Short, Simple and Personal reflections on the daily Holy Mass Gospel. I provide talks.
Friday, August 09, 2024
Ang Mabuting Balita, Sabado Agosto 10 Kapistahan ni San Lorenzo diyakono at martir: Juan 12:24-26
Thursday, August 08, 2024
Reflection for August 9 Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 16:24-28
What profit would there be for one to gain
the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his
life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and
then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are
some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man
coming in his Kingdom.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
During the fifteenth century a rich and educated man named Bernadino Realino left everything for Christ. At 26 he was already a lawyer, a doctor and a town mayor, he had everything that a young man could ever ask for.
When he was 34, he went to attend a retreat and during that retreat he felt an overwhelming call from Jesus to become a priest. Thus, he left everything to become a priest and from that moment onwards he devoted his life to serve the poor.
This saint found the real meaning of his life by leaving all of his earthly riches and attachments in favor of Jesus. He found his heavenly wealth by leaving behind his earthly wealth. He knew that nothing compares to Jesus.
This is an eye opener for all of us who are so very enamoured by material wealth and earthly power. Many of us are so taken by the things of this world that we take Jesus for granted in favor of this world. But everything from this world is passing and temporary, someday we will leave it behind.
We will have neither earthly influence nor riches if we decide to follow Jesus. We would be losing many of our friends if we follow Jesus. But all of these earthly trappings are immaterial compared to the life that awaits us if we decide hear the call of Jesus.
To hear the call of Jesus is to be willing to leave behind our sinfulness, our arrogance and egotism. To hear the call of Jesus is to be willing to be present at Holy Mass and read the bible. To hear the call of Jesus is to have the courage to leave behind friends who do nothing to us except to influence us to sin. To hear the call of Jesus is to desire to serve the poor and downtrodden without expecting anything in return.
Are you willing to leave everything for the sake of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Wednesday, August 07, 2024
Reflection for Thursday August 8 Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest: Matthew 16:13-23
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to
rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He
turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You
are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
+ + + + + +
One important thing that I noticed about him was he never complained why he was poor and suffering. As I go to him every Sunday never did I hear him complain about anything. He carried his suffering without questioning God until he eventually died. Perhaps he knew that to suffer was part of his discipleship with Jesus.
When Jesus told Peter and the disciples that He must undergo sufferings for the accomplishment of His mission. Peter reacted with indignation, perhaps Peter couldn’t accept the fact that this powerful and charismatic man would suffer. Perhaps because of the power of Jesus peter thought that Jesus was already immune of suffering/s. But Jesus was not exempted from suffering HE had to go through it for it was part of His destiny and mission.
How about us, don’t we question Jesus why we have to go through sufferings? Don’t we question Jesus, why me Lord considering that I am your follower? Perhaps Jesus would tell us this: Take courage my child, your suffering/s is a reminder that I am always here for you call on me because I am ever ready to help you carry your suffering. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Tuesday, August 06, 2024
Reflection for August 7 Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 15:21-28
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply, “It is not right to take
the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord,
for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done
for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How do you define your faith in Jesus? It’s when you don’t give up on what you want from Jesus. You continuously badger Him with your prayers until He answers it.
The Canaanite woman had this kind of faith, she never gave up on her prayer request for Jesus to heal her daughter tormented by a demon. There were many obstacles stacked against her, foremost of this was her being not a Jew but it did not matter to her. She persisted and she even argued with Jesus until she passed Jesus’ examination of her faith. After which her daughter was healed by Jesus.
This gospel relates with our own journey of faith with Jesus also. Anyone of us could be that Canaanite woman who badgered Jesus no end until she got the healing that she wants for her daughter.
However, unlike the woman from Canaan who persisted until the very end we may not have the will to badger Jesus. We may have quit already and said to ourselves, “I give up on my prayer for Jesus because He seems to be deaf.” What we do not know is the delay is just part of the testing of our faith.
Every trial that we go through is our own test of faith. For example, the harshness of life that many of us are presently going through this is just a test of our faith and will to survive. Let us therefore not give up and let us continue to pray to the Lord for He will soon hear our prayers. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Agosto 7 Miyerkules sa Ika-18 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 15:21-28
Ngunit gaputok ma'y di tumugon si Jesus. at lumapit ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanya. "Pagbigyan na nga po ninyo at nang umalis. Siya'y nag-iingay at susunod-sunod sa atin." Sumagot si Jesus, "Sa mga tupang naliligaw ng sambahayan ng Israel lamang ako sinugo." Ngunit lumapit sa kanya ang babae, lumuhod sa harapan at ang sabi, "Tulungan po ninyo ako, Panginoon."
Sumagot si Jesus, "Hindi dapat kunin ang pagkain ng mga anak upang ihagis sa mga tuta." "Tunay nga po, Panginoon," tugon ng babae, "ngunit ang mga tuta man ay nagsisikain ng mumong nalalaglag sa hapag ng kanilang panginoon." Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Napakalaki ng iyong pananalig! Mangyayari ang hinihiling mo." At noon di'y gumaling ang kanyang anak.
Monday, August 05, 2024
Reflection for Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:13-21
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over–twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a poor woman who got sick with a serious sickness being poor she naturally cant afford the expensive medication process. So, she said to Jesus: “O my Lord I have nothing except my faith, I will go to the nearest hospital and simply entrust everything to you.”
And she went to the hospital, upon arriving a kind hearted doctor asked her: “What can I do for you.” The woman said: “I’m very sick please help me and the doctor said: “Don’t worry I will help you get healed.” While she was being assisted by the doctor the woman saw a gleaming pin of the sacred heart of Jesus attached to the doctor’s coat.
When we have faith the impossible becomes possible, the faraway becomes within reach and the unbelievable becomes believable.
In the gospel, when Jesus saw the vast crowd waiting for Him, His heart was moved with pity for them. Thus, Jesus cured those who were sick (Matthew 14:14). When evening came the disciples told Jesus to let go of the vast crowd so that they can buy their food. But Jesus would have nothing of His disciples’ suggestion.
He instead told His disciples to feed them but there was no food except for the five loaves and two fish. So, Jesus asked for the five loaves and two fish and it was all what Jesus needed to feed the vast crowd.
Because of the harshness of life, many are losing hope. However, there is hope, and it is offered to us by Jesus in the gospel. All Jesus asks of us is to continue to have faith. The same faith of the crowd who waited for Jesus’ healing and the same faith of the crowd who were fed by Jesus by means of the multiplication of the five bread and two fish.
Let us never doubt the power of Jesus to see us through out of our difficult situation. Let us continue to pray and have faith in the power of Jesus. Let us continue to have faith that Jesus will make a way when there seems to be no way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sunday, August 04, 2024
Reflection for Sunday August 4, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 6:24-35
Gospel: John 6:24-35
Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
During the latter part of Saint Catherine of Siena's life, she was unable to eat or drink water. What sustained her during that crucial period was her daily reception of Jesus through Holy Communion. She was sustained for a number of years by the Bread of Life until she eventually died.
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus boldly tells us that He is the true Bread of Life, the one we must seek and always hunger for. Why? Because once we find Jesus, we will never hunger or thirst for the material things of this world, which are fleeting and can be taken away from us at any time.
There are people who treat material possessions, money, power, and influence as their own "bread of life." However, this is not the true Bread of Life but merely the temporary bread of the world. There is no satisfaction with this worldly bread because the more we possess, the more we crave it. We will continuously hunger and thirst for this bread of the world until it completely possesses and destroys us.
But what if we seek the true Bread of Life, which is Jesus? We would find satisfaction with whatever we have. We would no longer crave material possessions, wealth, or power, and we would experience less pressure. Instead, we would be serene and peaceful because Jesus, the true Bread of Life, is with us.
Let us always hold close to our hearts this powerful statement of Jesus: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst" (John 6:35). – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Saturday, August 03, 2024
Ang Mabuting Balita, Linggo Agosto 4 Ika-18 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Juan 6:24-35
Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:24-35
Nakita nila si Jesus sa ibayo ng lawa, at kanilang tinanong, "Rabi, kailan pa kayo rito?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hinahanap ninyo ako, hindi dahil sa mga kababalaghang nakita ninyo, kundi dahil sa nakakain kayo ng tinapay at nabusog. Gumawa kayo, hindi upang magkaroon ng pagkaing nasisira, kundi upang magkaroon ng pagkaing hindi nasisira at nagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan.
Ibibigay ito sa inyo ng Anak ng Tao, sapagkat siya ang binigyan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos Ama." Kaya't siya'y tinanong nila, "Ano po ang dapat naming gawin upang aming maganap ang kalooban ng Diyos?" Ito ang ipinagagawa sa inyo ng Diyos: manalig kayo sa sinugo niya," tugon ni Jesus.
Ano pong kababalaghan ang maipakikita ninyo upang manalig kami sa inyo? Ano po ang gagawin ninyo?" tanong nila. Ang aming mga magulang ay kumain ng manna sa ilang, ayon sa nasusulat, 'Sila'y binigyan niya ng pagkaing mula sa langit,' " dugtong pa nila. Sumagot si Jesus, "Dapat ninyong malamang hindi si Moises ang nagbigay sa sa inyo ng pagkaing mula sa langit, kundi ang aking Ama.
Siya ang nagbibigay sa inyo ng tunay na pagkaing mula sa langit. Sapagkat ang pagkaing bigay ng Diyos ay yaong mula sa langit at nagbibigay-buhay sa sanlibutan." "Ginoo," wika nila, "bigyan po ninyo kaming lagi ng pagkaing iyon." "Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay-buhay," sabi ni Jesus. "Ang lumalapit sa akin ay hindi na magugutom, at ang nananalig sa akin ay hindi na mauuhaw kailanman."
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Reflection for August 3 Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:1-12
Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by
her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.
The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were
present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her
mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they
went and told Jesus.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who is King
Herod?
King Herod is
a tyrant, a leader who will never think twice to suppress or neutralize anyone
who dares cross his path. He will not only suppress, Herod could even
order the killing of anyone he wants so that he could remain in
power.
Respect for
human rights is not part of the vocabulary of Herod, abuse of human rights and
dignity are. This is the reason why John the Baptist was imprisoned John did
nothing wrong he simply said what was to be truthfully said yet John suffered
for it.
Many leaders
are like King Herod, they would bully themselves by the use of strong words and
autocratic power to achieve what they want. We should be very careful and
watchful of these kinds of leaders for they will not do us any good. They will
only use and manipulate us and bring us to perdition.
Many Herods
are roaming around in this world today we therefore have to be watchful and
careful so that we can immediately distance ourselves from them. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Reflection for August 2 Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:54-58
Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58
Are not his sisters all with us? Where did
this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own
house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of
faith.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What if Jesus was a doctor during His time; would they treat Him differently? Would they treat Him with high esteem instead of belittling Him? Of course His townmates would have treated Him with high respect for He was a doctor. But the reality is He was a carpenter and a carpenter’s son. So, they belittled Him and as a result Jesus did not do many miracles in their place.
Sad to say but this is also happening to us, we have different measures and treatment for different people. Many of us treat the rich and educated with high esteem and we regard differently those who are poor and less educated.
Education and status in life are a deceiving standard to gauge the morality, sincerity and kindness of a person. In the heart of an ordinary person we often times find moral fitness, sincerity and kindness. This we often fail to recognize for the reason that we already judge them based on their life's status.
The town mates of Jesus failed to discover this in Jesus because they judge Him based on His life's status. If only they did not disparage Jesus they could have discovered the gentleness of Jesus but they belittled Him for He was just an ordinary carpenter’s son for them.
Perhaps one of the many lessons the gospel imparts to us is not to belittle anyone regardless who they may be. Who knows the people that we belittle are the ones with pure hearts and the ones who will be there for us in our time of need.
Are you quick to judge for the reason of one’s physical appearance, education
and status in life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Monday, July 29, 2024
Reflection for Thursday August 1 Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 13:47-53
Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53
What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
“Do you understand all these things?” They
answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in
the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his
storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he
went away from there.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A desperate man was set to end his life, when he was about to do it he heard the voice of God which told him not to end his life. The man told God, “I am a grievous sinner my Lord I don’t deserve to live anymore, I deserve to die and be in hell.” The Lord told the man, I love you my son no matter who you are and no matter what you have done.
The love of God is like a net thrown into the sea which collects fish of every kind (Matthew 13:47). It does not discriminate; it catches every fish, the good and bad alike. This is the love of God for each and everyone of us: Sinner and non sinner alike.
Yet this love that God gives us freely is not also being forced upon us. We also have the freedom if we would respond by renewing our lives or we continue with our sinful ways. If we renew our lives and permanently walk away from sin then we save our life.
But if we continue on sinning notwithstanding the fact that God has already called us. We therefore have to be ready for the grievous consequence that may befall us. It’s no brainer therefore that we have to discontinue our sinful lives and take advantage of the love of God that he perpetually offers us.
Let us choose to embrace the love of God
and permanently dump into oblivion the sinful offering of the devil. Why?
Because the love of God is peace the love of God is heaven on earth. The
offering of the devil will bring us nowhere but disturbance, problems and hell
even while we are still living. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Reflection for Wednesday July 31 Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest: Matthew 13:44-46
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he
goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
+ + + + + + +
Reflections:
Would you give up your worldly possessions for the kingdom of God?
Jesus depicts His kingdom as treasure and pearl that whoever would find it will give up everything just to have it. Indeed, the kingdom of God is a priceless treasure and pearl that we must all desire. For what it will do us if we have treasures in this world yet we don’t have God in our lives?
The riches of this world are all passing and temporary we will leave it all somewhere along the path of our lives. Whether we like it or not we have to leave everything that we have in this world. So who will remain without end?
The one that will forever be there for us is God; the one that shall bring us to heaven is God. These temporary things that presently surround us will not be able to bring us to our eternal heavenly destination. It’s only through God that we would be able to go to heaven someday and it is only through God that we would experience heaven while we are still in this world.
In our gospel, the person found the true treasure of life which is God; he gave up everything just to have Him. The same also with the merchant when he found the true pearl of his life that is God. He sold everything in his possessions so that he could possess the greatest pearl that is God. Many saints have done this too; they gave up everything just to have Jesus.
What are you willing to give up to have
the Lord in your life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Reflection for July 30 Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:36-43
The weeds are
the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The
harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are
collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the
age.
The Son of
Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who
cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery
furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous
will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought
to hear.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How are you
living your life today? Are you living it in accord with what Jesus wants you
to live it?
Many of
us live life as if there is no tomorrow, we live life to enjoy whatever this
world could offer us, including sin. But life lived for this world alone is not
the real life; there is something more profound than the life that we enjoy in
this fleeting world.
The profound
life is a life lived in the company of Jesus. But how could we discover the accompaniment
and movement of Jesus in our lives? There are so many ways to discern it.
For example,
we will discover that Jesus wants to have a deep friendship with us through a
relative or a good friend. Through a written commentary that we just read out
of nowhere and this written commentary made us think about how we are living
our lives today.
The good
friend and the written commentary that we’ve read are part of the many seeds
that Jesus sows in our hearts. And Jesus expects nothing less from us than to
listen to Him so that He could guide us before our journey ends in this
fleeting world.
At the end of
the gospel Jesus speaks about harvest time or judgment day. When would this be?
This will be at the end of our lives, when we die to be more specific. We will
be judged according to what we’ve done in this world. If we listened to Jesus
we will have a sacred place in His kingdom. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ang Mabuting Balita Hulyo 30 Martes ng Ika-17 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 13:36-43
Ito ang tugon ni Hesus, “Ang Anak ng Tao ang naghahasik ng
mabuting binhi. Ang bukid ay ang sanlibutan. Ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng
Diyos ang mabuting binhi at ang mga taong pinaghaharian ng diyablo ang
masasamang damo. Ang kaaway na naghasik ng mga iyon ay walang iba kundi ang
diyablo. Ang pag-aani ay ang katapusan ng daigdig, at ang mga anghel ang mga
tagapag-ani.
Kung
paanong iniipon ang mga damo at sinusunog, gayun din ang mangyayari sa
katapusan ng daigdig. Susuguin ng Anak ng Tao ang kanyang mga anghel, at
iipunin nila mula sa kanyang pinaghaharian ang lahat ng nagiging sanhi ng
pagkakasala at ang lahat ng gumagawa ng masama, at ihahagis sa maningas na
pugon.
Doo’y
mananangis sila at magngangalit ang kanilang ngipin. At magliliwanag na parang
araw ang mga matuwid sa kaharian ng kanilang Ama. Ang may pandinig ay makinig!”







