Reflection for July 22, Wednesday Saint Mary Magdalene: John 20:1-2, 11-18

Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

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Reflection:

How would feel if a very close friend or relative dies? Surely it would be very devastating as if your world has momentarily ended. This was the feeling of Mary Magdalene she was so devastated by the death of her beloved friend Jesus.

Mary Magdalene was so consumed by the death of Jesus that she failed to recognize the resurrected Jesus who asked her why she was weeping (John 20:14-15). Then afterwards Jesus revealed Himself to her and Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus (John 20:16).  

Death is a certainty of life, it visits anyone of us at a time that it chooses. A time that often times we don’t like but death comes to us and nobody can prevent it for it’s the cycle of our lives. But after death comes life, life that is very much different from the life that we have in this world.  Perhaps this was the reason why Mary Magdalene did not recognize the resurrected Jesus when He appeared to her. Mary Magdalene could not distinguish the image of the resurrected Jesus as opposed to Jesus before His death.

The resurrected Jesus also personally manifests Himself to you yet you don’t pay attention to  Him. He comes to you through the poor that you often see begging for whatever that you could give them. Jesus also manifests Himself to you through a sick relative or friend who is longing for your visit. Jesus also manifests Himself to you through a relative or a friend who is badly in need of your help yet you choose to give the things that you don’t need anymore.  

And there are many more times that Jesus had manifested Himself to you but you choose to  ignore Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 21, Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:46-50

Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.

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Reflection:

Who doesn’t want to be a relative of Jesus? Everyone of us of course wants to be Jesus relative. From the beginning and up until now God desires us to be His relative. God doesn’t want us to be distant from Him, as much as possible He wants us to always be close to Him.

But to be a relative or to be close to Jesus is not easy picking. You have to do your part to become a relative of Jesus. And this part that you have to do is for you to faithfully follow the will of God. You may ask, what is the will of God for myself? The will of God for you is to follow His commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). To do good and to find time to spread the good news. Are you able to faithfully follow this will of God?

Adam and Eve were initially close to God until they disobeyed His will not to eat the fruit of the tree of life. Adam and Eve sinned against God by following the devious scheming of the devil (Genesis 3:1-24). Therefore both of them were separated from God.

The decision is yours to take, if you want to become a relative of Jesus you simply have to follow God’s will. If you want to get close to the evil one, sin and disobey God’s commandments. But take the wise choice no other than to follow God’s will.

You will not only become a relative of Jesus if you follow the will of God, It will also save you from so many problems. It will save you too from the sharp and hellish clutches of the devil. Be discerning because the devil always hides his evil scheming through attractive and tempting things. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 20, Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

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Reflection:

There is a story of a man who keeps on asking signs from Jesus. Instead of Jesus responding to his call for a sign. It was instead the devil who responded to him and he gave what the man wanted. This became a habit of this man: he would always ask for a sign and the devil would always gladly grant his request. Eventually the man became the slave of the devil.

You have to be careful in asking for signs because somebody other than Jesus might respond to your call.  And pretend that he is Jesus, this somebody is no other than the devil who always tries to seduce you with his own brand of signs and miracles. Yes the devil is also capable of creating his own brand of signs and miracles. This he does to entice his prospects to follow him instead of Jesus.

Instead of asking for signs from Jesus, why not ask Jesus to increase your faith? Why not always be present in the Eucharistic celebration (Holy Mass). Why not humbly submit yourself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible?

Why not have time to reflect about the words of Jesus in the bible? Why not always do good and desire the good of your fellowmen? If you do all these, this would result in your increase of faith. Thus you will not be asking for a sign anymore for the reason that you now have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you fond of asking for signs? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for July 18, Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:14-21

Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

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Reflection:

What do you do when there is a threat to your safety? Do you run away to avoid the threat? Or do you face the person who is threatening you?

When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were planning to kill Him. He simply withdrew from the place to avoid them. Why did Jesus withdraw? Because it was not yet time for Him to face His accusers and it was never in the nature of Jesus to be violent. Jesus is a man of peace, love and compassion. Never was He a hothead or a troublemaker.

If you avoid trouble people may accuse of being a coward but the truth is, it’s not cowardice to avoid trouble. A person who avoids trouble is a prudent person a person filled with wisdom and wise judgment.

What would you get if you confront a troublesome person? Nothing except another problematic situation! There are many ways to solve a troublesome person. And surely confronting this troublesome person head-on is not one of the ways.

 This action of Jesus of avoiding those who are running after Him simply tells us that prudence is the better part of valor. What does this mean? This means that it’s better to be careful or better to be safe than take risk. War is not always won through brute force war is won through wisdom filled decisions and strategies.

Let us reflect on this wisdom filled action of Jesus for it will save us from many troublesome situations. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 17, Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath. He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What is in the heart of Jesus? It’s mercy  and compassion for His people. Mercy and compassion that is ever ready to transgress sacred laws such as the Sabbath law.

Being God the Son Jesus perfectly knew that what He was doing was right. But the Pharisees did not know the true identity of Jesus. So they questioned the decision of Jesus to allow His disciples to pick and eat the grains on a Sabbath day.

Do you know Jesus deeply? Do you feel His presence in your life? If you don’t know Jesus deeply and if you don’t feel His presence in your life. You will also question some events or trial/s that occurs in your life.

For instance when you go through severe trials such as sickness and the like. You might also question the Lord Jesus and ask Him this question: Why am I going through this trial or why did you allow me to go through this episode in my life?

But if you know Jesus and if you feel His presence in your life.  You may never question Jesus and you will simply bow to His will for you.

Ask Jesus therefore to give you the gift of knowing Him deeply and the gift of His living presence in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 16, Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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Reflection:

Are you already tired with the drudgery of your life? Do you want to be refreshed? Jesus has an offer for you! In the gospel Jesus tells you this: “Come to me; you who labor and burdened by the daily grind of life.

Why does Jesus wants you to go to Him? Because Jesus wants to help you carry whatever that burdens you right now. He wants to ease your pains and sufferings; Jesus wants to help you in carrying whatever that cross might be.

Respond to this call of Jesus and you will never regret making that decision. What will happen to you if you respond now? The cross that you carry will become lighter this is for the reason that Jesus is now helping you carry your cross.

You will have hope as bright as the morning sun. And there will be many more positive things that will happen to your life if you would respond to this offer of Jesus. Respond now and see and feel for yourself the miracle that will unfold in your life.   

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose if you would respond to this offer of Jesus.- Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Prayer:

I humbly respond to your offer of help my Jesus.  I am burdened by the many trials of my life. Help me withstand these trials, help me ease my burdens. I humbly look to you for help my Lord for I know that you will never refuse to help me. Embrace me from now on with your merciful and compassionate love. Amen. 

Reflection for July 15, Wednesday Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor: Matthew 11:25-27

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

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Reflection:

What is the key to know Gods will for you? It’s childlike humility,  a humble person is ever ready to listen to the voice and will of God. He/she doesn’t go against the will of God he/she rather allows God’s will to work in his/her life. In the process of allowing God’s will to rule his/her life he/she discovers more about God.

When you are humble you open yourself to the countless blessings that emanates from God. You may ask, how am I going to be humble before God? You have to follow the rules of the church which Jesus founded through St. Peter.  

For example the rule of Sunday Holy Mass obligation, a humble person will always see to it that he/she is always present in this sacred celebration. Another example is our submission to the sacraments most especially the sacrament of reconciliation. A humble person will always find time to confess his/her sins to a priest who is there in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus always looks kindly to those who are childlike and humble. Why? Because this is the nature of God: He loves those who are humble and He opens Himself more to the humble.

Do you want to know more about God? And do you want to have a deeper intimacy with God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for July 14, Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 11:20-24

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Reflection:

Do you get frustrated or even get angry every once in a while? It’s ok for as long as your frustration and anger is for a good reason. And for as long as your anger doesn’t stay for long in your heart.  For example, you advice a relative or a friend to mend his/her ways but she/he doesn’t listen to you.  

In his humanity Jesus also gets frustrated like us and it is shown in the gospel. When He reproached the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida due to their refusal to repent. Jesus wanted the inhabitants of the two towns to change their wicked ways and accept His good news.

Some of us if not majority of us are like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida full of stubbornness. Yes, we believe that there’s a God but believing is very different from listening to God and letting Him live in our hearts.

In pushing His good news to us Jesus touches us in so many ways. There are also times when He uses our fellowmen and other forms of modern medium such as the internet in order to touch us. Yet we often times don’t listen or pay attention, we remain stubborn and continue to commit sin.

God desires our company and friendship. He wants us to have that special relationship with Him. Yet we don’t pay attention and we continue to sin, but until when we are going to sin? Until such time that sin could destroy us?

Let us run away from sin because sin is evil and whomever embraces sin will eventually be destroyed by sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 13, Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:34—11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34—11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

There’s a saying that goes, “No pain no gain”. How could there be gain in pain? Why not gain without pain? When you gain something without pain what you gain can easily fly away and it can easily be forgotten. But when you gain something that is accompanied with pain and sacrifice you will treasure it and properly take care of it.

Would you be able to know Jesus more deeply without going through life’s many pains? No you  will not gain Jesus and you  will not have an up close and personal encounter with Him. For there’s no easy way going to Jesus.

 you have to pass through the many painful obstacles of life in order to find Jesus. You may even have to give-up every inch of your worldliness in order to find Jesus. Therefore self-sacrifice is an important ingredient in finding Jesus in your lives.

Would you be willing to go through pains and sufferings so that you could experience an encounter with Jesus? If you really desire Jesus in your life you will embrace without any second thought suffering/s and pains.

But worldly life has already conditioned us to veer away as much as we could from our crosses and pains. No small wonder that many if not majority of us have not yet found Jesus in our  lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 12, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; 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. 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:   

A young man was considering a career in writing for God. But he was hesitant for he knows deep in his heart that he will not intellectually measure-up to such a huge responsibility. And this is for the reason that he doesn’t have any background in writing.

He told a friend about his desire and his intellectual shortcoming. The advice of his friend was to move forward and follow his desire. He was also told by his friend not to be disturbed by his intellectual shortcoming for God will fill whatever he was lacking. 

The twelve apostles who were sent by Jesus to their mission are like many of us. Many of them were ordinary fishermen who became fishers of men courtesy of Jesus. Perhaps when they were about to be sent by Jesus to their mission many of them were asking themselves this question; will I measure-up with  this huge responsibility? Perhaps, some were even thinking of backing out and then simply return to their old jobs. But Jesus was there to assure them of His support so they went ahead with their mission.

Jesus gave them full authority over unclean spirit (Mark 6:7). Jesus instructed them to take nothing for their journey except for a walking stick (Mark 6:8). As if Jesus was telling them to simply follow and not be bothered by their inherent weaknesses and shortcomings. For He will fill-up whatever is lacking in them.

They followed the order of Jesus and trusted their mission to His guidance. Therefore they became successful in their mission. They drove out many demons and they cured the sick upon their anointment of holy oil (Mark 6:13).

Often times we don’t achieve what Jesus wants us to do for Him because we don’t trust Him and we lack faith in Him. For the same reason we are also afraid to take the first step towards the realization of our mission for God. Therefore we get stuck and we fail to not only move forward we also fail to achieve our mission for Christ.

If you desire to follow Jesus you have to follow Him with faith and you have to learn to fully trust Him. Do you always have faith  and trust in Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 11, Saturday Saint Benedict, Abbot: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

What is the mark of a true and faithful follower of Jesus? It’s the mark of obedience, a true follower will obey the command of Jesus to share His good news. But you  may say that sometimes it’s hard to share Jesus because the environment is not conducive for sharing Jesus. If this is the case when are you going to share Jesus?

If you wait for the right environment to share Jesus. That right environment may not come at all, so you will not be able to share Jesus?  As the apostles were commissioned by Jesus to share the gospel we too are tasked to do the same. Let us not wait for the right environment to share Jesus because every environment is right for Jesus.

No harm will fall upon you if you share Jesus because you are sharing the good news of humanity’s salvation. If you share Jesus you will be able to change lives and you will be able to give hope which many of us badly needs today.

The apostles treated with sacredness their commissioning from Jesus and as a result of it they became very successful in their mission. How about you? When are you going to share Jesus? Would you still wait for the right environment? It may not come, why not share Jesus now? And in the process be blessed by Jesus as Jesus blesses others’ lives though you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for July 10, Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:16-23

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

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Reflection:

Are you ready to give your life for the mission of Jesus? This is a very hard question to answer but there are many already who dared to willingly give their lives for the mission of Jesus. What fuels them to give their lives when they have a choice to save it?

 It’s their witness for Jesus, its Jesus who strengthens them to endure and continue with their mission even at the cost of their lives. To be a real follower of Jesus is easier said than done. It’s easy to say I am a Christian but to live this Christian pronouncement is another story altogether. How about you? Are you willing to give your life for the mission of Jesus?   

When you give your life to Jesus you will face persecution as well. But what is consoling here is the midst of your trials and persecution you also will feel the abiding presence of Jesus in your life. Because Jesus has never abandoned anyone who gave his/her life for His mission in this world.

Be not afraid to give your life for the mission of Jesus. For when you decide to do so you will soon after find the real purpose of your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for July 9, Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

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Reflection:

Do you expect to receive something in return for the things that you do for the greater glory of God? Better not expect because when your expectations are not meet you will be disappointed. Just do good and be content with the fact that you’ve done a good deed to your fellowmen.

Money rules they say, but for those who follow Jesus money does not rule and money doesn’t dictate. It’s Jesus who rules and dictates, when you allow Jesus to rule and dictate your life. You are free from worries that emanates from this world and you are not beholden to anybody in this world.     

When Jesus was sending off his twelve apostles to their mission. One of His specific declarations for them is this: not to let money or anything that is worldly rule over them. Jesus instead wanted His apostles to let Him rule their lives.

When you let Jesus rule your life you will not anymore care with worldly possessions. You instead will be satisfied with what you have no matter how meager the things that you have. For you already believe that the essence and fullness of life is not measured by material ownership.

What is with material things when it can be taken away from you anytime? Seek to have Jesus in your life for when you have Jesus you have everything. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for July 8, Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Reflection:

Where does The Kingdom of Heaven lies? It lies within you and it has been with you since you’ve been baptized. But you may say,  if the kingdom of heaven is within me, why is it that my life is still problematic? This is for the reason that you refuse to live your life according to God’s will for you. You are living your life according to your own will and not according to God’s will.

So what happens when you live your life according to your own terms? You open your life to many problems, problems that you could actually avoid if you only live your life according to the will of God. But many of us do not have an awareness of the will of God because we overpower it with our own selfish will for ourselves.

It’s not difficult to know God’s will for you, by going to Holy Mass you will begin to discern God’s will for your life. By reading your bible you will discern the will of God for you. By your frequent interactions with Jesus through your prayers you will discern the will of God for you.  

Many of us are lost in this world because we are not always in touch with Jesus. Yet we are always in touch with materialism and other worldly things. Thus we have no awareness of the kingdom of heaven that resides within us already. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 7, Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:32-38

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Reflection:

How does the gospel speak to you today? Does it tell you that you need to do something for the kingdom of God? Jesus tells the disciples in our gospel and He tells this to you too! “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37)”.

Indeed, the harvest is abundant yet those who venture to volunteer their time for the glory of God’s kingdom are still few. We don’t know the reason behind but perhaps we could guess that we have become very materialistic. We devote our entire time for our own glory in this world. So we forget that there is a much greater glory beyond this world that awaits us and that is the kingdom of God.  

When we are near death already the labors that we have given to this world will not matter anymore. We will not think about how big our  bank accounts. We will not think about our many worldly achievements.

What we will be thinking about is the status of our soul after we die. This is what confronts a dying person: The status of his/her soul after it departs from his/her body. Therefore to avoid this dilemma let us do something for the advancement of the kingdom of God in this world.

Any effort that we do today for God no matter how small. For so long as we sincerely do it for His greater glory. Will be permanently etched in  the heart of God and will become our passport to heaven when our departure time comes. - Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for July 6, Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:18-26

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus can cure you of whatever that ails you? The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years believed that she would be healed by Jesus. She believed that the moment she touched even the tassel of Jesus cloak she will be healed. What a display of deep faith!

Sometimes we don’t get what we wish from Jesus because we doubt. We allow the devil to disturb our faith in Jesus thus we don’t get what we want. We see in the gospel a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages she obviously has deep faith. Faith that is willing to overcome whatever obstacles that are put in front of her.  Do you have the same deep faith as this woman in the gospel?

When Jesus noticed this woman of faith, He told her, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you (Matthew 9:22).” And the result was immediate physical healing coming from Jesus and surely the woman was completely healed.

Are you suffering from any form sickness right now? Prayerfully ask Jesus to heal you! Beseech Him to give you the same healing that He gave the woman in the gospel. Jesus will surely heal you for He will not refuse anyone who approach Him with deep faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday July 5, Fourteenth Sunday 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 Joses 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:   

A successful man who died was being given lavish praises by his relatives and friends during his eulogy. Lavish praises that he richly deserved for he was a good and humble man. Lavish praises that they purposely did not tell him while he was still alive for they envied him.

When Jesus went back to the place where he grew up in Nazareth. He went to their Synagogue to give a lecture and He did it with wisdom and eloquence. Yet Jesus did not receive any congratulatory acknowledgement not even a simple handshake. Or a  gesture of recognition from his former town mates.

Instead Jesus received from them derision and scorn. Because they could not accept that a former carpenter could speak to them with so much wisdom and eloquence. A former carpenter whom they knew very well could someday speak in their house of worship.  So they belittled Jesus instead of giving Him a well-deserved recognition.

Don’t we also act often times like the town mates of Jesus? We are very quick to judge and belittle our fellowmen and even our relatives who achieved a certain degree of success in their lives.

Why are we very quick to belittle? Why are we very quick to give unjust judgment? This is because of our very high regard of ourselves, perhaps this is brought about by our riches, education and status in life.

We place ourselves in a pedestal so high that we cannot anymore bend our knees in humility. We cannot anymore recognize worthy achievement because our eyes are already clouded with the cataract of our egos and high self-image.

If we are quick to draw judgment and scorn we also open ourselves to the same judgment and scorn. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 4, Saturday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What can we learn from our gospel today? We learn that when we already have Jesus in our lives we are already like a fresh wineskin. Fresh or new wineskin is sturdy and strong. It can withstand the pressure when a new wine is poured into it.

This is what we become when we already have Jesus in our lives. We can withstand whatever problems that life would bring to us. Nobody and no problem no matter how difficult can break us because we have Jesus in our lives.

It’s so hard for many of us to feel the presence of Jesus because we hardly have time for Him. We don’t invest time with Jesus yet we can invest time for other things. Some of us would even reason out that we hardly have time to be with Jesus because of the many pressures of life.   

But how come we have time for other things? For example, why is it that we can squeeze time to do facebook and for other worldly things?  If we can do facebook and for other worldly things. Why can’t we have time for Jesus our life giver? This is the paradox of our modern time right now: We don’t have time for Jesus yet we create time for other worldy things.

If you want to have a fresh and positive viewpoint about your future and about life in general. Let Jesus come into your life do not close your heart to Him in favor of the things of this world. Which would bring you nothing in the end except more troubles and pressures.

Is Jesus already an important component of your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for July 3, Friday; Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle: John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes need an affirmation of your faith in Jesus? That is perfectly ok because it show signs of your growing faith. If you want your faith in Jesus to be affirmed you simply have to be sensitive to the movement of Jesus in your life.

For example the new life that is given to you every morning. It’s not a routinary  flow of life that you wake-up every morning. It’s Jesus giving you a new life every morning! If you are sensitive to the movement of Jesus in your life. You would discover that the dawning of a new day that you experience every morning is a miracle from Jesus.

Thomas needed an affirmation of his faith from his Lord and Master (John 20:25). He wanted to see first the wounds of Jesus before he believes. He wanted to touch it and put his finger into the very wounds of Jesus before he believes that Jesus had resurrected (John 20:25).  

Are we not like Thomas too? We often times want our faith in Jesus to be affirmed by His signs? Jesus has been giving us signs that He moves in our lives everyday, we simply have to be sensitive to these signs. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 2, Thursday; Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew  9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, :Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

What does this story of the paralytic who was brought to Jesus tells us? It tells us that we too need to go to Jesus for Him to heal us and to forgive us of all our sins. This tells us also that we also need to bring others to Jesus to be healed and forgiven by Him too!

We all have a need for Jesus in our lives. We may not need Him now because we are in the pink of health. But time will certainly come that we will be forced to go to Him even beg Him so that Jesus could heal us also.

Let us not anymore wait for that time to come when we are already sick before we go to Jesus. Let us go to Him now while we are healthy or in the pink of health Let us not delay for tomorrow may be late already.   

In like manner we too are encouraged by the gospel to bring others to Jesus. This we could do best through our acts of love, mercy and compassion. For we can’t bring others to Jesus without loving them, without showing them our mercy and compassion.

We certainly can’t bring others to Jesus if we judge them. Let us rather help them and try to understand them and be more patient with them. So that they could be enlightened by Jesus as Jesus has enlightened us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for June 30, Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: Matt Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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Reflection:

Do you always seek the help of Jesus when you pass through the storms of your life?

While in the boat with Jesus the disciples encountered a very powerful storm. They were naturally terrified so they asked Jesus for help, they said to Him; “Lord save us we are perishing (Matthew 8:25)!”   

How many times have you encountered storms in your life? Many time over perhaps, in every storm that you encounter always remember that Jesus is always there for you. Ever ready to help you and bring you out safely of these storms that you encounter and may encounter still.

What if Jesus was not with the disciples during that fateful night when their boat was being battered by the storm? To whom would they be asking for help? To no one, they could have all perished in that violent storm. But Jesus was there to save them all.

This is the advantage of having Jesus in your life. You always have somebody very powerful to rescue you whenever you are in distress. You always have somebody who will take away your fears, even your biggest and greatest fears.

Do you always seek the help of Jesus whenever you pass through the storms of your life?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas