Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Monday, August 22, 2022
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Reflection for Tuesday August 23, St. Rose of Lima virgin, Secondary patroness of the Philippines (M): Matthew 23:23-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you
hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full
of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the
cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”
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Reflection:
Why do you follow Jesus? Do you follow Him because you are obliged by your faith or you follow Him because of your deep love for Him? When you follow Jesus because you see it as your obligation; it will not create a deep transformation within you. You simply follow for the reason that it creates a positive self-image for you and it ends with the positive self-image: No interior cleansing and transformation.
When we follow Jesus because we love Him, we allow the love of Jesus to deeply transform us. For example, if we follow Jesus because we love Him, we would be forgiving, we will not store hatred in our hearts. And we will abhor anything that is bad and evil because we want Jesus to transform us.
Our discipleship with Jesus must always be rooted in our love for Him and not because this is dictated by our faith. For this is what true discipleship is all about, a discipleship that creates a very deep transformation within our beings.
Let us therefore examine ourselves and reflect for we may be only following Jesus because we are obliged by our faith or even by our position in the church and community. If this is so, we are simply like the Pharisees and scribes in the gospel whom Jesus scolded for their hypocrisy.
It’s about time that we should follow Jesus because we love. This would only commence when we forgive those who’ve hurt us. When we are willing to build bridges than walls and when we humble ourselves before those whom we've hurt by asking for their forgiveness. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Friday, August 19, 2022
Reflection for Monday August 22, The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (M): Luke 1:26-38
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and of his Kingdom there will be no end.
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative has also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of
the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed
from her.
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How deep is your love for God or how profound is your love for God? Would you be willing to sacrifice something of yourself for God?
When the Blessed Mother obeyed the will of God for her to be the mother of Jesus she sacrificed her own comfort happiness for the will of God. The Blessed Mother put aside her own safety and honor so that she could honor the will of God for her and so that she could help bring salvation to all of humanity.
When the Blessed Mother said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38). There was already profound happiness in her heart for she knew that she would be doing something not for herself but for God and humanity.
Everyday God is challenging us to always
be like Mary who embraced her role in the salvation history of humanity. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Reflection for Sunday August 21, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30
After the master of the house has
arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where
you are from. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you
taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are
from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast
out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the
south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are
last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
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Reflection:
Mike and Joseph were best friends,
Mike was from a poor family while Joseph was from a rich family. Being rich
Joseph had everything that he could ask for and because of it he grew up a
spoiled man thus he wasn’t able to finish his studies. On the other hand
Mike the financially disadvantaged boy had to become a working student so that
he could finish his college studies.
Ten years had elapsed; there was now
a reversal of roles. Mike was already a very successful man brought about by
his hard work and determination. While Joseph the former rich and spoiled man
became poor and miserable.
The first and ending statement
of Jesus in our gospel is so meaningful, HE tells us: Strive to enter
through the narrow gate and some are last who will be first, and some are
first who will be last.” Who are these people who will strive to enter the
narrow gate and these last who will become first? These are people
who embrace sacrifice and hard work. And the first who will be last are those
who love the easy or worldly life.
Our discipleship with Jesus in this
world is never easy and always laden with trials and sacrifices. It may seem
that we are going through a narrow gate. But this is the reality of faithfully
walking with Christ in this world. In fact, Jesus himself said that anyone who
is truly willing to follow HIM must forget himself and be ready to carry his
own cross (Matthew 16:24).
We have nothing to worry about if we continue to face a difficult life for the sake of Christ. And if our friends would scorn us because of our discipleship for Christ. So be it, this life is temporary anyway; someday we shall depart this world. And by that time those who are last and those who are being scorned for their fidelity to the teachings of Jesus in this world shall now become first in the kingdom of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Agosto 21, Ika - 21 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 13:22-30
“Kapag ang pinto’y isinara na ng puno
ng sambahayan, magtitiis kayong nakatayo sa labas, at katok nang katok.
Sasabihin ninyo, ‘Panginoon, papasukin po ninyo kami.’ Sasagutin niya kayo,
‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo!’ At sasabihin ninyo, ‘Kumain po kami at
uminom na kasalo ninyo, at nagturo pa kayo sa mga lansangan namin.’ Sasabihin
naman ng Panginoon, ‘Hindi ko alam kung tagasaan kayo!
Lumayo kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na nagsisigawa ng masama!’ Tatangis kayo at magngangalit ang inyong ngipin kapag nakita ninyong nasa kaharian ng Diyos sina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob, at ang lahat ng propeta, at kayo nama’y ipinagtabuyan sa labas! At darating ang mga tao buhat sa silangan at kanluran, sa hilaga at timog, at dudulog sa hapag sa kaharian ng Diyos. Tunay ngang may nahuhuling mauuna, at may nauunang mahuhuli.”
Reflection for Saturday August 20 Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 23:1-12
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of
honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and
the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one
teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father; you have
but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master,
the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself
will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Reflection:
Do you lead by example?
The principle of leadership by example is one wherein the leader set the standards to be followed and he himself leads the way in following the said standards. In the same manner parents should set the benchmark in their homes as they live to the hilt this benchmark for their children to emulate.
On the other hand bad or lousy leaders would tell their people to do this and that but they will not do what they command. They preach the standards but they do not practice what they preach. Same as with irresponsible parents; they would tell their children to observe this and that discipline but the irony is they themselves do not do what they tell their children.
The Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus were the religious leaders and they were supposed to lead by example. But they did not; they were only good on giving commands/orders but when it comes to living it they were badly deficient.
Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the common people of that time started to gravitate towards Jesus. Because they saw in Jesus someone who leads by example someone who empathized with them. Someone who is approachable and humble, someone who ate and mingled with them; in other words Jesus lived what He preached.
What is the lesson of our gospel for us? We must always be true with our words and actions. We must not be like the Pharisees and scribes in our gospel: For they were only good at preaching but very deficient in practicing and living what they preach.
We must always be like Jesus; for He lived what He preached in other words Jesus is always true to His words and actions. Jesus leads by example and He walked His talk.
Do you always live what you preach and are
you always true to your words? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita sa Sabado Agosto 20, San Bernardo, abad at pantas ng Iglesya (Paggunita): Mateo 23:1-12
Nagbibigkis sila ng mabibigat na dalahin at ipinapasan sa mga tao; ngunit ni daliri ay ayaw nilang igalaw upang tumulong sa pagdadala ng mga iyon. Pawang pakitang-tao ang kanilang mga gawa, Nilalaparan nila ang kanilang mga pilakterya at hinahabaan ang palawit sa laylayan ng kanilang mga damit. Ang ibig nila'y ang mga upuang pandangal sa mga piging at ang mga tanging luklukan sa mga sinagoga. Ang ibig nila'y pagpugayan sila sa mga liwasang bayan, at tawaging guro.
Ngunit
kayo-- huwag kayong patawag na guro, sapagkat iisa ang inyong Guro, at kayong
lahat ay magkakapatid. At huwag ninyong tawaging ama ang sinumang tao sa lupa,
sapagkat iisa ang inyong Ama, ang Amang nasa langit. Huwag kayong patawag na
tagapagturo, sapagkat iisa ang inyong Tagapagturo, ang Mesias. Ang pinakadakila
sa inyo ay dapat maging lingkod ninyo. Ang nagpapakataas ay ibababa, at ang
nagpapakababa ay itataas."
Reflection for August 19, Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:34-40
He said to him, “You shall love the Lord,
your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This
is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall
love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these
two commandments.”
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Reflection:
A wife discovered that her husband had a second family. The very angry wife left her husband however the husband begged for forgiveness and second chance. After deeply pondering about it she eventually forgave her repentant husband.
When she was asked by her mother why she forgave and restored everything as if nothing happened. She said: “I deeply love God and I would be betraying my love for God if I will not forgive and heal my marriage.
Conflict is something that happens in marriage every now and then. This conflict usually emanates from the following: Betrayal of trust, behavioral incompatibility and financial disagreements among others. Every married couple goes through these episodes in their married lives.
But how come that notwithstanding the conflict there are couples who choose to forgive and remain married until the end of their lives? The simple answer is both of them love the Lord God first. And this love for God is the driving force that makes them forgiving and loving.
Their love for each other is always preceded by the blessing of their love for God. This is the reason why married couples who truly loved God first can forgive, forget and have long term healing. They can start afresh once again as if nothing happened.
So the greatest commandment is to love God first and after that everything else would follow. We would be capable of loving anyone else even those who’ve deeply hurt us because we first loved God.
If you don’t forgive and if you continue to harbor hidden sentiments against your spouse or anyone for that matter. And you still say that you love God it’s safe to say that your profession of love for God is superficial.
Therefore, the challenge that confronts you is to think deeply if your love for God is really authentic. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Reflection for August 18, Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:1-14
Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that
you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him
into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
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Reflection:
Do you always honor the invitation given to you?
Jesus compared The Kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. When it was the day of the wedding feast none of the invited guest arrived for they all had their preoccupations. How could they refuse the graciousness of the king?
The kingdom of heaven and the wedding feast that Jesus speaks about is within our midst which is the celebration of the Holy Mass. And just like the king who invited guest, Jesus is inviting us also to be present at Holy Mass most especially during Sundays. But do we make time for Holy Mass?
Like going to a wedding banquet where the invited guests prepare their most elegant clothes. Do we prepare ourselves before going to Holy Mass by having prior knowledge of the gospel and the other readings?
In our gospel, the expected guest refused the invitation of the king so the king was disheartened by their refusal. The king then instructed his servants to go out again and invite anyone (bad and good alike) they could find and many came to the wedding banquet and ate to their hearts content.
Perhaps, many of us do not also honor this invitation of Jesus to be present at Holy Mass. Why? Is it because we are also busy like the invited guest in the gospel? We are missing heaven on earth when we refuse to honor this invitation of Jesus for us to go to His wedding banquet which is none other than the celebration of Holy Mass.
Do you always honor this invitation of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita sa Agosto 18 Huwebes ng Ika-20 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:1-14
Muli siyang nagsugo ng ibang mga alipin at kanyang pinagbilinan, 'Sabihin ninyo sa mga inanyayahan na naihanda ko na ang aking piging: napatay na ang aking mga baka at mga pinatabang guya, at handa na ang lahat ng bagay. Halina kayo sa piging!' Ngunit hindi ito pinansin ng mga inanyayahan. Humayo sila sa kani-kanilang lakad; ang isa'y sa kanyang bukid at sa kanyang pangangalakal naman ang isa.
Sinunggaban naman ng iba ang mga alipin hinamak at pinatay. Galit na galit ang hari, Pinaparoon niya ang kanyang mga kawal, ipinapuksa ang mga mamamatay-taong iyon at ipinasunog ang kanilang lunsod. Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alipin, 'Nakahanda na ang piging, ngunit hindi karapat-dapat ang inanyayahan.
Kaya't pumunta kayo sa mga lansangang matao, at inyong anyayahan sa kasalan ang lahat ng makita ninyo.' Lumabas nga sa mga pangunahing lansangan ang mga alipin at isinama ang lahat ng natagpuan, masasama't mabubuti, anupa't napuno ng mga panauhin ang bulwagang pangkasalan.
"Pumasok
ang hari upang tingnan ang mga panauhin, at nakita niya roon ang isang taong
hindi nakadamit pangkasalan. 'Kaibigan, bakit ka pumasok dito nang hindi
nakadamit pangkasalan?' tanong niya. Hindi nakaimik ang tao. Kaya't sinabi ng
hari sa mga katulong, 'Gapusin ninyo ang kanyang kamay at paa at itapon siya sa
kadiliman sa labas. Doo'y mananangis siya at magngangalit ang kanyang ngipin.'
Sapagkat marami ang tinatawag, ngunit kakaunti ang nahihirang."
Reflection for August 17, Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 20:1-16
So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply, ‘My
friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily
wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same
as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious
because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be
last.”
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Reflection:
Can we measure the breadth and width of God’s love for us? No, because God’s love for us is not bound by any form of measurement. God loves us infinitely no matter who we are and no matter the sins that we have committed.
The landowner in our gospel which represents God solicitously invited in so many instances workers to work in His vineyard. He did not care about the time that they present themselves for work. What was important for the landowner was they respond to His invitation to work for Him in His vineyard.
The love of God for us is so immense that He wants us to go to Him irrespective of who we are. He continuously invites us to a new life with Him. We are precious to God we are dearly loved by God that’s why His invitation is always there for us, it’s ours to take anytime!
Many of us may say that we are not anymore worthy of this immense love of God because of our sinfulness. No, the more sinful we are the more that we become worthy of this great love of God. We must therefore respond to this invitation of God for us to go to His vineyard so that we could renew our lives and walk away from all of our sinfulness.
Would you respond to this invitation of
God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Reflection for Tuesday August 16, St. Rock (Roque), healer (Memorial): Matthew 19:23-30
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on
his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a
hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will
be last, and the last will be first.”
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Reflection:
Is there a reward for following Jesus? Yes there is! What then is the reward, material riches? No, it’s something more profound than anything in this world. It’s something that no worldly riches no matter how enormous could buy.
Many of us may quantify through material riches the reward that Jesus will give us the moment we decide to follow Him. This is a big lie for Jesus is not a God of materialism yet there is a God of materialism named Satan or the devil. The devil would normally entice his prospects to be greedy with material wealth. Then as the devil takes control of his prospects he slowly destroys the person and his/her family.
So what is the reward of following Jesus? It’s eternal life (Matthew 19:29). Eternal life that we would even feel while we are still living in this world. For example, those who faithfully follow Jesus have this certain feeling of peace and serenity in their lives. They are always peaceful and not afraid no matter the challenges that they may encounter. This is so because they already gave their faith and confidence to the Lord.
Then, when these faithful followers finally depart this world, they will be like seeds planted beneath fertile soil. They will once again rise and have new life. Not in this temporal world anymore but in heaven in the company of God and His holy angels.
Would you follow the Lord? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Agosto 16 San Roque, mangagamot (Paggunita): Mateo 19:23-30
At nagsalita si Pedro, “Tingnan po ninyo: iniwan namin ang lahat at kami’y sumunod sa inyo. Ano po naman ang para sa amin?” Sinabi sa kanila ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag nakaluklok na ang Anak ng Tao sa kanyang maringal na trono sa bagong daigdig, kayong sumunod sa akin ay luluklok din sa labindalawang trono upang hukuman ang labindalawang lipi ng Israel.
At ang sinumang magtiis na iwan ang tahanan, mga kapatid na lalaki at babae, ama, ina, mga anak, o mga lupain alang-alang sa akin ay tatanggap ng makasandaang ibayo, at pagkakalooban ng buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit maraming una na magiging huli, at maraming huli na magiging una.”
Friday, August 12, 2022
Reflection for Monday August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:39-56
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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Reflection:
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This dogma was defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1 1950. It states that the immaculate Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, after completing her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.
Would you exert effort to give a relative a surprise visit? Many of us are very busy that we hardly have time for this kind of noble undertaking. But if many of us have no time to reach out to our relatives the Blessed Mother always has time.
Just imagine the Blessed Mother travelling for days on a donkey while pregnant just to give cheer to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Who among us would do that? Perhaps only a few because many of us have no time.
We have already allowed this world to dictate upon us to always get busy with things of this world. Get busy at the expense of strengthening our bond with our friends and relatives? Yes, when we allow ourselves to become overly busy with worldliness. The tie that binds us to our friends and relatives take a backseat and this is not good.
But not the Blessed Mother for she is an extra ordinary Blessed woman who is always full of love, care and compassion towards her relatives and to us also. The Blessed Mother never thought of her own safety and her own predicament (Because she was also pregnant at that time). She braved the long distance and the stress on herself just to visit her cousin Elizabeth.
How many of us are still willing to forget
ourselves just to visit our relatives and friends to make them happy with our
presence? – Marino J. Dasmarinas