why is this so? This is for the reason that many of us are believers in name only. Many of us attend Holy Mass but we don’t live the grace of Holy Mass. 

If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take root deep into our bones, our country would once again be progressive. If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take center stage in our respective families there would also be no more broken marriages. 

Let us think about how many times we have betrayed our faith in Jesus. In exchange for the salivating offers of the devil which in the long run will only destroy us. Reject the devil therefore and do not allow yourself to become his agent and slave in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas