Reflection for February 2, Monday the Presentation of the Lord; Luke 2:22-40

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

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Reflection:

What can we offer the Lord? Are we willing to offer our time in the service of the Lord? The Lord is not asking us to give all of our time to Him I think even a little of our time will already suffice for the Lord. But have we dared yet to give our time to the Lord? Mary and Joseph in compliance with their Jewish faith brought Jesus to Jerusalem to offer Him to the Lord.

Many of us are afraid to give our time for the Lord for there’s no money in the service for the Lord. Yes indeed there’s no money in the vineyard of the Lord but life is not all about earning money. There’s more to life in fact than simply earning money and there’s more to life than having all the power and material wealth in this world.

Have we thought of doing something for the Lord, have we thought of doing something that would give satisfaction to our inner being no other than our souls?

Material things are important for we also need it for our existence but it’s not the be all and end all of life. The be all and end all of life is God. For our earthly possessions no matter how enormous will pass us by. But God will not pass us by He will be with us here in this world. And He will still be with us until after our temporal journey in this world is over and done with already.   

What can we offer our Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday February 1, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus 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:

A gay person was trying very hard to change his ways, he wanted to become straight for He was already tired of his hidden life.  But every time he tries to change the devil would always present itself to him and he would always succumb to his evil temptations.

He had a dream one night and in that dream Jesus told him, “I will change you if you will allow me to change you.” Oh yes my Lord he told Jesus and Jesus subsequently told him, read the book that contains me. Read more about me there and let my words sink into you.  As he woke-up in the morning the first book that he saw was their dusty bible. He read it and from thereon he read it everyday and true enough he was changed by Jesus.        

Do you want to feel the authority of Jesus? Begin by knowing more about His life by reading your bible. Try reading it initially by yourself and as your read try to feel every words of Jesus reflect on it and let it sink in to you. Do this daily, let Jesus speak directly to you and then notice the authority of Jesus working in your life.

As you let His authority work in your life notice the change that will happen to you. Perhaps if you’re self-centered you will now slowly but surely become more Christ centered. If you’re arrogant and domineering you will now become humble and gentle. However for this to happen, you have to know more about Jesus.

You have to recognize His authority over you and this could only happen if you will take time to know more about His life changing story in the bible. This could only happen if you will give Jesus even a little of your precious time everyday.   

Do you want to feel the authority of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 31, Saturday St. John Bosco, Priest; Mark 4:35-41

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still! The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

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Reflection:

Was Jesus only testing the faith of His disciples? If He was, then Jesus found out that His disciples was terribly wanting in faith. Jesus calmed the violent sea storm to assure them all that He was in control of everything.

We too will encounter storms in our life. How would we handle these storms? Will we allow these storms to defeat us and prevent us from living our lives? Or we continue to become calm under duress caused by these life storms?

The obvious answer is we will continue to be calm no matter how difficult the storm/s that we will be encountering. For the reason that we have Jesus in our life, we know that Jesus will take charge of every life storm that we will be encountering.

We are often times easily rattled by our life storms or problems because we are lacking in faith. If only we will learn to trust Jesus more than we trust on ourselves. If only we will not lean on our own finite understanding. We will then be able to discover how mightily powerful Jesus is. That Jesus is more than enough to defeat any kind of life storms that we will be encountering in our lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Patuloy po tayong mag alay ng Panalagin, Pagtulong at humingi ng HUSTISYA sa apat-naput-apat (44) na mga BAYANING PULIS NG PNP-SAF na nag-alay ng kanilang buhay sa Mamasapano Maguindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/669179/aquino-reaches-out-saf-44-relatives-not-convinced

Reflection for January 30, Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:26-34

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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Reflection:

Do you want to have and feel the kingdom of God in your life? Then you should open your life to God. In everyday of your life God showers you with every blessing that He could give you. But do you notice and acknowledge these blessings that God gives you? For example the blessing of a new life when you wake up in the morning, the sunlight, the air that you breathe and so forth. Do you care to thank God for all of these blessings?

Acknowledgement of God’s many blessings is the first step for you to have and feel the kingdom of God in your life. When you recognize the majesty and power of God you also open your life to His kingdom. And you let God come into your life; eventually you let God rule your life.

Then little by little you let God take charge of your life and not you anymore taking charge of your own life. This is where the kingdom of God begins to take root in your life. It grows little by little until it blooms where others can take shelter and comfort.  

 Jesus in our gospel for this Friday mentions about the small mustard seed which is none other than Himself and His kingdom. This small mustard seed once acknowledge and recognized by the soil (Which is no other than you). Begins to sprout until it blooms and eventually grows bigger so that those who are in need could take shelter and sanctuary.

Do you always acknowledge, recognize and thank God for all of the blessings that He gives you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 29, Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 4:21-25

Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear. He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

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Reflection:

Do you take time to share what you know about God? Do you live the faith that God has given you? Our knowledge and faith about God will further blossom if we learn to share it. We will  also grow in faith as we care to share it. But have we thought of sharing God?

Sometimes we are afraid to share God because many of the population of today are not anymore centered on God. They are more centered on how they could earn a living, centered on the material side of this world and how to survive in this world. But what kind of people are we growing if they will be more focused on this world than God?   

Jesus in our gospel mentions about a lamp that must not be hidden under a bed for it will have no use at all! Jesus mentions about a lamp that is put in a lampstand so that it will serve as a guiding light where others could gain wisdom and enlightenment from it.

Your knowledge about God and your faith is the lamp of your life. You must not keep it to yourself! You must share and live it so others would be enlightened by it! There are people who don’t know God because there are people who don’t care to share and live what they know about God.

Therefore, bring the lighted lamp of Jesus into your own environment and bring the lamp of Jesus into your own family. So that they could be enlightened and transformed by Jesus, this you will do with utmost humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Mag alay po tayo ng panalangin para sa mahigit na apatnapung BAYANING PULIS ng PNP-SAF na pumanaw sa Maguindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/668355/state-honors-promotions-to-be-accorded-fallen-saf-men