Reflection for June 15, Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

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Reflection:

What will happen if we would become kind to our enemies, if we will not respond to their mocking? The enemy will simply go away or they might even become our friend. There is so much hatred in this world because we respond to hatred. We perpetuate the cycle of anger by anger.

When we respond to hatred and violence we allow the evil one to take hold of us. And when the evil one takes control of us it will do nothing but destroy us. And bring us closer to his kingdom where everyone has hatred in his/her heart. 

In our gospel Jesus convincingly destroys the evil of hatred by love and humility.  Jesus tells us this: “I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well (Matthew 5:39).

Are we capable of loving those who despise us and are we willing to humble ourselves before them? Should we confront them or we simply ignore their insults and anger? Many regrettable acts of anger would have been avoided if only we have love and humility  in our hearts.

Prayer: O dear Lord I pray that you give me the virtue of Humility and Love. Sow in my heart everything that is good. Sow in my heart gentleness, forgiveness and compassion for those who hate me. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday June 14, Eleventh Sunday 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 through it all 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:   

A young man wants to write for God but he was hesitant for he knows his limitations. He doesn’t write well and could hardly compose a decent sentence. 

Yet deep in his heart there was a persistent voice that tells him to write. He therefore submitted himself to the urgings of the inner voice. And to make a long story short, this young man who can hardly create a sentence became well known for his meditations about God.

Jesus speaks about a small seed that has been scattered into the land. The seed has grown so big and was soon harvested. Jesus also speaks about a tiny mustard seed that was sown. After awhile it soon became so big where birds rested in its shade.

Does God sow seed within us also with the intention of making it grow so that others could also benefit from it? Yes! God sows a seed in each and every one of us. But more often than not this small seed doesn’t grow until it eventually dies. Why? Because many of us are afraid to trust God, so we do not take action.

Surely we will not be able to do it by ourselves. Yet if we would only learn to call on God, if we would only learn to have faith in Him. The seed that God sows in our hearts will surely blossom so that it could be useful to our fellowmen. What is this seed that God sows within us? It could be a talent, wealth or anything that would benefit or help our fellowmen.

Try to discover the seed that God has sown into your heart. Upon discovering it, don’t just keep it within yourself. Share it so that it could grow bigger, share it so that others could also benefit from it.

Would you be willing to discover this seed? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 13, Saturday The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Luke 2:41-51

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

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Reflection:

When a family is hit with misfortune, say for example sickness of a child. It’s always the mother who suffers first. It’s not the father but the mother. Why is this so? This is for the reason that both mother and child have deeper emotional connection between themselves. 

Before a child is born to this world he/she stays first in his mother’s womb. For nine long months both mother and child develops a bond that only death can break.      

How did the Blessed Mother and her husband Joseph feel when she noticed that Jesus was not with them? It must have been very difficult for both of them but more difficult perhaps for the Blessed Mother. Jesus was her only child, she took care of Jesus and before she gave birth to Jesus. Jesus was inside her immaculate womb for nine months.

Just imagine the anxiety that the Blessed Mother felt. During that time when they discovered that the boy Jesus was not in their company. But she remained calm as they went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. And when they found Jesus the Blessed Mother said this to Jesus, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety (Luke 2:48).”

The Blessed Mother is not only concerned with Jesus’ welfare. She also is very much concerned with our own well being. Inside her Immaculate heart dwells the deep desire to look after us too so that she could bring us back closer to Jesus.

Let us therefore not forget to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Let us asks her to watch over us. Let us ask her to pray for us and let us ask her to bring us closer to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

1Reflection for June 12, Friday Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; John 19:31-37

Gospel: John 19:31-37

Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

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Reflection:

A young man said to his beloved, I will love you until the last gasp of my breath. The beloved woman was so smitten by his sweet words so she said yes. After a few months the young man left the woman he swore to love for a new love.

This is who many of us are when we love. We love without permanence and security. We love for as long as we can get something from the person that we swore to love. And then when we cannot get anything anymore it’s time to move on and find a new one. Hard to believe but this is true and this is happening.

But how does Jesus loves? He loves until eternity; He loves us no matter who we are. He loves us even if we don’t love Him back and He loves us more than His life. This is the love of Jesus for us, so deep and so profound that we cannot fathom it. This love of Jesus for us emanates from His Sacred Heart.

Today is the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, this represents not only the heart of Jesus. This Solemnity is also a showcase of His infinite love for all of us because the heart is a universal symbol of love.

We see this great love of Jesus for us in the gospel. He hangs on the cross badly beaten and lifeless (John 19:33). Yet even in death Jesus still suffered. It happened when a soldier thrust his lance into his side (John 19:34).    

Notwithstanding all the sufferings that He has to endure whenever we sin. The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is still full of love and forgiveness for all of us. His love is the kind of love that immediately forgives. A love that does not count our sins but only counts our willingness to go back to His loving embrace once again.    

Let us therefore go back to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for June 11, Thursday Saint Barnabas Apostle; Matthew 5:20-26

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

A man who was full of anger in his heart suddenly died. When he was about to enter the pearly gates saint Peter suddenly appeared and refused him entry.  When the man asked, why? Saint Peter told Him that when he was still alive his heart was full of anger and arrogance.

Death is uncertain it may come to us anytime.  What if we suddenly die with our hearts full of anger and arrogance?  Many had been brought to perdition by anger and arrogance yet many of us still don’t learn our lesson. Anger and arrogance are emotional disease that originates from our egos, high sense of ourselves and our lack of humility.    

In our gospel we find Jesus giving us lessons on humility. He tells us: if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him (Matthew 5:23-25).

It’s not easy to imbibe humility but if we only know that humility makes us closer to Jesus. If we only know that humility would save us a lot of trouble even grievous ones. We will not think twice to imbibe humility we may even run after it and embrace it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 9, Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

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Reflection:

A young doctor who topped the board exam was offered by a multinational pharmaceutical company to work for them. She was presented with a big signing bonus, offered a huge salary and to top it all was also offered further studies abroad. Yet she refused the very attractive financial windfall and benefits.

When asked why? Her simple but very meaningful reply was this: I intend to go back to my home province and make a big positive difference in the lives of my poor provincemates where I also belong once upon a time.

Jesus in our gospel tells us: You are the salt of the earth and you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14). What does it mean to become salt and light of this world? It simply means that we need to live a meaningful life! A life that is not lived for oneself alone but a life to be lived for others most especially the poor.

Often times we get to fixated on ourselves. We have this me first mentality everything that we do is for ourselves first. Then when the time comes that we are able to achieve our objectives and goals. We think now of giving back to our community, church and the poor.

When Jesus said that you are the salt and light of this world. He did not say fullfil first your dreams to be successful and rich. After which you think now of giving back to your community, church and the poor.

We need to become salt and light for others not tomorrow and certainly not in the future. We need to become salt and light in the lives others today, during this very moment. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 8, Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

                                                           

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.

Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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Reflection:

A man thought that he could find his happiness in this world so he went after the things of this world. Only to find out later that worldly happiness was not the key to real happiness.

Jesus in our gospel gives us the eight Beatitudes, what is the meaning of beatitude? It means happiness, not according to the definition of this world. But happiness according to the interpretation of Jesus.

How do you interpret happiness? Do you interpret it according to the standards of this world? For example, many of us have this mindset of finding happiness in the accumulation of money, power and having everything that this world could offer. But these are not the key to real happiness.

Let us seek our happiness and fulfilment in Jesus and according to the eight beatitudes which He gave us and we will surely find it. For Jesus has not refused anyone who seek to find his/her happiness in Him and His teachings.  

Where does your happiness lies right now? Is your happiness focused in this world alone? Try to reflect on these pronouncements of Jesus about the beatitudes. For in Jesus and His beatitudes you will find real happiness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas