1Reflection for October 20, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:35-38

Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

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

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Reflection:
Are you afraid to die?

The thought of death is something that we always dread; we never want to speak about it. But death is one reality of life that will come to each one of us. No one is exempted, rich or poor, educated or not educated, whoever we are it will eventually come to us. 

Jesus in our gospel is calling us to prepare for the unannounced coming of the Lord in our lives. It’s sad that the coming of the Lord comes to many of us through our death only. But do we need to be sad? For example if we are given by our doctor a month to live, should we be sad with this heart wrenching news? Of course we are entitled to be sad for this is part of our being human. 

But after a while the sadness should be replaced by our confidence and faith in God. For the reason that we actually have nothing to fear about death if we have strong faith in the Lord. For some death is even welcome news for them. How could this be? Ahh, the reason is very simple; they have long prepared for this by their obedience and closeness to Jesus. As such they are not afraid to die and meet God who by the way is the author of our lives. 

Therefore, it’s always imperative for us to take seriously the advice of Jesus to the disciples. To always be prepared for the coming of the Lord for we don’t know when it will be. 

Are you already prepared for the Lord’s coming into your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for October 19, Monday; Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 12:13-21

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

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

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

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Reflection:

What will be the scenario when we are a few inches away from the doorway of death? Would we still be concerned about our wealth? No, not anymore what would be of prime importance during that time are the relationships that we’ve built. 

The first that will matter is the relationship that we’ve built with God, the next is the relationship that we’ve built with our relatives and friends. Our wealth no matter how enormous will not occupy a space in our minds. 

Why is this so? Because wealth will not count as our ticket to heaven, what will count is the relationship that we have created with God. What will count are the good deeds that we’ve done to those who are in need. 

 But the paradox is so many of us today who are alive and healthy are actively in pursuit of wealth and power. That we don’t anymore care how many lives would we be stepping on just to have it. We don’t anymore care if we will be called greedy or corrupt just to have it. 

In our gospel for this Monday, Jesus is teaching us not to live our lives for the accumulation of wealth, He teaches us to be generous and not greedy. Jesus teaches us instead to build a relationship with Him. To spread and share our blessings with others most especially today wherein many are going hungry because of the covid-19 pandemic. 

What occupies most of your time right now, is it still the accumulation of wealth and other  worldly things? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday October 18, Twenty- ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:15-21

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. 

Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

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Reflection:

What belongs to God and what belongs to Caesar? 

What belongs to God is everything that we own including this life that we have. And what belongs to Caesar the roman governor during that time which represents the government that we have right now? What belongs to Caesar are the duties and taxes that we are obliged to pay. 

The Pharisees were always critical of Jesus because they saw Jesus as a threat to their dominance. This is the reason why they’d been plotting against Him (Mt 12:14) and our gospel episode today is part of their elaborate plan. But Jesus was aware of their dangerous scheme against Him; He knew their detailed plan to unconscionably kill Him. 

So, they ask Jesus this very elementary question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"  They thought that they would be able to pin Him down with this question. Since if Jesus would say that it is lawful the people would get angry with Him. Because paying this tax was abhorred by the people thus it will harm His reputation as a charismatic leader. If Jesus would say that it is unlawful then He would be persecuted by the powerful roman government of that time. 

In the minds of the Pharisees it seems that Jesus has no way out in this situation. But Jesus knew beforehand about their immoral plan. Therefore He said to them:"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites! So He asked for the coin used to pay the tax and He said: Whose image is on the coin? And they said, Caesar! Jesus said to them give to Caesar what is his and to God what belongs to God and once again Jesus is able to extricate Himself from this wicked scheming of the Pharisees.

Jesus knows everything what is in our hearts: Our devious and wicked pretensions. Our plans to use God for our own selfish interest and our many more evil thoughts, He knows everything about it. In other words, we cannot hide anything from God and we surely can’t fool HIM. 

Jesus knows everything what is in our hearts: Our devious and wicked pretensions. Our plans to use God for our own selfish interest and our many more evil thoughts, He knows everything about it. In other words, we cannot hide anything from God and we surely can’t fool HIM.  

Let us also honestly give the tax that is due to the authorities let us not try to deceitfully avoid it for this is our obligation to the government. And the most important is we must give God what is rightfully His. What are these? Let us give help to our church, let us extend help to the poor in wealth and spirit and most of all, let us give our everything to God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Oktubre 18, Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:15-21

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22:15-21

15 Umurong ang mga Pariseo at nagpulong kung paano nila huhulihin si Jesus sa sarili niyang mga salita. 16 Kaya ipinadala nila ang kanilang mga alagad kasama ng mga kampi kay Herodes. Sinabi nila kay Jesus: “Guro, nalalaman namin na tapat kang tao at tunay na nagtuturo ng daan ng Diyos; hindi ka napadadala sa iba at nagsasa¬lita hindi ayon sa kalagayan ng tao. 17 Kaya ano ang palagay mo: ayon ba sa Batas na magbayad ng buwis sa Cesar? Dapat ba tayong magbayad sa kanya o hindi?”  

18 Alam naman ni Jesus ang ma¬sama nilang pakay, at sinabi niya sa kanila: “Mga mapagkunwari! Bakit ninyo ako sinusubukan? 19 Ipakita ninyo sa akin ang perang pambuwis.” Ipinakita nila ang isang denaryo, 20 at sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Sino ang naka¬larawan dito, na narito rin ang kanyang pangalan?” 21 Sumagot sila: “Ang Cesar.” At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Kung gayon, ibigay sa Cesar ang para sa Cesar, at sa Diyos ang para sa Diyos.”

1Reflection for October 17, Saturday; Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

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

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

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Reflection:

Do you want to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? 

One of the major requisites for us to have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to first acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then, after that the gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit and everything else about the faith and church would follow. 

The Holy Spirit will open our minds to the various avenues about the majestic history of the church and the many truths about it. We also would start to become more aware of the true purpose of our life in this world. 

As the Holy Spirit opens us to the many truths of the church it simultaneously works in our lives by purifying us. It enlightens us to the gifts of: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3). 

Let us therefore seek out Jesus Christ first by knowing more about Him. Let us be faithful to Him and we surely would feel the outpouring gifts of the Holy Spirit. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 16, Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:1-7

Gospel: Luke 12:1-7

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

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.  

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

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Reflection:

Have you openly voiced out your opinion on something that is wrong? For example, you’ve noticed that something is wrong in your family or in your church community, what do you normally do? Do you simply let it be as if you see nothing and hear nothing for the reason that you’re afraid that you will be rebuked? 

The best course of action to take in such situation is to do something that will contribute to the resolution of the problem. To keep silent and pretend to see and hear nothing is never an option. We have to act without fear and do something appropriate and good. 

As followers of Jesus we must see to it that we are always relevant and always in the thick of things. We have to see to it that we are catalyst in building bridges so that there would be peace and harmony. This is always the right course of action to take as followers of Jesus. 

To be effective we always have to undertake this with calmness and humility. We should not push our weight around and bully people so that they would listen to us. For how could we become Jesus’ instrument of healing and reconciliation if we will act like a bully or dictator? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Oktubre 16, Biyernes; sa Ika-28 na Linggo ng Taon: Lucas 12:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 12:1-7

1 Nang magkatipon ang libu-libong tao hanggang magkatapakan na sila, sinimulang sabihin ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Mag-ingat muna kayo sa lebadura ng mga Pariseo, na walang iba kundi ang pag­ku­kunwari.  

2 Walang tinatakpan na di mabu­bun­yag, walang natatago na di malalaman. 3 Kaya naman, ang sinabi ninyo sa dilim, sa liwanag maririnig; at ang ibi­nulong ninyo sa mga kuwarto, sa bu­bu­­ngan ipahahayag. 

4 Sinasabi ko naman ito sa inyo na mga kaibigan ko: huwag ninyong kata­kutan ang mga nakapapatay sa katawan at wala nang magagawa pa. 5 Ituturo ko sa inyo kung sino ang dapat ninyong katakutan: matakot kayo sa may kapangyarihang pumatay at may ka­pangyarihan pang mag­bulid sa impiyer­no. 

Oo, sinasabi ko sa inyo, ito ang kata­kutan ninyo. 6 Di ba’t ipinag­bibili nang dala­wang pera ang limang maya? Subalit isa man sa kanila’y di nalilimutan ng Diyos. 7 Bilang na pati ang lahat ng buhok sa inyong ulo. Huwag ka­yong matakot; mas maha­laga pa kayo kaysa maraming maya.

1Reflection for October 15, Thursday; Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: Luke 11:47-54

Gospel: Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. 

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

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Reflection:

Do you listen to those who care for you and to those who give you meaningful advice? Or you don’t care to listen for the reason that you want to drive your own life? 

In our lifetime there shall be people who will come into our lives to give us advice and to guide us. Or people who by the example of their lives would make us think to change our life for the better and live behind sinfulness.  Some of us will care to listen to them but many will simply ignore and continue to live sinfulness. 

Why is it that many don’t care to listen? Stubbornness is already inherent in our mindset that is why we don’t listen. We want to live life the way we want it. And our usual reason is: “This is my life and I’m responsible for my life!” Many of us even get angry with those who give us meaningful advice. What happens to those who don’t listen? They learn their lesson the hard way: their lives become mired in sin and they naturally suffer for it. 

Nevertheless there’s still hope we can reverse the vicious cycle of sinfulness. We just need to change our way of life. Or follow the advices given to us by people whose only desire is for the good of our own wellbeing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for October 14, Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

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Reflection:

Are you a good leader? For example in your house do you walk your talk or do you lead by example? 

We read in the gospel that Jesus is angry with the Pharisees and with the teachers of the law. Why? It’s for the reason of their superficial practice of faith and leadership. The Pharisees were supposed to be the leaders of their community and therefore it was expected of them that they will lead by example. 

They love to lead and tell people what to do but it stops there. When it comes to living their faith they’re deficient. Jesus wants them to walk their talk and to lead by example. Unfortunately the Pharisees and the teachers of Law are not like that in the gospel.  

A good leader leads by example; he doesn’t only give orders he also shows the way. A good leader should not only be superficial in his actions he must walk his talk even if nobody is watching him. A good and exemplary leader must not make promises that he/she will not fulfill. Some of the Pharisees were the personification of fake leadership and exterior show of piety. 

It is very important that we live our faith and we practice what we preach. These were the factors that moved Jesus to give His woes to the Pharisees and the scholars of the law. They were supposed to be role models but they were only good at telling their subjects to do this and that but when it comes to doing it themselves they were inadequate. 

The very clear lesson for us is this: We must practice and live what we learn about our faith. We must not limit ourselves to giving orders, we must lead and show the way. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 13, Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:37-41

Gospel: Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

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Reflection:

Was the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine in his house a fan of Jesus?  Perhaps yes he was a fan for he liked the wisdom and eloquence of Jesus that’s why he invited Jesus to dine in his home. Everything was going smoothly between the teacher and His fan until Jesus did not wash His hands before eating.  

Did Jesus purposely skip washing His hands so that His fan would see Him doing it? Yes, yet there was a deeper reason why he did not wash His hands. Jesus wanted His fan (The Pharisee) to realize that there is something more profound than mere external observance of the Jewish law.    

For Jesus it’s always what’s inside our hearts! Never mind those things that are visible to the naked eye for the reason that what is seen will eventually pass and be forgotten. But what is in our hearts will never be forgotten. For example, the acts kindness, mercy and love that we do to our fellow men and women. 

For instance, we forever remember the acts of kindness, mercy and love that had been given or done to us. But we don’t anymore remember the external appearance (What clothes he/she was wearing and so forth) of the person who did those acts of kindness, mercy and love for us. 

Jesus is always biased with acts of kindness, mercy and love most especially unseen acts of kindness, mercy and love. For these are the spirit and backbone of His teachings. Jesus never taught us to always be concerned about our external appearance, reputation and the many other external aspects of our worldly lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 12, Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 

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 more 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 Him, the call for repentance flows like an endless stream up to this very moment. And we now are the ones who are in charge to call for repentance and conversion. 

What have you done so far to echo this call of repentance by Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Sunday October 11, Twenty- eight Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:1-14

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the 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 the king 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. He 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:

The story is told about a man that died; a few moments after his death he saw two places one was a fiery place with souls in terrible torment. The other one was a bright and heavenly place with joyous souls. A booming voice asked him: Where would you choose to be? The man quickly replied: I chose the bright and heavenly place.  

When he was about to enter the pearly gates he was barred from entering. After which a loud voice boomed and said: Why are you trying to desperately enter now? Do you remember when you were still alive? I invited you to church for countless times but you did not give any importance to my invitations. You gave more priority to your temporal and worldly activities.  

In our gospel Jesus gives a parable about a wedding feast, the king ordered the servants to invite the chosen guests. But they were all busy so they ignored the invitation they instead went to their usual daily engagements. One went to his farm, another to his business.  The others that were invited had the temerity to kill the messengers of the king.  

The king represents God and He perpetually invites us all to be present in the weeding banquet that is the celebration of the Holy Mass. We oftentimes encounter people urging us to be present at Holy Mass, to read the bible, to pray and be connected with God. They are the messengers or servants of God sent by Him for us to be closer to Him. Why? Because God wants us to be His close friends this is the primary reason why He always invites us to His feast.  

But what is our reaction to His perpetual invitation? We often times ignore it for the reason that we are so much busy with the things of this temporary world. We ignore it until we become aware of our own mortality so we are forced to know and discover God because we are already in dire need of Him. 

We are right now inside an extra-ordinary time caused by the covid-19 pandemic. So many of us are not able to be physically present at Holy Mass. But there are other ways for us to respond to this call. For example we can watch Holy Mass online, on TV or listen via radio. Therefore, if we would desire to respond we can actually respond but most often than not our reason is we have no time.  

But the irony of it all is we create time for the things of this world but we can’t create time for God. Why wait for that time when we are already sickly or near death before we respond?   Why not respond now to His invitation while we are still in the pink of health? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Oktubre 11, Ika-28 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon: Mateo 22:1-14

 

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22:1-14

1 Muling nagsalita si Jesus sa pamamagitan ng mga talinhaga: 2 “Tungkol sa nangyayari sa kaharian ng Langit ang kuwentong ito: May isang haring naghanda sa kasal ng kanyang anak na lalaki. 3 Ipinatawag niya sa mga katulong ang mga imbitado sa kasalan ngunit ayaw nilang dumalo. 

4 Muli niyang pinapunta ang iba pang mga katulong para sabihin sa mga inanyayahan sa kasalan: ‘Naghanda ako ng pagkain, nagpatay ng mga toro at mga pinatabang hayop; handa na ang lahat kaya pumarito na kayo sa kasalan.’ 5 Ngunit hindi nila pinansin ang paanyaya, sa halip ay may pumunta sa kanyang taniman, at sa kanyang negosyo naman ang isa pa. 

6 Sinunggaban naman ng iba pa ang mga katulong ng hari, nilibak at  pinatay. 7 Lubhang nagalit ang hari kayat ipinadala niya ang kanyang hukbo para puksain ang mga mamamatay-tao at sunugin ang lunsod. 8 At sinabi niya sa kanyang mga katulong: ‘Handa na ang kasalan ngunit hindi karapat-dapat ang mga inanyayahan. 

9 Pumunta kayo ngayon sa dulo ng lunsod at anyayahan sa kasalan ang bawat makita ninyo.’ 10 Kaya agad na lumabas sa mga daan ang mga katulong at tinipon ang lahat ng makita, masama at mabuti, at napuno ang kasalan ng mga nasa hapag. 11 Pagkatapos ay dumating ang hari para tingnan kung sino ang mga nasa hapag at napansin niya ang isang lalaking hindi nakadamit pampiyesta. 

12 Kaya sinabi niya sa kanya: ‘Kaibigan, paano ka nakapasok nang walang damit pangkasal?’ Ngunit hindi umimik ang tao. 13 Kaya sinabi ng hari sa kanyang mga katulong: ‘Igapos ang kanyang mga kamay at paa, at itapon sa dilim, kung saan may iyakan at pagngangalit ng mga ngipin.’• 14 Marami ngang talaga ang tinawag pero kaunti ang pinili.”

1Reflection for October 10, Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:27-28

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

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Reflection:

Do you observe and hear the word of God? 

Why is there abortion, terrorism, crime, abuse of the environment, egocentric people and the like? Because we don’t hear and live the word of God. There are those who listen to God’s words but they don’t live it. 

Jesus is not a self-centered God same as with the Blessed Mother they don’t want honor for themselves. Truth be told, honor is the least that they want; let us look at their lives, did they run after honors? They shunned it! They simply listened to the word of God and followed it. 

This is actually the cure for the chaotic world that we are in right now: To hear/read the world of God and follow it. We mustn’t seek personal honor we should rather work silently without any objective to raise ourselves. 

We have to remember that we only become effective followers of the Lord when we model our lives with the simple and humble lives of the Jesus and Mary. Our modern and technology driven times would always dictate us to chase upon honorific titles. 

To love the limelight and be the center of attention but it's actually nothing before God. What counts in the heart of God is our readiness to humbly hear His word and live it. Thus, we become blessed in His eyes. 

Do you listen to the word of God and do you live it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 9, Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:15-26

Gospel: Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 

For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

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Reflection:

There was an advertisement on TV that had a catchy phrase that goes like this: "Our products are everywhere." Could we also say this to the devil, that he and his minions are everywhere today? Yes, the sad reality is the devil and his minions are prevalent today more than ever. They are everywhere literally disguised in so many attractive ways/things that we cannot identify who they are and where they reside. 

We may not know this but some of these evils reside within us, this is the reason why from time to time evil thoughts suddenly pops in our minds. Should we worry about this? Of course, for the reason that this shows our lack of faith and interactions with Jesus. 

Evil thrives within us when Jesus is absent within us, when we shabbily treat Him and when our faith in Jesus is weak. Therefore, when we have weak faith we also give the devil a small window of opportunity to cast his evil magic spell upon us. 

Our gospel for this Friday tells us that Jesus is far more powerful than the devil. That Jesus can demolish the devil anytime He wants. But Jesus needs also our cooperation. For the simple reason that He also gave us the freewill to decide for ourselves. If we are going to embrace Him and let Him come into our lives or we continue to allow the devil to gain control of our lives. 

The choice is yours to make,  but let us take the right choice by choosing Jesus over the devil no matter how attractive the enticements of the devil. This simply means that we will leave sin and anything that makes us sin from hereon. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 8, Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:5-13

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three oaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him, and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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Reflection:

How persistent are you in your prayer? For example, if you have a prayer before Jesus do you pray until your prayer is answered by Jesus? Or you easily give up because you feel the Jesus doesn’t hear your prayer? The best attitude to have when you pray is not to give up because giving-up is a sign of lack of faith. 

The foundation of every prayer is faith for without faith there is no successful prayer. For example, if you pray for healing for your sickness or you pray for something that you badly want you must therefore pray unceasingly with faith. 

In our gospel there is a persistent fellow, who during the dead of night went to the house of his friend to ask for bread for his visitor. What moved this fellow to go to his friend to ask for bread even at midnight? It was faith! The fellow had faith that his friend would never fail him.  

Jesus in our gospel tells us: Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10).  

Do you have a prayer before Jesus? Never give up continue instead to badger Him with your prayer with faith. Prayer that comes from the depths of your heart and soul. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 7, Wednesday Our Lady of the Rosary (M): Luke 11:1-4

Gospel: Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: 

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

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Reflection:

Have you asked Jesus to teach you to pray? This is one of the most powerful petitions that we could ever ask Jesus; to teach us to pray. But do we pray regularly? When we pray we connect with Jesus and when we pray we allow Jesus to come to us and strengthen us. 

Let us observe our feelings before and after praying, isn’t that we feel good, mentally strong and light after we’ve prayed? The feeling of a person is different before and after prayer. Why is this so? This is the miracle of our prayer to Jesus, it heals us body and soul; it makes us accept the things that is hard for us to accept and it opens our bodies and souls to so many blessings from the Lord.

Starting today begin your prayer with this humble petition for Jesus: Lord teach me to pray and then solemnly recite the prayer (The Our Father) that Jesus taught us to pray. After praying the Our Father connect with Jesus through a personal prayer that comes from your heart and mind. And before ending your prayer ask Saint Joseph, The Blessed Mother and your favorite saint/s to pray for you.

If exercise is for our bodies, our prayers are for our souls for it makes us have an active and healthy relationship with Jesus. Therefore, the more we pray the more that we make healthy our souls and the more we pray the less worries we would have. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for October 6, Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:38-42

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me. The Lord said to her in reply,“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus favored Mary? He favored her for the simple reason that she gave her time to Him. She listened to Him and Mary knew that before her is her Lord. Therefore, she would not let this precious moment pass her by without giving Him her ear.  

Many of us chase the many temporal things of this world. We spend a lot of time achieving our worldly dreams and chasing the luxuries of this temporal life thinking that this would make us complete. Only to know later that it will not, we will even end up empty if we continue to chase the temporal things of this world. Why? For the simple reason that worldly things or worldliness will never complete us. 

Jesus only ask us one thing, for us to give Him our time and for us to listen to Him so that we can have inner peace which nobody in this world can give us. We make Jesus very happy if we first listen to Him and leave everything else behind for Him. 

Let us all remember that when the time comes that we are lying on our deathbeds.  We will not be thinking of the temporal achievements that we’ve done for this world.  For example, the riches, the awards and citations and so forth. Around that time, we will long for no one except for the presence of Jesus in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for October 5, Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:25-37

 

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." 

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

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Reflection:

How can we best share the love, compassion and mercy of Jesus? It’s when we go out of our way to help someone in need. It’s when we forgive someone who’ve done us wrong. And it’s when we go out on a limb to convey that God is alive and within us. 

The Samaritan in our gospel even if he was an enemy of the Jews did the unexpected when he helped the man who was robbed and in near death. He could have simply walked by just what the priest and Levite did and completely ignore that man in the throes of death. 

But the Samaritan did not only stop to help the dying man he brought the dying man to a house to ensure that he would regain his wellbeing.  In other words the Samaritan showed mercy, love and compassion to the dying man who was deviously victimized robbers. 

Who is this Samaritan who mirrored the qualities and character of Jesus? We don’t know. But perhaps it’s safe to conclude that this Samaritan is a true follower of Jesus. The samaritan was not a follower in name only but a follower in words and in deeds. 

If we call ourselves follower of Jesus, this story of the good Samaritan should also be our own life story : We should  also be merciful, loving and compassionate. Even to those whom we think do not anymore deserve our Mercy, Love and Compassion.   

Otherwise we are just like the priest and the Levite who were both servants in the temple of God: Servants in name only. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday October 4, Twenty- seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 21:33-43

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" 

They answered him, "He will put those wret-ched men to a wret-ched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

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Reflection:

In what instance/s in our life does Jesus knocks in our hearts? It’s when He wants to get closer to us, Jesus does this to us in so many ways. For example through a friend who may want to share the words of Jesus to us. It may be through a written commentary about life and our faith that may deeply awaken us. It may be through important events in our life such as sickness or even problems. 

Some of us may listen to this knocks of Jesus and we open our hearts to Him and change our lives for the better. But many of us may not listen and may not even give careful reflection about this. Thus, we move on with our lives as if nothing significant has happened to us. We continue to distance ourselves from Jesus or we continue to treat Jesus like a medicine that we only take when we are in need. 

In our gospel for this Sunday Jesus gives us the Parable of the tenants. The tenants were allowed by the landlord to take care of his vineyard. When it was harvest time already of course the landlord was naturally asking for his share because the land was his property.  

So the landlord sent two batches of servants but the tenants refused the demand of the landlord by killing some of the servants that he sent them. Finally the landlord sent his only son thinking that the tenants would now listen to him but they killed him as well. 

The greedy tenants in the gospel are the chief priest and the elders, the landlord is God. The servants that God sent were the prophets and the only son is Jesus whom they have killed as well. The reason they did this to the prophets and Jesus is they disliked their call of renewal and repentance. 

In some ways we also take the role of the greedy tenants because we continue to greedily love this world more than Jesus. Many of us may have already fallen in love with what this temporal world offers us that we refuse Jesus' demand of repentance. We continue to refuse to listen to His voice that asks us that we let go of all of our sinfulness and worldliness.  

 

Nevertheless, Jesus is still persistently knocking at our hearts. Patiently waiting for us to open it so that He can come in, cleanse all our sins and take control of our lives. - Marino J. Dasmarinas