Reflection for Thursday August 18, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

There was a man who died; a few moments after his death he saw two places one was with fire and with souls in terrible torment. The other one was a brightly lighted and heavenly place with joyous souls. An Angel asked him where would you chose to be? The man quickly replied: I chose the heavenly place with pearly gates.

When he was about to enter the pearly gates he was barred from going there. Then a loud voice boomed and told him: Why are you trying to desperately enter now? Do you remember when you were still alive? I invited you to church for countless times but you did not give any importance to my invitations. You gave more priority to your temporal earthly activities.

In our gospel Jesus gives a parable about a wedding feast, the king ordered the servants to invite the chosen guests. But they were all busy so they ignored the invitation they instead went to their usual daily tasks. One was busy with his farm, another with his business. And how about the others? They maltreated then killed the messengers of the king.

The king represents God and He perpetually invites us all to be present in the weeding banquet that is the celebration of the Holy Mass. We oftentimes hear people urging us to be present in the Holy Mass, to read the bible, to pray and be connected with God. They are the messengers or servants of God sent by Him for us to be closer to Him. For God desires our intimacy with Him this is the primary reason why He always invites us to His feast.

But what is our reaction to His perpetual invitations? We often times ignore it for the reason that we are so much busy with the things of this temporary world. We ignore it until we become aware of our own mortality so we are forced to know and discover God because we are already in dire need of Him.

Why wait for that time when we are already sick or near death?   Why not respond now to His invitation while we are still in the pink of health? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday August 17, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.

Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A lady who was always envious of her neighbors would always complain to God why they are rich while she is not. Considering the fact that during weekends she is in the church doing volunteer work. Thus, she thought that God is being unfair to her. 

Months and years had passed, her complaint to God was still the same: “Why is it that they are rich while I am not?  Then, one night she had a dream and in that dream God said to her: You only measure the blessings that I bestow upon you by the money and properties that you possess.

God further said to her: Yes you are not blessed materially but look at your very successful and very well brought-up children. Look at your loving husband that has been faithful to you since day one of your married life. Look at your health, nobody amongst your family members has been to a hospital for health issues. Suddenly the woman had a realization that she was far more blessed by God than her neigbor.

The workers in the vineyard who worked early complained about wages and that is material wealth or money! They failed to realize that they were first assured of the day’s work by the landowner early of that morning. And surely it created already a guarantee that they have something to feed to their families for the coming days. Unlike those who came in late who were not assured until late in the afternoon that they would have money to buy food for their respective families.

When we account the blessings that God gives us let us not solely focus on money or any material wealth because we might complain also. Let us rather have a holistic appreciation of God’s blessings for us. Such as peace and good health in our respective family, faithfulness and tranquillity in our married life . Plus many more blessings that cannot be compensated by any amount of money. 

Are we not often times like the lady who envied her neighbors? Are we not often times like the workers in the vineyard who complained because they were so fixated on the wage that they had received? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday August 16, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What have you given up for your love of Jesus? Have you given up your vices and your sinfulness?

In the gospel Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Perhaps this is also your question before Jesus, What will there be for me your follower? Ah, Jesus would probably say, there would be peace in your life, there would be less human created stress and so forth.

But judging from the life of Jesus and of those who faithfully followed Him its hardships, sacrifices, poverty and even martyrdom. Now that you have an idea, would you still follow? You should still follow Jesus even if people will persecute you for following Him, even if there would be hardships and sacrifices. For this is the true measure of your discipleship.

Remember that before gold becomes a magnificent piece of jewelry it passes through severe testing by fire. And before a diamond is made it goes through several hard processes that involves crushing, cutting and refining.

So is your life with Jesus, there would be humps and bumps here and there. But nothing to worry about these humps and bumps for its just part of the testing of your faith and certainly part of your purification.

Will you still faithfully  follow Jesus from now on notwithstanding the humps and bumps in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

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.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on 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 has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Selfless love for others is a rare virtue nowadays; what we have now is the me first or self centered attitude. Before we give ourselves to others we see to it that we are first taken care of. It’s our need first before the needs of others we seldom become a person for others anymore.

 We thus overlook the fact that when we are selfless we make others joyful and happy. We bless others when we give something out of ourselves and we often overlook that the blessing that we give silently comes back to us in many forms.

The Blessed Mother is not like us; she is very concerned with the welfare of others than her own well-being. Notice how the Blessed Mother went to her cousin Elizabeth and stayed there until she gave birth. She made sure first that her cousin would be through with her delicate pregnancy before she left her.  

In this day wherein we are overly concerned with our own happiness and fulfilment the Blessed Mother gives us valuable lesson to live by.

She tells us not to be overly concerned with our own welfare we must look after those who are in need of our love even if we ourselves need love. Who are those who badly need our love and care? The Blessed Mother and Elizabeth are both mothers so for obvious reason first and foremost it’s our mothers.

They are slowly getting old and we may not know it they may quietly leave this world anytime. Let us give our very own mothers our love while they can still appreciate it, express your love for them now say it now. Don’t say that you love them when they’re bodies are cold and not responsive anymore for it’s useless already.

What will it cost you if you express your love for your mother? Nothing except a very little fraction of your voice and saliva and what will be the effect on them? Oh, immeasurable! It will energize and reinvigorate them to say the least.

 There are many who are in need of our love these days they may not say it but they need it. We must look after them even if we will not gain any material things from doing it. Life is never measured by ownership of worldly things; true life is measured by our selfless acts of love and kindness.

On this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary let us look at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s  very real and selfless expression of true love.  And let us ask ourselves this question: Do I love as the Blessed Mother gave her love and concern to her cousin Elizabeth? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Sunday August 14, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A sinful man was invited by his friend to attend a parish renewal program. The sinful man was already tired of living a life of sin and he wanted to rid himself of any form of sinfulness. So, he said to his friend, “Ok I will attend.” While in the process of formation he was enlightened about how sin destroys a person and prevent a person from having a personal relationship with Jesus.

After the renewal program was through the sinful man decided to let go of friends who had brought nothing to his life but sin. Thus he was hated by his former friends and was even threatened with physical harm.    

When we decide to live a life according to the will of Jesus we have to expect conflict and misunderstanding. We have to be ready to be hated or lose some of our friends and even our family members as well for this is the reality of following Jesus.

When you truly follow Jesus you set aright what is wrong. You will have the fire in your belly to leave those who do nothing to you except to influence you to sin. You will have the fire in your belly to correct those who continue to sin no matter what it may cost you.

Jesus in the gospel talks about division, He tells us: From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (Luke 12:52-53).”

Indeed, there are times that division has to occur for good to triumph over evil. Division has to occur so that a wayward behavior can be set aright. We need not worry about the outcome of this kind of division for the reason that this division is a division that purifies a person from the impurities of sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas