Reflection for February 12, Monday of the Sixth Week; Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation. Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

A man would always be bothered whenever he watches on the internet news about earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities. He would always tell himself. “Is this a sign that the end of this world is near?” Then he would calm down by saying, “I trust the Lord Jesus Christ therefore I am not disturbed nor bothered.

Why is it that many of us are easily bothered whenever we see natural calamities? This is for the simple reason that we lack faith otherwise if we don’t lack faith we would not be easily bothered. Human as we are it’s natural for us to be bothered by these natural calamities. However, we should always quickly assure ourselves that Jesus is in control we therefore have to regain our confidence under this disturbing situation.

In the gospel for today the Pharisees were asking for a sign from Jesus. Why? For the simple reason that they were testing Him and aside from that they simply don’t have faith in Jesus.

How about you? Are you easily disturbed by the many calamities and disasters that are unfolding before your eyes? Are you easily bothered by the many problems that you are facing right now?

Do not be bothered for Jesus is in control, no sign is stronger than Jesus Himself. He is more than enough to calm you amidst your fears and problems whatever those problems are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Sunday, February 11, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Reflection:

A husband was praying to Jesus for healing of his marriage. After a few months the wife who runaway from him and his children suddenly came back asking for forgiveness. The husband forgave her without asking her about the past. He simply said, “Let us move forward, learn from our mistakes and thank and share the goodness of Jesus for this second chance.

How would you react if you are the leper that was healed by Jesus? Should you just keep silent about your miraculous healing or you tell everyone how Jesus healed you? Perhaps you would also spread the good news of your healing from Jesus for this is basic human nature.

The healed leper disobeyed the command of Jesus not to tell anyone of the miracle that he received from Him (Mark 1:44). Did Jesus get angry with his disobedience? Of course not! For Jesus perfectly understands that his disobedience was for a good reason.

The healed leper wanted everyone to know that Jesus heals! The former leper simply wanted to share the good news of his healing so that others could also receive healing from Jesus. Soon after, the healing that Jesus did for the leper spread like wild fire and as a result of this, people from everywhere went to Jesus.  

Have you received a miracle from Jesus? For example, healing from your sickness, healing of a family relationship or healing from an emotional/spiritual sickness and the like. Don’t keep it within yourself.

Tell everyone about the miracle that Jesus did to you. Humbly tell everyone about the greatest healer who ever walked this earth; no other than Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday, February 10, Saint Scholastica, Virgin; Mark 8:1-10

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”

Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied.They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

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Reflection:

What happened to the crowd after they were fed by Jesus? Perhaps they went back to their respective houses satisfied and spiritually recharged. Did they lead transformed lives? Did they become fervent and true followers of Jesus? Obviously majority of them did not live transformed lives and they did not become full blooded followers. Otherwise they would have not deserted Jesus when He was being persecuted, tortured and nailed on the cross.

What happens to us after attending Holy Mass wherein we listen to the words of God and partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus? Do we allow Jesus to transform us every time we listen to His words and every time we receive Him during Holy Communion? His fervent desire is to transform us so that we could become His true followers. This is His desire for us.

But at the end of the day it’s still in our hands we still have the liberty to decide for ourselves. If we become His true followers or not, if we allow His Body and Blood to transform us or not. The choice is ours to take but the wise choice is to allow Jesus to transform us.

Look around and see the lives of those who did not allow Jesus to transform them. Look around and see those who followed in words only. They may be materially wealthy, they may be politically powerful. But do they have peace, do they have serenity in their lives? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 9, Friday of the Fifth Week; Mark 7:31-37

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Reflection:

How would you react when people praise you for the things that you’ve done? Do you gloat over it? Does it increase your sense of self-worth? Do you feel proud and feel that you are head over shoulders above others?  These reactions are for those people who have a very high regard of themselves.

Those who are humble when they are praised for the things that they’ve done would point to God by saying: Thanks be to God, or Praise God. They would always deflect the credit out of themselves and give the glory to God.

Let us look at the gospel and see the humble actions of Jesus when He was asked to heal the sick man. Instead of healing the sick man in front of the crowd. He took him away from the crowd then He cured him just the two of them. Afterwards, He told the healed man not to tell anyone.

We, when we’ve done something worthy we would want the whole world to know about it. That’s why many of us always post on facebook pictures/videos that show that we’re doing something for us to have a positive image.

But not Jesus, He would always be non-assuming, self-effacing and low profile. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 8, Thursday of the Fifth Week; Mark 7:24-30

Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Reflection:

Does Jesus favor a certain group of people? No, Jesus doesn’t not have a chosen group of people. Jesus came into this world not to save a select group of people but for everyone of us: Sinner, non-sinner and Christians and non-Christians alike.

In the gospel, a Greek woman, a non-Jew and an outsider went to Jesus to beg for healing for her daughter. What did Jesus do? He tested the faith of the woman and when He saw her great faith Jesus granted her request for healing for her daughter.

What does this tell us about Jesus? He is for everyone of us regardless who we are and the sins that we have committed. What is important is we humbly go to Him and reach out to Him with faith. For if we have faith nothing is impossible for Him, Jesus would grant us what we want from Him for as long as we have faith.

Do you want Jesus to do miracles in your life? Humbly beseech Him and don’t be shy. Simply trust Him and simply abandon yourself to Him. In His own perfect time, He will give you your heart’s desire.  Simply believe and have faith. - Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for February 7, Wednesday of the Fifth Week; Mark 7:14-23

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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Reflection:
There’s a story about a married man who had an adulterous relationship with his officemate. The wife told him, “I never thought that you would be capable of doing that to me because we always go to Holy Mass every Sunday and we practice our catholic faith.

It’s really hard to comprehend why many of us commit sin and don’t live our faith. Yes, we go to church for Holy Mass and yes we practice our catholic faith. Yet when tempted to sin we easily sin. Why is this so? I don’t know why? Perhaps, this is brought about by our weak and superficial faith thus, we embrace the devil and we set aside Jesus.

Jesus in the gospel mentions that nothing that enters us make us sin but what comes out of us makes us sin. We therefore have to be careful and discerning about the things that we do. If we think that our actions would make us sin then by all means we should not do it.

If there’s a strong temptation to sin, we should run away from it before it captures us. The problem with sin is it will never stop until it completely destroys us. For example, the sin of adultery, couples who are into this would continue to engage in this adulterous relationship until they are caught.

They enjoy this sin very much for the simple reason that this is made more attractive by the devil in their eyes.  Since they are already under the spell of the devil they continue to do it without guilt of conscience The same devil whose hidden and only desire is to destroy them.

Come to think of it, why is it that even if we know that what we are doing is sinful many of us still agree to do it? The simple answer is many of us choose to embrace the devil than Jesus. Many of us choose to gamble our very lives with the devil than invest it with Jesus.

When you choose to be with the devil you will be destroyed by it sooner or later. However, when you choose to walk away from it and you choose to be with Jesus. Jesus will never stop until He rids you of all of your sinfulness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday February 6, Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

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

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

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus a revolutionary leader? Because Jesus’ dares to violate established rules to benefit the people. For Jesus it’s always the greater good of the people before the observance of any rules or laws. Which by the way was created to serve the whims and caprices of the ruling class (The Pharisees and scribes).

Jesus violates the rules created by the ruling class because some were restrictive and oppressive. It makes the ordinary people servants of the ruling class. Ruling class who are good only with utterance of their laws but visibly wanting in human compassion. Truth to tell, the ruling class (Pharisees and scribes) sacrifice human compassion in exchange for the observance of their self-serving created laws.

Case in point is the washing of hands before eating which was mentioned by the ruling class in the gospel. They asked Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands (Mark 7:5)?” Jesus answered them by simply pointing at their hypocrisy, their lack of interior transformation and compassion toward the ordinary people.

If we want our fellowmen to truly respect and follow us we should not be imposing, we should not be dictators. Because if we are like this our people will rebel against us, they may externally show their respect towards us but it’s a respect devoid of substance and spirit.  Instead we should always live the gentleness and compassion of Jesus.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Monday February 5, Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr; Mark 6:53-56

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

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

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Reflection:

 Do you have the habit of touching the image of Jesus in your house or when you are at church? Then as you touch His image you say your silent prayer of petition and thanksgiving to Jesus. Continue doing it because that is a good habit it signifies your humility and surrender to the mighty power of Jesus.

The healing crusade of Jesus continues in our gospel. Wherever He goes those who are in need of His healing go also. The moment they get the information that Jesus is near them they hurry to go to Him to have this healing encounter with Him. They never mind if they are not able to talk to Jesus. It’s enough for them that they’re able touch any part of His clothes. Or to have a glimpse of Him is already enough for them to be healed by the mighty power of Jesus.

Up to this very moment this mighty healing power of Jesus is very much present in our midst. For He’s just a prayer away, His very image is within our reach. Look at the cross in your house or in your church the image of Jesus is there. Touch Him and as you touch Him ask Him to heal you, ask Him to change you ask Him to make you more gentle, humble and patient.     

Surely, Jesus will never disappoint anyone who humbles and surrenders himself/herself before Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday, February 4, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 1:29-39

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”  So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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Reflection:

There is a story of a family who had a bedridden mother. Being in such situation her husband and children confined her to a room within their house. The mother was wondering, why they isolated her when she doesn’t have a contagious sickness? Deep in her heart she was wishing for a daily small talk with her family or even a quick peek from her husband and children. But they rarely did she eventually died not from her sickness but from her loneliness.

When Jesus was told that Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever, He immediately approached her and grasp her hand. As if to say that I’m here for you and I’m concerned with your wellbeing.  Then she was healed by Jesus before they left her.

What is Jesus telling us this Sunday? Jesus is telling us that we have to visit the sick. We have to talk to them and we have to let them know that we are here for them. Many of us don’t visit the sick because we are so busy with our daily undertakings. Or we don’t visit the sick because we have no money to help them.

But there’s more to life than our daily undertakings and there’s certainly more to life than having money. Life is all about touching lives! It’s making a person feel special more so if she/he is sick. Just imagine if a sick person would see you, it certainly would lighten her face and boost her sagging morale.

Nevermind if you cannot give financial help since your mere presence is more than enough to help her get well. Your mere presence is like saying, I’m here for you, you can count on me and I love you more than words can say.

We must never underestimate the power of a visit or even a quick visit to a sick relative or friend. It could do wonders for their wellness of course we are not Jesus thus we would not be able to cure them physically, but who knows? Nonetheless, it still can do wonders for them on the level of their emotions and morale.

Jesus is showing us the way on what to do when somebody is sick we therefore have to follow the way of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 3, Saturday of the Fourth Week; Mark 6:30-34

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

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

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Reflection:

To whom can we compare Jesus in this world?

We can somehow compare Jesus to our parents. Try recalling how patient our parents were in teaching us the basics about life. Try recalling how hard they’ve tried to provide the very best for us.

Try recalling the many family bondings that they’ve planned to further strengthen the family’s union. Try to recall the countless shepherding or guiding moments that we’ve received from them. And try to recall when they comfort and motivate us when we were feeling weary and tired.   

In essence Jesus is like a parent to the apostles and to those who followed Him He was a unifying factor for them. He motivated them, He bonded with them, He guided them, He healed them, He empathized with them and most of all He was a good shepherd to them.

In our gospel, after doing their mission and after telling Jesus what they have done the apostles were naturally exhausted. Jesus told them to go to a deserted place to rest for a while to recharge their weary bodies and minds. Perhaps Jesus also wanted to give an inspirational talk to His apostles so that He could further strengthen their resolve to continue their mission. Isn’t this what worthy parents would normally do the moment they see their children tired and weary from doing something commendable and important?  

Finally, when Jesus arrived on the supposed to be deserted place the vast crowd who have been following Him were already there waiting for Him. Instead of telling them to go away because He wants privacy. He was moved with pity for them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And being a good shepherd himself Jesus began to teach them many things.

The shepherding that Jesus gave to His apostles and followers during that time is still very much alive up to this very moment and He is offering it to us right now. If we are tired and weary with the challenges and burdens of life let us go to Jesus for He will always be there to tell us to come let us go to a quiet place and let us rest, there for I (Jesus) will be there to shepherd and strengthen you. 

You have in Jesus the personification of a good parent and shepherd who has nothing but the very best for you. Always go to Him and always desire to be with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

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

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go  in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

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

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Reflection:

There is a story of a dying man who had one fervent wish before he dies. His fervent wish was to see Jesus in the flesh and to talk to Him even for a short while. Unfortunately, his wish did not become a reality for he died without seeing Jesus. Is there a magic word for us to see Jesus? Or is there a secret for us to see Jesus?

When the child Jesus was brought into the temple to present Him before the Lord. It was in fulfillment of the Jewish law which states that a child should be brought into the temple to present him before God forty days after its birth.”

We have in our gospel a Holy man named Simeon who had one wish before he dies and that is to see Jesus. And Simeon was very blessed to see and hold in his arms the child Jesus. Was it pure luck that he was able to be with Jesus and His parents up close and personal? No, luck has nothing to do with Simeon’s meeting with the Holy family. Simeon as stated in our gospel was a righteous and devout man.

He was a good man; he was a man who wholeheartedly strived to follow the teachings of his faith. That’s why God through the Holy Spirit gifted Simeon the very rare opportunity to be with the child Jesus in the temple before he dies. What a way to die! Isn’t this our wish also before we die? We would want to see Jesus and we would want to hold the hand of Jesus as we take our last gasp of breath?

When a person is near death, he/she would normally say that he is already seeing his departed relatives around him. Rarely would we hear a dying person say that he now see Jesus by his side.

By the life of Simeon, we now know the secret as to how we would be able to see Jesus as we fade out of this world. We have to be righteous and we have to be devout followers of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas