Reflection for Sunday September 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 15:1-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  So to them he addressed this parable. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.  When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.  And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

A wife told his Godly husband: “Don’t mingle anymore with our neighbors for they are drunkards and sinful.” The husband told his wife, “If I would not mingle with them how could I convince them to walk away from their sinful lives and how could I show them that God still cares for them?” Oftentimes we are like that wife we feel that we are more holy and less sinful than others but that is far from the truth.

Holier than thou and feeling of self-righteousness these were the attitudes of the Pharisees and the scribes. When they complained that Jesus was mingling with tax collectors and sinners.

So, Jesus gave them three parables for them to realize that He doesn’t discriminate, that His love, forgiveness and mercy is for everyone. The Lord looks for and welcomes everyone no matter how sinful and poor. This is also the message of Jesus for us all sinners thru these parables in the gospel.

In the first parable, the shepherd of the hundred sheep did not stop looking for the one who got lost. Never minding to temporarily leave the ninety-nine. And after finding the one that got lost he joyfully put it on his shoulders to bring it home. In the second parable of the lost coin, the woman searched diligently for the lost coin until she found it again.

In the third parable of the lost son, when the lost son had a realization of his misdeeds. He humbly decided to go back home, not certain if his father would accept him again. But lo and behold when his father saw him coming home he ordered his people to prepare a big banquet for the lost son. Then, the father full of love run to his repentant son embraced and kissed him as if saying, “Everything is forgiven my son.”

God in His infinite love, mercy and forgiveness is always looking for us sinners. Why? Because the Lord wants us to completely walk away from our sinful life. The Lord wants us to live a new life completely free from any form of sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for September 14, Saturday; The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus  said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

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Reflection:

Why do we suffer and what is the purpose of our suffering in this world? We suffer because we refuse to embrace the love of God. Human suffering is not a suffering that God created for us because it’s us who create our own suffering/s. And when we suffer many of us point not to ourselves as the culprit.

Think about the many wars that the powerful leaders of this world have created. Think about the many personal and family problems that many of us have created for ourselves. Nevertheless in the midst of our self-created sufferings there’s hope and this hope is being offered to us by Jesus on the cross.

Perhaps, many of us are averse to look at this cross of Jesus because we are reminded of Jesus’ own sufferings. We are reminded that to suffer entails hardship and sacrifice. But how would we know that there’s hope, healing and salvation in the cross of Jesus if we will not look up to it? If we will not embrace it and if we will not hold on to it?   

In our first reading the people that were saved by Moses from the slavery of Pharaoh created their own sufferings by complaining to Moses about their hardships. And by complaining they were severely punished by God yet they would also be saved by the same merciful God. That is If they’ll would look up to the bronze serpent mounted on a pole. We all know that the bronze serpent that was mounted on the pole that healed the suffering people in our first reading is now represented by Jesus on the cross in our gospel.   

We have so many sufferings in this world and majority if not all of these sufferings are created by us that we ironically sometimes blame on God. Nevertheless our merciful God so loved us that He let His only begotten son to die on the cross for our salvation.

Do you have a cross with Jesus nailed upon it in your house or in your room? Look at it hold it if you could and prayerfully ask Jesus to heal all your pains and sufferings. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 13, Friday; Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor: Luke 6:39-42

Gospel: Luke 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

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Reflection:

In courtroom litigation before a judge gives his verdict or judgment he sees to it that every witness from the opposing sides are heard. This assures that whatever decision that the judge would give, is appropriate and based on the facts of the case.

Do we not oftentimes act as judge in our own sphere of environment? For example, a father or a mother acts as a judge when he/she gives orders to their children not to do this and that.  They also act as judge when they admonish and give disciplinary actions to their children. 

But in giving judgment or orders, do we see to it that we are worthy to give judgment?   If we are worthy of the judgment that we give then that is very good for our orders would be followed. But what if we are not good role models? Here the problem lies, for we are not worthy to give judgment.

The gospel tells us that before you give judgment to anyone you must see to it first that you have the moral authority and ascendancy to give that judgment. And how would you do this? You always have to have a self-reflection about yourself, such as, am I a good role model? Do I follow what I tell others to do? Well and good if you are a good role model and if you lead by example.

But what if you are not?  Then, the judgment or order that you give will simply not be heard it will simply fall on deaf ears. Therefore you have to be a good role model. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 12, Thursday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

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Reflection:

How do you love?

All of us will agree that we can easily love those who give us love in return. But are we willing to love those who’ve hurt us or those who continue on hurting us? Mother Teresa once said: “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” A wife or a husband who truly love would continue to love his/her spouse notwithstanding the betrayal/s.

Many marriages fail because we put limits on how we give love. For example, if a wife discovers that her husband is playing around with fire. The reaction of the wife is perhaps to take revenge and play with fire also and not to anymore love her philandering husband. But what will happen if our attitude is like that? There would be many broken marriages, there would be many suffering children simply because we put limits on how we give our love.

Jesus in our gospel is advising us to change this mindset of reactive love. And to bring our understanding of love to a much higher level. Perhaps, to the level of God’s love for us.  But are we capable of raising to a higher level our love and on how we give love?

If we truly love Jesus we would be able to forgive and once again love a spouse who betrayed us. We would be able to love our siblings/relatives who’ve hurt us and who don’t want to listen to our well-meaning advice/s. We would be able to love a friend who betrayed our trust.

Jesus tells us in the gospel:  For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same (Luke 6:32-33). - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 11, Wednesday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to be poor, to be hungry, to weep and to be insulted for your steadfast faith in Jesus? Surely, these questions will drive you to think hard because it’s not easy to be poor to be insulted, to weep and be hungry for the sake of your steadfast discipleship.

But if this is the means for us to gain intimacy with Jesus we have no other way but to embrace these hard choices. But how many of us are willing to embrace this kind of life? Come to think of it, are these choices really hard? Is it really hard to be poor, hungry, to weep and to be insulted?

It is hard if Jesus is not with us but if Jesus is with us and if He walks with us. To be poor, hungry, to weep and be persecuted becomes a blessing for us. For the simple reason that this assures us of a life with Jesus in heaven after our life in this world is over and done with already.

What would it benefit us if we are rich, powerful and if everyone is praising us to high heavens if it drives us to sin? If Jesus is not in our life or if Jesus is just a miniscule particle in our life? The best choice is to have a life with Jesus even if it would entail sacrifices and hardship. 

What is your choice? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 10, Tuesday; Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:12-19

Gospel: Luke 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus called the twelve to be His apostles?

There was a reason why Jesus called the twelve disciples to be His apostles and that is to help Him spread the good news of our salvation. Looking back on the lives of these apostles except for Judas all were faithful servants of the Lord. They were His eyes and ears they were His collaborators in His mission.

The apostles did not lead lives of ease and comfort in fact except for Judas almost all of them were martyred in doing the mission that Jesus bestowed upon them. What is the significance of this call on the apostles in our lives?

By virtue of our Baptism we too are called to collaborate with Jesus and the apostles to spread the good news of our salvation. We are called to lead Holy lives so that others may see Jesus in us; we are called to be patient, to persevere and to be enduring in our discipleship.

If we say that we love Jesus it amounts to saying that we are always ready to suffer and to be humiliated for the sake of the advancement of His kingdom. This is the mark of a true and faithful disciple/apostle.

Are you ready to sacrifice for Lord? You will be rewarded someday when you do so. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 9, Monday; Saint Peter Claver, Priest: Luke 6:6-11

Gospel: Luke 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

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Reflection:

What is the Sabbath day? It is a sacred day for the Jews, it’s their day for the Lord. We can compare the Sabbath day to our observance of Sunday our own day of rest and day for the Lord also.

The question that arose from the minds of the scribes and Pharisees was this: Would Jesus cure on a Sabbath day? Which was prohibited by their Jewish religion? When Jesus cured the hand of the man with a withered hand it did not mean that He was disrespecting the Sabbath day.

Jesus simply saw an opportunity to show His infinite compassion and love for the sick man. Thus Jesus healed the man with a withered hand even if it was prohibited by their religion. Jesus is showing us that if we want our faith to be effective we have to humbly show compassion and love too!

Jesus attracts people for the simple reason that He is always ever ready to show His compassion and love to anyone who seeks it. His love and compassion does not choose what time or day. He would always be there for so long as there’s someone in need of His help. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 8, ika-23 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon Lucas 14:25-33

Reflection for Sunday September 8, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:25-33

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was being prodded by his friend to follow Jesus. So, the man asked his friend: “What would I get if I decide to follow the Lord?” The friend told the man: “All the crosses that you carry would be gone the moment you decide to follow Jesus.” With the promise of a problem free life the man followed Jesus. However, the man noticed that as he followed Jesus the crosses that he carried in his shoulders started to file up as well.

Why do you follow Jesus?

When Jesus noticed that great crowds were travelling with him he knew that they were there because of the many miracles and healings that he does. Jesus knew that the moment He stops doing miracles for them they would eventually abandon him. Jesus knew it like seeing through a crystal clear water!

So he addressed them, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27).” What is this cross that Jesus is speaking about? The cross are the many life challenges, burdens and trials that we would encounter the moment we decide to follow the Lord.

Other Christian denominations project Jesus as a God who can immediately lighten our burdens the moment we accept Him as our Lord and savior. A miracle worker or a cure all God so to speak! And many are immediately hypnotized by this promise so they leave the church for the Christian denomination.

However there will be instances wherein Jesus would not help us carry our burden; would not cure us of our sickness. It may even seem that Jesus is an absentee God, a God who doesn’t care. Yes, it’s not all the time that we would get what we want from Jesus. He cares nevertheless and He is always with us even in the most difficult episodes of our life.

What Jesus is telling us in the Gospel is: if you want to follow me be prepared to persevere. Be prepared to carry your own cross and be prepared to sacrifice and leave your own comfort zone. And don’t worry about anything because I will take care of it.

Truth be told, to follow the Lord amidst your burdens, trials and challenges is the best decision that you can ever do in your life. Would you follow the Lord in spite of the many crosses that you carry? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 7, Saturday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:1-5

Gospel: Luke 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a loving and caring God, He will always see to it that His people are properly taken care of no matter what the circumstances are. For Jesus the need of His people always takes precedence over the observance of laws and traditions.

When Jesus defended His disciples from the rebuke of the Pharisees (From picking and eating grains on a Sabbath day) He was simply saying that the need of His disciples always takes precedence over any observance of the Jewish law/s.

Jesus was indirectly saying to His critics that they sometimes have to be flexible also anyway they did not commit any criminal act. The disciples were simply hungry and that was it, they simply have to satisfy their valid need.

Here we see what kind of God Jesus is, He properly takes care of His people. Jesus is even willing to violate the sacred Sabbath law for as long as it would be beneficial to His followers. By virtue of our baptism we already are followers of the Lord.

We may not be faithful to Him all the time. Nevertheless, His unconditional love, care and concern is always there for us in all the seasons of our life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 6, Friday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:33-39

Gospel: Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a lady who was giving her personal testimony on how Jesus made a big impact on her life and how Jesus filled her life with joy and contentment. She said further that now that Jesus is in her heart. She now will always ask Jesus to take over her sadness and other trials.

Whether we admit or not sadness and other lonesome emotions will once in a while visit us. This is normal for we are all beings with emotions. However if we have Jesus, we have nothing to worry even if these lonesome feelings will come to us.

We would know how to handle it for the simple reason that we already have Jesus in our lives. We have nothing to worry about anything that may come to us. Thus, we continue to move ahead with hope because Jesus is by our side.

Assuring us that no human affliction and emotion no matter how severe could bring us down anymore. Not even the saddest moment in our lives for we have already been renewed and poured into the fresh wineskin which is Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 5, Thursday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:1-11

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

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Reflection:

A married couple was being convinced by their neighbor to join them in their weekly bible sharing. The couple said that they are not worthy to be with them because they are sinners. However, the persistent neighbor told them that, nobody is perfect. He further said that all are sinners. For we have offended God for so many times yet God in His infinite love and mercy is persistently calling us to follow Him and eventually serve Him.

In our gospel Simon was told by Jesus to go into deep water and lower their nets. Then Simon said, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

Soon after they’ve caught hundreds of fish that their nets were breaking already, Simon felt that he was unworthy of the Lord and the bountiful fish that they’ve caught. So he said to Jesus: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

Who is worthy before the Lord? Who is qualified to follow Jesus? None of us are worthy; none of us are qualified for we are all sinners. But our sinfulness should never be an excuse for us not to follow the Lord and leave behind our life of sin.

Jesus always qualifies the unqualified, He always purify the unpurified and He makes the unworthy worthy before His eyes. The infinite love and mercy of Jesus is always there for us ever ready to purify us no matter who we are, no matter how sinful we are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 4, Wednesday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:38-44

Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

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Reflection:

What do you do after a busy and tiring day? Do you seek to be alone by yourself to commune with God? After a tiring day of healing Jesus went to a deserted place at daybreak to commune with God.

Jesus always finds time for God no matter how busy He was. Why? Because Jesus derives strength from His communion with God. Do you also derive strength from God? Do you seek communion with Jesus everyday? 

The beauty of always being in touch with Jesus is you will never be lost in the sinful jungle of this world. Through Jesus you always have a strong anchor to stabilize your life. Do you feel lost every once in while in this world? Ask Jesus to give you the strength to survive the many backbreaking pressures in this world. Ask Jesus to journey with you as you dive into your many pressure laden activities.

Always remember that as you go through the daily grind of your life. Jesus is always there for you ever ready to help you in whatever way possible. Always call on Jesus and always seek His abiding presence in your life.

Do you always seek the presence of Jesus in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 3, Tuesday; Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor: Luke 4:31-37

Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

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Reflection:

Do you recognize the authority of Jesus over you?

When Jesus speaks He speaks with authority and being so we have to listen to Him. For example, His teachings about love, forgiveness and humility. Do we love and forgive the way Jesus loves and forgives? Do we live the virtue of humility? For example if there’s misunderstanding in the family, are we humble enough to extend our hand of forgiveness even if we are not the culprit?

In our gospel even the demon recognized the power and authority of Jesus. If the demon listens to Jesus we must listen to Jesus as well. However, many of us don’t listen because we prefer to listen to our own selves.

The aspect of forgiveness, sin and humility is where we are usually weak. We usually find it hard to forgive, to avoid sin and we find it very hard to humble ourselves. Why? Because we override the teaching of Jesus with our ego.

We must listen to Jesus if we want peace and quiet in our lives. Otherwise there would always be an absence of peace within us and absence of harmony within our own homes. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 2, Monday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:16-30

Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

 It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes envy the success of your fellowmen?

Acceptance of somebody who achieved something is occasionally hard to accept for many of us. Most especially if we know the person and his/her background pretty well. We sometimes are unbelieving and scornful of them.

This behavior of non-acceptance happened also to Jesus when He went back to Nazareth, the town where he grew-up. Jesus’ town mates did not accept Him even if it was very obvious that he was very exceptional.

Their hearts were hardened already for Jesus. The worst part is they even tried to kill him. This is human behavior at its worst! But why is it that we can’t accept? There’s no other reason but pride, envy and arrogance.

Our pride, envy and arrogance will not bring us any good. It will only hasten our downfall! If we allow these negative emotions to rule our hearts no good will ever happen to us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 1, Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1, 7-14

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then he said to the host who inited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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Reflection:

A man was aspiring to be the leader of his group, so he said to himself: “I will talk a lot and flaunt my intelligence so that they would notice me.” So he did, he was always talking and very opinionated with the end in mind that he would be noticed by his peers and be anointed as their leader. When election day came he was not elected to lead the group instead the one that was chosen was the quiet and humble member.

What is the advantage of a humble person over an egotistical person? The crowd always favors the humble person. The humble will never aspire to be in front he would be content to be at the sideline doing his assigned task. If somebody would notice what he does he would appreciate it without gloating about it. If he would be assigned a position of prominence he would not immediately accept it. He would instead first think carefully about it. The humble person is not boastful, not egotistical and doesn’t seek prominence. 
  

In the gospel for this Sunday Jesus talks about humility. Jesus tells us that if we are invited into a wedding banquet or any banquet for that matter. We should choose to seat at the back and not in the place of honor, not because we feel inferior or we have an inferiority complex.  We seat at the back for this is the right action to do. Afterwards if the host would call our attention to be seated elsewhere then we should follow.

What if for example a person doesn’t have humility?  Could he be converted to imbibe the virtue of humility? Yes absolutely! He could be converted provided that he would be ready to follow the leadings of Jesus in his life. Why? Because in each and everyday of our life Jesus is always inviting us to leave behind our character of arrogance and hunger for prominence.

For the simple reason that these would only bring us trouble and problem. And it would certainly keep us away from the love and mercy of God. Because Jesus always wants us to be humble. And the virtue of humility if this is present in a person’s life could become his walkway towards Jesus.    

Strive to be humble and ask Jesus to make you humble for nothing is impossible for the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 31, Saturday; Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:14-30

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back. His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has more will be given and he will grow rich but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

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Reflection:

Are you prepared if the Lord would have an accounting of the talents that He had given you? In the gospel the master who returned from a journey had an accounting of the talents that He loaned to His servants.

What if the master did not return? There would have been no accounting for the servants most especially the third unproductive servant who was given one talent. But the master returned thus creating a problem for the third servant.

Inaction or status quo is never an option in our faith life or even in our life itself. We have to move we have to take calculated risk and sweat it out otherwise we will not grow and bear fruit in our faith life. The same with our daily existence; if we would just lay idle and not move we will not survive we will die of hunger. 

Because of his laziness and lack of initiative to move the third servant was labeled as useless by his master. He was thrown into the darkness of hell where there was grinding and wailing of teeth. 

By our baptism the Good Lord had entrusted us also with talents and responsibilities according to our abilities. Parents have this inherent responsibility which they must use for them to become good and Godly parents.

In what manner could we become good and Godly parents? We teach our children about our faith for the simple reason that we are the first formators or teachers of our children. The home is also the domestic church or the little church where children are initially introduced to Jesus and formed with values. Parents must also teach children how to live simply because God created us to live simply and not to live complicated and worldly lives.

How else could be become productive talent bearers of the Lord in this world? We have to serve the church in whatever capacity, we have to integrate our faith life with our parish church for us to grow more in our faith life. And of course we also have to teach and live our faith so that through us it could grow further.

Someday there would also be an accounting of the talents or responsibilities that Jesus had entrusted to you. How would you account to the Good Lord? Would you be like the two productive servants or you would be like the third unproductive servant who did nothing and risked nothing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas