Reflection for Sunday June 3, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:    

A young man asked his parents why they go to church to attend daily Mass. His parents told him that they attend Mass daily because they get to see Jesus in the altar and they receive Jesus and be one with Him during Holy Communion. 

Then the son said, how come that when I go to Mass I don’t see Jesus? I only see the priest in the altar and during Holy Communion I only see the wafer bread that is given to me by the priest. The father said, I think you’re lacking in faith and perhaps you’re not focused in the celebration of the Holy Mass that is why you don’t see its Jesus who presides. 

Lack of faith and focus during Holy Mass is something that many of us experience. That is why we don’t take Holy Mass seriously and that is why we are easily swayed to switch to other Christian faiths. And leave behind our Roman Catholic faith the moment somebody read to us selected bible passages. If our faith in Jesus is strong and if our faith in the Holy Mass is rock solid we will not leave the church and we will take seriously our presence at Holy Mass.

Who presides in the celebration of the Holy Mass? It’s none other than Jesus in the person of the priest! The same Jesus who took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to His apostles and said: “Take it this is my body.” The same Jesus who took a cup, gave thanks then gave the cup to His apostles after which they all drank from it (Mark 14:22-23).   It’s only through the eyes of our faith that we would be able to comprehend that it’s really Jesus who presides in every Mass. And that we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion.

Today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. What is the relevance of this Solemnity to ourselves? It invites us to have faith in Jesus and in the Holy Mass. It invite us to believe and have faith that the bread and wine that we partake during Holy Communion. Is transubstantiated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus the moment it is consecrated by the priest.    

Do you believe? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday June 2, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 11:27-33

Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Mario is a Lay Minister who was elected chairman of his church ministry. Upon being elected his true color became more apparent. For he was a man obsessed with his new found authority. He told his church ministry this very prideful statement: I am now the head of this ministry thus it is incumbent upon you all to follow what I want.

Jesus was asked in the gospel by His persecutors: "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" (Mark 11:28) Were they really concerned about Jesus’ authority? Or they were just very alarmed because their authority was slowly being eroded by Jesus popularity with the common people.

Authority is good if exercised with humility and prudence and this is how Jesus exercised His authority. So unlike the Pharisees and the chief priest of his time, who was so proud of their authority that they used it to perpetuate their self-serving agendas. Let us be like Jesus at all times: He exercised His authority with humility, compassion and love.

How do you exercise your authority? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Friday June 1, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr: Mark 11:11-26

Gospel: Mark 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Isn’t it frightening how Jesus condemned the barren fig tree? Could this condemnation happen to us also? But why should we wait for that condemnation to come to us when we still have the time to renew our life?

Let us therefore walk away from any form of sinfulness while we still have time. And in the process of walking away from sin let us also become productive followers of Jesus. This we can do by sharing and living His teachings otherwise we become barren creatures of this world.

If we don’t know how to share His teachings let us simply live His teaching for in doing so others would know that we are followers of Jesus. Let us not make the mistake of following this world for it would only lead us to a problematic life. A life of emptiness, without peace and contentment.

Time will come that we will face the judgement of God (Matthew 25:31-46). How would He judge us by that time if we continue to become barren followers? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday May 31, the Visitation 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, “Most 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, he 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.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What are you going to do if a very close relative whom you have not seen for quite some time would give you a visit? You would be very happy for sure and even if you don’t have much you would still find time to give her/him the best accommodations and treatment that you could give her/him.

This must have been the feeling of Elizabeth when she was visited by her cousin Mary who at that time was also pregnant with the baby Jesus in her womb. They shared a lot of stories about themselves. They strengthened each other’s morale, love and bond. Thus, the Blessed Mother stayed with her cousin until she gave birth.

Through Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, this Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary imparts us so many lessons about human relations and life itself which we sometimes take for granted. Here are three lessons:

1. Even if there’s already social media platforms such as facebook etc... where we could somehow be updated of what’s going on with our friends and relatives. There’s no substitute with face to face human interactions. Therefore, we still need to go out of our way to visit our relatives and close friends whom we have not seen for quite some time.

2. We need to strengthen them morally and spiritually.

3. We need to bring good tidings to them and share whatever we have no matter how small.

4. We need to be open to listen to them: their triumphs and frustrations about life or anything under the sun that they would tell us.

We sometimes forget these acts of kindness and compassion which can do so much to uplift a weary person one way or the other. But many of us are so busy that we have no more time for them. Yet we have time to do facebook, we have time to aimlessly surf the internet and tinker with new gadgets which robs us of human relation and empathy. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday May 30, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:32-45

Gospel: Mark 10:32-45

The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “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 who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are you a real follower of the Lord?

Real followers or those who want to truly serve will not care if they are seen or noticed. They quietly serve without ulterior motives for they know that Jesus knows everything that they do and think about.

When James and John asked Jesus if they can sit beside Him in His glory.  Jesus told the two that those premium seats had already been reserved, for whom? It is for the humble ones, for those who are not seeking self-glorification and for those who are willing to silently toil in the vineyard of the Lord.

Obviously, James and John were seeking glorification without putting forward humility and sacrifice. The paradox of serving Jesus is this: we must first be willing to be a servant and we must be willing to die to ourselves.

 This does not mean that we have to pretend to be humble so that we will be exlted. No! When we decide to serve in the vineyard of the Lord we must rid ourselves with any form of pretensions and false expectations.  We serve because it originates from the pureness of our desire.

There will be no heavenly glorification for us if we will not first embrace humility. And the pure desire to serve and sacrifice our very selves in the name of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday May 29, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:28-31

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and followed you. Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A young man was asking for the heart of his beloved. The beloved said to him you have to give up your vices most especially your smoking and drinking. The young man acceded; from then on never did he smoke and drink any alcohol. After a few months they end up in the altar of God to become one.  

When we give up something for someone we dearly love we could be assured of something more worthy. Something that would somehow complete us, this may not make us happy immediately. But certainly something beautiful will come out of it in lieu of what we gave up.  

If we give up even a portion of our worldly life for Jesus we could expect something in return from Jesus. It may not be material riches or worldly power but we will certainly receive something in return from Him.

 It may be peace of mind which may have eluded us for the longest time. It could be good health or anything that cannot be measured and seen by our naked eye. Yet certainly be felt by our hearts.

When Jesus asks us of something to give up for Him we should hurry to obey and follow. We should never think twice, we should give it up immediately like a child jumping with reckless abandon to his father’s arms.

What are you willing to immediately give up for Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for Monday May 28, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:17-27

Gospel: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Who is this man in the gospel who walked away from his desire to follow Jesus in favor of his treasures? We don’t know but we could compare the attitude of this wealthy man to our own attitude when it comes to wealth.

Many of us can’t give away our wealth so that it may serve its real purpose none other than to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. When the wealthy man walked away from Jesus he allowed himself to be possessed by his love for his wealth. He was already at the threshold of the real meaning of life. Yet he still chose to be possessed by worldly life which is accumulation and possession of wealth and power.

Many of us including our politicians allow ourselves to be possessed by this false meaning of life. Which in the end will only serve as our downfall for the simple reason that we allowed ourselves to be possessed by our greed for wealth and power.

What will it do us if we have wealth yet we don’t have peace of mind? What would wealth bring to our lives if we don’t have God? Nothing but false sense of security, nothing but a life devoid of meaning and a life of emptiness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday May 27, Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity; Matthew 28:16-20

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Have you been given a responsibility say for example by your Parents, Boss, Spouse or by somebody whom you highly respect? Did you faithfully follow the given responsibility without question?

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The church teaches us that there are three divine persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit three distinct personalities yet only one. How can it be that these three becomes one? This is something that is hard to comprehend for those who don’t believe. But for those who have faith this is a mystery that they hold on and believe without question.

In today’s gospel Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

The apostolic succession of the church tells us that this commissioning is still being said by Jesus today through the Ordained Ministers of the church. However, this is also Jesus’ command for  us: Spread the Good News about me and as you do this I will be with you always until the end of time.

These are powerful and profound words from Jesus addressed to all of us: Spread the good news about me. Through your words and most importantly through your actions for the simple reason that actions speaks louder than words.

It is very easy to say that I will share Jesus to someone but the question is: are we able to follow this command of Jesus. It takes courage and fidelity to do this. Have we already done it: Sharing Jesus through our words and actions?

Or we still fear, we need not fear because Jesus himself assures us: “behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Saturday May 26, Saint Philip Neri, Priest: Mark 10:13-16

Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Who are the main formators of children? Of course it’s the parents, from  parents  children learn the basic Christian values. Such as love for God, Humility, Obedience and other values. Children learn almost everything from their parents. 

Therefore virtues such as these are something that is taught by  parents to their children. What is taught by the parents is imbibed by their children. What is observed from parents is copied by children.

For example if children are taught by their parents about love for God and humility and these teachings are also lived or practiced by parents. It’s no brainer that they will grow up practicing these virtues until the end of their lives. If children are taught arrogance and they observe this also from their parents. it's a cinch that the same thing would happen they will also be arrogant.    

Therefore the mind of a child is fertile soil for inculcation of proper Christian values by their elders specifically their parents.

In our gospel we have people (most probably parents) bringing children to Jesus. These people were trying to inculcate into the minds of the children that it is a must that they go to Jesus. Which is always the right thing to do but the disciples prevented them and Jesus saw this thus He got angry. And he told the disciples to let the children come to Him then He embraced and afterwards blessed them by placing His hands on them.

Let us not forget that upon our hands rest the future of the children that Jesus’ loves so dearly. We are the prime formators of our children and the very first formation that we much teach our children is the love for God. Let us bring them always to Jesus for Jesus loves them dearly even more than we love them.

Do you teach your children to love Jesus and do you teach them to pray and listen to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for May 25, Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What if there’s no divorce? There would be no breakup of marriage, there would be no suffering children and there would be no hurting spouses.

Married couples who separate are only concerned for their own welfare and for their own fleeting and false happiness. They don’t care what will happen to their child/children who are the main casualty the moment parents separate.

Beneath the opposition of Jesus to divorce is His command for couples to persevere in their marriage. HE commands us to always remember the vows of marriage whenever we are tempted to betray it or walk away from it. He commands us to accept the fact that marriage is not always a bed of roses.

For the reason that there is no perfect marriage, there would also be thorny episodes in marriage. So the couple must stay no matter what their difficulties are. The couple must learn to adjust and sometimes bend in humility for the marriage to grow, bear fruit and succeed.

Incompatibility is not the reason why couples separate; it’s rather the lack of humility, the stubbornness to respect the sacred vows of the marriage covenant and the lack of active prayer life inside the marriage.

Just imagine if both husband and wife learns to imbibe humility.  Just imagine if there is an active presence of prayer life inside the marriage.  And just imagine if both spouses would learn to respect the sacred vows of marriage no matter the temptation that may come their way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 24, Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:41-50

Gospel: Mark 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What does sin bring to our lives? Sin wounds our life and our relationships. Sin also dims the light of Jesus in our life and it pervades the influence of the evil one in our lives.

When Jesus told the disciples the severe punishments to sin. He was in effect telling them that they must avoid sin at all cost because there’s always a price to pay for someone who sins. It served also as a warning and guide for the disciples as they face the many temptations of  their mission.  

But why do we sin? Why do we allow sin to overcome us? We sin because we love this world more than we love Jesus. We sin because we purposely reserve a dwelling place for the devil in our lives. We sin because we love a problematic life more than a peaceful life with Jesus.

However, come to think of it; what if we try to avoid sin? There would be peace in our lives, we would have less human created problems and we would surely be closer to Jesus. Just try to avoid sin even for only a day and see the blessing that it would bring into your life. Then, try to avoid sin for a week, for a month and for the rest of your life.   

If we avoid sin we inoculate our life from the Satan’s influence and if we avoid sin we always invite Jesus to come into our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 23, Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What prompted John to prevent someone from using the name of Jesus in exorcising a demon? Was it the feeling of superiority for the reason that John was directly connected with Jesus? Was it simply arrogance?

No one has the sole right on the name of Jesus; everyone can use His name for as long as it is for a good cause. We must not make this mistake of having a feeling of superiority over others simply because we studied our religion. Or for the reason that some of us are educated or we occupy a position at church.

God allows other Christian faiths to flourish for a good reason which He only knows. Therefore, we have no right to claim exclusive ownership of Jesus for Jesus is for everyone of us. The moment we claim we are superior over everyone for we know Jesus we therefore are not true followers of Jesus.

Jesus is for everyone of us regardless who we are. And everyone has the right to use His very powerful name for a noble and good purpose. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 22, Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst and putting his arms around it, he said to them “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but the One who sent me.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the most important virtue of a follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking anything in return. He doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to be known, powerful and popular.

While Jesus and His disciples were passing through Galilee, He was discussing to them about the things that will happen to Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention for the reason that they were preoccupied discussing who among them was the greatest. What an ego trip for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus they were burnishing among themselves their own self-image. They were discussing who among them was the greatest.

During that instance the desire to humbly follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly prop-up their own self-image. And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this world.    

If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to be in-front. We have to be humble and simple at all times for this is the only way whereby we can bring others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

1Reflection for May 21, Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:14-29

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you have a rock solid faith in the Lord?

By their lack of faith the disciples were not able to cast out the mute spirit that possessed the boy. Add to that was their lack of prayer also; thus Jesus admonished them for this deficiency. A life of faith and prayer is a must for all of us who are followers of Jesus.

But how do we define faith? Faith is when we believe in something even if others do not, faith is something that we hold on until the very end even if we don’t see what we hold on. And what is the fuel of our faith? It’s our active prayer life. We pray from the depths of our hearts for this is the prayer that connects with God.

Let us not try not to pray because not only that we will lose our faith. We will also lose our moral balance to discern what is wrong from right. Let us therefore at all times give priority to our unvarying prayer life for this is the fire of our faith and this is also our hotline to Jesus.    

When Jesus cured the possessed boy the disciples asked Him why were they not able to do what He had just done. All though Jesus did not told them that they lacked faith it was very obvious that it was the cause of their failure to cure the possessed boy. What was the cause of their lack of faith? It was the disciples’ inadequate prayer life as told to them by Jesus (Mark 9:29).

Do you have an active prayer life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday May 20, Solemnity of Pentecost; John 20:19-23

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

An old man was wondering how he could have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He was often murmuring to himself, “I’m already old yet I don’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.” This old man is not alone in this predicament because many of us have no awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

What is the secret for us to become aware that the Holy Spirit is alive and working in our lives? The secret to unleash the presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayerful life. Not an intermittent prayer life but a life disposed to daily prayer. Perhaps we can allocate five to ten minutes everyday for prayers and meditations. Then slowly but surely the Holy Spirit will manifest its presence within us.   

In our first reading we read about the disciples and the Blessed Mother who were together  in one place. What were they doing there? They were praying (Acts 1:14) until God the Holy Spirit blessed them with its indwelling presence in their lives (Acts 2:1-4).

The same occurrence happened in our gospel. The disciples were in one room because of their fear of the Jews and they were praying to Jesus. Then suddenly Jesus appeared to them. He greeted them with peace; afterwards He breathed on them and gave them the  presence of the Holy Spirit.

If we want to have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit there’s no other way for us to do but to have a regular prayerful life.  Let us strongly pray for it so that we would be blessed by its presence and gifts such as: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude/Courage, knowledge and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).  

Do you already feel the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas