Reflection for Sunday September 28, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 21:28-32

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

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Reflection:

What do we do when we hear the voice of God calling us to walk away from all of our sinfulness? Do we simply hear without acting on it? Or we hear and then we act and live our life once again worthy in the eyes of God. Many of us might be dismissive of this call of God to repentance, we might simply brush it aside and dismiss it as nothing or insignificant to our lives in this world.

But God did not only create us for this world alone there is something higher that lies beyond this world. There is something that follows after our existence in this world; and this is no other than heaven.

In our gospel for this Sunday there is this son who was asked by his father to work in his vineyard (Matthew 21:28). The son initially said that he will not go to his father’s vineyard but upon pondering about the order of his father. The son had a change of heart and went to the vineyard to work there (Matthew 21:29).   

God in our readings and our gospel for this Sunday is inviting us to have a conversion. We who are all sinners are being encouraged by God to have a change of heart so that we could walk away from our sinfulness.  Let us not worry if for so many times we said no to His offer of conversion. For He will not count the many times that we refused Him what is important for the Lord is the here and now and our yes to Him!

Are we all not tired yet of committing sin? Are we not tired yet of a noisy life, life without peace and serenity? The reality is sin has not brought us anything good except more problems and disturbance in our lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday September 27, Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest; Luke 9:43b-45

Gospel: Luke 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

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Reflection:

We can’t help but wonder why the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus to elaborate His meaningful statement that He is going to be handed over to men. Did they sense that something disturbing is going to happen to Jesus soon? Were they afraid to hear something that would deal with suffering and the cross? Or the disciples were simply used to the image of Jesus as a miracle worker and healer.

Is it only for His miracles and healings that we follow Jesus? Perhaps yes, many of us are only after Jesus the miracle worker and Jesus the healer. But if we are only after His miracles and healings then this is not true discipleship.

True discipleship happen to us when we are also ready to suffer for Jesus and when we are also ready to carry our own cross for Jesus. We cannot separate Jesus from suffering because He himself brutally suffered. Thus we cannot also separate ourselves from suffering/s if we truly follow Jesus.

Nevertheless, let us not be afraid to suffer for our discipleship for Jesus because our suffering for Jesus will not be in vain. There is always something glorious after carrying our own cross for Jesus. We may not know it immediately but there surely will be glory after we endure our cross for the sake of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday September 26, Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 9:18-22

Gospel: Luke 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

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Reflection:

If Jesus would ask us, who am I to you? How would we answer Him? Would we answer based on what we know about Jesus or we answer Him in a much profound manner like you are my Lord and my God and I feel your abiding presence in my life everyday.

We must not limit our knowledge about Jesus to what we read or up to what only our minds would feed us. We must dive deeper than that in such a way that Jesus is already part and parcel of our daily lives. This only means that we read and live His teachings.

We become more productive followers of Jesus if we read and live His teachings because this would open us to a much deeper intimacy with Him. If we only read or hear and we don’t live His teachings our discipleship is lacking in substance.

We have to know Jesus and then we have to live Jesus these two (Know and live Jesus) must always go together. For it will help us endure the many trials/even sufferings that we would be facing as we exist in this world.  

Do you live the teachings of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday September 25, Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 9:7-9

Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

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Reflection:

What happens to us when we do something wrong and immoral? We are perpetually bothered by our conscience; we are quick to conclude that some events in our life are related to the wrong that we have done. This disturbance in our minds would continue to bother us until such time that we reach a closure (Whatever that closure would be) on the wrong that we have done.    

Herod the tetrarch was very much bothered when news came to him about Jesus. Why? Because Herod killed an innocent man in John, King Herod was already being tortured by his conscience about the wrong that he had done to John. This is perhaps the reason why Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things (Luke 9:9)?”

What is the cure so that we would not be bothered by our conscience and so that we would not lose sleep over something? Let us avoid doing wrong and immoral let us strive to be clean before God and our fellowmen. This is the only cure available for us so that we could avoid being tortured by our conscience. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday September 24, Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 9:1-6

Gospel: Luke 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

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Reflection:

How do you live in this world? Do you live with your trust and confidence in Jesus or you are living with your trust on yourself and in this world?

When Jesus sent the twelve apostles to their mission of evangelization He told them this: “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic (Luke 9:3). What does this very important statement of Jesus imply to the apostles? Jesus in essence was telling the apostles, rely on no one but me for I will provide for all of your needs!

Did they rely on Jesus? Yes of course except for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him. The eleven of them relied on Jesus that’s why they were very successful in their mission of evangelization. Many of them even gave their lives for their mission and reliance for Jesus.

This is a good point of reflection for all of us as we continue our journey in this fleeting world. To whom do we rest our lives in this world? Do we rest it on Jesus or we rest it on this world and ourselves. Many of us continue to work so hard to accumulate temporal things. There are even some of us or many of us who even work during Sundays so that we could have what we want. In exchange for what, our worship for God at Holy Mass?

Reliance on material things of this world will bring us only to emptiness. Even if we accumulate all of the material things of this world we would still not be happy we would still have this very deep feeling of void. What if we rely on Jesus? Then we are already complete and we are the happiest and most contented person in this world.  For the simple reason that Jesus is more than enough than any material thing/s of this world.    

We cannot bring to the next life the worldly things that we rely on this world. But if we rely on Jesus if we rest our lives in Him this would assure us of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. 

To whom do you rely? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday September 23, Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest; Luke 8:19-21

Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

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Reflection:

Who would not want to become a relative of Jesus? Of course we all want to become His relatives. But Jesus has one important requirement for all of us so that we could become His relatives: Hear His word/s and act on it (Luke 8:21).

Do we hear the word of God and act upon it? For example the commandment of Jesus to love our enemies and to do good to those who hurt us (Matthew 5:44). Do we love our enemies and do good to them?  Or we immediately follow our natural instinct not to love those who don’t love us and hurt those who hurt us.

But what would happen if we follow our selfish human instinct? There would be more hatred and hurt, more walls than bridges. Mahatma Gandhi once said: An Eye for an eye would only make the whole world blind.

It’s not easy to become a relative of Jesus if we put so much value to ourselves. If we look at ourselves so highly and we immediately despise those who’ve hurt and disrespected us. But Jesus himself has forgiven those who’ve hurt, persecuted and killed Him.   

Though it’s difficult to become a relative of Jesus for it requires humility and forgetting of ourselves. Nevertheless we must aspire to become a relative of Jesus and not aspire to become a lover of our egos and high sense of ourselves – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday September 22, Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 8:16-18

Gospel: Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowd: No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

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Reflection:

What is our mandate as baptized followers of Jesus? It’s to share in the ministry of evangelization of Jesus, this means that whatever we know about our catholic faith we must learn to share. So that our faith would continue to grow and prosper and in the process we save more lives and we give spiritual direction and substance to others lives.

In the midst of this world darkened by sin we should be like the lighted lamp that is placed on a lampstand that Jesus mentions in our gospel for today. We light this darkened world with the teaching of Jesus we light this darkened world by living our lives the way Jesus wants us to live it.

Just imagine a family that does not talk about Jesus. This means that they do not know Jesus and it’s safe to assume that the same family does not go to church or seldom goes to church for Holy Mass. What will happen to this kind of family? This is where the critical role of parents comes-in as bearers of the light of Jesus.

As much as possible parents must take advantage of the docility of their children  by giving and teaching them Jesus. Just imagine the life a child being lighted by Jesus as he/she grows. This means that this child is brought to Holy Mass by his/her parents. This means that the same child is introduce to Jesus by His life in the bible. And this means that this child is being lighted by the teachings of Jesus and the church. 

This kind of child will never go wrong as he/she grows-up.  This kind of family will have no fear as it journeys through life because the light of Jesus is with them.

Do you still share the light of Jesus to the internet savvy children of today? Is the lamp of Jesus always aflame in your family? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday September 21, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

(Jesus told his disciples this parable) 1 The kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day and sent them to his vineyard. 3 Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place 4 and said to them, "You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage." 5 So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. 6 Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing around, and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?" 7 "Because no one has hired us," they answered. He said to them, "You go into my vineyard too."

8 In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first." 9 So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. 10 When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. 11 They took it, but grumbled at the landowner saying, 12 "The men who came last have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day's work in all the heat." 13 He answered one of them and said, "My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? 14 Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the lastcomer as much as I pay you. 15 Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why should you be envious because I am generous?"  16 Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.'

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Reflection:

Can we measure the breadth and width of God’s love for us? No, because God’s love for us is not bound by any form of measurement. God loves us infinitely no matter who we are and no matter the sins that we have committed.

The landowner in our gospel which represents God solicitously invited in so many instances workers to work in His vineyard. He did not care about the time that they present themselves for work what was important for God was they respond to His invitation to work for Him in His vineyard.

The love of God for us is so immense that He wants us to go to Him irrespective of who we are. He continuously invites us to a new life with Him. We are precious to God we are dearly loved by God that’s why His invitation is always there for us, it’s ours to take anytime!

Many of us may say that we are not anymore worthy of this immense love of God because of our sinfulness. No, the more sinful we are the more that we become worthy of this great love of God. We must therefore respond to this invitation of God for us to go to His vineyard so that we could renew our lives and walk away from all of our sinfulness.

Will you respond to this invitation of God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday September 20, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs; Luke 8:4-15

Gospel: Luke 8:4-15

4 When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable. 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.

9 Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. 10 He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. 12 Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. 15 But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

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Reflection:

How do you receive the word of God that you read and hear? For example when you read the words of Jesus in  the bible, do you reflect upon it, discern it and then share it? Or you just read it and then it ends there nothing eventful with your reading of the words of God. 

How do you react when you hear the words of God proclaimed during Holy Mass? Do you allow yourself to be moved by it? That it immediately stirs you to do good and live your faith so that you could make a positive Impact on the lives of your fellowmen.

Jesus words is the seeds that He plants in our hearts and Jesus expectation is always for us to be fruit bearing followers. Where others could learn about Jesus and our faith from us. We must not allow ourselves to become followers in name only who simply absorb the words of God and do nothing. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday September 19, Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 8:1-3

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

1 Afterward he (Jesus) journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve 2 and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

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Reflection:

Have you already preached or even shared the good news about Jesus? The gospel for this Friday opens our eyes to the preaching ministry of Jesus. Have you shared Jesus? For example through your life, through actual preaching or sharing or even writing on the internet anything that deals about Jesus.

An active follower is not ashamed to share Jesus, he/she find ways and means to share the teachings of Jesus. Let us reflect on this for we may have not yet shared Jesus or yes we have already shared Jesus but we don’t actually live what we have shared or preached about Jesus.

Be not be afraid to share Jesus for by sharing Jesus you straighten crooked lives. By sharing Jesus you are able to give hope to the hopeless and by sharing Jesus you save lives. Jesus is alive and kicking up to this very moment for He dwells in your heart.

It is therefore incumbent upon you to share this living Jesus and to let others know how Jesus continuously creates miracles in your daily life. So that they would also be transformed by Jesus the same way that Jesus is continuously transforming you up to this very hour.

Have you already preached or even shared the good news about Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday September 18, Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 7:36-50

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of  woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?" 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." 

44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet  my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

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Reflection:

What compelled the woman to wet the feet of Jesus with her tears? What compelled her to wipe Jesus feet with her hair and to kiss Jesus feet and anoint them with an ointment?

It was her sinfulness, she was already tired of living her life in sin that’s why when she learned that Jesus was in Simon’s house. She did everything to get near Him so that she could humbly honor Him with whatever humble gesture that she could offer Jesus.

Never did she thought that Jesus would condemn and judge her  she simply focused on her need to be forgiven. This is Jesus for all of us, a God who will never condemn our sinfulness no matter how serious. A God who will never judge us based on the sins that we have committed in the past.

What is important for Jesus is the here and now, never mind the past sins for as long as we have the humility to ask for forgiveness. Perhaps, the humble gesture that the woman did was her way of asking for forgiveness of her past sins. The woman spoke to Jesus through her heart, she spoke through her acts of humility. And Jesus heard the desire of her repentant heart.

What are you capable of doing to show Jesus that you’re repentant of your sins? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday September 17, Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

(Jesus said to the crowds) 31 “Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. 35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

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Reflection:

Why did the Pharisees and scribes refuse to hear the message of conversion and hope of John and Jesus? There are many reasons why they refused to hear their message of conversion. But primarily Jesus and John were nobody for them; they (Pharisees and scribes) were the ruling class and rulers of their time. So why hear the message of these two nobodies?

 By their contemptuous treatment of John and Jesus they deprived themselves of a meaningful life. A life that is not based on earthly power but based on a higher power that is beyond this world.

Why do many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus? Because we love this world more than we love the heavenly world beyond this world. This is the reason why so many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus.

But what will it do us if we amass all the things in this world if we are without Jesus? Could we bring to the next life the wealth that we have amassed in this world? Could our love of earthly wealth help us gain passage to heaven?

What if we hear and ponder the conversion message of John and Jesus?  We will certainly gain entry to heaven even if we are materially poor in this present and fleeting world.  

It’s definitely better to be materially poor yet have Jesus in our lives than to be rich without Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday September 16, Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs; Luke 7:11-17

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

11 (Jesus) journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

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Reflection:

Imagine the sorrow, loneliness and perhaps the feeling of hopelessness of the widow whose son was to be buried. She had nothing more to rely on, her husband has already died and her only son is to be buried. Thus the feeling of loneliness pervade all over her.

Then came the unexpected encounter with Jesus who was going to a place called Nain. Jesus saw her, He went to her and told her, Do not weep (Luke 7:13); after which Jesus raised back to life her dead son. Surely her feelings of loneliness was suddenly replaced by feelings of hope, optimism and gladness. For the reason that her only son was  brought to life again by Jesus.

We all go through this feeling of loneliness, emptiness and feeling of being alone as if nobody cares anymore with our plight. But make no mistake about it because somebody still cares and that somebody is no other than Jesus. Let us continue to have Faith and Hope in Him for He will always be there for us.

Do you know how to avoid the feeling of being alone, the feeling of without hope and the feeling of emptiness?  Always have an encounter with Jesus through the Holy Mass through our personal prayer and through the Holy Rosary. Through the prayers that were taught to us by the church and by Jesus himself (Matthew 6:9-13).

Do you always seek an encounter with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday September 15, Our Lady of Sorrows; John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27

25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

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Reflection:

Do you know how it is to be sorrowful? The Blessed Mother knows it deep in her immaculate heart. It started when Simeon told her that her son will be a sign of contradiction and her soul would be pierced by a sword (Luke 1:34-35). Then it culminated to the point where we are now in our gospel.

We cannot fathom how the Blessed Mother felt during that time when she was at the foot of the cross looking-up to her badly bruised and dying son Jesus. Nonetheless, even if she was deep in her sorrow she still found courage and strength in her son. For she obeyed what Jesus told her that from thereon she would treat John her son that’s why she went to the house of John and stayed there.

Do you always find strength and courage in Jesus especially during the sorrowful moments of your life? Do you always ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you to make your faith in Jesus as strong as hers?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus in the midst of our sorrows, trials and sufferings we pray to you to give us the strength and courage to face whatever this world would give us. Give us the same strength and courage that you gave the Blessed Mother when she was sorrowfully looking-up to you at the foot of the cross.

Please continue to strengthen us Dear Lord Jesus, give us the gift to trust you more than we trust ourselves.        

Our Most Blessed Virgin Mary we dearly ask you to pray for us. Amen. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday September 14, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: John 3:13-17

Gospel: John 3:13-17

(Jesus said to Nicodemus) 13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up 15  so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 16 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. 17 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 or 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 we point not to ourselves as the culprit but to God as the creator of our suffering/s.

Think about the many wars that the powerful leaders of this world have created. Think about the many personal and family problems that we 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 could 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. If they’ll look up 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 often times 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

Repleksyon para sa September 14, Pagtatampok sa Krus na Banal; Juan 3:13-17

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Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:13-17

(Sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo) 13 Wala pang sinumang umakyat sa langit kundi ang bumaba mula sa langit, ang Anak ng Tao. 14 At kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang tansong ahas doon sa ilang, gayundin naman, kailangang itaas ang Anak ng Tao, 15 upang ang sinumang sumampalataya sa kanya ay magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan. 16   Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan, kaya't ibinigay niya ang kanyang kaisa-isang Anak, upang ang sinumang sumampalataya sa kanya ay hindi mapahamak, kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan. 17 sinugo ng Diyos ang kanyang Anak, hindi upang hatulang maparusahan ang mga tao, kundi upang iligtas ang mga ito sa pamamagitan niya.

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Repleksyon:

Bakit ba tayo may mga paghihirap dito sa mundo? Tayo ay may mga paghihirap dahil ayaw nating yakapin ang pag-ibig ng Diyos. Ang ating mga paghihirap ay hindi mga paghihirap na ginawa ng Diyos para sa atin. Sa dahilan na tayo mismo kadalasan ang gumagawa nito at pag tayo ay nag hihirapan na ay karamihan sa atin ay ang sinisisi ay ang Diyos.

Isipin nalang po natin ang napakaraming giyera na ginagawa ng mga lider nga mga makapangyarihan mga bansa. Isipin nalang natin ang ating mga personal at mga problema sa pamilya na walang ibang may gawa kundi tayo rin naman. Pero sa gitna ng ating mga ginagawang mga problema o sa gitna ng ating mga paghihirap ay may pag hilom at pag-asa at ito ay gustong ibigay sa atin ni Jesus na naka pako sa krus.  

Marahil ay karamihan po sa atin ay ayaw tingnan si Jesus na nasa krus dahil ito ay nag papaalala sa atin ng pagpapakasakit ng ating panginoong Jesu Kristo. Nagpapaalala ito sa atin na ang paghihirap ay may kaakibat na mga sakripisyo at mga problema. Pero paano po natin ma didiskubre na may pag-asa, may pagpapagaling at kaligtasan sa krus ni Jesus kung hindi tayo titingin dito kung hindi natin yayakapin ito at kung hindi natin hahawakan ito?  

Sa ating unang pagbasa ang mga taong na iniligtas ni Moises sa pagka alipin ng Paraon ay gumawa ng kanilang sariling problema. Nang sila ay mag reklamo kay Moses tungkol sa kanilang paghihirap sa ilang. At ng dahil sa kanilang pag rereklamo sila ay pinarusahan ng Diyos. Pero sila rin naman ay ililigtas ng mahabaging Diyos na ito kung sila ay titingin sa ahas na tanso na nasa dulo ng tikin. Alam po natin na ang tansong ahas na nasa dulo ng tikin na gumamot sa kanila ay kulmakatawan kay Jesus na nakapako sa krus sa ating mabuting balita.

Marami po tayong mga problema at paghihirap dito sa mundong ito at karamihan po nito ay tayo rin ang may gawa na sa kasamaang palad ay isinisisi natin sa Diyos. Pero ganon na lamang tayo kamahal ng Diyos na ibinigay niya sa atin ang kanyang bugtong na anak na mamatay sa krus para sa ating kaligtasan.

Mayroon kabang krus na nakapako si Jesus sa bahay mo o sa kuwarto mo? Tingnan mo ito, hawakan mo ito at boung pananampalatayang hilingin mo kay Jesus. Na gamutin niya ang lahat ng iyong mga pinagdadaanang pasakit, problema at pagdurusa. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday September 13, Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; Luke 6:43-49

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

(Jesus said to his disciples) “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

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Reflection:

Who is the foundation of your life? If Jesus is the foundation of your life you’re in the hands of the most powerful rock of this world. Nothing can defeat you and nothing can destroy you because your life is strongly founded in Jesus.

Should you rest already and feel secure because you trusted your life in Jesus? No, because you have a mission and your mission is to share the gentleness of Jesus to your fellowmen. Remember that you are the good tree that Jesus mentions in the gospel and out of your goodness you must share your fruit which is no other than Jesus.

Let us not keep our love for Jesus to ourselves let us share this burning love with others so that they too will feel the love of Jesus. They too will feel the healing and forgiveness of Jesus because Jesus is very much needed today more than any other time in our history.

Just imagine those who live their lives without the guidance of Jesus there are hundreds even millions of them. If you share Jesus even to only one of them you have already fulfilled your mission as His fruitful follower. And who knows by your courage of sharing Jesus you may change lives because you cared to share Jesus.  

Will you care to share Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday September 12, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time; 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 different sides is heard. This assures that whatever decision that the judge would give, is appropriate and based on the facts of the case.

We often times 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  will be followed. But what if we are not good role models? Here the problem lies, if we are not worthy to give judgment.

 

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

But what if we are not?  Then the judgment or orders that we give will simply not be heard and it might even boomerang back to us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday September 11, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

(Jesus said to his disciples 27 “But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.29 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. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34 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. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. 37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

38 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:

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 will 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 we are like this? 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. To bring our understanding of love to a much higher level; perhaps (If we can) to the level of God’s love for us.  But are we capable of raising to a higher level our understanding of 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).

How do you love? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday September 10, 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:

Are we willing to be poor to be hungry, to weep and to be insulted for our steadfast faith in Jesus? This question will drive us to think hard because it’s not easy to be poor to be insulted, to weep and be hungry for the sake of our steadfast discipleship with Jesus.

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 for Jesus? 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 for Christ now 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 will it benefit us if we are rich, powerful and if everyone is praising us to high heavens if Jesus is not in our lives or if Jesus is just a particle in our lives? 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 Tuesday September 9, 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:

Is prayer part of your life that it seems that your day is not complete without prayer? Before making the very important decision of choosing His apostles Jesus went first to a mountain to pray. There, He spent the night in prayer to God.   

Prayer is our hotline to God this is our means to connect with Him. Through our prayer we invite God to come into our lives. With our regular habit of prayer the God that is distant now becomes the God that is with us and the God that walks with us.

What does prayer brings us? Through our prayer we connect with God, thru prayer God calms us, God comforts us, God guides us and He gives us wisdom to make the right decisions in life, to name a few.

Who amongst us wouldn’t want God to be with us and walk with us? Of course we all want the presence of God in our lives this is the reason why we must always have time for God through our prayer. Our prayer life must not take a backseat over our worldly undertakings; it must be prayer first before our many worldly activities.

 What would our worldly riches mean to us if we don’t pray?  What is the use of wealth and power if God is just a superficial entity in our lives or if we are without God? Someday we will die and everything that we have accumulated in this world will not anymore matter to us. What will only matter during that time is our relationship with God built through our active and fervent prayer life.   

Do you always give first priority to your prayer life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas