Reflection for Sunday April 5, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Matthew 27:11-54

Gospel: Matthew 27:11-54

Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. 

While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”They answered, ABarabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 

But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha — which means Place of the Skull —, they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. 

Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, ‘Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.

And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said,

“Truly, this was the Son of God!”

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Reflection:

A famous man once said: “Victory has many fathers and defeat is an orphan.” This probably would explain the scenario of our Palm Sunday gospel. By virtue of His miraculous deeds Jesus gained many followers. But as He was being persecuted by the Jewish authorities the followers slowly evaporated from His sight.

This basically is how many people still follow Jesus today, it is loyalty based on what He can do for us. If He can’t do anymore miracles in our lives we slowly leave Him for the Gods of this world. Such as the God called greed, the God called lust, the God called power and many more false and fleeting Gods that this temporary world offers us.

Jesus becomes a God of convenience for many of us. If it’s convenient to follow the Lord we follow if it’s not we don’t follow. This is primarily the reason why many of us fall into the many temptations of this world. For example, if there’s a temptation to cheat on the marriage covenant. Many purposely dump the Lord to grab the temptation of Satan to cheat on their  marriage notwithstanding the misery that will befall them afterwards.  

When Jesus was entering Jerusalem riding an ass He was at the height of His popularity that’s why hundreds of people were rejoicing, crying and shouting, hosanna to the son of David.

Then after He was betrayed by Judas and subsequently caught by the Jewish authorities and tortured by the roman soldiers the followers started to walk away from Him.

We find in the Life of Jesus the paradox of human loyalty. That it is mainly based on what a person can do to us. If this person can give us what we want from him we would continue to follow. But the moment this person becomes powerless our loyalty evaporates as well.

It happened to Jesus, the very people who were shouting hosanna to the son of David upon His entry to Jerusalem. Were the very same people who shouted before Pilate: crucify him, crucify him!

As we journey this Holy Week quarantined in our respective homes because of the Covid-19 virus. We will once again go through the passion of Jesus and His death on the cross.

Let us reflect on the loyalty that we give to the Lord and let us ask ourselves this question: Is my loyalty to Jesus based on my own convenience only? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Abril 5, Linggo ng Palaspas sa Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon: Mateo 27: 11-54

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 27: 11-54

11Si Jesus nga ay nakatayo sa harap ng gobernador: at tinanong siya ng gobernador, na nagsasabi, Ikaw baga ang Hari ng mga Judio? At sinabi sa kaniya ni Jesus, Ikaw ang nagsasabi. 12At nang siya'y isakdal ng mga pangulong saserdote at ng matatanda, ay hindi siya sumagot ng anoman. 13Nang magkagayo'y sinabi sa kaniya ni Pilato, Hindi mo baga naririnig kung gaano karaming bagay ang kanilang sinasaksihang laban sa iyo? 14At hindi siya sinagot niya, ng kahit isang salita man lamang: ano pa't nanggilalas na mainam ang gobernador.

15Sa kapistahan nga ay pinagkaugalian ng gobernador na pawalan sa karamihan ang isang bilanggo, na sinoman ang kanilang ibigin. 16At noo'y sila'y may isang bilanggong bantog, na tinatawag na Barrabas. 17Nang sila'y mangagkatipon nga, ay sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato, Sino ang ibig ninyong sa inyo'y aking pawalan? si Barrabas, o si Jesus na tinatawag na Cristo? 18Sapagka't natatalastas niya na dahil sa kapanaghilian ay ibinigay siya nila sa kaniya.

19At samantalang nakaupo siya sa luklukan ng pagkahukom, ay nagsugo sa kaniya ang kaniyang asawa, na nagsasabi, Huwag kang makialam sa matuwid na taong iyan; sapagka't ngayong araw na ito'y naghirap ako ng maraming bagay sa panaginip dahil sa kaniya. 20Inudyukan ng mga pangulong saserdote at ng matatanda ang mga karamihan na hingin nila si Barrabas, at puksain si Jesus. 21Datapuwa't sumagot ang gobernador at sa kanila'y sinabi, Alin sa dalawa ang ibig ninyong sa inyo'y aking pawalan? At sinabi nila, Si Barrabas. 22Sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato, Ano ang gagawin kay Jesus na tinatawag na Cristo? Sinabi nilang lahat, Mapako siya sa krus. 23At sinabi niya, Bakit, anong kasamaan ang kaniyang ginawa? Datapuwa't sila'y lalong nangagsigawan, na nangagsasabi, Mapako siya sa krus.

24Kaya't nang makita ni Pilato na wala siyang magawa, kundi bagkus pa ngang lumalala ang kaguluhan, siya'y kumuha ng tubig, at naghugas ng kaniyang mga kamay sa harap ng karamihan, na sinasabi, Wala akong kasalanan sa dugo nitong matuwid na tao; kayo ang bahala niyan. 25At sumagot ang buong bayan at nagsabi, Mapasa amin ang kaniyang dugo, at sa aming mga anak. 26Nang magkagayo'y pinawalan niya sa kanila si Barrabas; nguni't si Jesus ay hinampas at ibinigay upang ipako sa krus.

27Nang magkagayo'y dinala si Jesus ng mga kawal ng gobernador sa Pretorio, at nagkatipon sa kaniya ang buong pulutong. 28At siya'y kanilang hinubdan, at dinamtan siya ng isang balabal na kulay-ube. 29At sila'y nangagkamakama ng isang putong na tinik, at ipinutong sa kaniyang ulo, at inilagay sa kanang kamay niya ang isang tambo; at sila'y nagsiluhod sa harap niya at siya'y kanilang nilibak, na nagsisipagsabi, Magalak, Hari ng mga Judio! 30At siya'y kanilang niluluraan, at kinuha nila ang tambo at sinaktan siya sa ulo. 31At nang siya'y kanilang malibak, ay hinubdan nila siya ng balabal, at isinuot sa kaniya ang kaniyang mga damit, at kanilang inilabas siya upang ipako sa krus.

32At paglabas nila'y kanilang nasalubong ang isang taong taga Cirene, na ang pangala'y Simon: ito'y kanilang pinilit na sumama sa kanila, upang pasanin niya ang kaniyang krus. 33At nang sila'y magsirating sa isang dakong tinatawag na Golgota, sa makatuwid baga'y, Ang dako ng bungo, 34Ay pinainom nila siya ng alak na may kahalong apdo: at nang kaniyang matikman, ay ayaw niyang inumin.

35At nang siya'y kanilang maipako sa krus ay kanilang binahagi ang kaniyang mga damit, na kanilang pinagsapalaran; 36At sila'y nangagsiupo at binantayan siya roon. 37At inilagay nila sa kaniyang ulunan ang pamagat sa kaniya, na nasusulat: ITO'Y SI JESUS, ANG HARI NG MGA JUDIO. 38Nang magkagayo'y ipinakong kasama niya ang dalawang tulisan, isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa. 39At siya'y nililibak ng nangagdaraan, na iginagalaw ang kanilang mga ulo, 40At nangagsasabi, Ikaw na igigiba mo ang templo, at sa tatlong araw ay iyong itatayo, iyong iligtas ang sarili mo: kung ikaw ay Anak ng Dios, ay bumaba ka sa krus. 

41Gayon din naman ang paglibak sa kaniya ng mga pangulong saserdote, pati ng mga eskriba at ng matatanda, na nagsipagsabi, 42Nagligtas siya sa mga iba; sa kaniyang sarili ay hindi makapagligtas. Siya ang Hari ng Israel; bumaba siya ngayon sa krus, at tayo'y magsisisampalataya sa kaniya. 43Nananalig siya sa Dios; iligtas niya siya ngayon, kung siya'y iniibig: sapagka't sinabi niya, Ako'y Anak ng Dios. 44At minumura din naman siya ng mga tulisang kasama niyang nangapapako sa krus.

45Mula nga nang oras na ikaanim ay nagdilim sa ibabaw ng buong sangkalupaan hanggang sa oras na ikasiyam. 46At nang malapit na ang oras na ikasiyam ay sumigaw si Jesus ng malakas na tinig, na sinasabi: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? sa makatuwid baga'y, Dios ko, Dios ko bakit mo ako pinabayaan? 47At nang marinig ito ng ilan sa nangakatayo roon, ay sinabi, Tinatawag ng taong ito si Elias. 48At pagkaraka'y tumakbo ang isa sa kanila, at kumuha ng isang espongha, at binasa ng suka, saka inilagay sa isang tambo, at ipinainom sa kaniya. 

49At sinabi ng mga iba, Pabayaan ninyo; tingnan natin kung paririto si Elias upang siya'y iligtas. 50At muling sumigaw si Jesus ng malakas na tinig, at nalagot ang kaniyang hininga. 51At narito, ang tabing ng templo'y nahapak na nagkadalawa buhat sa itaas hanggang sa ibaba; at nayanig ang lupa; at nangabaak ang mga bato; 52At nangabuksan ang mga libingan; at maraming katawan ng mga banal na nangakatulog ay nangagbangon; 53At paglabas sa mga libingan pagkatapos na siya'y mabuhay na maguli ay nagsipasok sila sa bayang banal at nangapakita sa marami. 54Ang senturion nga, at ang mga kasamahan niya sa pagbabantay kay Jesus, nang mangakita nila ang lindol, at ang mga bagay na nangyari, ay lubhang nangatakot, na nangagsasabi, Tunay na ito ang Anak ng Dios.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Saturday April 4, 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 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Sabado Abril 4, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 11:45-56

Mabuting Balita: Juan 11:45-56

45Marami nga sa mga Judio ang nagsiparoon kay Maria at nangakakita ng ginawa ni Jesus, ay nagsisampalataya sa kaniya. 46Datapuwa't ang ilan sa kanila ay nagsiparoon sa mga Fariseo, at sinaysay sa kanila ang mga bagay na ginawa ni Jesus.

47Ang mga pangulong saserdote nga at ang mga Fariseo ay nangagpulong, at nagsipagsabi, Ano ang ginagawa natin? sapagka't ang taong ito'y gumagawa ng maraming tanda. 48Kung siya'y ating pabayaang gayon, ang lahat ng mga tao ay magsisisampalataya sa kaniya: at magsisiparito ang mga Romano at pagkukunin ang ating kinaroroonan at gayon din naman ang ating bansa. 

49Nguni't ang isa sa kanila na si Caifas, na dakilang saserdote nang taong yaon, ay nagsabi sa kanila, Kayo'y walang nalalamang anoman. 50Ni inyong niwawari na sa inyo'y nararapat na ang isang tao ay mamatay dahil sa bayan, at hindi ang buong bansa ay mapahamak. 

51Ito nga'y sinabi niya na hindi sa kaniyang sarili: kundi palibhasa ay dakilang saserdote nang taong yaon, ay hinulaan niya na si Jesus ay dapat mamatay dahil sa bansa; 52At hindi dahil sa bansa lamang, kundi upang matipon din naman niya sa isa ang mga anak ng Dios na nagsisipangalat.

53Kaya't mula nang araw na yaon ay pinagsanggunianan nilang ipapatay siya. 54Si Jesus ay hindi na naglalakad ng hayag sa gitna ng mga Judio, kundi naparoon doon sa lupaing malapit sa ilang, sa isang bayan na tinatawag na Efraim; at siya'y nanahanan doong kasama ng mga alagad.

55Ang paskua nga ng mga Judio ay malapit na: at maraming nagsiahon sa Jerusalem mula sa lupaing yaon bago magpaskua, upang magsipaglinis. 56Pinaghahanap nga nila si Jesus, at pinaguusapan ng isa't isa, samantalang nangakatayo sila sa templo, Anong akala ninyo? Na hindi na kaya siya paririto sa pista?

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Friday April 3, 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 church, 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

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Biyernes Abril 3, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 10:31-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 10:31-42

31Nagsidampot uli ng mga bato ang mga Judio upang batuhin si Jesus. 32Sinagot sila ni Jesus, Maraming mabubuting gawa na mula sa Ama ang ipinakita ko sa inyo; alin sa mga gawang yaon ang ibinabato ninyo sa akin? 33Sinagot siya ng mga Judio, Hindi dahil sa mabuting gawa ay binabato ka namin, kundi sa pamumusong; at sapagka't ikaw, bagaman ikaw ay tao, ay nagpapakunwari kang Dios. 

34Sinagot sila ni Jesus, Hindi baga nasusulat sa inyong kautusan, Aking sinabi, Kayo'y mga dios? 35Kung tinawag niyang mga dios, yaong mga dinatnan ng salita ng Dios (at hindi mangyayaring sirain ang kasulatan), 36Sinasabi baga ninyo tungkol sa kaniya, na pinabanal ng Ama at sinugo sa sanglibutan, Ikaw ay namumusong; sapagka't sinasabi ko, Ako ang anak ng Dios? 

37Kung hindi ko ginagawa ang mga gawa ng aking Ama, ay huwag ninyo akong sampalatayanan. 38Datapuwa't kung ginagawa ko, ang mga yaon kahit hindi kayo magsisampalataya sa akin, ay magsisampalataya kayo sa mga gawa; upang maalaman ninyo at mapagunawa na ang Ama ay nasa akin, at ako'y nasa Ama. 39Muling pinagsikapan nilang siya'y hulihin: at siya'y tumakas sa kanilang mga kamay.

40At siya'y muling naparoon sa dako pa roon ng Jordan sa dako nang una'y pinagbautismuhan ni Juan; at siya'y tumira doon. 41At marami ang mga nagsiparoon sa kaniya; at kanilang sinabi, Katotohanang si Juan ay hindi gumawa ng tanda: nguni't lahat ng mga bagay na sinalita ni Juan tungkol sa taong ito ay totoo. 42At marami ang mga nagsisampalataya sa kaniya roon.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Thursday April 2, 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 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Huwebes Abril 2, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma Juan 8:51-59

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:51-59

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio 51Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, Kung ang sinoman ay tutupad ng aking salita, ay hindi siya makakakita magpakailan man ng kamatayan. 52Sinabi ng mga Judio sa kaniya, Ngayo'y nalalaman naming mayroon kang demonio. Namatay si Abraham, at ang mga propeta; at sinasabi mo, Kung ang sinoman ay tutupad ng aking salita, ay hindi niya matitikman magpakailan man ang kamatayan.

 53Dakila ka pa baga sa aming amang Abraham, na namatay? at nangamatay ang mga propeta: sino ang ipinalalagay mo sa iyong sarili? 54Sumagot si Jesus, Kung niluluwalhati ko ang aking sarili, ang kaluwalhatian ko ay walang anoman: ang aking Ama'y siyang lumuluwalhati sa akin; na tungkol sa kaniya'y sinasabi ninyo, na siya'y inyong Dios; 55At hindi ninyo siya napagkilala: nguni't nakikilala ko siya; at kung aking sasabihin, na hindi ko siya nakikilala, ay ako'y matutulad sa inyo, na sinungaling: datapuwa't nakikilala ko siya, at tinutupad ko ang kaniyang salita. 

56Nagalak ang inyong amang si Abraham na makita ang aking araw; at nakita niya, at natuwa. 57Sinabi nga sa kaniya ng mga Judio, Wala ka pang limangpung taon, at nakita mo si Abraham? 58Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, Bago ipinanganak si Abraham, ay ako nga. 59Sila nga'y nagsidampot ng mga bato upang ihagis sa kaniya: datapuwa't nagtago si Jesus, at lumabas sa templo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

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

Gospel: John 8:31-42

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

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

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Reflection:

How can we become true followers of Jesus?

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

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

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

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

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:31-42

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

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

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

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

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

Gospel: John 8:21-30

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

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Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mabuting Balita: Juan 8:21-30

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

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

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

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

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

Gospel: John 8:1-11

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

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Reflection:

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

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

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

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