Reflection for September 15, Tuesday Our Lady of Sorrows: John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

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Reflection:

It was heartwrenching for Mary to see her son Jesus dying on the cross. It was doubly heartwrenching also for Mary to hear her son Jesus entrusting her to the care of by His beloved disciple John.

Separation like that of the separation of Jesus and His mother Mary is always painful even sorrowful. But such is life, all of us have to go through some pains and sorrows in our lives. Nobody is exempted from this process, whether we are rich or poor we have to go through the process of separation from our loved ones.

In the midst of her sorrowful separation from her dying son. Mary was entrusted by her son Jesus to His beloved disciple John. In this gospel episode we see the great love of Jesus for her mother. We also see the great love of Mary to her son Jesus for Mary did not leave Jesus until His last gasp of breath on the cross.

This gospel invites us to reflect on, how are we as a son/daughter to our mothers? And how are we as mothers to our children? – Marino J. Dasmarinas         

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 15, Martes Mahal na Birheng Nagdadalamhati; Juan 19:25-27

Mabuting Balita: Juan 19:25-27

25 Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae ng kanyang ina, si Maria ni Cleofas at si Maria Magdalena. 26 Kaya pagkakita ni Jesus sa ina at sa alagad na mahal niya na nakatayo sa tabi, sinabi niya sa Ina: “Babae, hayan ang anak mo!” 27 pagkatapos ay sinabi naman niya sa alagad: “Hayan ang iyong ina.” At mula sa oras na iyon, tinanggap siya ng alagad sa kanyang tahanan.

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Repleksyon:

Nakakaantig ng puso para kay Maria na makita na ang kanyang minamahal na anak ay  unti-unti ng nawawalan ng buhay habang naka bayubay sa krus. Napakasakit din para kay Maria na marinig mula sa kanyang anak na siya ay ipinakakatiwala na sa pangangalaga ng kanyang alagad na si Juan.

Ang paghihiwalay natin sa ating mahal sa buhay  ay palaging masakit. Pero ganito talaga ang buhay. Lahat tayo ay dadaan sa ganitong pasakit sa ating buhay hindi lang natin alam kung kalian. Walang hindi makakaranas sa ganitong proceso ng kalungkutan sa buhay.

Sa gitna ng kanyang madalamhating pagkakahiwalay  sa kanyang minamahal na anak. Si Maria inihabilin at ipinagkatiwa ni Jesus sa kanyang tapat at minamahal na alagad na si Juan. Dito po natin makikita kung gaano  kamahal ni Jesus ang kanyang inang si Maria. At ganon din ang pagmamahal ni Maria sa kanyang anak na si Jesus dahil hindi iniwan ni Maria si Jesus hangang sa huling hininga ng kanyang buhay.

Iniimbitahan din po tayo ng mabuting balita na mag reflect din. Kumusta ba tayo bilang mga anak sa ating magulang? At kumusta rin ba tayo bilang mga magulang sa ating mga anak? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 14, Lunes Ang pagtatampok sa Krus na Banal; Juan 3:13-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:13-17

Sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo: 13 Walang umakyat sa langit maliban sa bumaba mula sa langit – ang Anak ng Tao. 14 At kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang ahas sa disyerto, gayundin dapat itaas ang Anak ng Tao 15 upang mag¬karoon ng buhay magpakailanman ang bawat nananalig sa kanya. 16 Ganito nga kamahal ng Diyos ang mundo! Kayat ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak upang hindi na mawala ang bawat nananalig sa kanya kundi magkaroon ng buhay magpa¬kailanman. 17 Hindi nga sinugo ng Diyos sa mundo ang Anak upang hukuman ang mundo kundi upang maligtas ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya.

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Repleksyon:

Paano po ba tayo kadalasan mag mahal? Minamahal natin yung nagmamahal din sa atin. Pero yung hindi nagmamahal sa atin hindi rin natin kadalasan minamahal. Ang ganitong reaksyon marahil ay dala ng ating kahinaan bilang tao.

Hindi katulad ng ating pagmamahal ang pagmamahal ng Diyos ay para sa ating lahat. Kahit na tayo ay gaano man ka makasalanan ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay palaging  nandiyan para sa atin. Palaging inaabot ng Diyos ang kanyang kamay ng pag-ibig at pagpapatawad maging sino man tayo. 

Pag tayo po ay nagmahal kadalasan ito ay may kakibat na panukat. Kung hindi man ay sinusukat natin ang pag-ibig na ibinibigay natin ayon sa pag-ibig na natatangap natin mula sa ating kapwa. Pero bakit po hindi natin subukang magmahal katulad kung paano magmahal ang Diyos. Hindi po ba natin kayang mahalin kahit na yung hindi nagmamahal sa atin at kahit na yung napopoot sa atin?  

Isa po sa mga mahalagang palatandaan ng totoong sumusunod sa Diyos ay ang ating patuloy na pagmamahal sa ating kapwa kahit na hindi tayo minamahal nito. At ang ating kakayahang magpatawad kahit na sa mga taong hindi humihingi n gating kapatawaran. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday September 13, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 8:27-35

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”  Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

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Reflection:

A man was given a choice to be with his mother or to continue to work in a foreign country. Without much thought this man chose to continue working abroad, he chose money rather than sacrifice his selfish ambition. He chose money rather than be with his mother.  

Are you ready to sacrifice your personal ambition so that Jesus teachings could continue to spread? For example would you resign from your job to do something for the greater glory of God?

Perhaps you will not give up your worldly life for a life of sacrifice with Jesus. Who would give-up a life of ease and comfort in this world in favor of a life with Jesus? Maybe only a few because in truth and in fact to truly follow Jesus is not easy.

But we were not brought into this world by God to become creatures of this world. God brought us into this world so that we could do something to partake with the mission of His son Jesus. This is the desire of God for each and every one of us: to help Jesus spread His mission.

Thus we have to be ready to carry our own cross for Christ no matter how heavy it may be. We have to be ready to lose our life in this world so that we could find its real purpose and meaning with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 13, Linggo Ika-24 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon; Marcos 8:27-35

MabutingBalita: Marcos 8:27-35

• 27 Pumunta si Jesus kasama ang kanyang mga alagad sa mga nayon ng Cesarea ni Filipo. At habang nasa daa’y tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad: “Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao?” 28 Su¬magot sila: “May nag¬sa¬sa¬bing si Juan Bautista ka; may iba pang nagsasabing si Elias ka o isa sa mga propeta kaya.” 29 At tinanong niya sila: “Ngunit ano naman ang sinasabi ninyo kung sino ako?” At sumagot si Pedro: “Ikaw ang Mesiyas.” 30 At inutusan niya sila na huwag sabihin kaninuman ang tungkol sa kanya. 31 At sinimulan niyang ituro sa kanila na kailangang magtiis ng marami ang Anak ng Tao. Itatakwil nga siya ng mga Mata¬tanda ng bayan, ng mga punong-pari at ng mga guro ng Batas. Papa¬tayin siya at muling babangon pagka¬tapos ng tatlong araw. 32 At buong-¬tapang siyang nag¬salita. Dinala naman siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinimulan siyang pagsa¬bihan. 33 Ngunit pagtalikod ni Jesus, nakita niya na naroon din ang kanyang mga alagad. Kaya pinagsabihan niya si Pedro: “Sa likod ko, Satanas! Hindi sa Diyos galing ang iniisip mo kundi mula sa tao.” Kunin mo ang iyong krus •

 34 At tinawag ni Jesus ang kanyang mga alagad pati ang mga tao, at sinabi: “Kung may gustong sumunod sa akin, itakwil ang kanyang sarili at kunin ang kanyang krus para sumunod sa akin. 35 Sapagkat ang naghahangad na magligtas ng kanyang sarili ay mawa¬walan nito, at ang mawawalan ng sarili alang-alang      sa akin at sa ebang¬helyo ang magliligtas nito.

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Repleksyon:

May isang lalaki na pinapipili kung isasakripisyo niya ang kanyang trabaho sa ibang bansa para umuwi sa kanyang bayan at makapiling ang kanyang ina na matanda na. Mas pinili nya ang magpatuloy ng kanyang pagtratrabaho sa abroad  kaysa makapiling ang kanyang ina. Mas pinili niya ang kikitain niyang pera kaysa isakripisyo ang kanya trabaho para sa kanyang ina.

Handa kaba na isakripisyo ang iyong personal na ambisyon para mas lumaganap pa ang mga aral ni Jesus? Halimbawa, kaya mo bang iwanan ang iyong trabaho o ang mga bagay na mahalaga sayo para kay Jesus?

Marahil ay hindi mo isa sakripisyo ang buhay mo dito sa mundo para kay Jesus. Sino nga ba sa atin ang handang iwanan ang buhay ng karangyaan para kay Jesus? Marahil ay iilan lamang sa dahilan na hindi naman talaga ito madaling gawin.

Kaya lang ay hindi naman tayo dinala ng Diyos dito sa mundo para mamuhay para sa mundo. Dinala tayo ng Diyos  dito sa mundo para tayo ay may gawin para tulungan si Jesus na mas palaganapin pa ang kanyang misyon. Ito ang gusto ng Diyos para sa bawat isa atin.

Kaya tayo ay kailangang maging laging handa na mag buhat ng ating krus para kay Jesus kahit na gaano man ito kabigat. Kailangang tayo ay handa na iwanan ang ating buhay para madiskubre ang totoong kahulugan nito sa piling ni Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 12, Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:43-49

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

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Reflection:

What will happen to a child when he/she is taught with proper values and when this very values and lived by his/her parents?  The child will grow-up to become a good and God loving person. This is always the result whenever a child is properly taught by his/her parents.

On the other hand, if a child is not taught with proper moral values and the parents do not live the same moral values. We could be assured that this child will grow-up with a distorted sense of values. For the simple reason that he/she was not taught about it or saw it being lived by his/her parents.         

In our gospel reading this Saturday Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit (Luke 6:43-44). The good tree is the parents and the good fruit is their child.

Jesus tells us that whatever good that we teach our children will be imbibed by them. And the good that we do and teach our children will form a great part of their rock solid moral foundation.

Many of the modern parents of today are always busy with work. They hardly have time to teach their children about good moral values much less love of God. So what children are they rearing? Children that are lacking in values and love of God and nobody are to blame for this but the parents.

Do you still teach your children about good values and love of God? Do you live it also? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 12, Sabado sa Ika-23 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon; Lucas 6:43-49

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:43-49

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad, 43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masama ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi maka¬pa¬mumu¬nga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang bawat puno sa bunga nito. Hindi makapi-pitas ng igos mula sa tinikan ni maka¬aani ng ubas mula sa dawagan. 45 Naglalabas ang taong mabuti ng mabuting bagay mula sa yaman ng kabutihan sa kanyang puso; ang masama nama’y naglalabas ng masamang bagay mula sa kanyang kasamaan. At sinasabi nga ng bibig ang uma¬apaw mula sa puso.

 46 Bakit pa ninyo ako tinatawag na ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ gayong hindi naman ninyo tinutupad ang sinasabi ko? 47 Ilalarawan ko sa inyo ang lumalapit sa akin at nakikinig sa aking mga salita at tumutupad nito. 48 May isang taong nagtatayo ng bahay, na humukay nang malalim at sa batuhan inilagay ang mga pun¬dasyon. Pagdating ng baha, hinampas ng agos ang bahay na iyon pero wala itong lakas para yanigin iyon sapagkat mabuti ang pagkakatatag niyon. 49 At kung may nakaririnig ngunit di naman nagsasagawa, matutulad siya sa nagtatayo ng bahay sa ibabaw ng lupa na wala namang pundasyon. Hinam¬pas ito ng agos at kaagad bu-magsak. Anong laki ng pagkawasak ng bahay na iyon!”

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Repleksyon:

Ano po ang mangyayari pag ang isang bata ay tinutuan ng mabuting paguugali at kung itong mabuting pag uugali ay isinabuhay rin ng mga magulang? Ang bata ay lumalaking mabuti at may pagmamahal sa Diyos. Ito po ang palagiang resulta pag ang bata ay hindi pinababayaan ng kanyang mga magulang.

Pag ang bata naman ay hindi tinuruan ng mabuting asal ang at kanyang mga magulang ay hindi nagsasabuhay nito. Maasahan natin na ang bata ay lalaking hindi mabuti ang paguugali. Ito po ay sa dahilan na siya ay hindi tinuruan tungkol dito at lalong hindi  rin niya ito nakita sa kanyang mga magulang.

Sa atin pong mabuting balita ay sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad, 43 Hindi makapamumunga ng masama ang mabuting puno, at ang masamang puno nama’y hindi makapamumunga ng mabuti. 44 Nakikilala ang bawat puno sa bunga nito (Lucas 6:43-44). Ang mabuting puno ay ang mabuting magulang at ang mabuti at mabait na mga anak ang siya nilang bunga.

Sinasabi po sa atin ni Jesus na anumang kabutihan ang itinuturo at ituturo pa sa ating mga anak ay kanilang isasabuhay. At itong mga kabutihang ito ay siyang magiging matatag at matibay pundasyon ng kanilang mga buhay habang sila ay lumalaki

Marami po sa makabagong magulang ngayon ay palaging abala sa kanilang mga trabaho. Wala na silang panahon na turuan ang kanilang mga anak tungkol sa mabuting pag-uugali at magmamahal sa Diyos. At ang dahilan nito ay ang kanilang mga pabayang mga magulang.

Tinuturuan mo parin ba ang iyong mga anak tungkol sa mabuting pag-uugali at pagmamahal sa Diyos? Isinasabuhay mo rin ba ito? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 11, Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:39-42

Gospel: Luke 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

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Reflection:

What is the sure-fire recipe for failure in marriage? It’s the judgmental and self-righteous attitudes of both spouses. When a spouse is quick to draw judgment and if he/she only listens to himself/herself. We can be assured that somewhere down the road the marriage vehicle will stop and will eventually permanently break apart.

Many marriages fall apart because of the tunnel vision of many spouses. They run their respective marriages with dominance, they never allow democracy to grow and eventually thrive within the marriage covenant.

Marriage is always a democratic and participatory union. Never it has become an autocratic and one sided union between two different and unique individuals. Therefore the best recipe for success in marriage is not to allow judgmental mindset to rule the marriage. To allow democracy to carve its own space in the marriage.

In the gospel for this Friday, Jesus warns about being judgmental. Wherein we only choose to see the fault of the other person yet we purposely don’t notice our own shortcomings. We are quick to point an accusing finger yet we don’t have the courage and humility to point the same accusing finger to ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 11, Biyernes sa Ika-23 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon; Lucas 6:39-42

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 6:39-42

39 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila ang isang talinhaga: “Puwede nga kayang akayin ng isang bulag ang isa pang bulag? Di ba’t kapwa sila mahuhulog sa kanal? 40 Hindi higit sa kanyang guro ang alagad. Magiging katulad ng kanyang guro ang ganap na alagad. 41 Bakit mo tinitingnan ang puwing sa mata ng iyong kapatid? At di mo pansin ang troso sa iyong mata. 42 Paano mo masasabi sa iyong kapatid: ‘Kapatid, pahintulutan mong alisin ko ang puwing sa mata mo,’ gayong hindi mo nga makita ang troso sa mata mo? Mapagkunwari! Alisin mo muna ang troso sa mata mo, at saka ka makakakitang mabuti para alisin ang puwing sa mata ng kapatid mo.

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Repleksyon:

Ano po ba ang siguradong paraan para hindi magtagumpay ang pagsasama ng mag asawa? Ito ay ang pagiging mapanghusga at ang mataas na pagtingin ng mag asawa sa kanilang mga sarili. Kung ang asawa ay madaling maghusga at kung siya ay nakikinig lamang sa kanyang sarili. Siguradong sigurado na sa lalong madaling panahon ang kanilang pagsasama mabubuwag.

Maraming buhay  ng mag asawa ang nasisira dahil sa makasariling paningin ng mag asawa. Pinatatakbo nila ang kanilang relasyon ng pagdodomina at ayaw nila na demokrasya sa loob ng kanilang buhay mag asawa.

Ang buhay mag asawa ay buhay na mayroong demokrasya at ito ay pagsasama na mayroong pagtutulungan at paguunawaan. Hindi kailanman ito naging pagsasama na mayroong pagdodomina at pagmamataas. Kaya ang pinaka mabuting recipe para magtagumpay ang buhay mag asawa ay ang iwasan ang maging mapanghusga. At magkaroon tayo ng lakas ng loob na aminin ang ating mga pagkukulang.  

Sa atin pong mabuting balita ngayong biyernes si Jesus ay nagsasabi sa atin na dapat tayo ay hindi madaling maghusga. Kung saan ay madali nating nakikita ang kamalian ng ating kapwa pero ayaw naman nating aminin ang ating sariling kamalian. Madali po nating ituro ang ating daliri sa pagkakamali ng ating kapwa. Ngunit wala naman tayong lakas ng loob at pagpapakumbaba na ituro ang ating mapanghusgang daliri sa ating mga sarili. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for September 10, Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:27-38

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

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Reflection:

What will liberate us from hatred? Its forgiveness, when we truly forgive every form of hatred disappears in our hearts. We become free we exude nothing but positive aura to our fellowmen. But human as we are we from time to time succumb to hatred thus we allow it to control us instead of us controlling it.

What is the cure for hatred? Its love, forgiveness and humility; these three can conquer hatred. And it can free us from emotions that bring nothing to us but disgust. This could even result to the disruption of our day and we will not be able to function properly.

In our gospel reading Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28). Difficult as it may seem; nonetheless if we want to be free from the enslavement of hatred we have to follow what Jesus is telling us.

It’s only through forgiveness that we would be free from hatred. It’s only through the way of forgiveness and love that we could become true followers of Jesus. There’s no other way but love and forgiveness.

Would you be willing to forgive those who’ve hurt you? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 9, Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:20-26

Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

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Reflection:

Imagine Jesus reading to you the gospel for today. How would you feel? Would you feel blessed?

The poor, hungry, weeping, hated and insulted are blessed by Jesus. No matter what others would say about them they are blessed by Jesus. But human as we are we hunger for the luxuries of life, who would not want worldly luxuries?

But if these luxuries would bring us away from Jesus and would bring us to embrace this world and eventually sin. Should we still embrace it?  We must be discerning at all times because the devil is always actively seeking and following us through enticements of these worldly luxuries.

He (Devil) is like a heat seeking guided missile that is often at our backs waiting for the most opportune time to destroy us with sinful and immoral offerings of luxuries . Let us therefore be careful and discerning, for we can live even without this worldly riches from the devil.

If you are poor in the eyes of this world yet you have Jesus in your heart, then you’re the most blessed person in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas