Reflection for May 24 Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”

 They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 

So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

What if married couples decide not to divorce or separate? There would be no breakup of marriage, there would be no suffering children and there would be no hurting spouses.

Married couples who separate are only concerned with their own welfare and fleeting, false happiness. They don’t care about what will happen to their child or children, who are the main casualties when parents separate.

Beneath the opposition of Jesus to divorce is His command for couples to persevere in their marriage. HE commands us to always remember the vows of marriage whenever we are tempted to betray it or walk away from it. He commands us to accept the fact that marriage is not always a bed of roses but sometimes bed laden with thorns.

For the reason that there is no perfect marriage, there would also be thorny episodes in marriage. So the couple must stay no matter what their difficulties are. The couple must learn to adjust and sometimes bend in humility for the marriage to grow, bear fruit and succeed.

Incompatibility is not the reason why couples separate; it’s rather the lack of humility, the stubbornness to respect the sacred vows of the marriage covenant and the lack of active prayer life inside the marriage.

Just imagine if both husband and wife learns to imbibe humility.  Just imagine if there is an active presence of prayer life inside the marriage.  And just imagine if both spouses would learn to respect the sacred vows of marriage no matter the temptation that may come their way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday May 23 Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest (Feast): Mark 14:22-26

Gospel: Mark 14:22-26

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. 

Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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Reflection:    

A young man asked his parents why they go to church to attend daily Mass. His parents told him that they attend Mass daily because they get to see Jesus in the altar and they receive Jesus and be one with Him during Holy Communion.  

Then the son said, "How come when I go to Mass, I don’t see Jesus? I only see the priest at the altar, and during Holy Communion, I only see the wafer bread that is given to me by the priest." 

The father said, "I think you’re lacking in faith and perhaps you’re not focused on the celebration of the Holy Mass. That is why you don’t see that it’s Jesus who presides. 

Lack of faith and focus during Holy Mass is something that many of us experience. That is why we don’t take Holy Mass seriously and that is why we are easily swayed to switch to other Christian faiths. And leave behind our Roman Catholic faith the moment somebody read to us selected bible passages. If our faith in Jesus is strong and if our belief in the Holy Mass is rock solid we will not leave the church and we will take seriously our presence at Holy Mass. 

Who presides in the celebration of the Holy Mass? It’s none other than Jesus in the person of the priest! The same Jesus who took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to His apostles and said: “Take it this is my body.” The same Jesus who took a cup, gave thanks then gave the cup to His apostles after which they all drank from it (Mark 14:22-23).   It’s only through the eyes of our faith that we would be able to comprehend that it’s really Jesus who presides in every Mass. 

Do you believe? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Mayo 23, Panginoong Hesukristo Walang Hanggan at Dakilang Pari (Kapistahan): Marcos 14:20-25

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 14:20-25

Samantalang sila’y kumakain, dumampot ng tinapay si Hesus, at matapos magpasalamat sa Diyos ay kanyang pinaghati-hati at ibinigay sa mga alagad. “Kunin ninyo; ito ang aking katawan,” wika niya. Hinawakan niya ang kalis, at matapos magpasalamat ay ibinigay sa kanila; at uminom silang lahat.

Sinabi niya, “Ito ang aking dugo ng tipan, ang dugong mabubuhos dahil sa marami. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi na ako iinom ng alak na mula sa ubas hanggang sa araw na inumin ko ang bagong alak sa kaharian ng Diyos.”     

Reflection for May 22 Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. 

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

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Reflection:

Why do some Catholics leave the church in favor of other Christian church?  If we would ask them why they left they would normally say that they felt Jesus’ presence more in their lives when the Pastor of the Christian church shared passages about Jesus in the bible. 

Should we get angry with these Christian churches for convincing some of our brethren who grew bored in our church to join their church? Of course not! We should rather be more innovative in our preaching about the word of God so that our brethren will feel Jesus’ presence in their lives. 

John said to Jesus: “someone is driving out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied: “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” 

We should at all times be gentle, tolerant and loving towards other Christian religions for we preach the same God. We may have doctrinal differences with them but at the end of the day we preach the same Jesus whose mission is to save us from ending up in hell someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for May 21 Tuesday of the Seventh Week of 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:

What is the most important virtue of a follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking anything in return. The follower doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to be known, to be powerful and to be popular. 

While Jesus and His disciples were passing through Galilee, He was discussing with them the things that would happen to Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention because they were preoccupied with discussing who among them was the greatest. What an ego trip for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus, they were burnishing their own self-image among themselves. They were discussing who among them was the greatest.  

During that instance the desire to humbly follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly raise up their own self-image. And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this world.     

If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to occupy the starring role. We have to be humble, simple and always ready to serve at all times for this is the only way whereby we can bring others closer to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday May 20, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church: John 19:25-34

Gospel: John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. 

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”  There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first     and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

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Reflection:

What do you thirst for? 

Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said, "I thirst"? In His humanity, yes, it was physical thirst, but more than that, it was a thirst for those people who were formerly with Him.

Dying on the cross, Jesus was perhaps whimpering while saying, "I thirst." Why? Because He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His powerful, miraculous healing and speaking ministry.

It is in the lowest episodes of our lives that we would know who is really for us and not for us. Those who are for us would choose to remain no matter the odds against us. Those who are not for us would immediately evaporate from our sights to save their necks. 

When we encounter these words: “I thirst.”  Let us imagine that Jesus is addressing these words to us. I thirst for you to be faithful in your marriage covenant. I thirst for you to be honest where you are presently working right now. I Thirst for you to value the sacredness of life over the evils of abortion and other forms of cruelty against humanity. I thirst for you to always be humble and simple, I thirst for you to respect your parents and so on. 

 I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass every Sunday.  I thirst for you to become a good and responsible father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to me and to my teachings. 

Would you respond to Jesus thirst? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday May 19, Solemnity of Pentecost: John 20:19-23

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained.”

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Reflection:

Have you ever been in a situation where you feared for your life? The disciples were in this predicament after Jesus died on the cross. They were running for their lives and were being hunted by the ruling powers during that time. It must have been very difficult for them. Some of them might have even worn disguises to avoid being recognized. 

With low morale and fearing for their lives, they still managed to communicate and agreed to meet in a room. While in the room, perhaps praying and strategizing for their next plan of action, lo and behold, the Lord Jesus appeared to them. For what reason? To give them hope and peace. And before they separated, Jesus breathed on them and gave them the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Sometimes, it is in the lowest points in our lives that the Lord Jesus manifests His presence to us. Perhaps this is so because this is always the moment when we are in need of Him. This is the moment in our lives when our minds are not preoccupied by worldliness but are solely occupied by our desire to ask for the Lord’s help. 

Yet, the Lord comes to us not only by Himself; He comes to us bringing with Him peace, hope, and surely the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Why the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit? Because the Lord Jesus perfectly knows that we would be facing our own share of difficulties as we continue our journey in this world. 

The Holy Spirit is also with us so that it can disturb our conscience whenever we sin or are planning to sin. It will give us Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Courage, Knowledge, Peity and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3 and Acts 2:1-4). Let us therefore pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and let us ask the Holy Spirit to shower us the seven gifts. 

Do you always pray to the Holy Spirit? Do you regularly ask the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and shower you with its seven gifts? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 18 Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 21:20-25

Gospel: John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” 

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?”  

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

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Reflection:

Do you always stay close to Jesus? 

John is the disciple whom Jesus loved; there is that closeness between them and we saw it when John reclined upon His chest (John 13:23-25). John was also the only disciple who was with Jesus until His last gasp of breath on the cross.  

In our present time it may be very odd to see a man recline upon the chest of another man. Our  imaginations will conclude something else which is not right. But during Jesus’ time; it suggest close friendship between the Master/Teacher (Jesus) and His disciple (John). John had Jesus’ ears that he could ask HIM questions whenever he wants too. The strength of their friendship was clearly evident when John stayed with Jesus until the very end of the Lord’s earthly life.  

This is also the friendship that the Lord wants from us, Jesus wants us to always lean towards Him and stay with Him regardless of our life’s predicaments. We stay close to Jesus in our happy moments, and even more so, we should lean closer to Jesus in our moments of sadness, difficulties, and trials. With Jesus, we always have someone who will help us overcome whatever difficulties we are going through.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 17 Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 21:15-19

Gospel: John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 

He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” 

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid to grow old? 

The reality of life is this: we will eventually grow old; this is a course of our life that no one of us can stop. Whether we like it or not we will all be growing old and we will be at the mercy of those who will be with us by that time. 

Can we assure ourselves that we will be properly treated when we become old and powerless? None of us can assure that there will be proper treatment for us by that time but Jesus gives us some hint on how to assure proper and equitable treatment for us when we become old and gray. 

He tells us in the gospel to feed and take care of His people, in other words feed and take care of anyone who is hungry. Don’t be selective; help everyone who is in need. But let us not help with the motive in mind that we will do it because we will be in need of help also in the distant future when we are old. 

Let us help because this is the right act to do, help because this is what Jesus wants from us immaterial if we will be helped or not in the future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for May 16 Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:20-26

Gospel: John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. 

And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.  

Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

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Reflection:

What would happen if the love of Jesus is present in a family? There is unity and there is an unbreakable bond that exists no matter what happen inside that family.  On the other hand what would happen if the love of God is not present in a family? There would be disunity, human created problems and dysfunctionality which would eventually lead to the disintegration of the family. 

Jesus love for God and God’s love for Jesus is the only love that can bind and unify members of family.  It’s a love that is humble and persevering; no wonder Jesus remained faithful to HIS mission of salvation. Jesus humbled Himself even if HE is equal to  God and He persevered to fulfill HIS salvific mission even at the cost of HIS life.  

If spouses want their family to remain united in love forever they must also have the same humility and perseverance. The children should have an active prayer life taught by their parents and anchored on their wisdom filled shepherding as well. Thus, it will not fall to the trap of the devil who always incite for the dismemberment of the family.  

Let us reflect if we have the love of Jesus and God inside our own family. Let us reflect if we breathe humility and perseverance for the sake of the well-being of our children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 16, Huwebes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:20-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:20-26

Noong panahong iyon, tumingala si Hesus at nanalangin, “Amang banal, hindi lamang ang aking mga alagad idinadalangin ko, kundi pati ang mga mananalig sa akin dahil sa kanilang pahayag. Maging isa nawa silang lahat, Ama. Kung paanong ikaw ay nasa akin at ako'y nasa iyo, gayun din naman, maging isa sila sa atin upang maniwala ang sanlibutan na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin. 

Ang karangalang ibinigay mo sa akin ay ibinigay ko sa kanila upang sila'y maging ganap na isa, gaya nating iisa; ako'y nasa kanila at ikaw ay nasa akin, upang lubusan silang maging isa. At sa gayon, makikilala ng sanlibutan na sinugo mo ako, at sila'y inibig mo katulad ng pag-ibig mo sa akin."

"Ama, nais kong makasama sa aking kinaroroonan ang mga binigay mo sa akin, upang mamasdan nila ang karangalang bigay mo sa akin, sapagkat inibig mo na ako bago pa nilikha ang sanlibutan. Makatarungang Ama, hindi ka nakikilala ng sanlibutan, ngunit nakikilala kita, at nalalaman ng mga ibinigay mo sa akin na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin. Ipinakilala kita sa kanila, at ipakikilala pa, upang ang pag-ibig mo sa akin ay sumapuso nila at ako nama'y sumakanila."

Reflection for May 15 Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:11b-19

Gospel: John 17:11b-19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  

But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.  

They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them so that they also may be consecrated in truth.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a husband and wife who wanted to adhere to the teachings of the church that marriage is for life. So they thought of ways on how they would go about it. In their reflection they thought of making prayer as an agent that would bind them together until they breathe their last. To make a long story short they made prayer part of their married life. Thus, they remained married until the end.  

As Jesus was about to be arrested, He prayed to God for His disciples. That they may continually be united as one in their mission, united for the reason that they would not succeed without unity.  Isn’t this true also inside a family and married life? A family needs unity for it to succeed, what are the fruits of unity inside the family/marriage? The fruits are: Humility, Honesty, Forgiveness and many more positive attributes.  

Every family/marriage that succeeds spiritually is a praying family and a praying family is a united family. Let us therefore not devalue the powerful miracle of prayer inside the family/marriage. Because the family that prays as one would remain united forever.    

Is prayer already part of the culture of your life, family and marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday May 14, Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.  

I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a wife whose husband has strayed so many times. Therefore, the wife’s relatives were asking her to leave her philandering husband. However, the wife would have none of her relatives’ suggestion. She instead remained in their marriage covenant. Eventually, the philandering husband was enlightened and they lived happily until the end of their lives.  

How could we remain in God’s love forever? Jesus gives us the answer, we must keep the commandments. For example in the marriage covenant, Jesus command for the couple is to be married until the end.  To share their burdens, trials and joys forever. Not to give burdens, domination and mental torture forever.    

The only way for a married couple to remain in God’s love forever is to express love until the end. But none of us are perfect; many of us sin and wander away from the marriage covenant. Nonetheless, we are not hopeless for Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us to be within the ambit of His love again whenever we sin and stray. 

There is no perfect marriage in this world because we are not perfect beings; each of us has our own flaws and shortcomings. Therefore we should be forgiving and must always have the humility to admit our own mistakes and shortcomings.  

The love of God is always there for us each day to assure us that none of us are beyond its reach. The same with the love of a spouse for his/her beloved He/she always keeps that sacred love for his/her beloved inside her/his heart. Always hoping that the spouses who strayed would soon find the light, forgiveness and love of God.  

This is also God’s hope and expectation for you. That you may soon find the light, love and forgiveness of God which by the way is always there for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 13, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 16:29-33

Gospel: John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.  

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who aimed for worldly riches and greatness in his chosen field of endeavour. By his hard work he was able to achieve his aims. He thought that it would be the crowning glory of his life but he aimed for more riches. In doing so, he had no peace and contentment, he became a slave of this world.  

Jesus tells us in the gospel for this Monday, You will have peace in me, in this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). Many of us allow ourselves to be enslaved by this world up to this very moment. Until we get sick, until we are near death and the reason behind is we keep on chasing the temporal riches and power of this world. Which in reality will not give us good health, peace and contentment.  

Jesus offers us His peace. Peace that no one can give us, peace that money can't buy, peace even in the midst of the many worries of this world and peace that we can have even beyond this world.

Let us wholeheartedly accept this and the moment we do we would begin to free ourselves from the possession of this world. Hence, we will not live for this world anymore and we will not be concerned anymore about others opinion toward us. For the simple reason that we already have the peace of Jesus in our hearts.  

Would you accept the peace that Jesus is offering you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas