1Reflection for April 15, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass: Matthew 28:1-10

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

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Reflection:

How would we know that Jesus is alive in a person’s life? The answer is simple, if the person lives the teaching of Jesus then we could safely conclude that Jesus is alive within that person’s life. This is basically the yardstick on how we would know if Jesus is alive in a person’s life.

In the gospel Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb of Jesus. But they were told by an angel that He was not there anymore for He has already risen. Immediately after that their hearts were already on fire and they were overjoyed.

This is how we should become also our hearts must always be on fire and overjoyed for the risen Jesus. We must therefore live the life and teachings of Jesus for this is the best method on how to create awareness that Jesus is alive within us.

But the big question that needs to be answered is this: Is Jesus really alive in our hearts? If Jesus is alive in our hearts already, well and good. Then we now go to the next phase which is to live the teachings of Jesus.

This we could do best by our life of simplicity, humility, and gentleness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for April 14, Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: John 18:1-19:42

Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go. This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,  went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting  to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. here they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier.They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

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Reflection:

Today is Good Friday, why do we still call this Good Friday in-spite of the fact that on this very day Jesus has died on the cross? We call this day Good Friday because Jesus has done the greatest sacrifice for all of us. That is to die on the cross for all of us.

Before breathing His last; Jesus’ last word was: “It is finished.” After all the suffering inflicted on Him by the roman soldiers, after all the betrayal and denial by some of His disciples, after all the persecution by the Pharisees, scribes, Sanhedrin and the powers that be,  it is now finished—mission accomplished in other words.

It is a no brainer why Jesus has to undergo this torture; this is all for us, for our salvation. For the love of us all He willingly went through these sufferings. Being God, He could have passed off this terrible period of His earthly life but Jesus saw that we were in great need of His Love and Mercy. So He gave His life as a ransom for us all. What have we done so far to reciprocate His love?

Some of us are so enslave by this world that we don’t have time anymore for God. We don’t have time to worship Him in Adoration and in Prayer. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for April 13, Holy Thursday; Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: John 13:1-15

Gospel: John 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

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Reflection:

Are you willing to wash the feet of a poor man?

Today Holy Thursday the universal church remembers the institution of the Eucharist (the first Mass) Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:15-20, Matthew 26:26-28. The breaking of the bread (Jesus’ body) the sharing of the cup (Jesus’ blood) foreshadows Jesus sacrificial death on the cross.

During the afternoon Mass on Holy Thursday the ceremony of washing of the feet of the disciples is done in all of Catholic parish churches worldwide. After giving his homily the Priest prepares himself to wash the feet of twelve individuals who act as the apostles. After which the twelve apostles would randomly choose parishioners and instantaneously wash their feet as well.

This tradition of washing of the disciples’ feet is in keeping with what Jesus did in the gospel. He washed their feet to show them that even if he is their Lord, Master and Teacher he is also their humble servant leader destined to give his life for the salvation of humanity.

At the end of the gospel Jesus told them to do also his example: “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” John 13:14-15.

This is also Jesus’ marching order for you this Holy Thursday. You ought to be His humble servant. Thus, you must be ready to humbly serve whomever you are. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for April 12, Wednesday of Holy Week: Matthew 26:14-25

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,

"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."

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Reflection:

What if instead of killing himself Judas simply approached Jesus and said, I’m sorry Jesus for betraying you. How would have Jesus reacted? Jesus would have forgiven him but the sad part is to humble himself before Jesus never came to Judas' contemplation. Judas instead was overpowered by his greed for money.

For thirty pieces of silver Judas Iscariot sold His soul to the devil. Obviously Judas loved money more than his master otherwise he would not have betrayed Jesus. Indeed, the love of money is the root of every evil. Because of this greed, some have wandered away from the faith, bringing on themselves afflictions of every kind (1 Timothy 6:10).

What power does money have that we are willing to sell our souls to the devil so that we could have it? Money per see is not evil it becomes evil when we greed for it and when we allow it to possess us. But what price are we willing to pay just to have money or even dirty money? Judas betrayed his master and eventually destroyed his very life for his greed for money.

There’s always a heavy price to pay when we allow ourselves to be possessed by our greed for money. Just observed those people who are greedy with money what happened to them? Where are they now? This betrayal of Judas courtesy of thirty pieces of silver sends us a chilling lesson. That our greed and love for money will bring us no good only misery and countless more misery. 

All the money in this will not buy us harmony in the family; all the money in this world will not buy us peace of mind and so forth. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for April 11, Tuesday of Holy Week: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it? Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly. Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

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Reflection:

Have you already experienced how it is to be betrayed by a trusted friend? Have you already experienced being denied by somebody very close to you? Jesus experienced these all, He was betrayed by a trusted follower in Judas and He was denied by a follower who sworn allegiance to Him in Peter.

Just imagine the feelings of Jesus during that time; He knew that His world was getting smaller by the day. Then came the betrayal and denial of Judas and Peter perhaps Jesus’ heart was already bleeding with sorrow. He was sorrowful but He never took it personally upon them for  Jesus knew that something good would soon come out of these sorrows.

What was the good that came out from Judas betrayal? Jesus was able to unmask the traitor amongst His followers. What was the good that came from Peter’s denial? Jesus was able to discover that even those who profess to be loyal to Him would deny Him so that he could save his own life. Nevertheless, Jesus never took this betrayal and denial personally, He still forgave the two of them.

We too have denied and betrayed Jesus for countless times already. Has Jesus took our betrayals and denials personally? Of course not for Jesus doesn’t know how to harbour ill feelings in His heart.

But can we do something so that we could somehow show to Jesus that we are remorseful of our disloyalty to Him? Yes we can do something and we begin it during this Holy Week. By observing all the liturgical activities of the church or your parish community. Such as The Way of the Cross, The Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Last Supper, The Veneration of the Holy  Cross and the Easter Vigil Mass.

If we will observe this Holy Liturgical Celebrations of our church we will not only signify our remorse to Jesus. Through these holy activities we also are opening ourselves for the presence of Jesus in our lives.

Will you make yourself available for any of these sacred celebrations this Holy Week? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for April 10, Monday of Holy Week: John 12:1-11

Gospel: John 12:1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

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Reflection:

Is money at the top of your priority list?

Money was always in the mind of Judas, his obsession to possess it drove him to betray Jesus. If only Judas learned to detach himself from the love of money he would not have encountered a gruesome death. But he chose to be enslaved by money.

Martha did not chose money over Jesus she instead preferred to serve Jesus. The same is true with Mary and Lazarus, she preferred to anoint Jesus with expensive perfume, while Lazarus was with Jesus on the table.

If we want our lives to be serene and peaceful let us always prefer Jesus over the desire to have money. For example, which would you choose to go to Sunday Mass or to go somewhere else to earn money?

Money will never satisfy us, the more that we have money the more that we would desire it. The more that we desire money that more that our lives would become complicated even problematic.

Is Jesus always number one in your priority list? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for April 9, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion; Matthew 21:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, 'The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once." This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, "Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied, "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."

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Reflection:

A story is told about a group of men who promised to stand by their leader until the very end. It was a good leader to subordinate relationship in the beginning but when the leader encountered troubles in his life. The group of men who promised to stand by their leader until the very end was nowhere to be found anymore.   

There are fair-weather friends/followers and there are few friends/followers who would be willing to stand by us until the very end.

While Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem riding on an ass, the crowds were on a festive mood. They spread their cloaks on the road as a sign of respect and adulation for Jesus.  They were boisterously shouting: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest."

These crowds are the fair-weather followers of Jesus who would eventually disown him and shout to high heavens: “Crucify him! crucify him!" What a betrayal of loyalty!

 Why did they betray Jesus? Because there were no more miracles coming from Jesus and no more extra-ordinary showcase of power and healing. This is who many of us are; very disloyal when we cannot get anything anymore from our Lord and savior. And when we go through the humps and bumps in our lives.

But not everyone left Jesus! There were a number of loyal followers who stood by Him until his last gasp of breath on the cross. John 19:25-27 says: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother (Mary) and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the ever loyal disciple John at the foot of the cross. Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."

As we are ushered into the first day of Holy week we may want to ask ourselves: Who am I as a friend/follower of Jesus? Am I a fair-weather friend/follower or a friend until the very end? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Saturday April 8, Fifth Week of Lent: John 11:45-56

Gospel: John 11:45-56

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”

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Reflection:

Do you always make yourself available to the people? For example if you’re a politician are you always available to your constituents even if it’s not election time? Many politicians are only available when they campaign during election. But after the election has been won they are already hard to find.

If you’re a priest or a person of God do you always make yourself available to those who are in need of your time and advice? Many person of God discriminates; they are always available to those who are rich and powerful. But they are not always available to the poor and powerless. 

Aside from performing miraculous healings Jesus is also humble, approachable, and helpful. He always empathized with the poor and lowly. This is what made Jesus dear to the hearts of the people most especially the common people.

Through these virtues He galvanized into one the dispersed children of God. And it created a bandwagon effect that whoever saw or even heard about Him was captivated to follow Him. Thus Jesus became a threat to the powers that be at that time.

We who follow Jesus must learn from these human qualities of Jesus. We may not have the gift to perform miraculous healings. But if we are humble, approachable and always available we could also be His representative to our fellowmen most especially to the poor and powerless. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Friday April 7, Fifth Week of Lent: John 10:31-42

Gospel: John 10:31-42

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.

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Reflection:

Raffy was a popular figure in their parish, he was being consulted every time there was problems and decisions to be made. Then a new figure in the parish came along a humble man whose wisdom was very profound. Suddenly the people in the parish gravitated to this humble and wisdom filled man. Therefore Raffy planned to bring down this humble man so that he could once again be the main man in their parish. 

The hatred of the Jews against Jesus was not only caused by His pronouncement that He and God are one and the same. Their hatred against Jesus was also caused by their envy with Jesus popularity with the people most especially with the ordinary people. The Jews were slowly losing grip of their authority because of Jesus. Therefore they must plot to kill Him at any cost.

There would also be people who will come along who are much better than us. Who are more humble than us (If at all we are humble!). Let us not envy them, let us not plot any untoward against them let us instead be happy for them. To rejoice with somebody who is taking the limelight from us is hard to do. But this is not impossible to do if we really are true followers of Jesus. 

The mistake of the Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus is they allowed envy and pride to control them. By doing so they in the process opened themselves up to the control of the devil. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Thursday April 6, Fifth Week of Lent: John 8:51-59

Gospel: John 8:51-59

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.

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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.

The believer makes every pronouncement of Jesus in the scriptures as his guiding light. Jesus is not a historical figure to Him Jesus to him is an ever present guiding light that illuminates his life.

Invite Jesus to guide and illuminate your life too! -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Wednesday April 5, 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 follower 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)

Do you sometimes allow the devil to take hold of you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Tuesday April 4, 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 is the barrier that prevents us to be with Jesus? It’s our sinfulness and unfaithfulness to Him. Whenever we sin we put barrier that divides us from Jesus the more we sin the more barriers that we create that separates us from Jesus. 

But we also know that this separation is not permanent because through our humble submission to the Sacrament of Reconciliation we allow Jesus to reach out to us as we reach out to Him also. This is what separates us from the many Pharisees of Jesus time.

 By their arrogance and unbelief they created a permanent barrier between them and Jesus. This is one of the reason why Jesus told them (Pharisees), where I am going you cannot come. What then is the key element for us to be able to go eventually where Jesus is? It’s our humility and faith in Jesus.

We read in the first part of the gospel that Jesus is somewhat distant and aloft. Yes, in His humanity Jesus was perhaps exasperated already with the Pharisees. Who would not be? They always contradict Him, they always find fault in Him and they were full of jealousy and unbelief.

Nevertheless Jesus loved them dearly also the same love and intensity that He gave to His followers and to us also. Jesus did not sacrifice His life on the cross for those who only believe Him. He died on the cross for all of us believers, unbelievers and sinners.

If you think that because of your sinfulness and unbelief you’re already hopeless and out of the loop of the love of Jesus. You’re not! You still have hope, you’re still dearly loved by Jesus who died for you on the cross. Pray to Him and look up to Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Monday April 3, 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:

How would you react if you happen to see a sinner? Would you immediately look-down on her/him? Would you instantly judge him/her? Or you may even be averse to be identified with him/her. This normally is our human behavior towards sinners: Aversion and judgment.

In the gospel the Pharisees and scribes saw a woman caught in the act of committing adultery. So they immediately condemned her and sentenced her to die by stoning for that was the punishment. They were so consumed by their judgment that they forgot that they themselves were sinners as well. Did they forget or they purposely forgot that they were also sinful?

In the midst of their judgment here comes Jesus who reminded them about their own sinfulness. He told them: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then, they all walked away from her for they were sinners too!

Let us not forget that the moment we judge we expose ourselves also to judgment. But perhaps we will say who will judge us? When nobody knows about our secret sins except us; there’s somebody who knows our best kept sins and He is none other than Jesus. All of us are exposed before Jesus; He knows every detail of our lives most especially our best kept sins.

So what should we do if we happen to encounter so-called sinners? We must not judge them and we must not hate them. Instead of judging them let us rather extend the love, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for April 2, 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:

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, He showed us that there is life and resurrection for as long as we believe in Him. There is hope for a new life even if we die but to have this new life we should not only know Jesus. We must also die from our sinfulness and we should be friends with Him as well.

Jesus went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus for only one purpose and that is to bring His friend back to life again. Why? This is for the reason that Jesus wanted them to believe and have faith in Him. Jesus wanted them to know that nothing is impossible for Him, that even death He can mightily defeat.

Jesus’ raising of Lazarus opens our minds to the reality that there’s a new life after our mortal death provided that we are friends with Jesus and provided that we are willing to accept Him as our Lord and savior.

Is Jesus your friend is He your only Lord and Savior? – Marino J. Dasmarinas