Reflection for Sunday July 3, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 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."

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

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Reflection:

An Extra Ordinary Minister of the Holy Communion was asked by his parish priest if he could go to a nearby village to give the Body of Christ to an old sick man. The minister of the Holy Communion agreed so he went wearing his uniform that would identify him as such. When he arrived everyone was calling him father so the lay minister would always tell them that he was not the priest. Majority of those who were present were also not able to respond to the prayers.

What can we learn from this true story? Many Catholics do not know how to differentiate a priest from a lay minister. Many of us do not even know the basic prayers of the church. Thus many are Catholics in name only. Many still need to be evangelized; many still need to be educated about the teachings of the church.

When Jesus appointed the seventy two to become His co-workers in his vineyard He recognized that there was plentiful harvest but very few workers to help Him. Is this not the situation also right now?  The call of Jesus to the seventy two is His call to us also. Jesus wants us to become His close friends and partners in His ministry of evangelization.

Let us not worry about the cost and hardship that it would entail us because Jesus will always be there for us to help us survive along the way. Let us also not be taken by the superficiality of this world that we don’t notice the gentle voice of God whispering to us to help Him in His mission.

Upon the return of the disciples Jesus told them: “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven." The same words we will hear someday the moment we respond in whatever way to the call of God.

Would you respond to the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for July 02, Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.  

No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

Do you already have Jesus in your life?  

When you already have Jesus in your life you are already like a fresh wineskin. Fresh or new wineskin is sturdy and strong. It can withstand the pressure when a new wine is poured into it.  

This is what we become when we already have Jesus in our life. We can withstand whatever problems that life would bring to us. Nobody and no problem no matter how difficult can break us because we have Jesus in our life already.  

It’s so hard for many of us to feel the presence of Jesus because we hardly have time for Him. We don’t invest time with Jesus yet we can invest time for other worldly things. Some of us would even reason out that we hardly have time to be with Jesus because of the many pressures of life.     

But how come we have time for worldly things? For example, why is it that we can squeeze in chit-chat or gossip time?  If we can chi-chat and do other worldly things why can’t we have time for Jesus our life giver? This is the paradox of our modern times right now: We don’t have time for Jesus yet we create time for other worldly things. 

If you want to have a fresh and positive viewpoint about your future and about life in general. Let Jesus come into your life do not close your heart to the Lord in favor of the things of this world. Things of this world which will bring you nothing in the end except sickness, troubles and pressures. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 01, Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.  

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:
Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him?  

He calls us out of His great love for us. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be lead astray by the many sins of this world. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to suffer in hell after our mortal life in this world is over and done with already.

We have in our gospel a man named Matthew a corrupt tax collector who was called by Jesus to follow Him. Even if Matthew is a sinner deep in his heart he knows Jesus. Matthew knows deep in his heart that in Jesus he would find healing, forgiveness and a new life. Matthew knows deep in His heart that in Jesus he has somebody who will not condemn him but would be very much willing to listen to his desire to repent and become His follower.  

Therefore, when Jesus told Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9) he immediately left everything behind him and followed the Lord. When Matthew heard Jesus telling him to follow Him, Matthew heard the sweetest words that he could ever hear in his entire life. 

The call from Jesus made Matthew whole once again for he has been broken by sin throughout his adult life. Perhaps Matthew burst into tears when he heard Jesus told him to come and follow Him. It was tears of unexplained happiness, tears of relief and freedom from the enslavement of the devil.  

 Do you also want to feel how Matthew felt during that very day when Jesus called him to come and follow Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 30, Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”  

 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Can you obtain the same forgiveness and healing which Jesus gave to the paralytic? 

 Yes you can! The same forgiveness and healing are given to us by the priest who acts in Persona Christi (In the Person of Christ) the moment we humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. However, the sad part is this: Not everyone is aware of this grace of forgiveness and healing!  

If only we have an awareness of the grace that is given to us by Jesus when we submit ourselves to this Healing Sacrament. We will not think twice of humbly submit to this Healing Sacrament.  

A large part of the blame why not everyone is educated about this sacrament lies in us who know the enormous gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Because we don’t bother to share what we know and we don’t live and pay forward the grace that we receive from Jesus through this sacrament.  

