1Reflection for Sunday May 3, Fourth Sunday of Easter: John 10:1-10

Gospel: John 10:1-10

Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a poor family. The husband had an ordinary low paying job and the wife was a housewife they had six (6) children. Because of the meager salary of the husband they could barely survive and they always borrow money from their relatives.

Despite of their poor financial standing this family was faithful to Jesus and the church; they would always observe their Sunday obligation. The parents introduced their children to Jesus and they educated their children the values of the faith. The mother would always lead in the prayer of the Holy Rosary and the father would always be there to join them.

Eventually all of their children became very successful in their respective field of endeavors. Hence, they’ve given back the love and guidance that their parents gave them. Obviously the parents were Good shepherds for they introduced their children to the gate of life that is Jesus.

Jesus in the gospel tells the crowd that He is the good shepherd that desires only the best for them. Jesus also tells them that He is the gate of life but they did not believe Him.

It is said that:  “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Thus, we know for a fact that Jesus is really our Good Shepherd. We believe and feel in our hearts this declaration of Jesus. He desires nothing for us but our wellbeing this is the reason why Jesus wants us to follow Him and make Him our Good Shepherd. We also know that He is our only gateway to the many truths about our faith. He too is our gateway towards life beyond this world and without Him in our lives there would be no life beyond this world.

There are still many who do not know about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. There are still many who do not know that Jesus is the gateway to the many truths of our faith. There are still many who do not know that Jesus is the gateway to a life beyond this world. Why? Because they do not allow Jesus to be their Good Shepherd. They instead allow worldliness and the many lies of Satan to shepherd them thus they are enslaved by money, power and sin.   

Is Jesus your good shepherd? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 3, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 10:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Juan 10:1-10

 Sinabi ni Jesus 1 “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, magnanakaw at tulisan ang hindi dumaraan sa pintuan pagpasok sa kulungan ng mga tupa kundi lumukso sa ibang dako. 2 Ang pastol ng mga tupa ang pumapasok sa pintuan.

3 Pinagbu­buksan siya ng bantay-pinto, at naki­kinig ang mga tupa sa kanyang tinig. At tina­tawag niya sa pangalan ang sarili niyang mga tupa at inaakay palabas. 4 Kapag napalabas na niya ang tanang kanya, sa harap nila siya nagla­lakad at sa kanya sumusunod ang mga tupa, pagkat kilala nila ang kanyang tinig.

5 Hinding-hindi sila susunod sa dayu­han kundi lalayuan nila ito sapag­kat hindi nila kilala ang tinig ng mga dayuhan.” 6 Ito ang talinhagang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila. Ngunit hindi nila naintindihan ang gusto niyang sabihin sa kanila. 7 Kaya sinabi uli ni Jesus: “Tala­gang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Ako siyang pintuan ng mga tupa. 8 Magna­nakaw at tulisan ang lahat ng nauna sa akin.

Ngunit hindi sila pina­kinggan ng mga tupa. 9 Ako siyang pintuan; kung may pumapasok sa pamamagitan ko, maliligtas siya, at papasok at lalabas, at maka­katagpo ng pastulan. 10 Hindi dumarating ang magna­nakaw kundi para lamang magnakaw, pumaslang at magpa­hamak. Dumating naman ako upang magkaroon sila ng buhay at lubos na magkaroon nito.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 2, Saturday Memorial of Saint Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church: John 6:60-69

Gospel: John 6:60-69

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

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Reflection:

What should be our guiding principle if we decide to follow Jesus? It must always be forever! We will not only follow Jesus in good times we must also learn to follow Jesus in our most trying times.  We will stay with Jesus even if it’s hard to believe that He is comforting us in the midst of our sufferings and tribulations like with what we are going through with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The very large crowd (More than five thousand of them) who were with Jesus when He multiplied the loaves and fish suddenly became very few. Only the twelve apostles remained many of those who followed Him returned to their former way of life. Why? Because they couldn’t accept Jesus’ continuous insistence that He is the true bread of life that whoever believes in Him will never hunger and thirst (John 6:35). 

They rapidly had amnesia because they all of a sudden forgot that it was Jesus who feed them when they were all hungry. It was Jesus who healed them when they were sick and it was Jesus who gave them hope when they were hopeless.

Such is the behavior of many of us, we quickly question or even leave Jesus when we go through trials. We never remember or perhaps we purposely forget the many blessings that He had given us in the past. Let us never leave Jesus no matter how difficult our present circumstances are right now. Let us always choose to be with Him in sickness and in health, in our good times as well as in our difficult times.

What are we going to do if we leave Jesus? We embrace Satan and his worldly teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for May 1, Friday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:52-59

Gospel: John 6:52-59

The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

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Reflection:

What is the difference between a person who is a regular Communicant and the person who doesn’t partake of the Body of Christ at Holy Communion? The person who devoutly goes to Holy Mass and who lets himself be nourished by the Body of Christ is slowly but surely being transformed by the Body of Christ to become Christ like.

What do this mean to us? It means that the very moment we allow the Body of Christ to enter our body. We also open ourselves to be an alter ego of Jesus. In other words it simply means that we become an ambassador of Jesus when we receive Him.

But do we really allow this to happen to us? Do we really allow the Body of Christ to spiritually nourish and transform us? Many of us go to Holy Communion regularly but we never change. There’s no positive behavioral and spiritual transformation that occurs within us. This is for the reason that we don’t allow the Body of Christ to transform us.

One sure sign that the Body of Jesus Christ is transforming us already is when we are able to share and live His teachings. When we are able to forgive those who’ve hurt us, when we are able to overcome our own sinfulness and our own arrogance and pride.

Have we already shared and lived Jesus? Have we already asked Jesus to help us overpower our own sinfulness, arrogance and pride? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 1, Biyernes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:52-59

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:52-59

52 Kaya nagtalu-talo ang mga Judio at nagsalita: “Paano tayo mabi­bigyan ng taong ito ng laman para ka­inin?” 53 Sinabi naman ni Jesus sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, kung hindi n’yo kakanin ang laman ng Anak ng Tao at iinu­min ang kanyang dugo, wala kayong buhay sa inyong sarili. 54 May buhay magpakailanman ang ngumu­nguya ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo, at itatayo ko siya sa huling araw.

55 Sapagkat totoong pagkain ang aking laman at totoong inumin ang aking dugo. 56 Ang ngumunguya ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay namamalagi sa akin at ako naman sa kanya. 57 Sinugo nga ako ng Amang buhay at buhay ako dahil sa Ama, gayundin naman dahil sa akin mabu­buhay ang ngumunguya sa akin.

58 Ito ang tinapay na pumanaog mula sa Langit, hindi gaya sa inyong mga ninuno na kumain at nangamatay pa rin. Mabu­buhay naman magpakailan­man ang ngu­munguya ng tinapay na ito.” 59 Sinabi niya ang mga bagay na ito sa sinagoga habang nangangaral siya sa Capernaum.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for April 30, Thursday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:44-51

Gospel: John 6:44-51

Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

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Reflection:

Are we afraid to die?

 There are many reasons why many are afraid to die; foremost amongst these reasons is we are not prepared yet. We still have our own worldly preoccupation that we must take care of first. But we all know that at a time that we don’t expect, we have to go and leave this world permanently.

In today’s gospel Jesus gives us an iron clad protection against our fear of death. He enjoins us to regularly partake of the living bread that is available to us during Holy Communion no other than Himself. This is the same bread that is given to those who are sick and not anymore able to go to church for Holy Mass.     

Why don’t we try to regularly partake of His Body during Holy Communion? And see how it will form, change and make us fearless of mortal death. We will not die anymore if we are with Jesus and we will not fear death anymore if we reverently partake of Him at Holy Mass during Holy Communion.  

Our marching order therefore is to bring others to Holy Mass. So that they will also be blessed, nourished and enlightened by the enormous blessing of the Body of Jesus Christ.

Have we been able to bring someone to church for Holy Mass so that they too could partake of the Body of Christ during Holy Communion? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 30, Huwebes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:44-51

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:44-51

44 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao: Walang ma­ka­lala­pit sa akin kung hindi siya aakitin ng Amang nagpadala sa akin. At itatayo ko siya sa huling araw. 45 Na­susulat sa Mga Propeta: Tuturuan nga silang lahat ng Diyos. Kaya lumalapit sa akin ang bawat nakarinig at tinuruan ng Ama.

46 Wala ngang nakakita sa Ama liban sa kanya na galing sa Diyos; siya ang naka­kita sa Diyos. 47 Talagang-tala­gang sina­sabi ko sa inyo, may buhay magpaka­ilanman ang naniniwala. 48 Ako siyang tinapay ng buhay. 49 Ku­main nga ng manna sa disyerto ang inyong mga ni­nuno at nangamatay pa rin. 50 Narito naman ang tinapay na puma­panaog mula sa Langit, upang maka­kain nito ang sinuman at di ma­matay.

51 Ako siyang tinapay na buhay, na pumanaog mula sa Langit. Kung may kakain ng tinapay na ito, mabubuhay siya magpa­kailanman. At ang laman ko ang tinapay na aking ibibigay alang-alang sa ikabu­buhay ng mundo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for April 29, Wednesday; Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church: John 6:35-40

Gospel: John 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

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Reflection:

What benefit would we be entitled to if we worship and become friends with Jesus? We will have countless entitlements. For example Jesus mentions to us in our gospel for today that if we go to Him and believe in Him we will never hunger and thirst anymore. How could this happen? We will not know until we try, we will not know until we develop that especial relationship with Jesus.

Many of us don’t feel the big impact that Jesus does in our lives because we don’t dare take Him seriously. We oftentimes leave Him in favor of this world yet there are times also that we go to Him on bended knees because we are in need of Him. But after the storms in our lives we again start to distance ourselves from Jesus and we begin again to embrace the world. How would we know the big impact that Jesus is capable of making in our lives if we don’t take Him seriously? If we treat Him like a thing which we only get when we are in need?

We will really not thirst and hunger anymore if only we would create a home for Jesus in our hearts. This is the key: To create a home for Jesus in our hearts so that we will personally feel that what He is saying is true.

Have you already opened your heart to Jesus?  - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 29, Miyerkules; Santa Catalina ng Siena, dalaga at pantas ng Iglesia: Juan 6:35-40

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:35-40

35 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Ako siyang tinapay ng buhay. Hinding-hindi magugutom ang lumalapit sa akin at hinding-hindi mauuhaw ka­ilanman ang nananalig sa akin. 36 Pero sinabi ko sa inyo: nakita n’yo, at hindi naman kayo naniniwala.

37 Lalapit sa akin ang bawat ibini­bigay sa akin ng Ama, at hinding-hindi ko ipagtatabuyan sa labas ang luma­lapit sa akin. 38 Sa­pagkat pumanaog ako mula sa Langit hindi para gawin ang aking kalo­oban kundi ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin.

39 Ito ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin: na huwag kong pabayaang ma­wala ang bawat ibinigay niya sa akin; sa halip ay itatayo ko ito sa huling araw. 40 Ito nga ang kalooban ng Ama ko: magkakaroon ng buhay magpakailan­man ang bawat pumapansin sa Anak at nananalig sa kanya, at itatayo ko siya sa huling araw.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for April 28, Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:30-35

Gospel: John 6:30-35

The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

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Reflection:

Would we be willing to give our very life for Jesus?

In our first reading Stephen was killed because of his unending profession of faith in Jesus. He could have saved his life if he did not proclaim his love for Jesus but he chose to boldly say it, thus he was stoned to death.

What a price to pay for professing his faith and love for the Lord. But this is the reality with our discipleship for Jesus. If we really are true and faithful followers we would not hesitate to give a certain part of our life or even our own life for our love for Jesus.

Every now and then there would be instances wherein the steadfastness of our faith in Jesus would be tested. It may not cost our life anymore; perhaps the test of our commitment to Jesus may come through many forms of temptations and trials. Would we still be faithful to Jesus amidst our temptations and trials?

It’s really not easy to follow Jesus, some of us may have already given up on Jesus and we instead chose to follow the many temptations of this world.

But if we would not follow Jesus and if we will not sacrifice a part of ourselves for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Who are we going to follow? We follow the evil one and master manipulator which is no other than Satan? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 28, Martes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:30-35

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:30-35

30 Sinabi ng mga tao kay  Jesus: “At anong tanda ang matatrabaho mo para makita nami’t maniwala kami sa iyo? Ano ba’ng gawa mo? 31 Kumain ng manna sa dis­yerto ang aming mga ninuno ayon sa nasusulat: Binigyan sila ng tinapay mula sa langit at kumain sila.

32 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi si Moises ang nagbigay sa inyo ng tinapay mula sa Langit; ang Ama ko ang nagbibigay sa inyo ng totoong tinapay mula sa Langit. 33 Ang tinapay ng Diyos ang puma­panaog mula sa Langit at nagbibigay-buhay sa mun­do.” 34 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Lagi n’yo pong ibigay sa amin ang tinapay na ito.”

35 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Ako siyang tinapay ng buhay. Hinding-hindi magugutom ang lumalapit sa akin at hinding-hindi mauuhaw ka­ilanman ang nananalig sa akin.  

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for April 27, Monday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:22-29

Gospel: John 6:22-29

22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

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Reflection:

Do we still have time to reflect about the present state of our spiritual life? We do this just to meditate if we are still living a life of purpose. Many of us today don’t have time anymore to reflect about the present state of our life with Jesus. Instead what we have time for is to think on how we could earn more to assure our future in this world.

But what will happen to us if all we think about is how to ensure our future in this world? We will become people of this world that is completely alien to the significant role of Jesus in our lives.

As we exist in this world we must not also forget to think about our relationship with Jesus. If we are able to feed our bodies with food to make us strong and healthy. Then, it is also incumbent upon us that we nourish our hungry spirits as often as we nourish our mortal bodies with its worldly needs. 

Why do we desire to follow Jesus? Is it because we want to have material prosperity? So that we can feed ourselves with the best food that this world can offer? And so that we can buy whatever we want from this world? Or we follow Jesus for the reason that we want to feed our thirsty spirits?

In our gospel for today the crowd was chasing Jesus not because they want to feed their hungry spirits. They simply want to feed their hungry stomachs. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 27, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:22-29

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:22-29

22 Napuna ng mga taong nakatayo sa kabilang ibayo ng dagat na dati’y wa­lang ibang bangka doon kundi isa lang at hindi suma­kay sa bangka kasama ng kanyang mga alagad si Jesus kundi ang kanyang mga alagad lamang ang magkakasamang umalis. 23 May iba namang malalaking bangkang galing Tiberias na dumating malapit sa lugar na kinainan nila ng tinapay pagkapag­pasalamat ng Pangi­noon. 24 Kaya nang mapuna ng mga tao na wala roon si Jesus ni ang kanyang mga alagad, suma­kay sila sa mga bangka at nagpa-Capernaum sa pag­hanap kay Jesus.

25 Nang matagpuan nila siya sa kabilang ibayo ng dagat, sinabi nila sa kanya, “Rabbi, kailan ka dumating?” 26 Sumagot sa kanila si Jesus at sinabi: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, hinahanap n’yo ako hindi dahil sa nakita n’yo sa pamamagitan ng mga tanda kundi dahil sa tinapay na kinain n’yo at nabusog kayo. 27 Magtrabaho kayo, hindi nga para sa pagkaing nasi­sira kundi para sa pagkaing nama­malagi hanggang buhay na magpa­kailanman. Ito ang ibibigay sa inyo ng Anak ng Tao, siya nga ang tinatakan ng Diyos Ama.”

 28 Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Ano ang matatrabaho namin para maisa­gawa ang mga gawa ng Diyos?” 29 Sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Ito ang gawa ng Diyos: patuloy kayong manalig sa sinugo niya.”

Reflection for Sunday April 26, Third Sunday of Easter: Luke 24:13-35

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.

But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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Reflection:

Do we sometimes feel down, hopeless and discourage for the reason of the many life challenges that we’re going through right now? For example, this covid-19 pandemic that is creating so much havoc in our world right now. Does it make us feel down, hopeless and discouraged? We must not allow this covid-19 pandemic to bring us down. We must continue to remain hopeful for there is no hopeless situation for as long as we have faith in God.  

The two followers who were going to Emmaus were obviously discouraged they were feeling down and somewhat hopeless. They were in such mood because their Lord and Master had a violent death on the cross. They thought that Jesus was their powerful savior but they were disappointed. For Jesus died on the cross badly bruised and beaten.

Their expectations of a powerful Jesus were suddenly replaced by feeling of loneliness, defeat and hopelessness.  Until the Risen Christ walked with them, conversed with them and eventually went to their house to break bread with them.

After breaking bread with them, Cleopas and his companion recognized that it was Jesus who walked, conversed and broke bread with them. Upon discovering the identity of Jesus their loneliness and hopelessness were immediately replaced by happiness, their discouragement was overpowered by encouragement. Their hopeless spirits were suddenly aflame and glowing.  

What do we do when we feel hopeless, sad and discouraged? Do we just sulk in one corner as if we are the most hopeless and miserable person in this world? Or we always call on Jesus to give us hope and strength?

When we are at our lowest we always have to remember that Jesus is always there for us and walking with us ever ready to listen to us. He wants to give us hope, He wants to inspire us and tell us this: Be hopeful for I have already risen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Abril 26, Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Lucas 24:13-35

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 24:13-35

• 13 Nang araw ng Linggo, dalawa sa mga alagad ang naglalakad pa-Emmaus na isang nayong mga labin­limang kilo­metro mula sa Jerusalem. 14 Pinag-uusapan nila ang mga nangyari. 15 Sa kanilang pag-uusap at pagtatalakayan, lumapit si Jesus at nakisabay sa paglakad nila 16 pero parang may kung anong hadlang sa kanilang mga mata at hindi nila siya nakilala.

17 Tinanong niya sila: “Ano ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo sa daan?” Tumigil silang mukhang malungkot. 18 Suma­got ang isa sa kanila na nagnga­ngalang Cleofas: “Bakit, mukhang ikaw lang ang kaisa-isahan sa Jerusalem na di alam ang mga nangyari roon nitong mga ilang araw?”

19 Itinanong niya: “Ano?” Sumagot sila: “Tungkol kay Jesus na taga-Nazaret. Sa paningin ng Diyos at ng buong baya’y isa siyang propetang maka­pang­­yarihan sa gawa at salita. 20 Ngunit isinakdal siya ng aming mga punong-pari at mga pinuno para mahatulang mamatay at ipinako siya sa krus. 21 Uma­asa pa naman kaming siya ang tutubos sa Israel ngunit ikatlong araw na ngayon mula nang mangyari ang lahat ng ito.

22 Sa totoo’y ginulat kami ng ilang ba­baeng kasama namin. Maaga silang pu­munta sa libingan 23 pero hindi nila nakita ang kanyang katawan kaya du­mating sila at sinabi sa amin na naka­kita pa raw sila ng aparisyon ng mga anghel na nag­sabi sa kanila na buhay siya. 24 Nagpunta rin sa libingan ang ilan sa amin at natag­puan nga nila ang sinasabi ng mga babae pero hindi nila siya nakita.”

25 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Mga hin­di makaunawa at mapupurol ang isip para maniwala sa lahat ng ipina­hayag ng mga propeta. 26 Di ba’t kaila­ngang mag­dusa nang ganito ang Mesiyas bago pu­masok sa kanyang Lu­walhati?” 27 At sinimulan niyang ipa­liwanag sa kanila ang lahat ng sinasabi ng Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya, mula kay Moises hanggang sa lahat ng Pro­peta.

28 Nang malapit na sila sa nayong pu­puntahan nila, parang magpapatuloy pa siya ng paglakad. 29 Pero pinilit nila siya: “Manatili kang kasama namin dahil dapit­hapon na at lumulubog na ang araw.” Kaya pumasok siya at suma­ma sa kanila. 30 Nang nasa hapag na siyang kasalo nila, kumuha siya ng tinapay, nagpuri at piniraso ito at ibinigay sa kanila.

31 At noo’y nabuksan ang kanilang mga mata at nakilala nila siya, at nawala siya sa kanilang paningin. 32 Nag-usap sila: “Hindi ba’t nag-aalab ang ating puso nang kinakausap niya tayo sa daan at ipinali­liwanag sa atin ang mga Kasulatan?”

33 Noon di’y tumayo sila at nagbalik sa Jerusalem. Nakita nila roon na mag­ka­kasama ang Labing-isa at ang iba ni­lang kasamahan. 34 Sinabi ng mga iyon sa kanila: “Totoo ngang binuhay ang Panginoon at napakita siya kay Simon.” 35 At isinalaysay naman nila ang nang­yari sa daan at kung paano nila siya nakilala sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for April 25 Saturday, Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist: Mark 16:15-20

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

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Reflection:

Have we done something to share the good news about Jesus?

One of our foremost mission as follower of Jesus is to share Him. If we have no idea on how we would share Him we can even simply live His life. Evangelization is not only confined to sharing with our vocal words for we can also evangelize by the way we live.

When the disciples were sent by Jesus through their mission one of the unwritten commands of Jesus for them was to live His way of life. For they wouldn’t be successful missioners for Jesus without immersing their very lives on Jesus way of life.

The challenge for us therefore is to share Jesus like how the disciples shared Him. We also have to live the way of life of Jesus. For without living the life of Jesus we will not become His true follower and evangelizer.

Many in the church or outside of the church profess to follow Jesus but they do not live His life. Thus their evangelization is superficial it doesn’t take root in the hearts of those who listen to them. Therefore, an effective evangelizer is one who shares and lives the life of the Lord.  

Have we shared Jesus and have we lived Jesus' life of humility and simplicity? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 25, Sabado; Kapistahan ni San Marcos, ebanghelista: Marcos 16:15-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

15 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad: “Pumunta kayo sa bu­ong daigdig at ipahayag ang ebang­helyo sa buong sangkinapal. 16 Maliligtas ang maniniwala at mag­papabinyag; ha­hatulan naman ang di maniniwala. 17 At ito ang mga tandang sasama sa mga mani­niwala: magpapalayas sila ng mga de­mon­­yo sa aking Pangalan, magsasa­lita sila sa iba pang mga wika, 18 hahawakan nila ang mga ahas, at di sila maaano kung iinom man sila ng may lason. Ipa­patong nila ang kanilang kamay sa mga maysakit at gagaling ang mga iyon.”

19 Matapos silang kausapin ng Pangi­­noong Jesus, iniakyat siya sa langit at lumuklok sa kanan ng Diyos. 20 At umalis sila at nangaral sa lahat ng lugar. Kasama nilang gumagawa ang Panginoon at pinatatatag ang Salita sa tulong ng mga tandang kasa­ma nila.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for April 24 Friday Second Week of Easter: John 6:1-15

Gospel: John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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Reflection:   

The story is told about a married couple who always find it hard to sustain their family's basic financial needs. A relative advised them to always be present in the Holy Mass celebration in their village’s chapel. The married couple asked their relative, “Why is there a need for us to always be present during Holy Mass?” Their relative told them that they need to be present because this is where they meet, interact and be one with the Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself.

The big crowd in the gospel was running after Jesus, primarily because of His miracles, healings and life changing sermons. The crowd was more than five thousand and Jesus was naturally  concerned for their welfare. He therefore wanted to feed them but there was no enough bread and fish. So what Jesus did was he asked for whatever bread and fish that they have.

Upon getting hold of the bread and fish, He looked up in thanksgiving to God. Thereafter Jesus gave the bread and fish to the crowd and He was able to feed them all. They also had plenty to spare: twelve wicker baskets and some fragments. It was not only the crowd’s physical hunger that was satisfied by Jesus, He also satisfied their spiritual thirst. 

When we attend Holy Mass, we are also feed by Jesus with the same bread which He gave the crowd. It happens the moment we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. During Holy Communion we are also nourished physically and spiritually by  the Bread of Life, Jesus Himself!

This is what occurs when we attend Holy Mass. We are always being nourished by Jesus Himself! The same Jesus that fed the crowd who were following Him in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas