While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
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Reflection:
Has there been a time in your life wherein you felt giving up already because of the trials that you’ve been going through? What did you do? Did you ask Jesus to help you face your trials and help you carry your burdens?
One of the many reasons why Jesus brought Peter, James and John to the mountain of Transfiguration was to strengthen them. Jesus knew beforehand that Peter, James and John would be facing gargantuan challenges in their mission. That’s why Jesus saw it fit to bring them first to the mountain of transfiguration to assure them that heaven exist and it’s for them to own someday if they would be faithful to their mission.
Isn’t this our life with Jesus? Life full of challenges and often times trials as well? However, let us not be daunted by these difficulties let us face it with faith for Jesus is with us. He will never abandon us; He will be with us every step of the way as we face our many life’s challenges.
The event of transfiguration shows us that heavenly glory awaits us all. If only we would be faithful to our Baptismal mission which is to help Jesus in His mission of evangelization. But the sad reality is many are not doing it and many are not even aware that they have a mission to fulfill to propagate the faith.
We who know about this must never lose heart in doing our mission for Jesus and for the church. Yes, there would be obstacles and challenges along the way. But that is nothing compared to what awaits us after our journey in this world is over.
Jesus is assuring us that there is heaven and that is where we would be someday. We therefore have to share and live the teachings of the Lord no matter what it may cost us. Because the cost is nothing compared to the reward in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
For if you love those who love you, what
recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you
greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the
same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
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Reflection:
What is the supreme act of love? It’s the willingness to die for the one that we love. What is the next supreme act of love? It’s to love even those who are not lovable to our eyes. It’s to continuously keep the flame of love alive for a person who does nothing but hurt us.
But are we capable of following this radical love commandment of Jesus? It’s very hard to love the person who hates us. Take for example a spouse who does nothing but hurt us. How can you love him/her? If you only gaze our sights on this world it’s really difficult to love in such a situation.
But we are not only made for this world, God created us not only for this world alone. He created us to become a permanent dweller of heaven eventually. Therefore, we have to love even those who do not love us. We have to pray as well for those who do nothing but hurt us.
What will happen to your spouse if you continue to love him/her even if he/she doesn’t express his/her love for you? What would happen if you never give up and continue to pray for his/her conversion? He/she will eventually see the light of Jesus and be enlightened by it. For this is the miracle that Jesus gives to those who continue to have faith in Him.
This is what awaits those who never give up on love and the power of prayer. And this is the miracle that Jesus gives to those who never waiver on praying to Him.
Do you easily give up on love? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Kung
ang mga umiibig sa inyo ang siya lamang ninyo iibigin, ano pang gantimpala ang
inyong hihintayin? Hindi ba’t ginagawa rin ito ng mga publikano? At kung ang
binabati lamang ninyo’y ang inyong mga kapatid, ano ang nagawa ninyong higit
kaysa iba? Ginagawa rin iyon ng mga Hentil! Kaya, dapat kayong maging ganap,
gaya ng inyong Amang nasa Langit.”
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the
altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your
gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then
come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to
court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and
the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last
penny.”
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Reflection:
What is the cure for anger? It’s humility.
Nobody is perfect once in a while we get angry but do we have the humility to make amends after we have injured someone with our arrogance? Only a gentle and humble person would have the courage to say I’m sorry or to apologize.
But to say I’m sorry is not easy to do, only a humble person would summon enough courage to say this magic words that have healed so many disputes and arguments. In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us teaching about anger.
Jesus tells us that we must be reconciled with those whom we have differences and had feelings of enmity. But why do we get angry in the first place? We get angry because we lack humility, we get angry because we have this superiority complex against our fellowmen.
It’s only humility that can deescalate and eventually eliminate our anger. Let us therefore pray for the grace of humility, let us ask God the Holy Spirit to give it to us. The best test of humility is our willingness to apologize and to admit our mistakes before those whom we have hurt. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
“Narinig ninyo na noong una’y inutos sa mga tao, ‘Huwag kang papatay; ang sinumang makamatay ay mananagot sa hukuman.’ Ngunit ngayo’y sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang mapoot sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa hukuman; ang humamak sa kanyang kapatid ay mananagot sa Sanedrin, at sinumang magsabi sa kanyang kapatid ‘ulol ka!’ ay mapapasaapoy ng impiyero.
Kaya’t kung
naghahandog ka sa Diyos, at maalaala mo na may sama ng loob sa iyo ang kapatid
mo, iwan mo muna ang iyong handog sa harap ng dambana at makipagkasundo ka sa
kanya. Saka ka magbalik at maghandog sa Diyos. “Kung may magsakdal laban sa iyo
sa hukuman, makipag-ayos ka sa kanya habang may panahon, bago ka niya iharap sa
hukom. At kung hindi’y ibibigay ka niya sa hukom, na magbibigay naman sa iyo ng
tanod, at ikaw ay mabibilanggo. Sinasabi ko sa iyo: hindi ka makalalabas doon
hangga’t hindi mo nababayaran ang kahuli-hulihang kusing.”
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
“Do to others whatever you would have them
do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
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Reflection:
Do you sometimes feel helpless and burdened by so many problems? All of us go through these life episodes, some of us are able to survive and some are not.
In our gospel for today, Jesus gives us a recipe so that we would be able to survive whatever trials and problems that we will be going through in our lives. Jesus tells us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. These are comforting and healing words for all of us if only we believe and take these words of Jesus into our hearts.
Let us therefore have a permanent daily time with Jesus. Since it’s only through this daily time with Him that we could automatically go to Him to ask for His healing and comfort. The moment we start to incorporate Jesus in our daily lives we then could be assured that we will now be able to survive our problems and worries.
Let us endeavor to get closer to Jesus in
everyday of our lives. Let us ask Him for help and for guidance. Let us detach
ourselves from our many worldly attachments for the reason that this is what
hinders us to get closer to Jesus. And last but certainly not the least, let us
all exert an effort to leave behind our relationship with sin. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Bibigyan ba ninyo ng batos ang inyong anak kung humihingi ng tinapay? Bibigyan ba ninyo siya ng ahas kung humihingi ng isda? Kung kayo na masasama, ay marunong magbigay ng mabubuting bagay sa inyong mga anak, gaano pa kaya ang inyong Amang nasa langit? Ibibigay niya ang mabubuting bagay sa mga humihingi sa kanya!
“Kaya gawin
ninyo sa inyong kapwa ang ibig ninyong gawin nila sa inyo. Ito ang kahulugan ng
Kautusan ni Moises at ng turo ng mga propeta.”
At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will
arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah
they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
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Reflection:
Why do we meet or are acquainted with good
and Godly people? It’s for a good reason they don’t just come into our lives,
it’s always for a good reason.
For example, if you become friends with a good and Godly person. God led you to this person for you to become good and godly also. You did not become friends with him/her for you to be bad. Jesus sent this person to you so that you’ll be converted this is always the reason.
Some of us may listen or let this Godly friend influence us thus we become good and godly as well. But unfortunately this is not always the scenario because there are many who don’t care to listen. No matter how many times God calls them to renewal they will really not listen.
Jonah, in our gospel was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to call for their repentance. And they listened to him that’s why God spared them from punishment. After Jonah there were many more prophets who were sent by God they called also for conversion.
Until Jesus came, many listened to Jesus call for repentance and conversion. But sad to say many did not listen also. There was hardness in their hearts, they ignored Jesus they instead continued to embrace sin.
Jesus call of repentance did not stop with
the people of His time. The Lord’s call for repentance flows like an endless
stream up to this very moment and it is now addressed to us – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
“This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their
transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not
forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
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Reflection:
What is the prayer that reaches God? Its prayer that comes from the heart and a prayer made in the silence of our heart. It could be a long or short prayer that comes straight from our heart.
Jesus gives us the perfect prayer called the Our Father. This is called the perfect prayer because it comes from Him and Jesus gave it to us. Jesus Himself taught us to pray it. Do we pray this with our hearts or we simply pray it with our minds wandering elsewhere?
Let us recall when we are at Holy Mass, how do we pray the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer? Do we pray it with closed eyes or with open eyes? The best way to pray this perfect prayer is with closed eyes. Because when we close our eyes we shut ourselves from any form of distraction thus we are able to focus.
Deep in our hearts we seek to connect with God thru this prayer and thru our personal prayers as well. Because we hunger and thirst for God most especially when we pass through moments of loneliness, trial and disillusionment. Why? Because God alone gives meaning to our life. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ganito kayo mananalangin: 'Ama naming nasa langit, Sambahin nawa ang pangalan mo. Ikaw nawa ang maghari sa amin, Sundin nawa ang iyong kalooban dito sa lupa tulad ng sa langit. Bigyan mo kami ng pagkaing kailangan namin sa araw na ito; At patawarin mo kami sa aming mga kasalanan, Tulad ng aming pagpapatawad sa mga nagkakasala sa amin. At huwag mo kaming iharap sa mahigpit na pagsubok, Kundi ilayo mo kami sa Masama!
Sapagkat iyo ang kaharian at ang kapangyarihan at ang kapurihan, magpakailanman! Amen.' Sapagkat kung pinatatawad ninyo ang mga nagkakasala sa inyo, patatawarin din kayo ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Ngunit kung hindi ninyo pinatatawad ang mga nagkakasala sa inyo, hindi rin kayo patatawarin ng inyong Ama."
Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when
did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what
you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these
will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
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Reflection:
What do you feel when you sincerely help the needy, poor and in need? You will feel indescribable joy in your heart. Who give you this feeling of indescribable joyfulness? It’s Jesus none other than Jesus for the simple reason that what you do to them you do to Him as well.
We have in our gospel two groups of people: The group on the right side and the one on the left side. The group of people on the right side are those who helped the poor, in prison, needy and the like. Those on the left side are those who were insensitive to their needs. Of course the Good Lord favored those at His right side, so the Lord gave them eternal life. And those who were on His left side, the Lord gave eternal punishment.
This gospel invites us to reflect on how we relate with the poor and less fortunate. Let us be sensitive and look around. We may have relatives or neighbors who are not as affluent as we are. Many of us are carried away by the riches that we have that we tend to forget the less fortunate and the poor.
This lent is a wake-up call for all of us.
We must be concerned with their welfare, a concern that is real and not just
for show. A concern that is given flesh by actually helping the less fortunate
without any fanfare and publicity. Because the Lord knows everything anyway. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Ilalagay niya sa kanyang kanan ang mga tupa, at sa kaliwa ang mga kambing. At sasabihin ng Hari sa mga nasa kanan, ‘Halikayo, mga pinagpala ng aking Ama! Pumasok na kayo at manirahan sa kahariang inihanda para sa inyo mula pa nang likhain ang sanlibutan. Sapagkat ako’y nagutom at inyong pinakain, nauhaw at inyong pinainom. Ako’y isang dayuhan at inyong pinatuloy. Ako’y walang maisuot at inyong pinaramtan, nagkasakit at inyong dinalaw; ako’y nabilanggo at inyong pinuntahan.’
Sasagot ang mga matuwid, ‘Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom at aming pinakain, o nauhaw at aming pinainom? Kailan po kayo naging dayuhan at aming pinaramtan? At kailan po namin kayo nakitang may sakit o nasa bilangguan at aming dinalaw?’ Sasabihin ng Hari, ‘Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang gawin ninyo ito sa pinakahamal sa mga kapatid kong ito, ito ay sa akin ninyo ginawa.’
“At sasabihin naman niya sa mga nasa kaliwa, ‘Lumayo kayo sa akin, mga sinumpa! Kayo’y pasaapoy na di mamamatay, na inihanda para sa diyablo at sa kanyang mga kampon. Sapagkat ako’y nagutom at hindi ninyo pinakain, nauhaw at hindi ninyo pinainom. Ako’y naging isang dayuhan at hindi ninyo pinatuloy; ako’y nawalan ng maisuot at hindi ninyo pinaramtan. Ako’y may sakit at nasa bilangguan at hindi ninyo dinalaw.’
At sasagot
din sila, ‘Panginoon, kailan po namin kayo nakitang nagutom, nauhaw, naging
dayuhan, nawalan ng maisuot, may sakit o nasa bilangguan, at hindi namin kayo
pinaglingkuran?’ At sasabihin sa kanila ng Hari, ‘Sinasabi ko sa inyo: nang
pagkaitan ninyo ng tulong ang pinakahamak sa mga ito, ako ang inyong
pinagkaitan.’ Itataboy ang mga ito sa kaparusahang walang hanggan, ngunit ang
mga matuwid ay tatanggap ng buhay na walang hanggan.”
