Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Mayo 12, Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 10:27-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 10:27-30

27 Sinabi ni Jesus, Dinidinig ng aking mga tupa ang aking tinig at kilala ko sila, at sumu­sunod sila sa akin. 28 Buhay magpa­kailanman ang ibinibigay ko sa kanila at hin­ding-hindi sila kailanman mapa­pahamak ni walang aagaw sa kanila mula sa kamay ko. 29 Mas dakila sa anuman ang ibinigay sa akin ng aking Ama, at walang maka­aagaw mula sa kamay ng Ama. 30 Iisa kami: ako at ang Ama.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon   

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Repleksyon:

May isang pastol na nangako na mag aalaga sa kanyang mga tupa. Kaya ginawa niya ang nararapat niyang gawin bilang kanilang pastol. Pero, nang dumating ang pagkakataon na dumaan sa isang panganib ang kanyang mga tupa. Imbes na ipagtanggol niya ang kanyang mga tupa ang pastol ay bigla nalang nawala na parang bula.

Si Jesus bilang ating mabuting pastol ay hindi tayo iiwan ano man ang mangyari. Pag tayo ay dumaan sa mga problema at pagsubok ng buhay si Jesus ay palaging nandiyan para tumulong sa atin. Pag tayo ay napapagod dahil sa hirap ng buhay si Jesus ay palaging nandiyan para bigyan tayo ng lakas.

Ganito dapat ang mabuting pastol. Dapat siya ay palaging nagpapakita ng  mabuting halimbawa at ganito Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad. Itinuro sa kanila ni Jesus kung paano mag pakumbaba, kung paano mag patawad at kung paano maging tunay na lider.  

Si Jesus ay palaging nandiyan para sa atin sa anumang panahon ng ating mga buhay dahil siya ang ating mabuting pastol. Kaya dapat tayo ay palaging nakikinig at sumusunod  sa kanya. Dahil sa kanya lang natin matatagpuan ang tunay na halaga ng buhay.

Si Jesus ba ang nagpapastol ng buhay mo? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for May 11, Saturday: Third Week of Easter; John 6:60-69

Gospel: John 6:60-69

Many of the disciples of Jesus 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 walked with 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:

When many of the followers of Jesus went back to their former way of life because they couldn’t believe that He is the Bread of Life. Jesus perhaps quite sad turned His attention to His twelve apostles and said to them: “Do you also want to leave (John 6:67)?” This is the million-dollar question that confronted the twelve apostles, “Do you also want to leave (John 6:67)?”

For many of us the teachings of Jesus are actually hard to follow. For example His teachings about Humility. How many of us are still willing to offer the other cheek if we are hit on the other side(Luke 6:29)?

 His teachings about fidelity to the Sacrament of Marriage. Are we still faithful or have we been faithful to our respective spouses? And there are many more teachings that Jesus wants us to follow but we don’t for the simple reason that we want to satisfy our earthly desires.

We see, it’s hard to follow Jesus because He will stir our lives according to what He wants it to become. Jesus will turn our life upside down, He will shake and disturb it until we are purified. And this is hard for us becaue we want to follow our own self-serving wants and sometimes immoral desires.

But where would we go? We follow the dictates of the flesh and this sinful world? if this is so we then end up in hell, we will even taste and feel how it is to be in hell while we are still living in this world.    

it’s only through Jesus that we can have peace, that this world cannot give us and it’s only through Jesus that we can have eternal life. The things that we have right now are all temporary; we will leave it or it will leave us anytime.

Will you also leave Jesus for the many temptations of this world?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Reflection for May 10, Friday: Third Week of Easter; John 6:52-59

Gospel: John 6:52-59

The Jews quarreled 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:

A man was on the verge of death, he was already gasping for breath. His doctors told his relatives that it was just a matter of minutes before he expires. During such situation relatives and close friends would seemingly be helpless and forlorn.

But no, we will not feel helpless if we know that the person on his deathbed is a frequent Holy Mass goer. And if we know that the person is frequently being nourished by the Body of Christ during Holy Communion.

 This is for the reason that we believe to the core of our bones the proclamation of Jesus that whoever eats His Flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life.

We hold on to this assurance by Jesus and we feel and believe this as we receive His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. But not everyone is knowledgeable of this Bread of Life which is none other than Jesus Himself.

It is therefore our responsibility now to echo this gift of life of Jesus so that many will be enlightened and saved. Let us not become hearers only let us also become sharers of this good news.

Will you share what you know about the Bread of Life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 9, Thursday: 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:

How could you have eternal life?  You have to regularly receive the Body of Christ at Holy Mass. Always receive it with reverence and piety never doubt and think of it as a simple bread. Because what you receive is Jesus Himself.

Just imagine the enlightenment and unfathomable blessing that it will bring you if you would always partake of the body of Christ. Just imagine the countless spiritual blessing that it would bring you if you would believe that Jesus is the Consecrated Host that you receive during Holy Communion.

Your belief and faith in the bread of life will open your mind to the many truths about Jesus and the church that He founded. Things that are hard to explain but is real and felt by the heart, all you have to do is to believe and have faith.

For without faith and belief you will not fully comprehend how this small and ordinary bread becomes the body of Jesus after it is consecrated by the priest. How this ordinary bread becomes your life and your reason for existing in this world.

Don’t wait for a Eucharistic miracle to happen before you for it may not happen in your lifetime. Simply believe and have faith in the that you receive during Holy Communion. Which is Jesus Himself and you yourself will become a living and breathing miracle for those who know you. Why? Because you always partake of the Body of Christ during Holy Communion. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for May 8, Wednesday: Third Week of Easter; 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:

Is Jesus the center of your life?  Well and good if yes for this is how it should be. Jesus should be the center of your life. Not money, not power or anything that is worldly it should be Jesus! Why Jesus and not anything that belongs to this world? Because when you have Jesus in your life you already have the greatest treasure that gives eternal life.

Life in this world is fleeting, we could leave this ephemeral world anytime, what would happen to us if Jesus is not the center of our lives? For example, if our motivation of living in this world is all about material things, power and enjoyment. What’s next after material things, power and enjoyment? Nothing for it’s already the dead end for a person without God. This is the danger of not having Jesus in our lives and not making Jesus the center of our lives. 

In our gospel, 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 (John 6:35). If we deeply believe in this statement of Jesus we will indeed not experience hunger and thirst anymore. Hunger and thirst for what? Hunger and thirst for whatever this world will offer us.

Is Jesus the center of your life right now?   – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 7, Tuesday: 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:

There is a true story of a woman who was stricken with brain cancer, she was already given by her doctors two months to live. Being so her relatives requested their Parish Priest to administer her the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

The family of the woman requested the priest if he could assign an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Holy Communion for regular visit so that she could receive Jesus every Sunday. To make a long story short the Priest assigned an Extra-Ordinary Minister to give her Holy Communion every Sunday.    

With the grace of the Lord the two months life that was given her by her doctors became five years.  And her mother would always tell the Extra-Ordinary Minister that the additional four years and ten months of her life was a miracle of the Good Lord which she always receives every Sunday.  

In our gospel today, after Jesus mentioned about the bread from heaven that gives life to the world. The crowd told Him "Lord, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."

The sick woman and her mother believed without a single doubt this declaration of Jesus that He is the Bread of Life. How about you? Do you also believe? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for May 6, Monday: Third Week of Easter; John 6:22-29

Gospel: John 6:22-29

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

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Reflection:

A man was once asked why he attends the celebration of the Holy Mass everyday. He said that he does so because he wants to be nourished by Jesus everyday. Then he said these very profound words: “I don’t have the heart to refuse Jesus who always offers Himself to me during Holy Communion.”

In almost everyday of our lives Jesus always offers Himself to us by way of Holy Communion inside the celebration of the Holy Mass.  He is the food that does not perish and He is the food that gives eternal life. We often times take Him for granted for the reason that we don’t go to Holy Mass often even if we have the luxury of time.

But when are we going to Jesus? When we are in dire need of Him already? Let us not wait for the time to come when we will be forced to go to Jesus. Because we are already sick or a few breaths away from death.

Let us take advantage of the present moment that we have every day let us go to Jesus now. For everything is ours to gain, we will not lose anything except our sinfulness the moment we decide to go to Jesus.

Do you always go to Jesus who always offers Himself to you in the celebration of the Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday May 5, Third Sunday of Easter: John 21:1-19

Gospel: John 21:1-19

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

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Reflection:

A mother would always pray to the Lord to help her make her children responsible and loving. When her children became older and had their own respective families, they became very responsible and loving. And the mother would always thank the Lord for granting her prayer for her children. 

Do you always pray to the Lord Jesus Christ whenever you want to achieve something in your life? Do you always ask the Lord to help you realize it?

In the gospel, the disciples reverted back to their livelihood as fishermen. So they went fishing by their own effort and perhaps they forgot about the Lord. Because they thought that the Lord has not risen.

Then, lo and behold; as they approached the shore the risen Christ was already there waiting. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No (John 21:5)”. Jesus said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish (John 21:6).

We see the miraculous influence that Jesus had in the lives of the disciples. When they went fishing without Jesus they caught nothing but when Jesus came into the picture they caught plenty of fish.

This gospel scenario is also applicable in our daily lives. If we do things by ourselves without asking the guidance of the Lord, we end up with nothing. Every activity or any endeavor that we do in this world without the guidance of the Lord is meaningless and empty.

But the moment we ask Jesus to be our guiding light in the achievement of our lives endeavors and goals. We surely would be able to achieve it for the simple reason that we invoked the guidance and help of the Lord.

Jesus is alive and risen! He makes the impossible possible no matter how difficult it may seem. He gives hope to the hopeless, He makes a meaningless life meaningful and with purpose. We only need to do one thing and that is to ask for His help and guidance.

Do you always ask the help and guidance of the Lord as you wade through the many challenges of your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Mayo 5, Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 21:1-19

Mabuting Balita: Juan 21:1-19

1 Pagkaraan ng mga ito, muling ibinunyag ni Jesus ang sarili sa mga alagad sa may Dagat ng Tiberias. Ganito ang kanyang pagbu¬bunyag. 2 Magkasamang naroon sina Simon Pedro, Tomas na tinaguriang Kambal, Natanael na taga-Cana ng Galilea, ang mga anak ni Zebedeo, at dalawa pa sa  mga alagad niya. 3 Sinabi sa kanila ni Simon Pedro: “Aalis ako para mangisda.” Sinabi nila sa kanya: “Sasama kami sa iyo.”

Lumabas sila at sumakay sa bangka nang gabing iyo’y wala silang nahuli. 4 Nang madaling-araw na, nakatayo si Jesus sa dalampasigan pero hindi nakilala ng mga alagad na si Jesus iyon. 5 Tinatawag sila ni Jesus: “Mga bata, wala ba kayong isda?” Sumagot sila sa kanya: “Wala!” 6 Kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ihagis n’yo ang lambat sa bandang kanan ng bangka at ma-kakatagpo kayo.” Kaya inihagis nga nila at hindi na nila makayang hilahin iyon dahil sa dami ng isda.

7 Kaya sinabi kay Pedro ng alagad na iyon na mahal ni Jesus: “Ang Panginoon siya!” Nang marinig ni Simon Pedro na ang Panginoon iyon, ibinigkis niya ang [kanyang] damit dahil hubad siya, at saka tumalon sa dagat. 8 Dumating namang sakay ng maliit na bangka ang iba pang mga alagad pagkat hindi sila kalayuan mula sa pampang kundi mga sandaang metro lamang. Hila-hila nila ang lambat ng mga isda.

9 At pagkalunsad sa lupa, nakita nilang may nagbabagang uling doon, na pinagiihawan ng isda, at may tinapay. 10 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Magdala kayo mula sa mga isdang nahuli n’yo ngayon.” 11 Kaya sumakay si Simon Pedro at hinila sa pampang ang lambat na puno ng sandaa’t limampu’t tatlong malalaking isda. At kahit na napakarami’y hindi napunit ang lambat.

12 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Halikayo’t mag-almusal!” Walang maka-pangahas sa mga alagad na mag-usisa sa kanya: “Sino ba kayo?” dahil alam nilang ang Panginoon iyon. 13 Lumapit si Jesus at kumuha ng tinapay at ipinamahagi sa kanila. Gayundin sa isda. 14 Ito ngayon ang ikatlong pagbubunyag ni Jesus sa mga alagad matapos siyang ibangon mula sa mga patay.

15 Pagkapag-almusal nila, sinabi ni Jesus kay Simon Pedro: “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako nang higit sa pagmamahal nila?” Sinabi nito sa kanya: “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam na iniibig kita.” Sinabi sa kanya: “Pakanin mo ang aking mga kordero.” 16 Sinabi sa kanyang makalawa: “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako?” Sinabi nito sa kanya: “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam na iniibig kita.” Sinabi sa kanya: “Ipastol ang aking mga tupa.” 17 Sinabi sa kanyang makaitlo: “Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako?” Nalungkot na si Pedro dahil makaitlo siyang sinabihan: “Iniibig mo ba ako?” kaya sinabi niya: “Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam ng lahat; alam mong iniibig kita.” Sinabi nito sa kanya: “Pakanin mo ang aking mga tupa.

18 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo, nang bata-bata ka pa, ikaw mismo ang nagbibigkis sa iyong sarili at palakad-lakad ka saan mo man naisin. Ngunit pagtanda mo’y ididipa mo naman ang mga kamay mo, at iba ang magbibigkis sa iyo sa hindi mo nais.” 19 Sinabi ito ni Jesus sa pagbibigay-tanda sa paraan ng kamatayang ipanluluwalhati ni Pedro sa Diyos. At pagkatapos nito ay sinabi niya: “Sumunod ka sa akin!”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon   

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Repleksyon:

May isang nanay na palaging nag dadasal sa Diyos na sana ay lumaking mapagmahal at responsible ang kanyang mga anak. Nang lumaki na ang kanyang mga anak at sila ay nagkaroon ng kanya kanyang pamilya sila ay naging responsible, mabuti at mapagmahal sa kanilang magulang.  At ang kanilang nanay ay palaging nagpapasalamat sa Diyos dahil dininig niya ang kanyang mga panalagin para sa kanyang mga anak.

Palagi ka bang nagdadasal sa Panginoong Jesus na tulungan at gabayan ka niya pag may mga pangarap ka na gusto mong makamit?

Sa ating mabuting balita, ang mga alagad ni Jesus ay bumalik na sa kanilang dating trabaho bilang mga mangigisda. Kaya sila ay pumalaot at nangisda at marahil ay nalimutan na rin nila ang Panginoong Jesus. Dahil akala nila ay ang Panginoong Jesus ay hindi na nabuhay pang muli.   

Pero habang sila ay padating na galing sa pangigisda ay bigla nalag nilang nakita si Jesus sa dalampasigan na naghihintay sa kanila. Kaya sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Mga bata, wala ba kayong isda?” Sumagot sila sa kanya: “Wala (Juan 21:5)! Kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ihagis n’yo ang lambat sa bandang kanan ng bangka at ma-kakatagpo kayo.” Kaya inihagis nga nila at hindi na nila makayang hilahin iyon dahil sa dami ng isda (Juan 21:6).

Makikita natin ang milagrong ginawa ni Jesus sa buhay ng kanyang mga alagad na nangisda. Nang sila ay pumalaot na hindi kasama si Jesus ay wala silang nahuli. Pero nang nandoon na ang presensya ni Jesus ay marami na silang nahuling isda.

Ang ganitong pangyayari sa ating mabuting balita ay maaari rin nating mai-ugnay sa ating pang araw-araw na buhay. Pag tayo ay may ginawa na hindi tayo humihingi ng paggabay sa ating Panginoong Jesus ay walang mangyayari at walang patutunguhan ito.

Pero pag hiningi natin ang paggabay ng ating Panginoong Jesus ay siguradong makakamit natin ito. Sa dahilan na hiningi natin ang paggabay at tulong ng ating Panginoon.

Si Jesus ay buhay at siya ay muling nabuhay! Ang imposible sa atin ay palaging posible kay Jesus. Si Jesus ay nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mga nawawalan na ng pagasa. Binibigyan ni Jesus ng direksyon ang buhay na walang direksyon. Ang kailagan lang nating gawin ay humingi tayo ng tulong at paggabay sa kanya. 

Palagi ka bang humihingi nga tulong at paggabay sa Diyos habang ikaw ay humaharap sa napakaraming hamon ng iyong buhay? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 4, Saturday: Second Week of Easter; John 6:16-21

Gospel: John 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

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Reflection:

Where do you go when you are fearful or when there’s an absence of peace in your life? Do you go to Jesus and ask Him to calm you and give you peace?

 As we continue to live we would be encountering many fears and many of these fears will certainly unsettle us. Yes, we worry about these fears yet after a while we also learn to submit everything to Jesus and the moment we do we already have peace.

While the disciples were on a boat on their way to Capernaum they encountered a strong wind and they were certainly bothered by it. What could have happened if Jesus was with them? Jesus would have told them, keep calm don’t worry for I am with you. But Jesus was not with them so they were all fearful.

Many fears bother us when there’s an absence of Jesus in our lives. Why? Because there’s an absence of stability and peace. Even if a person is rich if he/she doesn’t have Jesus there would certainly be absence of peace and calmness.

You will only have peace in your life if you have Jesus, if you don’t have Jesus expect the absence of peace to bother you. Wealth will not give you peace; power will not give you peace only Jesus will give you this elusive peace.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for May 3, Friday: Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles; John 14:6-14

Gospel: John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

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Reflection:

A typical marriage vows goes like this: For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. A man and a woman become one by virtue of the Sacrament of Marriage.

Jesus objective for instituting this Sacrament is to permanently bind these two separate and distinct individuals so that they may become one. This union must always be for life. It must never be based on convenience but based on mutual trust and respect for each other.

In our gospel for today, it is very obvious that Jesus wants to point out to Philip and to us too that He and God the father are one. Although God the Father and Jesus are two different persons, they are one and the same God. They both have the same desire for all of humanity and that is salvation for us all.

We believe this oneness of Jesus and God the Father, although they are two different persons. We must also strongly believe in the Sanctity of the Sacrament of Matrimony. That it is a union for life and nobody can separate both spouses except mortal death. 

But sad to say, many don’t anymore believe in the Sanctity of Marriage. And who is to blame for this? To blame is the worldliness of humanity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 2, Thursday: Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; John 3:31-36

Gospel: John 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

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Reflection:

What would happen to us if we would detach ourselves from Jesus? We become a citizen of this world everything that we do in this world is anchored in this finite world alone. Many people live for this world alone they think that there’s no God and there’s no heaven and hell.

So when trials or problems come along their way they have no other recourse but to solve their trials based on what this world has taught them to do. And when they are not able to solve their trials. They begin to lose hope in this world and in themselves as well and it seems that it is the end of the world for them already. And sad to say some of them would choose to end their lives.

What would happen to you if you have Jesus in your life? You will be full of hope even if the situation around you seem hopeless. This is the great difference of having Jesus in your life; you will be full of hope and you will see things differently. As opposed to someone who doesn’t have Jesus in his/her life.

In our gospel for this Thursday it says: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

The choice is ours to take, if we would allow Jesus to come into our lives or we would continue to shut the doors of our hearts to Jesus.  This we have to bear in mind: if we have Jesus we would always have hope. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 1, Wednesday: Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker; Matthew 13:54-58

Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? 56 Aren’t all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?”        57 And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family.” 58 And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

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Reflection:

What is superiority complex?

When Jesus went back to His hometown He was belittled by His by town mates. They couldn’t believe that He was speaking and teaching in their synagogue for He was just a carpenter’s son to them.

They had this feeling of superiority over Jesus but why did they have this feeling of superiority? Perhaps, it was brought about by their status in life, perhaps inside their minds they were telling Jesus, who are you to lecture us in the synagogue when you’re just an ordinary carpenter’s son!

This is the dilemma of many people who have this mindset of superiority over others. They already close their minds to what others whom they see as lowly can achieve and do. They close their minds because they cannot accept it. That someone whom they used to know as an ordinary person, a carpenter at that could be someone who is now more known and respected than them.   

This is a behavioral problem that we must at all times avoid for everyone of us are created by God as equal. Nobody is above anyone else, our money, our education and status in life don’t give us the license to belittle anyone’s honor and reputation. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 30, Tuesday: Second Week of Easter; John 3:7b-15

Gospel: John 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

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Reflection:

Who is Nicodemus and how does his situation relate with us?  He is a Pharisee, a secret faithful follower of Jesus; He visited Jesus during night time (John 3:1–21). Nicodemus also appeared after the Crucifixion of Jesus to provide the embalming ingredients for the body of Jesus. He also assisted Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus (John 19:39–42).

Like Nicodemus we too should become a faithful follower of Jesus. A follower who doesn’t keep any secrets. A true follower in words and in deeds and a follower who will stay with Jesus no matter how strong the temptation to betray him.  

We should aspire to become a modern day Nicodemus who will silently support Jesus. Who will silently  work for Jesus and who will do things for Jesus even outside of the glare of lights. This is the challenge before us who are following Jesus.  

But are we really His true followers? Or we are followers in good times only but when the testing of our faith comes, we easily betray Jesus in favor of the many sinful enticements of this world. Like Nicodemus, are we also followers who are ever ready to leave behind everything in favor of Jesus? 

Leave everything behind to Jesus and He will take care of you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas