Reflection for January 19, Monday of the Second Week; Mark 2:18-22

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

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Reflection:

What is Jesus desire for you? It’s to transform you so that you could become fresh wineskin so that He could pour Himself into you. Jesus is the new wine and you are the old wineskin but Jesus doesn’t want you to become old wineskin which cannot accept His renewing presence. He wants you to be renewed or to be the fresh wineskin so that He could come into your life.

What makes us old wineskins or what makes us unworthy for the presence of Jesus? It’s our many sins, these many sins makes us unworthy to Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus is also offering Himself to us so that he could cleanse us and make us new once again

Will you let Jesus into your life so that He could make things new for you? Or you will continue to shut your heart to Jesus? The choice is yours, if you want to remain contained in the old wineskin of sin or you allow Jesus to renew you and liberate you  from sin.

The correct choice is always to allow Jesus entry into your life and to allow Jesus to make things new in your life once again. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday January 18, Feast of the Sto.Nino; Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child* will not enter it.” Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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Reflection:

There were two best friends who grew-up and eventually grew old still in constant touch with each other. When they were already in their seventies they were sharing stories about their children. Best friend number one (1) was so proud of her children for they became very successful in their respective careers and family life. Best friend number one’s children were also very loving and caring towards their parents.

Best friend number two’s children were the complete opposite of the children of best friend number one (1). Best friend number two’s children had unstable jobs and their respective married life was in turmoil.

While the two best friends were conversing, best friend number two told best friend number one: “I envy you for your children have very good and fulfilled life, while my children have no decent life that they could speak of.

All of us want our children to grow up like the children of best friend number one (1). Successful in their respective careers and family life and caring and loving to their parents as well. What is the key here? The key is to bring your children to Jesus.

In our gospel when Jesus saw His disciples preventing the children from going toward Him He scolded them and told them: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mark 10:14).

When you bring your children to Jesus great things will happen to them as they grow up. Great not because they will become very rich materially, great because they will grow up being blessed and guided by Jesus.

Can you imagine the great blessings that your children will receive if you would always bring them with you to attend Holy Mass? Can you imagine the spiritual blessing that your children will receive if you would introduce them about the life and teachings of Jesus through the bible? They will grow up to become responsible and God loving children, they will become children that will love and take care of their parents.

Do you always bring your children to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Welcome Pope Francis!

Reflection for January 16 Friday of the First Week; Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Reflection:

What will you do if a sick person who is poor will ask you for help? Will you bring him to a hospital or would you simply ignore and move-on with your life?

The gospel for today gives us a direction on what to do whenever somebody asks us for help regardless of who this somebody is. We must help in whatever way the person in need this was the deed that was done by the four men who went to the roof of the house where Jesus was staying.

The four men brought the paralytic to Jesus. They did not care if they have to open the roof of the house so that they could bring the paralytic in front of Jesus. What is important for them is to extend help to the paralytic in whatever forms and ways.  

What happened to the four men after the paralytic was healed and forgiven of his sins by Jesus? They simply faded away into the sunset; they did not receive any words of appreciation from the crowd and from the man that they’ve helped. But certainly as they walked away and mingled with the ordinary folks. They carried in their hearts this unexplainable joy, joy that no human could give them and joy that no amount of money could buy them. 

This unexplainable joy was given to them by Jesus for a job well done. And for getting out of their own comfort zones so that they could give comfort and help to someone in need.

How about you, what would you do if a sick person who is poor will ask you for help? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for January 15 Thursday of the First Week; Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean. Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean. The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them. The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Reflection:

Who does the leper represent today? It’s all of us who are sinners! When Jesus was approached by the leper Jesus did not run away from Him. He instead had pity on the leper, offered his healing hand to touch and clean him of his contagious sickness.  

For the reason of their sickness lepers were treated us outcast they were not allowed to mingle with the people. For fear that they may pass on their sickness to those that they would be in touch with. But Jesus never run from the leper He instead did the contrary by offering His healing hand and right there the man was immediately healed.

This is Jesus for all of us! Merciful, full of love and compassion for all of us. Never minding if we are sinners and never judgmental with the sins that we have committed. What is important for Jesus is we approach Him with humility.

 We bare ourselves to Him and tell Him, I strip myself of anything that makes me unworthy before you O Lord heal me. Let us remember that nothing is impossible for Jesus, He makes all things possible including the impossible.

What are the sins that you have committed?  Do you think that you are already unworthy for the reason of your many sins? You are still worthy and precious in the eyes of Jesus. Humbly approach Him and tell Him: Heal me O Lord! – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for January 14 Wednesday of the First Week; Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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Reflection:

Is prayer for healing always part of your daily petitions to Jesus? Perhaps not because we oftentimes confine Jesus’ healing to physical sickness. But in reality Jesus  doesn’t only heal physical sickness He can heal everything that ails us. For example our sickness called arrogance, our sickness called greed, our sickness called lust and so forth. All of these can be healed by Jesus.

There’s a story of an arrogant man who would always want to dominate anyone who would be associated with him. Eventually he noticed that he would always be deserted by his friends. He also became aware that even his family would oftentimes avoid being associated with him.

He knew deep in his heart that the reason of their aversion towards him was caused by his dominating and arrogant behavior. So he prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal him of his arrogance. After a few weeks he notice a change in his behavior from being arrogant he became more humble, understanding and not anymore dominating like a boss. With His healing of his arrogance he gained more friends and his harmony with his family was restored.  

We must not confine Jesus healing to physical healing only for the simple reason that Jesus physical healings are but a surface of His healing power. Jesus can heal everything that ails us, including sickness that nobody knows except us; we simply have to prayerfully ask Him for this healing.

Have we prayed to Jesus to heal us of our arrogance our greed, our domineering attitude and our many more hidden sickness that nobody  knows except us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 13 Tuesday of the First Week; Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “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, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

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Reflection:

What are the modern day unclean/evil spirits that could possess us now? It’s our greed, our lack of concern for others, our arrogance, our lustful desires and so forth. Who can defeat these evil spirits that enslaves us? It’s our faith in Jesus! But the big question is do we still have faith in Jesus? Do we always communicate with Jesus through our prayers? Do we thirst for Jesus by always desiring to partake of His body at Holy Mass?

Evil/unclean spirit has no chance to possess us when we are always in union with Jesus. Those who are possessed by evil spirits are those who distance themselves from Jesus. Just try to always get connected with Jesus and you will see that you will always be shielded from the possession of the evil one.

In our gospel for today, Jesus powerfully told the evil spirit that possessed the man to come out of him. And the evil spirit had no choice but to obey the authoritative command of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus has power and authority over anything including the many modern day evils that controls us!

But come to think of it, why was the man in our gospel for today possessed by an unclean spirit? Why was he among the many people in the synagogue? He was lacking in faith in Jesus otherwise he would have not been possessed.   

Let us always strive to always get in touch with Jesus for He is always there for us. By doing so we free ourselves from the possession of the devil and the many modern day evils that lurks around us today.

Do you always create time to prayerfully reach out to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas