Reflection for February 11, Wednesday; Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

Where does the desire to commit sin emanates? It first emanates from within us. It begins when we think about it and if we don’t stop thinking about our desire to commit sin it slowly progresses. Until we actually give flesh to our desire to sin by actually doing it!

For example, the desire of a husband/wife to betray their marriage vows. It starts by thinking about it and when we see that the situation is conducive to commit the act of sin/betrayal. The spouse will now succumb to commit this immoral sin. Therefore, the desire to commit sin originates from within us.

How then could we avoid sin? We pray to Jesus and ask His help to exterminate whatever sinful desires that we have in our minds. Then we also have to do our part by taking action to rid ourselves of the desire to sin and by running away from sin. Because if we pray yet our actions are not according to what we have been praying for we would still commit sin sooner or later. As the saying goes God help those who help themselves.

But come to think of it, why do we commit sin? The simple answer is we don’t take our faith in Jesus seriously this is the reason why we commit sin when we want to commit it. Are we not tired yet of sinning? Are we not tired yet of mortgaging our lives to the devil? When we continuously mortgage our lives to the devil through sin, there is the danger that we may not anymore be able to get out of it!

It’s about time that we change this cycle of sin, it’s about time that we rid ourselves of any sinful thoughts and desires. It’s about time that we free ourselves from any problems and complication brought about by sin.  This could only happen if we ask Jesus to come into our lives.  

Would you be willing to humbly pray to Jesus to come into your life? –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 10, Tuesday; Saint Scholastica, Virgin; Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark  7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus a revolutionary leader? Because Jesus’ dares to violate established rules to benefit His people. For Jesus it’s always the greater good of His people before the observance of any rules or laws. Which by the way was created to serve the whims and caprices of the ruling class (The Pharisees and scribes).

Jesus violates the rules created by the ruling class because it’s oppressive; it makes the ordinary people servants of the ruling class. Who are good only with utterance of their laws but visibly wanting in human compassion. Truth to tell, the ruling class (Pharisees and scribes) sacrifice human compassion in exchange for the observance of their self-serving created laws.

Case in point is the washing of hands before eating which was mentioned by the ruling class in the gospel. They asked Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands (Mark 7:5)?” Jesus answered them by simply pointing at their hypocrisy, their lack of interior transformation and compassion toward the ordinary people.

If we want our fellowmen to truly respect and follow us we should not be imposing, we should not be dictators. Because if we are like this our people will rebel against us, they may externally show their respect towards us but it’s a respect devoid of substance and spirit.  Instead we should always live the gentleness and compassion of Jesus  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 9, Monday; Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark  6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurry about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

 Do you have the habit of touching the image of Jesus in your house or when you are at church? Then as you touch His image you say your silent prayer of petition and thanksgiving to Jesus. Continue doing it because that is a good habit it signifies your humility and surrender to the mighty power of Jesus.

The healing crusade of Jesus continues in our gospel. Wherever He goes those who are in need of His healing goes also. The moment they get the information that Jesus is near them they hurry to go to Him to have this healing encounter with Jesus. They never mind if they are not able to talk to Jesus. It’s enough for them that they’re able touch any part of His clothes. Or to have a glimpse of Him is already enough for them to be healed by the mighty power of Jesus.

Up to this very moment this mighty healing power of Jesus is very much present in our midst. For He’s just a prayer away, His very image is within our reach. Look at the cross in your house or in your church Jesus is there. Touch Him and as you touch Him ask Him to heal you, ask Him to change you ask Him to make you more humble and kind.     

Surely, Jesus will never disappoint anyone who humbles and surrenders himself/herself before Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

The education of Mar Roxas...

http://www.fef.org.ph/2015/02/the-education-of-mar-roxas/

Reflection for Sunday February 8, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark1:29-39

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:

Are you afraid to get sick? Of course we all are afraid of sickness and as much as possible we don’t want to get sick. Some of us would even wish to have an instant death so that we could avoid getting sick and being enslaved by sickness.  But one of the many truths of life is the reality of sickness and death. Somehow it will catch-up with us no matter how we try to avoid it.

What is our shield for sickness? Our money and health insurance? It will not be enough and it may run out before we get healed. So what is the best cure for sickness? It’s our faith in Jesus! Our deep faith in Jesus will set us free from all kinds of sickness: Be it physical, emotional and spiritual sickness. Faith is a mystery that we should all embrace and faith is also a gift that we should ask Jesus to give us so that we would be able to feel His healing presence in our lives.

After preaching in the synagogue Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. He went there because Simon’s mother in law was sick with a fever. Jesus simply approached her grasped her hand and helped her get-up and with those simple gestures from Jesus she regained back her health. It was not only Simon’s mother in-law who got healed; many more were brought to Jesus in that place and all of them were healed.  

The big question here is this; did they all have faith in Jesus that’s why they were all healed? Yes of course otherwise they would have not been healed.

Do you always ask Jesus to give you the gift of faith and do you always prayerfully ask Jesus to heal you with anything that ails you?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 6, Friday; Sts. Pedro Bautista, Paul Miki and Companions; Mark 6:14-29

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah” still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets. But when Herod learned of it, he said “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up. Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you. He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom. She went out and said to her mother “What shall I ask for? Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist. The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist. The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Reflection:

What does it mean when you’re constantly being bothered by your conscience? It simply means that you’ve done something that is wrong and the only cure for this wrongdoing is to correct it. For example if a believer has cheated on his/her spouse she/he will naturally be bothered by her/his conscience. And this torment will not end until there’s a closure or admission of the sin.

When King Herod heard about the miraculous actions of Jesus and the popularity that He was earning from the ordinary people. Herod thought of John whom he ordered beheaded it suddenly came to his mind that John was alive. But it was very clear to King Herod that he ordered John killed.

So why did King Herod thought of John when he heard about Jesus? This is for the reason that King Herod was already being bothered by his conscience. Herod did something which is terribly wrong and the price that he has to pay for his wrongdoing was the guilt of conscience which was constantly bothering him.

Aren’t we like that also when we do wrong? But what separates us from Herod is we have an opportunity to admit our wrongdoing. And once we do so the guilty feeling will not be there anymore.

But why allow ourselves to be pestered by our guilt? Why not permanently delete guilt from our minds by not committing a wrongdoing/sin? Some of us may say that it’s impossible not to commit a wrongdoing or sin. Yes it may be impossible but, why not try asking Jesus to help us be clean all the time or if we sin, why not humbly apologize and admit our sin or wrongdoing? –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 5, Thursday; Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr; Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

What is the advantage of not being attached to worldly things? We learn to trust on the providence of God and we learn that the things of this world do not matter for its temporary and fleeting. We learn that our faith in God is more than enough to compensate for our lack of worldly things.  

Come to think of it, how much money do we need to earn in our lifetime that there are people who work their butts out to earn money? Money that if we are not discerning could even contribute to our being sick! And then at the end this same money that we’ve earned so hard may not even be enough to pay for our hospital bills!

In the gospel, when Jesus told His disciples not to bring, food, money and the like. He was essentially telling them not to worry for He would provide for them. If God can provide for the birds and other animals will He not provide for us whom He created in His image (Genesis 1:27)?

Many of us are so concerned with the material and physical aspect of life such as the clothes that we wear. The high-tech gadgets that we have but in close retrospection we actually can live even without these material things.

Our problem is we allow this world to dictate upon us. This is the reason why many of us punish ourselves to work so hard to earn money. For what? So that we could show off how wealthy we’ve become?

Jesus invites us to re-think our style of living for we may have already become slaves of this world. Rather than become His faithful and trusting followers. –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 4, Wednesday; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

Was Jesus expecting to be treated like a powerful celebrity when He went back to His hometown? No, because it was not in His character to flaunt Himself. As much as possible Jesus wanted to be treated like an ordinary person, never did He desire publicity and recognition. Jesus did miracles without any fanfare and hype and we attribute this to His humility.  What disheartened Jesus was His town mates lack of faith.  

Let us think about us as individuals, don’t we desire recognition and don’t we crave to be listened?  We love it the moment we hear people recognizing the things that we do and this is due to our yearning to satisfy our bloated egos. Isn’t possible for us to be humble and low profile like Jesus?

As we do good things or anything that we do for God let us not seek to be recognized let us simply fade away. Let us not seek adulation for those who crave adulation are also abandoned like a hot potato. Those who crave for admiration ultimately ends up in disgrace.

Let us not be disheartened if we will not be recognized or honored for these are just temporal honor/s given by temporal humans like us. In everything let us seek the humility of Jesus, Let us seek the silent recognition of Jesus rather than the noisy and temporal recognition of this world. –  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 3, Tuesday; Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”

But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

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Reflection:

Do you have a prayer before Jesus? Pray for it never give up and continue to badger Jesus with your prayer. For this is the secret for you to have what you wish for from Jesus. Everything should start with faith and once we start our interaction with Jesus with faith. everything will simply fall into place including what we wish for from Jesus.

But how can we grow in faith? We should humbly ask Jesus to give us the gift of faith not only that we ask Jesus for the gift of faith. We also should reach out to Jesus through our prayers, our presence at Holy Mass and by reading the most precious book of all books which is the Holy bible.

The woman in our gospel has been bleeding for twelve long years she went to anyone who could cure her to no avail. Then she heard about this healer named Jesus and from thereon she started to have faith in Jesus. And her faith impelled her to reach out to Jesus she even said to herself, If only I could touch a portion of His clothes I would be healed.

All of us have heard about Jesus but not all of us are praying for this gift of faith. Not all of us are constantly reaching out to Jesus by means of our prayers and pious presence at Holy Mass. Not all of us have a habit of reading and reflecting on the words of Jesus in the bible.

Some of us may even say, I’m very busy I have no more time to do these acts of faith. How then can we grow in faith? How then can we be friends with Jesus? How then can we have healing from Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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