1Reflection for Sunday April 12, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord: John 20:1-9

Gospel: John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

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Reflection:

How profound is our love for Jesus? Mary of Magdala, Peter and the beloved disciple loved Jesus deeply. Perhaps to say that the three of them were distressed is an understatement when Jesus’ body was buried. They certainly felt that a certain part of them had been taken away from them permanently. For this is how it feels when somebody we love deeply dies.

Therefore by the next day or in the early hours of the next day Mary of Magdala went to the tomb only to find out that Jesus’ body was not there anymore. She told Peter and the beloved disciple about the missing body of Jesus. So racing against time they went to see for themselves the empty tomb of Jesus. 

What does this gospel episode signify to us? Does it tell us that we too should look and long for Jesus? Surely it tells us that we too should have this ever present longing for Jesus. For the simple reason that the moment we long for the Lord we surely would soon find Him.

Jesus is alive and Jesus has risen yet many are not longing for Him. This is the sad truth: many are still not longing for Him. Why? Because many don’t care to share Him and many don’t care to live His teachings.

Let us therefore be different from those who don’t care to share Jesus. Let us humbly share the Resurrected Christ through our words and through our way of life. So that through us many will be enlightened and be blessed by our Risen Savior.

Would we care to share the risen Christ or we will continue to keep Him within us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Abril 12, Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay : Juan 20:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Juan 20:1-9  

1 Pagkatapos ng Araw ng Pahinga, habang madilim pa, maagang pumunta sa libingan si Maria Magdalena, nang makita niyang tanggal ang bato mula sa libingan, 2 patakbo siyang pumunta kay Simon Pedro at sa isa pang alagad na mahal ni Jesus. Sinabi niya sa kanila: “May kumuha sa Pangi­noon mula sa libingan, at hindi namin alam kung saan nila siya inilagay.”

3 Kaya lumabas si Pedro at ang isa pang alagad, at pumunta sa libingan. 4 Sabay na tumakbo ang dalawa. Ngu­nit mas mabilis tumakbo kay Pedro ang isa pang alagad, at unang naka­rating sa libingan. 5 Pagkayuko niya’y nakita niyang nakala­tag ang mga telang linen pero hindi siya pumasok.

6 Dumating namang kasunod niya si Simon Pedro, at pumasok sa libingan. Napansin niya ang mga telang linen na nakalatag, 7 at ang panyo namang naka­­talukbong sa ulo niya ay di kasa­ma sa mga telang linen na nakalatag kundi hiwalay na nakabilot sa mis­mong lugar nito. 8 Pumasok noon ang isa pang alagad, ang unang nakarating sa libi­ngan, at nakita niya at siya’y naniwala. 9 Sapag­kat hindi pa nila alam ang Kasu­latan na kailangan siyang mag­ba­ngon mula sa mga patay.

Reflection for April 11, Holy Saturday: 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:

What is the greatest achievement that we can ever have in this world? It’s to have an encounter with Jesus: This is the greatest achievement that we can ever realize in this world. After our encounter with the Lord will come the long and lasting friendship that we would have with Him. 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had this encounter with the risen Christ and after that encounter came the lasting friendship that they had with the Lord. In Mary Magdalene and Mary we can see our deep longing to encounter the Lord in our life.

Why do we seek an encounter with the risen Christ? Because life without the Lord in this world is pure emptiness. Saint Augustine said: “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” The restless and bothered hearts of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary only found peace and serenity when they encountered the risen Christ.

This we have to aspire as well, we have to aim to have an encounter  with the risen Christ for those who diligently seek the Lord will find the Lord.  Do we seek to have an encounter with the Lord by our pious presence at Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 11, Sabado Santo: Mateo 28:1-10

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 28:1-10

1 Kinahapunan ng Araw ng Pahinga, sa paglabas ng unang bituin, sa unang araw ng sanlinggo, pumunta sa libi­ngan si Maria Magdalena at ang isa pang Maria para tingnan ang libingan. 2 Walang anu-ano’y lumindol nang malakas at buma­ba mula sa langit ang Anghel ng Panginoon at nilapitan ang bato,pinagulong ito at naupo roon. 3 Pa­rang kidlat ang kanyang mukha at simputi ng niyebe ang kanyang damit. 4 Na­nginig naman sa takot ang mga bantay at naging parang mga patay.

5 Sinabi ng Anghel sa mga babae: “Hu­wag kayong matakot; alam kong hina­hanap ninyo si Jesus na ipinako sa krus. 6 Wala siya rito; binuhay siya ayon sa kanyang sinabi. Tingnan ninyo ang lugar na pinaglibingan sa kanya. 7 Pu­munta kayo agad ngayon at sabihin sa kanyang mga alagad na muli siyang nabuhay at mauuna sa inyo sa Galilea. Makikita ninyo siya roon. Ito ang mensahe ko sa inyo.”

8 Agad nilang iniwan ang libingan na natatakot at labis na nagagalak, at tumakbo sila para balitaan ang kanyang mga alagad. 9 Nakasalubong nila sa daan si Jesus at sinabi niya: “Kapayapaan.” Paglapit sa kanya ng mga babae, niyakap nila ang kanyang mga paa at sinamba siya. 10 Si­nabi naman ni Jesus sa kanila: “Huwag kayong matakot. Humayo kayo at sabihin sa aking mga kapatid na pumunta sila sa Galilea; doon nila ako makikita.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for April 10, Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion (Fast and Abstinence) : 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:

Why do many of us wear a cross with Jesus on it on the cross for our necklace? Why do we put the cross of Jesus in a conspicuous place in our home?    Perhaps, some of us wear this for protection against any harm. But is this the only reason? We also have this cross to remind us of the supreme sacrifice of Jesus for us; His death on the cross no less!

But many of us are afraid to fully embrace this cross of Jesus.  Anyone of us who wants suffering in our lives? Nobody of us would want suffering because as much as possible we want a life free of suffering/s. But if we would not pass though suffering how would we feel Jesus’ presence in our life? If Jesus went through severe sufferings, who are we not to suffer?

When Peter was recognized as one of the men in the company of Jesus, He denied Jesus three times. Why? Because during that moment Peter was afraid to suffer for his Lord and Master. Are we also afraid to suffer for the Lord? Let us not be afraid to go through suffering for the Lord because by passing through it we will know more Jesus deeply.

On this Good Friday let us think about our own suffering/s and think of how Jesus suffered for us on the cross. Let us thank Jesus for our suffering/s for it has brought us closer to Him. And at the same time let us ask Jesus to help us carry and eventually overcome our own suffering/s. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 10, Biyernes Santo Pagdiriwang ng Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon (Pag-aayuno at Abstinensya): Juan 18:1-19-42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 18:1-19-42

1 Lumabas si Jesus kasama ang kanyang mga alagad sa kabilang-ibayo ng sapa ng Kedron. May bukid doon at puma­sok siya roon at ang kanyang mga alagad. 2 Alam din ni Judas na nagkakanulo sa kanya ang lugar dahil doon malimit magtagpo si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad. 3 Kaya isinama ni Judas ang tropa ng mga sundalo at mga bantay ng Templo mula sa mga punong-pari at mga Pariseo, at nag­punta sila roon na may mga sulo, ilawan at armas. 4 Alam ni Jesus ang lahat ng sa­sapitin niya kaya lumabas siya at sinabi sa kanila: “Sino’ng hinahanap ninyo?” 5 Sumagot sila sa kanya: “Si Jesus na taga-Nazaret.” Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ako siya!” Naroon ding kasa­ma nila si Judas na nagkanulo sa kanya.

6 At nang sabihin ni Jesus sa kani­lang “Ako siya!” napaurong sila at nabuwal sa lupa. 7 Kaya muli niya silang tinanong: “Sino’ng hinahanap ninyo?” Sinabi naman nila: “Si Jesus na taga-Nazaret.” 8 At sumagot si Jesus: “Sinabi ko sa inyong ako siya. Kaya kung ako ang hina­hanap ninyo, pabayaan n’yong makaalis ang mga ito.” 9 Ganito kailangang maganap ang salitang sinabi niya: “Hindi ko iwinala isa man sa mga ibinigay mo sa akin.” 10 May tabak si Simon Pedro, binunot niya ito at tinaga ang utusan ng Punong-pari at tinagpas ang kanang tenga nito. Malko ang pangalan ng utusan. 11 Kaya sinabi ni Jesus kay Pedro: “Ibalik mo ang tabak sa suk­bitan nito. Hindi ko ba iinumin ang kalis na ibinigay sa akin ng Ama?”

12 Kaya dinakip si Jesus ng tropa, ng kapitan at ng mga bantay ng mga Judio, at iginapos siya. 13 At dinala muna nila siya kay Annas na biyenan ni Caifas na siya namang Punong-pari nang taong iyon. 14 Ngayon, si Caifas ang nagpayo sa mga Judio na mas makabubuting isang tao ang mamatay alang-alang sa samba­yanan. 15 Sumusunod naman kay Jesus si Simon Pedro at ang isa pang alagad. Dahil kilala ng Punong-pari ang alagad na iyon, nakapasok siyang kasabay ni Jesus sa patyo ng Punong-pari. 16 Na­katayo naman sa labas si Simon Pedro, sa may pintuan. Kaya lumabas ang isa pang alagad na kilala ng Punong-pari at kinausap ang babaeng bantay sa pinto at pinasok sa loob si Pedro.

17 Kaya sinabi kay Pedro ng dala­gitang bantay sa pintuan: “Di ba’t isa ka rin sa mga alagad ng taong ito?” Sumagot siya “Hindi ako!” 18 Nanga­tayo naman ang mga utusan at mga bantay, nagsiga sila at nagpapainit dahil maginaw. Kasama nilang naka­tayo rin si Pedro at nagpa­painit.

19 Siniyasat si Jesus ng Punong-pari tungkol sa kanyang mga alagad at tungkol sa kanyang turo. 20 Sumagot sa kanya si Jesus: “Lantaran akong na­ngu­sap sa mundo. Lagi akong nagtu­turo sa sinagoga’t sa Templo na pinag­ti­tipunan ng lahat ng Judio. Wala akong ipina­ngusap nang palihim. 21 Ba’t ako ang tinatanong n’yo? Ang mga nakarinig sa ipinangusap ko sa kanila ang tanungin n’yo. Siguradong alam nila ang mga sinabi ko.”

22 Sa pagsagot niya nang ganito, sinampal si Jesus ng isa sa mga bantay na nakatayo roon at sinabi: “Ganyan ka ba sumagot sa Punong-pari? 23 Sinagot siya ni Jesus: “Kung nangusap ako ng masama. Patunayan mong masama; kung mabuti naman, bakit mo ako pinagbuhatan ng kamay?” 24 At nakagapos siyang ipinadala ni Annas kay Caifas na Punong-pari. 25 Ngayon, nakatayo naman si Simon Pedro at nagpapainit. Kaya sinabi nila sa kanya: “Di ba’t isa ka rin sa kanyang mga alagad?” Itinatuwa niya iyon at sinabi: “Hindi ako.” 26 Sina­bi naman ng isa sa mga utusan ng Punong-pari, na kamag-anak ng tinag­pasan ni Pedro ng tenga: “Di ba’t nakita kitang kasama niya sa bukid? 27 Ngunit muli itong itinatuwa ni Pedro. At biglang tumilaok ang tandang.

• 28 Mula kay Caifas, dinala si Jesus sa palasyo ng gobernador. Umaga na noon at hindi sila pumasok sa palasyo para makakain ng Hapunang Pampas­kuwa, kung hindi’y marurumihan sila ng lugar na iyon. 29 Kaya nilabas sila ni Pilato at tinanong: “Anong sakdal ang dala n’yo laban sa taong ito?” 30 Sumagot sila: “Kung hindi guma­gawa ng masama ang taong ito, hindi sana namin siya ipinaubaya sa iyo.” 31 Kaya sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato: “Kunin n’yo siya, at kayo ang humu­kom sa kanya ayon sa inyong batas.” sinabi naman sa kanya ng mga Judio: “Hindi ipinahi­hintulot sa amin na humatol ng kama­tayan.” 32 Sa gayon magaganap ang salitang sinabi ni Jesus tungkol sa kamatayang ikamamatay niya.

33 Kaya muling pumasok si Pilato sa palasyo, tinawag si Jesus at sinabi sa kanya: “Ikaw ba ang hari ng mga Judio?” 34 Sumagot si Jesus: “Mula ba sa ’yo ang salitang ito o may nagsabi sa ’yo tungkol sa akin?” 35 Sumagot si Pilato: “Ako ba’y Judio? Ipinaubaya ka sa akin ng mga kalahi mo at ng mga punong-hari. Ano ba’ng ginawa mo?” 36 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi sa mun­dong ito galing ang pagkahari ko. Kung sa mundong ito galing ang pagkahari ko, makikibaka sana ang mga tauhan ko upang hindi ako maipaubaya sa mga Judio. Ngunit hindi nga dito galing ang pagkahari ko.”

37 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Pilato: “Eh di hari ka nga?” sumagot si Jesus: “Sinabi mong hari nga ako. Para dito ako isinilang at dahil dito kaya ako dumating sa mundo: upang magpa­tunay sa katoto­ha­nan. Nakikinig sa tinig ko ang bawat makatotohanan.” 38 Sinabi sa kanya ni Pilato: “Ano ang katotohanan?” Pagkasabi nito, lumabas siyang muli sa mga Judio at sinabi sa kanila: “Wala akong matagpuang krimen sa kanya. 39 May kaugalian kayo na pinalalaya ko sa inyo ang isang tao sa araw ng Pas­kuwa. Kaya gusto n’yo bang palayain ko sa inyo ang Hari ng mga Judio?” 40 At muli silang nag­sigawan: “Hindi siya kundi si Barabbas!” Si Barabbas ay tulisan.

 19  1 Kaya ipinakuha noon ni Pilato si Jesus at ipinahagupit. 2 Pag­ka­­pu­lupot naman ng mga sundalo ng isang koronang tinik, ipinutong ito sa kanyang ulo at binalabalan siya ng kapang pulang-panghari, 3 at nagla­pitan sa kanya sa pagsasabing “Mabu­hay ang Hari ng mga Judio.” At pinag­sasampal nila siya. 4 Nang muling lumabas si Pilato, sinabi niya sa mga Judio: “Narito’t inilabas ko siya sa inyo upang mala­man n’yong wala akong matagpuang krimen sa kanya.” 5 Kaya lumabas si Jesus, suot ang tini­kang korona at ang kapang pulang-panghari. Sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato: “Hayan ang Tao!”

6 Kaya nang makita siya ng mga punong-pari at mga bantay, nagsi­gawan sila: “Ipako sa krus! Ipako sa krus!” sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato: “Kunin n’yo siya at kayo ang magpako sa krus dahil wala akong matagpuang krimen sa kanya.” 7 Sumagot sa kanya ang mga Judio: “May Batas kami at ayon sa Batas ay dapat siyang mamatay sa­pag­kat ginawa niyang Anak ng Diyos ang kanyang sarili.” 8 Nang marinig ni Pilato ang salitang ito’y lalo siyang natakot. 9 Pumasok siyang muli sa palasyo at tinanong si Jesus: “Tagasaan ka ba?” Wala na­mang isinagot si Jesus sa kanya. 10 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Pilato: “Hindi ka ba maki­kipag-usap sa akin? Hindi mo ba alam na may ka­pangyarihan akong palayain ka at may kapang­yarihan ding ipapako ka sa krus?”

11 Sumagot si Jesus: “Wala kang anumang kapangyarihan sa akin kung hindi ito ibinigay sa iyo mula sa itaas. Kaya mas mabigat ang kasalanan ng nagpaubaya sa akin sa iyo.” 12 Mula noo’y hinangad ni Pilato na palayain siya. Nagsisisigaw naman ang mga Judio: “Kung palayain mo siya, hindi ka kaibigan ng Cesar. Nagsasalita laban sa Cesar ang sinumang guma­gawang hari sa kanyang sarili!” 13 Nang marinig ni Pilato ang mga salitang ito, ipinadala niya sa labas ni Jesus at pinaupo sa luklukan, sa lugar na tinatawag na Lithostrotos, na sa Hebreo’y Gabbatha.

14 Paghahanda noon ng Paskuwa, magtatanghaling-tapat ang oras. sinabi niya sa mga Judio: “Hayan ang inyong Hari!” 15 Kaya nagsigawan ang mga iyon: “Alisin, alisin, ipako siya sa krus!” Sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato: “Ipa­pako ko ba sa krus ang inyong Hari?” Sumagot ang mga punong-pari: “Wala kaming hari liban sa Cesar.” 16 Kaya noo’y ipinaubaya siya ni Pilato sa kanila upang ipako sa krus.

Kinuha nila si Jesus. 17 Siya mismo ang nagpasan ng krus at lumabas tungo sa lugar ng kung tawagi’y Pook ng Bungo, na sa Hebreo’y Golgotha. 18 Doon nila siya ipinako sa krus, at kasama niya ang dala­wang iba pa sa magkabila, nasa gitna naman si Jesus. 19 Ipinasulat din ni Pilato ang kara­tula at ipinalagay sa krus. Nasusulat: Jesus na taga-Nazaret, ang Hari ng mga Judio. 20 Marami sa mga Judio ang nakabasa sa karatulang ito dahil malapit sa lunsod ang lugar na pinagpakuan sa krus kay Jesus, at nasusulat iyon sa Hebreo, Latin at Griyego. 21 Kaya sinabi kay Pilato ng mga punong-pari ng mga Judio: “Huwag mong isulat ‘ang Hari ng mga Judio,’ kundi ‘Ito ang nagsabing “Hari ako ng mga Judio.’” 22 Sumagot si Pilato: “Ako ang sumulat at nakasulat na.”

23 Nang maipako ng mga sundalo si Jesus sa krus, kinuha nila ang kanyang mga damit, at pinaghati sa apat – tig-isang bahagi sa bawat sundalo – at ang tunika. Ngayon, wa­lang tahi ang tunika, at hinabi nang buo mula taas. 24 Kaya pinag-usapan nila: “Huwag natin itong punitin kundi pagsapalaranan natin kung mapa­pa­­kanino.” Gayon kailangang maganap ang kasulatan: Pinagbaha-bahagi nila sa kani-kanila ang aking mga damit, at pinagpalabunutan ang aking suot. Ito nga ang ginawa ng mga sundalo.

25 Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae ng kanyang ina, si Maria ni Cleofas at si Maria Magdalena. 26 Kaya pagkakita ni Jesus sa ina at sa alagad na mahal niya na nakatayo sa tabi, sinabi niya sa Ina: “Babae, hayan ang anak mo!” 27 pagkatapos ay sinabi naman niya sa alagad: “Hayan ang iyong ina.” At mula sa oras na iyon, tinanggap siya ng alagad sa kanyang tahanan.

 28 Pagkaraan nito, alam ni Jesus na ngayo’y natupad na ang lahat. Ngunit kailangang maganap ang Kasulatan, at sinabi niya: “Nauuhaw ako!” 29 May sisidlan doon na puno ng maasim na alak. Kaya ikinabit nila sa isopo ang isang esponghang ibinabad sa alak at idiniit sa kanyang bibig. 30 Pagkasipsip ni Jesus ng alak, sinabi niya: “Natupad na!” At pagka­yuko ng ulo’y ibinigay ang espiritu. 31 Dahil paghahanda noon, ayaw ng mga Judio na mamalagi sa krus ang mga katawan sa Araw ng Pahinga sapagkat dakilang araw ang Araw na iyon ng Pahinga. At ipinakiusap nila kay Pilato na baliin ang mga binti ng mga nasa krus at saka alisin.

32 Kaya pumaroon ang mga sundalo. Binali nila ang mga binti ng una at ng isa pang kasama niyang ipinako sa krus. 33 Ngunit pagsapit nila kay Jesus, nakita nilang patay na siya kaya hindi nila binali ang kanyang mga binti. 34 Gayunma’y sinibat ng isa sa mga sundalo ang kanyang tagiliran, at biglang may umagos na dugo at tubig. 35 Ang nakakita ang nagpapatunay, at totoo ang kanyang patunay. At Siya ang naka­aalam na totoo ang sinasabi niya para maniwala kayo. 36 Gayon kailangang maganap ang Kasulatan: Walang babaliin sa kanyang mga buto. 37 At sinasabi ng isa pang Kasulatan: Pagmamasdan nila ang kanilang sinibat.

38 Pagkatapos ay nakiusap kay Pilato si Joseng taga-Arimatea – ala­gad nga siya ni Jesus pero palihim dahil sa takot sa mga Judio – upang maalis niya ang katawan ni Jesus. At pinahintulutan siya ni Pilato. Kaya pumaroon siya at inalis ang katawan niya. 39 Pumaroon din si Nicodemo, ang pumaroon kay Jesus nang gabi noong una, may dala siyang pinaghalong mira at aloe, na mga sandaan libra. 40 Kaya kinuha nila ang katawan ni Jesus at binalot iyon sa telang linen kasama ang mga pabango, gaya ng kaugalian ng mga Judio sa paglilibing. 41Ngayon, may hardin sa lugar na pinagpakuan sa kanya at sa hardin nama’y may libingang bago na wala pang nailalagay roon. 42 Kaya dahil Paghahanda ng mga Judio at dahil malapit ang libingan – doon nila inilagay si Jesus.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection on the Seven Last words of Jesus on the Cross at Mount Calvary

1. “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Are we forgiving? 

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Forgiveness simply means that we choose to move on and not allow hatred to destroy us.

Hanging on the cross and near-death Jesus spoke these profound words. Who was Jesus alluding  to when He spoke these words? Jesus was alluding to those who persecuted Him which led Him on the cross. They were His critics like the Pharisees, Scribes, High priest and so forth. Included also were the Soldiers who brought Him to the mountain of Calvary to nail Him on the cross.

Here we see that Jesus is full of mercy, love and forgiveness towards those who made life very difficult for Him. Jesus did not bear any hatred towards those who hated and killed Him.

We have to reflect here on how we forgive those who sinned against us. For example, if a person betrayed our trust or a person hurt us. Have we forgiven them already? We have to forgive no matter how deep the hurt the they’ve inflicted upon us. Why? Because if Jesus can forgive who are we not to forgive? 

Forgiveness is a gift that we give not to those who’ve hurt us or betrayed us. Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves for the simple reason that we are only hurting our very selves when we don’t forgive. We have to free ourselves from being imprisoned by hatred caused by our unforgiveness. Therefore, we have to forgive. 

Are we forgiving?

2.   “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Where is the paradise that Jesus is referring here?

The paradise is with Him, in Him and in His kingdom in heaven. Jesus addressed this statement to one of the criminals hanging on the cross by His side. The criminal said to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).” And right there Jesus said to the criminal: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

The criminal was enlightened while he was hanging on the cross side by side with Jesus.  This is the reason why he asked the Lord to remember him when He is already in His kingdom. Don’t we all want to have the same enlightenment that he had? Of course, we do want it as well. So, we have to humbly ask the Lord for the same enlightenment coursed through our prayers to the Lord.

Many of us are so fixated in this fleeting word that we think and feel that this is our paradise. But as we go through the covid-19 pandemic experience we already have that this world is not at all paradise. We seek worldly pleasures (many of these worldly pleasures influence us to sin). We seek temporal wealth and worldly power and influence only to find out that this is not where paradise is located. Why?  For the simple reason that we humans have no satisfaction we will seek these earthly things which we think would satisfy us. Only to realize in the end that it cannot and will not satisfy us.

So, where is the real paradise that the Lord is talking? This paradise we can only find, feel and experience with Him, in Him and through Him. The true and real paradise that Jesus mentions is already here and now when we make Him part and parcel of our daily living.  When we make Jesus our Lord and Savoir.   

Where is your paradise?  

3.  “Woman, behold thy son. After that, he said to the disciple: Behold thy mother.” (John 19: 26-27)

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  

When Jesus was on the cross dying, He saw His mother Mary still looking after Him. His mother who cared, nurtured and watched over Him from the beginning until the end of His life. Dying and all, Jesus saw that nobody would take care of His mother so He asked John, His beloved disciple to take care of her.

Do we also take care of the Blessed Mother by respecting her as Jesus respected her? Mary is the mother of Jesus therefore it is incumbent for us to give her the respect and love which she richly deserves.  We show our love and respect for the Blessed Mother when we pray the Holy Rosary. When we politely teach others to respect her because she is the mother of Jesus and our mother as well. Mary our mother who will always be there to listen to us when no one would dare listen to us.  Mary our mother who will always be there to pray for us.

This is also to remind us that we have to respect and love at all times our own respective mothers. We would never exist in this world without our mothers. We would never become who we are today without their guidance and nurturing. Jesus would not have existed in this world without the consent of his mother Mary. As a debt of gratitude to his mother Jesus saw it fit to entrust his mother to his beloved disciple John.

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  What are you doing right now to show your respect and love for the Blessed Mother? Do you invoke her intersession when you pray? Do you defend her when someone is demeaning her role in the life of Jesus?

4.“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

Do we sometimes feel forsaken by the Lord?

On the cross and dying Jesus uttered these words. These are words of surrender, frustration and giving up. After going through all of the persecutions, torture and abandonment Jesus felt forsaken. Who among us would not feel the same way when we’ve been through what Jesus had been through? We would also understandably feel forsaken and abandoned by the Lord.    

But did God abandon Jesus when He was gasping and dying on the cross? Does God abandon and forsake us when we are at the lowest point in our lives? Is God absent as we navigate through the dangerous waters of  this covid-19 pandemic experience? God did not abandon Jesus, God was with Jesus all the way! God was strengthening Jesus when Jesus was at the lowest and weakest point in His life. And certainly God is also walking with us as we try to survive this covid-19 pandemic experience. 

We are humans subject to our own human frailties. It is understandable to feel forsaken by the Lord once in a while. But truth be told, God presence in our lives is strongest when we feel forsaken by this world and the people of this world.

God will never forsake us, God will never abandon us and God will always be there to strengthen us. Therefore, we always have to cling to Him in good times and most especially in the turbulent episodes of our lives.

Do we sometimes feel being abandoned and forsaken by the Lord?

5.“I thirst.” (John 19:28)

What do we thirst for?

Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said: “I thirst.” In His humanity, yes physical thirst but more than that it was the thirst for those people who were formerly with Him. These are the people who were with Jesus during His healing and speaking ministry.

Dying on the cross perhaps, Jesus was whimpering while saying, “I thirst.” Why? For the reason that He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His miraculous healing and powerful speaking ministry. 

It is in the lowest episodes of our life that we would know who is really for us and not for us. Those who are for us would choose to remain no matter the odds against us. Those who are not for us would immediately evaporate from our sights to save themselves.

When we encounter these words: “I thirst.”  Let us imagine that Jesus is addressing these words to us. I thirst for you to be faithful in your marriage covenant. I thirst for you to be honest where you are presently working right now. I Thirst for you to value the sacredness of life over the evil of abortion. I thirst for you to always be humble.

 I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass everyday or even every Sunday if you cannot make it every day.  I thirst for you to become a good father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to your priesthood. I thirst for you to be faithful to your religious life.

Would we respond to Jesus thirst?

 6.“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

How do you feel after finishing a worthy undertaking?

You feel good and triumphant. This second to the last word of Jesus is a word of triumph, at last its over at last its mission accomplished!

Jesus finally defeated the voice of Satan who was whispering to Him not to finish His salvific mission. Jesus overcame the many hurdles and temptation for Him not to pursue to the end His mission of salvation. Finally, Jesus redeemed the sinful humanity from the enslavement of sin.

However, it’s not finished for us yet, we are still in this journey called life. We are still battling the many demons that constantly whispers to our ears to commit sin. So, what are we going to do to be able to say that, “It's finally finished!”

We have to be faithful to our Lord until our end in this temporal world overtakes us. Then, when it comes, we can finally say, it is finished because we have been faithful to the Lord. We did not give an iota of space to the devil to distract us in our disciples with the Lord.

Would we be able to successfully say, “It is finished ” when the sun sets upon us someday? It is finished because we have defeated the many demons that were constantly tempting you to give up in our disciples for Jesus.

7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)    

Are you afraid to die?

After all has been said and done it’s now the end, it’s the victorious death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus conquered our sinfulness by dying on the cross. By giving His very life on the cross Jesus showed us the true meaning of sacrifice and love.

Death is something that many of us fear but why fear death if we live our life with Jesus in this world? Why fear death when this is the final hurdle for us to be with the Lord in heaven? Why fear death when it ends all our sufferings in this world? If we have not done wrong in this world we would not fear death. When we love the Lord over this fleeting and temporal world we would not fear death.

Many of us fear death for the simple reason that we are so attached to this world. But if we are detached from this world and attached to our Lord, we will not fear death. What are the attachments that we have that makes us fear death?  Are we so attached to our worldly possession that’s why we fear death?

When we make this world our God we would fear death, when we make our worldly possession our master instead of servant we would fear death. Jesus conquered His fear of death because He has no worldly attachments. From the beginning Jesus detached Himself from this world because it would encumber Him from devoting His life to His mission of salvation.  

Let us slowly but surely detach ourselves from this world. So that when we are at the doorway going to the everlasting life we can say to our Lord: "I'm finally coming home my Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit." -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

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1Reflection for April 9, 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:

What is the unwritten requirement for somebody to become a true follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. For this is one the few virtues that will sustain a person to continue to follow Jesus. Jesus Himself lived this virtue of humility when He followed to the letter the mission that was given to Him by God.

When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet He did not do this for Him to be admired by anyone. He washed His disciples’ feet to send a strong message to them that if He who is their Lord and Master did this supreme act of humility. They too must do the same to one another, for what reason? So that the faith the He founded through Peter would survive. Jesus knew that without humility there’s was no chance for the faith to grow and blossom as it is today.

However to live the virtue of humility is not easy to do, take for example the act of washing His disciples’ feet. Could we do this also to each and every member of our family? Could we do this also to each and every member of our church’s community?

It’s not easy to live the virtue of Humility yet if we truly desire to follow Jesus we would be able to imbibe and live humility. For it is in our humility that we would grow more in knowledge and friendship with Jesus. It’s through our humility that we could convince others to follow Jesus.  

Do we desire to have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do we desire to convince others to follow the Lord? Let us live and breathe Humility for this is the only way.  - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 9, Huwebes Santo, Misa sa Pagtatakipsilim sa Paghahapunan ng Panginoon: Juan 13:1-15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 13:1-15

Bago magpiyesta ng Paskuwa, alam ni Jesus na duma­ting na ang kanyang oras para tumawid mula sa mundong ito tungo sa Ama, sa pagmamahal niya sa mga sariling kanya na nasa mundo, minahal niya sila hanggang kaganapan. • 2 Naghahapunan sila at naisilid na ng diyab­lo sa kalooban ni Judas na anak ni Simon Iskariote na ipagkanulo siya. 3 Alam naman ni Jesus na ipinag­kaloob ng Ama sa kanyang mga kamay ang lahat, at mula sa Diyos siya galing at sa Diyos siya pabalik.

4 Kaya tumindig siya mula sa hapunan at hinubad ang panlabas na damit, at pagka­kuha ng tuwalya ay ibi­nigkis sa sarili. 5 Pagkatapos ay nag­buhos siya ng tubig sa hugasan, at sinimulang hugasan ang mga paa ng mga alagad at punasan ng tuwalyang na­kabigkis sa kanya.

6 Nang lumapit siya kay Simon Pedro, sinabi nito sa kanya: “Pangi­noon, ikaw ba ang mag­hu­hu­gas sa aking mga paa?” 7 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi mo alam ngayon ang ginagawa ko pero mauuna­waan mo makaraan ang mga ito.”

8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Pedro: “Hinding-hindi mo kailanman huhugasan ang aking mga paa.” Sumagot si Jesus sa kanya: “Kung hindi kita huhu­gasan, hindi ka makababahagi sa akin.” 9 Sinabi sa kanya ni Simon Pedro: “Pangi­noon, hindi lamang ang mga paa ko kundi pati na ang mga kamay at ulo.” 10 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Mga paa lamang ang kailangang hugasan ng naligo na dahil malinis na ang buo niyang sarili. Malinis nga kayo pero hindi lahat.” 11 Alam ni Jesus ang mag­kakanulo sa kanya. Dahil dito kaya niya sinabing: “Hindi lahat kayo’y malinis.”

12 Kaya nang mahugasan niya ang kanilang mga paa, kinuha niya ang kanyang panlabas na damit at bumalik sa hapag, at sinabi niya sa kanila: “Nauu­nawaan n’yo ba ang ginawa ko sa inyo? 13Tinatawag n’yo akong ‘Guro’ at ‘Pangi­noon.’ At tama ang pagsasabi ninyo: ako nga. 14 Kaya kung hinu­gasan ko ang inyong mga paa, akong Panginoon at Guro, gayundin kayo dapat mag­hugasan ng mga paa ng isa’t isa. 15 Isang halimbawa ang ibinigay ko sa inyo upang gawin din ninyo gaya ng ginawa ko sa inyo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.