Reflection for Friday December 16, Third Week in Advent; John 5:33-36

John 5:33-36

Jesus said to the Jews: “You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.”

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Reflection:

Do you have a personal experience about Jesus? For example an instance in your life wherein Jesus changed you to become a gentler and loving person or any experience that you have about Jesus.

If you have this one of a kind life changing experience with Jesus you have to share it, don’t just keep it to yourself.  This is for the reason that when you share your life experience with Jesus you can change another life courtesy of Jesus through you.

However we have to remember that we have to share Jesus in humility and gentleness. For the simple reason that this is where we could become more effective heralds of our savior. If we share Jesus with bombast we may never be able to bring others near Him because we humans gravitate toward humble and gentle people.

If we are afraid of sharing Jesus through the spoken word let us not be afraid to share Jesus through our actions. Actions of love, humility and gentleness for the simple reason that these acts are the best testament that Jesus is alive and has an active part in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Thursday December 15, Third Week in Advent; Luke 7:24-30

Luke 7:24-30

When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you. I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.

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Reflection:

It’s a mystery why Jesus said that the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John. Perhaps He was trying to motivate the tax collectors who were labelled as sinners to continue to follow Him because there is a reward that awaits those who will leave behind his sinful past and faithfully follow Him.

 Perhaps Jesus also desired that those who were listening would emulate the humility of John or even surpass it. We can only guess about the objective of Jesus in saying this very mysterious  and meaningful statement.

There are times that Jesus speaks to us in cryptic language that seems so hard for us to understand. We nevertheless must continue to hold-on to Him, we must continue to blindly follow Him without question.

Why? This is for the reason that to follow Jesus is always right. Never a person was misled by Jesus by blindly holding His hand and faithfully following Him.  Never a person no matter how poor has lived a miserable life by following Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Wednesday December 14, Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church; Luke 7:18b-23

Luke 7:18b-23

At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

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Reflection:

Jesus and John the Baptist go a long way as far as their association are concerned. Their mothers (Mary and Elizabeth) were cousins that makes both Jesus and John related. During the sixth (6) month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy she was visited by Mary who stayed with her until she gave birth.

Then, when Jesus was thirty years old, John appeared preaching in the desert of Judea calling for repentance. At the same time saying that somebody much greater than him is coming; alluding to Jesus.

John denounced the immorality of Herod for coveting the wife (Herodias) of his brother (Philip) this is one of the primary reasons why Herod ordered the arrest and imprisonment and eventual beheading of John. So, we see the close kinship of John and Jesus they go a long way.  

The gospel for today brings us to this situation wherein John was in prison while there he told his disciples to go and ask Jesus if He was the one. 

Being a close relative and a collaborator in the salvific mission of Jesus perhaps John was expecting Jesus to pay him a visit and boost his morale. Don’t we expect a visit from our close relatives if we’re sick, in difficult predicament and in prison? Of course we do!

But Jesus did not visit John it was enough for Him that He told the disciples: “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

We must not expect any form of reward in serving/following Jesus we should just be content on doing our mission for Him. If there would be people who will detest and persecute us in following Jesus so be it. 

John did not complain on his predicament in prison he continued to be faithful to his assigned mission that he gave his very life for it. Perhaps even then, John already knew that there was an everlasting life. Where he will finally taste the sweetness of the reward that God will give him for his faithfulness to his mission.  

In serving or following Christ expect hardships, expect people to persecute you and expect moments of loneliness and isolation. Amidst these factors let us continue to be faithful to Jesus and to our mission for His people.

There may not be rewards here in this world but there will surely be after our lives have ended and that is in heaven where we will be in the bosom of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday December 13, Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr; Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

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Reflection:

Jesus directs the parable of the two sons to the chief priests and elders of the people. For the reason that they did not listen to the exhortation of John to change their self-righteous ways. Then He praised the tax collectors and prostitutes the usual sinners at that time because they listened and believed the exhortation of John to change their ways thus they henceforth walked away from their sinfulness.

This parable of the two sons is for us as well, we who superficially listens to the word of God. We who are faithful in our church obligations yet we don’t live what we learn from our church.

How quickly do we judge our fellowmen because of their appearance and the clothes that they wear? How quickly do we judge them because of their faith and the friends that they keep?  How quickly do we judge them because of their behavior and status in life?

We quickly judge by what we see not minding our own shortcomings and sinfulness. By doing so we personify the second son who said yes but did not go to the vineyard we also stand for the chief priest and elders of the people who did not heed the call of John to renew their lives.

The tax collectors and prostitutes were favored by Jesus for the simple reason that they heeded the call of John. Yes they were sinners but the moment they heard the preaching of John they listened, believed and walked away from their sinfulness. Thus they represent the first son who initially said no but later on had a change of heart and humbly went to work in the vineyard.     

We who are sinners and self-righteous are being called by Jesus to humble ourselves before Him. Too have a change of heart and to completely walk away from our sinfulness. Just like what the first son did and the sinful tax collectors and prostitutes who listened to John.

Would you respond to this call of Jesus? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe; Matthew 21:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him? But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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Reflection:

When our authority is threatened by someone else we normally confront those who threaten it. Then the worst thing that could happen to those who are being threatened is to kill those who are threatening it just to save their position of authority.

This normally happens in politics and it has happened even during Jesus’ time. The chief priest’s authority was being threatened by Jesus’ popularity among the masses. Naturally they wanted to protect it that’s why they planned to kill Jesus.

Why would we be threatened if we are not concealing anything wrong? Why would we be threatened if we are honest in our position of authority? Those who cling like leaches to their position of authority are those who are corrupt.

Those who are hiding something and those who treat there own area of authority as their own fiefdom. These kinds of people are the ones who are afraid to lose their authority. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday December 11, Third Sunday of Advent; Matthew 11:2-11

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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Reflection:

There’s a lot of second guessing as to why did John (while in prison) sent his followers to Jesus to ask Him if he is the one. Perhaps, John wanted Jesus to help him to bolt out of prison. Perhaps, John wanted to be assured of Jesus’ support because to begin with he baptized Jesus in the river Jordan (Matthew 3:13).

Jesus affirmed the question by saying to John’s followers: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

Perhaps, the disciples of John were expecting Jesus to say, let us go to John. And reassure him of my support in whatever way possible, but he did not. Jesus then said: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Possibly to say to John’s followers, don’t get disappointed if I will not help John in his most difficult time.

We may also have this feeling of being abandoned by Jesus. And we may also have questions like: Why is this happening to me and my family considering that I’m following you?  Why am I still poor and in difficult predicament when I am faithfully following you?  We may have countless whys before God; we may have this emotion of being abandoned by Jesus in our most difficult time as well.  

So what must we do if we are in this situation? We must continue to follow Jesus we must continue to be faithful to Him even if He seems to be far and unconcerned with us. We must not veer away from Jesus and not blame Him for whatever difficulties we are in.

To follow Jesus or to always pray to Jesus is not an assurance that we would be free from trials and persecutions. And John is the best evidence of this for the reason that John humbly and faithfully followed Jesus. Yet he was persecuted, imprisoned and beheaded.

Will you still follow Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday December 10, Second Week in Advent; Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

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Reflection:

Why is it that often times we don’t recognize or feel God in our lives? It’s because we don’t listen to the advices of well meaning people who wants to introduce Jesus to us. It’s because of our  inadequate prayer life and so forth.

 For example there are times that we are advised to go to church for Holy Mass or we are counselled to discard bad friends. But we normally don’t listen; we continue to do things our way until we sin and completely drift away from God.

Both Elijah and John the Baptist one way or the other adviced the people of their time to leave behind their sinful lives. And embrace the teaching of Jesus, both of them prepared the way for Jesus. Both of them devoted their lives to help advance the teachings of God.

We too have this unique capacity to be like Elijah and John. In our own humble way we too can prepare the way of Jesus. We do this by humbly living and sharing His teachings this is always the challenge that confronts us as followers of Jesus Christ. – Marino J. Dasmarinas