Reflection for June 22, Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 7:1-5

Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye, while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

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Reflection:

What do you get by judging others? Nothing except the accumulation of hatred in your heart which if not corrected could even cause you sickness even death. What if you will not judge or you are not quick to judge? There would be no hatred within you! As such you will feel free, you will look younger and sickness will not be your best friend.

We may not know this but we are quick to judge others for the simple reason that we have a very high regard of ourselves. And this is brought about by our feeling of superiority towards others. But why do we feel superior towards others? When we are all created by God as equals.  Where does this superiority feeling emanates?

We have this feeling of superiority because God is not truly present within us. And God is not a permanent dweller in our hearts. There’s a story of a woman who was a regular fixture in church organization. But she was not well liked because she was so judgmental and self-righteous. Are we not often times also judgmental and self-righteous?

In our gospel for this Monday we hear Jesus telling us to stop judging. Why? This is for the reason that when we judge we already distance ourselves from that person. We already create a wall that may permanently divide us from that person. If this is so, how could we covert them? How could we let them feel the love of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday June 21, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time; 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:   

There is a story of a man who was so afraid of darkness. He feared darkness because he imagines evil things coming out from it. For the same reason, when sleeping time comes in the evening he tells his wife not to turn-off the light. 

For many of us evening or darkness depicts uncertainty, it registers fears in our hearts. Notice when there’s a brownout in your community. Everyone would look for their flashlights, candles or anything that could defeat darkness.    

It was evening when Jesus and His disciples were crossing to the other side of the lake. They were in a boat and darkness pervades their environment, when out of the blue they suddenly encountered a violent storm. All of them were running scared (who wouldn’t be?) the fear of the violent storm coupled with darkness made them momentarily forgot that Jesus was with them.

And then they remembered that Jesus (the light of their lives and our lives too!) was with them. He was soundly asleep, notwithstanding the violent storm, in the stern on a cushion. So they woke Him up and they asked Jesus for help. And right in front of them Jesus rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm (Mark 4:39). 

All of us pass thru certain stretches of darkness and storms in our lives and we naturally fear it. Many of us would want to avoid these stretches of darkness and storms. Yet we cannot avoid it for these are part and parcel of our lives.

So what are we going to do when we pass thru these episodes of storms and darkness? We always have to remember that Jesus the light of our lives is always with us. We always have to remember that no storms or darkness can break us down. For we have Jesus walking with us and lighting our paths.

Are you passing through a storm or darkness right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for June 20, Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:24-34

Gospel: Matthew  6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one 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.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat? or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

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Reflection:

What does Jesus mean when He said that we need not worry for God will provide? Is He telling us to simply lie down and we don’t do anything? Of course not! Yes Jesus is telling us in the gospel that we should learn to trust in God. But Jesus did not tell us to be lazy and just open our mouths because food will simply fall down from heaven.

What we need to do is we have to have faith and trust in Jesus. Yet we also have to move and do something and in the process expect the good Lord to bless our efforts. So its trusting Jesus and we reinforce our trust by our action and then we leave it up all to the graciousness of the good Lord.

What makes a meaningful life in this world? It’s a life focused first on God not a life focused first on this world. When we fix first our attention on God we are properly guided as we go on and live our lives in this world. We are not easily tempted to do wrong for the very reason that God is our priority.

If God is at the front seat we have nothing to worry for we will be able to handle whatever trials that may come our way. We will certainly survive it splendidly for the very reason that Jesus occupies the front seat of our lives.

Whom do you seek first in your life right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 19, Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:19-23

Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

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Reflection:

There’s a story of a young bright man who declined every opportunity to get wealthy in favour of serving God. After twenty years his batch had an alumni homecoming. Many of his batch mates were already executives of private and government corporations.

And him? He was still  serving God. Compared to them who were complaining of many sickness brought about by the pressure of this world. His batch mates noticed his refreshing and healthy physical appearance.

When you focus on God rather than this world and when you store up treasures for heaven rather than this world. You will not only have good physical appearance you will also have a healthy spiritual life. You will also have a close relationship with Jesus.

Spiritual health is the greatest wealth yet many of us are blinded by material riches that we consider it our greatest wealth. What good would it do us if we have accumulated all the wealth in this world if our spirits are in poor health? What good will it do us if we gain all the wealth in this world if we cannot go to heaven after our journey is over?

Whatever we have in this world we will leave behind sooner or later or it may leave us behind. Yet, whatever we have invested for God in this world will be our passport to heaven to be with Jesus.        

What are you investing on right now? Are you still investing on the things of this world? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for June 18, Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

What is the prayer that reaches the heart of God? It’s prayer that comes from the heart.  It a prayer made in the silence of your heart. It could be a long or short prayer that comes straight from your heart.

Jesus gives us the perfect prayer called the Our Father. This is called the perfect prayer because Jesus gave it to us. Jesus Himself taught us to pray it.  Do we pray this with our hearts or we simply pray it with our minds wandering elsewhere?

Recall when you’re at Holy Mass, how do you pray the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer? Do you Pray it with closed eyes or with open eyes? The best way to pray this perfect prayer is with closed eyes.  Because when you close your eyes you shut yourself from any form of distraction.    

Deep in your heart you seek to connect with God, you hunger and thirst for this God. Most especially when you pass through moments of loneliness and disillusionment.  Why? Because God alone gives meaning to your life.  

Close your eyes now and seek to connect with Jesus by silently praying the Our Father. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 17, Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

What motivates you to do good? For example in giving to the poor, what motivates you to help them? In giving to the poor Jesus has a major requirement that you should follow. Do it in secret without anyone knowing about it.

Why in secret? Because secrecy is the language of Jesus secrecy is also a close relative of humility which Jesus embodies to the hilt. This teaching of Jesus on alms giving is totally opposed to the teachings of this world which unfortunately many of us follow.

This world teaches us to publicise and to broadcast whatever good that we do. It teaches us to post to the internet our acts of kindness. So that those who know us may see it and consequently they will have a good impression about us.   

Why publicise? Perhaps this is brought about by our natural need for recognition. And there’s no wrong about it for we simply want to be recognised.  But Jesus is challenging us not to go  after recognition.

Jesus is challenging us to silently fade away after we have done good to anyone. Could we measure-up to this challenge of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 16, Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

What is the supreme act of love? It’s the willingness to die for the one that you love. What is the next supreme act of love? It’s to love even those who are not lovable to your eyes. It’s to continuously keep the flame of love alive for a person who does nothing but love you and who does nothing but hurt you.

But are you capable of following this radical love commandment of Jesus? It’s very hard to love the person who hates you. Take for example a spouse who does nothing but hurt you. How can you love him/her? If you only gaze your sight on this world it’s really difficult to love in such a situation.

But you are not only made for this world, God created you not only for this world alone. He created you to become a permanent dweller of heaven eventually. Therefore you have to love even those who do not love you. You have to pray for those who do nothing but hurt us.

What will happen to your spouse if you continue to love him/her even if he/she doesn’t express his/her love for you? What would happen if you never give-up and continue to pray for his/her conversion? He/she will eventually see the light of Jesus and be enlightened by it. For this is the miracle that Jesus gives to those who continue to have faith in Him.

This is what awaits those who never give up on love and the power of prayer. And this is the miracle that Jesus gives for those who never waiver on praying to Him.

Do you easily give up on love?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

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