Reflection for March 5, First Sunday of Lent; Matthew 4:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

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Reflection:

Do you fight temptation when it comes to you or you allow it to conquer you?

Thinking that he would be able to temp Jesus the devil said: "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." Jesus rebuked the devil and said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Jesus was in control even if he was hungry. Relating this with the many temptations that comes to us, how easily do we loss control of our minds and values when we are tempted by  the devil? We have to remember that we begin to commit sin the moment we allow the devil to temp us.  

On the second temptation: how often do we dare God to do this and that for us so that we would believe in Him. We should not dare test God, we simply have to believe even without seeing what we believe for it is an  indication of steadfast faith.  

The third temptation is towards material things like money and material possessions. Isn’t that sometimes we worship money? Money per se doesn't make us sin; it’s our greed for money that transforms us to become sinful.

During this lent we will surely be encountering many temptations from the devil. We simply have to refuse every temptation that the devil dangles before us no matter how attractive. Otherwise we allow the devil to control us and that is very dangerous. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for March 4, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

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Reflection:

What made Jesus call Levi to follow Him and what made Levi leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Of course the main reason was Levi is a sinner and he was tired of living a life of sin. Therefore when Levi was called by Jesus he throw caution to the wind to follow Jesus. For he knew that at long last there is someone who’s not judging him. And someone who’s willing to give him a second chance to live life away from sin.

In this gospel episode Jesus gives us valuable lesson on how we can call others to conversion. First is let us not be judgmental with those whom we perceive as sinners. Who are we to judge when we are sinners also? Second is let us always give others a second chance no matter how sinful they are.

There are many who are itching to live their lives away from sin but no one is willing to give them a second chance. It seems to them that almost everyone is condemning them. If only we know that they are already sick and tired of living in sin. If only we know that they are just waiting for us to call them to a life of renewal.

During this season of lent let us make it our vow not to be judgmental. Let us make it our vow to give those whom we perceive as sinners a second chance. There are sinners because there are people who are judgmental and people who are not willing to give them a second chance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for March 3, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

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.”

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Reflection:

Have you tried abstaining from eating food?

The question about fasting is most relevant to all of us during this season of Lent. Because it’s here where the church actively reminds us about it.  And the gospel for today is a reiteration of this reminder.

It may seem that Jesus is defending His disciples for not fasting. But in hindsight, they were actually fasting; not the literal fasting per see to appease the discriminating eyes of John's disciples.  The disciples of Jesus were fasting from self-righteousness, from doing wrong, from judging others as good for nothing.

This is the deeper form of fasting that Jesus wants from us all and this should not be done only during the season of Lent. Are you capable from permanently fasting from your bloated ego, from doing wrong and from unjustly judging others?

These are the deeper form of fasting that Jesus appreciates for what good it is if we fast from food when we don’t change our undesirable attitudes? Say for example we fast yet we continue to be arrogant, to be judgmental, to be unforgiving, to be uncaring and so forth. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 2, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid of suffering?

Suffering is part and parcel of our Christian life; in fact we will not be able to reach the fullness of our Christian life without suffering.  For the reason that it is in our suffering that we intensely feel the presence of God. It is through these periods of sufferings that God becomes more real to us.

Try observing your behavior when you don’t have sufferings God seems distant for we rarely remember Him in our days of prosperity. But notice also that when we are having some difficult moments it seems that God is within our reach. We call on Him we cry and unburden to Him.

In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples about the suffering that He has to go through. Why? This is for the reason that this was Jesus’ destiny. From the beginning Jesus knew that He would be going through intense suffering. So why did He not exempted Himself from it when He actually could?

Because Jesus is faithful to the mission that was given to Him by God, thus Jesus endured suffering for His love of God.  Therefore, the true measure of our love for God is when we are ready to suffer for Him. When we are ready to sacrifice our everything for Him. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday March 1, Ash Wednesday: Fasting and Abstinence; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

Do you have the habit of showing off the good acts that you do? For example you went to church for Holy Mass or you helped somebody in need. Do you take pictures of these acts of piety and post it in your social media account for others to take notice?

The three core teachings of the gospel this Ash Wednesday is about Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting. Unlike our many facebook posts (pictures, comments, likes, etc…) wherein we show off so that our friends and many others will know who we are and what we are doing. We are being invited by Jesus to permanently veer away from this selfish and ego tripping mentality.

On the aspect of Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting, Jesus is inviting us to do these noble acts without letting everyone know about it. Let us do these acts piety privately and ensure that nobody will know about it.

For if we do these hidden from the prying eyes of our friends and the public at large. We would then earn approval from Jesus. This is what Jesus would always want us to do for as long as we live: Do our noble acts hidden from anyone’s eye.

In the same breath, lent is also an invitation for us to reflect about our life, concerning our relationship with Jesus and the many sins that we have committed. For example concerning our sins; would we just let this sins remain or we will do something about it by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession?

Our many sins pull us further away from God and if we are not careful we may live our life permanently away from the love of God. Do you want a life permanently cut off from the love of God?  Of course not! Nobody wants to live his/her own life away from the love of God.

Therefore, let us take a deeper spiritual reflection about our life this Ash Wednesday in particular and during lent in general. Let us take a closer look at our sinfulness, let us take note of the shortness and uncertainty of life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Tuesday February 28, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:28-31

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

What are you capable of giving up for Jesus? Could you give up your riches? Could you give up your life of hedonism and worldliness? Perhaps this is quite hard to do if you do this abruptly.

But if you try to slowly detach yourself from your life of worldliness and you begin to trust and love Jesus more than this world. You’ll also see a marked improvement in your life, slowly also there would be less human created worries, stress and problems.

This is for the reason that you’ve decided to embrace Jesus more than this world. Jesus tells us in the gospel that if we give up this world and choose to follow Him. We would receive more than this world could offer.

Try it even for only a short time and see the big improvement that it will create in your life. Slowly cut and cut cleanly your relationship with your friends who have not brought any good into your life. Then begin to develop deeper relationship with your family. 

Slowly detach yourself from your vices and anything that is impure. After doing so develop a real relationship with Jesus: Attend Holy Mass more often, pray more often and start to develop a habit of reading your Bible.

Never be afraid to give-up this world for Jesus for this is the best decision that you could ever make in your life. Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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1Reflection for Monday February 27, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:17-27

Gospel: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 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.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

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Reflection:

Do you cling to your wealth as if your life hangs upon it?

The man who asked Jesus as to what must he do to have eternal life was at the threshold of eternal life. But when Jesus asked him to part ways with his wealth and give it to the poor. His face fell, after which he walked away from Jesus for he couldn’t obey the request of Jesus.

Many of us are like this man, very possessive and in love with wealth that we are not willing to give it away. But what we don’t know is it is when we give away our wealth that we will receive more wealth. Perhaps Jesus was just testing this man if he could still accept more wealth. But the man failed the prosperity test of Jesus.

If we want to attract wealth we must always be willing to give because it’s only in giving that we would receive more blessings. Never in not giving that we would receive more wealth. Let us look around and see who are those who are prosperous they are the people who are generous. Let us therefore pray to have the grace to become more generous so that we could bless others.

What if you continue to cling to your wealth and refuse to become generous?  You therefore shut the door of blessings from God and you distance yourself from His kingdom. But all is not lost yet, you still have the time to turn things around and hear the call of Jesus for you to become generous. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday February 26, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 6:24-34

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

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Reflection:

An intelligent lady was hell-bent in her goal of becoming a rich businesswoman. So she engaged in business and she was very successful with it. However, she also noticed that there was no happiness and fulfillment with what she was doing notwithstanding the amount of money that she was earning. She asked herself, why am I not happy even though I am already very successful materially and financially?    

Material and financial wealth will never make us happy no matter how enormous. In fact the more that we become wealthy the more that there would be disturbance and pressure or even emptiness in our lives.

Material wealth will always come to pass us by. It may stay with us for a certain period of time but eventually it will leave us or we will leave it. There’s no security in material wealth; sad to say a lot of us finds security with it.

So what is the best choice? The wisdom filled choice is always God; to be with God and to walk with God. Thus, we will finally find that elusive contentment and happiness that which material wealth can never give us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

1Reflection for Saturday February 25, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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Reflection:

Have you already taught your children about Jesus?

Jesus rebuked the disciples who prevented the children from going to Him. He said to them: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Why? This is for the reason that children are still not tainted by  sin and they are innocent and harmless. 

The words of Jesus is timeless, it is always in season. So when He said, let the children come to me it is also for the modern parents today. He tells us today, bring your children to me; teach them about me and introduce them to me before they become creatures of this world.

Many modern parents today don’t care to introduce their children to Jesus. Yet they care to introduce even teach them how to play with modern gadgets. Such as cell phones and tablets which do  no good to their eyesight.

The mistake of many parents nowadays is this; they forget to introduce their children to Jesus. For the reason that they were not brought-up that way thus they perpetuate this mistake. Let us correct this error by teaching and bringing our children to Jesus.  

If you do this you’re assuring them of a safe and bright future ahead of them. Have you educated your children about Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Friday February 24, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time; Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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Reflection:

How is your married life?

Many marriages are successful, it last a lifetime. IF we would ask the couples about the secret of their successful marriage they would normally tell us that God is at the center of their marriage lives. When God is present in the lives of couples the chance of betrayal is nil. There is also the equal presence of Humility, Forgiveness, Patience and Love between husband and wife.

From the very start the plan of God for married couples is to stay forever together. But the sad reality is many couples are separated and separating and many couples are betraying their vows of marriage.

 Why is this happening? This is brought about by our weak faith in God. We have no fear of God anymore that is why we easily betray our sacred vows of marriage. We are not even anymore afraid of the negative consequence of separation to our children.

We may not know this but we are actually hurting ourselves and those we love whenever we betray the sacred vows of marriage. We give ourselves and those we love undeserved stress and problems. We also disturb the innocent minds of our children, try asking a child if he wants his parents to separate he surely would say no!

Whenever we are tempted to betray our vows of marriage carefully think of the many aftershocks that it will create in our lives. And the in the lives of those that we love most especially the children. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas