Reflection for Tuesday November 11, Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop; Luke 17:7-10

Gospel: Luke Luke 17:7-10

(Jesus said to His disciples) “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is the frequent failing of many who serve in the vineyard of the Lord Jesus Christ? It’s the feeling of arrogance and the feeling that he/she is special because he/she is serving in the church.

Take for example a priest who has a high sense of himself and who gives orders to those who are at church as if they are his slaves. Sad to say but this is true, it’s not only the priest who is guilty of this kind of failing we too are often guilty of this kind of ill-mannered behavior.

If we are like this then how could we bring others closer to Jesus and how could they see Jesus in us? Let us not forget that we who are followers of Jesus are His walking advertisement in this world. If we are arrogant and ill-mannered they might think that Jesus is like that too!

In our gospel Jesus reminds us that we are all servants before Him and our fellowmen. It doesn’t matter how high our position in the church, it doesn’t matter how educated/rich we are. If we are true followers of Jesus we must then become the servant of everyone.

For it’s in serving others and in our humility that we become real and authentic followers and servants of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday November 10, Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor; Luke 17:1-6

Gospel: Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry, you should forgive him.”

And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Why do we sin? We sin because we allow sin to envelope us and we sin for our faith in Jesus is weak it is easily defeated by temptations. The devil is like a drone that always hovers above us it sees us and it detects if our faith in Jesus is weak. The moment that the devil finds out that our faith is weak he then quickly sends his slaves to entice us with sinfulness.

What is the antidote to sin? Very simple but we often neglect to harness this antidote called faith in Jesus. This is what defeats the devil and sin, the moment we ask Jesus to strengthen our faith He will surely oblige our request. But do we humbly and prayerfully ask Jesus to strengthen our faith? Are we faithful Holy Mass goers? Do we read our bible? Do we pray the Holy Rosary?

If we want to have an increase of faith we should not only ask Jesus we should also show Jesus that we are deserving of this faith. Once we do so we would notice a significant improvement in our faith life and in our journey with Jesus in this world.

Faith is a gift but at the same time faith is also given by Jesus to those who deserve it. And one testament of a person who deserves the gift of faith is someone who strives to know more about Jesus. And someone who endeavors to share his/her faith about Jesus.

Do you want to have an increase of faith? Try to know more about the life of Jesus and don’t forget to share what you know about Jesus. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday November 9, Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome; John 2:13-22

Gospel: John 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What do we do when we go to church to pray or for Holy Mass? Do we always go there so that we could feel the solemn atmosphere and have a personal encounter with Jesus?

The church is always our place of worship and this is our safe refuge whenever we are burdened by life’s challenges. It is also here where we get to have a personal encounter with Jesus before, during and after the celebration of the Holy Mass.

Do we still observe the proper discipline when we are at church? Do we still dip our finger in the holy water font, make the sign of the cross and genuflect with our eyes fixed on the tabernacle before we officially enter the church and before we go outside of the church?   

In our gospel we read about Jesus who went to the temple, to His dismay he found the temple in disarray. For they made the temple of worship to a temple of commerce. The people who were supposed to worship was there to do business and other things not in anyway related with worship for God. Therefore to create order and to restore the sanctity of the temple Jesus angrily drove out all those who corrupted the temple.   

 

This is a good reminder for all of us when we are at church for Holy Mass or to pray. We go to church to encounter to worship and to give glory and honor to Jesus. The church is not a business office where wheeling and dealing occurs.

When we go to church to pray or for Holy Mass let us go there with our focus on Jesus. So that when we go out of the church we carry with us this renewed strength and hope that will energize us as we once again face our life’s challenges. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Repleksyon para sa November 9, Pagtatalaga ng Basilika ni San Juan de Letran sa Roma; Juan 2:13-22

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-22

13 Malapit na noon ang Paskuwa ng mga Judio, at umahon si Jesus pa-Jerusalem. 14 Natagpuan niya sa patyo ng Templo ang mga nagtitinda ng mga baka, mga tupa at mga kalapati, at ang mga nakaupong tagapalit ng pera. 15 Kaya gumawa siya ng panghagupit mula sa mga lubid, at ipinagtabuyan ang lahat mula sa Templo, pati ang mga tupa at mga baka, at isinabog ang pera ng mga tagapalit at ipinagtataob ang mga mesa. 16 At sinabi niya sa mga nagtitinda ng mga kalapati: “Alisin n’yo ang mga ito! Huwag n’yong gawing palengke ang Bahay ng aking Ama.” 17 Naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad na nasusulat: “Tinutupok ako ng mala¬sakit sa iyong Bahay.” 18 Kaya sumagot ang mga Judio: “Anong tanda ang maipapakita mo sa amin at ginagawa mo ito?” 19 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Gibain n’yo ang templong ito, at ibabangon ko ito sa tatlong araw.”20 Sinabi naman ng mga Judio: “Apat¬¬-napu’t anim na taon nang itina¬tayo ang templong ito, at ibabangon mo ito sa tatlong araw?” 21 Ngunit and templong katawan niya ang kanyang tinutukoy. 22 Nang iba¬ngon siya mula sa mga patay, naalaala ng kanyang mga alagad ang sinabi niyang ito. Kaya naniwala sila sa Kasulatan at sa salitang sinabi ni Jesus.

+ + + + + + +

Repleksyon:

Ano po ba ang ginagawa natin pag tayo ay nagpupunta sa simbahan para manalagin o para dumalo sa Banal na Misa?  Tayo ba ay nagpupunta doon para damhin ang banal na kapaligiran at para mag karoon tayo ng personal na pakikipag ugnay kay Jesus?

Ang simbahan ay banal na lugar kung saan tayo ay nakikipag ugnay kay Jesus. Ito rin ang ating puntahan pag tayo ay nahihirapan sa ating mga pasanin sa buhay. Dito rin tayo nakikipag tagpo kay Jesus bago, habang at pagkatapos ng pagdiriwang ng Banal na Misa.

Tayo po ba ay sumusunod sa tamang disiplina pag tayo ay nasa simbahan?  Isinasawsaw paba natin ang ating daliri kung saan nakalagay ang banal na tubig. Nag aantanda paba tayo ng krus at lumuluhod ng sandali habang ang ating mata ay nakatiggin sa Tabernakulo bago tayo pumasok at bago tayo lumabas ng simbahan?

Sa ating mabuting balita ay mababasa natin si Jesus na nagpunta sa templo ngunit nadatnan niya ang hindi magandang nangyayari doon. Sa dahilan na ginawa ng mga tao ang templo ng dalaginan para sa templo ng negosyo. Ang mga tao na dapat sana ay nandoon para manalangin sa Diyos ay nandoon para mag negosyo. At gumawa ng mga bagay na walang kaugnayan sa pagsamba sa Diyos. Kaya para maibalik ang kaayusan at kabanalan ng templo ay ipinagtabuyan ni Jesus silang lahat kasama na ang mga hayop.  

Ito po ay magandang paalala sa ating lahat pag tayo ay nasa simbahan para mag simba o manalangin. Tayo ay nagpupunta sa simbahan para sambahin ang Diyos, makipag-ugnay at magbigay parangal sa kanya. Ang simbahan ay hindi lugar kung saan may nangyayaring transaksyon ng kung ano anong bagay o negosyo.     

Pag tayo po ay nag pupunta sa simbahan para manalangin o para magsimba mag punta tayo doon na naka sentro ang ating atensyon kay Jesus. Para pag labas natin dito ay dala dala natin ang  bagong lakas at pag-asa para harapin na naman ang ating mga pagsubok sa ating mga buhay. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday November 8, Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 16:9-15

Gospel: Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is dishonest wealth and true wealth that Jesus speaks about in our gospel? Dishonest wealth is any material wealth that you presently possess true wealth is no other than Jesus Himself. Material wealth is dishonest wealth in the sense that it will not give you peace, serenity and contentment no matter how big.

Has anyone of us found peace and contentment with the money that we have? No we have not found the serenity that we have been looking for. In fact the more money, power and wealth we have the more that we have no peace of mind. This is the paradox of earthly wealth and power: it will not give us the peace of mind that we have been longing for.  This is the reason why this is called dishonest wealth.

What is true wealth then? When you have Jesus in your life you already have this true wealth no matter if you are materially poor and no matter if you are sick. Because when you have Jesus in your life you lack nothing and you will not anymore desire for anything.

What is the worth of your life if you have all the wealth and power in this world yet you don’t have Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Friday November 7, Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 16:1-8

Gospel: Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward. The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master? He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil. He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty. Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe? He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note write one for eighty. And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Why was the steward removed from his position as the fund manager of his master? Because he became complacent and negligent on his job. Otherwise if he did his job competently he would have not been removed but he became complacent.

On the surface it may seem that the only issue here is the incompetence of the steward. But in a deeper sense there is a lesson that we could all learn from the steward. When he learned that he was suddenly to be removed fear suddenly set-in to him. He was worried about his future for the reason that he would be without a job.

Therefore to ingrain a debt of gratitude from their debtors and to assure his survival he collected their debts with a discount. With the fervent hope that they would take care of him when he is finally dismissed from his job.  On the first debtor he discounted fifthly and on the second he discounted twenty. Suddenly this complacent steward became very creative because what was at stake was his very survival.

We are also being reminded to be creative not in assuring our survival in this world. For the simple reason that all that we have in this world are all temporary and passing. We are reminded to be creative in sharing our faith in Jesus most specially during this time wherein technology is very advance.

 Let us therefore creatively harness the many social media portals that are available at our disposal to continuously share Jesus. For this will assure us of survival not in this world anymore but our survival after our lives in this world is over and done with already. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday November 6, Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 15:1-10

Gospel: Luke 15:1-10

The 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 Jesus addressed this parable to them. “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.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is your attitude toward the so called sinners of our society? For example if you have a brother and you perceive him to be a sinner, how do you treat him? Should you simply ignore him because you are angry with him for the many sins that he committed? Or you would build bridge to seek him out and let him know that the love of Jesus knows no bounds. That the love of Jesus is not diminished by the sins that he has committed.

There are many of us who give-up on the lost or sinners and we cannot blame ourselves for this because this is basic human nature. For example if you have a spouse who is a serial womanizer  and you have forgiven him for so many times and yet he does not change his ways. What is our natural reaction to this kind of attitude? Isn’t that our natural reaction is to raise our hands in surrender and give-up on that unrepentant spouse?

If we give-up with sinners, Jesus doesn’t give-up He will continuously seek out the lost or sinners until He finds them. And when Jesus finds them He will do everything (without questions asked!) to let this sinner feel His infinite love and forgiveness.   

The parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin is a showcase of the infinite love of Jesus for us. We who are all sinners, we who continue to struggle with sin. There’s hope after all for all of us sinners. And this hope is brought to us by the infinite love and mercy of Jesus. Amen. - Marino J. Dasmarinas