For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might
have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world might be saved through him.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What does the cross signify to you?
The cross is a sign of suffering for many but it is essentially a sign of triumph for without the cross where Jesus was nailed there would have been no salvation for all of us. Where would we be without Jesus giving His life on the cross?
Let us not be intimidated by the daily cross that we carry for we have Jesus with us to help us carry it. We have Jesus to make this cross light. Let us always learn to entrust our cross to Jesus. Let us call on HIM and ask HIM to help us carry it.
Count yourself fortunate if you know Jesus deeply because you have someone at your beck and call every time you have trials and crosses in your life. You have someone whom you can always look up whenever life’s trials come your way.
How about those who do not know Jesus
deeply or who do not know Jesus at all? Of course they are in a disadvantageous
situation but all is not lost because you are there. And your role is to
introduce and give Jesus to them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
14 He stepped forward and touched the
coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you,
arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his
mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great
prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This
report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding
region.
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Reflection:
Imagine the sorrow, loneliness and perhaps the feeling of hopelessness of the widow whose son was to be buried. She had nothing more to rely on, her husband has died and her only son is to be buried. Thus the feeling of loneliness pervades all over her.
Then came the unexpected encounter with Jesus who was going to a place called Nain. Jesus saw her, the Lord went to her and told her, Do not weep (Luke 7:13); after which Jesus raised back to life her dead son. Surely her feelings of loneliness was suddenly replaced by feelings of hope, optimism and gladness. For the reason that her only son was brought to life again by Jesus.
We all go through this feeling of loneliness, emptiness and feeling of being alone as if nobody cares anymore with our plight. But make no mistake about it because somebody still cares and that somebody is no other than Jesus. Let us continue to have Faith and Hope in Him for He will always be there for us.
Do you know how to avoid the feeling of being alone, the feeling of without hope and the feeling of emptiness? Always have an encounter with Jesus through the Holy Mass through your personal prayer and by finding time to read the Holy Bible.
Do you always seek an encounter with Jesus?
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Therefore, I did not consider myself
worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too
am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to
one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come here, and he comes; and to my slave,
Do this, and he does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and,
turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have
I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the
slave in good health.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you concerned of the welfare of the less fortunate?
When the centurion/soldier heard that Jesus was nearby he asked one of his people to ask Jesus to pass by his house so that the Lord can heal his slave.
The concern of the centurion to his slave was very commendable. I wish that we are all like him: very concerned with the welfare of the less fortunate. But the reality of it all is many of us do not care for the slaves or the less fortunate.
We just have to look around and we’ll see that poverty is all over the place. What are we doing about this? Are we doing something to help them in whatever way possible? Or we don’t mind them for the reason that they are poor and they can’t pay us back.
Many are poor nowadays because many of us are indifferent to their plight. And many of these indifferent people are politicians who shamelessly steal money from the coffers of the government which is supposed to be given to the poor. Let us become modern day centurions by being helpful to the slaves of our times none other than the poor people of our society.
Jesus will surely be happy if we would help them and the Lord will surely give us back a hundred times the help that we would give the. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you sometimes doubt the infinite love and mercy of God? Do you sometimes feel that you are not anymore worthy of the love of God for the reason that you’ve offended God for so many times already.
God’s love is always there for you. No matter who you are and no matter how grave the sins that you have committed, God’s love is always there for you. As a matter of fact God is always seeking you and ever ready to embrace you with HIS unconditional love once again.
In our gospel for this Sunday, we have three stories of God’s love and mercy. The first story is about the lost sheep. The moment the owner discovered that one of HIS one hundred sheep was missing. HE left behind the ninety nine to look for the lost one; HE never stopped searching until HE found it. The same is true with the story of the lost coin, the woman did not stop searching for the lost coin until she found it.
The third story is about the prodigal son, the younger son asked for his share of his inheritance from his father. So he was given his share then after a short time the younger son wasted his inheritance thru his life of dissipation. After realizing that he had nothing more left, he went back to his father and begged for his mercy and forgiveness. And that mercy and forgiveness were immediately bestowed upon him by his loving father without any precondition.
This is the love of God, it’s a love that is always seeking and forgiving. Let us therefore embrace this love of God and let us permanently walk away from our sins. Let us ask God to forgive us of our many sins for He will surely forgive us. Let us never forget that Jesus is a God of mercy, a God who always seeks us no matter how wasted and sinful we are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
"Kung ang sinuman sa inyo ay may
100 tupa, at mawala ang isa, ano ang gagawin niya? Iiwan ang siyamnapu't siyam
sa ilang at hahanapin hanggang sa matagpuan, hindi ba? Kapag nasumpungan na'y
masaya niyang papasanin ito. Pagdating ng bahay, aanyayahan niya ang kanyang
mga kaibigan at mga kapitbahay. Sasabihin niya, "Makipagsaya kayo sa akin,
sapagkat nasumpungan ko sa wakas ang tupa kong nawawala!' Sinasabi ko sa inyo,
magkakaroon ng higit na kagalakan sa langit dahil sa isang makasalanang
nagsisi't tumalikod sa kanyang kasalanan kaysa siyamnapu't siyam na matuwid na
hindi nangangailangang magsisi."
"O kaya, kung ang isang babae ay
may sampung salaping pilak at mawala ang isa, ano ang gagawin niya? Sisindihan
niya ang ilaw, wawalisan ang bahay at hahanaping mabuti hanggang sa masumpungan
ito, hindi ba? Kapag nasumpungan na ito ay aanyayahan niya ang kanyang mga
kaibigan at mga kapitbahay. Sasabihin niya, 'Makipagsaya kayo sa akin, sapagkat
nasumpungan ko sa wakas ang nawala kong salaping pilak!' Sinasabi ko sa inyo,
gayon din ang kagalakan ng mga anghel ng Diyos dahil sa isang makasalanang
nagsisi't tumalikod sa kanyang kasalanan."
Sinabi pa ni Jesus, "Isang tao
ang may dalawang anak na lalaki. Ang wika ng bunso, 'Ama, ibigay na po ninyo sa
akin ang mamanahin ko.' At binahagi sa kanila ng ama ang kanyang ari-arian.
Pagkalipas ng ilang araw, ipinagbili ng bunso ang kanyang ari-arian at nagtungo
sa malayong lupain, taglay niya ang buo niyang kayamanan, at doo'y nilustay na
lahat sa di wastong pamumuhay.
Nang malustay na niya ang kanyang kayamanan, nagkaroon ng matinding taggutom sa lupaing yaon, at nagdalita siya. Kaya't namasukan siya sa isang mamamayan ng lupaing yaon. Siya'y pinapunta nito sa bukid upang mag-alaga ng baboy. Ibig sana niyang punan ang kanyang pagkain kahit ng mga bungang-kahoy na ipinakakain sa mga baboy ngunit walang magbigay sa kanya.
Nang mapag-isip-isip niya ang kanyang
ginawa, nasabi niya sa sarili, 'Ang mga alila ng aking ama ay may sapat na
pagkain-- at lumalabis pa-- samantalang ako'y namamatay ng gutom dito! Babalik
ako sa kanya, at sasabihin ko, "Ama, nagkasala po ako sa Diyos at sa inyo.
Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong anak; ibilang na lamang ninyo
akong isa sa inyong mga alila." At tumindig siya at pumaroon sa kanyang
ama.
"Malayo pa'y natanawan na siya
ng ama at ito'y labis na nahabag sa kanya, kaya't patakbo siyang sinalubong,
niyakap, at hinagkan. Sinabi ng anak, 'Ama, nagkasala po ako sa Diyos at sa
inyo. Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong anak.' Ngunit tinawag ng
ama ang kanyang mga alila, 'Madali! Dalhin ninyo rito ang pinakamahusay na
damit at isuot sa kanya. Suutan siya ng singsing at panyapak. Kunin ang
pinatabang guya at patayin; kumain tayo at magsaya! Sapagkat namatay na ang
anak kong ito, ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala, ngunit nasumpungan.' At sila'y
nagsaya.
"Nasa bukid noon ang anak na
panganay. Umuwi siya, at nang malapit na sa bahay ay narinig niya ang tugtugan
at sayawan. Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga alila at tinanong: 'Bakit? May ano sa
atin?' 'Dumating po ang inyong kapatid!' tugon ng alila, 'Ipinapatay ng inyong
ama ang pinatabang guya, sapagkat nagbalik siyang buhay at walang sakit.'
Nagalit ang panganay at ayaw itong pumasok sa bahay. Kaya't lumabas ang kanyang
ama at inamu-amo siya.
Ngunit sinabi nito, 'Pinaglingkuran ko po kayo sa loob ng maraming taon, at kailanma'y hindi ko kayo sinuway. Ngunit ni minsa'y hindi ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit isang bisirong kambing para magkatuwaan kami ng aking mga kaibigan. Subalit ng dumating ang anak ninyong lumustay ng inyong kabuhayan sa masasamang babae, ipinagpatay pa ninyo ng pinatabang guya!' Sumagot ang ama, 'Anak, lagi kitang kapiling. Ang lahat ng ari-arian ko'y sa iyo. Ngunit dapat tayong magsaya at magalak, sapagkat namatay na ang kapatid mo, ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala, ngunit nasumpungan.'"
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not
do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river
burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on
the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed
at once and was completely destroyed.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you easily affected by the worries of life? For example, a severe sickness or a family issue, do you allow these episodes in your life to blow you away? Or you remain calm because you believe that ultimately God is in charge and He will take care of everything.
What is the advantage of having a deep friendship with Jesus? We remain strong even during the lowest point in our lives. As humans we are susceptible to be affected by the trials that we may encounter. But at the end of the day we will remain strong and we will certainly survive amidst these trials because we hold on to Jesus.
Life is never permanent, there would be episodes of loneliness and happiness there may even be times that the loneliness are far more than the happiness. But we survive because we have Christ in our lives. For if we have Christ nobody can bring us down not even the severest problem that we may encounter.
Let us therefore pray for a deeper encounter with Jesus, let us invite Him to come into our lives. So that we would always remain serene and calm amidst the trials and turbulence that we may go through.
Would you want a deeper encounter with
Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
“Tinatawag
ninyo ako ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ ngunit hindi naman ninyo ginagawa ang
sinasabi ko. Ipakikilala ko sa inyo kung kanino natutulad ang bawat lumalapit
sa akin, nakikinig ng aking mga salita, at nagsasagawa ng mga ito. Katulad siya
ng isang taong humukay nang malalim at sa pundasyong bato nagtayo ng bahay.
Bumaha, at ang tubig ay bumugso sa bahay na iyon, ngunit hindi natinag,
sapagkat matatag ang pagkakatayo. Ngunit ang nakikinig ng aking mga salita at
hindi nagsasagawa nito ay katulad ng isang taong nagtayo ng bahay na walang
pundasyon. Bumaha, nadaanan ng tubig ang bahay na iyon at pagdaka’y bumagsak.
Lubusang nawasak ang bahay na iyon!”
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother,
let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the
wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your
eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s
eye.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan,Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with
child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is
with us.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Today Sept. 8 is the Nativity/Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Nativity of the Blessed Mother is celebrated as a liturgical feast in the Roman Catholic calendar nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception, celebrated on 8 December.
We Catholics have this very deep devotion to the Blessed Mother for the reason that she is our universal mother. The respect and devotion that we give her should be the same respect and devotion that we gave our own mothers. How can we not venerate Mama Mary when she is the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ?
In the gospel, Joseph was about to quietly divorce Mary whom he found to be pregnant already through the Holy Spirit. But the Lord intervened through an angel and it told Joseph not to leave Mary. For the reason that the child that she carries in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Joseph humbly listened to the Lord, he did not leave Mary and the salvific plan of God was realized in the birth of Jesus. We too have to listen to the voice of God who always whispers to us to do good, to avoid anything that is sinful and to always remain humble no matter what status we have achieved in our respective lives.
Do you always listen to the voice of the
Lord? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Naging anak ni David si Solomon sa dating asawa ni Urias. Si Solomon naman ang ama ni Roboam, si Roboam ang ama ni Abias, at si Abias ang ama ni Asa. Si Asa ang ama ni Josafat, at si Josafat ang ama ni Joram na siya naman ama ni Ozias. Itong si Ozias ay ama ni Jotam na ama ni Acaz, at si Acaz ang ama ni Ezequias. Si Ezequias ang ama ni Manases, at si Manases ang ama ni Amos na ama ni Josias. Si Josias ang ama ni Jeconias at ng kanyang mga kapatid. Panahon noon nang pagkakatapon ng mga Israelita sa Babilonia.
Matapos ang pagkakatapon sa Babilonia, naging anak ni Jeconias si Salatiel na ama ni Zorobabel. Si Zorobabel ang ama ni Abiud na ama ni Eliaquim, at si Eliaquim ang ama ni Azor. Si Azor ang ama ni Sadoc na ama ni Aquim; itong si Aquim ang ama ni Eliud. Si Eliud ang ama ni Eleazar; si Eleazar ang ama ni Matan na ama ni Jacob. At si Jacob ang ama ni Jose na asawa ni Maria. Si Maria naman ang ina ni Jesus na tinatawag na Cristo.
Ganito ang pagkapanganak kay Jesu-Cristo. Si Maria na kanyang ina at si Jose ay nakatakda ng pakasal. Ngunit bago sila nakasal, si Maria'y natagpuang nagdadalang-tao. Ito'y sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Isang taong matuwid itong si Jose na kanyang magiging asawa, ngunit ayaw niyang mapahiya si Maria, kaya ipinasya niyang hiwalayan ito ng lihim. Samantalang iniisip ni Jose ito, napakita sa kanya sa panaginip ang isang anghel ng Panginoon. Sabi nito sa kanya, "Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tuluyang pakasalan si Maria, sapagkat siya'y naglihi sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo.
Manganganak siya ng isang lalaki at ito'y pangangalanan mong Jesus, sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang bayan sa kanilang mga kasalanan." Nangyari ang lahat ng ito upang matupad ang sinabi ng Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng propeta: "Maglilihi ang isang dalaga at manganganak ng isang lalaki, At tatawagin itong Emmanuel" Ang kahuluga'y "Kasama natin ang Diyos"
But woe to you who are rich, for you have
received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be
hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when
all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this
way.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Would you be willing to be poor, to be hungry, to weep and to be insulted for your steadfast faith in Jesus? Surely, these questions will drive you to think hard because it’s not easy to be poor to be insulted, to weep and be hungry for the sake of your steadfast discipleship.
But if this is the means for us to gain intimacy with Jesus we have no other way but to embrace these hard choices. But how many of us are willing to embrace this kind of life? Come to think of it, are these choices really hard? Is it really hard to be poor, hungry, to weep and to be insulted?
It is hard if Jesus is not with us but if Jesus is with us and if He walks with us. To be poor, hungry, to weep and be persecuted becomes a blessing for us. For the simple reason that this assures us of a life with Jesus in heaven after our life in this world is over and done with already.
What would it benefit us if we are rich, powerful and if everyone is praising us to high heavens if it drives us to sin? If Jesus is not in our life or if Jesus is just a miniscule particle in our life? The best choice is to have a life with Jesus even if it would entail sacrifices and hardship.
What is your choice? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
And he came down with them and stood on a
stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of
the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre
and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those
who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought
to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Is prayer part of your daily life? Before making the very important decision of choosing His twelve apostles Jesus went first to a mountain to pray. There, He spent the night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).
Prayer is our hotline to God this is our means to connect with Him. Through our prayer we invite God to come into our lives. With our regular habit of prayer the God that is distant now becomes the God that is with us and the God that walks with us.
What does prayer brings us? Through our prayer we connect with God, thru prayer God calms us, God comforts us, God guides us and He gives us wisdom to make the right decisions in life, to name a few.
Who amongst us wouldn’t want God to be with us and to walk with us? Of course we all want the presence of God in our lives this is the reason why we must always have time for God through our prayer. Our prayer life must not take a backseat over our worldly undertakings; it must be prayer first before our many worldly activities.
What would our worldly riches mean to us if we don’t pray? What is the use of wealth and power if God is just a superficial entity in our lives or if we are without God?
Someday we will die and everything that we have accumulated in this world will not anymore matter to us. What will only matter during that time is our relationship with God built through our active and fervent prayer life.
Do you always give first priority to your prayer life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus
said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to
do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all,
he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was
restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to
Jesus.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you selective when it comes to making a positive difference in the life of your fellowmen? For example, if you see someone who is in dire need of your help, do you immediately help? Or you’re sometimes constrained by the events around you.
To make a positive impact in the life of others is always in season there’s no exception in doing good even if it’s a sabbath day. Jesus proves this point by healing a man’s withered hand amidst the protestation of HIS usual critics, the Pharisees.
Jesus was not afraid to defy the powers that be during His time. The powers that be who were only good at commanding and implementing their laws and traditions. But sorely lacking in living their faith and helping their people. The powers that be who only want to be served and to be treated with respect even if they don’t deserve it.
In the three years public life of Jesus,
He would always heal without discrimination. He was not afraid even if there
was threat of physical and verbal abuse against him. His main priority was to
impart help to everyone in need and we must follow this priority of the Lord. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
