Reflection for Saturday July 8, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:14-17

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

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. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Reflection:

What happens when we give our life to Jesus when we begin to fully trust HIM and leave behind our sinful past? We are introduced to a new life environment with Jesus where everything is new and spotless.

What is this new life with Jesus all about? This is a new life totally free from our dark past. Yes we all have our own share of dark past that nobody knows except us. We must never look back to this dark past otherwise we may be tempted to mire our lives with the enticement of the devil once again. And this is very dangerous for it could completely destroy us.

What will make us permanently free from the temptations of the evil one? We must always be connected with Jesus in every second of our lives for this is the only way that we could prevent the devil from destroying us. Just look around, evil temptations disguised as beautiful things are everywhere tempting us to bite it once again.

Never allow the devil to get hold of you anymore, remember that Jesus has saved you already. You are now the new wine that has already been poured into the fresh wineskin none other than Jesus Himself. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday July 7, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:9-13

Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

Why does Jesus calls us to follow Him? He calls us out of His great love for us. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be eaten alive by the many sins of this world. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to suffer in hell after our mortal life in this world is over and done with already.

We have in our gospel a character named Matthew a corrupt tax collector who was called by Jesus to follow Him. Even if Matthew is a sinner deep in his heart he knows Jesus. Matthew knows deep in his heart that in Jesus he would find healing, forgiveness and a new life. Matthew knows deep in His heart that in Jesus he has somebody who will not condemn him but would be very much willing to listen to his desire to repent and become His follower.

Therefore, when Jesus told Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9) he immediately left everything behind him and followed Jesus. When Matthew heard Jesus telling him to follow Him, Matthew heard the sweetest words that he could ever hear in his entire life. It made Matthew whole once again for he has been broken by sin throughout his adult life.

Perhaps Matthew burst into tears when he heard Jesus told him to come and follow Him. It was tears of unexplained happiness, tears of relief and freedom from the enslavement of the devil.

Do you also want to feel how Matthew felt during that very day that Jesus called him to come and follow Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday July 6, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, :Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"–he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Who brought the paralytic to Jesus?

Nobody knows because their names were not mentioned by Jesus in the gospel. Jesus knew that those who brought the paralytic to Him were very humble and not very concerned with the credit that they would receive. It was enough for them that they’ve helped this paralytic go to Jesus.

 After they were through with their mission to bring the paralytic to Jesus they simply blended with the multitude of people. Not concerned of their good deed and not concerned of the publicity that they may receive.

How many of us are like those who brought the paralytic to Jesus? They were very humble, very selfless not concerned of the credit and publicity that is rightly due them. 

In our world today where we can easily publicize via social media every good deed that we do.

The gospel is teaching us be silent when we do good for the simple reason that every acts of goodness that we do in secrecy and silence is appreciated more by God.

 Let us therefore help without any expectation of something in return. Let us help without trumpeting the good deeds that we do because God is more pleased by this. And certainly God rewards more those who help and those who do good in silence and secrecy. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday July 5, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:28-34

Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

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Reflection:

Are demons for real?

Demons are for real it’s just around us waiting to pounce upon us the moment they see that our faith in Jesus is weak. But it’s not anymore the typical frightening figure for it has also evolved with time. It disguises itself now in so many ways that we can hardly recognize it until it captures us and eventually destroy us.

It could disguise itself within us through our evil thoughts that comes to us every once in a while. For example the feeling of lusting after someone even if it’s immoral, we will not be able to recognize it until it’s too late already.

In the secular world that we’re in the devil uses a lot of worldly things to keep our attention away from God.  This is the reason why many of us become bigtime sinners for the simple reason that we’ve allowed the devil to capture us. 

But let us not be fearful because there’s somebody who can easily defeat these demons and it’s no other that Jesus. So we should always be connected to Jesus by means of having an active prayer life and we must always ask His help and guidance. For the simple reason that Jesus is simply a prayer away from us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Tuesday July 4, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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Reflection:

What is faith? Faith is the fuel that keeps us going in the midst of uncertainty. When the disciples were being tossed by a violent storm they suddenly were overcome by fear. They did not cling to their faith in Jesus considering that HE was also with them.  That’s why Jesus told them: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

Don’t we allow ourselves also to be paralyzed by our unfounded fears? For example, the fear of dying, the fear of sickness and so forth, we often times allow ourselves to be paralyzed by these uncertainties in our lives. However, what if we pray to Jesus and ask Him to help is befriend death, sickness and everything that we fear?

Then, fear will be erased from our mindset permanently, if we have faith in Jesus we need not fear anything that may come to us. Our faith in Jesus is more than enough to strengthen us and conquer all our worries in life.

Next time that we face storms in our lives let us be still, keep calm and firmly hold on to our faith in Jesus. Even if what is ahead of us is a little bit hazy let us have faith. Let us continue to believe that Jesus will never forsake those who believe.

Let us continue to have a laser like focus and faith in Jesus, let us not give space for fear in our hearts. For fear is an instrument of the devil to sway us away from the loving care of Jesus.

If you think you lack faith, humbly ask the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of faith. And strengthen it further by your active prayer life, by reading the Holy bible and by your presence at Holy Mass. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday July 3, Saint Thomas, Apostle: John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

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Reflection:

Do you need to see explicit evidence before you believe in Jesus?

Thomas did not believe that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples unless he see and experience it for himself. His wish was granted by Jesus when He appeared to them for the second time. During His second appearance Jesus invited Thomas to put his fingers into his side and to see His wounded hands. Having that experience Thomas finally believed.

Many of us are like Thomas, full of unbelief and doubts that Jesus will make a difference in our lives unless we see and experience His miracles. Jesus is challenging us to always walk by our faith and not by our sight. That’s why at the end of the gospel reading Jesus said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

Doubting Thomas is how we normally call the apostle Thomas who doubted unless he sees the risen Jesus in the flesh. But did he really doubt or Thomas simply wants to have a confirmation about the news that Jesus has risen?

There’s absolutely no wrong when we simply want to confirm what we believe. For the reason that when we want to confirm what we believe it simply means that we are thirsting for something that will further reinforce our faith. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday, July 2; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:37-42

Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42

Jesus said to his apostles: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

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Reflection:

A poor boy would always pass by a store in their neighborhood to ask for food that he could bring home to feed his sick father. He would always do this every day for the simple reason that the store owner was kindhearted.

After a few days had passed the store owner was wondering how come the boy was not passing by his store anymore. So he asked the people around the neighborhood about the boy and he was told that the boy’s family transferred to the city to stay with a relative.

After twenty years the store owner was now old and sick thus he already closed the store because no one would tend to it anymore. One day a young rich man was looking for the man who owned the store. So the young man was brought to the former store owner.

There he introduced himself to be the boy who would ask for food that he could bring to his sick father. The eyes of the sick man glowed and he asked: Why are you here? The rich man said: “I am here to give back your goodness.” He therefore brought the sick man to the hospital, paid for all of his hospital bills. When he was discharged he invited the old man to stay with him for good.

In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus talks about giving back to those who do good to his followers. What does this mean? This simply means that whatever good that we do to those who follow Jesus we will receive back a hundredfold.  

Of course we all know that Jesus doesn’t want us to limit our acts of goodness to His followers only. Jesus wants us to do good to anyone who is in need: To the poor loitering in the street, to the beggar asking for alms. To a relative who doesn't ask for help yet we know deep in our hearts that he/she is in need of our help and the like. We do good not because we want something in return someday. We do good for the simple reason that we simply want to obey Jesus.       

When was the last time you did good to somebody in need? – Marino J. Dasmarinas