41 Sumagot sa kanya ang Panginoon: “Marta, Marta, abala ka’t balisa sa maraming bagay; 42 isa lang naman ang kailangan. Pinili nga ni Maria ang mainam na bahagi na hindi kukunin sa kanya.”
Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Monday, October 04, 2021
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 5 Martes sa Ika-27 Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 10:38-42
Sunday, October 03, 2021
Reflection for October 4, Monday Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi: Luke 10:25-37
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver
coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way
back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’
victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him,
“Go and do likewise.”
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Reflection:
How do we express our love for God and neighbor?
It is by caring for those who are in need no matter who they may be, for as long as they’re in need we should help them. But there are those who are so withdrawn that even if they’re in need they find it hard to ask for help or they will not ask for help. There are people who are like them they’re in need but they don’t ask for help because of low self-esteem and shyness.
What should we do? We have be sensitive to their plight, we must not be stonehearted we should help without being asked for help.
The question of the scholar of the law is perhaps also our question before Jesus: How can we inherit eternal life? And Jesus referred them to what was written in the law; Love of God and love of our neighbor; these are the two keys to have eternal life.
Jesus further reinforced these two teachings with a story of a man who was victimized by robbers. As he lay wounded a priest followed by a Levite both prominent people simply passed by and did not lift a finger to help him. Afterwards a Samaritan came and he surprisingly helped the wounded man. Not content with helping him the Samaritan brought the man to an inn to be properly nursed there.
It’s not enough to say, we love God and
our neighbors for these are mere words that are empty. We put life and meaning
to these two greatest commandments when we become like the compassionate
Samaritan in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Friday, October 01, 2021
1Reflection for October 2, Saturday Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
“See that you do not despise one of these
little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon
the face of my heavenly Father.”
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Reflection:
Have you tried looking at the face of a child and have you tried looking at the face of an adult? Which of them give you more joy? Of course, it’s the face of the child.
Jesus in the gospel gives us the secret on how we can enter the kingdom of heaven. Which is none other than to become like children or to be childlike, why? It’s for the reason of the pureness of their thoughts and their innocence. No wonder being childlike is the key for us to enter God’s kingdom in heaven.
But are we childlike in terms of the pureness of our thoughts and absence of sin? Of course we are not! Who among us could say that our thoughts are as pure as a child? Who among us could say that we are without sin? Of course, nobody because we are all sinners we sin through our words, actions and thoughts.
Nevertheless, it’s not yet late for us to go back to Jesus and be childlike before Him. Jesus through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is always inviting us to humble ourselves before Him. To be like a child who humbly runs to his parents with reckless abandon once he sees them coming home.
Are you humble like a child? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Thursday, September 30, 2021
1Reflection for October 1, Friday Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 10:13-16
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And
whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
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Reflection:
Is it possible for us not to sin anymore?
No, as we live here in this world we will continue to sin for we are mere mortals with frailties. We sin through our thoughts, words and actions. However, as we keep on sinning God calls us always to repentance until the time comes that our sins will be diminished.
Amid our humanness and sinfulness God wants us to know that we need to repent that is why He created the Sacrament of Reconciliation. For us to humbly submit ourselves and for us to be aware of God’s goodness and forgiveness.
Obviously the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and
Capernaum were stone hearted. They did not listen to the call of Jesus for them
to repent. There really are people who are like the people of Chorazin,
Bethsaida and Capernaum. No matter how we try to help them and no matter how
hard we gently speak to them. They will not walk away from their
sinfulness they will really not hear us.
This is perhaps the mystery of human psychology; God comes to us yet we refuse
Him. Or we are given advice by those who are concerned for our welfare yet we
refuse to hear them.
So for those who refuse to hear the wisdom of God and the wise counsel of the people around them. Be prepared for the consequences for there are really consequences for those who refuse to hear. But why wait for the price of our stubbornness to befall us? Why not listen and walk away from our sinfulness?
Let us repent while we still have time and
let us humbly ask Jesus to forgive us of all our sins. The best vehicle for us
to do this is to humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Oktubre 1 Santa Teresita de Jesus, dalaga at pantas ng Iglesya (Paggunita): Lucas 10:13-16
Sa Araw
ng Paghuhukom, higit na mabigat ang kaparusahan ninyo kaysa kaparusahan ng mga
taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, ibig mong mataas hanggang sa
langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades! “Ang nakikinig sa inyo’y nakikinig sa akin, ang
nagtatakwil sa inyo’y nagtatakwil sa akin, at ang nagtatakwil sa akin ay
nagtatakwil sa nagsugo sa akin.”
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
1Reflection for September 30, Thursday Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Luke 10:1-12
Go on your way; behold, I am sending you
like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no
one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this
household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but
if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not
receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that
clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the
Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on
that day than for that town.”
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Reflection:
Would you be willing to be an ambassador of Jesus?
It’s hard to respond to this call of Jesus to follow Him most especially when you see nothing but challenges. For example, provisions are very scarce, nobody wants to be with you for the simple reason that they don’t love God as much as you do.
What would you do then? You must carry on! The harder the challenges in front of you the firmer your resolve to pursue and follow the Lord. The enemy of God which is no other than the devil will continue to badger you to give up. It will continue to paint a picture of hopelessness with what you do for Christ so as to discourage you. But you must not give up. You must continue to hold on with your desire to partake with the mission of Jesus.
The statement of Jesus that the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few is as true as the sunshine today. Each day we see the decline of the morality and values of many people. Each day we see the debasement of the sanctity of marriage. Each day we see the disintegration of families most especially in the so called first world countries. This is the abundant harvest that Jesus pertains today.
Don’t say that you don’t see any abundant
harvest. Look in your own sphere of environment and you’ll see them. Focus on
them; share Jesus with them thru your words or thru your lifestyle for they are
your abundant harvest. Don’t worry about anything for Jesus is with you, He
will protect you and He will provide for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Reflection for September 29, Wednesday Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels (Feast): John 1:47-51
Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you
believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see
greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you
will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the
Son of Man.”
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Reflection:
Do you believe that Jesus knows you very well? Many will not believe but the truth of the matter is Jesus knows each and everyone of us very well. What we are thinking right now Jesus knows about it also!
If Jesus knows everything about us why is it that he doesn’t intervene whenever we are in the verge of committing sin? This is for the reason that God gave us the freewill or the freedom of choice to do what we want to do.
However the moment we strive to get closer to Jesus. For example we religiously attend Holy Mass. We spend time to read the Holy Bible and live His teachings, we surely would feel the movement of Jesus in our lives. We therefore invite Jesus to take an active part in our lives when we strive to get close to Him.
In the gospel Nathanael was surprised that Jesus knew him in advance. But looking at the life of Nathanael it comes without surprise that Jesus knew him beforehand. Because Nathanael was also quietly seeking and thinking about God.
Do you want to feel the movement of Jesus
in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Setyembre 29 San Miguel, San Gabriel at San Rafael, mga arkangel (Kapistahan): Juan 1:47-51
49 Sumagot si Natanael: “Rabbi, ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos, ikaw ang Hari ng Israel.” 50 Sumagot si Jesus: Sinabi ko lang sa iyong nakita kita sa ilalim ng punong-igos, at naniniwala ka na? Higit pa sa mga ito ang makikita mo.”
51 At
idinugtong ni Jesus: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, makikita ninyong
bukas na ang langit at panhik-panaog sa Anak ng Tao ang mga anghel ng Diyos.”
Monday, September 27, 2021
1Reflection for September 28, Tuesday St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions, martyrs (M): Luke 9:51-56
On the way they entered a Samaritan
village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James
and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from
heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to
another village.
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Reflection:
Would you open the door of your house for Jesus?
The Samaritans did not welcome Jesus because they did not know Him well. If only they knew Him they would have welcomed Him even if He was going to Jerusalem. But they did not know Him that’s why they refused to be hospitable to Him.
There are some problematic individuals who decide to end their life by way of committing suicide. Why? Because they do not know Jesus, if only they know Jesus they would have not committed that grievous sin.
We miss so many blessings when we do not fully know the Lord. For example, the blessing of hope, the blessing of love, the blessing of understanding, humility, peacefulness and a lot more. These are but a few of the many blessings that we miss when we do not know Jesus that well.
But how would we know Jesus? We must read the bible most especially the first four books of the New Testament. We must often be present in the celebration of the Eucharist or Holy Mass most especially during Sundays. If we do these acts of faith, slowly but surely our eyes of faith would be opened to the friendship of Jesus.
But how about those who do not Jesus? How would they know Jesus? We have to share Jesus and we have to live His teachings so that through us they will know Jesus. To know Jesus is still not enough we have to share Him and we have to live what we know about Him.
Do you want to live a more meaningful life?
If your answer is yes, you therefore have to share and live Jesus. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Reflection for September 27, Monday Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest: Luke 9:46-50
Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw
someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he
does not follow in our company. Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for
whoever is not against you is for you.
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Reflection:
Do you sometimes feel that you are above all for the reason of the things that you do or for the reason of your achievements and status in life?
We can’t help but ask, why did the disciples argue as to who among them is the greatest? Perhaps they got carried away with the sudden fame of being with Jesus. That’s why they were arguing as to who was the greatest among them. By being mindful of their egos they forgot that they were with their Lord and Master.
Jesus knew of their selfish desire for fame thus He took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
Least in what aspect? Least in promoting oneself as the greatest and least in filling up ones ego. It’s indeed very tempting to use Jesus to enhance our self-image. But reality check first, this is not what Jesus wants for us to become. Jesus desire for all of us is to embrace humility at all times.
No one is greatest for Jesus but those who are humble. And those who silently give their time to help him advance His teachings. They are the greates in the eyes of Jesus.
If you give your time for Jesus no matter
how little so long as you give it with all your heart. If you give your time
for Jesus without the objective to boast and the selfish desire to be popular.
You’re already the greatest in Jesus eyes. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Reflection for Sunday September 26, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
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Reflection:
The Story is told about two pastors who were trying to convince the people in their place to join their respective religions. Pastor number one said, nobody can bring you closer to God except me because others who are preaching about God are fake preachers so don’t listen to them listen only to me.
Pastor number two said: Aside from listening to me you can also listen to others who are preaching the words of God. One of the members of his religion asked the pastor: Why should I listen to them also? The pastor said: Because I don’t have the monopoly of the words of God.
In the gospel, a man who doesn’t belong to the group of Jesus was casting out demons using His name. John saw this man, thus he tried to prevent the man from using the name of the Lord (Mark 9:38). However, Jesus told John: Do not prevent him, let him continue using my name for no one who is using my name will speak ill of me (Mark 9:39).
Was John feeling superior when he prevented the man from using the name of the Lord? Why did John has that mindset of superiority? Because he was with Jesus and he felt that he has the sole possession of the name Jesus? But Jesus did not like John’s display of arrogance. So Jesus contradicted John to send a strong message to His apostles that they don’t have the monopoly of his name.
Jesus did not want to become an exclusive property of anyone even by those who are very close to Him. As far as Jesus is concerned, He is for everybody. And for as long as it is for a noble purpose anyone can use His name anytime.
We must avoid the mindset of superiority over anybody because nobody will like or join us. Instead, we must at all times be humble since its only thru our humility that we can bring our fellowmen closer to the Lord and to our church. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Thursday, September 23, 2021
1Reflection for September 25, Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:43b-45
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Reflection:
Why were the disciples afraid to ask Jesus to elaborate His meaningful statement that He is going to be handed over to men? Did they sense that something dangerous is going to happen to Jesus soon? Were they afraid to hear something that would deal with suffering and the cross? Or the disciples were simply used to the image of Jesus as a powerful miracle worker and healer?
Is it only for His miracles and healings that we follow Jesus? Perhaps yes, many of us are only after Jesus the miracle worker and Jesus the healer. But if we are only after His miracles and healings then this is not true discipleship.
True discipleship happens to us when we are also ready to suffer for Jesus and when we are also ready to carry our own cross for Jesus. We cannot separate Jesus from suffering because He himself brutally suffered. Thus we cannot also separate ourselves from suffering/s if we truly follow Jesus.
Nevertheless, let us not be afraid to
suffer for our discipleship for Jesus because our suffering for Jesus will not
be in vain. There is always something glorious after suffering and carrying our
own cross for Jesus. We may not know it immediately but there surely will be
glory after we endure our cross and sufferings. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Reflection for September 24, Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:18-22
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer
greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and
be killed and on the third day be raised.”
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Reflection:
Do you live the teachings of Jesus?
When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” they were unsure, some said that He was John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen. Then He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
If Jesus would ask us, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” I don’t know if we would be able to answer at all. Because unlike the disciples who walked and lived with Jesus and who shared and preached the word of God. We may not have preached and shared what we know about the yet.
What if He will also say to us, “But who do you say that I am?” Would we be able to reply like Peter who said with conviction, “The Christ of God.”
These are two simple questions from Jesus
that invites us to examine if we have a personal relationship with Him. If we
don’t have it yet let us do our part by having that thirst and hunger for the
Lord. And surely the Holy Spirit will do its part to bring us closer to Jesus.
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Reflection for September 23, Thursday of the Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest: Luke 9:7-9
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Reflection:
The story is told about a lady who was always being bothered by her conscience every time she sees a baby. For it always reminds her of her baby which she aborted. She had no closure with the mortal sin that she did.
Perhaps the same scenario was occurring in the mind of Herod. He was deeply disturbed by the news about Jesus. And it came to a point that he thought that John whom he ordered killed has been raised from the dead.
Why is Herod curious about the true identity of Jesus and why have that burning desire to see Jesus? This is for the reason that Herod wants to see if John whom he ordered killed had risen.
We too should have that curiosity about Jesus not because we want to know if He is John. We have to be curious about Jesus for the reason that we want to have a deeper intimacy with Him. And this desire to know more about the Lord should lead us to a deeper faith and love for the Lord.
To whom does Jesus always manifest Himself
to us during this covid-19 pandemic? He manifest through the poor, the deprived,
the hungry and the oppressed. If we want to know Jesus deeply we must exert
every possible effort to help and love them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas