Reflection for November 3, Saturday; Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1, 7-11

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Do you always love to be at the forefront so that others would notice you? Do you hunger for honor and accolades? Or you’re the type who prefers to do things quietly without any desire to be noticed with what you’re doing? 

In our gospel, Jesus talks about our need to always be humble and not to love the spotlight. However, it’s so tempting for many of us to love to be exalted, to love praise and honor.

 But come to think of it, when we love the spotlight; when we love honorific titles. We are actually giving more importance to this world more than we give importance to God. We love to become creatures of this world than love to become sons and daughters of God.

But what is prominence, what is honor? As time passes by prominence, honor and anything that is worldly and self-serving will fade away. Thus, anything that we do for the love of ourselves and of this world will be buried and will not be remembered anymore.

But our acts of humility and goodness? It will outlive us; it will permanently be etched in the heart of God and in the hearts of those who know us. Therefore, we have to be humble and good and Godly at all times. We have to permanently delete from our minds the selfish desire to be known and prominent.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for November 2, Friday; Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed: Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,  and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ i And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’  Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ l And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

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Reflection:

Imagine the last days of your life, would it be a happy last days or a lonely last days? We would ideally want a happy last days, this means that we did what we have to do in this world.  We followed the commandments, we feed and clothed the hungry and so forth.

If this is what we’re are doing right now we need not worry about where we would be after our last days are over. But we are still living and we are still on this temporal journey so we have to sustain the momentum by doing good most especially to the poor and unwanted.

We have to take sides and the side that we have to take is the side where we have to do good. Let us not get tired of doing good because whatever good that we do now we will harvest eventually. Let us not mind if we will not be given credit for the good that we do what is important is we continue to do good. God knows everything anyway.

  

In this day of the Souls we are reminded of our loved ones who’ve gone ahead of us. This is also a reminder that whether we like it or not we will also be one with them sooner or later. What should we do so that we will not be forgotten? We have to do good, as Jesus did good during His three years public ministry, we also have to do good.

Why do we have to do go? The answer is no brainer: We have to do good because this will be our ticket going to God’s kingdom someday.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for November 1, Thursday; Solemnity of All Saints: Matthew 5:1-12a

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is the objective of your life? Is it limited only for the enjoyment of the things of this world? There is a more meaningful life that lies beneath this superficial life. However, you wouldn’t be able to discover the essence of life unless you learn to detach yourself from this world and begin to embrace Jesus.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit and why is it a blessing to be poor in spirit? As the literal poor relies on the generosity of his fellowmen so that he could sustain himself. To be poor in spirit means that we always rely on Jesus in everything most especially for our spiritual nourishment.

This means that we humbly rely on the generosity of Jesus. We don’t rely on ourselves so that we could grow in faith. We continuously rely and hunger for God to fill our empty lives so that He could enrich us spirituality.

Today is all Souls Day, we solemnly remember the Saints. They who generously gave their very lives for the mission of Jesus. The saints are not actually spotless when it comes to sin. Just like us they also had their own battle with sin and they triumphed over it because of the help of Jesus.

The saints became saints for the simple reason that they recognized their spiritual poverty. They discerned that life is empty and meaningless without the guidance of Jesus. We too could become saints in our own little way.

If only we would recognize our own poverty of spirit. And if only we would invite Jesus to come into our lives and fill our empty and barren life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for October 31, Wednesday; Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them, 'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. 'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from." Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets," but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!" 'Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out. people And from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God. 'Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.'

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Reflection:

Mike and Joseph were best friends, Mike was from a poor family while Joseph was from a rich family. Being rich Joseph had everything that he could ask for and because of it he grew up a spoiled man thus he wasn’t able to finish his studies.  On the other hand Mike the financially disadvantaged boy had to become a working student so that he could finish his college studies.

Ten years had elapsed; there was now a reversal of roles. Mike was already a very successful man brought about by his hard work and determination. While Joseph the former rich and spoiled man became poor and miserable.

The ending statement of Jesus in our gospel is so meaningful, HE tells us: Behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Our discipleship with Jesus in this world is never easy and always laden with trials. It may seem that we are going through a narrow gate. But this is the reality of faithfully walking with Christ in this world. In fact, Jesus himself said that anyone who is truly willing to follow HIM must forget himself and be ready to carry his own cross (Matthew 16:24).

We have nothing to worry about if we continue to face a difficult life for the sake of Christ. If we feel that we are the least/lowly person in this world because of our hardship for Christ. So be it, this life is temporary anyway; someday we shall depart this world.  And by that time those who are last/least in this world shall now become first in the kingdom of God in heaven. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 30, Tuesday; Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:18-21

Gospel: Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

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Reflection:

Where does the kingdom of God begin in your life?

The Kingdom of God starts small in your heart like a tiny mustard seed. If you would nurture it, it will have life until it grows big. Where others could benefit from it thus you become God’s instrument of blessing for others.

But others don’t allow God’s Kingdom to take root in their hearts. They prefer the things of this world than God. They choose the temporary over what is eternal, the worldly over Godly.  We must not commit the same mistake.

We should allow God to have His dwelling in our heart no matter how small, then we have to nurture it so that it could grow. Nurture it with prayers, reading the bible and other books that would help us grow in faith.

We should also strive to be present at Holy Mass whenever we could most especially during Sundays. And of course, we should live our faith. If we would do all of these the kingdom of God would surely be upon us and it would grow.

Will you allow the kingdom of God to have a permanent dwelling in your life so that God could bless others through you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for October 29, Monday; Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:10-17

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

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Reflection:

What made Jesus notice the woman crippled by a bad spirit considering that the woman did not even ask Jesus to heal her? Why did Jesus healed her on a Sabbath day when it was prohibited to do so?

The woman who never asked for healing from Jesus was in the synagogue to listen to Jesus. Yes, she did not ask favor from Jesus but her desire to listen to Jesus speaks volumes about her trust and faith in Jesus. Therefore, her trust and faith in Jesus was the channel for her to be noticed and healed by Jesus.

How can we listen to Jesus in this modern time? We listen to Jesus by reading His very words in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We listen to Jesus when we have an audio file of the same gospels in our hi-tech and touch screen cell phones. How many of us have an audio file or even a video file of these gospels in our cell phones?  

In the process of listening to Jesus we are healed already even if we don’t ask Him to heal us. Jesus is a proactive God, He knows everything about us and He knows every sickness or illness that we have long before we ask Him to heal us.

We need not ask Him anymore for healing or for anything for that matter for as long as we have this hunger and thirst to listen to Him. Because it’s in listening to Jesus that we are healed, it’s in listening to Jesus that we acquire wisdom that He only could give us. It’s in listening to Jesus that we are strengthened and motivated to face our daily trials no matter how difficult.   

Do you still have time to listen to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday October 28, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:46-52

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.  So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you. He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you? The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see. Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you. Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

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Reflection:

What is persistence and faith? It’s the act of not giving up no matter the great odds against us. We will continue to pursue what we want because we believe deep in our hearts that God will be with us and God will help and hear us.

The blind and poor man Bartimaeus had this very mindset. All the odds were stacked against him in his desire to have an encounter with Jesus. He was blind and poor, had no power and influence yet when he heard that Jesus was passing by he mightily shouted, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me (Mark 10:48).”

 Bartimaeus was rebuked and told to keep silent but the more that he persisted on calling Jesus. What made bartimaeus persist? What made him believe that Jesus would hear him as He passed by? Bartimaeus has great faith in Jesus, he believed deep in his heart that Jesus would hear and heal him.    

Ironically, Bartimaeus was blind, therefore he did not see Jesus performing miracles. But Bartimaeus believed even if he did not see Jesus doing miracles! It was enough for Bartimaeus to hear the powerful name of Jesus to believe that he would be healed.

By his deep faith and persistence Bartimaeus gained the attention of Jesus. And during that very moment Bartimaeus was healed thus he regained his sight. This is what faith in Jesus can do for us.

For as long as we will not give up on Jesus no matter the difficulties and the odds against us miracles would happen to us. Perhaps its healing from our sickness, perhaps it’s the granting of our persistent and faith filled prayers and the like.   

How persistent are you in your desire to have an encounter with Jesus? How persistence are you in your desire to get closer and to be healed by Jesus?  Do you always pray? Do you always attend Holy Mass? Do you have daily time to read His words in the bible? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 27, Saturday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

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Reflection:

Will you obey this call of Jesus for repentance in the gospel?

Repentance is something that we all need to do for we are all sinners. But why is it that many of us are not willing to obey this call of Jesus? The reason behind is we don’t have the virtue of humility. Many of us have mortgaged our life to the Devil to enjoy sinful earthly pleasure.  These are the reasons why we refuse God’s call for us to repent.

The moment we repent a huge burden would immediately be removed from our heart and conscience. We will feel light and peaceful and our seamless connection with Jesus will immediately be restored. But many of us refuse to repent we instead prefer to be burdened by sin. This is the paradox of our internet and social media driven times:  Many of us prefer to embrace the devil rather than God.  

Jesus in our gospel for today is calling for a wholesale repentance not selective repentance but wholesale repentance. This simply means that we would be willing to walk away from any sinful actions and thoughts. We would completely walk away from anyone who makes us sin and who influence us to sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 26, Friday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:54-59

Gospel: Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek fortunetellers to know what is in-store for you in the future?

Fortunetellers make a living by means of predicting the obvious things that will happen in our future. There are those who believe because what they foretold became a reality. So, they make a habit of consulting fortunetellers whenever there are major decisions to be made.

For some who cannot afford to pay their services. They make do by reading the daily horoscope available for free in some internet sites and other newspapers. And if what is written in their horoscopes are not favorable for them they would be bothered by it.  

If we have faith in Jesus, there’s no need to consult anyone regarding our future. We only have to get closer to Jesus through prayer, by listening to Him who directly speaks to us when we read the bible and through our pious attendance at Holy Mass.

Jesus is always an ever-present friend who is always there for us. He will not predict our future based on the obvious signs of the times. But He will always be an omnipresent companion as we walk from our present going to our future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 25, Thursday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

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Reflection:

What does it mean to be on fire for Jesus? It simply means that we have allowed the Holy Spirit to work in our lives by sharing and living the teaching of Jesus. During Pentecost the Blessed Mother, some women and many of the apostles were in the upper room (Acts 1:12-14). While there the Holy Spirit appearing in tongues of fire descended upon each of them (Acts 2:1-3). And from thereon they have allowed themselves to be set on fire by the teachings of Jesus.

During our Baptism we too have received the same fire of the Holy Spirit and the same Holy Spirit was further strengthened within us during our Confirmation. After we have received the Holy Spirit through these two Sacraments, could we now say that we are on fire for Jesus?

Or we have never been on fire even if we have received already the presence of the Holy Spirit. We remain to be timid Roman Catholics for we never cared to share our faith in Jesus. We remain to be Roman Catholics in name only with our faith always hidden within us.

Why not try to reverse this culture of complacency by allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to move us to share the gospel of Jesus? For example, why not try to schedule a weekly or even monthly reading and reflection of the words of Jesus in the bible amongst your family members or friends?

This may divide families and friends we may be even be labeled us neurotics for doing this but for as long as we do this with humility. We have nothing to worry about because we are simply living our faith. The division that we create for sharing the gospel will eventually heal and turn into cohesion and this is the miracle of Jesus.      

   

Are you on fire for Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 24, Wednesday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:39-48

Gospel: Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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Reflection:

Are you a faithful and prudent steward of the Lord?

We are all just stewards of everything that we have right now. It’s not ours everything that we have right now is only lent to us.  As such, we should properly manage what we have in our possession. We should all be worthy stewards; we should put to good use whatever talents that God has given us.

However, if we would not be up to the task that God has given us. We can rest assure that eventually everything that we have will be taken from us because we were not worthy of the blessings that God has bestowed on us.

The gospel today talks about the coming of the Son of Man.  The servants who were caught unaware were busy doing their own thing. These servants are like some of us; always very busy with the things of this world. We forget God or God becomes only our second or third priority.

We must put God forward first, before anything else it should be God first. How about the things of this world? It should be secondary. When we put God first and we abhor sin everything else would follow including our need for material things. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 23, Tuesday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

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Reflection:

Why does Jesus tells us to be vigilant? Because we never know when he will come, He may come any day that we least expect. This is how much Jesus loves us! If Jesus doesn’t love us He wouldn’t bother to tell us to be prepared. But in truth and in fact Jesus loves us dearly, are we able to reciprocate this great love of Jesus for us?

If we continue to do good; if we continue to be humble, if we are able to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. If we continue to bring others closer to Jesus and if we can walk away from sin then we are prepared. Are these already enough preparation for the coming of the Lord? We never know for we don’t have the capacity to read the mind of God.

Nevertheless, Jesus has already given us the lead on how we can best prepare ourselves for the great coming of the Lord. What if we are not prepared? We have nobody to blame but ourselves for this simply means that we refused to heed the call of Jesus.

Yet, there are many who live their life as if they own it for themselves, as if they are in control of their life. But nobody is in control except Jesus that’s why we must always be prepared.

Life is never permanent we may be in the pink of health today but we never know what may happen to us the next day or even the next minute. We never know if the breath that we will take before we sleep tonight is our last or not, this is how fragile life is.

This gospel is a wake up call for all of us to always be prepared. Are you always prepared? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 22, Monday; Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12 13-21

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

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Reflection:

What is material wealth that many of us are not able to let go of it? Many of us are even willing to sacrifice family relationship and honor just to have possession of this temporal wealth.  Many of us are even willing to work even to the detriment of our health just to have it.

We are even willing to sacrifice our good name and reputation to have wealth even dirty or corrupted wealth. Our greed for material wealth if not checked could be our ticket to the kingdom of the evil one.

Who among us are willing to go to hell in exchange for earthy wealth? None of us of course! Yet we keep on punishing ourselves to have it not knowing that this greed for wealth will only give us tons of problems and miseries.

Wealth per se is not evil it becomes evil once we allow ourselves to be controlled and manipulated by it. What should we do therefore? We must not allow wealth to control and manipulate us. We should not allow earthly wealth to dictate upon us. And this we can only do if we have Jesus in our lives.

Do you allow material wealth to possess you?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday October 21, Twenty-ninht Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:35-45

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

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 cup 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 cup 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."

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Reflection:

A Politician filed his certificate of candidacy to run for an elective post in his country. When he was asked by a reporter why he would run, he awkwardly said: “I want to serve our countrymen.”  However, at the back of his mind his real intention was playing in his thoughts. And it was all about his desire for power, respect and admiration.

Why do many of us aspire for power, respect and admiration? Do we want it because it enhances our self-worth? Do we want it to feed our egos and high regard of ourselves? Do we want it for the reason that we want others to look up to us and perceive us as someone who is powerful? It is all of the above actually and more, whether we admit it or not many of us are craving for self-centered honor to be bestowed upon us.      

James and John were also after greatness, respect and admiration that is why they asked Jesus if they could sit beside Him in His glory. They wanted those who would see them to be in awe by the influence that they have. Imagine sitting beside the Lord, it is a badge of honor; it is something that will make anyone proud. But Jesus rebuked them by saying, “You do not know what you are asking.”

  

In Jesus’ viewpoint self-centered greatness, egotism, and every kind of action for us to be adored and exalted amounts to nothing. Because Jesus himself shunned all of these fickle exaltations, Jesus avoided it like a plague. What is important for Jesus is to humbly follow the will of God. And that is none other than humble service and sacrifice to His people.

Which eventually led Him to give His very own life on the cross. For Jesus true greatness and power lies in servanthood, humility and forgetting of oneself for the good of humanity. 

Is this also our viewpoint?-  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 20, Saturday; Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.

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Reflection:

Are you aware of the presence of God the Holy Spirit in your life?

The Holy Spirit is the initiator of our faith. Before we know God the father and Jesus the Son it is first the Holy Spirit that is first introduced to us. This is made possible through our Baptism and its presence within us is strengthened thru the sacrament of Confirmation. This is how important the Holy Spirit to all of us. Perhaps this is the reason why Jesus said, the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

But it’s also ironic that among the three persons in one God it’s the Holy Spirit that is least known. Then, how could we have that special awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives? And how could we develop that deeper friendship with the Holy Spirit? How could we unleash its presence within us?

It’s through prayers that we can have awareness of its presence in our lives. If we develop a very prayerful life it’s second nature for us to be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It would not introduce itself to us for the simple reason that it has been with us ever since our Baptism.

Be prayerful therefore and always invite God the Holy Spirit to be an active presence in your life. He will surely not fail you if you ask with faith.

Do you want to have a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for October 19, Friday; Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 12:1-7

Gospel: Luke 12:1-7

(At that time) So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

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Reflection:

To whom do you entrust your life in this world?  Do you entrust it to Jesus or you always take control of your life? If you say that you are in control of your life this simply means that you take the driver seat and let Jesus take the passenger seat. However, when you take the driver seat you also open yourself to many worrying circumstances that would continuously disturb you for as long as you live.

In our gospel Jesus tells us that He knows everything about us; our deepest fears and worries. Even the number of our hairs He knows how many, then He assures us not to be afraid for we are worth more than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).

When we let Jesus take the driver seat of our lives we will have no more fear of anything that may befall us. Even death we will not fear anymore. For this is one of the countless blessings that we would receive from Jesus once we let Him take the driver seat of our lives.

There may come a time that we will hit a wall and everything in our life will come to a halt. And we will begin to ask ourselves: Where am I going and what is the purpose of my life in this world? This would come because we are always in the driver seat in full control of our life in this world.

Why not let Jesus take the driver seat and let Him take control of your life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 18, Thursday; Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist: Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household. If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you cure the sick in it and say to them ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.

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Reflection:

Why Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples in pairs? Jesus could have sent them one by one so that they could cover more ground thus the spread of the gospel would be much faster. But Jesus chose them to go in pairs.

In pairs for the reason that He wanted them to help each other in doing their mission for Him.   Jesus had it already in His mind that to do His mission is realistically not that easy. So, He deemed it right and wise to send them in pairs for them to help each other as they face the many challenges of their mission.

Why do you exist in this world? Do you exist for yourself only? Of course not! We exist in this world for a reason. And that reason is to help our fellowmen; we need to extend to them the good news about Jesus. We need to feed the hungry; we need to clothe those who do not have clothes. And we need to give hope to those who are losing hope.  

This is our vocation and mission as followers of Christ Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas