Reflection for March 6; Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Reflection:

Is it normal for us to harbor resentments? Yes of course for we are humans with emotions. But after that short moment wherein we respond to our feelings let us quickly allow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness to take over our selfish feelings. 

In the gospel Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22).

This is a very simple yet very effective teaching on forgiveness for us from Jesus. In other words He is saying to us that we should always be forgiving. It’s normal for us to be hurt but let us not allow these hurtful feelings to control us. Therefore, we can only be freed from the vicious control of anger which by the way comes from the devil, if we forgive those who have hurt us without any preconditions.

Try to observe yourself when you don’t listen to Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness. Isn’t it that you carry a heavy burden in your heart? When you allow unforgiveness to reside in your heart you allow yourself to be imprisoned and controlled by the devil and your anger. 

What if you follow Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, how would you feel? You will feel light and free. You will feel no burden in your heart. Don’t we all want to feel light, to feel free and without any burdens and hurtful feelings in our heart?

These are the two options before you: To follow Jesus’ teaching on infinite forgiveness or you continue to punish and burden yourself by unforgiveness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 5; Monday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 4:24-30

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Reflection:

Are you sometimes envious of the success of your fellowmen?

Crab mentality perhaps was in the minds of Jesus townmates that is why they did not acknowledge Him as their prophet. His townmates were envious of His newfound celebrity status they could not accept that a simple carpenter was doing all these life changing preachings, healings and miracles.

The reality of our lives is this: We don’t control the destiny of others only God controls it. God can raise up seemingly ordinary people to give them extraordinary gifts and missions. We must not be envious of these people who were given by God with these extra ordinary gifts we instead must be happy for them.

The result of their loathsome behavior towards Jesus is this: Jesus did not do much miracles in their place.  Let us not be like the townmates of Jesus let us embrace Jesus and let us deeply believe in Him for He is the Son of God and our Lord and Savior.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for Sunday March 4, Third Sunday of Lent; John 2:13-25

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace. His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews said “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

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Reflection:

A father would always tell his children to observe silence when they are at church for Holy Mass.  In turn the children would also ask their father: “Why do we need to be silent at church?” Their father would right away tell them: “This is for the reason is that the church is a temple of worship for God, therefore when you are at church you always need to focus on Jesus, be silent and prayerful.”

When Jesus went to the temple for the feast of Passover, He saw that it was not anymore being used as it was supposed to be. Jesus was expecting that the temple was being used with solemnity and reverence for the simple reason that is the temple of God. 

But to His dismay the temple was converted to a marketplace where people were wheeling and dealing to earn a living. Perhaps the temple was not only being used for business perhaps it was being used for other sordid activities.  Therefore, Jesus had to intervene; He has to put order and discipline so that the temple would be fit for worship again.

Every Sunday or even every day we go to our respective temple of worship that is our parish church for Holy Mass. How do we behave when we are at church? Do we create noise by chit-chatting with friends/relatives while we wait for the Holy Mass to commence?   Or we begin to connect with God by praying and listening to Him without uttering a single word?

When we are at church we have to ensure that we only use it for one purpose alone and that is to worship and connect with God silently. No noise whatsoever for this is how it should be. Otherwise, if we create noise we become one with those who transformed the temple into a marketplace which provoked anger from Jesus.

How are you when you are at church? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for March 3; Saturday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers. So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. He became angry and when he refused to enter the house his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

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Reflection:

Would you return and ask forgiveness to someone you’ve hurt?

After wasting his money on his vices and other sinful cravings the younger son decided to humbly return to his father. He swallowed his pride; he braved the insults and ridicule that might come his way just to be home again with his father who unconditionally loved him.

There is also a stretch in our lives that we drift away from God; we personally take command of our lives. We indulge in different worldly vices and sins thinking that it would make us happy. Then we realize that there is still this void that has not been filled by our worldly and sinful cravings.

So to where would we go? We humbly go back to Jesus and ask for His mercy and forgiveness. Jesus will surely not refuse a repentant sinner like us. What we only have to do is to go back to Him. Never mind the many sins that we have committed for Jesus doesn’t count the sins that we have committed.  

He is always looking at our humble and repentant heart. Therefore, we have to go back to Him for Jesus is compassionately waiting to lovingly embrace us back again. Don’t look back at your dark past anymore what is important for Jesus is the here and now.

The here and now where you are ready to start a new journey in your life: A journey walking   hand in hand with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for March 2; Friday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

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Reflection:

What is your mission as far as your faith life in this world is concerned? It’s to pay forward or share whatever you know about your faith. It’s to give life to your faith by not keeping it to yourself. And it’s to generously share whatever you know about your faith. 

 In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us the parable of the tenants who were entrusted by the landowner of his property. Before the landowner left them he first ensured that they already have all that they would need to make them productive. And so the landowner left and when harvest time came the landowner was demanding his share from the tenants.

We are the tenants which Jesus is speaking about in the gospel.  The land or property that Jesus has entrusted to us is no other than our faith. What have we done so far to the gift of faith that He has entrusted us? Have we already shared it? Or we are still up to know keeping it to ourselves?

If we want to grow in faith we have to humbly share it for it is in sharing our faith that we would grow in faith. It is in sharing our faith that would make us productive followers of Jesus. Many are still not properly educated as far as their faith life is concerned and many are Catholics in name only. And who is to blame for this lack of education of our catholic faith? We are partly to be blamed because many of us have not yet shared the gift of faith that Jesus has entrusted us.

But it’s not yet late for we still have time.  Therefore we have to do something, start first by inviting your family to go to Holy Mass. Then gently teach them with whatever you know about the Bible and your catholic faith.

Have courage to do this for God’s blessings will be upon you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for March 1; Thursday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 16:19-31

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

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Reflection:

Imagine that you are the rich man in the gospel and you also saw the poor man Lazarus at your door. How would you react? Will you do the same as the rich man did in the gospel? Or you will give food to the poor man Lazarus?

You would surely answer that you will give food because this is the right action to do. And your decision to give food would also be influenced by the misfortune of the rich man after he died for he ended in hell. But is this who we really are? Do we really help the poor most especially when nobody is watching us?

Often times we do good because we are influenced by the circumstances that surrounds us. For example, in the gospel we read the rich man ended up in hell. Of course this is the circumstance that will influence us to do good for we don’t want to be in hell after we die.

The gospel is an invitation for all of us to reflect on how we take care of the poor. For example, you may have a poor relative or a poor neighbor. How do you treat them? Do you treat them like a third class citizen or you treat them with respect and love? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Reflection for February 28; Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 20:17-28

Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Reflection:

Do you want to follow Jesus?

If you want to follow you should prepare for the many sacrifices that you have to go through for the greater glory of God. Many of us are averse to sufferings and sacrifices we want a life of ease and comfort. But life of ease and comfort are not the way of life of Jesus for His way of life is laden with trials, humility and sacrifice.  

Using their mother as their emissary the two disciples were aspiring to be great in the eyes of men yet they were followers of Jesus. Are they really followers or just pretending to be followers? If they are true followers they would have not ask for the best seats beside Jesus.

Let us not lose sight of the fact that the true essence of following Jesus is to serve with humility. And not to serve for us to be seen or to seek the highest place of prominence for us to be noticed, admired and respected.

The true follower is not hungry for power, prestige and entitlement. He is content to humbly serve even if nobody would notice him. The more that he is not noticed for what he does the more that he would favor it.

This is the paradox of true discipleship, it contradicts our way of earthly thinking and it directs us to the real essence of discipleship which involves humility and sacrifice. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 27; Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent: Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Are you a true follower of Jesus?

A true follower of Jesus is someone who is simple. He doesn’t   think highly of himself neither he isolates himself in an ivory tower so that others would look-up to him. A follower mingles and interacts with the people, he doesn’t throw judgment on anyone regardless who they may be.

A true follower lives and breathes humility, its part and parcel of his way of life. How then can we be humble, how then can we live and breathe humility and how then can we make it our way of life? We always have to do things with the end in mind that everything that we do we do for the greater glory of God. We don’t do things for our own glory or glorification, we don’t do things for us to be praised to high heavens.

Many of the Pharisees during Jesus time had a mentality of superiority perhaps this was because they were the ruling power. They love to give commands, they love to be looked up and they crave for prominence and respect. Servanthood and humility were farthest from their minds.  

From time to time we need to ask ourselves, Am I a true follower of Jesus? Or I’m becoming more like the Pharisees who always seek prominence, honor and attention. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for February 26; Monday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 6:36-38

Gospel: Luke 6:36-38  

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

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Reflection:

Are you merciful, forgiving and not quick to judge?

Jesus gives us precious lesson about being merciful because He is always merciful to us. No matter how sinful we are His unfathomable mercy is always there before us.

Jesus gives us lesson about being judgmental: We are not to judge because we are to be judged too. On hindsight who are we to judge our fellowmen? We are but a speck in this world and we are sinners as well. Do we judge because we are moneyed, more educated and more powerful?

Jesus tells us not to condemn, instead of condemning, why not motivate and be an instrument of healing and conversion? We may not know this but our words are very powerful if we are quick to condemn. We might push to the brink of desperation those that we condemn and the result may be tragic.

On forgiveness, Jesus tells us to always be forgiving.  Why are there people who cannot forgive? Perhaps the love of Jesus is not yet in their hearts, when we don’t forgive we are only punishing ourselves with undeserved burden. So let go of that anger and unforgiveness, forgive and leave everything to our merciful God.

On giving, Jesus tells us to give from our hearts not from our excess because many of us give for the reason that we don’t need it anymore. Let us give from our hearts because whatever we freely give will be ploughed back to us a hundredfold.   

Let us reflect on these priceless insights from Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday, February 25, Second Sunday of Lent; Mark 9:2-10

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

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Reflection:

Have you been tested by God? Has that test of faith transformed you to become a more zealous and faithful follower of the Lord?

In the first reading Abraham survived the litmus test of his faith when he responded to God’s command to bring his son Isaac to the mountain and offer him as his sacrifice to Him. Abraham obeyed God without question even if it is at the expense of his son. For his obedience Abraham was blessed abundantly by God and he was rewarded by God with countless descendants.

If we are in the shoes of Abraham would we sacrifice our son/child without any question? Would we be as faithful as Abraham in his discipleship to God? These two questions invites us to self examine our faithfulness towards God. How are we as a disciple/follower of God? Maybe some of us are fair weather disciples/followers only.

In the gospel Jesus together with Peter, James and John went to the mountain when He was there already He was transfigured before them. Why did Jesus go to the mountain? Was He called by God to go to the mountain?

There was no mention of that sort. Perhaps, there was a call from God for Jesus to go to the mountain so that God can further strengthen Him as He nears His passion. And so that He would remain obedient and focused in His salvific mission.

In the transfiguration of Jesus we are made aware of the reality of heaven, the reality of heavenly life and the reality of God’s existence. On the other hand we are also being confronted of the present realities of our earthly journey.

That life in this world is not easy, that it’s full of trials and sacrifices. Nevertheless, we should not allow these hardships, trials and sacrifices to distract us from reaching our ultimate goal which is to be with God in heaven someday.

The trials that you are presently facing and you would be facing in the future are test of your fidelity towards God. If you would be able to pass all these test there surely will be a reward and that is your everlasting life in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for February 24; Saturday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48      

(Jesus said to his disciples) 43 "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:

Would you love your enemy?

One of the most difficult actions to do is to love our enemy or to love those who’ve hurt us, those who continue to do no good to us and those who continue to hurt us. For example how could you love your unfaithful spouse? How could you love someone whose been making life so difficult for you?

Indeed, these kinds of people are very hard to love much less forgive. But on the other hand, who are we not to love and forgive them? And who are we to focus on hatred instead of love?

Why don’t we try loving those who are hurting us, why don’t we try to eliminate whatever hatred in our hearts?

The moment we love those who hurt us, the moment we forgive and the moment we eliminate hatred in our hearts. We become free from the bondage of the Devil and we free ourselves from any form of negative, evil and hurtful emotions.

Jesus loves us all whoever we are and whatever sins we have committed. This infinite love of Jesus is always there for us.  However, we are also aware that there is hell. There is the kingdom of the devil wherein those who do no good and those who continue to refuse the love of Jesus are destined to dwell. – Marino J. Dasmarinas