Reflection for Monday October 17, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr: 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 all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

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Reflection:

A rich woman unexpectedly died without leaving behind a last will and testament. Her children were bickering since each one of them wanted to have the biggest share of the wealth. Therefore the once strong and loving sibling relationship became divided and distant and the reason behind was their greed for material wealth.  

There are people who feel secure with material wealth as if it could save them from the certainty of death. There are people who think that because they have material wealth they can now buy even the soul and honor of their fellowmen. These are all false notions for the reason that material wealth is temporary and it is not the be all and end all of life. 

Material wealth by itself is not bad because this can sustain our life in this world. This can also be our instrument in spreading the love and mercy of God. For example, we help somebody in need using our material wealth which is surely not bad. Material wealth becomes evil when we become greedy that we allow it to possess and dictate upon us.  

In the gospel Jesus tells us that life is not about material possession. If life is not about material possession what is life all about? Life is about God! If we have all the material wealth in this world yet we don’t have God in our life our life is still empty and barren. 

This is for the simple reason that material wealth can be swiftly taken from us anytime. And it surely cannot bring us to heaven when our time of departure in this world comes. On the other hand if we choose to have God, God will be with us until eternity. 

What is your priority in this world: To have material wealth or to have Jesus in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday October 16, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:1-8

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary. 

For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’ 

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

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Reflection:

Do we always pray with persistence? Meaning, we pray and pray and we never lose heart until we have what we’ve been praying for. Jesus in our gospel is teaching us that we must be persistent in prayer. Even if what we’ve been praying seems impossible we still have to persistently pray because the impossible becomes very much possible with God. 

In our gospel there’s the presence of a heartless judge who feared and respected no one. Yet when he was pestered by the widow for a just decision he gave it to her. Why? Because the widow did not give up. 

If we are in the shoes of the widow and we know that this judge is impertinent would we still pursue our request for a decision or we simply give up?    

When we have a prayer request before God we must always have the motivation to humbly request God again and again to grant us what we want to have from Him. Never mind if it will take time before God answers what is important is we continue to pray and we never give up. 

Because those who never give up in whatever aspect of life’s endeavor will always get what they want. And this is evidenced by the persistent widow in our gospel. 

Do you easily give up when God does not answer your prayer? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday October 15, Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.

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Reflection:

Are you aware of the presence of God the Holy Spirit in your life? 

The Holy Spirit is the initiator of our faith. Before we know God the father and Jesus the Son it is first the Holy Spirit that is first introduced to us. This is made possible through our Baptism and its presence within us is strengthened thru the sacrament of Confirmation. This is how important the Holy Spirit to all of us. Perhaps this is the reason why Jesus said, the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.  

But it’s also ironic that among the three persons in one God it’s the Holy Spirit that is least known. Then, how could we have that special awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives? And how could we develop that deeper friendship with the Holy Spirit? How could we unleash its presence within us?  

It’s through prayers that we can have awareness of its presence in our lives. If we develop a very prayerful life it’s second nature for us to be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It would not introduce itself to us for the simple reason that it has been with us ever since our Baptism.  

Be prayerful, live a holy and righteous life and always invite God the Holy Spirit to be an active presence in your life. He will surely not fail you if you live a life worthy in God’s eyes and if you ask with faith.  

Do you want to have a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Reflection for October 14, Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:1-7

Gospel: Luke 12:1-7

So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees. 

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. 

I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

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Reflection:

Mario is a married man who works abroad. While there he was tempted to have an illicit affair with his female officemate. The forbidden affair bore fruit to a baby boy; since he was abroad the philandering husband was very confident that he will not be caught.  

However, the wife was already suspicious of him so she decided to ask the help of their friends who works with her husband. To make a long story short; the illicit secret was eventually discovered by the wife. 

The gospel tells us this: There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known (Luke 12:2). What we think we can keep forever God will unravel, God will do this not to embarrass us. He will do this to give us a chance to straighten out our lives.    

God works in mysterious ways; no matter how we try to conceal our sinful secrets. God will do something about it for it to be uncovered.  Why? So that we can repent and leave our sinful past, thus we live an upright life once again. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Oktubre 14 Biyernes sa Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 12:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:1-7

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang dumaragsa ang libu-libong tao, anupa't nagkakatapakan sila, nagsalita muna si Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, "Mag-ingat kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo-- ito'y ang pagpapaimbabaw. Walang natatago na di malalantad, at walang nalilihim na di mabubunyag. Anumang sabihin ninyo sa dilim ay maririnig sa liwanag at anumang ibulong ninyo sa mga silid ay ipagsisigawan." 

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo, mga kaibigan, huwag ninyong katakutan ang mga pumapatay ng katawan, at pagkatapos ay wala nang magagawa pa. Sasabihin ko sa inyo kung ano ang dapat ninyong katakutan: katakutan ninyo yaong pagkatapos na pumatay ay may kapangyarihan pang magbulid sa impyerno. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, ang Diyos ang dapat ninyong katakutan! 

"Hindi ba ipinagbibili sa halagang dalawang pera lamang ang limang maya? Gayunman, kahit isa sa kanila'y hindi pinababayaan ng Diyos. Maging ang buhok ninyo'y bilang na lahat. Kaya, huwag kayong matakot; higit kayong mahalaga kaysa mga maya."

Reflection for October 13, Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building.  

Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building.  

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter. When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Who are the modern day prophets that we encounter today? It’s anyone who speaks about God, the truth and anyone who has so much concern for our welfare. 

But we normally don’t listen to them most of the time we instead listen to the fleeting dictates of this world. There are even times that we label them as people who are out of this world. Until we encounter problems because we did not listen to the meaningful advice of these modern day prophets who have so much concern for us. 

Next time, we have to listen when we are given meaningful advice about God and life. For they are not doing it on their own accord, they were sent by God to us for a very meaningful and valid reason. None other than to bring us closer to God.  

Do you always listen to the Prophets sent by God to you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 12, Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

 

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

“Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too. And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.

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Reflection:

Is Jesus angry in the gospel? 

Seldom do we see Jesus angry and this gospel episode is one of the rare ones. What made Jesus angry? He was angry with the Pharisees, (the learned ruling class during that time) for the reason that they imposed so much religious requirements to their people. 

However, they were only good on imposing those requirements. They were not actually willing to live what they wanted their people to do. The Pharisees were religious leaders in name only, they love to display their religiosity. But they did not live their religiosity, it was simply a superficial display of faith.  

Some if not many of us are like the Pharisees. We love to give orders: do this and to that but it ends there. We don’t lift a finger to do it ourselves, we want others to do things for us while we watch and relax. How can we become good examples, good leaders and ideal followers of Jesus if we are not willing to walk our talk? How can we make Jesus happy if we are not living our faith?  

Effective faith in Jesus is faith that is alive and kicking and faith that is leading and working. This is the most effective faith, let us therefore live our faith. Not because we want others to see us living it. We live our faith because this is our obligation as true followers of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Reflection for October 11, Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:37-41

Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 

The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

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Reflection:

Maria is very particular with external appearance she would always dress well. The exterior of her house is always refreshing to the eyes. Her neighbor was wondering how come she’s able to afford such luxuries considering that she had no job to speak of?  

 One morning a rich woman was shouting in front of her house telling her to leave her husband alone otherwise she would be forced to bring her to court for having a relationship with a married man.  

Many of us are very particular with what others will see from us. As much as possible we would always try to paint a good picture of ourselves. This is who many of us are, very much driven with the exterior, fleeting and those that do not last for a lifetime.  

Jesus is not taken with this show of misleading exterior appearance. What counts for Jesus is  our inner selves and the things that we do especially when nobody sees us. For example, how do we react when we see the poor begging for alms? Do we do something to help them? Or we simply don’t care; anyway no one is looking at us, so might as well not mind the poor.  

Jesus knows everything about us, we cannot keep anything from Him. He knows our hidden secrets, our double talk and the façade that we try so very hard to display so that we could create an impression of righteousness, power, wealth and extravagance. - Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Paano gumawa ng masarap na Kinilaw?

 

Reflection for October 10, Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.  

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.  At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

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Reflection:

A sinful man had a conversion, when he was asked what moved him to be good and Godly. He replied this, “I have a terminal sickness so I don’t want to be in hell when I depart this world. Hell is real as well as heaven and those who continue to sin and continue to ignore God’s call to conversion will certainly end up in hell someday. 

Some of us may ask, is heaven and hell for real? Yes, it’s both real and it’s already here in our midst.  If we always do good our life would be like heaven on earth, yes there would be problems from time to time. But we will always overcome these problems because Jesus is always at our side to help. On the other hand, if we continue to do bad we can expect our lives to be in a hellish situation today. This is the practical reality of heaven and hell. 

However, God loves us so much that He also wants us to repent and permanently walk away from our sinfulness. This is for the reason that the good Lord wants us to experience heaven while we are still here in this world. And He also wants us to be in heaven after our passing in this world.  This is the great love of God for us, He always calls us to repentance in everyday, every hour, every minute and second of our lives. 

Someday when we die some of us will say, if only I listened to Jesus’ call of repentance. I would not be in this hellish environment right now but I did not. I instead continued to enjoy the many pleasures that were brought to me by the devil. 

Nonetheless all is not lost yet, because there is still ample time for us to repent and walk away from anything that make us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday October 9, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:11-19

 Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us! And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests. 

As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God? Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

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Reflection:

Do you always thank the Lord for the countless blessings that He showers upon you?

After healing the ten lepers only one returned a Samaritan, a person who is not a member of Jesus faith. That’s why Jesus said: Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? (Luke 17:17) Indeed, what happened to the other nine who were members of Jesus faith?

Jesus was looking for them perhaps being one in faith with him. He was expecting them to also return back and signify their gratitude to Him.  But the nine were missing they were good only in soliciting favors from Jesus. After they got what they wanted they were nowhere to be found already.

Such is the behavior of many of us, we earnestly pray when we need something from the Lord. After getting what we want, Jesus is sometimes forgotten or Jesus is not given importance once again. Actually, it’s not only through Jesus that many  of us fail to acknowledge the favor that is done to us. 

Even to our family members, friends and random people who’ve done us good we sometimes forget to acknowledge their goodness. Such is our behavior forgetful or even ungrateful. But we always have to be thankful for all the blessings that we have from the Lord.

Let us think of Jesus, have we thanked Him for the many blessings that He has been giving us? For example, the blessing of life every morning, do we always thank the Lord for the blessing of life every morning? Is gratefulness to the Lord the first order of business for us in the morning?

In everything let us be grateful to Jesus, for our life, for our health and for all the blessings. We thank the Lord not because the Lord needs it we thank the Lord because we greatly value the Lord’s goodness towards us.

Do you always thank the Lord? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for October 8, Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:27-28

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

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Reflection:

Who was the woman who said to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed (Luke 11:27).” She obviously was so enthralled by the words and works of Jesus that she pointed to the Blessed Mother and gave her honor as the foundation of Jesus. 

Do we give the same honor and reverence for the Blessed Mother? Some Christian faiths don’t honor the Blessed Mother as much as we honor her. But why cannot we honor the mother of Jesus? Without the Blessed Mother Jesus would have not been born and we would have no savior.    

But thanks to the humility of the Blessed Mother Jesus was born into this world. She humbly accepted her sacred mission as the mother of Jesus when she said, I am the handmaid of the Lord let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38).  

This gospel is an invitation for all of us to give more honor and reverence to the Blessed Mother. We honor her by asking her to always pray for us and by praying the Holy Rosary. This also reminds us of the role of our own mothers in our lives. The countless sacrifices that they carried on their shoulders so that they could rear us with honor and dignity.    

Do you always remember to ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you and to bring your prayers to Jesus? Do you pray the Holy Rosary even for only once a week? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday October 7, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary: Luke 11:15-26

Gospel: Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 

And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me,  and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

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Reflection:

Does Jesus deserve the accusation that He is a demon? Has he done any demonic actions to earn the accusation? No Jesus doesn’t deserve the accusation and He surely has not done any actions contrary to His mission. None at all. 

The crowd’s accusation originates from the deceit and envy in their hearts. And who planted that deceit and envy? It’s Beelzebul the prince of demons himself! So it was actually the accusers who were in fact possessed by the demon. 

We must be careful not to allow deceitful/envious and other negative emotions to take root in our hearts. Because these are temptations that originate from the devil. We should instead fill our hearts and minds with thoughts that are Godly.  And of course we must choose to be with Jesus for this is always the correct choice.  If we are not for Jesus, then we are against Jesus there’s no middle ground. 

Why should we choose to be in the company of the devil when it will not do any good to our lives? The devil will bring us nothing but problems and perdition.  Though he often times disguises his diabolical intentions and himself through the many attractive things of this world.   

We should therefore be discerning because the devil may already be enticing  us without us knowing it. How would we able to discern if the devil is already laying his enticement upon us? We have to be close to Jesus and should not walk away from Jesus. For this is the only way that we could discern the presence of the devil.  The same devil who always seeks to destroy us by trying his very best to snatch us away from the love of Jesus. 

Let us therefore always align ourselves with Jesus. And let us never compromise with anything that is wrong and evil no matter how tempting it may appear. Why? Because sooner or later it will only bring us unfathomable trouble. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 6, Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:5-13

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “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 him 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:

Do you believe in the power of persistence? The power of persistence tells us that for as long as we don’t give up. And for as long as we continue to trust in Jesus we would be able to have what we want. Therefore persistence always pays off, but should we continue to persist when the horizon is dark? 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that we have to persist even if it seems hopeless to persist for those who persist are always rewarded by God. Come to think of it, persistence gives us great rewards even in our worldly activities. Take for example an average student who persist in his studies he surely would be able to hurdle his studies because he is persistent. 

However, not all of us have persistent mindset; many of us are easily discouraged when we see no positive result with what we are doing. So we fail and fail to achieve what we want because we gave up without trying our very best and without persisting. 

Lest we forget, many or almost all of our life’s battles are won because we are persistent but why do we persist? We persist because we believe that God always rewards those who are persistent and those who couple their persistence with humble and expectant trust in God. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas