Reflection for July 12, Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in OT; 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 nether world. 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:

Why do we sin?

We sin because we allow the devil to take control of our lives. Once the devil is in control already sinning becomes an ordinary routine. We don’t anymore have guilt of conscience, we become numb already from the criticism. We even have the temerity to be angry with those who are criticizing us.

So we enjoy sin since it brings us endless earthly gratification. Until we get caught and so we receive our due punishment. But why keep on sinning and why wait until we get caught? Why don’t we stop sinning, permanently walk away from it and embrace the unconditional love of Jesus?

In our gospel reading for today we notice Jesus reproaching the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. For they refused to hear God’s call for them to permanently walk away from their sinfulness.

Every now and then God will gently nudge us to remind us that there’s no good with sin. That sinning will bring us nothing but problems and misfortunes. We may enjoy the fruits of our sinfulness but this kind of enjoyment is short lived. Eventually we will be caught and be punished.

Why not walk away from sin and embrace the forgiveness, mercy and love of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 11, Monday Saint Benedict, Abbot; 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:

What is this sword that Jesus speaks about in the gospel?

It’s the sword of righteousness! Jesus came into this world to bring the sword of righteousness and this sword of righteousness pierces anyone who stands in the way.

Man against his father? Daughter against her mother? Indeed, if anyone stands in the way even if they are our relatives we should not be afraid to speak in the name of righteousness we should not be afraid to gently voice out what we think is right no matter who gets hurt.

In the same manner that we should not be afraid to voice out our sentiments even if the person whom we are going to address has the money and power.

Sometimes we have second thoughts if we are going to speak our minds in the name of Jesus. We ought not to think twice we must have the courage to say what’s in our mind in the name of the sword of Jesus’ righteousness.

The church always speaks out its mind whenever there are issues or policies that hurt the populace. It’s not afraid to verbally rebuke anyone in power even if it creates enmity and wedge between them. Why? For the simple reason that this is the mission of the Church which Jesus founded through St. Peter. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday July 10: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 10:25-37

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

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Reflection:

How can we best share the love, compassion and mercy of Jesus? It’s when we go out of our way to help someone in need. It’s when we forgive someone who’ve done us wrong. And it’s when we go out on a limb to convey that God is alive within us.

The Samaritan in our gospel even if he was an enemy  of the Jews did the unexpected when he helped the man who was robbed and in near death. He could have simply walked by just what the priest and Levite did and completely ignore that man in the throes of death.

But the Samaritan did not only stop to help the dying man he brought the dying man to a house to ensure that he would regain his wellbeing.  In other words the Samaritan showed mercy, love and compassion to the dying man who was deviously victimized robbers.

Who is this Samaritan who mirrored the qualities and character of Jesus? We don’t know. But perhaps it’s safe to conclude that this Samaritan is a true follower of Jesus. The samaritan was not a follower in name only but a follower in words and in deeds.

If we call ourselves follower of Jesus, this story of the good Samaritan should also be our own life story : we should  also be merciful, loving and compassionate. Even to those whom we think do not anymore deserve our Mercy, Love and Compassion.  

Otherwise we are just like the priest and the Levite who were both servants in the temple of God: servants in name only. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 9, Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time; 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:

A young man whose time was solely devoted to his career suddenly met an accident and he died. While on his way to heaven St. Peter suddenly stopped him, he asked the young man: what have you done for Jesus when you were still alive? The young man wasn’t able to answer for he was solely devoted to his many earthly concerns when he was still alive.

Someday in the foreseeable future our life shall come to an end and perhaps God will ask us: what have you done for me? Have you acknowledge me before others? Have you lived and shared my teachings? How would we answer God by that time?

While we are still in our life’s journey let us not forget the importance of acknowledging Jesus and the importance of sharing and living our faith in Him. If so far we have been solely concerned with the things of this world we are therefore being gently reminded that this world is temporary and passing.

Only God is everlasting, we will not be able to escape our appointment with God someday. And when that day comes our fervent hope is we would be allowed entry by Saint Peter into the pearly gates because we’ve done something for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 8, 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:

There was a very corrupt high ranking government official who had a stirring turnabout in his life. From being corrupt he became saintly and from thereon he never engaged in any form of corruption. His saintly lifestyle eventually became his cross because he was maliciously persecuted by his former cohorts in his corruption activities.

Does it pay to leave our sinfulness for the sake of Jesus? Does it pay to leave behind friends who bring us nothing but sinfulness? Of course it pays! It may not be easy, we may be persecuted, scorned and even be harmed. However all of these dangers and earthly imbalances in our lives are nothing compared to what Jesus will bring into our lives.

We must always expect persecution the moment we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. We should expect to be looked down, expect insulting comments. Nonetheless; let these persecutions strengthen us further in the name of Christ Jesus.

Almost all of the apostles were severely persecuted for faithfully following Jesus. They were persecuted by this world yet God exalted them for their faithfulness to Jesus.

How about you which would you prefer the immoral and corrupt enticements of this world or the initially difficult path towards Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 7, 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:

Have you already shared Jesus using the internet?

Lady A, is an internet fanatic she would always share anything about herself on facebook. Simply to create an impression about how good her life is.

Some of us are actually like Lady A, we are fond of sharing our every activity even non- essential activities via the internet most especially on facebook. But have we shared Jesus or anything that relate to Jesus using the internet?

We have in the gospel the commissioning or sending off of the apostles. They were told by Jesus to share the good news of our salvation. They did their mission by advancing the teachings of Jesus and the many miracles that He did.

The apostles did not share anything about themselves it was always about Jesus and never about themselves. For a change why not think of sharing Jesus instead of sharing yourself using internet? If you share Jesus you will change and bless lives and in  the process you would also become a blessing for others. 

What do you usually share in the internet specifically on your facebook account is it always about yourself? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 6, 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:

How can we effectively evangelize? We must always be connected with Jesus in our words and deeds. We can never be effected evangelizers of Jesus' teachings if we only preach it and not live it.

Except for Judas who betrayed Jesus, the other eleven apostles were effective messengers of Jesus’ teachings. For the simple reason that they preached it, they lived it and even gave their lives for it.

 They were simple people some were fishermen, some were like us sinners. In the eyes of men they may not be worthy to become Jesus apostles but Jesus called them and qualified them.

Jesus is neither a discriminating God nor a condemning God, He is a God of love, mercy and compassion. He therefore calls us all to turn our backs from our sinful lives and become His followers that will help Him advance the good news of His love and compassion.

Say yes to Jesus and let Him move into your life. Are you ready to answer this call of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 5, 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:

Are you quick to hurl accusations without careful thought?

After driving out the demon from the man Jesus is now accused by the Pharisees of being the prince of demons. A wild accusation that has no basis at all, the sole basis of their accusation was their hatred towards Jesus. Because He was easily becoming popular among the masses thus they saw Jesus as a threat to their rule.

Are we not like those Pharisees sometimes? We hurl baseless accusation against our fellowmen simply because we have an axe to grind against them? For example we conveniently accuse somebody of wrongdoing because we simply want to get back against someone who did us wrong in the past.

Hurling baseless accusation is not only exclusive in church organization. In general terms this happens also among friends, people in politics particularly during election.

In the latter part of the gospel, seeing how enormous the crowd was, Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. This reflective statement of Jesus still rings true up to this time. According to Fr. Oscar Lukefahr in his book: The Catechism Handbook, we the lay faithful comprises over 99.5% of the church.

The people who need to know Jesus fully well are very plentiful but those who are willing to share their labor are very few. Why not share in Christ prophetic mission by being involved in your church as a catechist or in any ministry that will help advance the teachings of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for July 4, 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 always compliment your faith with actions? Our faith in God is measured by our actions.

In the gospel there’s the official full of faith who went to Jesus and told Him: “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live (Matthew 9:18).”

There’s also that woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years who 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 (Matthew 9:21).”

We too have our own stories about our faith in Jesus. Our faith stories didn’t just happen by accident it happened for a reason. We supported our faith with actions and after which we rested it on Jesus’ mercy and compassion.

The same mercy and compassion that He gave to the official’s daughter. The same mercy and compassion that He had given also to the woman who had been suffering hemorrhages for twelve long years.

Let us therefore continue to have an unwavering faith in Jesus, let us support our faith with our actions and God’s mercy and compassion will be upon us too.

How’s your faith in Jesus? Is it always faith with actions? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday July 3: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

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Reflection:

Is it hard to follow the way of Jesus? Yes it’s hard, so we will not follow anymore because it’s hard or we still follow even if it’s hard?

When Jesus sent the seventy two in pairs to serve as His advance party they knew that it would not be a walk in the park for them. They knew that there would be difficulties and hardships as they move ahead with their mission.

Knowing all these difficulties that they are going to face yet they still proceed with their mission. Why? Why proceed when there were many dangers and uncertainties ahead of them? They proceeded because they knew that the abiding presence of Jesus would always be there for them.

This is what weakens our resolve when we follow Jesus; our fear/s of facing the many difficulties and uncertainties. But why fear when the abiding presence of Jesus is always there by our side?

If we will let fear paralyze us there would be no more laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. There would be no more laborers who will take care, shepherd and minister to the abundant harvest.

Why fear when Jesus Himself said: “I am with you always until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20)”.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for July 2, Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in OT; 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 will make us complete? Its Jesus he only can complete us, the things of this world no matter how enormous will never complete us. Our treasures and power will never complete us and if these are not handled properly this may even destroy us.   It will never fill our longing for God because our love for the things of this world only brings us farther from God.    

John’s disciples asked Jesus: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus meaningfully answered them: "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The wedding guests are the followers of Jesus and the bridegroom is no other than Jesus himself.

Just like in a wedding banquet wherein the guests are forever joyous the same also with us. We become renewed, happy and complete for we are already with Jesus. We permanently leave behind every aspect of our old sinful selves and everything that will make as sin.

We also throw our fears of what tomorrow may bring us for the simple reason that we are already with Jesus. With Jesus the fear of the unknown will be banished from our system, what will remain is our faith in our Lord and savior. – Marino J. Dasmarinas