Reflection for Sunday February 26, First Sunday of Lent: Matthew 4:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." 

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." 

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

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Reflection:

Have you been through the process of temptation?

Many of us if not all of us have gone through the process of temptation. And many of us were able to reject these temptations but sad to say that many also succumb to these temptations.  

Satan always disguises temptation as attractive satan does this to entice his prospects to fall into these temptations. However, after falling into these temptations, here comes sin, here comes problem that will surely disturb our peaceful life.  

After fasting for forty days and nights Jesus was naturally hungry and the devil thought that Jesus was now vulnerable.  Therefore the devil dangled before Jesus three temptations: Make the stone bread, throw himself off from the parapet of the temple for angels would catch him and last was the temptation of material possession. Jesus refused all these three temptations and thereafter He rebuked the devil away from His sight.

The clear message for all of us is to avoid temptation or to stand up against temptation for it will not bear any good fruit. It will only destroy us little by little as we immerse ourselves into it. For example, if you’re already married don’t allow yourself to succumb to the temptation of having an extra-marital affair because it will surely destroy you and those around you sooner or later.

There is no reward for temptation except misery, problems and disturbance of our peaceful life.  But the paradox is many still succumb to it. Why because we simply open ourselves to that temptation, we allow satan to take control of us. Hence, we become the disciple of satan the same satan who will eventually bring us hell even while we are still in this world.  

However, everything is not lost yet, the season of lent offers us a road of renewal which will lead us once again to the loving embrace of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Pebrero 26, Unang Linggo ng Apatnapung araw na Paghahanda: Mateo 4:1-11

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 4:1-11

Noong panahong iyon: si Hesus ay dinala ng Espiritu sa ilang upang tuksuhin ng diyablo. Doon, apatnapung araw at apatnapung gabi nag-ayuno si Hesus, at siya’y nagutom. Dumating ang manunukso at sinabi sa kaniya, “Kung ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos, gawin mong tinapay ang mga batong ito.” Ngunit sumagot si Hesus, “Nasusulat, ‘Hindi lamang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao, kundi sa bawat salitang namumutawi sa bibig ng Diyos.”

Pagkatapos nito’y dinala siya ng diyablo sa taluktok ng templo sa Banal na Lungsod. “Kung ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos,” sabi sa kanya, “magpatihulog ka, sapagkat nasusulat, ‘Ipagbibilin niya sa kanyang mga anghel na ingatan ka,’‘Aalalayan ka nila, upang hindi ka matisod sa bato.’” Sumagot si Hesus, “Nasusulat din naman, ‘Huwag mong subukin ang Panginoon mong Diyos.’”

Pagkatapos, dinala din siya ng diyablo sa isang napakataas na bundok. Mula roo’y ipinatanaw sa kanya ang lahat ng kaharian ng sanlibutan at ang kayamanan ng mga ito. At sinabi ng diyablo, “Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang lahat ng ito, kung magpapatirapa ka at sasamba sa akin.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Lumayas ka, Satanas! Sapagkat nasusulat, ‘Ang iyong Diyos at Panginoon ang sasambahin mo; Siya lamang ang iyong paglilingkuran.’”

At iniwan siya ng diyablo. Dumating ang mga anghel at naglingkod sa kanya. 

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 25, Sabado kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 5:27-32

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 5:27-32

Noong Panahong iyon, nakita ni Jesus ang isang publikano na nagngangalang Levi, nakaupo sa paningilan ng buwis. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Sumunod ka sa akin." Tumindig si Levi, iniwan ang lahat, at sumunod kay Jesus.  

Si Jesus ay hinandugan ni Levi ng isang malaking piging sa kanyang bahay. Nakasalo niya roon ang mga publikano at ang iba pang mga tao. Nagbulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at ang kanilang mga kasamang eskriba. Sinabi nila sa mga alagad ni Jesus, "Bakit kayo kumakain at umiinom na kasalo ng mga publikano at ng mga makasalanan?"  

Sinagot siya ni Jesus, "Hindi nangangailangan ng manggagamot ang walang sakit kundi ang may sakit. Naparito ako, hindi upang tawagin ang mga matuwid kundi ang mga makasalanan upang magsisi."

Reflection for February 25, Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 5:27-32

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

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Reflection:

What made Jesus call Levi to follow Him and what made Levi leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Of course, the main reason was Levi was a sinner and he got tired of living a life of sin. Therefore,
when Levi was called by Jesus he threw caution to the wind to follow Jesus. For he knew that at long last there is someone who’s not judging him and someone who’s willing to give him a second chance to live life away from sin.

In this gospel episode Jesus gives us valuable lesson on how we can call others to conversion. First is let us not be judgmental with those whom we perceive as sinners. Who are we to judge when we are sinners also? Second is let us always give others a second chance no matter how sinful they are.

There are many who are itching to live their lives away from sin but no one is willing to give them a second chance. It seems to them that almost everyone is condemning them. If only we know that they are already sick and tired of living in sin. If only we know that they are just waiting for us to call them to a life of renewal.

Let us make it our vow not to be judgmental. Let us make it our vow to give those whom we perceive as sinners a second chance. There are sinners because there are people who are judgmental and people who are not willing to give them a second chance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for February 24, Friday after Ash Wednesday: Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15 

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast.”

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Reflection:

What does fasting do to us? It cleanses our bodies, when we fast we dictate on our bodies rather than our bodies dictating on us. For example, when we see delicious food, our bodies would normally dictate upon us to eat that delicious food. This is always the scenario: Our bodies dictate upon us and we succumb to it. 

However, when we fast, it’s the other way around we don’t succumb to this dictate we contradict it, for what reason? For the observance of certain customs and tradition in this case we can cite our fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 

In our gospel, Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees why His disciples were not fasting. Jesus answered them this: They are not fasting for the reason that the bridegroom (Referring to Himself) is still with them. Therefore their tricky question was properly answered by Jesus. 

Literal fasting when done for a good reason is valid but when it’s done for people to see or to get praise. It becomes invalid or useless it’s much better not to fast when we do it for show.    

But there’s a much meaningful and permanent fasting that God wants us to do. We permanently fast from oppressing others, we permanent fast from our arrogance, unforgiveness and we permanently fast from our greed and indifference. 

Are you capable of doing these forms of fasting? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 24, Biyernes kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Mateo 9:14-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 9:14-15

Noong Panahong iyon, lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista at ang wika, "Malimit kaming mag-ayuno, gayon din ang mga Pariseo. Bakit po hindi nag-aayuno ang inyong mga alagad?" Sumagot siya, "Maaari bang magdalamhati ang mga panauhin sa kasalan habang kasama nila ang lalaking ikinasal? Kapag wala na siya, saka pa lamang sila mag-aayuno." 

Words of Wisdom - 7

 

Mga salita na puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 9

 

Reflection for February 23, Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Luke 9:22-25

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to faithfully follow Jesus? 

There is always a price to pay if we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. For example, Jesus himself tells us in the gospel that we must deny ourself of something and we must decide also to carry our own cross. These are the preconditions, there’s no free ride in following Jesus. We have to sacrifice our wealth, power, and the like for the cause of Jesus. 

But we have nothing to worry about these sacrifices because these are all temporal things that  may fly away from our hands anytime. What would Jesus give us in exchange for our earthly detachment? The Lord will give us something that is out of this world.  

What would it profit us if we have all the wealth and influence in this world yet we don’t have Jesus in our life? Material possession come and go same as with our very lives. We come into this world wearing nothing and with nothing and we leave this world with nothing as well. 

Let us not be afraid of the things that we will sacrifice in favor of our faithful discipleship for Jesus. For the reason that our earthly sacrifice is not in anyway comparable with the guidance and protection that we will have once we decide to faithfully follow Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 23, Huwebes kasunod ng Miyerkules ng Abo: Lucas 9:22-25

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 9:22-25

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ang Anak ng Tao'y dapat magtiis ng maraming hirap. Itatakwil siya ng matatanda ng bayan, ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga eskriba. Ipapapatay nila siya, ngunit sa ikatlong araw ay muling mabubuhay." At sinabi niya sa lahat, "Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin araw-araw ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa akin. 

Ang naghahangad magligtas ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito; ngunit ang mag-alay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa akin ay siyang magkakamit niyon. Ano nga ang mapapala ng tao, makamtan man niya ang buong sanlibutan kung ang katumbas naman nito'y ang kanyang buhay? Ano nga ang mapapala niya kung siya’y mapapahamak?”

Reflection for February 23, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:6-1, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had the habit of showing off through social media the good and pious acts that he does. For example, when he attends Mass he would take pictures of it and post it in his facebook. He does the same thing when he does acts of compassion, he does this so that his friends would take notice of it.    

The three core teachings of the gospel this Ash Wednesday is about Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting. Unlike our many facebook posts (pictures, comments, likes, etc…) wherein we show off so that our friends and many others will know who we are and what we are doing. We are being invited by Jesus to permanently veer away from this selfish and ego tripping mentality.  

On the aspect of Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting, Jesus is inviting us to do these noble acts without letting everyone know about it. Let us do these acts piety privately and ensure that nobody will know about it.  

For if we do these hidden from the prying eyes of our friends and the public at large. We would then earn approval from Jesus. Because this is what Jesus would always want us to do for as long as we live: Do our noble acts hidden from anyone’s eye.  

In the same breath, lent is also an invitation for us to reflect about our life, concerning our relationship with Jesus and the many sins that we have committed. For example concerning our sins; would we just let this sins remain or we will do something about it by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconcilliation? 

Our many sins pull us further away from God and if we are not careful we may live our life permanently away from the love of God. Would we want a life permanently cut-off from the love of God?  Of course not! Nobody wants to live his/her own life away from the love of God. 

Therefore, let us take a deeper spiritual reflection about our life this Ash Wednesday in particular and during lent in general. Let us take a closer look at our sinfulness, the fragility of life and our personal relationship with Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Pebrero 22, Miyerkules ng Abo (Pag-aayuno at Abstinensya): Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Pag-ingatan ninyo na huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang paggawa ninyo ng mabuti. Kapag ganyan ang ginawa ninyo, wala kayong matatamong gantimpala buhat sa inyong Amang nasa langit. 

“Kaya nga, kapag naglilimos ka, huwag mo nang ipagmakaingay ito, katulad ng ginagawa ng mga mapagpaimbabaw doon sa sinagoga at sa mga lansangan. Ginagawa nila ito upang purihin sila ng mga tao. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. Ngunit kung naglilimos ka, huwag mo nang ipaalam ito kahit sa iyong pinakamatalik na kaibigan upang malihim ang iyong paglilimos. At gagantihin ka ng iyong Amang nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo nang lihim.  

“At kapag nananalangin kayom huwag kayong tumulad sa mga mapagpaimbabaw. Mahilig silang manalangin nang patayo sa mga sinagoga at sa mga panukalang-daan, upang makita ng mga tao. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. Ngunit kapag mananalangin ka, pumasok ka sa iyong silid at isara mo ang pinto. Saka ka manalangin sa iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita, at gagantihin ka ng iyong Amang nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo nang lihim.  

“Kapag nag-aayuno kayo, huwag kayong magmukhang malungkot, tulad ng mga mapagimbabaw. Hindi sila nag-aayos upang malaman ng mga tao na sila’y nag-aayuno. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. Kapag ikaw ay nag-aayuno, mag-ayos ka ng buhok at maghilamos upang huwag mapansin ng mga tao na nag-aayuno ka. Ang iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita ang siya lamang nakaaalam nito. Siya, na nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo ng lihim, ang gaganti sa iyo.”

Reflection for February 21, Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

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

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

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Reflection:

Why do you follow Jesus? 

As Jesus and the disciples were walking He told them: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not pay much attention to what Jesus told them because they were also busy conversing as to who amongst them is the greatest.  

We assume that Jesus and the disciples were just through doing their mission of preaching the kingdom of God. They performed miracles such as: Healing the sick, expelling demons and a lot more. Because of these miraculous acts that they have done the disciple’s high regard for themselves got the better of them. They were already angling to covet the title as the greatest among the disciples. 

Are not many of us like the disciples? Do we not have hidden motives when we do acts of kindness? Do we not desire to be praised for what we do?  Do we not feel proud when we do good things? Was it possible that the disciples were feeding their own ego that is why they were already discussing who was the greatest amongst them?  

In the midst of their bloated egos, Jesus gave them a valuable lesson about humility and on how it is to become humble servants of the Lord and the people. Thus, He told them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

In other words if you want to be the leader then be a humble servant leader who is always ready to serve not minding the accolades and honors. Inside the heart of a true leader is the desire to humbly serve, he is always there silently walking his talk, practicing what he preaches. This is what Jesus wanted the disciples to imbibe: For them to become humble servants. 

This is also what Jesus wants for us but some of us are the opposite of the servant leader that Jesus wants the disciples to become. Instead of putting the title leader into our hearts we put it instead into our heads. That is why we become fake and arrogant leaders who only want to give orders. Who only want to abuse and take advantage of our innocent followers. 

We therefore only want to serve our own personal interest. The servant leadership that Jesus wants us to have is permanently eased out from our system because what takes over is our greed for power, our ego and our arrogance. 

What must we do so that we can rightfully claim that we truly follow the greatest servant leader who ever walked this earth?  We must be humble at all times; we must continuously decrease while Jesus continuously increase through our acts of humility. 

The mistake of many of us who follow Jesus is we often times act without humility. We feel that we are above all because we have this distorted sense that we are close to Jesus when in fact we are not. Our closeness or intimacy with the Lord is not defined by our religious titles, ranks and position neither it is defined by the frequency of our worship for Him. 

Our closeness to Jesus is determined by how we live HIS virtue of humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for February 20, Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:14-29

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 

Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” 

They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood.  

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

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Reflection:

Do you have a rock-solid faith in the Lord? 

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

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

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

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

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