Reflection for Thursday January 26, Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops: Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.  

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment.  

Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

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Reflection:

Are you doing something to share the teachings of Jesus? 

Like the seventy two which Jesus sent ahead of Him. We too are laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, what is the implication of this to our life? We are also called to share and live the teachings of Jesus. 

Jesus told the disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” This is very true until to this very day. The harvest indeed is plentiful but the laborers are so few. Therefore in our own little way let us also be laborers like the seventy two. Let us spread and live the teachings of Jesus, let us not be afraid for God will be with us.  

Many of us invest so much of our time in laboring for this world alone that we forget to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. But where would our labors for this world bring us? Only here in this world but if we labor for the Lord we go to the Lord’s kingdom after the end of our journey in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Jesus’ Powerful and Life-Changing Words - 2

 

Si Jesus at ang kanyang Makapangyarihang mga Pananalita - 2

 

Reflection for Wednesday January 25, Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle: Mark 16:15-18

Gospel Mark 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.  

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

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Reflection:

Do you know of someone who was formerly a critic of the church that eventually converted to become a follower of Jesus?

Sometimes it’s hard to believe how a persecutor of Jesus becomes a follower of Jesus. Often times we are skeptical about them, we don’t believe that they’ve turned a new page in their lives. But nothing is impossible for Jesus; He can do miracles in our lives He can convert us to become His followers. 

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Saul who became Paul is a former persecutor of Jesus and the church that He built. He had nothing but hatred and scorn for the church and its people until Jesus converted Him. 

While he was on a journey going to Damascus he saw a blinding light and he heard a voice that asked him: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me (Acts 9:3-4)?” This encounter with Jesus on the road of Damascus was the beginning of Saul’s conversion and it culminated when he regain his sight. 

Everyone of us has a dark past yet the good Lord is always there for us ever ready to convert us. What He only asks from us is our willingness to leave behind our sinful lives and start a new journey with the Lord for the rest of our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Tuesday January 24, Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Mark 3:31-35

Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” 

But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Reflection:

Would you want to be a relative of Jesus? 

Jesus has a very simple requirement for us to become His brother, sister and mother and this is to do the will of God. What does this mean to us? We must feed the hungry, we must help those who need help, we must forgive and pray for those who’ve hurt us. And there are many more selfless actions that we can do, so that we can be called relatives of Jesus.  

It seems simple by reading through it but to live what Jesus wants us to do is another story. Do we really feed the hungry? Are we really quick to forgive? Are we really selfless? The challenge for all of us is to live our faith to the hilt. This means that we must at all times be like Jesus: through our actions, words and through our way of life.  

However, this is easier said than done, yet God in His infinite mercy gives us the opportunity everyday for us to become part of Him. He presents us life situations wherein we could always live what we have learned from Him. 

The reality of life is it’s hard to be a relative of Jesus because many of us don’t undress ourselves with everything that makes us creatures of this world. Such as self-centeredness, arrogance, greed and a lot more negative attitudes. Which makes us relatives of the evil one rather than a relative of Jesus.   

But all is not lost yet, if we want to be a relative of Jesus we must strive to be like Him: His humility, His acts of kindness and His countless selfless actions.  These are the challenges that we must ponder if we want be a true relative of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for January 23, Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:22-30

Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 

And if a house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man.  

Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.

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Reflection:

What is the antidote to evil possession or who can defeat the devil? It’s our faith in Jesus, only Jesus can defeat the devil. Before we only attribute the presence of the devil to evil possession.  But not anymore today!  

The devil of today doesn’t only present itself by way of evil possession. It presents itself in manifold ways such as: greed, lust, covetousness, enslavement to the modernity of time and so forth. Who can defeat the devil today? It’s still Jesus the same Jesus that defeated the devil in our gospel.    

Jesus doesn’t change He is the same Jesus yesterday, today and tomorrow. His power to defeat the devil is still present today as it was present in the gospel. But do we allow Jesus to dwell in our lives? Do we still have time for Him in this era of internet and high-tech gadgets?    

We must at all times give time for Jesus so that we could always ward off the devil from our midst. If we always have Jesus in our life we give no room for the devil to dwell in our life. How do we give time for Jesus? We have to read the inspiring life of Jesus in the bible, we have to be present at Holy Mass as often as we can. And we have to have our personal prayer time for Jesus every day.    

Do you give time for Jesus even for only a minute every day? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

The Life Changing and Powerful Words of Jesus - 1

 

Ang Nakapagbabago ng buhay at Makapangyarihang mga pananalita ni Jesus - 1

 

Reflection for Sunday January 22, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 4:12-23

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

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Reflection:

Have you had an experience of a call from Jesus which facilitated a much deeper friendship with the Lord? For example, you have read something about the words of Jesus in the bible and thereafter you felt that He was already directly speaking to you. Calling you to renew your life and become His faithful follower.  

Perhaps the four apostles (Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John) have already heard about Jesus. They might have heard about His baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Until they saw and heard Jesus up close and personal, calling them to follow Him. That encounter with Jesus resulted to a lifetime discipleship. 

The four apostles were veteran fishermen but deep in their hearts there was still that empty space and they were yearning for something that would finally fill that empty space.

Until their yearning for fulfillment was addressed by their personal encounter with Jesus. After which their lives were never the same again and from thereon they lived their lives with deeper meaning and purpose.

Are you yearning for something meaningful in your life? Yes, you may be financially secure already, but deep inside; you are still looking for that something that is still lacking within you. 

That something is no other than Jesus, the same Jesus who called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday January 21, Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr: Mark 3:20-21

Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again, the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

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Reflection:

Are you quick to judge based on what you see? Jesus was called as someone who is out of His mind by His relatives. Why? Because Jesus dared to do something out of the ordinary. Just imagine instead of enjoying an ordinary life as a carpenter Jesus did the extra-ordinary.  

 Jesus ventured into something that is totally alien to His environment and background. Jesus left His comfort zone to become a nomad, a healer and itinerant preacher. And Jesus relatives couldn’t believe and accept His unorthodox decision.  

This is perhaps the reason why they called Him as someone who is out of His mind. Did Jesus’ relatives really know who He was during that time? Yes, perhaps they knew Him as the son of Mary and Joseph but they had no idea about His true identity. 

They judged Jesus based on their superficial knowledge about Him. The trouble with judging others is it blinds us of our own faults and shortcomings as if we are perfect, as if we don’t sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 20, Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:13-19

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

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Reflection:

Do you have regular solemn moments of reflection in your life? Solemn moment of reflections concerning your relationship with God, your family and an honest to goodness assessment of your life’s true purpose in this world. 

Jesus had those solemn moments, every now and then He would go to the mountain primarily to pray and commune with God. Then after His private moments in the mountain He would make important decisions. In the gospel, after going to the mountain He called and appointed the twelve apostles.   

We should also have our own private moments with God for us to reflect and know our deeper purpose in this fragile world. We should not allow ourselves to be eaten by the frenetic pace of this world. Otherwise before we know it we are not anymore in touch  with God and God has no more say in our life. This is very dangerous because the moment that God is not anymore in our life that’s also when the devil comes in to temp and eventually destroy our life.  

We therefore must always allocate our daily private moments with God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for January 19, Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:7-12

Gospel: Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.   

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God." He warned them sternly not to make him known.

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Reflection:

Why do you follow Jesus? Many were pressing themselves towards Jesus because of His healing touch. Do we also follow Jesus for the reason of the miracles that we can receive from Him? But it’s not all the time that Jesus would heal us. There would be times that we will still be sick no matter how hard we push ourselves towards Jesus. 

Let us not lose faith in Jesus even if He doesn’t heal us physically because the Lord has His own reasons. Perhaps it’s a test of our faith; perhaps Jesus wants us to journey with Him in His suffering towards Calvary. The more that healing seems elusive that more that we must intensely follow Jesus. 

How about the miraculous healings of Jesus? Does Jesus wants His miraculous healings publicized? No! Jesus would never want publicity from His miracles and healings. The more that His actions are unknown the more the He likes it, the more that He is not given credit the more that He appreciates it.  

This is attributed to Jesus’ Humility and Self-effacing behavior. Let us therefore forget about prestige and honor and let us not fret if we are not given honor for the things that we do. It’s already enough that we do silent acts of kindness with no one noticing it.   

Would you want to emulating the humility and self-effacing attitude of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 18, Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:1-6

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”  

But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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Reflection:

Do you always help when you see somebody in need of help or you sometimes make excuses so that you would not be obliged to help? Like, pretending not to see anyone who is in need of your help. For example you see a poor man who is in dire need of help, what are you going to do to that poor man? Pretend not to see his obvious need of help? 

When Jesus went to the synagogue there was this man with a withered hand. He did not ask Jesus for help but Jesus knew that he needed help so Jesus called him and right there Jesus restored his withered hand.  

All of us also encounter people who are in need of our help. Perhaps many of us simply pretend not to see them for we don’t want to be disturbed. But there are those who would proactively go out of their way to give help even if they are not asked and these people are like Jesus and they have the heart of Jesus.

Let us always be proactive when we give help and let us always be sensitive to their needs. For there really are people who will not ask for help even if they obviously need help. They will simply leave everything in the hands of God and keep silent in the midst of their agony and distress. Therefore, we must do something to help them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Tuesday January 17, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbott: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What would be your stand if you are made to choose between the observance of the law or the lawful need of your fellowmen? Jesus gives us a clear choice, for Him it’s always the primary need of our fellowmen. As exemplified by His mention of David who violated the Sabbath to address their need to satisfy their hunger. 

Rules and laws are created to create order and to prevent chaos. But there are times that it’s disregarded for a much higher and noble purpose. If the welfare of our fellowmen are at stake their interest  must come first. This is what we must always follow and we must also not create rules to serve our own selfish ends.  

For example, in a family setting, parents would normally have rules for their children to follow. However, we should always be amenable to bend these rules no matter how stringent. We do this if there is a valid need or reason. Stringent rules can also be bent when parents want to show that they love their children more than the implementation of their house rules. 

Jesus is a compassionate God, He would not mind if we violate religious rules for so long as there is a higher and noble purpose. – Marino J. Dasmarinas