Reflection for Wednesday August 16, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 18:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

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Reflection:

Mr. A and Mrs. B have been married for almost fifteen years. Like other marriages they also have their own share of tribulations. Ninety-five percent of it emanates from their high sense of self or pride. Whenever they quarrel it normally takes them almost a month before they reconcile all because of ego.

In the gospel reading it says: “If your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” This is not easy to do, if someone sins against us would we still be willing to go to the individual at fault just to tell him about it?

It’s quite hard to do, unless we have the virtue of Humility. The normal scenario here would be like this: You sinned against me, you therefore have to apologize to me and not me going to you to tell you that you sinned against me.

It takes great amount of humility to say: I’m sorry or to apologize. However, this is what we are called for as followers of Jesus for the simple reason that Jesus Himself is the model of humility.

You may not know it but truth be told, if you’re humble you earn the respect and admiration of everyone. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for Tuesday August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 1:39-56

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

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Reflection:

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We honor the bodily assumption of the Blessed Mother into Heaven. This dogma was infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1 1950.

The gospel for today tells us that the blessed Mother stayed with her cousin Elizabeth for three months.  Why three months? Why not one month or two months instead? Three months because the Blessed Mother ensured first that she would be with her cousin Elizabeth until she gives birth to her son John. This is the reason why the Blessed Mother was with her cousin for three months.

Considering that she was also pregnant during that time Mary could have decided to just stay with her for a month. Then use the remaining two months so that she could also prepare for the birth of her son Jesus. But she chose to be with Elizabeth until she gave birth. This is how compassionate, loving and selfless with her time is the blessed Mother.

We live now in a world driven by time, for the majority of us time is gold and surely we want to use majority of our time to earn a living or money!  But the Blessed Mother is telling us to use our time not only to earn a living. We also have to use our time or even waste our time to touch lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Monday August 14, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr: Matthew 17:22-27

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

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Reflection:

To pay or not to pay the temple tax? Of course Jesus did right when He decided to pay. What if Jesus decided not to pay the temple tax? He would have been a bad example to His followers and He would have given His opponents a window of opportunity to persecute Him earlier than expected.

 For Jesus to do right is always His top priority to do wrong is never in His mind it’s always to do whatever is good and right. And we must always do good and do right also all the time.

Although we are not required to give a certain percentage of our income to the church. In hindsight this gospel invites us also to examine our generosity toward our church, how generous are we in giving to our church? For example, during Holy Mass, how generous are we during offertory? Do we give an amount that hurts our pockets or we give out from our spare or crumbs?

We must give generously for whatever we give generously to the church the Good Lord will give  back to us a hundredfold. We can never outgive God for the more that we give Him the more that we would receive from Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for Sunday, August 13; Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Matthew 14:22-33

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

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Reflection:

Every Sunday morning seven years ago I would go to the house of an eighty-four years old former Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Holy Communion to give him the Body of Christ. Being sick and old he could hardly move and barely speak. However, I always notice that the moment I arrive he would encourage everyone in their house to be silent. 

Then on a small table the candle is immediately lighted after which I place my corporal and put my pyx, open it to expose the Body of Christ. While seated he would bow in reverence and quietly worship Jesus in silence as I say the prayers after which I give him the Body of Christ.

It’s always a moving experience for me as I quietly observe him how he worships Jesus with faith in silence. How he quietly desires to reverently receive the Body of Christ in silence and how Jesus creates peace and calmness in his life.

In our first reading the Lord God said to Elijah go outside the mountain for God will be passing by. There was a strong wind but God was not there. Then followed an earthquake but God was still not there subsequently fire came but God was not in the fire.  After these thundering false manifestations then came a tiny whispering sound of silence and it was God; He spoke to Elijah.

In our gospel, the boat where the disciples were being battered by the waves. Then amidst the disturbance came Jesus silently walking on the violent water. To assure them that in their fearful and unstable present environment. He is there to calm them and to assure them that everything would be all right for He is there to save them all.

We are oftentimes being tossed upside down by our worries and problems that generate fear and disturbance in our hearts.   We are being tossed by fear of losing our job, we are being disturbed by fear of sickness and death. We are being tossed by fear of getting old and there are countless more fears that may come our way.

But in the middle of all these fears and disturbances in our lives Jesus silently comes into our hearts. To assure and calm us that everything will be alright, to say to us that we need not fear. And to say to us to remain strong in your faith, for I am here to save you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Saturday August 12, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 17:14-20

Gospel: Matthew 17:14-20

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

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Reflection:

Jesus tells you today: “Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).” In the midst of your many doubts Jesus is whispering to you that nothing is impossible for you for the simple reason that all things are possible for those who have faith in Him.

Faith is something that we should all strive very hard to have, can we all have faith? Isn’t faith only for the select few? Jesus already gave us faith when we were Baptized and He hoped that as we grow the faith that He gave us would grow as well.

But it did not happen to many of us because as we grow our faith was left out even forgotten. Who is to blame for this faith that was left out? But all is not lost yet because we still have the chance to call out this faith that has been left out.

All we need to do is to ask Jesus to give us once again the gift of faith that He so generously showered upon us when we were baptized. Lest we forget, faith is important in a person’s journey in this world. Without it we are simply like zombies roaming around without direction and purpose.

Prayer:

Oh Dear Jesus we humbly pray that you make alive our dormant faith. For without it we are like headless chickens running around without any direction. Give us faith so that we’ll have hope, give us faith so that we’ll have purpose and give us faith so that we would withstand whatever problems that we may encounter in this world. Amen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday August 11, Saint Clare, Virgin: Matthew 16:24-28

Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

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Reflection:

What is a meaningful and well lived life? It’s a life lived for the greater glory of God not life lived for our own earthly glory. Many of us commit the mistake of living our life for the sake of this world only.

For example, we chase everything that this world offers us but when we have it already we still wonder why we are still not happy. Or worst is we end up empty and alone even if we have everything that this world could offer us! Why is this so? This is for the reason that we desired this world, what is in this world that many of us are so enslave by it?

All that we have in this world are temporary, even us who presently dwell in this world are also temporary passersby in this world. God created us not for this world but for His eternal home in heaven. Yet many of us still don’t get this that’s why we amass wealth beyond our simple needs. Many of us would even sell our very selves to the Devil so that we can have massive wealth!  

In our gospel for today Jesus clearly states that we can only discover the true meaning of life once we live our life for Him. We can never find the true meaning of our lives if we live it inside the wealth, power and glamour of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday August 10, Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr: John 12:24-26

Gospel: John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me."

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Reflection:

Do you love your life in this world?

Jesus gives us today a puzzling statement by saying: “Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life (John 12:25).” How could this be?

The answer perhaps to this mystifying statement is we will have no life beyond this world: If we would love worldly life if we would love the frills of this world such as wealth, power and other worldly things.

We hate our life in this world yet preserve it for eternal life if we have Christ like behaviors such as: Humility, Selflessness, Prayerfulness, Kind heartedness and many more Christ like virtues.

Therefore, we are given two choices: To love our life in this world or hate it. Surely there would be those who would choose to love their life in this world but for what price? The problem of loving our present life for the sake of this world is we slowly close our hearts to Jesus. Yet we open it wide for the devil.

Discover the true meaning of life by being a true follower of Christ and by loving Him, discover the true meaning of life by denying yourself of the many useless excesses of this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday August 9, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 15:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

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Reflection:

How strong is your faith in the Good Lord?

Our faith is always measured by our persistence. No matter how impossible our petition before God if we will persist and never give up God shall grant us what we wish for.

This was proven by the Canaanite woman who never gave up on Jesus to heal her daughter (Tormented by a demon). She persisted no matter the rejection by Jesus until He saw her great faith. If the woman easily gave up her daughter would have not been healed by Jesus but she persisted with faith, then Jesus granted the wish of her heart.

We too have our own request before God; we may have been praying before Jesus for something and He may seem deaf to our pleadings. Let us not give up for He will grant us what we want in His own perfect time. Let us work silently, let us be patient and let us continue to pray for His guidance.  

Work for what you want to have in your life, never give up, continue to pray and ask God to grant your prayers. He shall surely smile at you someday so long as you never quit. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Tuesday August 8, Saint Dominic, Priest: Matthew 14:22-36

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick 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:

Do you have a diminishing faith?

The gospel for today introduces us to a disciple who has diminishing faith. That disciple is Peter; he wanted to go to Jesus and walk on water as well. He was actually able to do it but after a few moments he started to sink because he lacked faith. What prompted Peter to doubt? It was the big waves that were coming onto him.

On the latter part of the gospel we also see the huge faith of the people of Gennesaret. After hearing of the information that Jesus is in their town they brought all of their sick to HIM. Jesus never failed them; all of their sick were cured.

If we would reflect deeply on the gospel today; we may see ourselves in the person of Peter whose faith is diminishing. We may also see ourselves as one of the nameless people of Gennesaret who never wavered on their faith in Jesus. We need to have faith in the midst of the many problems that threatens us everyday otherwise we may end up like Peter who was nearly swallowed by the sea.  

If your faith is diminishing humbly ask the Good Lord to increase your faith for He doesn’t fail anyone who humbly ask for His help. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday August 7, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:13-21

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." He said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here." Then he said, "Bring them here to me," and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over– twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

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Reflection:

Once in a while we need to withdraw from the madding crowd to be by ourselves only and God. We need these regular quite moments with God for us to discern His presence in our lives.

Upon learning of the beheading of His relative John the Baptist Jesus went to a deserted place by himself for personal reflections. He was sad over the death of His relative and He wanted to be re-harged and be strengthened by God.

We also need these brief interludes of peace and quite in which there’s nobody else except us and God.  And it’s on these quite moments that we will strongly feel the presence of the Lord in our lives. Who invite us all who are thirsty and weary to go to Him for He will strengthen us. 

Let us not get hooked on the deafening environment of this noisy world wherein money, possessions and power rules and even worshipped by many as God. Let us dig deeper into our spiritual lives and let us discover that beneath our mortal life is the Lord God who wishes to spiritually strengthen us with His infinite love.

After His solitary recollection Jesus was again ready to continue His mission His first act is to cure the sick who were following Him.

The disciples wanted to get rid of them that’s why they said to Jesus: “Dismiss the crowd for it’s getting late already (Matthew 14:15). However, Jesus told them: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves (Matthew 14:16).” Then the miracle of the loaves and fish happened; there were only five loaves and two fish but Jesus was able to feed more than five thousand and there were plenty to spare. 

How did this miracle happen? It happened because of the generosity and love of Jesus if we are stingy with what we have, if we don’t want to give even if we have plenty.  Jesus is not like many of us.

Jesus is forever generous and loving to us that is why out of His generosity and love He instituted the Eucharist or the Holy Mass and up to this very day He continuous to feed us with His Body and Blood when we receive Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Let us learn from the generosity and love of Jesus, let us forever give, let us all remember that it is in our generosity and love that we will receive. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday, August 6; Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; Matthew 17:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

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Reflection:

Do you want to be in heaven when your journey in this world is over? Of course you want to be in heaven only a fool would say that he doesn’t want to be in heaven.  Would you be willing to sacrifice something of yourself for you to go to heaven? Let us say, even a little bit of your comfortable life.

The episode of the Transfiguration of the Good Lord clearly tell us that there is heaven. And we should aspire to be heaven bound and not hell bound someday. However, there is no free ride going to heaven you have to sweat it out for you to go to heaven.

Many of us may be afraid to sweat it out for the simple reason that sweating it out would require for us to sacrifice something of ourselves. But what is sacrifice in exchange of heaven, what is sacrifice in exchange of everlasting life and what is sacrifice when you’ll be in the kingdom of God?

After the fleeting heavenly experience of Peter, James and John they descended back to this world. To face their respective share of sacrifice for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They could have easily avoided the sacrifice by detaching themselves from their Lord and Master. But they chose to stick it out with Jesus in spite of all the hardships and trials.

What sacrifice/s for the advancement of the Kingdom of God are you willing to face head on so that you could also be in heaven someday? – Marino J. Dasmarinas