Reflection for September 3, Tuesday; Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor: Luke 4:31-37

Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

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Reflection:

Do you recognize the authority of Jesus over you?

When Jesus speaks He speaks with authority and being so we have to listen to Him. For example, His teachings about love, forgiveness and humility. Do we love and forgive the way Jesus loves and forgives? Do we live the virtue of humility? For example if there’s misunderstanding in the family, are we humble enough to extend our hand of forgiveness even if we are not the culprit?

In our gospel even the demon recognized the power and authority of Jesus. If the demon listens to Jesus we must listen to Jesus as well. However, many of us don’t listen because we prefer to listen to our own selves.

The aspect of forgiveness, sin and humility is where we are usually weak. We usually find it hard to forgive, to avoid sin and we find it very hard to humble ourselves. Why? Because we override the teaching of Jesus with our ego.

We must listen to Jesus if we want peace and quiet in our lives. Otherwise there would always be an absence of peace within us and absence of harmony within our own homes. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for September 2, Monday; Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:16-30

Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “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:

Do you sometimes envy the success of your fellowmen?

Acceptance of somebody who achieved something is occasionally hard to accept for many of us. Most especially if we know the person and his/her background pretty well. We sometimes are unbelieving and scornful of them.

This behavior of non-acceptance happened also to Jesus when He went back to Nazareth, the town where he grew-up. Jesus’ town mates did not accept Him even if it was very obvious that he was very exceptional.

Their hearts were hardened already for Jesus. The worst part is they even tried to kill him. This is human behavior at its worst! But why is it that we can’t accept? There’s no other reason but pride, envy and arrogance.

Our pride, envy and arrogance will not bring us any good. It will only hasten our downfall! If we allow these negative emotions to rule our hearts no good will ever happen to us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday September 1, Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:1, 7-14

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14

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 every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then he said to the host who inited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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Reflection:

A man was aspiring to be the leader of his group, so he said to himself: “I will talk a lot and flaunt my intelligence so that they would notice me.” So he did, he was always talking and very opinionated with the end in mind that he would be noticed by his peers and be anointed as their leader. When election day came he was not elected to lead the group instead the one that was chosen was the quiet and humble member.

What is the advantage of a humble person over an egotistical person? The crowd always favors the humble person. The humble will never aspire to be in front he would be content to be at the sideline doing his assigned task. If somebody would notice what he does he would appreciate it without gloating about it. If he would be assigned a position of prominence he would not immediately accept it. He would instead first think carefully about it. The humble person is not boastful, not egotistical and doesn’t seek prominence. 
  

In the gospel for this Sunday Jesus talks about humility. Jesus tells us that if we are invited into a wedding banquet or any banquet for that matter. We should choose to seat at the back and not in the place of honor, not because we feel inferior or we have an inferiority complex.  We seat at the back for this is the right action to do. Afterwards if the host would call our attention to be seated elsewhere then we should follow.

What if for example a person doesn’t have humility?  Could he be converted to imbibe the virtue of humility? Yes absolutely! He could be converted provided that he would be ready to follow the leadings of Jesus in his life. Why? Because in each and everyday of our life Jesus is always inviting us to leave behind our character of arrogance and hunger for prominence.

For the simple reason that these would only bring us trouble and problem. And it would certainly keep us away from the love and mercy of God. Because Jesus always wants us to be humble. And the virtue of humility if this is present in a person’s life could become his walkway towards Jesus.    

Strive to be humble and ask Jesus to make you humble for nothing is impossible for the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 31, Saturday; Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:14-30

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back. His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has more will be given and he will grow rich but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

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Reflection:

Are you prepared if the Lord would have an accounting of the talents that He had given you? In the gospel the master who returned from a journey had an accounting of the talents that He loaned to His servants.

What if the master did not return? There would have been no accounting for the servants most especially the third unproductive servant who was given one talent. But the master returned thus creating a problem for the third servant.

Inaction or status quo is never an option in our faith life or even in our life itself. We have to move we have to take calculated risk and sweat it out otherwise we will not grow and bear fruit in our faith life. The same with our daily existence; if we would just lay idle and not move we will not survive we will die of hunger. 

Because of his laziness and lack of initiative to move the third servant was labeled as useless by his master. He was thrown into the darkness of hell where there was grinding and wailing of teeth. 

By our baptism the Good Lord had entrusted us also with talents and responsibilities according to our abilities. Parents have this inherent responsibility which they must use for them to become good and Godly parents.

