Reflection for August 2, Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:22-36

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.  

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  

He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”  

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

How’s your faith in  Jesus?  

There’s a contrast of faith in the gospel between Peter whose lack of faith is very evident and the strong faith of the people who wanted to touch the tassel of the cloak of Jesus.  

Like Thomas who did not believe that Jesus has indeed risen.  Peter was also lacking in faith, but initially Peter had faith since he was able to walk a few steps on water. It was when he felt the strong wind that his faith began to wane, thus he began to sink (Matthew 14:30).  

So, Peter cried out: “Lord, save me!” and Jesus said to him: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt (Matthew 14:31)?” Our doubts and lack of faith creates a wall amongst us and Jesus and if we are not careful this will slowly but surely eat away our faith. Our doubts and lack of faith is also a big factor in our failure to achieve our goals in life. We therefore need to have a strong faith in Jesus for when we have rock solid faith the Lord would never fail us.  

What is the cure for this eroding faith in Jesus? Prayers, Faithful and Pious attendance at Holy Mass and frequent and humble submission to the Sacraments of Reconciliation.  

How’s your faith in the Lord? – Marino  J. Dasmarinas         

Reflection for Monday August 1, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M): Matthew 14:13-21

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." He said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here."  

Then he said, "Bring them here to me," and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

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Reflection:

Once in a while we need to withdraw from the madding crowd to be by ourselves only and God. We need these regular quite moments with God for us to discern His presence in our lives.  

Upon learning of the beheading of His relative John the Baptist Jesus went to a deserted place by himself for personal reflections. He was sad over the death of His relative and He wanted to be re-charged and be strengthened by God.  

We also need these brief interludes of peace and quite in which there’s nobody else except us and God.  And it’s on these quite moments that we would strongly feel the presence of the Lord in our lives. The Lord who invites us all who are thirsty and weary to go to Him for He will strengthen us.   

Let us not get hooked on the deafening environment of this noisy world wherein money, possessions and power rules or even worshipped by many as God. Let us dig deeper into our spiritual lives and let us discover that beneath our mortal life is the Lord God who wishes to spiritually strengthen us.  

After His solitary recollection Jesus was again ready to continue His mission His first act was to cure the sick who were following Him.  

The disciples wanted to get rid of them that’s why they said to Jesus: “Dismiss the crowd for it’s getting late already (Matthew 14:15). However, Jesus told them: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves (Matthew 14:16).” Then the miracle of the loaves and fish happened; there were only five loaves and two fish but Jesus was able to feed more than five thousand and there were plenty to spare.   

How did this miracle happen? It happened because of the generosity and love of Jesus if we are stingy with what we have, if we don’t want to give even if we have plenty.  Jesus is not like many of us.  

Jesus is forever generous and loving to us that is why out of His generosity and love He instituted the Eucharist or the Holy Mass to nourish us. And up to this very day He continuous to feed us with His Body and Blood when we receive Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  

Let us learn from the generosity and love of Jesus, let us forever give, let us all remember that it is in our generosity and love that we would receive unfathomable blessings from God. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Wisdom from Mother Teresa also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Part - 1

 

Reflection for Sunday July 31, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:13-21

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ 

But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

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Reflection:

What is material wealth that many of us are not able to let go of it? Many of us are even willing to sacrifice family relationship just to have possession of this temporal wealth.  

Many  are even willing to sacrifice their name and reputation to have wealth even dirty or corrupted wealth. Our greed for material wealth is our ticket to experience hell while we are still in this earthly journey. And certainly if not discontinued will be our ticket to hell in the future. 

Who among us are willing to go to hell in exchange for earthy wealth? None of us of course! Yet we keep on punishing ourselves to have it not knowing that this greed for wealth will only give us tons of problems and miseries. 

Wealth per se is not evil it becomes evil once we allow ourselves to be controlled and be manipulated by it. What should we do therefore? We must not allow wealth to control and manipulate us. We should not allow earthly wealth to dictate upon us.

In the gospel, Jesus is warning us about human’s greed for the things of this world. Jesus tells us this: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

Someday all of us will die and the key that would help us unlock the doorway to heaven is certainly not the wealth that we have amassed during our lifetime. The key that would open the doorway to heaven are the things that we have done to advance the mission of Jesus in this wealth driven world.

Do you have a greed for wealth? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for July 30, Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

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Reflection:

Do you always see to it that you always do good so that you would have a clear conscience? Guilt of conscience is the worst enemy that we can ever have because we don’t see it yet it keeps on bothering us.  

When King Herod heard of Jesus he thought that John had been raised from the dead. Why was he thinking of John? Because he was the one responsible for John’s undeserved death, the injustice that he did to John was perpetually bothering him.   

It had been haunting him for the longest time, that’s why upon hearing of the reputation of Jesus he became so afraid because he thought that Jesus was John. The wrongs that we’ve done in the past would hang around our neck like an albatross. We would be reminded of it every now and then unless we make a positive action to heal it.  

Let us avoid doing anything that would hurt anyone, let us always do good and let us always be humble and peaceful. And if ever we offend or hurt the feelings of someone we have to apologize and we must not do it again. -  Marino  J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday July 29, Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus: John 11:19-27

Gospel: John 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”  Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. 

Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

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Reflection:

What compelled Martha to met Jesus while HE was on HIS way to their house? It was her faith. 

Martha was in grief because of the death of her brother Lazarus. But when she heard that Jesus was going to their house to comfort them Martha’s grief was immediately replaced by hope. Because Martha had deep faith in Jesus and being their close friend Martha also knew Jesus very well. 

What do we do when we are sorrowful and in distress? Don’t we also run to Jesus? Of course we also run to Jesus, the energy that compels us to go to the Lord is fueled by our deep faith, hope and friendship with Jesus. We are very blessed because we have this deep relationship with Jesus for we know where to go when we are in beset by the many trials of this world. 

But how about those who do not know Jesus deeply or those who do not know Jesus? Where would they go when they encounter trials? They may never go to Jesus, instead they may look for temporal alleviation of their distress in this world. 

This is where we must come in and illuminate those who do not know Jesus. We must have the courage to share Jesus and our faith so that those who are in distress will now go to Jesus for hope and salvation. 

Our faith in Jesus must not be an exclusive faith that is only limited to ourselves. It must always be an inclusive faith so that others too may feel the love, healing, hope and friendship of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 28, Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:-47-53

Gospel: Matthew13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."  

"Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a mother who was pleading her son to straighten up his wayward life. But the son would pretend not to hear the pleadings of his mother. So he continued to commit sin until he grew old and eventually died. After dying the son was immediately whisked into hell by the devil.  

Hell and the devil are not only an afterlife reality, it’s also a present life reality. We would become a close confidant of the Devil and taste hell in this present life if we continue to sin. We will have no peace of mind; our lives would be problematic. The root cause of this problematic life is our refusal to leave behind sin.  

Our gospel for today clearly states this: “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth (Matthew 13:49-50).”  

There’s a price for our sinfulness that we have to pay at an appointed date as they say sin is like a credit card enjoy now but pay later. But why suffer the grievous price of sin when we can walk-a-way from it?  Why not walk away from sin now, right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 27, Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:-44-46

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

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Reflection:

A lady who finds the greatest love of her life is very much willing to give up everything that stands on her way: be it the love of her parents, siblings and even her inheritance. She will be willing to give it all up for the sake of her great love.  

There are two important characters in the gospel. The first one is the person who sold everything that he owns so that he could buy the treasure filled land. The second one is the merchant who found the pearl. The field with treasure and the pearl of great price represents the kingdom of heaven.  

After finding it they were never the same again because they found something that would satisfy them for life. And without them knowing it what they’ve found would serve as their passage to heaven in the afterlife.  

Finding Jesus is more than finding the greatest love of your life. It’s like finding the greatest treasure and pearl. It’s an unexplainable feeling that tells you that you’ve already found the greatest possession that you can ever have in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday July 26, Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (M): Matthew 13:36-43

Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a sinful man who suddenly died he was therefore immediately ushered by the devil to his fiery kingdom. The sinful man was wailing and resisting his instant enrolment to Satan’s den but he couldn’t do anything to change his destiny. 

If only he repented from his sinfulness, if only he listened to the advice of his relatives to change for the better and embrace God. He could have not ended in hell, but he never listened.  

There are two opposing powers in this world one is God and the other is Satan. God sows good seeds to us satan sow’s weeds. From our conception, birth until our death God has only one desire for us and that is to sow His good seeds in our hearts. 

However, as we mature satan will always try to overpower us with his many inducements. Which if we bite would only result to our perdition and passage to his horrifying kingdom. 

Let us hate sin or any action that will make us sin, let us hate and walk away from the devil and his countless enticements. Let us rather embrace God and follow the way of Jesus no matter how hard for this is the right way and the way to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Martes Hulyo 26, San Joaquin at Santa Ana, mga magulang ng Mahal na Birheng Maria: Mateo 13:36-43

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 13:36-43

Noong panahong iyon, iniwan ni Hesus ang mga tao at pumasok sa bahay. Lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya, “Ipaliwanag po ninyo sa amin ang talinghaga tungkol sa masasamang damo sa bukid.”  

Ito ang tugon ni Hesus, “Ang Anak ng Tao ang naghahasik ng mabuting binhi. Ang bukid ay ang sanlibutan. Ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng Diyos ang mabuting binhi at ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng diyablo ang masasamang damo. Ang kaaway na naghasik ng mga iyon ay walang iba kundi ang diyablo. Ang pag-aani ay ang katapusan ng daigdig, at ang mga anghel ang mga tagapag-ani.  

Kung paanong iniipon ang mga damo at sinusunog, gayun din ang mangyayari sa katapusan ng daigdig. Susuguin ng Anak ng Tao ang kanyang mga anghel, at iipunin nila mula sa kanyang pinaghaharian ang lahat ng nagiging sanhi ng pagkakasala at ang lahat ng gumagawa ng masama, at ihahagis sa maningas na pugon. Doo’y mananangis sila at magngangalit ang kanilang ngipin. At magliliwanag na parang araw ng mga matuwid sa kaharian ng kanilang Ama. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!”

1Reflection for Monday July 25, Feast of Saint James, Apostle: Matthew 20:20-28

Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”  

Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.  

But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Reflection:

Do you love to be in front, do you love prominence and do you love to always be in the starring role? 

Prominence or to be with someone influential is something that we all want. For example, we love to post pictures on facebook and other social media portals the places that we’ve visited.  

We love to post pictures of these beautiful places. This is perhaps human nature, who wouldn’t want to post pictures of nice and idyllic places?  We all want it, but the essence of life is not about advertising the famous places that we’ve visited or the famous personalities that we’ve been seen with.  

The true essence of life is to serve anyone who is need of our help. It doesn’t matter anymore if the acts of service and compassion that we do are seen or not what is important is we’re able to help. As we follow Jesus let us always be reminded that HE never walked in this world to gain publicity and prominence.  

Jesus walked on this world to serve and not be served, HE never aspired to become famous. All He wanted was to simply follow the will of God for HIM no matter how difficult it was. This must also be our guiding principle.  

Many are attracted to serve in the church not because they want to help advance the teachings of Jesus. Their attraction comes from what the church can give or what they could derive from the church and Jesus if they would serve.  But we all know that this kind of motive is built upon a person’s self-image and therefore useless.  

True service in the vineyard of the Lord is all about humility. Not thinking of what we can derive from the church, but what we can humbly give to God and His church. True service for the church is not about having power and influence it’s actually based on losing power and influence for the greater glory of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Wisdom from the Bible - 1

 

Karunungan mula sa Biblia - 1

 

Reflection for Sunday July 24, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-13

Gospel: Luke 11:1-13

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." 

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him, and he says in reply from within 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

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Reflection:

How do you pray or what is your recipe for prayer? Do you follow a certain procedure or you spontaneously pray to God what is in your heart?

In the gospel for this Sunday Jesus is asked by a disciple: Lord teach us to pray and Jesus obliged him and taught the disciple the perfect prayer which is the Our Father. If we try to deeply reflect on this prayer we would notice that the Our Father contains our Adoration for God (Hollowed be your name) our Contrition/Repentance for the sins that we have committed (Forgive us our sins) and our Supplication: we request God to give us the food that we need (Give us each day our daily bread).

If we say this prayer with our hearts and minds deeply focused towards God we would feel something that we don’t usually feel. This feeling is very hard to explain but we would certainly notice this healing experience the moment we learn how to pray the Our Father with all our being.

We must always be prayerful and we must not give up on our being prayerful. Because when we pray we connect ourselves with God, we open ourselves to the enormous blessings that are always at God’s disposal when we pray.   

Prayer is not asking God to give us this and that. Prayer is essentially satisfying our longing for God. And the God that we always long for will grant us the desires of our hearts because we always thirst and hunger to be with Him in prayer. 

Do you have a prayer before God?  Don’t give up, continue to believe, have faith and you will soon have it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas