Reflection for March 3, Friday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 5:20-26

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.   

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.   

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

What is the cure for anger? It’s humility.  

Nobody is perfect once in a while we get angry but do we have the humility to make amends after we have injured someone with our arrogance? Only a gentle and humble person would have the courage to say I’m sorry or to apologize.  

But to say I’m sorry is not easy to do, only a humble person would summon enough courage to say this magic words that have healed so many disputes and arguments. In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us teaching about anger.    

Jesus tells us that we must be reconciled with those whom we have differences and had feelings of enmity. But why do we get angry in the first place? We get angry because we lack humility, we get angry because we have this superiority complex against our fellowmen.    

It’s only humility that can deescalate and eventually eliminate our anger. Let us therefore pray for the grace of humility, let us ask God the Holy Spirit to give it to us. The best test of humility is our willingness to apologize and to admit our mistakes before those whom we have hurt.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 2, Thursday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 7:7-12

Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; 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.  

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. 

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes feel helpless and burdened by so many problems? All of us go through these life episodes, some of us are able to survive and some are not. 

In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us a recipe so that we would be able to survive whatever trials and problems that we will be going through in our lives. Jesus tells us:   “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. These are comforting and healing words for all of us if only we believe and take these words of Jesus into our hearts.  

Let us therefore have a permanent daily time with Jesus. Since it’s only through this daily time with Him that we could automatically go to Him to ask for His healing and comfort. The moment we start to incorporate Jesus in our daily lives we then could be assured that we will now be able to survive our problems and worries.  

Let us endeavor to get closer to Jesus in everyday of our lives. Let us ask Him for help and for guidance. Let us detach ourselves from our many worldly attachments for the reason that this is what hinders us to get closer to Jesus. And last but certainly not the least, let us all exert an effort to leave behind our relationship with sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for March 1, Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: 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:

Why do we meet or are acquainted with good and Godly people? It’s for a good reason they don’t just come into our lives, it’s always for a good reason. 

For example, if you become friends with a good and Godly person. God led you to this person for you to become good and godly also. You did not become friends with him/her for you to be bad. Jesus sent this person to you so that you’ll be converted this is always the reason.  

Some of us may listen or let this Godly friend influence us thus we become good and godly as well. But unfortunately this is not always the scenario because there are many who don’t care to listen. No matter how many times God calls them to renewal they will really not listen.  

Jonah, in our gospel was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to call for their repentance.  And they listened to him that’s why God spared them from punishment. After Jonah there were many more prophets who were sent by God they called also for conversion.   

Until Jesus came, many listened to Jesus call for repentance and conversion. But sad to say many did not listen also. There was hardness in their hearts, they ignored Jesus they instead continued to embrace sin.   

Jesus call of repentance did not stop with the people of His time. The Lord’s call for repentance flows like an endless stream up to this very moment and it is now addressed to us – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for February 28, Tuesday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  

“This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

What is the prayer that reaches God? Its prayer that comes from the heart and a prayer made in the silence of our heart. It could be a long or short prayer that comes straight from our heart.  

Jesus gives us the perfect prayer called the Our Father. This is called the perfect prayer because it comes from Him and Jesus gave it to us. Jesus Himself taught us to pray it.  Do we pray this with our hearts or we simply pray it with our minds wandering elsewhere?  

Let us recall when we are at Holy Mass, how do we pray the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer? Do we pray it with closed eyes or with open eyes? The best way to pray this perfect prayer is with closed eyes.  Because when we close our eyes we shut ourselves from any form of distraction thus we are able to focus.      

Deep in our hearts we seek to connect with God thru this prayer and thru our personal prayers as well. Because we hunger and thirst for God most especially when we pass through moments of loneliness, trial and disillusionment.  Why? Because God alone gives meaning to our life.   - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 27, Monday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 25:31-46

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'  

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'  

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'  

Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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Reflection:

What do you feel when you sincerely help the needy, poor and in need? You will feel indescribable joy in your heart. Who give you this feeling of indescribable joyfulness? It’s Jesus none other than Jesus for the simple reason that what you do to them you do to Him as well.   

We have in our gospel two groups of people: The group on the right side and the one on the left side.  The group of people on the right side are those who helped the poor, in prison, needy and the like. Those on the left side are those who were insensitive to their needs.  Of course the Good Lord favored those at His right side, so the Lord gave them eternal life. And those who were on His left side, the Lord gave eternal punishment.  

This gospel invites us to reflect on how we relate with the poor and less fortunate. Let us be sensitive and look around. We may have relatives or neighbors who are not as affluent as we are. Many of us are carried away by the riches that we have that we tend to forget the less fortunate and the poor.  

This lent is a wake-up call for all of us. We must be concerned with their welfare, a concern that is real and not just for show. A concern that is given flesh by actually helping the less fortunate without any fanfare and publicity. Because the Lord knows everything anyway. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday February 26, First Sunday of Lent: Matthew 4:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." 

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." 

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

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Reflection:

Have you been through the process of temptation?

Many of us if not all of us have gone through the process of temptation. And many of us were able to reject these temptations but sad to say that many also succumb to these temptations.  

Satan always disguises temptation as attractive satan does this to entice his prospects to fall into these temptations. However, after falling into these temptations, here comes sin, here comes problem that will surely disturb our peaceful life.  

After fasting for forty days and nights Jesus was naturally hungry and the devil thought that Jesus was now vulnerable.  Therefore the devil dangled before Jesus three temptations: Make the stone bread, throw himself off from the parapet of the temple for angels would catch him and last was the temptation of material possession. Jesus refused all these three temptations and thereafter He rebuked the devil away from His sight.

The clear message for all of us is to avoid temptation or to stand up against temptation for it will not bear any good fruit. It will only destroy us little by little as we immerse ourselves into it. For example, if you’re already married don’t allow yourself to succumb to the temptation of having an extra-marital affair because it will surely destroy you and those around you sooner or later.

There is no reward for temptation except misery, problems and disturbance of our peaceful life.  But the paradox is many still succumb to it. Why because we simply open ourselves to that temptation, we allow satan to take control of us. Hence, we become the disciple of satan the same satan who will eventually bring us hell even while we are still in this world.  

However, everything is not lost yet, the season of lent offers us a road of renewal which will lead us once again to the loving embrace of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 26, Unang Linggo ng Apatnapung araw na Paghahanda: Mateo 4:1-11

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 4:1-11

Noong panahong iyon: si Hesus ay dinala ng Espiritu sa ilang upang tuksuhin ng diyablo. Doon, apatnapung araw at apatnapung gabi nag-ayuno si Hesus, at siya’y nagutom. Dumating ang manunukso at sinabi sa kaniya, “Kung ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos, gawin mong tinapay ang mga batong ito.” Ngunit sumagot si Hesus, “Nasusulat, ‘Hindi lamang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao, kundi sa bawat salitang namumutawi sa bibig ng Diyos.”

Pagkatapos nito’y dinala siya ng diyablo sa taluktok ng templo sa Banal na Lungsod. “Kung ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos,” sabi sa kanya, “magpatihulog ka, sapagkat nasusulat, ‘Ipagbibilin niya sa kanyang mga anghel na ingatan ka,’‘Aalalayan ka nila, upang hindi ka matisod sa bato.’” Sumagot si Hesus, “Nasusulat din naman, ‘Huwag mong subukin ang Panginoon mong Diyos.’”

Pagkatapos, dinala din siya ng diyablo sa isang napakataas na bundok. Mula roo’y ipinatanaw sa kanya ang lahat ng kaharian ng sanlibutan at ang kayamanan ng mga ito. At sinabi ng diyablo, “Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang lahat ng ito, kung magpapatirapa ka at sasamba sa akin.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Lumayas ka, Satanas! Sapagkat nasusulat, ‘Ang iyong Diyos at Panginoon ang sasambahin mo; Siya lamang ang iyong paglilingkuran.’”

At iniwan siya ng diyablo. Dumating ang mga anghel at naglingkod sa kanya. 

Reflection for February 25, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

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Reflection:

What made Jesus call Levi to follow Him and what made Levi leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Of course, the main reason was Levi was a sinner and he got tired of living a life of sin. Therefore,
when Levi was called by Jesus he threw caution to the wind to follow Jesus. For he knew that at long last there is someone who’s not judging him and someone who’s willing to give him a second chance to live life away from sin.

In this gospel episode Jesus gives us valuable lesson on how we can call others to conversion. First is let us not be judgmental with those whom we perceive as sinners. Who are we to judge when we are sinners also? Second is let us always give others a second chance no matter how sinful they are.

There are many who are itching to live their lives away from sin but no one is willing to give them a second chance. It seems to them that almost everyone is condemning them. If only we know that they are already sick and tired of living in sin. If only we know that they are just waiting for us to call them to a life of renewal.

Let us make it our vow not to be judgmental. Let us make it our vow to give those whom we perceive as sinners a second chance. There are sinners because there are people who are judgmental and people who are not willing to give them a second chance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for February 24, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15 

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast.”

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Reflection:

What does fasting do to us? It cleanses our bodies, when we fast we dictate on our bodies rather than our bodies dictating on us. For example, when we see delicious food, our bodies would normally dictate upon us to eat that delicious food. This is always the scenario: Our bodies dictate upon us and we succumb to it. 

However, when we fast, it’s the other way around we don’t succumb to this dictate we contradict it, for what reason? For the observance of certain customs and tradition in this case we can cite our fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 

In our gospel, Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees why His disciples were not fasting. Jesus answered them this: They are not fasting for the reason that the bridegroom (Referring to Himself) is still with them. Therefore their tricky question was properly answered by Jesus. 

Literal fasting when done for a good reason is valid but when it’s done for people to see or to get praise. It becomes invalid or useless it’s much better not to fast when we do it for show.    

But there’s a much meaningful and permanent fasting that God wants us to do. We permanently fast from oppressing others, we permanent fast from our arrogance, unforgiveness and we permanently fast from our greed and indifference. 

Are you capable of doing these forms of fasting? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Words of Wisdom - 7

 

Mga salita na puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 9

 

Reflection for February 23, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to faithfully follow Jesus? 

There is always a price to pay if we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. For example, Jesus himself tells us in the gospel that we must deny ourself of something and we must decide also to carry our own cross. These are the preconditions, there’s no free ride in following Jesus. We have to sacrifice our wealth, power, and the like for the cause of Jesus. 

But we have nothing to worry about these sacrifices because these are all temporal things that  may fly away from our hands anytime. What would Jesus give us in exchange for our earthly detachment? The Lord will give us something that is out of this world.  

What would it profit us if we have all the wealth and influence in this world yet we don’t have Jesus in our life? Material possession come and go same as with our very lives. We come into this world wearing nothing and with nothing and we leave this world with nothing as well. 

Let us not be afraid of the things that we will sacrifice in favor of our faithful discipleship for Jesus. For the reason that our earthly sacrifice is not in anyway comparable with the guidance and protection that we will have once we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for February 23, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:6-1, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had the habit of showing off through social media the good and pious acts that he does. For example, when he attends Mass he would take pictures of it and post it in his facebook. He does the same thing when he does acts of compassion, he does this so that his friends would take notice of it.    

The three core teachings of the gospel this Ash Wednesday is about Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting. Unlike our many facebook posts (pictures, comments, likes, etc…) wherein we show off so that our friends and many others will know who we are and what we are doing. We are being invited by Jesus to permanently veer away from this selfish and ego tripping mentality.  

On the aspect of Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting, Jesus is inviting us to do these noble acts without letting everyone know about it. Let us do these acts piety privately and ensure that nobody will know about it.  

For if we do these hidden from the prying eyes of our friends and the public at large. We would then earn approval from Jesus. Because this is what Jesus would always want us to do for as long as we live: Do our noble acts hidden from anyone’s eye.  

In the same breath, lent is also an invitation for us to reflect about our life, concerning our relationship with Jesus and the many sins that we have committed. For example concerning our sins; would we just let this sins remain or we will do something about it by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconcilliation? 

Our many sins pull us further away from God and if we are not careful we may live our life permanently away from the love of God. Would we want a life permanently cut-off from the love of God?  Of course not! Nobody wants to live his/her own life away from the love of God. 

Therefore, let us take a deeper spiritual reflection about our life this Ash Wednesday in particular and during lent in general. Let us take a closer look at our sinfulness, the fragility of life and our personal relationship with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for February 21, Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.  

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.

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Reflection:

Why do you follow Jesus? 

As Jesus and the disciples were walking He told them: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not pay much attention to what Jesus told them because they were also busy conversing as to who amongst them is the greatest.  

We assume that Jesus and the disciples were just through doing their mission of preaching the kingdom of God. They performed miracles such as: Healing the sick, expelling demons and a lot more. Because of these miraculous acts that they have done the disciple’s high regard for themselves got the better of them. They were already angling to covet the title as the greatest among the disciples. 

Are not many of us like the disciples? Do we not have hidden motives when we do acts of kindness? Do we not desire to be praised for what we do?  Do we not feel proud when we do good things? Was it possible that the disciples were feeding their own ego that is why they were already discussing who was the greatest amongst them?  

In the midst of their bloated egos, Jesus gave them a valuable lesson about humility and on how it is to become humble servants of the Lord and the people. Thus, He told them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

In other words if you want to be the leader then be a humble servant leader who is always ready to serve not minding the accolades and honors. Inside the heart of a true leader is the desire to humbly serve, he is always there silently walking his talk, practicing what he preaches. This is what Jesus wanted the disciples to imbibe: For them to become humble servants. 

This is also what Jesus wants for us but some of us are the opposite of the servant leader that Jesus wants the disciples to become. Instead of putting the title leader into our hearts we put it instead into our heads. That is why we become fake and arrogant leaders who only want to give orders. Who only want to abuse and take advantage of our innocent followers. 

We therefore only want to serve our own personal interest. The servant leadership that Jesus wants us to have is permanently eased out from our system because what takes over is our greed for power, our ego and our arrogance. 

What must we do so that we can rightfully claim that we truly follow the greatest servant leader who ever walked this earth?  We must be humble at all times; we must continuously decrease while Jesus continuously increase through our acts of humility. 

The mistake of many of us who follow Jesus is we often times act without humility. We feel that we are above all because we have this distorted sense that we are close to Jesus when in fact we are not. Our closeness or intimacy with the Lord is not defined by our religious titles, ranks and position neither it is defined by the frequency of our worship for Him. 

Our closeness to Jesus is determined by how we live HIS virtue of humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas