Reflection for Wednesday February 8, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:

Do you attentively listen to Jesus?

When Jesus said, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” The disciples were asking Him about the meaning of His statement. As if they were saying, Come again Lord, we did not understand what you’ve said. And perhaps in exasperation Jesus said, “Are even you likewise without understanding?

In our walk with the Lord there would be times that we will not understand also the things that are happening in our lives. For example, we might ask the Lord, Why is this happening to me Lord? I don’t get your message; I don’t understand the reason of this event/s in my life.

Why is it that we don’t understand? Because we don’t listen carefully to Him or we may listen but our attention is focused on someone else. If only we would learn to carefully listen to the Lord and if only we would try to live to the fullest His teaching.

But how are you going to listen to the Lord? You have to consistently go to Holy Mass. You also have to consistently read your bible which more often than not is not being read. You also have to be humble for the reason that humility is the key for you to discern the voice of the Lord.    

Then you will know and you will understand that everything that happens in your life is for a good reason. You will discern that Jesus has a purpose why are you going through this and that trial. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday February 7, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are you fond of insisting on a rule which you do not follow?

Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites because they were insisting on following the tradition of washing the hands before eating. But Jesus knew them very well, He knew that they were only good at pushing people to follow their tradition and manmade laws. But the irony of it all is they themselves are not following the laws that they’ve crafted.

What made Jesus an extra ordinary leader? He led by example there was no hypocrisy in His value system, He practiced what He preached. Are we not like the Pharisees and scribes sometimes or even oftentimes?

We are good at telling people to do this and that, but we ourselves are not doing what we want others to do. For example in a family setting, many parents create rules and regulations for their children to follow. But they themselves do not subscribe to the rules that they’ve created.

Many of us are not being respected because we don’t stand for what we say. We say something today and then we violate with impunity what we’ve said. We must always be like Jesus who always put to living actions His words and teachings.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday February 6, Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

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Reflection:

Why do you pray to Jesus? Perhaps you pray to Him because you want to offer all your cares and worries to Him.

In our gospel, people went to Him upon learning that Jesus was within their environment. They brought along their sick and perhaps all of the problems that they’ve been keeping in their hearts. They wanted healing for their body and soul and Jesus did not disappoint them.

Whenever we go to Jesus and we ask Him for something let us always expect that He will grant us what we want from Him. Physical healing, emotional healing and any other healing that we want Him to grant us. if we believe that Jesus has already healed us then we are healed already! We have nothing to worry anymore; it’s all in our state of mind.

But how about those who pray to Jesus for physical healing but they are not healed. Yes there are countless instances that we pray yet we don’t receive physical healing. Physical healing  is only a minute part of the healing that we receive from Jesus.

What we have to always recognize and be thankful for is the emotional and spiritual healing that He generously gives us without fail whenever we go to Him.

If you’re not healed physically you need not worry! The faith that you have in your heart is more than enough for you to pull you through whatever worries and sickness that you may have.

Simply believe and have faith and let Jesus take control.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday February 5, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

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Reflection:

A hardworking single mother was able to bring up her children and sent them to college by herself.  The same single mother was the bond behind a closely knit siblings.

Every now and then she would also provide help for her poor siblings and being the eldest she would also patiently counsel them and whenever they need help she would always be there to provide without string attached on it. This extra-ordinary woman is the personification of what Jesus had said to His disciple: “You are the salt of the earth and light of the world.

What does salt gives? It gives flavor to food, it defines its taste, it also acts as preservative to prevent meat from decaying. That’s what the lady in the story did, she put flavor and defined the lives of her children and siblings.  Through her heroic effort she preserved them all from going astray. 

What did Jesus mean when He said to his disciples that they would be the light of the world?  Jesus simply means that they must illuminate the people that they would be serving. Their acts of goodwill must be done with utmost humility and they must serve without expecting anything.

Therefore the challenge for you is to become salt and light in the lives of the people around you. To your family, friends and to those who know you although you may not know them.

With the humility of Jesus deeply rooted in your life you now become Salt and Light for them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday February 4, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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Reflection:

Are you always busy with your worldly concerns?

Many are always very busy with earthly concerns that they don’t have time for God anymore. They don’t have time to be with Jesus at Holy Mass This is dangerous because what would happen if many are always busy with earthly concern and don’t have time for God anymore?

After working so hard in doing their mission the apostles returned and told Jesus about their accomplishments. Jesus recognized their effort and said to them: “Go to a quite place and rest a while and they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves (Mark 6:30-32). 

What did they do in that quite and secluded area? Perhaps they reflected about their mission, perhaps they reflected about their relationship with their master and teacher that is Jesus. Perhaps as close followers of Jesus they had an alignment of their mission and vision.  

In the frenetic pace of modern life the need to meditate and reflect on God’s role in our lives is not diminished. In fact, amidst the busyness of our lives we need to be reminded that there’s a God who is in-charge who always desire to introduce himself to us.

And one of the most effective methods of connecting with God is to find that precious time to rest our tired bodies in the bosom of our Lord. Even Jesus in His humanity always finds time to go to a quite place to rest and there He connects with God in prayer.

You therefore have to find time for God no matter how busy you are. For what good will it do you if you have all the riches in this world if you have no relationship with God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday February 3, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:14-29

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Reflection:

There’s always a price attached for speaking out against wrongdoing. For example in a family setting, if a wife notices that her husband is playing around with fire. Of course the wife has to call the attention or even confront her philandering husband.

But this kind of boldness sometimes comes with a heavy price. Either there will be conflict in their marriage or it may even lead to estrangement. But even if there’s a heavy price to pay we still must speak-out otherwise we are consenting to what is wrong and immoral.      

John the Baptist paid a very heavy price for speaking-out against adultery; he was beheaded for speaking the truth. Such is the irony sometimes of life. We speak the truth yet we still suffer for doing so. But how could we correct a wrongdoing if we would not denounce it?

True followers of Jesus are those who are not afraid to speakout regardless of what the consequence. And John the Baptist is one of the best if not the best model of how it is to become a true follower of Jesus.

How would you react if there shall come a time that you pass through this kind of predicament? Should you just keep quiet and consent with what is wrong or you correct it by voicing your opinion?- Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday February 2, Presentation of the Lord; Luke 2:22-40

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted Band you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

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Reflection:

What do you get when you worship God as a family?  It strengthens your family; it eternally imprints in the minds of your children the importance of God in their lives as they grow-up. Many families nowadays have their own bonding moments; they go on family vacation short trips mainly to bond, nothing is wrong with that for it will strengthen the unity of the family.

But we must not forget that the best bonding moment for the family is to worship God there at church for Holy Mass as a unit, as a family.  There shall be unbelievable blessing for your family if you worship God as a family, when your children grow-up they will also carry this holy tradition.

For they will also bring their own families before God to worship Him in His temple. And this beautiful tradition of family worshipping God will go on and on until your children’s children and it will go on further to your descendants.   

But of course like Mary whose heart was pierced with anguish as she saw the heart wrenching persecution and punishment of Jesus. There would also be moments of trials for your family it will be like your heart will be pierced also with pain.

However for so long as you bring your family to the church to worship God. You have nothing to worry about for when God is with your family nobody can break it not even the severest trial. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Wednesday February 1, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

What is the feeling of a person who will be going back to the place where he spent almost thirty years of his life? Of course it’s a mix feeling of excitement and anticipation. This must have been the feeling of Jesus while He was on His way to Nazareth—His native place.

Unfortunately He got a rude welcome from His town mates, He was mocked some even took offense at Him. Perhaps they were envious of Jesus sudden fame with the masses; perhaps they could not accept that Jesus had become an eloquent and charismatic speaker and a healer. Perhaps they have a crab mentality mindset already.

As a consequence of their unbelieving attitude Jesus did not make any spectacular healings there for He was amazed at their lack of faith. Lack of faith in God could cost us a lot; for example because our faith in God is lacking. We would now trust more on ourselves more than we trust God.

And when we encounter trials we would easily resort to doing other things   such as friendship that do no good to us. His townsfolk lack of faith invites us also to examine our own faith in Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday January 31, Saint John Bosco, Priest; Mark 5:21-43

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer? Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

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Reflection:

Sickness and death are words that we are afraid to hear much less experience. Who wants to get sick and who wants to die while in the pink of health? Nobody for we all want to enjoy life. Yet, Physical death brought about by our being human is a certainty in life nobody can get away from it. It will visit us one day; because physical death is part of the natural process of life.

There is another form of death that is more dangerous; this is called spiritual death. This is always being enticed to us by the devil. The evil one always invites us to commit sin and if we are not careful we may fall into his trap. This would result in our permanent separation from the love of God unless we are willing to humbly submit ourselves into the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession.

In the gospel a sick woman of great faith wished to touch even the tassel of Jesus clothes. For she believed that once she does it would cure her of her sickness. Therefore, while Jesus was passing her way she touched His clothes and immediately she was healed.

Jesus felt that power had gone out of Him so He asked the crowd: “Who touched my clothes?” hearing this; the woman fell down and told Him the whole truth. He said to the woman, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

In that situation there were a lot who were in contact with Jesus clothes and He never felt that power has gone out of Him. Why is it that when the sick woman touched Him he felt the loss of His power? The woman was in need of Jesus healing, she also had great faith and she knew that Jesus would heal her the moment she touch His clothes.

There will come a time that you too will be in need of Jesus healing. When that time comes never doubt just have faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday January 30, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 5:1-20

Gospel: Mark 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

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Reflection:

Do you fear the devil? If you have faith in Jesus you need not fear the devil! But human as we are many of us fear the devil, and what is the reason for this fear? It’s our feeble faith in Jesus.

In the gospel there is this man violently possessed by an evil spirit he is so powerful that no one could subdue him. Perhaps the possessed man is briefly in control of himself after which he is again taken control of the evil spirit.

In his brief moment of self-control he saw Jesus from a distance and he run to Him. To shortcut this long story the man was eventually freed by Jesus from evil possession.

There are many evils that possess us nowadays: the evil of greed, lust, pride, materialism and many more evils that take control of us. Do you want to be healed from these evils? Humbly  go to Jesus and ask Him to free you from these evils.

Oftentimes we underestimate the power of Jesus to make a big positive impact in our lives; this is normally caused by our lack of faith and our lack of fidelity to His teachings. This is the main reason why many are still possessed by the many evils of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday January 29, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 5:1-12a

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is the secret to have a full and meaningful life in this world? Is it to accumulate wealth and power? Is it to have a beautiful face and body? None of these actually. The secret is to be blessed by God or to have the blessing of God.

But how are we going to attract the blessing of God? It’s by living a simple and humble life. A person who is preoccupied with chasing the offerings of this world and a person who is so full of himself will never be blessed and will never find true happiness which only God can give.

By possessing wealth and power the worldly person will be deluded to believe that he/she is already blessed. But in the long run he/she will eventually realize how much emptiness wealth and power has brought into his/her life.

Who is the ultimate giver of real blessing and happiness? It’s Jesus, He who always leads us to know God deeply. He who always lead us to have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. And He who initially opens the doorway of faith for us.

The eight beatitudes that Jesus gave to His disciples and to us also is a contradiction to those who are so enamored by this world.  But truth be told beneath the eight beatitudes lies true blessedness and happiness.

This we could easily discover and feel if we are humble and simple for the reason that God always shower His infinite blessings to those who are simple and humble. – Marino J. Dasmarinas