Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Reflection for March 8, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent; John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.
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Reflection:
Is there a relationship between sickness and sin? Based on the pronouncements of Jesus in the gospel there is.

The man who had been sick for thirty-eight long years was asked by Jesus, “Do you want to be well (John 5:6)?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk (John 5:7-8).” Then on the latter part of the gospel Jesus said to the healed man: “Look, you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you (John 5:14).”

We may not know it but many of our sickness are brought about by our sins. For example, the sin of Greed, Anger and Gluttony, in so many ways Greed and Anger are one of the triggers for us to have sickness such as high blood pressure and the like. The same is true with Gluttony, over indulging on any kind of food will eventually make us sick in the long run.
  
Let us therefore repent from our sins and avoid it thereafter. The moment we repent by way of the Sacrament of Confession we would be free from any guilt of conscience and surely free from the possession of the devil which sometimes disguises itself as sickness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Reflection for March 7, Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent; John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54
At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.
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Reflection:
How deep is your faith in Jesus? Is your faith limited to what you can perceive and see? Or your faith is not bounded by what you can perceive and see?

 Sometimes it’s hard to have faith if we don’t see something concrete that would reinforce our faith. But faith that is dependent on what we can see is shallow. Deep faith is something that we hold in our hearts even without visible manifestation.

The royal official in our gospel had this deep faith. He believed what Jesus told him without any visible manifestation whatsoever he simply believed in the words of Jesus. When Jesus told him to go back home for his sick son will live, he left without asking any question. He held close to his heart the very words of Jesus that his son would live. And upon arriving home his son was indeed healed the very same time that Jesus uttered the miraculous words to him.

There will come a time that our faith in Jesus will be tested, say for example a severe sickness. What are we going to do when we reach this point of no return? What are we going to do if for example the doctor would tell us that we only have a few months to live?

We must hold on tightly to our faith in Jesus and never give-up no matter what our present circumstances are. This is for the reason that our faith in Jesus is much bigger than any trials or problems that we may face. Our faith in Jesus is far stronger than any sickness that could kill our bodies but not diminish our rock solid faith in Jesus. 

How strong is your faith in Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Reflection for Sunday March 6, Fourth Sunday of Lent; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
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Reflection:
Can you measure the love of God?

The infinite love of God is showcased in our gospel for this fourth Sunday of Lent. The loving and infinitely forgiving father is no other than God. And the repentant young son who squandered all of his inheritance through debauchery and sinful living could be anyone of us.

We may think that because of our many sins we are already beyond reach by God’s love and forgiveness. No we are not for the simple reason that God’s love is pervading and infinite. It’s like the sun which is available to all of us no matter where we are and no matter who we are.

But for us to be reached by this infinite and pervading love of God. We must first be willing to repent from all of our sins and we must be willing to humble ourselves before God. We have to humbly admit and realize that we are all sinners. Thus, just like the younger son  we too are in need of God’s mercy, love and forgiveness.  

Being the season of lent, it’s about time that we return back to our forgiving, merciful and loving God. It’s about time that we repent and leave behind us our sinful lives and those people who influence us to commit sin.

Will you humbly submit yourself to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 5, Saturday of the Third Week of Lent; Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Reflection:
Is humility the weakness of God?

We see in the gospel the humility of the tax collector. He humbly admitted to God his own sinfulness. He was very much aware that before God he was nothing and deserves nothing. This was the reason why the tax collector went home possessing the favor of God.

The secret therefore to gain the favor of God is humility and awareness of our own shortcomings and limitations. The tax collector who gained the favor of God was truly aware of his own sinfulness. He did not attempt to hide it from God, did he know that God knows everything about him? Perhaps he did not know, what he was sure of was his own sinfulness that’s why he humbly asked mercy from God.

It is a given fact that the humble has the eyes and ears of God. The humble doesn’t only gain the favor of God he also gains the respect of his fellowmen. Many of us do not want to be humble because we see it as weakness. But humility is not a weakness it’s actually  a strength! For the simple reason that those who are humble are more respected than those who are not. 

However, to become humble before Jesus and our fellowmen is not easy. For the reason that this entails sacrifice and swallowing of our bloated egos. This entails awareness that we have nothing to be proud of before the presence of God.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton once said: “The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain entry to heaven. We therefore have to be humble if we want to gain the favor and guidance of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Friday, March 4, 2016

Reflection for March 4, Friday of the Third Week of Lent; Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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Reflection:
Why did Jesus give us these two timeless and greatest commandments about love? Because we need these two instructions about love to heal the world of its many sufferings. For example if only there’s authentic love for God in the hearts of the rich there would be no more sufferings and hunger amongst the poor..

But many of them don’t have the love of God in their hearts that’s why they continue to oppress and take advantage of the poor. They love themselves more than God, they love temporal power more than they love the people of God.

Let us hear the command of God to us: Let us love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. Let us also allow God to use us as his vehicle so that those who are alien to the love of God would feel it through us. And those who don’t know God will come to know God  because of our unconditional love for them.

Let us little by little conquer the enmity of this world with our love for God and for our neighbors. And let us not only love those who will love us back or those who are lovable to our eyes.

Let us also love even those who are not lovable to our eyes for this is the true measure of love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Reflection for March 3, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent; Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
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Reflection:
Is the devil real?

The devil is real and he's a pervading influence in our society and in our political system as well. Why is the Philippines still a third world country considering that it has rich human and natural resources? The reason is many of our leaders have allowed themselves to be seduced and manipulated by the devil. The devil in the guise of corrupted wealth and power always offers himself to our politicians in exchange for their honest to goodness public service and governance.

In the same vein, The devil is also a presence inside the Filipino family. This is the reason why there are separation and infidelity inside the marriage covenant. Who can defeat the influence of Satan in our society’s political system and in our respective families? It’s our practice of our faith in Jesus.

Many of us profess to be believers in Jesus and many of our politicians are graduates of catholic schools. Yet there are many plunderers in government, yet there are many broken families. Why is this so? This is for the reason that many of us are believers in name only. Many of us attend Holy Mass but we don’t live the grace of Holy Mass.

If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take root deep into our bones, our country would once again be progressive. If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take center stage in our respective families there would also be no more broken marriages. Let us think about how many times we have betrayed our faith in Jesus. In exchange for the salivating offers of the devil which in the long run will only destroy us.

Reject the devil therefore and do not allow yourself to become his agent in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Reflection for March 1, Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent; Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
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Reflection:
Is it normal for us to harbor resentments? Yes of course for we are humans with emotions. But after that short moment wherein we responded to our feelings let us quickly allow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness to take over our selfish feelings. 

In the gospel Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22).

This is a very simple yet very effective teaching on forgiveness for us from Jesus. In other words He is saying to us that we should always be forgiving. It’s normal for us to be hurt but let us not allow these hurtful feelings to control us. Therefore, we can only be freed from the vicious control of anger which by the way comes from the devil, if we forgive those who have hurt us without any preconditions.

Try to observe yourself when you don’t listen to Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness. Isn’t it that you carry a heavy burden in your heart? When you allow unforgiveness to reside in your heart you allow yourself to be imprisoned and controlled by your anger. 

What if you follow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, how would you feel? You will feel light and free. You will feel no burden in your heart. Don’t we all want to feel light, to feel free and without any burdens and hurtful feelings in our heart?

These are the two options before us: To follow Jesus’ teaching on infinite forgiveness or we continue to punish and burden ourselves by being unforgiving. The wisdom filled choice is to always follow the teaching being given to us by Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas