Reflection for Friday July 27, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:18-23

Gospel: Matthew 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples: "Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

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Reflection:

How do you respond to the words of God when you encounter it? Do you take time to ponder and reflect upon it even for a short time?

We understand that we are always busy, but we must not let this busyness take us out completely away from God. We must allocate some of our precious time for God otherwise we might become walking beings that is totally enslaved by this world. Walking being that is entirely at the mercy of power, riches, flesh and other worldly undertakings that is attractively sugar coated so that it could completely veer us away from God.

Jesus’ wants us to be the rich soil at all times: to hear the word, understand it and live it. This is the reason why He gives us people that will introduce and guide us to God. But some do not even care to listen, some do care to listen but after a while they forget it, some listen and they remember but they forget to practice it in their daily life.

What Jesus wants from us is to hear the world of God, to reflect upon it and to apply it in our daily lives.  By doing so we now become the seed that was sown on the rich soil which bore fruit and yielded a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

Do you take time to listen, reflect and live the words of Jesus in the bible? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday July 26, Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 13:10-17

Gospel: Matthew 13:10-17

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.

Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them.

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed 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:

How do you measure success in life? Do you measure it by your wealth and power or you measure it with your closeness to Jesus? Many of us today measure it by our wealth and power this mindset is primarily influenced by this world.

But is this true success? No, a truly successful life is always measured by our closeness to Jesus. For what would wealth and power mean to us when it can be taken away from us anytime? What would wealth and power mean to us when we grow old and become slave by old age? During that time wealth and power will not matter anymore to us for someone will be in charge of us and will take control of us.

What is the use of wealth and power if we are isolated and empty deep inside us? What is the use of wealth and power if we could hardly sleep at night? For the simple reason that we worry so much about our wealth which is sometimes dirty wealth?  

Jesus’ disciples were very blessed because awareness of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has already been granted to them by Jesus. They understood that the true essence of life is to be with Jesus and not to be with this world.

Blessed are those who know that life’s success is achieved by our closeness to Jesus. And never with the ownership of the things of this world which is by the way temporary and transitory.

How do you measure success in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday July 25, Feast of Saint James, Apostle: Matthew 20:20-28

Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, 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:

Do you love to be infront, do you love prominence and do you love to always be in the starring role?

Prominence or to be with someone influential is something that we all want. For example, we love to post pictures on facebook and other social media portals the places that we’ve visited.

We love to post pictures of these beautiful places. This is perhaps human nature, who wouldn’t want to post pictures of nice and idyllic places?  We all want it, but the essence of life is not about advertising the famous places that we’ve visited or the famous personalities that we’ve been seen with.     

The true essence of life is to serve anyone who is need of our help. It doesn’t matter anymore if the acts of service and compassion that we do are seen or not what is important is we’re able to help. As we follow Jesus let us always be reminded that HE never walked in this world to gain publicity and prominence.

Jesus walked on this world to serve and not be served, HE never aspired to become famous. All He wanted was to simply follow the will of God for HIM no matter how difficult it was. This must also be our guiding principle.

Many are attracted to serve in the church not because they want to help advance the teachings of Jesus. Their attraction comes from what the church could give or what they could derive from the church and Jesus if they would serve.  But we all know that this kind of motive is built upon a person’s self-image and therefore useless.

True service in the vineyard of the Lord is all about humility. Not thinking of what we can derive from the church, but what we can humbly give to God and His church. True service for the church is not about having power and influence it’s actually based on losing power and influence for the greater glory of God.

Obviously, the mother in our gospel for today and many of us too are still not aware of this. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday July 24, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:46-50

Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

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Reflection:

Are you a member or have you been a member of a church ministry?

Members of church ministries often address each other as brother and sister. As such they treat each other as relatives through Jesus. They are there because they want to help Christ advance His mission and teachings; this is the sole reason and purpose.

However, helping Jesus advance His mission and teaching are not limited to those members of church ministries. Even who are not members can help as well in their own little way. For example sharing the life of Jesus inside the family, which I think rarely, happens now. Or if we live and teach the lessons and values of Jesus but not everyone does this.

Let us always remember that we become brothers and sisters of Jesus when we share in His mission. And when we are not ashamed to live His teachings and His values. Let us not be ashamed to do this for there are rewards that await those who share the mission of Jesus.

You may not yet see the reward/s now but surely there will be a reward. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday July 23, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

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Reflection:

There is a story of a man who was fond of asking signs from God. Instead of God responding to his call for a sign. It was instead the devil who responded to him and he gave what the man wanted. This became a habit of this man: he would always ask for a sign and without him knowing it the devil would always gladly grant his request. Eventually the man became the slave of the devil.

We have to be careful in asking for signs because somebody other than God might respond to our call.  And pretend that he is God this somebody is none other than the devil who always tries to seduce us with his own brand of signs and miracles. Yes the devil is also capable of creating his own brand of signs and miracles. This he does to entice his victims to follow him instead of God.

Instead of asking for signs from Jesus, why not ask Jesus to increase our faith? Why not always be present in the Eucharistic celebration (Holy Mass). Why not humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible?

Why not have time to reflect about the words of Jesus in the bible? Why not always do good and desire the good of our fellowmen? If we do all these, this would result in our increase of faith. Thus we will not be asking for signs anymore for the reason that we have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you fond of asking for signs? Be careful somebody other than God might respond to you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday July 22, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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Reflection:

There’s a story of a young man who was so focused in his career He aimed to be the best n his chosen field. To make a long story short the man eventually reached the pinnacle of his career. In the process of focusing on his career he forgot about the importance of God in his life.  

After working so hard to spread the good news of Jesus, the Apostles were invited by Jesus to go to a quiet and deserted place. Why in a quite and deserted place? Why not in a place with full of food and joyfulness? We all know the reason why in a quite place, Jesus wanted them to be fully charged spiritually and be connected with God.

This is what many of us seems to forget, we tend to forget to go to our own quite place every once in a while.  A quite place where we can be alone with God. We talk in silence to God, we unburden to God all our worries and we let Him direct us not us directing ourselves.

 We Oftentimes allow ourselves to be eaten by the culture of work and busyness of this world.  But where would this lead us? It will lead us to nowhere; to an environment where there is no more God. To an environment where work, busyness and hedonism is already our God and soon we become creatures of this world.

The danger of this modern world that we are presently in right now is it’s slowly taking us away from God. It tries very hard to substitute God with work and material things but this will never give us peace and contentment. Only GOD will give us peace and contentment, only through GOD that we would discover a deeper and meaningful life. 

There’s more to life than what this world offers you. And you could only discover it if you would have a regular quite time with God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday July 21, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:14-21

Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

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Reflection:

Do you make ways to avoid a troublesome situation whenever it presents itself to you?

The Pharisees were planning to put Jesus to death yet Jesus knew about this evil plan of action of his persecutors. In the midst of threats and pressure on His life Jesus chose to avoid them. He could have confronted them because He also had His own followers at that time.

But he calmly walked away from trouble He instead chose to serve His people by healing them. What do you do when you are faced with the same situation? Do you mindlessly confront or you to think of ways to avoid it so that you could serve a higher purpose?

For example, somebody is challenging you to a fight would you meet that mindless challenge or you will decline? The wisdom filled action is to decline the mindless challenge. You do this because you have a higher purpose in life and you simply choose not to stoop to his/her level.  

Jesus chose to take the higher road by not meeting those who were running after Him and this is always the right action to do. Let us therefore emulate the example of Jesus. He is never arrogant, never violent and He always takes the high and educated road. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday July 20, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath. He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reflection for Thursday July 19, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30

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

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Reflection:

There’s a story about a very rich man who was so burdened by his problems. He tried many ways to solve it, he thought his money would help him solve his problems, to no avail. He went to his friends and indulge in drinking sessions and vices yet it did not solve his problems either.

He was living like a ship without a rudder aimlessly drifting to nowhere, he didn’t know it but he was slowly wasting his life. Until he meet a relative who was an active member of the church. He opened up to him and the relative listened.

At the end the relative had only one advice: “Go and spend time with Jesus in the adoration chapel. Then, don’t miss Sunday Mass and when you are at Mass be attentive and listen to every word being spoken for many of it will speak to you. You also read your bible for Jesus will also speak to you there. To cut short a long story, he made a devotion to the adoration chapel, went to Holy Mass as often as he could. And regularly read his bible.

After a few weeks he already had a normal family life. Yes, from time to time there were still problems that need to be sorted out. But he knows now where to go. Not to his vices, not to his money not even to his friends. But to Jesus in the adoration chapel, to Jesus in the Holy Mass and to Jesus  in the Holy bible.

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

Why does Jesus invites us to go to him? We who are sinful and we who are beset by our many burdens. This is for the reason that Jesus loves us dearly, Jesus doesn’t want us to waste our life by finding earthy solutions to our burdens.

Take this offer of Jesus by surrendering your life to Him. And see for yourself the miracle that He will create in your life the moment you surrender it to Him. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday July 18, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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

Reflection for Tuesday July 17, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.

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

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Reflection:

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

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

Some of us if not majority of us are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts.

In pushing His good news to us Jesus touches us in so many ways. There are also times when He uses our fellowmen and other forms of modern medium such as the internet in order to touch us. Yet we often times don’t listen or pay attention, we remain stubborn and continue to commit sin. However, until when we are going to sin? Until such time that sin destroys us?

Let us avoid sin because sin is evil and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday July 16, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

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

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

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

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

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Reflection:

A man was pondering on how he could bring peace to his fractured family. One night he had a dream and on that dream Jesus said to him, you need to become a priest for you to have healing in your family. But the young man was very worldly he loved the treasures of this world. Yet he also loved dearly his family.

So, he headed the voice of Jesus, he studied for the priesthood and whenever he had a vacation he would always gather his family for a recollection inside their house. To make a long story short, the once factional and fractured family slowly became unified. After a few years he eventually became a priest and true enough his becoming a priest ushered healing in his family.

Jesus tells us in the gospel that HE is a cause of division and disunity inside a family. On the other hand Jesus is also a healing instrument inside a family. How would this happen? If you fight for the teachings of Jesus inside your family naturally there would be initial resistance and division.

Members of the family would initially resist it but for as long as you will not give-up. And for as long as you offer to Jesus whatever you do inside your family even if it causes initial division sooner or later there would be healing and reconciliation. Many of us already discount the healing power of Jesus but it has already been proven time and again that Jesus heals families.

Have you tried introducing Jesus to your family through HIS life story in the bible?  Perhaps not yet, now is the most opportune time, do it slowly and patiently. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 15, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

Part of the growing-up experience of a child is to be summoned and instructed by his/her parents to do this and that. As the child enters school the teacher will also play the role of the parents by summoning and giving instructions to the child.

The child will now become an adult and will be through with his college studies. Perhaps he will tell himself: At long last! I am through from being summoned and being instructed, but not yet. There shall be a very powerful voice that will perpetually summon, tell and guide him on how he must properly live his life.

This very powerful voice is no other than the voice of Jesus who speaks to us thru the homily of a priest. The voice of Jesus who speaks to us thru the voice of a Godly relative or friend. And the voice of Jesus who will speak to us the moment we read the bible with reverence.  If we will listen to this powerful voice of Jesus we would be assured of a worthy and well lived life in this world.

In our gospel the apostles were summoned, given authority and instructed by Jesus after which He sent them to their mission two by two. These were the instructions of Jesus: “Take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-- no food, no sack, no money, wear sandals, wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."

The apostles faithfully followed these instructions that’s why they were very successful with their given mission. One of the countless concrete evidence of their success is the faith that we have right now. We attribute the Catholic faith that we hold on today to their faithful discipleship to Jesus. They responded to the voice of Jesus and faithfully followed His instructions.

We too are being summoned and instructed by Jesus to help Him and the apostles spread the faith. Are you doing something to help Jesus and the apostles propagate the faith? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday July 14, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

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

“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

There is a story of a dying man who rarely attends Holy Mass and who was very much afraid to die. When his relatives told him that they will call a priest for him to be conferred with the Sacrament of the Anointment of the Sick. He asked them, Am I going to die already (For this was his usual notion)?

To make a long story short, the priest arrived, and he was conferred the sacrament. After the priest left, the dying man told his relatives, now I am prepared to die. From being afraid to not being afraid to die and the reason of it all is the courage that Jesus gave him through the anointment of the sick.

Are you not afraid to die? Of course you are, But why are you afraid to die? Perhaps the reason is you have not found Jesus yet and surely Jesus is not yet part of your way of life. This is perhaps the primary reason why you are afraid to die. However, once Jesus  is already part of your way of life you will not anymore be afraid to die.

  

When we have Jesus in our lives we already have the courage to face anything that may befall us.   We are not anymore afraid to stare at earthly death because we now know that soon after we will be with Jesus in heaven.

Are you still afraid to die? – Marino J. Dasmarinas