Reflection for September 24, Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:7-9

Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead” others were saying, “Elijah has appeared” still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things? And he kept trying to see him.

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Reflection:

At the back of his mind Herod was silently asking himself: Who is this man who is doing what John did? He certainly is not John because I beheaded John.

Why was Herod bothered by what Jesus was doing? Because Herod thought that John had risen from the dead and now he is again doing what he has been doing: To call for repentance, to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt, to heal and so forth. It was a disturbing de javue for the powerful Herod.     

Herod was surely bothered for he knows that what he did against John was against the law of men and God. But Herod was the supreme power during that time. And as such he could practically do whatever he wants and nobody would dare cross his path or run after him.

But Herod’s power is limited to this world alone. There’s a much bigger power which controls everything in this world and everything that is beyond this world and that is God! Therefore the greater power which is God was already bothering the mind of Herod. Perhaps Herod was already losing sleep and incessantly being disturbed by his conscience because of what he did to John.

What is the lesson for us in this gospel episode? Worldly power no matter how enormous has its limitations too! Because God can pierce and burst that power whenever He wants too. God can do something that is unseen by others to punish this powerful and arrogant person.

Therefore we should be careful on how we exercise our power we should not abuse it! We should know that it has its own limitations. And once we transgress the limitations of our power the justice of God would be upon us to haunt us as it haunted Herod. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for September 23, Wednesday Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest: Luke 9:1-6

Gospel: Luke 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

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Reflection:

Do you depend on yourself or God? These are the two basic questions that we face up to everyday. What does it mean to depend on yourself? It means that you rely on yourself alone. You depend on your own strength and understanding and God has no place in your heart.

When you depend on God it doesn’t mean that you will relax and let the blessings of God come into your doorstep like the mailman putting your mail into your mailbox. When you depend on God you simply do everything within your power to have what you want or to achieve what you want. But at the end of the day you humbly submit everything to the will of God and not to your own selfish will.

When Jesus told the apostles to take nothing for their missionary journey (Luke 9:3). Was He telling them to take nothing because everything that you need will simply fall from heaven to your lap? Of course not! Jesus was rather telling them to do what they were commissioned to do and not to worry because He will use people of faith to provide for their provisions. 

This is basically the same with how we live and share our own faith. We don’t have to worry about anything for Jesus will provide for us for as long as we work for the fulfilment of our own Baptismal mission. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for September 22, Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:19-21

Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

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Reflection:

How could we become relatives of Jesus? We have to hear and live His words, it’s not enough to hear only we have to act and live it as well. Many of us forget that we effectively preach the words of Jesus by the way we live and we put more flesh to our faith living it.

In a family setting, children learn about their faith when their parents teach them about it. They further learn more when what are taught them is lived by their parents. Thus the family becomes stronger and united and is able to face whatever trials that it may encounter.

What if parents are simply content with teaching without living their faith? There would be failure of effective transmission of the faith. And the children will not fully imbibe what was taught them for the simple reason that their parents did not walk their talk.

In the same breath; we become effective teachers of the faith when we practice what we preach. We gain entrance to the family of God for the same reason as well. Let us therefore not be content by simply hearing the words of Jesus let us live also no matter how tempting the offer of the devil not to live it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 21, Monday Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist: Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him? He calls us out of His great love for us. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be eaten alive by the many sins of this world. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to suffer in hell after our lives in this world is over and done with already. 

We have in our gospel a sinner named Matthew a corrupt tax collector who was called by Jesus to follow Him. Even if Matthew is a sinner deep in his heart he knows Jesus. Matthew knows deep in his heart that in Jesus he would find healing and forgiveness. Matthew knows deep in His heart that in Jesus he has somebody who will not condemn him but would be very much willing to listen to his desire to repent and become His follower.

Therefore, when Jesus told Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9) he immediately left everything behind him and followed Jesus. When Matthew heard Jesus telling him to follow Him, Matthew heard the sweetest words that he would ever hear in his entire life. It made Matthew whole once again for he has been broken by sin throughout his adult life.

Perhaps Matthew burst into tears when he heard Jesus told him to come and follow Him. It was tears of unexplained happiness, tears of relief and freedom from the enslavement of the devil.

Do you also want to feel how Matthew felt during that very day that Jesus called him to come and follow Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 20, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst and putting his arms around it, he said to them “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but the One who sent me.

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Reflection:

What is the most important virtue of a follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking anything in return. He doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to be known, powerful and popular.

While Jesus and His disciples were passing through Galilee, He was discussing to them about the things that will happen to Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention for the reason that they were preoccupied discussing who among them is the greatest. What an ego trip for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus they were burnishing among themselves their own self-image. They were discussing who among them is the greatest.

During that instance the desire to humbly follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly prop-up their own self-image. And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this world.    

If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to be in-front. We have to be humble and simple at all times for this is the only way whereby we can bring others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 20, Linggo Ika-25 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon; Marcos 9:30-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 9:30-37

30 Noong panahong iyon si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nagsimulang dumaan sa Galilea. Gusto niya na walang sinumang makaalam 31 sapagkat tinuturuan niya ang kanyang mga alagad. At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ibibigay ang Anak ng Tao sa kamay ng mga tao. Papatayin nila siya ngunit pagka¬patay nila sa kanya, baba¬ngon siya sa ikatlong araw.” Kaya lubha silang nalungkot. 32 Hindi nila ito naintindihan at hindi rin sila nangahas magtanong sa kanya. 33 Pagdating nila sa Capernaum, nang nasa bahay na siya, tinanong niya sila: “Ano ang pinag-uusapan ninyo sa daan?” 34 At hindi sila umimik; pinagtatalunan nga nila sa daan kung sino ang mas una.

 35 Kaya naupo siya at pagkatawag sa Labindalawa ay sinabi sa kanila: “Kung may gustong mauna, maging huli siya sa lahat at lingkod ng lahat.” 36 At pagkakuha niya sa isang maliit na bata, pinatayo ito sa gitna nila at inakbayan at saka sinabi sa kanila: 37 “Ang sinumang tumanggap sa isa sa mga batang ito nang dahil sa aking pangalan ay tumatanggap sa akin. At ang tumatanggap sa akin ay hindi ako ang tinatanggap kundi ang nagsugo sa akin.”

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Repleksyon:

Ano ang pinaka importanteng katangian ng tagasunod ni Jesus? Ito ay ang katagian ng kababaan ng loob. Ang mapagpakumbabang tagasunod ni Jesus ay sumusunod sa kanya ng walang ibang dahilan kundi ang magsilbi ng walang hinihintay na anumang kapalit. Hindi siya sumusunod kay Jesus dahil gusto niyang makilala, magkaroon ng kapangyarihan at maging sikat.

Habang si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay dumadaan sa Galilea binubuksan niya  sa kanila ang mga malapit ng mangyari sa kanya. Pero ang mga alagad ay hindi nakikinig dahil lubha silang abala sa pag dediskusyon kung sino sa kanila ang pinaka dakila. Wow, ang yabang naman nila! Imbes na makinig sila kay Jesus ay pinag uusapan nila kung sino sa kanila ang pinaka dakila.

Sa oras na iyon ay wala na sa mga puso ng mga alagad ang kagustuhan na sumunod kay Jesus ng may kababaan ng loob. Ang nangingibabaw sa kanila ay ang kayabangan at ang kagustuhan na maging isang sikat  sa mata ng kanilang mga kasama.

Kung talagang gusto nating sumunod kay Jesus ay kailangan sumunod tayo sa kanya ng boung kababaang loob. Kailangan ay matutunan natin na kalimutan ang ating mga sarili. Kailagan ay tanggalin natin ang anumang uri ng kayabangan sa ating mga puso at ang kagustuhan na palaging nauuna at nakikita.

Kailangan ay palagi tayong maging mababa ang loob at simple sa lahat ng oras sa dahilan na ito lamang ang paraan kung saan ay makakapagdala tayo ng ating kapwa kay  Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for September 19, Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:4-15

Gospel: : Luke  8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

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Reflection:

What do you usually do when you encounter the words of God? For example when you go to Holy Mass do you carefully listen to the readings most especially the gospel? Do you allow it to disturb your conscience? Do you allow it to carve a space in your heart that you think about it even if you’re already in your house?

Do you read your bible regularly and when you read it do you allow it transform you?  The bible is the words of God, He created it to transform us. God created it also for us know Him more, so that the God that is distant would now become the God who is with us and the God who walks with us.

The seeds that was sowed that Jesus mentions in the gospel are the very words of God. These words are very powerful it could transform our lives if we would allow it. It could create calmness and serenity within us if we would reflect on it.

  

But many of us are so busy that we hardly have time for these seeds that God so generously showers us. Many of us do not mind it anymore until we hit a roadblock in our lives. Thus we are reminded of God we instantly hurry to go to Him simply because we hit rock bottom.

But why wait for that roadblock to hit us before we allow the words of God to flourish and bear much fruit in our hearts? – Marino J. Dasmarinas       

Reflection for September 18, Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 8:1-3

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

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Reflection:

Who are the majority crowd during Sunday Holy Mass or daily Holy Mass for that matter? The majority are women, who are the majority who volunteers for church work? It’s women again! During the time of Jesus and as it is today the silent workers and supporters of Jesus and His church are women.

When Jesus was dying on the cross the majority of those who remained loyal to Him are women too (Luke 23:49)! The same when Jesus resurrected, the loyal woman supporters of Jesus saw Him first (Luke 24:9–11).

The gospel this Friday mentions Jesus, the twelve apostles and a number of women with different backgrounds. Some are sinners, some are rich and some are poor also. What brought these women with diverse background together? What made them silently support Jesus?

It’s their love and loyalty to Jesus. The same love and loyalty to Jesus that fuels the many women of today. To silently support Jesus and the church that He founded through peter.  

Like the women in the gospel who followed and provided help for Jesus. We too are being challenged to humbly follow Jesus and provide support for the church that He founded. 

What can you contribute to Jesus and the church today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for September 17, Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-50

Gospel: Luke Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus would forgive you of your many sins? The woman in the gospel who is a big time sinner and presumably a prostitute believe in her heart that Jesus would forgive her. Uninvited she went to the house of the Pharisee where Jesus was. And there she humbled herself before Jesus by kissing his feet, washing the same feet with her own tears, anointing it with an ointment and wiping it with her own hair.

What the woman did is a humble gesture of repentance and submission. It was her way of telling Jesus that she now wants to lead a new life. A life free from any form of sin, her gesture is also a gesture of love and repentance. Thus, she was forgiven by Jesus and thereafter renewed by the power of forgiveness by Jesus.

All of us commit sin and through this sin that we commit we also offend Jesus. But we have nothing to fear for all of our sins can be forgiven and thereafter wiped-out by Jesus. All we have to do is to humble ourselves before Him, tell Jesus our sins and ask for His forgiveness.   

Perhaps you’re asking yourself this question: How would I be forgiven by Jesus of my many sins? Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/ Confession we are also forgiven by Jesus with our many sins.

Do you want to lead a new life? A life free from the enslavement of the devil a life free from sin and guilt? If your answer is yes, humbly submit yourself to this Healing and liberating sacrament. The moment you do you would feel that something heavy and burdensome has been taken-off from your back. 

Would you have the humility to submit yourself to this process of healing and renewal? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 16, Wednesday Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs: Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

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Reflection:

Are there people within your sphere of environment whom you find difficult to understand? For example, a friend who has nothing good to say about you. He always finds fault and is very quick to judge you. Yet he purposely closes her/his eyes on the good things that you do.

During Jesus time there were also many who found fault with Jesus and John the Baptist. John because of his life of ascetism and life spent more in the wilderness. John was labelled as possessed by the devil. Yet they choose to ignore the call of John for repentance and renewal of their lives.

They also did the same with Jesus, they labelled Him as friend of tax collectors and sinners. For the simple reason that Jesus once in a while mingles with them with the objective of converting them. Yet they also purposely closed their eyes to the countless healings and miracles that Jesus did.

In spite of all of these people who makes it their mission to make life difficult for us. Let us focus on Jesus and His teachings, let us simply do what is right regardless of what others may say and think about us. For if God is with us who then can be against us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Repleksyon para sa Setyembre 16, Miyerkules Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs; Lucas 7:31-35

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 7:31-35

Sinabi ni Jesus, 31 “Ngayon, kanino ko ikukumpara ang mga tao sa kasalukuyan, at sa ano sila katulad? 32 Para silang mga batang nakaupo sa mga plasa, at nagrereklamo ang ilan sa kanila: ‘Tinugtog namin ang plauta para sa inyo at hindi kayo sumayaw, at nang umawit naman kami ng punebre, ayaw naman ninyong umiyak.

33 Ganito rin naman ang nangyari. Dumating si Juan Bautista na hindi kumakain ng tinapay ni umiinom ng alak, at ang sabi ninyo’y ‘Nasisiraan siya ng bait!’ 34 Dumating naman ang Anak ng Tao na kumakain at umiinom, at sinabi naman ninyong ‘Narito ang taong matakaw at lasenggo, kaibigan ng mga publikano at mga makasalanan.’ 35 Gayon pa ma’y nakilala ng kanyang mga anak ang Karunungan.”

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Repleksyon:

Mayroon ka bang kilalang tao na mahirap intindihin? Halimbawa ay isang tao na walang mabuting sinasabi tungkol sayo. Palagi niyang nakikita ang mga pagkakamali mo at madali ka niyang husgahan. Pero hindi naman niya binubuksan ang kanyang mga mata sa mga kabutihang nagagawa mo.  

Noong panahon ni Jesus ay marami rin ang nanghuhusga sa kanya at kay Juan. Si Juan dahil sa kanyang buhay na nagiisa sa kagubatan ay sinasabihan nila na nasisiraan na ng bait. Pero nasisiraaan ban g bait ang taong nananawagan na magbagong buhay nasila? Nasisiraan ba ng bait ang mapagpakumbabang si Juan na mas pinili na itaas si Jesus kaysa ang kanyang sarili?

Ganon din ang ginawa nila kay Jesus na tinawag nilang isang kaibigan ng maninigil ng buwis at mga makasalanan. Sa dahilan na si Jesus ay nakikisalamuha sa kanila paminsan minsan. Pero bakit nga ba nakikisalamuha si Jesus sa mga maninigil ng buwis at makasalan? Ito ay sa dahilan na gusto ni Jesus na baguhin sila sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag ugnayan sa kanila.

Ganon paman kahit na may mga taong ginawa ng misyon ang hindi magsabi ng mabuti sa kanilang kapwa. Patuloy lang po tayo na naka focus kay Jesus at sa kanyang mga pagtuturo. Gawin natin palagi ang tama kahit na ito ay hindi popular at ito ay hindi sasangayunan ng iba. Sa dahilan na kung ang Diyos ay nasa atin ay walang magtatagumpay laban sa atin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas