1Reflection for Sunday, June 25; Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:26-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. 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 man had trepidation if he would share his reflections about the words of God using the internet. The reason which he was apprehensive of was his personal intellectual inadequacy and his very shallow vocabulary of the English language.

Amidst his limitations and apprehensions he proceeded to write his simple reflections. Almost ten years had passed the man who was fearful of his intellectual shortcomings is still writing his simple reflection on the daily gospel until this present moment.  

In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus tells us to fear no one, this is an encompassing advice from Jesus which surely include our fear if we can speak or write for Jesus. If we let fear into our hearts it would surely paralyze us. However why fear if we have faith and belief in Jesus. Why fear when Jesus Himself is telling us to share anything that we know about Him, share it with humility.

The apostles did not let fear defeat them for they knew that even if there was no physical manifestation of Jesus’ presence. There was always the presence of His spiritual and sacramental manifestation before them.

Jesus calls us all as well, we who are inadequate for He will make us adequate. We who are half empty for He will fill us until we overflow. And we who are feareful for He will make us courageous.

What He only wants from us is to learn to trust Him for he will equip us with anything that we need. – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for Saturday June 24, The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit,  and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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Reflection:

What’s in a name? It seems that the name of the child of Elizabeth and Zechariah has a big bearing on their future. Was the issue confined in the name only of the child or there was something bigger than the name? The relatives wanted to name the child after his father Zechariah but it was not what the Lord wanted them to name the child.

The Lord wanted to name the child John that’s why Elizabeth and Zechariah insisted that the child be named John and when they named him John. Zechariah was freed from his speech disability his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. This took place for the reason that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were faithful to what God wanted them to do.

Faithfulness to God as evidenced with what happened to Zechariah gives us unfathomable blessings. It opens our lives to the abundant graces from God, it makes us whole and it heals us.

What does God ask from us? It’s for us to be faithful to HIS will for us. And what is HIS will for us? It’s for us to live our lives pleasing to HIS eyes alone. The moment we contradict God and we try to live our lives for this temporal world we can expect chaos and complications to follow. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday June 23, The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Matthew 11:25-30

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Reflections:

Do you have a devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, through his Sacred Heart Jesus is telling us this: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Even if they were equal in stature Jesus always prayed to God the Father, Jesus always humbles Himself before God. A good question to ask ourselves: Do we always find time to pray to God to praise Him and thank Him? Do we always humble ourselves before God?

Sometimes there’s a tendency for us to forget God and be proud of our worldly achievements. For the reason that we have the education and money, we forget God and allow ourselves to be swept away from God.  

Our earthly achievements and possessions may create a sense of security for us. However this is a big lie, no matter how learned we are, no matter how rich we are it will not guaranty our security and happiness in this world. For the simple reason that true happiness and security is only with Jesus.

On the latter part of the gospel Jesus invites us to come to Him for He will give us rest. Humbly come to Him by way of perpetually attending Holy Mass, humbly come to Him through the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation, and humbly come to Him through the Sacrament of Communion.

The moment we sincerely accept Jesus’ invitation, we would truly find rest in Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday June 22, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:7-15

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.   

“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

What is the secret toward intimacy with God? Its prayers that come from the depths of our beings. This is the foundation of our intimacy with God. From the fountain of our prayerful life will emanate the God given desire to know more about God. Do you always pray with your heart and mind on it? Or you only pray when you feel that you need to pray or when you have the time to pray?

The most effective method of prayer is to pray without any excess baggage in your heart. What does this mean? You pray without carrying any hatred in your heart. For example if someone has done you wrong and this person is asking for your forgiveness. What would you do? Will you forgive or not forgive? Of course you have to forgive. For how could God forgive you when you yourself is not willing to forgive? We have to live forgiveness if we want God to hear and forgive us.

We are mere passers by in this world, sooner or later the curtains of our life in this world will come to a close. How can we go to heaven if we carry the weight of unforgiveness in our hearts? And how can we go to heaven if we carry the weight of hatred in our hearts?

When Jesus was dying on the cross He said a short yet very meaningful prayer to God. While gasping for breath Jesus prayed this: Father forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). If Jesus can forgive why can’t we forgive?       

Do you have hatred or any form of unforgiveness in your heart right now? Let go of it and if you still cannot let go humbly pray to Jesus and ask Him to heal you.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday June 21, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious: 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 others 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:

What does Jesus teach us today? It’s about humility and modesty, keep your every acts of piety in secret and don’t trumpet it to the whole wide world including the world of social meadia for HE knows everything. But the world that we are in now is influencing us to discard this teaching of Jesus and embrace publicity and advertising.

Just look at the many vehicles of publicity in the internet such as facebook, instagram, twitter and the like. What are they dictating to us? It dictates us to publicize almost everything that we do, including our acts of piety.

Nothing’s wrong to embrace these social media flatforms if we use it to advance our advocacies with humility. Yet it becomes wrong when we use it to proudly show to the whole wide world the good that we do . Perhaps Jesus is telling us not to worry if nobody would notice our acts of kindness and piety for HE knows it already.

What is important is we do everything for Jesus and for the greater good of HIS people. It doesn’t matter anymore if we would be noticed or not if people would compliment us or not. What is important is we know that we have a God who knows everything including our unpublicized acts of humility and piety. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday June 20, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48                             

43 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Reflection:

A wife was betrayed by her husband for a younger woman. After years of separation the wife learned that her husband was now sick. So, because of her unconditional love for her husband she went to him and without asking any question she brought her husband to the hospital to heal.

Jesus in our gospel today gives us teaching about unconditional love. A love that pervades everyone. Including those who have hurt us or continue to hurt us, this is very hard to do but this is who Jesus is. He gives us teachings that are seemingly hard to follow based on our human standards. However if we are really devoted to Him we will obey and follow.

What would happen to us if we follow the teachings of Jesus? For example His teaching in today’s gospel about loving and praying for our enemies and persecutors. We free ourselves from undeserved hatred which does not bring us any good anyway.

Let us observe ourselves when we carry hatred in our hearts. We feel that we may explode anytime and this is very bad for our health most especially to our blood pressure. Observe also when we don’t carry any hatred in our hearts, we feel light and we invite the blessings of Jesus to come to us.

Will you follow this teaching of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday June 19, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:38-42

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

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Reflection:

What will we gain if we exact revenge to those who’ve aggrieved and injured us? Nothing except further enmity and injury then at the end there will be no winners only losers.

Take for example conflicts in married life, if a wife would revenge for the injury that was caused her by her husband say for example infidelity. The marriage covenant will fall-apart and both parties including their children will end-up as losers.

With this new command to His disciples Jesus supersedes the law of retaliation and Judgment written in the Old Testament (Leviticus and Deuteronomy).

Jesus gives us valuable lessons on humility that can help us build bridges instead of walls. This command of Jesus will also help us avoid conflicts and misunderstanding.   Can we live these teachings of Jesus? If we abhor hostility, if we are humble and if we truly love Jesus we would be able to live these teachings.

Mohandas Gandhi an Indian icon of non-violent political resistance had said: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” This simply means that nobody wins with revenge, in the arena of life the more that we itch for revenge the more that we destroy ourselves.

Instead of exacting revenge why not put on the armor of Humility, why nor learn to pray for those who’ve stepped on our dignity. This is very hard to follow but we must follow because this is what Jesus is teaching us.

If we would always retaliate to any injury done to us we would end up destroying ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Sunday, June 18; Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; John 6:51-58

Gospel: John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.

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Reflection:

Saint Catherine of Siena was a third order Dominican; during the later part of her life she found no nourishment with earthly food. Instead she received Jesus through Holy Communion on a daily basis.

St. Catherine of Genoa was a daily communicant also, it was said that during seasons of Advent and Lent she lived without food.  She was nourished by receiving Jesus daily through Holy Communion.

During the thirteenth century in Italy there was a priest who almost lost his faith in the reality of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist. Right before the “Lamb of God,” wherein the priest breaks the host to put a little part of it into the chalice, the host in his hands began to bled profusely It bled over his hands on the corporal and on the altar cloths.

There are many more written and unwritten Eucharistic Miracles that happened and will still happen in the future. How about us have we personally experienced any form of miraculous Eucharistic occurrence? Perhaps we have not experienced it yet or we’re not just aware that Jesus through His Body and Blood is actually changing us to become the person that He wants us to be.

Is it possible that something miraculous would happen to us if we faithfully receive Jesus at Mass?

If we would faithfully and piously receive Jesus in every Holy Mass it is not impossible that He will transform us the way He wants us to become. Take for example a man who is a chain smoker and alcoholic; what will happen to him if he will not stop smoking and drinking?

 He will surely get sick with deadly cigarette and alcohol related ailments. On the other hand take also for example a health conscious man who always exercises and who only eats fish and vegetables. Of course he will look good and healthy because that is his regular regimen.

The same is true if we would faithfully attend Mass and receive Jesus regularly during Holy Communion. There would also be a transformation within us we may not notice it but others will become aware of it. This is the miracle that often times we are not aware of.

The Body (and Blood) of Jesus that you receive during Holy Communion creates a big difference in your life because Jesus comes into you. You become one with Jesus during Holy Communion and if you would allow it.

The same Jesus will transform you to become the person that He wants you to be. For example if you are sometimes arrogant you will not anymore become arrogant instead you will become more humble. And this change of behavior is made possible courtesy of Jesus whom you always receive with awe and reverence during Holy Communion.    

Do you always receive Jesus with awe and reverence during Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday June 17, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:33-37

Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One."

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Reflection:

What is the secret to a successful marriage? Simple and that is not to break the vows of marriage that goes: I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." This is basically one of the secret to a successful marriage.

Nowadays the vows of marriage are violated with impunity this is the reason why many marriages is being torn apart. But we have nothing to blame except ourselves for many of us don’t value it anymore.

In our gospel for this Saturday Jesus tells us to make good to the Lord all that we have vowed and this surely include our marriage vows. Which we stated before the Lord in the person of the priest who acts on behalf of Jesus.

Jesus also tells us not to swear or promise. Why? For the simple reason that swears and promises are made to be broken. Instead of swearing or promising let us simply do what we have to do in doing so we gain the respect and admiration of our fellowmen. In hindsight isn’t true that our actions speak louder than our words?

In married life or in any instance of life actions of love are always more powerful than words of love.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday June 16, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

(Jesus said to his disciples) 27 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body  be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole  body go into hell.  31 "It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'  But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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Reflection:

Why is there adultery? This is for the reason that we don’t value the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage anymore. We treat marriage as a contract that we can violate anytime we want to violate it.  Why do many of us are not afraid to violate our marriage covenant? This is for the reason that we don’t love God anymore.

The root cause of adultery is our lack of proper instillation of the values of God. And who is the culprit about our lack of values about God?  No other than our parents! Many of today’s parents pamper their children about the material things of this world. Such as money, material possessions and so forth, yet when it comes to the values about God they seldom care to teach them. Parents such as these rear children that are not anymore afraid of God and children that have no values about God yet they know God. 

What must we do therefore? We must teach our children about the values of God and as parents we must also see to it that we are committed until the end to our marriage. Parents are the best role models for their children. If they observe their parent committed to their married life. They too would grow up to become committed to their own marriage.

In our gospel for today we see how Jesus abhors adultery. For the simple reason that the mission and reason of marriage for both husband and wife is loyalty until the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday June 15, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:20-26

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

A man who was full of anger in his heart suddenly died. When he was about to enter the pearly gates saint Peter suddenly appeared and refused him entry.  When the man asked, why? Saint Peter told Him that when he was still alive his heart was full of anger and arrogance.

Death is uncertain it may come to us anytime.  What if we suddenly die with our hearts full of anger and arrogance?  Many had been brought to perdition by anger and arrogance yet many of us still don’t learn our lesson. Anger and arrogance are emotional disease that originates from our egos, high sense of ourselves and our lack of humility.   

In our gospel we find Jesus giving us lessons on humility. He tells us: if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him (Matthew 5:23-25).

It’s not easy to imbibe humility but if we only know that humility makes us closer to Jesus. If we only know that humility would save us a lot of trouble even grievous ones. We would not think twice to imbibe humility we may even run after it and embrace it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas