Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
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Saturday, August 27, 2022
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Reflection for Sunday August 28, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1, 7-14
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they
were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by
someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by
him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give
your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to
take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that
when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher
position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will
be exalted.”
Then
he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy
neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather,
when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you
will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
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Reflection:
Do you always love to be at the forefront so that others would
notice you? Do you hunger for honor, attention and accolades? Or you’re the
type who prefers to do things quietly without any desire to be noticed with
what you’re doing?
In our gospel, Jesus talks about our need to always be humble and
not to love the spotlight. However, it’s so tempting for many of us to love to
be exalted, to love praise and honor.
But come to think of it, when we love the spotlight; when we
love honorific titles and ego-booster accolades. We are actually giving more
importance to this world more than we give importance to God. We love to become
creatures of this world than love to become sons and daughters of God.
But why is it that many of us crave for prominence, for honor and
self-exaltation? As time passes by, prominence, honor and anything that is
self-serving will be forgotten. Thus, anything that we do for the love of
ourselves, for our own exaltation will not be remembered with affection.
But our acts of humility, simplicity and goodness? It will outlive
us; it will permanently be carved in the heart of God and in the hearts of
those who know us. Therefore, we have to be humble, simple and Godly
at all times. We have to permanently delete from our mindset the selfish desire
to be known and prominent. Because God favors the humble and he always
showers unfathomable blessings upon them.
Do you love to be honored, to be noticed and to be prominent? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Agosto 28, Ika - 22 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon : Lucas 14:1, 7-14
Kaya’t sinabi niya ang talinghagang
ito: “Kapag inanyayahan ka ninuman sa isang kasalan, huwag mong pipiliin ang
tanging upuan. Baka may inanyayahang lalong tanyag kaysa iyo. At lalapit ang
nag-anyaya sa inyong dalawa at sasabihin sa iyo, ‘Maaari bang ibigay ninyo ang
upuang iyan sa taong ito?’
Sa gayo’y mapapahiya ka at doon
malalagay sa pinakaabang upuan. Ang mabuti, kapag naanyayahan ka, doon ka maupo
sa pinakaabang upuan, sapagkat paglapit ng nag-anyaya sa iyo ay kanyang
sasabihin, ‘Kaibigan, dini ka sa kabisera.’
Sa gayun, nabigyan ka ng malaking
karangalan sa harapan ng mga panauhin. Sapagkat ang nagpapakataas ay ibababa,
at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas.”
Sinabi naman ni Hesus sa nag-anyaya
sa kanya: “Kapag naghahanda ka, huwag ang mga kaibigan mo, mga kapatid, mga
kamag-anak o mayayamang kapitbahay ang aanyayahan mo, sapagkat aanyayahan ka
rin nila, at sa gayo’y nagantihan ka.
Kaya kung ikaw ay maghahanda ng isang malaking salu-salo, ang mga pulubi, mga pingkaw, mga pilay, at mga bulag ang anyayahan mo. Hindi sila makagaganti sa iyo at sa gayo’y magiging mapalad ka. Gagantihan ka ng Diyos sa muling pagkabuhay ng mga banal.”
Reflection for Saturday August 27, Memorial of Saint Monica: Matthew 25:14-30
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’ His master said to him
in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not
plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money
in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now
then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone
who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has
not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into
the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”
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Reflection:
A talented inventor died a few years ago; he was praised by the world for his contribution to the advancement of cutting edge smart phone technology. He used his talent to the fullest extent until he died to feed the technology cravings of this world.
We all have talent/s that God has given us. However, we oftentimes selfishly use this talent to advance our own agendas such as to increase our wealth and status in life. There is nothing wrong with this kind of usage of our talents for we are humans. As such our tendency is to grow and nurture this talent/s to feed our human needs.
But Jesus gives us another idea on how to use the talent/s that He gave us by way of the parable of the talents in our gospel. He tells a parable of a master who went on a journey but before proceeding he called his three servants and he entrusted them his wealth. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one after which he proceeded to his journey.
After a period of time the master came home and he called the three servants so that he could be updated on what they’ve done with the talent/s that he entrusted them. We all know what happened; the first two were very enterprising for they were able to multiply the talents entrusted to them.
But the servant who was entrusted with one talent was not as enterprising as the two. Out of fear for his master he instead buried the one talent that was entrusted to him. Naturally the master was furious with this unproductive servant and we know already what happened to this unproductive servant.
Let us not only use our talents for this
world alone. It’s about time that we use our time, talents and treasures
to plant the seeds of the kingdom of God in this world. Let us not worry even
if we won’t be getting any worldly reward in return for God will take care of
our reward someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
1Reflection for August 26, Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:1-13
Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there
may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for
yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who
were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay
awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
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Reflection:
Is there a magic word for a successful marriage? Yes, there is and the magic word is preparation. When a couple decides to marry they have to ensure that they plunge into the marriage covenant prepared.
They have to be prepared spiritually by putting God at the center of their lives. They have to be prepared for the emotional and financial stress that they will be going through. They have to be prepared to swallow their own prides/egos. If there are no preparations their marriage would simply break apart sooner or later.
In the gospel the five foolish virgins went unprepared to meet the bridegroom. They have no knowledge of the time of the bridegroom’s arrival yet they did not bring extra oil for their lamps. Hence, the five who were unprepared went out for a while to buy oil. But upon coming back nobody was present anymore. Because the bridegroom had arrived already and everybody were in the wedding feast. Despite knocking on the door and begging to be allowed entry the door was not opened for them.
Preparation is important in any event of life. For example, a student who prepares for an examination would be able to pass. A soldier who carefully prepares his battle plan will be able to fight properly.
A Priest who prepares for his homily will be able to touch and change hearts and minds. And a person who only has a few months to live and who prepares for his death will be able to die without excess baggage in his heart.
Should you also prepare as early as now
for your ascent to heaven someday? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Reflection for August 25, Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 24:42-51
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent
servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to
them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on
his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of
all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is
long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with
drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an
unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the
hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
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Reflection:
The story is told about a woman who decided to permanently stay in her newly built house. In her two years stay in the said house she had it blessed three times already. And her reason was she always had a feeling that something eerie is going to happen to her in that house. When she was asked if she always has time for God she said that she doesn’t have.
What does it mean to stay awake? It means to always be ready for whatever that may come into our life. We have to be reminded that life is so full of surprises that we cannot predict what may happen to us in the next seconds and minutes.
Earthly preparation is always prudent but nothing beats being prepared spiritually. For spiritual preparation is the best preparation that we could ever do. Whatever that may come to us we would be able to handle if we are spiritually prepared or the simple reason that we are connected with God and who could bring us down if we have God? Nobody!
Let us therefore always be prepared by having a special bond with Jesus. We can begin by reading about His life in the bible. And my making ourselves available for Holy Mass most especially during Sundays.
Are you always prepared? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita sa Agosto 25, Huwebes ng ika-21 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 24:42-51
"Ang tapat at matalinong alipin ang siyang pinapamahala ng kanyang panginoon sa ibang mga alipin, upang bigyan sila ng kanilang pagkain sa karampatang panahon. Mapalad ang aliping iyon, kapag dinatnan siyang gumagawa ng gayon sa pagbabalik ng kanyang panginoon! Sinasabi ko sa inyo: pamamahalain siya ng panginoon sa lahat ng kanyang ari-arian.
Ngunit kung masama ang aliping iyon, sasabihin niya sa sarili, 'Matatagalan pa bago magbalik ang aking panginoon, at sisimulang bugbugin ang kanyang mga kapwa alipin, at makipagkainan at makipag-inuman sa mga lasenggo. Babalik ang panginoon ng aliping iyon sa araw na hindi niya inaasahan at sa oras na hindi niya alam. Buong higpit na parurusahan siya ng panginoon, at isasama sa mga mapagpaimbabaw. Doo'y tatangis siya at magngangalit ang kanyang ngipin.
Reflection for Wednesday August 24, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle: John 1:45-51
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
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:
Have you shared your faith and friendship with Jesus?
If yes, well and good continue sharing Jesus and continue reforming and saving lives through Jesus. You may not see worldly rewards with what you do for Jesus now. But you surely will receive a reward from Jesus that is beyond your comprehension someday.
Time and again we've heard personal testimonies about how Jesus restored back their wayward lives. From a pointless life to a life of purpose and meaning all because of Jesus. From a life of sin to a life free from any form of sin and the like.
In our gospel, Philip was on fire for Jesus, he wanted to share the miracle of Jesus to his friend Nathanael. That is why Philip said to Nathanael: “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth (John 1:45).”
Our faith, love and friendship with Jesus becomes more alive, meaningful and productive when we share it. For example, we become a beacon of light for Jesus once we share our personal relationship with HIM. By doing so we save wayward lives, thus we once again create meaning and purpose in a person’s life.
You may not have shared Jesus yet, be not
afraid to share HIM now. You will bless others when you share Jesus and Jesus
will surely bless you as well for doing so. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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