Nevertheless, it’s never too late to repent, it’s never too late to ask God to heal us of our many sickness caused by our sinfulness. Let us go and humbly submit ourselves to this healing sacrament and let us not also forget to share the grace that we have received from this healing Sacrament.  

Will you humbly submit yourself to this healing Sacrament today or perhaps in the coming days? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita Hunyo 30 Huwebes ng Ika-13 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 9:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:1-8

Noong panahong iyon, sumakay si Jesus sa bangka, tumawid sa kabilang ibayo at tumuloy sa sariling bayan. Pagdating niya roon, dinala sa kanya ng ilang katao ang isang paralitikong nakaratay sa kanyang higaan. Nang makita ni Jesus kung gaano kalaki ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko, "Anak, lakasan mo ang iyong loob! Pinatatawad ka na sa iyong mga kasalanan." Isinaloob ng ilang eskribang naroon, "Nilalapastangan ng taong ito ang Diyos."  

Ngunit batid ni Jesus ang kanilang iniisip kaya't sinabi niya, "Bakit kayo nag-iisip nang ganyan? Alin ba ang mas madali: ang sabihing, 'Ipinatatawad na ang mga kasalanan mo,' o ang sabihing, 'Tumindig ka at lumakad'? Patutunayan ko sa inyo na dito sa lupa ang Anak ng Tao'y may kapangyarihang magpatawad ng mga kasalanan." At sinabi niya sa paralitiko, "Tumindig ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan, at umuwi ka." Tumindig nga ang lalaki at umuwi. Nang makita ito ng mga tao, sila'y natakot at nagpuri sa Diyos na nagbigay ng ganitong kapangyarihan sa mga tao.  

Reflection for Wednesday June 29, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: Matthew 16:13-19

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Reflection:

How well do you know Jesus? 

After Peter correctly answered the question of Jesus about His true identity. Jesus told Peter that the enlightenment to know Him came from God and not from him. Thus, being the anointed one Peter was chosen by Jesus to be the first head of the church. It was not by Peter’s own effort that he was chosen it was God who chose Peter.   

How many times have we credited ourselves for our achievements and success?    How many times have we owned to ourselves our knowledge about God? Many of us would always attribute to ourselves and through our hard work everything that we know and have.  

But the truth is what we know and have right now are purely gifts from God. Amongst the many we were chosen by God with those gifts not for us to boast about it and certainly not for us to keep it to ourselves. But for us to humbly use it for the greater glory of the kingdom of God in this world.  

The Apostles Peter and Paul used their God given gifts and talents to humbly advance God’s kingdom. How about you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

1Reflection for Tuesday June 28, Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr: Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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Reflection:

What is faith? Faith is the fuel that keeps us going in the midst of uncertainty. When the disciples were being tossed by a violent storm they suddenly were overcome by fear. They did not cling to their faith in Jesus considering that HE was also with them.  That’s why Jesus told them: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26)  

Don’t we allow ourselves also to be paralyzed by our unfounded fears? For example, the fear of dying, the fear of sickness and so forth, we often times allow ourselves to be paralyzed by these uncertainties in our lives. However, what if we pray to Jesus and ask Him to help us befriend death, sickness and everything that we fear? Then, fear will be erased from our mindset permanently.  

 If we have faith in Jesus we need not fear anything that may come to us because we would be calm in the midst of uncertainties.  Our faith in Jesus is more than enough to strengthen us and conquer all our worries in life.  

Next time that we face storms in our lives let us be still, keep calm and firmly hold on to our faith in Jesus. Even if what is ahead of us is a little bit hazy let us have faith. Let us continue to believe that Jesus will never forsake those who believe. 

Let us continue to have a laser like focus and faith in Jesus, let us not give space for fear in our hearts. For fear is an instrument of the devil to sway us away from the loving care of Jesus.  

If you think you lack faith, humbly ask the Jesus to give you the gift of faith. And strengthen it further by your active prayer life, by reading the Holy bible and by your presence at Holy Mass. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Hunyo 28 San Ireneo, Obispo at martir (Paggunita): Mateo 8:23-27

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 8:23-27

Sumakay si Jesus sa bangka, kasama ang kanyang mga alagad. Bumugso sa lawa ang isang malakas na unos, at halos matabunan ng mga alon ang bangka. Ngunit natutulog noon si Jesus. Kaya't nilapitan siya ng mga alagad at ginising. "Panginoon, tulungan ninyo kami!" sabi nila. "Lulubog tayo!" 

At sinabi niya sa kanila, "Ano't kayo'y natatakot? Napakaliit naman ng pananalig ninyo!" Bumangon siya, sinaway ang hangin at dagat, at tumahimik ang mga ito. Namangha silang lahat at ang sabi, "Anong tao ito? Kahit ang hangin at ang dagat ay tumatalima sa kanya!"

 

Reflection for June 27, Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:18-22

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  

Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

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Reflection:

There’s an old adage that says: “To follow Christ is always right but it is not always easy.”  

In the gospel passage a scribe approached Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  

In truth, Jesus is telling the scribe who signified his intention to follow Him that it’s never easy to follow me. You have to think a hundred times before you decide to follow me.  

Indeed, it’s not always a bed of roses when we decide to follow Jesus. Oftentimes Jesus would tell us that if you really want to follow me, you need to forget yourself and you need to be selfless. But amidst the hardship that we may encounter in following Him, we can also rest assure that Jesus will always be there for us to guide and inspire us. 

Be not afraid therefore to follow Jesus no matter how hard it is. For the reason that every second that you invest in following Him will give you great reward someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday June 26, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:51-62

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. 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. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."

 And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." To him Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was newly transplanted in his new community. While at church for Sunday Mass he heard the announcement of the church’s need for Catechists so he went to the parish office to signify his intention. 

The parish priest asked him: Why do you want to become a Catechist?   The man replied: I want to have new friends in the parish community. The priest said to him: is it the sole reason why you want to become a Catechist? The man replied: no, I also want to serve the church based on my own convenience.  

While going to Jerusalem Jesus met three men who want to follow Him. The two men signified their intention to follow and the other one He personally called. Jesus emphasized to each of them that it’s not easy to follow Him going to Jerusalem because they have to sacrifice and persevere. Since he himself will persevere, sacrifice and eventually die on the cross. 

Many of us have this mistaken notion that to follow Jesus is easy but it’s not. Many of us think that the moment we follow Jesus our life will now become a bed of roses, but it will not.  To follow Jesus is to carry our cross and others cross too! To follow Jesus is to be ready to embrace suffering and even humiliation for this is really how it is when we decide to become Jesus’ faithful followers. 

Will you still follow Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas         

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 26 Ikalabintatlong Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 9:51-62

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:61-62

Nang nalalapit na ang panahong iaakyat si Jesus sa langit, ipinasiya niyang pumunta sa Jerusalem. Sinugo niya ang ilan upang mauna sa kanya. Humayo sila at pumasok sa isang nayon sa Samaria upang ipaghanda siya ng matutuluyan. Ngunit ayaw siyang tanggapin ng mga Samaritano sapagkat siya'y patungo sa Jerusalem.

Nang makita ito nina Santiago at Juan ay kanilang sinabi, "Panginoon, payag ba kayong magpababa kami ng apoy mula sa langit upang pugnawin sila?" Ngunit bumaling siya at pinagsabihan sila. "Hindi ninyo alam kung anung uri ng espiritu ang sumasainyo," sabi niya, "sapagkat naparito ang Anak ng Tao hindi upang ipahamak ang mga tao kundi upang iligtas sila." At nagtungo sila sa ibang nayon.

Samantalang naglalakad sila, may taong nagsabi kay Jesus, "Susunod po ako sa inyo kahit saan." Sumagot si Jesus, "May lungga ang asong-gubat at may pugad ang ibon, ngunit ang Anak ng Tao'y wala man lamang matuluyan o mapagpahingahan.

" Sinabi ni Jesus sa isa, "Sumunod ka sa akin." Ngunit sumagot ang tao, "Panginoon, hayaan po muna ninyo akong umuwi upang ipalibing ko ang aking ama." Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya, "Ipaubaya mo na sa mga patay ang paglilibing ng kanilang mga patay.

Ngunit ikaw, humayo ka't ipahayag mo ang sa tungkol paghahari ng Diyos." Sinabi naman ng isa, "Susunod po ako sa inyo, Panginoon, ngunit magpapaalam muna ako sa aking mga kasambahay." Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Ang sinumang nag-aararo at palaging lumilingon ay hindi karapat-dapat sa paghahari ng Diyos."

Reflection Saturday June 25, The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial): Luke 2:41-51

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.  

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” 

And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

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Reflection:

When a family is hit with misfortune, say for example sickness of a child. It’s always the mother who suffers first. It’s not the father but the mother. Why is this so? This is for the reason that both mother and child have deeper emotional connection between themselves.  

Before a child is born to this world it stays first in his mother’s womb. For nine long months both mother and child develops a bond that only death can break.       

How did the Blessed Mother and her husband Joseph feel when she noticed that Jesus was not with them? It must have been very difficult for both of them but more difficult perhaps for the Blessed Mother. Jesus was her only child, she took care of Jesus and before she gave birth to Jesus. Jesus was inside her immaculate womb for nine months. 

Just imagine the anxiety that the Blessed Mother felt during that time when they discovered that the boy Jesus was not in their company. But she remained calm as they went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. And when they found Jesus the Blessed Mother said this to Jesus, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety (Luke 2:48).” 

The Blessed Mother is not only concerned with Jesus’ welfare. She also is very much concerned with our own well-being. Inside her Immaculate heart dwells the deep desire to look after us too so that she could bring us back closer to Jesus. 

Let us therefore not forget to implore the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Let us beseech her to watch over us. Let us beseech her to pray for us and let us pray to her to bring us closer to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas          

Reflection Friday June 24, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity): Luke 15:3-7

Gospel: Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?  

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'  

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

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Reflection:

Do you know that Jesus loves you whomever you may be and no matter how severe the sins that you have committed? 

God’s love for us is immense and infinite He will do everything to find us and bring us back to His loving embrace. Perhaps many have this notion that because of their sinfulness God has already forgotten them. But no, the more sinful we are the more that God seeks us, the more that we are lost in the jungle of sinfulness the more that He never tires to find us.   

In the gospel God left the ninety nine sheep in favor of the one who got lost. He never stopped looking for the lost sheep until He found it. And upon finding it He placed it on His shoulder with great joy. This is the love of God for us, love that is always there for us and love that is ever ready to forget and forgive all of our sinfulness. 

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus’ sacred heart is so loving and forgiving. Jesus wants us to radiate the same love and forgiveness also. He wants us to seek those who are lost whomever they may be and whatever sins that they have committed. 

So that they too will know that there is a God who is very eager to forgive and love them notwithstanding their sinfulness. A  God who is ever willing to embrace us again and completely delete our record of sins. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection Thursday June 23, The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”  

But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 

Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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Reflection:

Are you faithful to the Lord?  

To continuously propagate the name of a certain clan it is customary to name a newly born child after his father’s name. This was in the mind of the relatives who proposed that the newly born child of Elizabeth be named after his father Zechariah. 

 But Zechariah had previously had an agreement with the Angel Gabriel when it appeared to him in the sanctuary that the baby would be named John (Luke 1:13). True to their word both Elizabeth and Zechariah did not renege on their agreement with the Lord through the angel Gabriel. 

 Their faithfulness to God’s covenant was further rewarded when Zechariah was able to speak again. What is the implication of this for us? This tells us that the good Lord has a reward for those who are faithful to Him. Are we always faithful to the Lord? 

 We too are being reminded by this gospel to be faithful to our own covenants with the Lord. You may be asking yourself: What is my covenant with the Lord? There are many, I will just mention a few. If you’re married your covenant with the Lord is to be faithful to your spouse until the very end. 

Our Baptismal covenant with the Lord is faithfulness to the teachings of the church. Have we been faithful to the teachings of the church and have we already shared and lived its teachings?  

God through the angel Gabriel has rewarded the faithfulness of Elizabeth and Zechariah. There’s also a reward in store for us all for so long as we would be faithful to the Lord. 

Are you faithful to the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas