Noong panahong iyon, marami sa mga Judiong dumalaw kay Maria ang nakakita sa ginawa ni Hesus, at nanalig sa kaniya. Ngunit ang ilan sa kanila’y pumunta sa mga Pariseo at ibinalita ang ginawa ni Hesus. Kaya’t tinipon ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga Pariseo ang mga kagawad ng Sanedrin.
“Ano ang gagawin natin?” wika nila. “Gumagawa ng maraming kababalaghan ang taong ito. Kung siya’y pababayaan natin, mananampalataya sa kanya ang lahat. Paririto ang mga Romano at wawasakin ang Templo at ang ating bansa.” Ngunit isa sa kanila, si Caifas, ang pinakapunong saserdote noon ay nagsabi ng ganito: “Ano ba kayo? Hindi ba ninyo naiisip na mas mabuti para sa atin na isang tao lamang ang mamatay alang-alang sa bayan, sa halip na mapahamak ang buong bansa?”
Sinabi niya ito hindi sa ganang kanyang sarili lamang. Bilang pinakapunong saserdote ng panahong iyon, hinulaan niyang mamamatay si Hesus dahil sa bansa – at hindi dahil sa bansang iyon lamang, kundi upang tipunin ang nagkawatak-watak na mga anak ng Diyos. Mula noon, binalangkas na nila kung paano ipapapatay si Hesus, kaya’t hindi na siya hayagang naglakad sa Judea. Sa halip, siya’y nagpunta sa Efraim, isang bayang malapit sa ilang. At doon siya nanirahang kasama ng kanyang mga alagad.
Nalalapit na ang Pista ng Paskuwa. Maraming taga-lalawigang pumunta sa Jerusalem bago mag-Paskuwa upang isagawa ang paglilinis ayon sa Kautusan. Hindi nila nakita si Hesus sa templo, kaya’t nagtanungan sila,”Ano sa akala ninyo? Paririto kaya sa pista o hindi?” Ipinag-utos ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga Pariseo na ituro ng sinumang nakaaalam kung nasaan si Hesus upang siya’y maipadakip nila.
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For
which of these are you trying to stone me? The Jews answered him, “We are not
stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself
God.”
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law,
‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has
consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of
God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe
me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so
that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in
the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their
power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first
baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to
believe in him.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you sometimes feel unrewarded for the effort/s that
you do? For example, you did something good to someone and then the person did
not care to compliment or recognize your good deed.
How would you feel? Perhaps you would be disheartened
or even feel bad. On second thought instead of feeling disheartened or bad I
think you should still feel good for the reason that you’ve done something
worthy to someone.
In the gospel, Jesus did everything for the Jews yet
they never recognized Him. He instead was persecuted for doing good. Did He
feel bad for not being given due recognition? Perhaps yes, because He was human
like us. However Jesus did not allow their ingratitude to bring Him down and
distract Him from His mission of salvation.
This is the reality of life, there are those who
would not compliment us for the good that we’ve done for them. Nevertheless let
us continue to do good and not be disheartened for God knows everything and God
will always reward those who do good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, ang mga Judio'y
muling kumuha ng bato upang batuhin si Hesus. Kaya't sinabi sa kanila ni
Jesus,: "Maraming mabubuting gawa mula sa Ama ang ipinakita ko sa inyo;
alin ba sa mga ito ang dahilan at ako'y inyong babatuhin?" Sinagot siya ng
mga Judio, "Hindi dahil sa mabuting gawa kaya ka namin babatuhin, kundi dahil
sa paglapastangan mo sa Diyos!
Sapagkat nagpapanggap kang Diyos gayong tao ka lang." Tumugon
si Jesus, "Hindi ba nasusulat sa inyong Kautusan, 'Sinabi ko, Mga diyos
kayo'? Mga diyos ang tawag sa Kautusan sa mga pinagkatiwalaan ng salita ng
Diyos, at hindi maaaring tanggihan ang sinasabi ng Kasulatan.
Ako'y hinirang at sinugo ng Ama; paano ninyong masasabi ngayon na
nilalapastangan ko ang Diyos sa sinabi kong ako ang Anak ng Diyos? Kung hindi
ko ginawa ang ipinagagawa ng aking Ama, huwag ninyo akong paniwalaan. Ngunit
kung ginagawa ko iyon, paniwalaan ninyo ang aking mga gawa, kung ayaw man ninyo
akong paniwalaan. Sa gayon, matitiyak ninyong nasa akin ang Ama at ako'y nasa
kanya."
Tinangka
na naman nilang dakpin siya, ngunit siya'y nakatalilis. Muling pumunta si Jesus
sa ibayo ng Jordan, sa pook na noong una'y pinagbabautismuhan ni Juan. Nanatili
siya roon, at maraming lumapit sa kanya. Sinabi nila, "Si Juan ay walang
ginawang kababalaghan, ngunit totoong lahat ang sinabi niya tungkol sa taong
ito." At doo'y maraming sumampalataya kay Jesus.
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you always on the same page with Jesus?
It’s very obvious that Jesus and those who were listening to Him were not on the same page. Otherwise they would have understood each other. For example, Jesus told the Jews; whoever keeps my world will never see death and the Jews were mocking Jesus because they couldn’t believe this statement.
How about us? Do we believe this statement of Jesus that whoever keeps His word will never see death? For worldly people this is hard to believe they will even be mocking also those who would tell this to them. But come to think about it, how would those with deeper faith react to these pronouncements of Jesus?
Of course they will believe since they have deeper faith and they’ve already developed this personal and deep relationship with Jesus. This is what separates the believer from the unbeliever, the believer because of his deep and personal relationship with Jesus will always believe whatever Jesus tells him in the gospel.
Believer makes every pronouncement of Jesus in the scriptures as their guiding light. Jesus is not a historical figure to them Jesus to them is an ever present guiding light that illuminates their lives.
Invite Jesus to guide and illuminate your life too! - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio: "Tandaan ninyo: ang namumuhay ayon sa aking aral, kailanma'y di makararanas ng kamatayan." Sinabi ng mga Judio, "Ngayo'y natitiyak naming inaalihan ka nga ng demonyo. Namatay si Abraham, at ang mga propeta, pero sinasabi mong hindi mamamatay kahit kailan ang sinumang namumuhay ayon sa iyong aral. Dakila ka pa ba kaysa aming amang si Abraham? Siya'y namatay, gayon din ang mga propeta. Ano ba ang akala mo sa sarili mo?"
Sumagot si Jesus, "Kung ako ang nagpaparangal sa aking sarili, iya'y walang kabuluhan. Ang aking Ama ang nagpaparangal sa akin at sinasabi ninyong siya ang inyong Diyos. Hindi ninyo sila nakikilala, ngunit siya'y nakikilala ko. Kung sabihin kong hindi ko siya nakikilala, ako'y magigng sinungaling tulad ninyo. Subalit nakikilala ko siya at ginagawa ko ang kanyang sinasabi.
Natuwa ang inyong amang si Abraham nang mabatid na makikita niya ang araw ng pagparito ko; nakita nga niya ito at siya'y nagalak." Dahil dito'y sinabi sa kanya ng mga Judio, "Wala ka pang limampung taon, at nakita mo na si Abraham?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Sinasabi ko sa inyo: bago ipanganak si Abraham 'Ako'y Ako Na'. Dumampot sila ng bato upang siya'y batuhin, ngunit nagtago si Jesus at lumabas ng templo.
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."
+ + + +
+ + +
Reflection:
What will
happen to us if we give space for the words of Jesus in our hearts? Of course
we will start to build a deeper friendship with Jesus. We will start to trust
Jesus more than we trust ourselves and we will also become averse to sin.
In the first
reading, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted more on their faith in
God than obey the command of the king. They were being forced by king
Nebuchadnezzar to worship his own God. But until the end the three did not
follow the king’s order so they were thrown into the fiery furnace yet they
were not hurt because God was with them.
This is what would happen to us also if we faithfully
follow Jesus, yes there would be instances of persecution. But if we remain
faithful until the end, our being persecuted is nothing compared to the glory
or reward that awaits us.
If there’s glory or reward for those who would remain
faithful, why are we not faithful to Jesus? Why do we easily betray Him for the
fleeting and sinful pleasures of this world? This is so for the simple
reason that we allow ourselves to succumb to the inducement of the devil.
That’s how plain and simple it is, we give up Jesus for this world because we
love this world more than we love Jesus. We love to satisfy our sinful human
needs than satisfy the needs of our souls.
As we approach the holiest of weeks let us reflect on
how many times have we given up Jesus for the sinful pleasures of this world.
And what have we gained for giving up Jesus for this world? Nothing except the
continuous pilling up of emptiness and problems disguised as hedonistic
pleasures. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga Judiong naniniwala sa kanya, “Kung
patuloy kayong susunod sa aking aral, tunay ngang kayo’y mga alagad ko;
makikilala ninyo ang katotohanan, at ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo.”
Lahi kami ni Abraham,” tugon nila, “at kailanma’y di kami naalipin ninuman.
Paano mo masasabing palalayain kami?”
Sumagot si Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo: alipin ng kasalanan ang lahat ng
nagkakasala. Ang alipin ay hindi kabilang sa sambahayan sa habang panahon,
subalit ang anak ay kabilang magpakailanman. Kapag kayo’y pinalaya ng Anak,
tunay nga kayong malaya.
Nalalaman kong lahi kayo ni Abraham; gayunma’y pinagsisikapan
ninyo akong patayin, sapagkat walang pitak sa inyong puso ang aral ko. Sinasabi
ko ang aking nakita sa aking Ama; ginagawa naman ninyo ang inyong narinig sa
inyong ama.” Sumagot sila, “Si Abraham ang aming ama.” “Kung kayo’y mga anak ni
Abraham, tutularan ninyo ang kanyang ginawa,” ani Hesus. “Ngunit pinagsisikapan
ninyo akong patayin, gayong sinasabi ko lamang ang katotohanang narinig ko sa
Diyos.
Hindi
ganyan ang ginawa ni Abraham. Ang ginagawa ninyo’y tulad ng ginawa ng inyong
ama.” “Hindi kami mga anak sa labas,” tugon nila. “Ang Diyos ang aming Ama.”
Sinabi ni Hesus, “Kung talagang ang Diyos ang inyong Ama, iibigin ninyo ako,
sapagkat nagmula ako sa Diyos. Hindi ako naparito sa ganang sarili ko lamang,
kundi sinugo niya ako.”
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you always obey the will of God for your marriage? For example the will of God for the marriage covenant is for the couple to be faithful until the end. Are you always faithful to this marriage covenant in your thoughts and actions?
Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Aside from being a responsible father and husband to Jesus and Mary, what else makes Saint Joseph so especial? Joseph humbly and quietly followed the will of the Lord.
Saint Joseph accepted without question what God wanted him to do. Yes he was planning to quietly divorce Mary. However, the moment the angel appeared in his dream to convey God’s message for him. He never questioned the will of the Lord. He humbly and quietly followed what the angel told him to do, he loved Mary and Jesus deeply and he responsibly took care of them.
Let us reflect on the humility of Saint Joseph and compare it with our humility before God and our fellow human beings. Let us reflect on the submissiveness of Joseph to the will of the Lord and compare it with our own submissiveness to the will of the Lord regarding our fidelity to the marriage covenant.
Let us reflect on the sacrificial and deep love of Joseph towards Mary and Jesus and compare it with our love for our respective spouses and children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Si Jacob, ang ama ni Jose na asawa ni Maria. Si Maria naman ang ina ni Jesus na tinatawag na Cristo.
Ganito ang pagkapanganak kay Jesu-Cristo. Si Maria na kanyang ina at si Jose ay nakatakda nang pakasal. Ngunit bago sila nakasal, si Maria'y natagpuang nagdadalang-tao. Ito'y sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Isang taong matuwid itong si Jose na kanyang magiging asawa, ngunit ayaw niyang mapahiya si Maria, kaya ipinasiya niyang hiwalayan ito nang lihim.
Samantalang iniisip ni Jose ito, napakita sa kanya sa panaginip ang isang anghel ng Panginoon. Sabi nito sa kanya, "Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tuluyang pakasalan si Maria, sapagkat siya'y naglihi sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Manganganak siya ng isang lalaki at ito’y pangangalanan mong Hesus, sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang bayan sa kanilang mga kasalanan.”
Nang magising si Jose, sinunod niya ang utos ng anghel ng Panginoon.
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.
+ + + + + + +
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 to 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 judged 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
Noong panahong iyon, si Hesus ay
pumunta sa Bundok ng mga Olibo. Kinaumagaha’y nagbalik siya sa templo. Lumapit
sa kanya ang lahat, kaya’t umupo siya at sila’y tinuruan. Noo’y dinala sa kanya
ng mga eskriba at ng mga Pariseo ang isang babaing nahuli sa pakikiapid.
Pinatayo ito sa harapan nila, at sinabi kay Hesus, “Guro, ang babaing ito’y
nahuli sa pakikiapid. Ayon sa Kautusan ni Moises, dapat batuhinhanggang sa
mamatay ang mga gaya niya.
Ano ang masasabi mo?” Itinanong nila ito upang subukin siya, nang
may maisumbong sila laban sa kanya. Ngunit yumuko si Hesus at sumulat sa lupa
sa pamamagitan ng daliri. Ayaw nilang tigilan nang katatanong si Hesus, kaya’t
sila’y tiningnan niya at sinabi ang ganito, “Sinuman sa inyo na walang
kasalanan ang siyang maunang bumato sa kanya.” At muli siyang yumuko at sumulat
sa lupa.
Nang
marinig nila ito, sila’y isa-isang umalis, simula sa pinakamatanda. Walang
naiwan kundi si Hesus at ang babaing naroon pa rin sa harapan niya. Tiningnan
siya ni Hesus at tinanong: “Nasaan sila? Wala bang nagparusa sa iyo?” “Wala po,
Ginoo,” sagot ng babae. Sinabi ni Hesus: “Hindi rin kita parurusahan. Humayo
ka, at huwag nang magkasala.”
Some Greeks who had come to worship at the
Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked
him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew;
then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour
has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of
wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it
dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates
his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me
must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will
honor whoever serves me.
"I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?
'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to
this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven,
"I have glorified it and will glorify it again." The crowd there
heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to
him."
Jesus answered and said, "This voice did
not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world;
now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from
the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the
kind of death he would die.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a middle-aged man who
presented himself to his parish priest and asked the priest if he could join
the ministry of extra-ordinary ministers of the Holy Communion. When
the priest asked why he desired to join the ministry, he said that he wants to
serve the people of God. To make a long story short he was eventually allowed
to join the ministry.
What the priest did not know was this: the
middle-aged man lied when he answered that he wants to serve the people of God.
Because he only desires to become popular in their community for He loves
influence, respect and attention. After six months of serving he was told by
the priest not to serve anymore because he was serving for the wrong reason.
We sometimes seek Jesus with the thought in mind
that once we are with Him life would be blissful already. We seek Jesus because
we think that the moment we are with Him there would be no more problems and
difficulties to overcome. We seek Jesus because we think that He is the panacea
for our personal and emotional difficulties.
In the gospel, there were some Greeks who
worshipped at the Passover Feast and wanted to personally see Jesus. For what
reason did they want to see Jesus? Were they expecting to witness more miracles
from Jesus? Were they expecting to be healed? Were they expecting to hear more
life-changing preaching and so forth?
Yet, Jesus mysteriously tells us in the gospel,
as He told Andrew and Philip, that if we want to have a full comprehension of
His Lordship, we must be ready to die to our own selfish desires.
We must be ready to throw away our worldly lives in order to have eternal life
with Him. And if we really want to serve Him, we must be ready to bear our own
cross as He carried and bore His own cross on His way to Calvary.
A life with Jesus is never easy, but it’s only
through Him that you will discover the true meaning of your life. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon: Kabilang ang ilang Griego
sa mga pumunta sa pista upang sumamba. Lumapit sila kay Felipe na taga
Betsaida, Galilea, at nakiusap, "Ginoo, ibig po naming makita si
Jesus." Sinabi ito ni Felipe kay Andres , at silang dalawa'y lumapit kay Jesus
at ipinaalam ang kahilingan ng mga iyon.
Sinabi ni Jesus, "Dumating na ang oras
upang parangalan ang Anak ng Tao. Tandaan ninyo: malibang mahulog sa lupa ang
butil ng trigo at mamatay, mananatili itong nag-iisa. Ngunit kung mamatay,
ito'y mamumunga ng marami. Ang taong labis na nagpapahalaga sa kanyang buhay ay
siyang mawawalan nito, ngunit ang napopoot sa kanyang buhay sa daigdig na ito
ay siyang magkakaroon nito.
Hanggang sa buhay na walang hanggan. Dapat
sumunod sa akin ang naglilingkod sa akin, at saanman ako naroroon ay naroon din
ang aking lingkod. Pararangalan ng ama ang sinumang naglilingkod sa amin."
"Ngayon, ako'y nababagabag. Sasabihin ko ba, 'Ama, iligtas mo ako sa
kahirapang daranasin ko? Hindi! Sapagkat ito ang dahilan kung bakit ako naparito
-- upang danasin ang kahirapang ito.
Ama, parangalan mo ang iyong pangalan."
Isang tinig mula sa langit ang nagsabi, "Pinarangalan ko na ito, at muli
kong pararangalan." Narinig ito ng mga taong naroroon at sabi nila,
Kumulog!" Sabi naman ng iba, "Nagsalita sa kanya ang isang
anghel!" sinabi ni Jesus, "Ipinarinig ang tinig na ito dahil sa inyo,
hindi dahil sa akin.
"Panahon na upang hatulan ang sanlibutan.
Itataboy ngayon sa labas ang pinuno ng sanlibutang ito. At kung ako'y maitaas
na, ilalapit ko sa akin ang lahat ng tao." Sinabi niya ito upang ipakilala
kung paano siya mamamatay.
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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you find time to read the words of Jesus in the
bible with reverence?
You allow the Lord to speak to you when you read the
words of Jesus in the bible with reverence. And this encounter will transform
you and create a positive impact in your life. There would be renewal in your
life and you will live a life that has new meaning and purpose.
The guards who were supposed to arrest Jesus were
suddenly converted by the very words of Jesus. Thus they were not able to carry
out their mission they instead became secret followers of Jesus. This is the
great mystery of the words of Jesus the moment you begin to read
it.
Just try reading His words in the bible with reverence
and notice how it will take root in you and how it will transform you. There’s
great power in the words of Jesus if only we would try to read and reflect upon
it.
But do we still have time to read His words in the
bible today? Today wherein our time is occupied by our worries on how we can
get by. We must create time for this noble endeavor regardless of what is
happening around us. Because this is our ticket to have a personal encounter
with Jesus and this is also our ticket to have calmness in the midst of the
uncertainties around us.
Never mind if you will read the words of Jesus for the
very first time or you haven’t read them in a very long time. For the Holy
Spirit will always be there to open your mind and walk you through it. After a
period of time of reading the bible you will notice a positive transformation
in your life.
Positive transformation that will change you and those
around you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
