Reflection for Sunday December 27, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Luke 2:41-52

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

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

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Reflection:

How’s your family today?

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family a very appropriate feast for our times today. The families of today are a lot more different from the families of yesteryear. I think there are more broken families today; I think the family of today is constantly under attack from various secular environments.

Father Patrick Peyton the famous rosary priest has beautifully said: “The family that prays together stays together.” This was more than fifthly (50) years ago when families were still conservative and closely knit. Today we seldom see families going to Mass together everyone in the family nowadays have their own personal activities that tend to destroy the close bond of the family.

Today there’s the influence of the internet everyone in the family now has its own smart phone and tablet that keeps family members selfish and busy. Fifthly, thirty or even twenty years ago there was no internet and smart phones families were so simple then; so unlike of the modern and complicated families of today.

So what should we do to bring back the close bond of the family and to prevent families from breaking apart?  We have to infuse back prayers and worship for God in the family. How many families are still praying the Rosary today? How many families are still worshipping Jesus at Holy Mass today?

The domestic church that is, our respective families are under attack today. By whom? By the devil disguised as a hi-tech gadget such as smart phones, tablets and the like. High tech gadgets are not evil per se, it becomes evil when we allow it to control and enslave us. 

We must do our humble share to re-energies our respective families and we could only do this if we will put Jesus at the center of our family. Nowadays many families are somewhat hesitant to put or adopt Jesus as a member of their family they instead willingly adopt the many inducement of the world. That is why there are many families that are breaking apart.

Let us invite Jesus to become a member of our family and the first step that we must do is to faithfully go to Holy Mass and live the valuable teachings that it bestows upon us.

How’s your family today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for December 26, Saturday; Saint Stephen the first martyr; Matthew 10:17-22

Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”

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Reflection:

During this season of Christmas we savor the many good things about life. Such as food, gifts and other beautiful things that will satisfy us. But there will come a time that we will be called to live our faith to the fullest. This simply means that we’ll have to witness for our love and faith for Jesus. This witness for Jesus may require us to pass through hard times or it may even require us to even give our very own life.

Saint Stephen the first martyr of the church whose martyrdom we remember today. Is one of those who witnessed for Jesus until the very end of his life. He advanced the faith and did great things in the name of Jesus. But he was eventually savagely killed for witnessing for Jesus.

In this modern time of internet and other modern gadgets we are still called to witness for our faith in Jesus. We are called to use every means available so that Jesus will become more relevant. More relevant in the hearts and minds of the modern people of today most especially the young ones for they are the future of the church.

Have we already witnessed for Jesus? Have we already been persecuted for our love for Jesus? Let us not be disheartened if we’ve been through these tests of faith for these are part and parcel of our witness and discipleship for Jesus. Let us make Jesus more relevant today as what Saint Stephen did during his time. Let us not be afraid of the severe consequences that may befall us.

We have nothing to fear if Jesus is with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 25, Friday; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord- Christmas Day; John 1:1-18

Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

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Reflection:

During Christmas there are two primary mindsets that are in our mind: The mindset of receiving and the mindset of giving or making a positive difference in the lives of others. The mindset of receiving creates a feeling of expectation and excitement.

The mindset of giving creates a burning desire within us which is fuelled by Jesus Himself. We give something that comes from our heart we give something that would be very useful and meaningful to the receiver. We don’t only give for the sake of giving.  

Today God gave us His Son Jesus the word that became flesh that dwelt amongst us. The light that shines in the darkness, the light that gives life, enlightenment and direction.

The true essence of Christmas is the mindset of giving; it doesn’t matter if we don’t receive anything for so long as we give. This is what God wants us to do; to learn how to give as He had given us His only begotten son so we must give. 

What a big difference will it make to a very poor family this Christmas if we will give them something to eat (not from our excess!). What a huge difference will it make if we will give them something to wear (not from our surplus!).

A few more hours Christmas Day will be over. Have you already given something very meaningful something that would bring the receiver closer to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for December 24, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:67-79

Gospel: Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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Reflection:

Do you acknowledge the many blessings that God has given you? For example: The air that you breathe, your loving family, the good health that you have and there are many more blessings that God showered you. Do you always remember to thank the Lord for all these blessings?  Or you are already used to these blessing that it becomes ordinary for you already.

The devil would always lure us to get busy with worldly things so that we would eventually forget God. So what are the results? We will not anymore fear God, we will lose our guilt of conscience. We will therefore mindlessly commit sin such as abortion,  infidelity and many more sins against God.

Zechariah was well aware of the many blessings that God has showered him and his family that’s why he praised Him. In good times and in bad he never walked away from God he remained faithful to Him. We must also be fully aware of the many blessings that God has been showering us. And we must always be grateful for all of these blessings by sharing it with those who are poor. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 22, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:57-66

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

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Reflection:

Do you have a prayer before the Lord? Do you follow the will of the Lord for your life?

The pious couple of Zechariah and Elizabeth had a prayer before the Lord and their prayer was for them to have a child. After a long period of time their prayer was granted by the good Lord for they were given the gift of a child. Thus, it was an answered prayer for the pious couple.

But that is not the end of the story, the good Lord through an angel told the couple to name the child John. And so they named him John contradicting the wishes of their relatives and perhaps the custom of naming a child after their parents. The pious couple of John and Elizabeth followed the will of the Lord and named the child John which means gracious gift of God.

What is the implication of the gospel for your life?

You have to be persevering and persistent in your prayer. And you should not waver for God rewards those who persevere and those who are persistent. It may take time for your prayers to be granted but it surely will be granted not based on your own time but based on God’s time. 

Oftentimes you want to chart your own destiny, your own personal journey and somehow through your hard work you were able to achieve what you want. Yet there is still that void and emptiness. Why? This is for the reason that you carved your own destiny, your own personal journey. You did not follow God’s will for you, the God who has been manifesting in your life. The same God who has been silently speaking to you though the events of your life. 

If only you would learn to be persevering in your prayer. If only you would follow God’s will for you. There surely will be no more emptiness in your life and you will not be longing for anything more in your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for December 22, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent; Luke 1:46-56

Gospel: Luke 1:46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

Why did Mary remain with her cousin Elizabeth for three months? Why not leave her after one or two months? Mary left after three months because she wanted to ensure that she would be by her side if she gave birth.

Considering that during that time Mary was also pregnant with Jesus she could have simply excused herself and went home to rest. But she did not she saw to it that she would first take care of her cousin’s needs before her own. 

By serving her cousin Mary proclaimed the greatness of the Lord who was with her. Perhaps in the infinite mind of God He was telling Mary you want to praise me? Then learn to serve your cousin first. You want to praise me? Forget yourself first because it’s in forgetting of yourself that you could best highlight my abiding presence in your life.

You can indeed best serve and praise God by serving others. And by forgetting yourself so that those who are in need may live and have life. You can never serve God if your focus is always yourself and your own selfish needs and wants. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent; Luke 1:39-45

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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Reflection:

An adopted man wanted to find out who was his real mother. So he asked his adoptive parents about the whereabouts of his biological mother. He was told that she lives in a faraway place. He told his parents; even if she lives in a faraway place I will go and find her for I owe my life to her.

 So he went to the faraway place and he found his mother, already very old and sickly. The son told his mother, I am your son I am here to take care of you and I will never leave you alone from now on. The mother unabashedly cried and said, thank you for finding me and I am very sorry for giving you away.   

Mary and Elizabeth must have been very close relatives and both may have known each other since childhood. Otherwise Mary would have not endeavored to go to a faraway place to visit and stay for six months with her cousin Elizabeth.

In her visit to her cousin Elizabeth Mary imparts to us the importance of having concern for the welfare of others. Mary imparts to us that we should learn to forget our own needs in favor of those who are in great need of our help and care.

Mary imparts to us the importance of reaching out and building bridges instead of walls. And last but certainly not the least Mary shows us the importance of giving Jesus to others. For this is the greatest gift of love that Mary brought to her cousin: She brought and gave Jesus to her.

Five more days and it will be the birth of Jesus. Think of a relative or a dear friend whom you have not seen or been in-touch with for a long time. Then reach-out to that friend or relative if your physical presence is not possible. Reach-out by communicating via the internet using every available platform available at your disposal. A simple hello, how are you or God bless you will surely lift their morale. – Marino J. Dasmarinas