Reflection for July 20 Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:14-21

Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. 

This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 

A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

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Reflection:

What are you going to do if you know that powerful people are after your life? Of course you would do what Jesus did: You will also withdraw to a place where you will be safe. But unlike Jesus who continued to do HIS acts of mercy even if HIS life was already in danger. You may not do anything except hide and protect your life, this is what separate Jesus from all of us. 

For Jesus the greater good is not to protect HIS life but to continue to serve the people that HE dearly loved. This love for HIS people eventually culminated in HIS death on the cross. 

But not all of us are afraid to give our very life for the sake of our fellowmen. There are others who selflessly gave their lives so that others may live and be free. This is best exemplified by our heroes who selflessly gave their lives for our sake. 

Let us therefore be like Jesus, let us not be afraid to give our time, treasure and even our life for His mission. Because someday we will be able to harvest our reward from the Good Lord. We may not receive it in our lifetime. 

But will certainly receive it eventually when our journey in this world is over and that is already in heaven. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for July 19 Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath. 

He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? 

I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What is in the heart of Jesus? It’s mercy and compassion for His people. Mercy and compassion that is ever ready to transgress sacred laws such as the Sabbath law. 

Being God the Son Jesus perfectly knew that what He was doing was right. But the Pharisees did not know the true identity of Jesus. So they questioned the decision of Jesus to allow His disciples to pick and eat the grains on a Sabbath day. 

Do you know Jesus deeply? Do you feel His presence in your life? If you don’t know Jesus deeply and if you don’t feel His presence in your life. You will also question some events or trial/s that occurs in your life. 

For instance when you go through severe trials such as financial difficulty, sickness and the like . You might also question the Lord Jesus and ask Him this question: Why am I going through this trial or why did you allow me to go through this episode in my life? 

But if you know Jesus and if you feel His presence in your life. You will never question Jesus thus you will simply bow to His will and trust Him. Why bow to His will? This is for the reason that you know that something greater is in store for you. That you don’t see and know yet now but you will certainly see and feel in your life in the future.   

Ask Jesus therefore to give you the gift of knowing Him deeply and the gift of His living presence in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 18 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a young man who was struggling to find his place in this world.  He was already at the point of surrender. He murmured to himself, “I am a total failure” in the abyss of his frustration he thought of ending his life.  

Until he was advised by a friend to seek God and surrender every burdens that he has in his heart. So, he went to Holy Mass regularly and he read his bible, after a few weeks he developed a deep friendship with Jesus and he surrendered his everything to Him. 

Many of us have this tendency to allow ourselves to be eaten up by the frenetic pace and materialism of this world. We get too busy in fact very busy because we want to satisfy our many temporal wants. But come to think of it, why are we punishing ourselves too much just to satisfy our worldly desires? Why are many of us favoring this world over God when what we earn from this world can actually be taken from us anytime? When we can go out of this world anytime?

In our gospel for today, Jesus invites us all to go to Him. We who are so busy with this world, we who tend to forget the primacy of God over this world. When are we going to open our hearts to this invitation of Jesus? When we are already old and sickly? Let us not wait for that time to come. Let us build a relationship with Jesus now and let us respond to His invitation now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 17 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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Reflection:

What is the key to know Gods will for you? It’s humility,  a humble person is ever ready to listen to the voice and will of God. He/she doesn’t go against the will of God he/she rather allows God’s will to work in his/her life. In the process of allowing God’s will to rule his/her life he/she discovers more about God. 

When you are humble you open yourself to the countless blessings that emanates from God. You may ask, how am I going to be humble in front of God? You have to follow the rules of Jesus and of the church which Jesus founded through St. Peter.   

For example the teaching of Sunday Holy Mass obligation, a humble person would always see to it that he/she is always present in this sacred celebration. Another example is our humble submission to the sacraments most especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A humble person would always find time to confess his/her sins to a priest who acts in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus always looks kindly to those who are childlike and humble. Why? Because this is the nature of God: He loves those who are humble and He reveals Himself more to the childlike and humble.  

Do you want to know more about God? And do you want to have a deeper friendship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 16 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 

But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. 

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

Do you get frustrated or even get angry every once in a while? It’s ok for as long as your frustration and anger is for a good reason. And for as long as your anger doesn’t stay for long in your heart.  For example, you advice a relative or a friend to mend his/her ways but she/he doesn’t listen to you.   

In his humanity Jesus also gets frustrated like us and it is shown in the gospel. When He reproached the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida due to their refusal to repent. Jesus wanted the inhabitants of the two towns to change their wicked ways and accept His good news. 

Some of us are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness, so; we continue to sin. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts. 

Sin in whatever shapes and forms is a clear and present danger in our lives. We must not only avoid sin let us also confront sin so that it will permanently banish from our system of existence. Sin is the devil in disguise and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday July 15 Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

What is this sword that Jesus speaks about in the gospel? 

It’s the sword of truth and righteousness! Jesus came into this world to bring the sword of truth and righteousness and this sword of truth and righteousness pierces anyone who stands in the way. 

Man against his father? Daughter against her mother? Indeed, if anyone stands in the way even if they are our relatives we should not be afraid to speak in the name of truth and righteousness. We should not be afraid to voice out what we think is right no matter who gets hurt. In the same manner that we should not be afraid to voice out our sentiments even if the person whom we are going to address has the money, influence and power. 

Sometimes we have second thoughts if we are going to speak our mind in the name of Jesus. We ought not to think twice we must have the courage to say what’s in our minds in the name of the sword of Jesus’ truth and righteousness. 

The church always speaks out its mind whenever there are issues or policies that hurt the people of God. The church is not afraid to contradict anyone in power even if it creates temporary enmity. Why? For the simple reason that the mission of the church is to speak for God and to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 14, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 

He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So, they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

What were the apostles thinking when they were sent to their mission by Jesus without bringing any provisions? Perhaps they were worried, so questions arose like, "What are we going to eat?" and "Would we be able to survive this difficult mission?" But eventually their questioning minds were overwhelmed by their faith and trust in Jesus. And so, they move ahead and became successful missioners of Jesus.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how God will sustain us or how we can survive the difficulties of life, until we learn to hold on to our faith and give our full trust and confidence to the almighty hand of Jesus. Many of us fail in our endeavors because we lack faith and trust in the Lord. Instead of trusting the Lord, we rely on ourselves. So we fail, and the main culprit is our feeble faith.

Trust and faith were the two main ingredients that made the twelve apostles successful in their mission. Trust and faith in Jesus must also be our guiding light as we move on to do our mission for Christ, or as we move on to live our life for Jesus.

Let us not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the challenges that may confront us, no matter how difficult. Why? Because the Lord will always be with us to help us as we help Him advance His teachings.

In hindsight, has God forsaken anyone who helped Him spread His teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 13 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 

“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who suddenly died in an accident. While on his way to heaven St. Peter suddenly stopped him, he asked the man: “What have you done for Jesus when you were still alive?” The man wasn’t able to answer because he was solely devoted to his many earthly concerns. 

Someday in the foreseeable future, our lives shall come to an end as well, and perhaps God will ask us, "What have you done for me? Have you acknowledged me before others? Have you lived and shared my teachings?" How would you answer God during that time? 

While we are still in our life’s journey let us not forget the importance of acknowledging Jesus and the importance of sharing and living our faith in Him. If so far we have been solely concerned with the things of this world we are therefore being gently reminded that this world is temporary and passing. 

Only God is everlasting. We will not be able to escape our appointment with death someday. And when that day comes, our fervent hope is that we will be allowed entry by Saint Peter into the pearly gates because we’ve done something for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 12 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.  

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  

Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

Are you ready to give your life for the mission of Jesus? This is a very hard question to answer but there are many already who dared to willingly give their lives for the mission of Jesus. What fuels them to give their lives when they have a choice not to give it?  

 It’s their burning desire to witness for Jesus. The same Jesus who strengthens them to endure and continue with their mission even at the cost of their lives. To be a real follower of Jesus is easier said than done. It’s easy to say I am a Christian but to live this Christian pronouncement is another story altogether. How about you? Are you willing to give your life for the mission of Jesus?    

When you give your life to Jesus you will face persecution as well. But what is consoling here is the midst of your trials and persecution you also will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in your life. For the reason that Jesus has never abandoned anyone who gave their lives  for His mission in this world.  

Be not afraid to give your life for the mission of Jesus. For when you decide to do so you will soon after find the real purpose of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday July 11 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. 

The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. 

Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

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Reflection:

Do we expect to receive something in return for the things that we do for God? We better not expect because when our expectations are not meet we would be disappointed. Let’s just do good and be content with the fact that we’ve done good to our fellowmen. 

Money rules they say, but for those who follow Jesus money does not rule and money doesn’t dictate. It’s Jesus who rules and dictates, when we allow Jesus to rule and dictate our life. We are free from worries that emanates from this world and we are not beholden to anybody in this world.    

When Jesus was sending off his twelve apostles to their mission, one of His specific declarations for them was this: not to let money or anything worldly rule over them. Jesus instead wanted His apostles to let Him rule their lives.

When we let Jesus rule our lives, we no longer care about worldly possessions. Instead, we will be satisfied with what we have, no matter how meager the things that we have. This is because we believe that the essence and fullness of life is not measured by material ownership.

Let us therefore seek Jesus in our lives for when we have Jesus we have everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 10 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Reflection:

Where does the Kingdom of Heaven lie?

It lies within us and has been with us since we were baptized. But we may ask, if the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, why is life still full of challenges and problems? This is because we refuse to live our lives according to God’s will for us.

Thus, we live our life according to our own will and not according to God’s will. For example, there is a temptation to sin; instead of confronting that sin so that it would not temp us again we instead allow that temptation to capture us. 

So what happens when we live our life according to our own terms? We open our life to many problems, problems that we could actually avoid if we only live our life according to the will of God. 

It’s not difficult to know God’s will for us, by going to Holy Mass we will begin to discern God’s will for our life. By reading our bible we will discern the will of God for us. By our frequent interactions with Jesus through our prayers we will discern the will of God. And we would have a deeper friendship with the Lord.   

Many of us are lost in this world and lack an awareness of the Kingdom of Heaven because we are not always in touch with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 9 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Reflection:

How does the gospel speaks to you today? Does it tell us that you need to do something for the kingdom of God? Jesus tells the disciples in the gospel and He tells this to you too. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37)”.

Indeed, the harvest is abundant yet those who venture to volunteer their time for God’s kingdom are still few. We don’t know the reason behind but perhaps we could guess that it’s our worldly preoccupations. So we forget that there is a much greater purpose and glory beyond this world that awaits us and that is the kingdom of God.  

When we are near death already the labors that we have given to this world will not matter anymore. We will not think about how big our bank accounts. We will not think about our many worldly achievements. What we will be thinking about is the status of our soul and where it would be after we die. 

This is what confronts us when we are already near death: the status of our souls after they depart from our bodies. Therefore, to avoid this dilemma, let us do something for the advancement of the kingdom of God in this world.

Any effort that we do today for God no matter how small for so long as we sincerely do it for His greater glory. Will be permanently remembered by God and will become our passport to heaven when our departure time comes. 

We therefore have to do something no matter how insignificant it may seem to help the Lord advance the faith. Let us not worry for the Good Lord will be with us and we would richly be rewarded someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 8 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus can cure you of whatever sickness that you have? The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years believed that she would be healed by Jesus. She believed that the moment she touched even the tassel of Jesus cloak she would be healed. What a display of deep faith!  

Sometimes we don’t get what we wish from the Lord because we doubt. We allow the devil to disturb our faith thus we don’t get what we want. We see in the gospel a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve long years she obviously has deep faith. Faith that is willing to overcome whatever obstacles that are put in front of her.  Do you have the same deep faith as this woman in the gospel? 

When Jesus noticed this woman of faith, He told her, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you (Matthew 9:22).” And the result was immediate healing for the woman. 

Are we suffering from any form of sickness right now? Let us pray to the Lord and let us ask Him to heal us. Let us beseech the Lord to give us the same healing that He gave the woman in the gospel. Jesus will surely heal us for He will not refuse anyone who approaches Him with deep faith and humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday July 7, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? 

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

How do you handle rejection? 

Rejection is very difficult to handle. Just imagine going on vacation to the place where you grew up. Naturally, you expect nothing less than the best reception you could ever have. 

You expect your relatives and friends to treat you affectionately, and you expect everyone to be kind to you. But you were unfortunately rejected, how would you feel? Of course, you would feel bad. Just imagine being rejected in your own native land. 

How did Jesus handle His own rejection from His townspeople in Nazareth? Jesus handled His rejection with humility. He never raised His voice or got angry with anyone there. Though He could have done something sinister, He chose not to. Instead, He continued His ministry by curing a few sick people. Of course, He could have performed more miracles, but He was being insulted. 

The crux of the matter here is Jesus’ humility as opposed to our arrogance when somebody rejects us. Take for example in our own sphere of environment. Don’t we feel bad when we don’t get what we want? 

Let us, therefore, take every rejection we encounter in our lives with humility. Let us never react with anger, as this is not the proper way to respond. Our fellowmen would respect and admire us more if we remain calm and humble in the face of rejection.  

Can we be like Jesus, who took His rejection with calmness and humility? – Marino J. Dasmarinas