Reflection for October 11, Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-4

Gospel: Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: 

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

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Reflection:

Have you asked Jesus to teach you to pray? This is one of the most powerful petitions that we could ever ask Jesus; to teach us to pray. But do we pray regularly? When we pray we connect with Jesus and when we pray we allow Jesus to come to us and strengthen us. 

Let us observe our feelings before and after praying, isn’t that we feel good, mentally strong and light after we’ve prayed? The feeling of a person is different before and after prayer. Why is this so? This is the miracle of our prayer to Jesus, it heals us body and soul; it makes us accept the things that is hard for us to accept and it opens our bodies and souls to so many blessings from the Lord.

Starting today begin your prayer with this humble petition for Jesus: Lord teach me to pray and then solemnly recite the prayer (The Our Father) that Jesus taught us to pray. After praying the Our Father connect with Jesus through a personal prayer that comes from your heart and mind. And before ending your prayer ask Saint Joseph, The Blessed Mother and your favorite saint/s to pray for you.

If exercise is for our bodies, our prayers are for our souls for it makes us have an active and healthy relationship with Jesus. Therefore, the more we pray the more that we make healthy our souls, the more we pray the more that we inch closer to God and the more we pray the less worries we would have.

Do you have a healthy prayer life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 10, Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:38-42

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 

Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

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Reflection:

Are we anxious and worried about many things? This story of Martha is our story also.

Are we not too busy with the daily grind of this temporary life that we don’t have anymore time to pray and listen to Jesus? Many of us are somewhat like  Martha very busy with worldliness and what happens when we have no more time to listen to the Lord?

There’s disintegration in the family and there are many problems that we create for ourselves. Simply because we have no more time to listen to Jesus. There is still life after this present life that we are in and we can best prepare ourselves to go there if we would always take time to listen and be one with Jesus thru our prayers and through the celebration of the Holy Mass.   

Many modern parents today are often very busy with their own worldly activities. They hardly have time to take care and counsel their children. Thus, they try to compensate their lack of personal interactions with their children by giving them money and the latest gadgets that do more harm than good to them.

What would happen to us if, upon waking up in the morning, we immediately reach for our smartphones? If we rush out of bed, eat our breakfast, and become engrossed in our daily activities? We would become citizens of this world who are distant from Jesus.

How about if we take time first to thank Jesus for His many blessings? We pray and listen to Him even for a brief moment? We can always create time for God if we would want to and if we do so. This would surely make us closer to Jesus, we will learn more from Him and we will become more sensitive to what He wants us to do for Him.

When Jesus entered the village and subsequently went to the house of Mary and Martha. It was Mary who took time to sit beside at His feet to listen to Him. Thus Mary imbibed everything that Jesus wanted to tell her. By listening to Jesus she learned from Him and developed a much deeper friendship with Him.

Martha on the other hand was very busy preparing food for Jesus she forgot that Jesus was not after what she was doing. Jesus wanted her to be like Mary, He wanted her to also listen to Him.

By listening to Jesus we learn from Him and we develop a much deeper friendship with Him. Do we always take time daily even for a brief moment to pray and listen to our Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 9, Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:25-37

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. 

Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Reflection:

A man said to his beloved, “I love you until the end of my life.” However, when the man saw another woman who winked at him. He left his supposed beloved whom he promised to love until the end to be with the another woman who winked at him. How do you love? Do you love like this man or you love like God?

In the gospel a man fell victim to robbers and they left the dying man on the road to die. The priest and the levite passed by but did not help the dying man.  Either one of them were expected to help the dying man because both were serving in the temple of God. But they did not.  

Then, came the Samaritan who walked on the same road. Unlike the priest and the levite who ignored the dying man. This samaritan took time to help the dying man and the Samaritan even brought the dying man to an inn so that he could be nursed.  

What if the Samaritan did not pass by? The victim may have died due to the indifference of the priest and Levite. Fortunately the Samaritan who was the exemplar of perfect love which is the love of God passed by otherwise the victim might have died.

Perhaps, many of us who profess to love and worship God fail to translate this love to an authentic love for our neighbor. Why? Because when the going gets tough many of us simply ignore the neighbor in need. Thus, we become like the priest and levite who indifferently walked away from the dying man.

The Lord wants us to always be like the Samaritan who went out of his way to help the dying man. For the simple reason that the action of the Samaritan represents the love and mercy of God. Love and mercy that we must all emulate. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Sunday October 8, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 21:33-43

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

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 wret-ched men to a wret-ched 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."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a corrupt and greedy leader who stole millions from the people he was supposed to serve. When he was not anymore in power, a righteous leader replaced him. The new leader initiated investigations to uncover the many corruptions of the greedy leader. Eventually, the long arm of the law caught up with the corrupt leader, and he was imprisoned.

In the gospel, we see the greed of the tenants. They were given everything they would need to cultivate the vineyard. When harvest time arrived, they refused to give the landowner his share; instead, they punished and killed the emissaries sent to them. Even the son of the landowner they killed; what a display of extreme greed! What eventually happened to the greedy tenants? They died, and the vineyard was taken from them and given to those who were not greedy.

Our insatiable appetite for the things of this world, such as money, power, possessions, and the like, will bring us nothing but damnation. Anything that we possess through our greed will eventually be taken from us.

Just look at the countless dictators who were violently forced out of power because of their greed for it. Just look at the many corrupt government officials who are being chased by so many cases filed against them.

We must learn how to share, we have to become generous, and avoid corruption and greed, for we are mere tenants of this world. Someday, God will ask us to account for the gifts that He has entrusted to us, and He will pose these questions: Were you able to pay forward the gifts I entrusted to you? Were you generous, and did you avoid corruption and greed? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita/Repleksyon para sa Oktubre 8 Linggo, Ika-27 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 21:33-43

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21:33-43

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga punong saserdote at matatanda ng bayan: Pakinggan ninyo ang isa pang talinghaga. May isang taong nagtanim ng ubas sa kanyang bukid, at ito'y binakuran niya. Gumawa siya roon ng pisaan ng ubas, at nagtayo ng isang mataas na bantayan. 

Pagkatapos, kanyang iniwan sa mga kasama ang ubasan, at siya'y nagtungo sa ibang lupain. Nang dumating ang panahon ng pitasan, pinapunta ng may-ari ng ubasan ang kanyang mga alipin upang kunin sa mga kasama ang kanyang kaparte. Ngunit sinunggaban ng mga kasama ang mga alipin; binugbog nila ang isa, pinatay ang ikalawa, at binato naman ang ikatlo. 

Pinapunta ng may-ari ang mas maraming alipin, ngunit gayon din ang ginawa ng mga kasama sa mga ito. Sa kahuli-huliha'y pinapunta niya ang kanyang anak na lalaki. Igagalang nila ang aking anak,' wika niya sa sarili. Ngunit ng makita ng mga kasama ang anak, sila'y nag-usap-usap: 'Ito ang tagapagmana. Halikayo! Patayin natin ng mapasaatin ang kanyang mamanahin.' Kaya't siya'y sinunggaban nila, inilabas sa ubasan at pinatay. 

"Pagbabalik ng may-ari ng ubasan, ano kaya ang gagawin niya sa mga kasamang iyon?" sumagot sila, "Lilipulin nila ang mga buhong na iyon, at paaalagaan ang ubasan sa ibang mga kasama na magbibigay sa kanya ng kaparte sa panahon ng pamimitas." 

Tinanong sila ni Jesus, hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa ang talatang ito sa Kasulatan? 'ang batong itinakwil ng mga tagapagtayo ng bahay ang siyang naging batong panulukan. Ginawa ito ng Panginoon, at ito'y kahanga-hanga!' Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa inyo: hindi na kayo ang pagahaharian ng Diyos kundi ang bansang maglilingkod sa kanya ng tapat.

Reflection for Saturday October 7, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary: Luke 10:17-24

Gospel: Luke 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, 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 who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus caution the disciples not to rejoice for their human triumphs? Perhaps the reason for this is there may be a tendency for the disciples to take pride in what they have achieved.

As if Jesus was telling them, when you’re doing your mission don’t ever forget to always be humble and to always avoid singular or collective honors. For you were not called to be my followers to reap honors. You were called to bring people to me no other reason but to bring your fellowmen to me.

This also is very much applicable for us. Let us not take pride because we have brought people closer to Jesus. Let us not take pride because we have influenced our fellowmen to read the bible, to go to Holy Mass or to take seriously their faith.

If we follow to the letter this directive of Jesus, we leave no room for the sin of pride and arrogance to take foothold in our lives. And what would remain? Humility only humility and humility must always be our guiding light in our discipleship. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 6, Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:13-16

Gospel: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 

But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

Would you listen to Jesus’ call of repentance?

 Repentance is a perpetual call from Jesus and we must listen to this call. What will happen if we would not listen?  There would be punishment and it will not certainly come from God; punishment will originate from the outcome of our sinfulness.

For example, the sin of adultery some spouses engaged in this bestial act notwithstanding the danger and punishment that would befall them. Where would this kind of sin eventually lead? This will eventually lead to despair, nothingness and desolation.  

There’s a lot more examples of those who did not listen, so they received their deserved punishment. Hence, why not repent and listen to the voice of God who always calls us every second of the day to change our ways and walk away from sin? The longer we commit sin the deeper we dig a hole for us into the deepest abyss of hell.

We therefore have to listen to Jesus and walk away from sin while we still have time.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Oktubre 6, Biyernes ng Ika-26 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Lucas 10:13-16

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 10:13-16

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Hesus, “Kawawa ka, Corazin! Kawawa ka, Betsaida! Sapagkat kung sa Tiro at Sidon ginawa ang mga kababalaghang ginawa rito sa inyo, disin sana’y malaon na silang nagdaramit ng sako at nauupo sa abo upang ipakilalang sila’y nagsisisi. 

Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom, higit na mabigat ang kaparusahan ninyo kaysa kaparusahan ng mga taga-Tiro at taga-Sidon. At ikaw, Capernaum, Ibig mong mataas hanggang sa langit? Ibabagsak ka sa Hades! “Ang nakikinig sa inyo’y nakikinig sa akin, ang nagtatakwil sa inyo’y nagtatakwil sa akin, at ang nagtatakwil sa akin ay nagtatakwil sa nagsugo sa akin.”

Reflection for October 5, Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-12

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.

Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

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Reflection:

Do you want to help Jesus in His mission of evangelization?

Jesus talks about the commissioning of His Seventy two disciples; He said to them that there’s an enormous work for them to do. They are few but the people whom they will preach the gospel are many.

Up to this very day there are few who preach and fewer still those who preach and live the gospel yet there are millions who needs it badly. They are yearning to hear the words of Jesus and more has not even heard of the life changing words of the Lord.

 So what are we doing about it? Would we sit still and stay in our comfort zones and do nothing to share in the ministry of Jesus? Preaching nowadays is not anymore confined to face to face vocal preaching. It’s more easier today because we can now preach via social media using our computers and high-tech mobile phones.

Instead of posting about ourselves, why not post something that is related to Jesus and our Catholic faith? Let us post something that can bring someone closer to God. If we do this we now become a follower not only in words but in deeds as well.

Let us see to it also that we live what we preach or we live what we post in our social media accounts. The perfection of our discipleship for Jesus comes when we live what we preach. For example, if we preach simple living we have to live simply as well, if we preach humility let us live humility. If we preach forgiveness we have to be forgiving. Jesus wants us to be His co-laborers in His vineyard; we should not worry about our needs, for he will surely provide for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday October 4, St. Francis of Asisi, religious (M): Luke 9:57-62

Gospel: Luke 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 

And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 

Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

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Reflection:

What does it require for someone who wants to follow Jesus? It requires total surrender and abandonment to His will. When a person decides to follow Jesus he is ready to leave everything in favor of the Kingdom of God. He is ready to leave his own comfort zone and embrace the challenge of going to an unknown zone in the company of the Lord. 

The gospel tells us that it’s not easy to follow the Lord. We have to adjust and make the necessary sacrifices. This may seem hard from a far but once you go near Jesus and begin your journey with Him. Things will now suddenly fall into its proper places this is for the reason that the Lord will make his way to accommodate us. 

Has the Lord abandoned those who decided to leave everything for Him? Nobody has been abandoned by Jesus. He is always there by their side helping and strengthening those who courageously decide to follow Him. 

In this era of high tech communication and social media the Lord still wants us to follow Him. He may not even require us anymore to leave our love ones. Perhaps the Lord wants us to follow Him where we are at now. 

For example, if you’re working or you have a business you can follow the Lord by being honest with your dealings. The opportunity to follow the Lord is manifold and limitless. You simply have to signify your desire by taking the first step and thereafter begin your own journey of renewal with Him which you will never regret once you do so.     

Would you be willing to follow the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Oktubre 4, San Francisco de Asis, namamanata sa Diyos (Paggunita): Lucas 9:57-62

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:57-62

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang naglalakad sina Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad, may taong nagsabi kay Hesus, “Susunod po ako sa inyo kahit saan.” Sumagot si Hesus, “May lungga ang asong-gubat at may pugad ang ibon, ngunit ang Anak ng Tao’y wala man lamang matulugan o mapagpahingahan.” Sinabi ni Hesus sa isa, “Sumunod ka sa akin.” Ngunit sumagot ang tao, “Panginoon, hayaan po muna ninyo akong umuwi upang ipalibing ang akin ama.” 

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Ipaubaya mo na sa mga patay ang paglilibing ng kanilang mga patay. Ngunit ikaw, humayo ka at ipahayag mo ang tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos.” Sinabi naman ng isa, “Susunod po ako sa inyo, Panginoon, ngunit magpapaalam muna ako sa aking mga kasambahay.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus, “Ang sinumang nag-aararo at palaging lumilingon ay hindi karapat-dapat sa paghahari ng Diyos.”

Reflection for October 3, Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:51-56

Gospel: Luke 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus decide to enter a Samaritan village when He knew that He would not be welcomed there? He could just have passed by and not went there, He could have chosen another way to avoid passing through the Samaritan territory. But He chose to go to a place where He was not welcome.    

Perhaps we could attribute this to Jesus's deep desire to build friendships and reach out, even to those who were hostile to Him. The Samaritans knew that Jesus was a Jew going to Jerusalem, an area that the Samaritans disliked. 

What does Jesus teach us in this gospel episode? We need to reach out also even to those who are not welcoming of us. We need to do this so that we could offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to them. If they would not accept our offer it’s up to them what is important is we do what we have to do as followers of Jesus. 

It’s not easy to offer peace and friendship to those who do not want our friendship. And it’s not easy to humble ourselves before others most especially before those who dislike us. But this is the way of Jesus, He did not only made Himself available to those who like Him. He also offered Himself even to those who despised Him. 

Are you willing to offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to those who dislike you? Would you be willing to reach out and humble yourself before them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for Monday October 2, Memorial of the Guardian Angels: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

Were the disciples expecting that Jesus would tell them that they were the greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they follow Him? From all indications this question (who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven) of the disciples were asked to serve their selfish agendas and Jesus knew about it. 

 Therefore, to straighten out things and to tell the disciples that self-seeking individuals like them would not be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told them; “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3-4). 

The Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for the humble only, for we cannot go to heaven through our own effort. And we cannot go to heaven without the mercy of God. Therefore, children are not only perfect models of humility they are also perfect examples for their reliance on their parents.  Could children exist by themselves? No they can't exist by themselves they need their parents to be with them to survive. 

In like manner the disciples can’t rely on themselves they have to rely on God rather than on themselves. This was perhaps one of the salient point of Jesus when He called the child to their midst (Matthew 18:2). 

This also applies to all of us, we cannot rely on our riches (Ii ever we have riches) no matter how presently rich we are. We cannot rely on our power as well no matter how presently powerful we are for all of these are creation of this world that could evaporate from our hands anytime. 

So, to whom are we going to rely? We rely on God alone. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday October 1, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 21:28-32

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 

Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

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Reflection:

Does this parable of the two sons also speak to us? 

Jesus connects the parable of the two sons to the chief priests and elders of the people. Because they did not listen to John's exhortation to change their self-righteous ways. But he praised the tax collectors and prostitutes, who were considered sinners at that time, because they listened to and believed John's exhortation, leading them to walk away from their sinful ways.

This parable of the two sons is also for us, we who listen to the word of God but often don't allow it to transform us. We who are faithful in our church obligations, but we often don't practice our obligations as followers of Jesus.

How quickly do we judge others because of their appearance and the clothes that they wear? How quickly do we judge them because of their faith, their relationships, and the friends that they keep? How quickly do we judge them because of their behavior and their profile on social media?

We quickly judge by what we see, not minding our own shortcomings and sinfulness. By doing so, we personify the second son who said yes but did not go to the vineyard. We also stand for the chief priests and elders of the people who did not heed the call of John to renew their lives. 

The tax collectors and prostitutes were favored by Jesus for the simple reason that they listened to the call of John. Yes, they were sinners, but the moment they heard John's preaching, they listened, believed, and walked away from their sinfulness. Thus, they represent the first son who initially said no but later had a change of heart and humbly went to work in the vineyard.

We are being called by Jesus to humble ourselves before Him, to have a change of heart, and to completely walk away from our sinfulness, just like what the first son did and the sinful tax collectors and prostitutes who listened to John.

Would you respond to this call of Jesus? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas