Reflection for March 4, Monday of the Third Week in Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.  

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection: 

How does God give His blessings?  God gives His blessings to anyone that He pleases and He surely doesn’t play the game of favoritism.  

If God has favorites among us because we are prayerful or because we attend Holy Mass and do noble acts. Our worship for God would now be motivated by our actions focused to get His favor.  Therefore our worship for God is not anymore motivated by our love for Him. It’s now rather motivated by the result that we want from Him.   

In the gospel Jesus shared the story of a Syrian named Naaman who was sick with leprosy. There were also many lepers in Israel around that time but God chose to heal a non Israelite named  Naaman. 

Jesus cited the story of Naaman to send a strong message to those who were listening to Him in the synagogue. That they cannot gain God’s favor by means of their self-serving acts of piety or worship for God that has selfish motivations.  

This is a good point of reflection for all of us for we may be doing things for God with selfish motives. Or we do things for God and our fellowmen because we want something in return from God.  

For example we would say to God, I will serve you but I request you to bless my family in return. But this is not how it is because our ways is not God’s ways, we cannot force God to do something because we want Him to do it for us.   

When we do acts for God let us make sure that we primarily do it because of our deep love for God. No other motives than our deep love for God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita Marso 4, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 4:5-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4:5-42

Noong panahong iyon: Dumating si Hesus sa isang bayan sa Samaria, na tinatawag na Sicar, malapit sa bukid na ibinigay ni Jacob sa kanyang anak na si Jose. Dito matatagpuan ang balon ni Jacob. Umupo si Hesus sa tabi nito, sapagkat siya’y napagod sa paglalakbay. Halos katanghaliang-tapat na noon.

May isang Samaritanang dumating upang umigib. SInabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Maari bang makiinom?” Wala noon ang kanyang mga alagad sapagkat bumili ng pagkain sa bayan. Sinabi sa kanya ng Samaritana, “Kayo’y Judio at Samaritana ako! Bakit kayo humihingi sa akin ng inumin?” Sapagkat, ‘hindi nakikitungo ang mga Judio sa mga Samaritano. Sumagot si Hesus, “Kung alam lamang ninyo kung ano ang ipinagkakaloob ng Diyos, at kung sino itong humihingi sa inyo ng inumin, marahil ay kayo ang hihingi sa kanya, at kayo nama’y bibigyan niya ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay.” 

“Ginoo,” wika ng babae, “malalim ang balong ito at wala man lamang kayong panalok. Saan kayo kukuha ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay? Higit pa ba kayo kaysa aming ninunong si Jacob, na nagbigay sa amin ng balong ito? Uminom siya rito, pati ang kanyang mga anak, at ang kanyang mga hayop.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ang uminom ng tubig na ito’y muling mauuhaw. Ito’y magiging isang bukal sa loob niya, babalong, at magbibigay sa kanya ng buhay na walang hanggan.” 

Sinabi ng babae, “Ginoo, kung gayun po’y bigyan ninyo ako ng tubig na sinasabi ninyo, Nang hindi na ako mauhaw, ni pumarito pa upang sumalok. Ginoo, sa wari ko’y propeta kayo. Dito sa bundok na ito sumamba sa Diyos ang aming mga magulang, ngunit sinasabi ninyong mga Judio, na sa Jerusalem lamang dapat sambahin ang Diyos.” Tinugon siya ni Hesus, “Maniwala ka sa akin, Ginang, dumarating na ang panahon na sasambahin ninyo ang Ama, hindi lamang sa bundok na ito o sa Jerusalem. 

Hindi ninyo nakikilala ang inyong sinasamba, ngunit nakikilala namin ang aming sinasamba, sapagkat ang kaligtasan ay galing sa mga Judio. Ngunit dumarating na ang panahon – ngayon na nga – na ang mga tunay na sumasamba sa Ama ay sasamba sa kanya sa espiritu at sa katotohanan. Sapagkat ito ang hinahanap ng Ama sa mga sumasamba sa kanya. Ang Diyos ay Espiritu kaya dapat siyang sambahin sa espiritu at sa katotohanan.”

Sinabi ng babae, “Nalalaman ko pong paririto ang Mesiyas, ang tinatawag na Kristo. Pagparito niya, siya ang magpapahayag sa atin ng lahat ng bagay.” “Akong nagsasalita sa iyo ang tinutukoy roon,” sabi ni Hesus. Maraming Samaritano sa bayang yaon ang sumampalataya kay Hesus. Kaya’t paglapit ng mga Samaritano kay Hesus, hiniling nila na tumigil muna siya roon; at nanatili siya roon nang dalawang araw.

At marami pang sumampalataya nang mapakinggan siya. Sinabi nila sa babae, “Nananampalataya kami ngayon, hindi na dahil sa sinabi mo kundi dahil sa narinig namin sa kanya. Nakilala naming siya nga ang Tagapagligtas ng sanlibutan.”

Reflection for Sunday March 3, Third Sunday of Lent: John 2:13-25

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. 

He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace. 

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. 

The Jews said “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a father who would always tell his children to pray and observe silence when they are at church for Holy Mass. In turn, the children would also ask their father, 'Why do we need to be silent at church?' 

Their father would right away tell them, because the church is a temple of worship for God. Therefore, when you are at church, you always need to focus on Jesus, be silent, and prayerful.

When Jesus went to the temple for the Feast of Passover, He saw that it was not being used as it was supposed to be. Jesus expected that the temple would be used with solemnity and reverence simply because it is the temple of God.

But to His dismay, the temple was converted into a marketplace where people were wheeling and dealing to earn a living. Perhaps the temple was not only being used for business; perhaps it was being used for other sordid activities. Therefore, Jesus had to intervene; He had to restore order and discipline so that the temple would be fit for worship again.

Every Sunday, or even every day, we go to our respective places of worship which is the church for Holy Mass. How do we behave when we are at church? Do we create noise by chit-chatting with friends and relatives while we wait for the Holy Mass to commence? Or do we begin to connect with God by praying and listening to Him without uttering a single word?

When we are at church, we have to ensure that we only use it for one purpose alone: to worship and connect with God silently. No noise whatsoever, for this is how it must be. Otherwise, if we create noise, we become akin to those who transformed the temple into a marketplace, which provoked anger from Jesus.

How are you when you are at church? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para Marso 3, Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 2:13-25

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-25

Malapit na ang Paskuwa ng mga Judio, kaya't pumunta si Jesus sa Jerusalem. Nakita niya sa templo ang mga nagbibili ng mga baka, mga tupa, at mga kalapati, at mga namamalit ng salapi. Gumawa siya ng isang panghagupit na lubid at ipinagtabuyang palabas ang mga mangangalakal, pati mga baka at tupa. 

Isinabog niya ang salapi ng mga namamalit at pinagtataob ang kanilang mga hapag. Sinabi niya sa mga nagbibili ng kalapati, "Alisin ninyo dito ang mga iyan! Huwag ninyong gawing palengke ang bahay ng aking Ama!" Naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na sinabi sa Kasulatan,"Ang aking malasakit sa iyong bahay ay parang apoy na nag-aalab sa puso ko." 

Dahil dito'y tinanong siya ng mga Judio, "Anong tanda ang maibibigay mo upang patunayang may karapatan kang gawin ito?" Tumugon si Jesus, "Gibain ninyo ang templong ito at muli kong itatayo sa loob ng tatlong araw." Sinabi ng mga Judio, "Apatnapu't anim na taon na ginawa ang templong ito at itatayo mo sa loob lamang ng tatlong araw?" Ngunit ang templong tinutukoy ni Jesus ay ang kanyang katawan. Kaya't ng siya'y muling mabuhay, naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na sinabi niya ito; at naniwala sila sa Kasulatan at sa sinabi ni Jesus. 

Nang Pista ng Paskuwa, nasa Jerusalem si Jesus. Marami ang sumampalataya sa kanya ng makita nila ang mga kababalaghang ginawa niya. Subalit hindi nagtiwala sa kanila si Jesus, sapagkat kilala niya silang lahat.  Hindi na kailangang may magsalita pa sa kanya tungkol sa kaninuman, sapagkat talastas niya ang kalooban ng lahat ng tao.

Reflection for March 2, Saturday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So to them Jesus addressed this parable. 

“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.

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a God of encompassing love, mercy and forgiveness, what does this mean? This simply means that nobody is beyond reach of the love of God. No matter how sinful we are and no matter who we are still loved dearly by our God. 

But there’s one quality that we must have to experience God’s love mercy and forgiveness. And this is repentance, we have to realize first our own sinfulness and have the desire to walk away from our sinfulness and be one again with God. 

After wasting his inheritance to debauchery and sinfulness the younger son in the gospel parable had a humbling experience. He had nowhere to go, he lived a life of a beggar so to speak. 

 So different from his life of comfort when he was still with his father.  He therefore said to himself, instead of suffering this difficult situation why not go back home and ask for forgiveness from my father? And he did, to make a long story short his father forgave him.     

Let us think and reflect about our own sinfulness and the many offenses that we’ve done that created distance between us and Jesus. Let us heal that distance by humbly asking for His forgiveness. This we can do best if we would humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Would you submit yourself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas             

Reflection for March 1, Friday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?  

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

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Reflection:

What is your mission as far as your faith life in this world is concerned? It’s to pay forward or share whatever you know about your faith. It’s to give life to your faith by not keeping it to yourself. And it’s to generously share whatever you know about your faith.  

 In the gospel for today, Jesus gives us the parable of the tenants who were entrusted by the landowner of his property. Before the landowner left them he first ensured that they already have all that they would need to make them productive. And so the landowner left and when harvest time came the landowner was demanding his share from the tenants.  

We are the tenants which Jesus is speaking about in the gospel.  The land or property that Jesus has entrusted to us is no other than our faith. What have we done so far to the gift of faith that He has entrusted us? Have we already shared it? Or we are still up to now keeping it to ourselves?  

If we want to grow in faith we have to humbly share it for it is in sharing our faith that we would grow in faith. It is in sharing our faith that would make us productive followers of Jesus. Many are still not properly educated as far as their faith life is concerned and many are Catholics in name only. And who is to blame for this lack of education of our catholic faith? We are partly to be blamed because many of us have not yet shared the gift of faith that Jesus has entrusted us.  

But it’s not yet late for we still have time.  Therefore we have to do something, let us start first by attending Holy Mass as a family. Then to those members of the family who are uninformed yet we have to gently teach them with whatever we know about the Bible and our catholic faith.  

Let us take courage to do this for God’s blessings and guidance will be upon us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 29, Thursday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 16:19-31

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’  

Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours. He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them lest they too come to this place of torment.  

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them. He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. Then Abraham said ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.

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Reflection:

A dying rich woman had a dream about Jesus asking her if she wants to be in heaven when she dies. The dying woman said: “Yes my Lord I want to be in heaven when I die.” Then, Jesus asked her again: “Would you be willing to give your treasures to the poor?” The woman replied, “Yes my Lord I will give all I have to the poor.” So she donated all her treasures to the poor. After a few days the woman died and true enough her soul was immediately welcomed by the Lord in heaven.     

Does the poor have a purpose in the life of the rich? Yes they have! The poor closes the gap between the rich and God, the poor brings God closer to the rich for the poor is very much loved by God. Jesus himself said that whatever we do to the poor we do unto Him (Matthew 25:40).  

We have in our gospel the characters of the nameless rich man and the poor man Lazarus. The nameless rich man is insensitive to the needs of the poor man Lazarus. Why? Because the rich man perceived Lazarus as good for nothing, Lazarus will simply disturb him.  

What if the rich man knew beforehand that at the back of his door stands God in disguise in the person of the poor man Lazarus? Who unceasingly knocks to bring him more blessings and to save him from going to hell? He would have immediately opened his door and give Lazarus every precious things and every royal treatment that he could give him.  

But the rich man never recognized the presence of God in Lazarus, he instead indifferently continued with his insensitive behavior.  

How can we connect this gospel to our own personal lives? We see and encounter the materially and spiritually poor almost everyday. Are we doing something to fill their empty stomachs and spirits? – Marino J. Dasmarinas              

Reflection for February 28, Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 20:17-28

Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” 

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

 They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who wanted to serve in their parish church as a catechist. So she went to the church and had a conversation with the parish priest about her desire. The priest told her, would you be willing to do volunteer work without expecting anything in return?  And the woman said yes, from thereon she volunteered her time in the service for the church without expecting anything in return.  

In the gospel we read about a woman who is acting like a stage mother for her two sons to be seated at the right and left side of the Lord. She was asking for the grandest position for her two sons but Jesus said to her: “You do not know what you are asking for.” (Matthew 20:22)  

Do you also sometimes aspire for the grandest position in your church, in your community and in your workplace? Do not aspire for those lofty positions let it come to you instead. How would it come to you without aspiring for it? It will just be at your doorstep when you work hard without expecting anything in return.  

The most gratifying rewards that will come to you are those that you don’t expect. These kinds of rewards come from the Lord and are born out of your humble. selfless and tireless work. – Marino J. Dasmarinas                  

Ang Mabuting Balita Pebrero 28, Miyerkules sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Mateo 20:17-28

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 20:17-28

Noong panahong iyon, nang nasa daan na si Hesus patungong Jerusalem, ibinukod niya ang Labindalawa. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Aakyat tayo sa Jerusalem. Doo’y ipagkakanulo sa mga punong saserdote at sa mga eskriba ang Anak ng Tao. Hahatulan siya ng kamatayan, at ibibigay sa mga Hentil. Siya’y tutuyain, hahagupitin at ipapako sa krus; ngunit muli siyang bubuhayin sa ikatlong araw.”  

Lumapit kay Hesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo, kasama ang kanyang mga anak. May ibig siyang hilingin, kaya’t lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Hesus. “Ano ang ibig mo?” tanong ni Hesus. Sumagot siya, “Sana’y ipagkaloob ninyo sa dalawa kong anak na ito ang karapatan na makaupong katabi ninyo sa inyong kaharian – isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa.”  

“Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang inyong hinihingi,” sabi ni Hesus sa kanila. “Makakainom ba kayo sa kopa ng hirap ko?” “Opo”, tugon nila. Sinabi ni Hesus “Ang kopa ng hirap ko ay maiinom nga ninyo. Ngunit wala sa akin ang pagpapasiya kung sino ang mauupo sa aking kanan at sa aking kaliwa. Ang mga luklukang sinasabi ninyo’y para sa mga pinaghandaan ng aking Ama.” Nang marinig ito ng sampung alagad, nagalit sila sa magkapatid.  

Kaya’t pinalapit sila ni Hesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Alam ninyo na ang mga pinuno ng mga Hentil ay naghahari sa kanila, at ang mga dinadakila ang siyang nasusunod. Ngunit hindi ganyan ang dapat na umiral sa inyo. Sa halip, ang sinuman sa inyo na ibig maging dakila ay dapat maging lingkod. Ang sinumang ibig maging pinuno ay dapat maging alipin ninyo, tulad ng Anak ng Tao na naparito, hindi upang paglingkuran kundi upang maglingkod at ialay ang kanyang buhay upang matubos ang marami.”

Reflection for February 27, Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.  

All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.  

Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Are you a true follower of Jesus? 

A true follower of Jesus is someone who is simple. He doesn’t   think highly of himself neither he isolates himself in an ivory tower so that others would look up to him. A follower mingles and interacts with the people, he doesn’t throw judgment on anyone regardless who they may be.  

A true follower lives and breathes humility, because it is part and parcel of their way of life. How then can we be humble, how then can we live and breathe humility and how then can we make it our way of life? We always have to do things with the end in mind that everything that we do we do for the greater glory of God. We don’t do things for our own glory or glorification, we don’t do things for us to be praised to high heavens.  

Many of the Pharisees during Jesus time had a mentality of superiority perhaps this was because they were the ruling power. They love to give commands, they love to be looked up to and they crave for prominence and respect. Servanthood and humility were farthest from their minds.   

From time to time, we need to ask ourselves, 'Am I a true follower of Jesus, or am I becoming more like the Pharisees who always seek prominence, honor, and attention? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for February 26, Monday of the Second Week in Lent: Luke 6:36-38

Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 

Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

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Reflection:

What is the mother of mercy? Its love, we can’t be merciful if we do not know how to love. The moment we feel mercy in our hearts we already have love that we can freely dispense anytime to any person or group of persons. 

What kind of love is this that gives birth to mercy? Obviously this is not only romantic love for romantic love is a limited kind of love. The kind of love that gives birth to mercy is the perfect kind of love or the highest form of love. 

Who gives us this highest form of love? Jesus Himself gives us this kind of love. We receive this from Jesus when we are always in close contact with Him. By way of our prayer life, faithful presence at Holy Mass, through our frequent interaction with Jesus by means of the Sacraments of the Church. And by readings His life transforming and life giving words in the bible. 

Come to think of it, what happens to us if we are not merciful, if we are quick to condemn and if we don’t forgive? We allow ourselves to be imprisoned by toxic emotion/s that is brought to our feet by the devil. 

When we are always in close contact with Jesus we are always merciful. We will never condemn or judge anyone. And we will always forgive no matter how deep the hurt that has been inflicted upon us. 

Find it in your heart to follow and seek Jesus and be free from any form of hatred in your heart. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 25, Second Sunday of Lent: Mark 9:2-10

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

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Reflection:

What if Peter, James, and John had refused to go with Jesus to the mountain of transfiguration? They would have missed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of heaven. They would have missed seeing Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. They would have missed seeing Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah, the great prophets of the Old Testament. They would have missed the opportunity to hear the voice of God telling them, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him' (Mark 9:7).

But they did not refuse the invitation of Jesus; they simply obeyed and went with Him to the mountain of transfiguration. Thus, they had that sudden experience of heaven. And they knew from thereon that if they would only be faithful to their discipleship for the Lord, they already had their own dwelling in heaven.

Perhaps when Jesus told Peter, James, and John to go with Him onto the mountain of transfiguration, He was also testing the three of them. He was testing the strength of their faith and discipleship for Him. And they passed their test of faith, much like Abraham who also passed his own test of faith in the first reading (Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18) . 

Thus, Peter, James, and John were richly rewarded by God. Among other rewards, the three disciples experienced a foretaste of heaven. 

As long as we live in this world, we will also face our own tests of faith, coming in different forms and shapes. Let us remain faithful, no matter how hard and difficult the tests may be.

For there is always a reward for those who remain faithful. And what is the reward? Life in heaven someday with the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 25, Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Marcos 9:2-10

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:2-10

Noong panahong iyon, umakyat si Jesus sa isang mataas na bundok. Wala siyang isinama kundi sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan. Samantalang sila'y naroon, nakita nilang nagbagong-anyo si Jesus, nagningning ang kanyang kasuutan na naging puting-puti, anupa't walang sinumang makapagpapaputi nang gayon. 

At nakita ng tatlong alagad si Moises at si Elias, na nakikipag-usap kay Jesus. Sinabi ni Pedro kay Jesus, "Guro, mabuti pa'y dumito na tayo. Gagawa po kami ng tatlong kubol: isa sa inyo, isa kay Moises at isa kay Elias." Hindi nalalaman ni Pedro ang kanyang sinasabi sapagkat masyado ang takot niya at ng kanyang mga kasama. 

At nililiman sila ng isang alapaap at mula rito'y may tinig na nagsabi, "Ito ang minamahal kong Anak. Pakinggan ninyo siya!" Pagdaka, tumingin ang mga alagad sa paligid nila at nakitang wala na silang kasama roon kundi si Jesus.

Habang bumababa sila sa bundok ay mahigpit na itinagubilin sa kanila ni Jesus: "Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman ang inyong nakita hangga't hindi muling nabubuhay ang Anak ng Tao." 

Reflection for February 24, Saturday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

It’s very easy to love those who love us back but can we still love those whose love for us is declining? 

During the infancy of marriage both spouses love each other deeply. But after a couple of years cracks would surely show up to test the strength of the marriage bond. For example, both spouses will not be affectionate anymore they would not be as what they used to be during the early part of their marriage. 

Would you easily give up on your spouse whose love for you is waning? Of course not! You should rather continue on loving your spouse no matter what. You should never give up and try to understand the imperfections and shortcomings for the simple reason that you also have your own imperfections and shortcomings as well. 

Jesus’ love for us is not a selective love, its a love that is not based on the love that we give to Him. He loves us dearly in spite of our many imperfections and shortcomings. – Marino J. Dasmarinas