In what manner could we become good and Godly parents? We teach our children about our faith for the simple reason that we are the first formators or teachers of our children. The home is also the domestic church or the little church where children are initially introduced to Jesus and formed with values. Parents must also teach children how to live simply because God created us to live simply and not to live complicated and worldly lives.

How else could be become productive talent bearers of the Lord in this world? We have to serve the church in whatever capacity, we have to integrate our faith life with our parish church for us to grow more in our faith life. And of course we also have to teach and live our faith so that through us it could grow further.

Someday there would also be an accounting of the talents or responsibilities that Jesus had entrusted to you. How would you account to the Good Lord? Would you be like the two productive servants or you would be like the third unproductive servant who did nothing and risked nothing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 30, Friday; Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:1-13

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

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Reflection:

Are you always prepared for the arrival of the Lord?

In the gospel there are two sets of virgins composed of five women who waited for the bridegroom. The one set belongs to the five who were foolish and the other set belongs to the wise ones.

 We would always want to be identified with the five wise virgins who brought more than enough oil. The oil that they brought keep their lamps burning until the arrival of the bridegroom. By doing so they gained entry to the wedding reception which is the kingdom of heaven.

The other five were not as fortunate for they were refused entry. They have nothing to blame but themselves, if only they were like the five wise virgins they could have also been present in the wedding feast.

One of the realities of life is its fragility it could end anytime. We don’t hold our life its God who knows when would our call time to the great beyond will be. This is the mystery of our life, it’s temporary and uncertain. So while we are still alive let us always be prepared. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 29, Thursday; The Passion of Saint John the Baptist: Mark 6:17-29

Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Reflection:

How would you react if you discover an adulterous relationship? Would you simply keep quite for fear of the consequence once you speak against it? Or you courageously speak against it never minding the consequence that it may bring you.

Saint John the Baptist chose the road less travelled, he denounced the adulterous relationship of King Herod and Herodias. Thus, he dearly paid for it with his life. John could just have pretended to see no evil and hear no evil. But John did not let their adulterous relationship pass by him quietly; he made noise by denouncing it.  

What if we are John?  How would we react? Would we just let it happen, be indifferent and do nothing? The problem with this kind of behavior is we are perpetuating and consenting with evil. And we all know that evil will not bring us any good. So the moral action that we must do is to defeat any form of evil and immorality.

Just like what John did, this is very difficult to do but we have to do it otherwise we are consenting with evil. By speaking out we are actually leading them to the right and moral path of life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 28, Wednesday; Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Matthew 23:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!

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Reflection:

Why is Jesus so aghast with the scribes and the Pharisees? This is because they don’t walk their talk, what they say is contrary to what they do. They tell their people to do this and that yet they don’t do it themselves. They are only good at giving commands and it ends there.

They also are very much conscious with their outside appearance. They always put their best foot forward so to speak yet they don’t care about their manipulative behaviors.

They are very much like many powerful people who project clean public image but lacking in integrity. They manipulate people for them to looked up to as if they are as powerful as God. But nothing last forever in this world; eventually the powerful will become without power.

We therefore have to become transparent and sincere toward our fellowmen. No manipulation, no fakery and superficiality because Jesus’ abhors these kinds of pharisaic attitudes and behaviors. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for August 27, Tuesday; Memorial of Saint Monica; Matthew 23:23-26

Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.

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Reflection:

Which is more important to you? The outside appearance of a person (what is seen) or the interior attitude of a person (what is not seen)? For Jesus it is always the interior, the content of a person’s heart and thought.

What is seen doesn’t matter for what good it is to have a handsome/beautiful face, to have nice houses and to have wealth. If the content of our hearts and minds are filthy and toxic? What good it is to have all the material wealth and power in this world if we have no God in our heart and if we have no compassion and love?

What is seen is temporary but if we have God in our heart, if we have compassion and love, we  are forever peaceful until the end.  

The Pharisees in the gospel which were the ruling power during Jesus’ time were the recipient of Jesus woes. For they were always looking good and pious on the outside but morally and spiritually lacking in the inside. Thus, Jesus wanted them to change and to have an interior cleansing and renewal.

Let us reflect on these pronouncements of Jesus for He is speaking to us as well. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 26, Monday; Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 23:13-22

Gospel: Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

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Reflection:

Do you allow your faith in Jesus to transform you to become a practicing follower?

 For example, His teaching on how many times you should forgive (Matthew 18:21). Do you follow this teaching that says that you should always be forgiving or you put limitations and conditions before you forgive? Or you appear to forgive but deep in your heart you still keep a deep seated hatred toward your enemy?

Jesus in our gospel condemns in strongest terms the scribes and Pharisees because they teach but they themselves don’t follow what they teach. They do mission to convert people to their faith but when they are already converted. 

They condition and indoctrinate their minds for them to follow whatever they say. By doing so the followers don’t anymore follow the teachings of God but the self-serving teachings and caprices of their leaders.

What Jesus wants from us is to lead by example; We should mean what we say and do what we say. We should not only put lip service to what we say and profess. For example, if we say we follow Jesus it is incumbent upon us to be like Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday August 25, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who died, minutes before his last breath he said to his family: I will go to heaven to be with the Lord because I know Jesus. After he died he was not allowed entry to the heavenly gates. Since, he knew the Lord he asked: “Why am I  barred from entering heaven I know Jesus?” The angel said to him, “Yes you know the Lord but you did not do something for him during your lifetime.” 

How are you living your life today? Do you live it in pursuit of the many pleasures of this world? There are many stories of destroyed lives for the simple reason that they immersed their lives in this world. Not knowing that they were actually being brought little by little by the devil to his kingdom.

The door to hell is wide, it’s full of worldly pleasures, for example, try going to a night club or a disco house in the dead of night. What would you find there? People who loves worldly pleasures, people who would readily commit sin if the opportunity presents itself most especially when they are already intoxicated.  

Jesus in our gospel talks about the narrow door; this is the door that leads to Himself. Why is it narrow? Because to follow the Lord is not a bed of roses we have to sacrifice to follow the Lord. Knowing the Lord and following Him are two different things. It’s very easy to say I know the Lord but to follow Him is difficult in the sense that we have to go through purification and sacrifice. However, after our purification and sacrifice we will be in heaven this is the reward that awaits us someday.

We need to reflect and ponder at some point in our lives and ask ourselves this question, is my life all about knowing the Lord and not following Him? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 24, Saturday; Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle; John 1:45-51

Gospel: John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Reflection:

Have you shared your faith and friendship with Jesus?

If yes, well and good continue sharing Jesus and continue reforming and saving lives through Jesus. You may not see worldly rewards with what you do for Jesus now. But you surely will receive a reward from Jesus that is beyond your comprehension someday.   

Time and again we've heard personal testimonies about how Jesus restored back their wayward lives. From a pointless life to a life of purpose and meaning all because of Jesus. From a life of addiction to a life free from any form of addiction and so forth.

In our gospel, Philip was on fire for Jesus, he wanted to share the miracle of Jesus to his friend Nathanael. That is why Philip said to Nathanael: “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth (John 1:45).”

Our faith and intimacy with Jesus becomes more alive, meaningful and productive when we share it. For example, we become a beacon of light for Jesus once we share our personal relationship with HIM. Then, by doing so we save wayward lives, thus we once again create meaning and purpose in a person’s life.

You may not have shared Jesus yet, be not afraid to share HIM now. You will bless others when you share Jesus and Jesus will surely bless you as well for doing so.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 23, Friday; Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 22:34-40

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and  one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

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Reflection:

How deep is God’s love for us? We will never know because God’s love for us is infinite. As a testament of God’s infinite love He even gave His only begotten son so that we could be freed from the curse of original sin.

How deep is our love for God? This is something that we have to think about deeply. Is it enough to express our love for God by fulfilling our Sunday obligation? Certainly not for God requires that our love for Him should translate to our love for our neighbor. Therefore if we say we love God we also should learn to love our neighbor no matter how unlovable this neighbor.

Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor could be a relative, a friend, a literal neighbor or a complete stranger who needs our help. The big question here is what if this neighbor is unlovable or what if this neighbor is not good to us? Should we still give our love to this neighbor?  

Yes of course for we cannot separate our love for God with our love for our neighbor. If we say that we love God yet we don’t love our neighbor because they are not good to us, then how could this love of God that we profess be true?    

Therefore to love God is to unconditionally love our neighbor no matter if this neighbor has deeply hurt us. To love God is to forgive everyone who caused us pain. Do you love God? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for August 22, Thursday; Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen."

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Reflection:

What are you going to do if say for example a neighbor would invite you to go to church for Holy  Mass? Would we accept it or not?  It would be easy to accept the invitation for those who grew attending Holy Mass. But it would also be hard to accept the invitation if those who are being invited are not regular Sunday Mass goers.

But what are we missing when we refuse the invitation of the Lord to be present at Holy Mass? We miss being in heaven for an hour while we are still here on earth. We miss to attend the holiest and blessings filled gathering of people.    

In our gospel, those who were invited refused the invitation of the king to attend the wedding feast of his son. For they all have their own preoccupations and priorities, but come to think of it; what is one hour for the wedding feast?  What is one hour for our attendance at Holy Mass compared to seven days or 168 hours that we give to our personal lives in a week? 

Jesus in the gospel invites us to go to Holy Mass, He doesn’t care about who we are: How sinful we are, how poor or rich we are. What the good Lord only cares is our willingness to be with Him at Holy Mass so that He could spiritually bless our worldly life.

If our focus is always with our personal and worldly activities we would end up with nothing eventually. What is with all of these worldly activities when all of these are not permanent and lasting? When all of these we will leave behind when we eventually die?! Many of these worldly undertakings that we prioritize over our worship for Jesus could even result to the disintegration of our family. Or could even result to our getting sick!  

What would it benefit us if we gain all the material riches of this world yet we don’t have Jesus in our life? - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 21, Wednesday; Saint Pius X, Pope; Matthew 20:1-16

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us. He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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Reflection:

How does the mind of God thinks? It definitely think not like our minds, it definitely decides not based on how we decide. There are times that God’s decisions are not according how we would like it to be. Nevertheless, we simply have to follow and obey no matter how much we disagree with God.

In the gospel, the workers who worked much earlier were complaining to the landowner (God) because they have the same wage as with those who worked late in the afternoon. Why did they complain to the landowner?

They complained because they thought that there seem to be an injustice on how the landowner paid them. But there was no injustice because everyone of them agreed to receive the usual daily wage. Therefore there was no injustice, it so happen that God was generous  to everyone of them.

There may be events in our lives that we may be tempted to question the wisdom of God and His decisions. But who are we to question the wisdom of God? Who are we to complain before God?

Instead of questioning, why not simply obey? Why not always humble ourselves before God and continue to trust in His infinite wisdom? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for August 20, Tuesday; Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church; Matthew 19:23-30

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:“ Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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Reflection:

Is there a reward for following Jesus? Yes there is! What then is the reward, material riches? No, it’s something more profound than anything in this world. It’s something that no worldly riches no matter how enormous could buy.

Many of us may quantify through material riches the reward that Jesus will give us once we decide to follow Him. This is a big lie for Jesus is not a God of materialism yet there is a God of materialism named Satan or the devil. The devil would normally entice his prospects to be greedy with material wealth. Then as the devil takes control of his prospects he slowly destroys the person and his/her family.

So what is the reward of following Jesus? It’s eternal life (Matthew 19:29)! Eternal life that we would even feel while we are still living in this world. For example, those who faithfully follow Jesus have this certain feeling of peace and serenity in their lives. They are always peaceful and not afraid no matter the challenges that they may encounter. This is so because they already gave their faith and confidence to the Lord.     

Then, when these faithful followers finally depart this world, they will be like seeds planted beneath fertile soil. They will once again rise and have new life. Not in this temporal world anymore but in heaven in the company of God and His holy angels.

Would you follow the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for August 19, Monday; Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:16-22

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher,  what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was seeking peace within himself. Because he was wealthy he thought that his wealth would give him peace of mind but it did not. Until he saw an advertisement in his smart phone that said: “Follow Jesus if you want to find peace in your life.” So he disregarded his wealth and he followed Jesus. And true enough the man finally found peace of mind that he was longing for a long time.

Are your possessions in this world your sole obsession for living? The young man in our gospel was obsessed with his possessions for he couldn’t give it up in exchange for his discipleship with Jesus.  He was seemingly a good man but how come he couldn’t give up his wealth? If this young man was all good, he would have given up his wealth for the Lord but he did not.

Does this young man represent many of us today? Yes! For there are many of us who are enslaved by wealth. Yes, many of us do good but sometimes the good that we do is for others to see. When nobody sees us anymore we once again allow ourselves to be possessed by wealth. We work hard for wealth some of us even sacrifice our honor  for wealth as if it will give us peace, contentment and happiness.

Who can give us peace, happiness and contentment in this world? It’s only Jesus, He alone can give us peace and contentment. The rich young man in the gospel did not see it in Jesus that’s why he sacrificed his once in a lifetime opportunity in favor of his possessions/wealth.

How about you? Who would you choose the glitters of material wealth and power or the life of peace and contentment with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas