Reflection for Thursday June 14, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:20-26

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

What is the cure for anger? It’s humility.

Nobody of us are perfect once in a while we get angry but do we have the humility to make amends after we have injured someone with our arrogance? Only a  gentle person would have the courage to say I’m sorry or to apologize.

But to say I’m sorry is not easy to do, only a humble person would summon enough courage to say this magic words that have healed so many disputes and arguments. In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us teaching about anger.

Jesus tells us that we must be reconciled with those whom we have differences and had feelings of enmity. But why do we get angry in the first place? We get angry because we lack humility, we get angry because we have this superiority complex against our fellowmen.

It’s only humility that could deescalate and eventually eliminate our anger. Let us therefore pray for the grace of humility, let us ask God the Holy Spirit to give it to us. The best test of humility is our willingness to apologize and to admit our mistakes before those whom we have hurt.

Do you have the humility to apologize?  Apologize for it will set you free. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 5:17-19

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus? It’s barren, chaotic and without peace. What is life without following the laws of God? It’s the same as well.  Jesus comes into our lives to make it meaningful and productive. Not meaningful and productive in the eyes of this world but meaningful and productive in His eyes.

When we break the laws of God we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. For example if a politician shows in his public image that he is a follower of Jesus. He will not break the law by stealing money from the coffers of the government, etc.

 He will not break the law of God by siding with those who are espousing anti poor laws such as death penalty. Otherwise he is only using Jesus to serve his own hidden agenda. Same goes for a spouse who professes to follow Jesus. He/she should not break the law by betraying the marriage covenant.

There’s always a reward that awaits those who follow the laws of God. And there’s always a reward that awaits those who follow Jesus and His commandments.

Do you always follow the laws of God and Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 12, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

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Reflection:

How could we become salt and light in this materialistic world? We must become the extension of Jesus in this world. As Jesus became salt and light to this world for everyone of us so we too must become salt and light for our fellowmen.

But this is easier said than done, perhaps we would say; before I become salt and light for others I must become salt and light for myself first. The me first mentality and this is what this world dictates us, to be a person for ourselves first before being a person for others.

The teachings of Jesus are always in contrast to the teachings of this world and these teachings about salt and light is no exception. We know that salt preserves and it defines the taste of food. We know that light illumines a dark environment, light gives hope to a seemingly hopeless surroundings. 

As Jesus challenged HIS disciples to become living salt and light to their world. So we too are challenged by Jesus to become living salt and light to our own world today. How would we proceed from this challenge of Jesus?

Let us forget ourselves and let us start to live and teach Jesus’ teachings. For this is the only way that we could become living salt and light of this world.

Can you measure up to this challenge? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday June 10, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 3:20-35

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35

Jesus came home with his disciples. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder the house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you." But he said to them in reply, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

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Reflection:    

Do you want to be a relative of Jesus? If your answer is yes, then Jesus has a requirement for you. And this is His requirement: You have to do the will of God. (Mark 3:35) If you may ask: What is the will of God for me? You have to follow the Servanthood life of Jesus.

Life of Servanthood which is perhaps outdated already for many of the modern people of this technology driven world today. The modern people of today generally subscribe to a life of modernity  which is to have what this modern world offers us.

For example, to have the newest gadget available which actually boils down to self-centeredness and the me first mindset. Therefore the life of Servanthood of Jesus is eased out for a self-centeredness life.

At the start of today’s gospel we read about Jesus living His Servanthood lifestyle. He is just through His healing ministry that’s why many were still following Him to have His healing. And by not focusing anymore on Himself Jesus was labeled as someone who is out of His mind by His relatives who was trying to control Him. 

However Jesus’ relatives did not understand His Servanthood lifestyle. Perhaps they were also eaten up already by the self-centered lifestyle or the me first mindset: My comfort first, my needs and wants first.

If we really want to follow Jesus we have to embrace His Servanthood mindset, lifestyle and way of life. We have to prioritize first the welfare of our fellowmen before our own. And if we do so we are now eligible to be called a true relative of Jesus.

Do you want to become a true relative of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

1Reflection for Saturday June 9, the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 2:41-51

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

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Reflection:

Mario was a good son and the sole provider to his siblings and parents. One day he said to his parents that he will get married, both parents were speechless and in shock. Being both retired they were full of trepidation they were silently asking themselves: Who will provide for us now?      

Just like in that short story, sometimes we make arbitrary actions that hurt and give apprehension to our relatives. They may not directly say their apprehensions because they deeply respect our independence but deep in their hearts they are anxious.  

This must be the feeling of both Joseph and Mary when Jesus purposely remained behind in Jerusalem. So they went back to Jerusalem full of anxiety and many thoughts were already running in their minds. After three days they found Jesus safe and sound in the temple intently listening to the lectures and asking questions.

At a young age of twelve Jesus already had that need to hear the words of God in the temple. It was a non issue for him if he was left behind by His parents and other companions so long as he could be in the house of God.

Don’t we feel also in our lives this urgency to hear God’s words in the celebration of the Holy Mass? The boy Jesus points us to the fact that we too must have this great need to hear the words of God and share it afterwards.

We must find time to listen to the words of God, being busy with our earthly concerns is not an excuse we must find time for God. If we can’t go to church for Holy Mass we can open the bible and read it solemnly for God speaks through us by His words in the bible.

Do you find time for God amidst your busy schedule? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Friday June 8, Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: John 19:31-37

Gospel: John 19:31-37

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. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

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Reflection:

Let us imagine seeing the lifeless Jesus on the cross. How does it move us? Imagine seeing the lifeless Jesus on the cross being brutally pierced by a lance that reached deep into his Sacred Heart. How does it move us? Let us never forget the sacrifice of Jesus for us, let us never forget that He gave His very life for us. 

Many have forgotten and mocked the supreme sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in exchange of this world. Where are they now? What happened to their lives? Many are despising Jesus now as irrelevant and fit to be relegated into the dustbin of history. What is presently happening in their lives now?

We must never forget that Jesus gave His life for us, we must never forget that God gave His only begotten Son so that we may live and have life. Those who never forget Jesus are constantly being blessed by Him and His Sacred Heart. Are we one of those who never forget the many sacrifices of Jesus? – Marino  J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday June 6, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:18-27

Gospel: Mark 12:18-27

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died.

At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”

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Reflection:

What is your idea of the afterlife? Jesus gives us a glimpse of what life is in the afterlife. He tells us that there’s no more human activity in heaven such as marriage for we all will be like angels there (Mark 12:25). But are we going to heaven after our lives are over and done with in this world?  Nobody is sure about this, only God knows where we would end up after we cease breathing.

But on hindsight even if we don’t hold our destiny after our life is over we also have to do our part. We have to live our life pleasing to the eyes of the Lord and not pleasing to our own eyes.  What does it mean to make our lives pleasing to the eyes of God? We have to live the teachings of God and not the teachings of this world.

If we decide to follow Jesus let us follow Him until the end of our lives. We should not allow sin or anything that contradicts the teachings of God to momentarily derail us. It must be authentic discipleship for Jesus all the way until we stop breathing!

Let us therefore make it a part of our prayers to ask Jesus to bring us to heaven when our time comes. Let us ask Him to shower us His infinite mercy for we all have fell short of His expectations. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 5, Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr: Mark 12:13-17

Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, “Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.

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Reflection:

What is your obligation to Jesus? Your obligation is to follow His teachings. And as stated by Jesus in the gospel paying the rightful tax to the government is one of them. We disobey Jesus when we don’t pay the taxes due to the government.

The question of paying the census tax had a deeper meaning for it was created to trap Jesus. Yet Jesus was able to wiggle out of this seemingly complicated situation. This is the reason why at the end of the gospel the emissaries of Jesus’ opponents were utterly amazed at Him (Mark 12:17).

As shown in our gospel, Jesus always makes a way out when there seems to be no way. Thus, He will always make things possible for us. And He will always be there to help us solve our problems no matter how complicated it may seem.

Where are you in your life right now? Are you in a predicament where you think that you’re about to surrender to your problems? Call on Jesus and pray to Him. He is there just a prayer away, ever ready to help you extricate yourself out of your problem. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday June 4, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:1-12

Gospel: Mark 12:1-12

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.

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Reflection:

Do you know that all the things that you have right now is not yours?  All the things that you have right now are owned by God. God gave it to you, you may have worked very hard for it but at the end of the day it’s God who allowed you to prosper.

 It’s not through your own effort alone that you’ve achieved success its God who allowed you to have success and be where you are right now.  What have you given back to the Lord in return?

Jesus in our gospel shares a story about a man (owner) who prepared his vineyard for it to be leased. The tenants had no problem of achieving growth and financial success in that vineyard for the owner had prepared it for them.

The vineyard represents Israel, the tenant farmers are the religious leaders of Israel. The Lord God is the owner of the vineyard the servants are His messengers which represents the prophets. The beloved son is no other than Jesus.

Harvest time came the owner was naturally asking for his share but the tenants were so greedy that they gave nothing to His messengers they all killed them including the very son of the owner of the vineyard.

Transplanting that parable to our present time we find that the man who owned the vineyard is God and we are the tenants. And as such we are expected to give back to God a certain part of what we have right now.

Life is short; let us therefore give back to God while we are still alive. Let us payback the generosity of God or let us move it forward by helping the poor. For example by adopting a poor relative and taking care of his/her education. And there are a hundred more ways on how we can give back to God.

What have we given God in return? Have we given Him some of our talent, time and treasure? When we give back to the Lord we allow Him to bless us more. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday June 3, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

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 that when I go to Mass I don’t see Jesus? I only see the priest in 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 in the celebration of the Holy Mass that is why you don’t see its 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 faith 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. And that we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion.

Today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. What is the relevance of this Solemnity to ourselves? It invites us to have faith in Jesus and in the Holy Mass. It invite us to believe and have faith that the bread and wine that we partake during Holy Communion. Is transubstantiated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus the moment it is consecrated by the priest.    

Do you believe? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday June 2, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 11:27-33

Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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Reflection:

Mario is a Lay Minister who was elected chairman of his church ministry. Upon being elected his true color became more apparent. For he was a man obsessed with his new found authority. He told his church ministry this very prideful statement: I am now the head of this ministry thus it is incumbent upon you all to follow what I want.

Jesus was asked in the gospel by His persecutors: "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" (Mark 11:28) Were they really concerned about Jesus’ authority? Or they were just very alarmed because their authority was slowly being eroded by Jesus popularity with the common people.

Authority is good if exercised with humility and prudence and this is how Jesus exercised His authority. So unlike the Pharisees and the chief priest of his time, who was so proud of their authority that they used it to perpetuate their self-serving agendas. Let us be like Jesus at all times: He exercised His authority with humility, compassion and love.

How do you exercise your authority? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Friday June 1, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr: Mark 11:11-26

Gospel: Mark 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

Isn’t it frightening how Jesus condemned the barren fig tree? Could this condemnation happen to us also? But why should we wait for that condemnation to come to us when we still have the time to renew our life?

Let us therefore walk away from any form of sinfulness while we still have time. And in the process of walking away from sin let us also become productive followers of Jesus. This we can do by sharing and living His teachings otherwise we become barren creatures of this world.

If we don’t know how to share His teachings let us simply live His teaching for in doing so others would know that we are followers of Jesus. Let us not make the mistake of following this world for it would only lead us to a problematic life. A life of emptiness, without peace and contentment.

Time will come that we will face the judgement of God (Matthew 25:31-46). How would He judge us by that time if we continue to become barren followers? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday May 31, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

What are you going to do if a very close relative whom you have not seen for quite some time would give you a visit? You would be very happy for sure and even if you don’t have much you would still find time to give her/him the best accommodations and treatment that you could give her/him.

This must have been the feeling of Elizabeth when she was visited by her cousin Mary who at that time was also pregnant with the baby Jesus in her womb. They shared a lot of stories about themselves. They strengthened each other’s morale, love and bond. Thus, the Blessed Mother stayed with her cousin until she gave birth.

Through Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, this Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary imparts us so many lessons about human relations and life itself which we sometimes take for granted. Here are three lessons:

1. Even if there’s already social media platforms such as facebook etc... where we could somehow be updated of what’s going on with our friends and relatives. There’s no substitute with face to face human interactions. Therefore, we still need to go out of our way to visit our relatives and close friends whom we have not seen for quite some time.

2. We need to strengthen them morally and spiritually.

3. We need to bring good tidings to them and share whatever we have no matter how small.

4. We need to be open to listen to them: their triumphs and frustrations about life or anything under the sun that they would tell us.

We sometimes forget these acts of kindness and compassion which can do so much to uplift a weary person one way or the other. But many of us are so busy that we have no more time for them. Yet we have time to do facebook, we have time to aimlessly surf the internet and tinker with new gadgets which robs us of human relation and empathy. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday May 30, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:32-45

Gospel: Mark 10:32-45

The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Reflection:

Are you a real follower of the Lord?

Real followers or those who want to truly serve will not care if they are seen or noticed. They quietly serve without ulterior motives for they know that Jesus knows everything that they do and think about.

When James and John asked Jesus if they can sit beside Him in His glory.  Jesus told the two that those premium seats had already been reserved, for whom? It is for the humble ones, for those who are not seeking self-glorification and for those who are willing to silently toil in the vineyard of the Lord.

Obviously, James and John were seeking glorification without putting forward humility and sacrifice. The paradox of serving Jesus is this: we must first be willing to be a servant and we must be willing to die to ourselves.

 This does not mean that we have to pretend to be humble so that we will be exlted. No! When we decide to serve in the vineyard of the Lord we must rid ourselves with any form of pretensions and false expectations.  We serve because it originates from the pureness of our desire.

There will be no heavenly glorification for us if we will not first embrace humility. And the pure desire to serve and sacrifice our very selves in the name of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas