Reflection for Wednesday April 1, Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:31-42

Gospel: John 8:31-42

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."

They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!" So they said to him, "We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me."

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Reflection:

How can we become true followers of Jesus?

It is only through our adherence to Jesus teachings that we will become His true followers there is no other way. How about those who regularly give large sum of money to the church but they disobey Jesus’ teachings? Are they not true follower? They are not! No matter how big the amount that they regularly give to the church.

It’s not impossible to become faithful to Jesus for everyone of us can aspire to become one. But we often times choose not to be faithful because we allow ourselves to be seduced by the devil. The devil who is disguised in many worldly forms whose only mission is to take us farther from Jesus.  

Remember Judas Iscariot? He allowed himself to be seduced by the devil for he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).  What was the effect of that betrayal on Judas? Endless mental torture and guilt of conscience that eventually led him to end his life (Matthew 27:3-5). – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Miyerkules Abril 1, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 8:31-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:31-42

31Sinabi nga ni Jesus sa mga Judiong yaon na nagsisisampalataya sa kaniya, Kung kayo'y magsisipanatili sa aking salita, kung magkagayo'y tunay nga kayong mga alagad ko; 32At inyong makikilala ang katotohanan, at ang katotohana'y magpapalaya sa inyo. 33Sa kaniya'y kanilang isinagot, Kami'y binhi ni Abraham, at kailan ma'y hindi pa naging alipin ninomang tao: paanong sinasabi mo, Kayo'y magiging laya?

34Sinagot sila ni Jesus, Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, Ang bawa't nagkakasala ay alipin ng kasalanan. 35At ang alipin ay hindi nananahan sa bahay magpakailan man: ang anak ang nananahan magpakailan man. 36 Kung palayain nga kayo ng Anak, kayo'y magiging tunay na laya. 37Talastas ko na kayo'y binhi ni Abraham; gayon ma'y pinagsisikapan ninyong ako'y patayin, sapagka't ang salita ko'y hindi magkasiya sa inyo. 38Sinasalita ko ang mga bagay na aking nakita sa aking Ama: at ginagawa rin ninyo ang mga bagay na inyong narinig sa inyong Ama.

39Sila'y nagsisagot at sa kaniya'y sinabi, Si Abraham ang aming ama. Sa kanila'y sinabi ni Jesus, Kung kayo'y mga anak ni Abraham, ay gagawin ninyo ang mga gawa ni Abraham. 40Datapuwa't ngayo'y pinagsisikapan ninyo akong patayin, na taong sa inyo'y nagsaysay ng katotohanan, na aking narinig sa Dios: ito'y hindi ginawa ni Abraham. 41Ginagawa ninyo ang mga gawa ng inyong ama. Sinabi nila sa kaniya, Hindi kami inianak sa pakikiapid; may isang Ama kami, ang Dios. 42Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, Kung ang Dios ang inyong ama, ay inyong iibigin ako: sapagka't ako'y nagmula at nanggaling sa Dios; sapagka't hindi ako naparito sa aking sarili, kundi sinugo niya ako.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Tuesday March 31, Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:21-30

Gospel: John 8:21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

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Reflection:

What does sin do to us? It separates us from the infinite love of God, the more we sin the more that we widen the distance between us and God.  Why do we sin? We sin because we succumb to the devil’s temptation. But we are not beyond redemption for the reason that we have someone who is always there for us to save us from the bondage of sin and He’s no other than Jesus.

The moment we submit ourselves to the sacrament of Confession we allow Jesus to extricate us from the bondage of sin.  We allow Jesus to take out whatever evil particle that we have in our system.

As we get closer to the holiest of weeks we are slowly but surely being brought by the church closer to Jesus. For what reason is this? To make us realize about the great love and sacrifice that Jesus did on the cross. Jesus died for us on the cross, He need not die on the cross but He gave His life for His love for us.

At the end of the day it’s still upon us if we want to permanently separate ourselves from the love of Jesus. Or if we go to Jesus and accept His offer of salvation Jesus is always there waiting for us ever ready to forgive and love us once again.

We have everything to gain and nothing to lose if we surrender everything to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Martes Marso 31, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 8:21-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:21-30

21 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Pariseo: “Aalis ako at hahanapin ninyo ako, at sa inyong kasalanan kayo mama­matay. Kung saan ako pupunta, hindi kayo makaparoroon.” 22 Kaya sinabi ng mga Judio: “Magpapa­kamatay kaya siya kaya niya sinasabing ‘Kung saan ako pupunta, hindi kayo makaparo­roon’?”

23 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Taga-iba­ba kayo; taga-itaas naman ako. Taga-mun­dong ito kayo. Hindi ako taga-mundong ito. 24 Kaya sinabi ko sa inyo na sa inyong mga kasalanan kayo mama­matay. Sa inyong mga kasa­lanan nga kayo mamamatay kung hindi kayo mani­niwalang Ako Siya. 25 At sinabi nila sa kanya: “Sino ka ba?” sinabi naman sa kanila ni Jesus: “Ba’t pa kaya ako mangungusap sa inyo? 26 Mara­mi akong masasabi at ma­hu­hukuman tungkol sa inyo. Totoo nga ang nagpadala sa akin; at ang narinig ko mula sa kanya – ang mga ito ang sinasabi ko sa mundo.”

27 Hindi nila naintindihan na ang Ama ang tinutukoy niya. 28 At sinabi ni Jesus: “Kapag itinaas ninyo ang Anak ng Tao, maiintindihan ninyong Ako siya at wala akong ginagawa sa ganang sarili ko kundi ayon sa iniaral sa aking ng Ama – ang mga ito ang aking sinasabi. 29 Kasama ko nga ang nagpadala sa akin at hindi niya ako iniiwang nag-iisa pagkat lagi kong ginagawa ang mga kalugud-lugod sa kanya.” • 30 Habang sinasabi ito ni Jesus, mara­mi ang nanalig sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Monday March 30, Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:1-11

Gospel: John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She replied, “No one, sir. Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.

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Reflection:

Are we sometimes quick to judge those whom we perceived to be sinners?  In the gospel the Pharisees and scribes were very quick to draw judgement from the woman caught committing adultery. They brought this woman to Jesus with the expectation that Jesus Himself would pronounce judgment upon her.

Yet Jesus never judged her for what she did, Jesus choose to highlight God’s mercy and compassion upon her. At the end of the gospel Jesus told her, “I do not condemn you, go and do not sin anymore (John 8:11). As if Jesus was telling her, go and start a new life forget the past for I have already forgiven you. This gospel episode is perhaps one of the best showcase of Jesus’ mercy and compassion.

Through this gospel Jesus is also inviting us to look at ourselves and have a self-reflection on how we relate with sinners. Do we also judge them quickly just like the Pharisees and scribes did? When we judge we also invite judgment on ourselves, when we judge we further push this person to commit more sins. And when we judge we only highlight the arrogance of the devil instead of the mercy and compassion of Jesus.

But who are we to condemn or judge when we are to be judge also? Who are we to judge when we are sinners also? Instead of judging let us always show the mercy and compassion of Jesus. In doing so we show the sinner that there’s a God who cares, a God who listens and surely a God who is always merciful and forgiving. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Lunes Marso 30, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 8:1-11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:1-11

1 Pumunta naman si Jesus sa Bundok ng mga Olibo. 2 Maaga siyang muli sa Templo, at naglapitan sa kanya ang lahat ng tao, at pagkaupo niya’y, na­ngaral siya sa kanila. 3 Dinala naman ng mga guro ng Batas at ng mga Pariseo ang isang babaeng huling-huli sa pakikiapid.

Pinatayo nila siya sa gitna, 4 at sinabi nila kay Jesus: "Guro, huling-huli sa akto ang baba­eng ito na nakikiapid. 5 Iniutos sa amin ni Moises sa Batas na batuhin ang ganitong mga babae; ano naman ang sabi mo?” 6 Sinabi nila ito bilang pag­subok sa kanya upang may maiparatang sila sa kanya.

Yumuko naman si Jesus at nagsulat sa lupa sa pamamagitan ng kanyang daliri. 7 Nang magpatuloy sila sa pag­tatanong sa kanya, tumindig siya at sinabi sa kanila: “Ang walang sala sa inyo ang unang bu­mato sa kanya.” 8 At muli siyang yu­muko at nagsulat sa lupa.

9 Ang mga nakarinig nama’y isa-isang nag-alisan mula sa matatanda, at naiwan siyang mag-isa pati ang babae na nasa gitna. 10 Tumindig si Jesus, at sinabi sa kanya, “Babae, nasaan sila? Wala bang humatol sa iyo?” 11 At sinabi niya: “Wala, Panginoon.” Sinabi ni Jesus: “Hindi rin kita hahatulan. Hu­mayo ka at mula ngayo’y, huwag nang magkasala pa.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday March 29, Fifth Sunday of Lent: John 11:1-45

Gospel: John 11:1-45

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, "Master, the one you love is ill." When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." He said this, and then told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." So the disciples said to him, "Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved." But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him." So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go to die with him." When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, "The teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Sir, come and see." And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him." But some of them said, "Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?" So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him, "Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me." And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a middle-aged woman who was afraid to die; the mere mention of death would make her tremble. Until one day he read about the gospel passage about the friendship of Jesus with the siblings Martha, Mary and Lazarus. So, he tried to discover more about Jesus by reading her bible most specially the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and by piously attending Sunday Holy Mass.

In our present time life is so uncertain caused by the pandemic called Covid-19 or Coronavirus. No matter how hard we try to be careful not to be infected by it there is still no assurance that we will get it. No one is exempt from catching this deadly virus even many of the rich, famous and powerful have been infected by it already. So we are naturally afraid of that deadly virus, who would not be?

In our gospel for this Sunday the display of deep and true friendship of Jesus and the siblings Martha, Mary and Lazarus is very obvious. When the sisters were in need of help because of the death of their brother Lazarus. Jesus went to them to reassure them that He would be with them to help them in whatever way possible.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, He showed us that there is life after death. There is hope and resurrection even if we die but to have this resurrection and hope we must be friends first with Jesus!. For it’s only through Him that we can have hope and resurrection.

Let us therefore develop our friendship with Jesus, let us discover more about Him. Through our faithful attendance at Holy Mass, through our daily reading of the scriptures and through our deep prayer life.

Just imagine if you’re a friend of Jesus, He will always be there for you even in your most difficult and darkness moments. He will always be there to give you that helping hand that no one else can give you.

Hence, in the midst of this very difficult and uncertain times that we are in caused by this pandemic called Covid-19 or Coronavirus. Let us not be afraid for our Lord Jesus Christ will always be there for us to give us hope, to protect us and to envelope us with His unfailing love. 

We have nothing to be afraid if we strongly believe in Jesus and if we have already developed a deep friendship with Him. In the Bible/Scripture it says: "Everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Do you strongly believe in Jesus and do you have a deep friendship with the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 29, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 11:1-45

Mabuting Balita: Juan 11:1-45

• 1 Ngayon may isang maysakit na Lazaro ang panga­lan. Taga-Betania siya, sa nayon ni Maria at ni Martang kapatid nito. 2 Si Maria ang nag­pahid ng pabango sa Panginoon at nag­punas ng kanyang buhok sa mga paa niya. At maysakit ang kapatid niyang si Lazaro.

3 Kaya nagsugo ang magkapatid kay Jesus para sa­bihin: “Panginoon, may­sakit ang iyong iniibig.” 4 Pagka­rinig nito, sinabi ni Jesus: “Hindi tungo sa kamatayan ang pagkakasakit na ito kundi alang-alang sa ikaluluwalhati ng Diyos at lulu­wal­hatiin ang Anak ng Tao sa pama­magitan nito.” 5 Mahal ni Jesus si Marta at ang kapatid nitong babae at si Lazaro.

6 Ngunit pagka­rinig niyang may sakit ito, dalawang araw pa siyang namalagi sa lugar na iyon. 7 Pag­karaan lamang nito saka niya sinabi sa mga alagad: “Tayo na uli sa Judea.” 8 Sinabi sa kanya ng mga alagad: “Rabbi, ngayon-ngayon lang eh pinagtatangkaan kang batuhin ng mga Judio, at pupunta ka uli roon?”

9 Sumagot si Jesus: “Di ba’t labin­dalawang oras meron sa maghapon? Hindi natitisod sinumang naglalakad sa araw sapagkat nakikita niya ang liwa­nag ng mundong ito. 10 Ngunit nati­tisod ang sinumang naglalakad sa gabi sapagkat wala sa kanya ang liwanag.”

11 Sinabi niya ito at saka niya winika sa kanila: “Nahihimlay na ang kaibigan nating si Lazaro pero pu­punta ako para gisingin siya.” 12 Kaya sinabi ng mga alagad sa kanya: “Pangi­noon, kung nahi­himlay na siya, pagaling na siya.” 13 Ang pagkamatay niya ang tinutukoy ni Jesus. Inakala naman nilang pag­himlay na pagtulog ang sinasabi niya. 14 Kaya noo’y lantarang sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Patay na si Lazaro.

15 Pero nagagalak ako para sa inyo at wala ako roon kaya maniniwala kayo. Puntahan natin siya.” 16 Kaya sinabi ni Tomas na tinaguriang Kambal sa kan­yang mga kapwa-alagad: “Pumunta rin tayo at mamatay kasama niya.” 17 Pagdating ni Jesus, apat na araw na palang naka­libing si Lazaro. 18Mala­pit ang Betania sa Jerusalem, halos tatlong kilo­metro ang layo. 19 Marami sa mga Judio ang pumunta kina Marta at Maria para maki­ramay sa kanila sa kanilang kapatid.

20 Kaya pagkarinig ni Marta na duma­rating si Jesus, sinalubong niya ito. Si Maria naman ay nakaupo sa bahay. 21 At sinabi ni Marta kay Jesus: “Pangi­noon, kung naririto ka, hindi sana namatay ang kapatid ko. 22 Ngunit kahit na ngayon, alam kong anuman ang hingin mo sa Diyos ay ibibigay sa iyo ng Diyos.”

23 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Baba­ngon ang kapatid mo.” 24 Sinabi naman sa kanya si Marta: “Alam ko na baba­ngon siya sa pagkabuhay sa huling araw.” 25 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siyang pagkabuhay (at ang buhay.) Mabu­­buhay ang nananalig sa akin kahit na mamatay siya. 6 Hinding-hindi mama­matay kailanman ang bawat nabubuhay at nananalig sa akin. Pinani­niwa­laan mo ba ito?”

27 Sinabi niya sa kanya: “Opo, Pangi­noon. Nananalig nga ako na ikaw ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Diyos, na dumarating sa mundo.” 28 Pagkasabi nito, umalis siya at pabu­long na tinawag si Mariang kapatid niya: “Narito ang Guro at tina­tawag ka.” 29 Pag­ka­­rinig naman nito, madali itong tumindig at pumunta sa kanya.

30 Hindi pa nakara­rating si Jesus sa nayon kundi naroon pa kung saan siya sinalubong ni Marta. 31 Na­kita ng mga Judiong kasama ni Maria sa bahay at nakikiramay sa kanya na nagmamadali siyang tumayo at lumabas kaya nagsunuran sila sa kanya sa pag-aakalang papunta siya sa libingin upang doon humagulhol.

32 Pagkarating ni Maria sa kinaro­roonan ni Jesus at pagkakita sa kanya, nagpa­tirapa siya sa paanan nito at nagwika sa kanya: “Panginoon, kung naririto ka, hindi sana namatay ang aking kapatid.” 33 Kaya nang makita ni Jesus na humahagulhol siya pati ang mga Judiong nangagsisama sa kanya, nabagabag ang loob niya at naligalig ang sarili. 34 At sinabi niya: “Saan n’yo siya inilagay?” Sinabi nila sa kanya: “Panginoon, halika’t tingnan mo.”

35 Lu­mu­ha si Jesus. 36 Kaya sinabi ng mga Judio: “Ting­nan n’yo kung gaano ang pag-ibig niya sa kanya.” 37 Sinabi naman ng ilan sa kanila: “Pinadilat nga niya ang mga mata ng bulag; hindi rin kaya niya magagawang huwag mamatay ang taong ito?”38 Muling nabagabag ang sarili ni Jesus at dumating siya sa libingan. Isang yungib ito, at may batong nakatakip doon.

39 Sinabi ni Jesus: “Alisin n’yo ang bato.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Martang kapatid ng yumao: “Pangi­noon, nangangamoy na siya ngayon dahil apat na araw na.” 40 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Di ba’t sinabi ko sa iyo, na kung nananalig ka, masa­sak­sihan mo ang kaluwalhatian ng Diyos?” 41 At inalis nila ang bato. Tumingala naman si Jesus – sinabi: “Ama, pinasasalamatan kita pagkat dini­nig mo ako.

42 Alam kong lagi mo akong dinidinig ngunit dahil sa mga taong nakapaligid kaya ako nangusap upang manalig na sila na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin.” 43 Pagkasabi niya nito, buong-lakas siyang sumigaw: “Lazaro, halika sa labas!” 44 Lumabas ang namatay na natatalian ng telang panlibing ang mga paa at kamay, at napupuluputan din ng panyo ang muk­ha niya. At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Kalagan siya nang maka­lakad.”

45 Kaya nanalig sa kanya ang marami sa mga Judiong pumunta kay Maria at nakasaksi sa kanyang ginawa.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday March 28, Fourth Week of Lent: John 7:40-53

Gospel: John 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” Then each went to his own house.

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Reflection:

What happens when we engage in useless self-centered debates or conversation? The protagonist would try very hard to upstage each other. And then it will turn ugly by trying to destroy each other’s reputation. No worthy outcome comes out of it, only mudslinging and character assassination.

The crowd were debating about Jesus’ origin that it created division within their ranks. They were trying to outdo each other in terms of their knowledge about the origin of Jesus. Thoughts were running in their minds, such as if Jesus was a prophet and the promised messiah. They were like little children in a contest of arguments as to who amongst them had the best idea about Jesus.    

This scenario still exists today, many of us argue about Jesus to prove that one has a superior knowledge about Him over the other. However, what would we get if we argue? If we try to show that we know more than anyone else? Nothing except a showcase of our arrogance, feeling of superiority and bloated egos which results to more division and alienation.

Instead of arguing let us show through our works the love, humility, mercy and compassion of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Marso 28, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 7:40-53

Mabuting Balita: Juan 7:40-53

40 Sinabi ng ilang nakarinig kay Jesus, “Tunay ngang ito ang Propetang hinihintay natin!” 41“Siya na nga ang Cristo!” sabi naman ng iba. Ngunit mayroon namang sumagot, “Maaari bang magmula sa Galilea ang Cristo? 42Hindi ba sinasabi sa kasulatan na ang Cristo ay magmumula sa lipi ni David, at ipanganganak sa Bethlehem na bayan ni David?” 43Magkakaiba ang palagay ng mga tao tungkol sa kanya. 44Gusto ng ilan na dakpin siya, ngunit wala namang mangahas na humuli sa kanya.

45Nang bumalik ang mga bantay ng Templo, tinanong sila ng mga punong pari at mga Pariseo, “Bakit hindi ninyo siya dinala rito?” 46Sumagot sila, “Wala pa po kaming narinig na nagsalita nang tulad niya!” 47“Pati ba kayo'y nalinlang na rin?” tanong ng mga Pariseo. 48“Mayroon bang pinuno o Pariseong naniniwala sa kanya? 49Mga tao lamang na walang nalalaman sa Kautusan ang naniniwala sa kanya, kaya't sila'y mga sinumpa!”

50 Isa sa mga naroon ay si Nicodemo, ang Pariseong nagsadya kay Jesus noong una. At siya'y nagtanong, 51“Hindi ba't labag sa ating Kautusan na hatulan ang isang tao nang di muna nililitis at inaalam kung ano ang kanyang ginawa?” 52 Sumagot sila, “Ikaw ba'y taga-Galilea rin? Saliksikin mo ang Kasulatan at makikita mong walang propetang magmumula sa Galilea.”  [53Pagkatapos nito, umuwi na ang lahat.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Friday March 27, Fourth Week of Lent: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

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Reflection:

How courageous are we in our desire to spread our faith?

In the gospel for today, even if there was a threat to His life Jesus still secretly went to Judea to attend the Feast of the Tabernacle. He courageously spoke in the temple area at the risk of His life. Where does His courage comes from? It originates from His deep oneness with God.

Let us also aspire to have the same oneness with God. So that we would also have the courage to express what we want to say on how God has made a big difference in our life. So that we would be able to face and overcome whatever problems and trials that may come our way.  

A good way to start is to have a regular time for God through our daily readings of his words in the bible. Through our presence at Holy Mass and through our prayers.

If we do these acts of worship and piety we surely would develop a deep friendship with Jesus. And the result is we will have the courage to live His teachings, to share it and even preach it.

A faithful follower should live and preach the teachings of Jesus. If he/she can't preach it because not everyone has the gift of preaching he/she must live it. For this is one of the many marks of a faithful follower of Jesus. 

What kind of follower are we? Are we  followers in name only or follower in name and in deed? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Marso 27, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

1 Nilibot ni Jesus ang Galilea. Iniiwasan niya ang Judea dahil nais siyang patayin ng mga pinuno ng mga Judio roon. 2Nalalapit na noon ang Pista ng mga Tolda, isa sa mga pista ng mga Judio. 10 Pagkaalis ng kanyang mga kapatid, si Jesus ay palihim na pumunta rin sa pista.

25Sinabi ng ilang taga-Jerusalem, “Hindi ba ito ang taong nais nilang patayin? 26Hayan! Lantaran siyang nangangaral, ngunit wala silang sinasabi laban sa kanya! Baka naman nakilala ng mga pinuno na siya na nga ang Cristo! 27Ngunit pagdating ng Cristo ay walang makakaalam kung saan siya magmumula, subalit alam natin kung saan nagmula ang taong ito!”

28Kaya't habang si Jesus ay nagtuturo sa Templo, sumigaw siya, “Ako ba'y talagang kilala ninyo? Alam nga ba ninyo kung saan ako nagmula? Hindi ako naparito dahil sa aking sariling kagustuhan lamang. Karapat-dapat pagtiwalaan ang nagsugo sa akin.

Hindi ninyo siya nakikilala, 29 ngunit nakikilala ko siya, sapagkat sa kanya ako nagmula, at siya ang nagsugo sa akin.” 30Nais na siyang dakpin ng ilang naroroon, ngunit walang nangahas sapagkat hindi pa dumarating ang tamang panahon.

 Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Thursday March 26, Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:31-47

Gospel: John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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Reflection:

How do we testify our life as a follower of Jesus? The best testimony of a follower is how he/she lives his own life. Does he live his life with forgiveness, humility, simplicity, sacrifice, unconditional love and the like?  Many of us call ourselves follower of Jesus but when it comes to forgiving those who’ve hurt us we cannot forgive.

If we cannot forgive those who’ve hurt us we then are followers in name only and sad to say many of us are like that: Followers in name only. On the aspect of humility; we can best testify that we are followers of Jesus when we don’t seek prominence and we silently do our work for the lord without any fanfare or publicity.

On the aspect of simplicity, Jesus is the supreme model of simplicity. He is content with whatever that He possess Jesus did not desire expensive things and other appendages. Many of us live complicated lives for the simple reason that we live the life of this world rather than live the life of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Marso 26, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 5:31-47

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:31-47

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 31 Kung nagpapatunay ako sa aking sarili, di mapanghahawakan ang aking patunay. 32 Ngunit iba ang nagpapa­tunay tungkol sa akin at alam kong mapang­hahawakan ang patunay niya tungkol sa akin. 33 Nagpasugo kayo kay Juan at binigyang-patunay niya ang katotohanan. 34 Ipinaaalaala ko ito para maligtas kayo; ngunit hindi ko hangad ang patunay mula sa tao. 35 Siya nga ang ilaw na may sindi at nagniningning, at ginusto n’yong magalak pansaman­tala sa kanyang liwanag.

36 May patunay naman ako na higit pa kaysa kay Juan – ang mga gawang bigay sa akin ng Ama upang tuparin ko ang mga iyon. Ang mga gawa mismong ginagawa ko ang nagpapatunay na sinugo ako ng Ama. 37 At nagpapatunay rin sa akin ang Amang nagsugo sa akin. Kailanma’y di ninyo narinig ang kanyang tinig ni    nakita ang kanyang anyo. 38 At hindi rin nama­malagi sa inyo ang kanyang salita dahil hindi kayo naniniwala sa kanyang sinugo.

39 Sinasaliksik ninyo ang mga Kasu­latan dahil inaakala ninyong doon kayo magkakaroon ng buhay magpa­kailan­man. Nagpapatunay nga sa akin ang mga iyon 40 ngunit ayaw n’­yong luma­pit sa akin para mabuhay. 41 Hindi ko hangad ang papuri mula sa mga tao, 42 ngunit kilala ko kayo: wala sa inyong sarili ang pagmamahal sa Diyos.

43 Sa ngalan ng aking Ama ako dumating at hindi n’yo ako tinatanggap; kung sakaling may dumating sa sarili niyang ngalan, siya ang inyong tatang­gapin. 44 Paano kayo makapani­niwala kung pa­puri sa isa’t isa ang hangad n’yo at hindi ang papuring galing sa tanging Diyos ang hangad? 45 Huwag n’yong akalain na ako ang mag­sasakdal laban sa inyo sa harap ng Ama. Si Moises ang nagsa­sakdal laban sa inyo, siya na inyong inaasahan.

46 Kung pinaniwalaan nga nin­yo si Moises, pani­niwalaan din sana ninyo ako sapagkat tungkol sa akin siya nag­sulat. 47 Ngu­nit kung hindi n’yo panini­walaan ang kan­yang mga sinulat, paano n’yo pani­niwa­laan ang aking mga pananalita?

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Wednesday March 25, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Among many women why was Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus? This is for the reason that Mary was humble and compliant to the will of God. Mary did not say I will not submit to the will of God because I have my own will for myself Mary humbly said yes.

The Lord always chooses and uses the humble and the compliant for the realization of His plans in this world. Simply put Mary humbly submitted her own humanity to the wisdom of our all-knowing God. Like Mary do we always submit to the wisdom of God? Or we only submit when it favor us when it doesn’t favor us, we decline God’s wisdom and submit to our own will.

God’s wisdom is always for our own betterment. We may initially see it as something that is very hard to follow because we would be pulled out from our own comfort zones or from our own sinful zones. But at the end we would realize that the plan of God is correct and it’s for our own good.

Today being Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Let us reflect upon the Blessed Mother’s humility and compliance to the plan and will of God. That the plan of God is always designed for our own good. We may not understand it now but God’s plan is always for our own good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Tuesday March 24, Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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Reflection:

Imagine that Jesus is in front of you and He tells you this question:  “Do you want to be well?” How would you reply? Of course you will say, Yes I want to be well! After which Jesus will tell you, then go humble yourself before me in the Sacrament of Confession. Then you tell Jesus some other time Jesus I’m busy right now and with the passing of days you eventually forgot about the command of Jesus to go to the Sacrament of Confession.

Many of us want to get closer to Jesus and we want to be healed by Jesus. Yet we don’t bother to humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Confession. In this sacrament we are healed from our spiritual sickness and we may not know it that through His infinite grace we are also healed from our many physical sickness.

When we humble ourselves through this sacrament we allow Jesus to wash away all our sins no matter how severe. We entrust ourselves to the healing mercy of Jesus. Saint John Paul II once said:  "Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God." 

The disabled man in our gospel for today who had been sick for thirty eight long years was instantly healed by Jesus because he obeyed His command. The disabled man did not care if it was a Sabbath day, a day of rest for them. What was important for him was to obey the command of the Lord.

In the midst of the Wuhan Covid-19 virus which is currently savaging our country and the world. Would you submit yourself to the Sacrament of Confession after we have defeated this Wuhan Covid-19 virus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas