1Reflection for Tuesday January 25, The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle (Feast): Mark 16:15-18

Gospel: Mark 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.  

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

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Reflection:

Have you already shared Jesus and the gospel to anyone? Jesus tells the apostles and us too: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).”  

Perhaps more than half of us would be saying that we’ve not yet shared the word of God and what is the reason? Perhaps lack of time is not the reason because if we can give time to our other worldly activities why can’t we have time to share the words of the Lord?  

To share our faith and Jesus is the duty of every baptized Christian no one is exempt from this responsibility. But how can we share if we don’t regularly read the bible? If we seldom go to Holy Mass? It’s by reading the words of the God and by making ourselves available at Holy Mass that we can become effective sharers of our faith.  

Saint Jerome has said: “Ignorance of the bible is ignorance of Christ.” This is very true, for us to effectively share Jesus we must know Him first. How can we share the faith if we seldom read the words of God in the bible and if we seldom go to Holy Mass? There’s no way for us to share our faith if we don’t know something about it and if we don’t make ourselves present at Holy Mass for the simple reason that we cannot give what we don’t have.   

Let us not be stagnant followers of Jesus, let us not be satisfied with this status quo. Let us read God’s words in the bible, let us live it and then let us have the courage to share it in whatever means possible.  

Share your faith within your family first, to your spouse, children and to the other members of your household. And see for yourself the miracle that Jesus would create in your life and in your family the moment you share Him.   

When you share Jesus, you assure yourself of a sacred space in heaven when your life in this temporal world is over and done with already. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

1Reflection for Monday January 24, Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Mark 3:22-30

Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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Reflection:

A  family would always go to church as a family and whenever there is a problem in their family. The father or mother would always see to it that they reconcile before the day is over. For to them God always wants a unified family. Indeed, God is an advocate of unity. 

Yet the devil wants to destroy the unity of the family for the simple reason that the devil is for disunity, problem and conflict. Because when there’s problem, disunity and conflict the evil one has the opportunity to come in and sow more havoc and disunity.     

In the gospel, Jesus talks about the importance of unity. He tells us; If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  

Unity indeed is very important and essential, for example in a family. What would happen If there’s no unity between the father and mother? Same as with friendship, how can friendship last if friends are not operating on the same wavelength?  

The same is true if we are not united with Jesus in everyday of our lives. What would happen to us If we live our lives apart from Jesus? And if we stand by ourselves in this world? We end up with nothing but division, loneliness and evil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday January 23, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.  

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He 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.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a group of young people that asked a learned man of faith about Jesus and the Catholic faith. He answered them and was able to satisfactorily address their questions. But when pressed to share some more of his wisdom he politely refused to do so. He told them that they should also read and study so that they would learn too.  

But what this learned man of faith doesn’t know was  the group who’ve asked him to share more of his wisdom were uneducated (they don’t know how to read and write). If only this learned man of faith were generous enough to share his time and wisdom. He could have blessed and watered barren minds thirsting to know more about Jesus and the universal faith. He could have been an instrument of evangelization and propagation of the faith. But he chose to be selfish so he kept to himself what was supposed to be generously shared. 

In the gospel we read about Saint Luke who is very generous about his knowledge of the faith. He wrote everything about the teachings accurately and then he shared it with Theophilus.  

In the second part of the gospel we also read about Jesus who was just through with His mission. Instead of resting for a while He went directly into the synagogue for the Sabbath day. There He passionately read the scroll about the prophet Isaiah that says: “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 (Luke 4:18-19).”  

in the first reading we also read about the Priest Ezra who generously read about the laws of God to all people from daybreak till midday. While reading it he touched hearts and minds thus it moved his audience to tears. The crowd was touched by the Holy Spirit because the priest Ezra passionately shared the book about God.  

We may not be that learned or knowledgeable about Jesus and our catholic faith but in our own little way we certainly know something that others don’t. Why don’t we also share what we know about Jesus and His message of salvation? There are many ways and means now of sharing our faith. For example, If we are not used to preaching before an audience let us use the many platforms available in the internet. Let us do it and let us not allow discouragement and fear to paralyze us because the Holy Spirit will be there to guide and help us.  

Let us take this extra step for Jesus because we will certainly touch hearts, empower minds and change lives too! – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Reflection for January 22, Saturday of the Second Week: Mark 3:20-21

Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.

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Reflection:

What happens when we get to serious with our vocation for the Lord? They normally would label us as someone who is out of his/her mind. For example, when we prioritize God over money, when we avoid friends even relatives from our environment friends/relatives who do not bring us any good. And instead we focus our time and energy working for the greater glory of God. They would really label us as somebody who is out of his/her mind.  

But come to think of it, who is out of his/her mind? Those who focus their time and energy for the greater glory of God or those who focus their time and energy to this world only? If you focus your attention to this world what would happen to you when you die? Where would you end up if you allow yourself to be possessed by this world?   

Jesus is labeled as out of His mind for the reason that He is very zealous in His mission for God. He allowed Himself to be possessed by His mission rather than embrace worldliness.  

There really are people who will not understand us for the things that we do for the greater glory of God. We must move on and continue doing our mission for Jesus. Let us just pray for the enlightenment of those who do not understand or refuse to understand what we do for the Lord.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Enero 22 Sabado ng Ikalawang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Marcos 3:20-21

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 3:20-21

20 Pagkauwi ni Jesus, nagsidating ang mga tao kayat hindi na sila nakakain. 21 Nang mabalitaan ito ng kanyang mga kamag-anak, lumabas sila para hulihin siya. Sinasabi nga nilang “Nababaliw   siya.”

Reflection for Friday January 21, Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (M): Mark 3:13-19

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

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Reflection:

How do you deal with betrayal? 

Jesus appointed the twelve to be His apostles; it means that they would be His supporter, helper, co-missioners and co-propagators of the gospel. It means also that they would stick it out with Jesus until the very end even at the cost of their lives.

Unfortunately there was one who betrayed Him in exchange for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Betrayal is an unfortunate incident that happens to all of us, sometimes those whom we trust or even love are the very people who would betray us.  

But we must learn from Jesus on how He handled Judas’ betrayal. He did not seek revenge for He knew that nothing good would come out of it. He just let it be and He continued to do His mission and let Judas deal with himself.  

Eventually Judas was bothered by his conscience and had a realization he returned the money to the chief priest. Then, he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).  

There would be those who will betray our trust even love. How should we react if say for example we pass through this betrayal? Should we get back at him/her and get even? Of course not! If we get even we are no different from the person who betrayed us. 

 Let us follow Jesus’ example when he dealt with Judas betrayal. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 20, Thursday of the Second Week: Mark 3:7-12

Gospel Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.  

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

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Reflection:

Would you always be with Jesus in good times and in bad? 

We normally converge with those who have power: Politicians, powerful government officials and healers. Nothings wrong with it for that’s our nature as humans we gravitate towards the powerful. What if they’re not in power anymore would we still gravitate towards them? 

In our gospel Jesus is treated like a rock star people from all over the place were flocking to Him. For what reason? It was for his healing power. What if He had no power to heal? Of course there would be no pursuers or fans. 

In the infancy of Jesus’ ministry hundreds up to thousands would follow because He had that power to heal, to speak wondrously and the like. But towards the end when He was about to be crucified the thousands evaporated like a dew in the morning.  

It should not be like that with our walk with Jesus, in good times and in bad we should always remain with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for January 19, Wednesday of the Second Week: Mark 3:1-6

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”  

But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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Reflection:

What would you do if you see a man with a withered hand? 

Jesus had two choices when He saw a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. The first choice was to simply ignore the sick man because it was the Sabbath day. The other choice was to cure the man and in the process ignore the Sabbath day. 

Jesus chose to heal the man and disregarded the Sabbath day. For Jesus it’s the welfare of the sick man first before the observance of the Sabbath law. In that instance Jesus chose to give priority to His ministry of healing rather than observe the Sabbath law.  

Jesus is a healer and His healing power is not bounded by anything be it criticism by His perceived enemies. His healing power is not solely restricted with physical healing; He heals us more spiritually and emotionally.  

But Jesus requires something from us also for us to get cured and that is our faith in Him. The same faith also of this man with a withered hand that was cured by Jesus on the Sabbath.  

Let us therefore hold on to Jesus with faith and never give up on the Lord no matter how hazy the horizon that is in front of us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for January 18, Tuesday of the Second Week: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

What is a Sabbath? 

Sabbath is a day of rest and worship based on this command: “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may work and do all your occupation, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then.” (Exodus 20:8-10) 

 Whenever there is a rule there is also a valid exception. And this is what Jesus was pointing out to the Pharisees. For Jesus the fulfilment of a valid human need is more important than fulfilling the law in this case the Sabbath law. 

Law/s should always serve the good of humanity, laws are there to serve humanity not to punish or restrict humanity. 

Some of us create restrictive and oppressive laws inside our own respective fields. Not to serve its purpose but to serve our own selfish purpose and interest. At the end, due to our insistence of fulfilling our self-created and self-serving laws. It results to enmity and discord among us. 

And the law that we have created to create order becomes the very reason for disorder, conflict and disunity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Monday January 17, St. Anthony, abbot (M): Mark 2:18-22

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.  

But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

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Reflection:

A renewed catholic had said that his life was never the same since he had a personal relationship with Jesus. He said that since he met Jesus he was always joyful.  And even if there were problems he always ensures that it would never ruin his day. His reason for his newfound joyfulness and happiness is his reenergized faith in Jesus.  

Fasting in the context of our gospel reading for today is connected with self-sacrifice or self-denial. Which is actually not bad because it strengthens a person’s faith and dependence on God. But there is something that is very much supreme than fasting and it’s no other than Jesus! If Jesus is in our life we have to rejoice.  

For the reason that Jesus will teach us to fast without anyone else knowing it and this is the more important form of fasting: fasting that is not for show and fasting that is not seen and known by anyone except Jesus.  

The disciples of John and the Pharisees in our gospel were after the exterior fasting. Fasting that can be seen by the naked eyes and Jesus surely hates this kind of superficiality. If we are already with Jesus we would not be concerned anymore about superficial fasting. For the simple reason that we will fast without broadcasting it for the world to hear and see.  

Nobody will know about this kind of fasting except you and Jesus. And this would surely happen the moment you learn how to surrender your life to the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday January 16, Feast of the Sto. Nino (In the Philippines): Luke 2:41-52

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

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Reflection:

Do you always bring your children to church for Holy Mass before the onset of Covid-19? 

As we celebrate today the feast of Sto. Nino we will obviously not be seeing processions, motorcades and parades in honor of the child Jesus. This acceptable considering the threat brought to us by covid-19. What is important is in the midst of covid-19 we still don’t forget to introduce our children to our faith.

Joseph and Mary absolutely knew the importance of introducing their child to their Jewish faith. That is why they brought the twelve years old Jesus to worship God during the yearly celebration of the feast of Passover. Joseph and Mary completely knew also that their worship for God will help form the young mind of Jesus. By doing so Jesus would learn to love and honor God more than anything else in this world.

The primary duty of parents is to teach their child/children to love and honor God and this they can do by teaching their children about our faith. Because the moment they do so everything that is good and Godly is inculcated in their young minds. And this will become their guiding light as they grow up.

During this pandemic induced times that we are in let us continue to teach our children about our faith and to love and honor God. Because this will serve them very well as they move forward with their young life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for Sunday January 16, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 2:1-11

Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."  

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.  

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

What can we learn out of this first miracle of Jesus in the wedding at Cana? We learn of the enormous influence of his mother Mary over him. In the middle of the wedding banquet they suddenly run out of wine however thanks to Mary who informed Jesus that there was no more wine left.  

Mary went to Jesus to tell Him that they have no more wine. On the surface it appears that Jesus doesn’t care if they have no more wine. However, deep within Him Jesus cared for the simple reason that it was brought to His attention by His mother Mary.  

What if Mary was not in the wedding, who amongst the disciples have the guts to approach Jesus to tell Him that there was no more wine? Perhaps nobody would have dared disturb their Master but thanks to the presence of Mary and her motherly instinct and influence over Jesus.  

Mary is always listened to by Jesus for the simple reason she is His mother. Jesus came into this world through Mary, from His birth up to His death Mary was with Jesus as well. No small wonder that Mary has great influence over Jesus.  

Do you always seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for January 15, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.  

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Reflection:

How can we convert sinners to become followers of Jesus? Of course we should approach them and be friends with them. Then as we become friends with them we also introduce Jesus to them. With the hope that they will eventually become a follower. Let us be patient with them, let us not judge them for what they’ve done and let us pray and hope for their eventual conversion.  

Jesus is a man of interactions He goes to sinners, interacts with them and even dines with them. Jesus always chose to interact with sinners for obvious reasons. How about us, do we interact with sinners? Do we mingle with them? And do we forgive them even if they don’t ask for forgiveness?  

There are people who prefer to stay in their ivory towers. They look down and despise sinners as if they are not sinners also. They quickly judge them as good for nothing and dangerous. But if we avoid sinners how could we convert them?  

If Jesus avoided Levi and the other tax collectors, He could not have converted them. They would have go on sinning until they die. But Jesus chose to interact with them for He knew that this was the only way to convert them. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for January 14, Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:1-12

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.  

After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Reflection:

Have we already brought someone closer to the Lord?  

The four men who helped the paralytic to be with Jesus were extraordinary men. They have merciful hearts, hearts that are not only concerned for their own wellbeing. We can just imagine the hardship that they have to go through so that they could bring the paralytic to Jesus.  

Surely, the four selfless men went home very happy with the thought in mind that they’ve done something noble and worthy. That feeling of happiness and fulfillment were their reward.  

The greatest reward that we could ever receive in this world is not money or material things for these are passing and temporary. Not even self-serving honors for it will eventually be forgotten. The greatest reward is to help someone who cannot pay us back. Who will simply pray for us and who will silently thank God for the help that they’ve received from us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas