The Jews quarrelled 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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the difference between a person who is a regular Communicant and
the person who doesn’t partake of the Body of Christ at Holy Communion? The
person who devoutly goes to Holy Mass and who lets himself be nourished by the
Body of Christ is slowly but surely being transformed by the Body of Christ to
become Christ like.
What do this mean to us? It means that the very moment we allow the Body
of Christ to enter our body. We also open ourselves to be an alter ego of
Jesus. In other words it simply means that we become an ambassador of Jesus
when we receive Him.
But do we really allow this to happen to us? Do we really allow the Body
of Christ to spiritually nourish and transform us? Many of us go to Holy
Communion regularly but we never change. There’s no positive behavioral and
spiritual transformation that occurs within us. This is for the reason that we
don’t allow the Body of Christ to transform us.
One sure sign that the Body of Jesus Christ is transforming us already is
when we are able to share and live His teachings. When we are able to forgive
those who’ve hurt us, when we are able to overcome our own sinfulness and our
own arrogance and pride.
Have we already shared and lived Jesus? Have we already asked Jesus to
help us overpower our own sinfulness, arrogance and pride? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are we afraid to die?
There are many reasons why many are afraid to die; foremost amongst
these reasons is we are not prepared yet. We still have our own worldly
preoccupation that we must take care of first. But we all know that at a time
that we don’t expect, we have to go and leave this world permanently.
In today’s gospel Jesus gives us an iron clad protection against our fear
of death. He enjoins us to regularly partake of the living bread that is
available to us during Holy Communion no other than Himself. This is the same
bread that is given to those who are sick and not anymore able to go to church
for Holy Mass.
Why don’t we try to regularly partake of His Body during Holy Communion?
And see how it will form, change and make us fearless of mortal death. We will
not die anymore if we are with Jesus and we will not fear death anymore if we
reverently partake of Him at Holy Mass during Holy Communion.
Our marching order therefore is to bring others to Holy Mass. So that
they will also be blessed, nourished and enlightened by the enormous blessing
of the Body of Jesus Christ.
Have we been able to bring someone to church for Holy Mass so that they
too could partake of the Body of Christ during Holy Communion? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What benefit would we be entitled to if we worship and become friends
with Jesus? We will have countless entitlements. For example Jesus mentions to
us in our gospel for today that if we go to Him and believe in Him we will
never hunger and thirst anymore. How could this happen? We will not know until
we try, we will not know until we develop that especial relationship with
Jesus.
Many of us don’t feel the big impact that Jesus does in our lives because
we don’t dare take Him seriously. We oftentimes leave Him in favor of this
world yet there are times also that we go to Him on bended knees because we are
in need of Him. But after the storms in our lives we again start to distance
ourselves from Jesus and we begin again to embrace the world. How would we know
the big impact that Jesus is capable of making in our lives if we don’t take
Him seriously? If we treat Him like a thing which we only get when we are in
need?
We will really not thirst and hunger anymore if only we would create a
home for Jesus in our hearts. This is the key: To create a home for Jesus in
our hearts so that we will personally feel that what He is saying is true.
Have you already opened your heart to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Would we be willing to give our very life for Jesus?
In our first reading Stephen was killed because of his unending
profession of faith in Jesus. He could have saved his life if he did not
proclaim his love for Jesus but he chose to boldly say it, thus he was stoned
to death.
What a price to pay for professing his faith and love for the Lord. But
this is the reality with our discipleship for Jesus. If we really are true and
faithful followers we would not hesitate to give a certain part of our life or
even our own life for our love for Jesus.
Every now and then there would be instances wherein the steadfastness of
our faith in Jesus would be tested. It may not cost our life anymore; perhaps
the test of our commitment to Jesus may come through many forms of temptations
and trials. Would we still be faithful to Jesus amidst our temptations and
trials?
It’s really not easy to follow Jesus, some of us may have already given
up on Jesus and we instead chose to follow the many temptations of this world.
But if we would not follow Jesus and if we will not sacrifice a part of
ourselves for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Who are we going to
follow? We follow the evil one and master manipulator which is no other than
Satan? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the
boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23
However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread
after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not
there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to
Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him,
"Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you
ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but
for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to
you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to
him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus
answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he
has sent."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we still have time to reflect about the present state of our spiritual
life? We do this just to meditate if we are still living a life of purpose.
Many of us today don’t have time anymore to reflect about the present state of
our life with Jesus. Instead what we have time for is to think on how we could
earn more to assure our future in this world.
But what will happen to us if all we think about is how to ensure our
future in this world? We will become people of this world that is completely
alien to the significant role of Jesus in our lives.
As we exist in this world we must not also forget to think about our
relationship with Jesus. If we are able to feed our bodies with food to make us
strong and healthy. Then, it is also incumbent upon us that we nourish our
hungry spirits as often as we nourish our mortal bodies with its worldly needs.
Why do we desire to follow Jesus? Is it because we want to have material
prosperity? So that we can feed ourselves with the best food that this world
can offer? And so that we can buy whatever we want from this world? Or we
follow Jesus for the reason that we want to feed our thirsty spirits?
In our gospel for today the crowd was chasing Jesus not because they want
to feed their hungry spirits. They simply want to feed their hungry stomachs. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were
going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were
conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while
they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with
them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped,
looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you
the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken
place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They
said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet
mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests
and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides
all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our
group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed
seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those
with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but
him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ
should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with
Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all
the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he
gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay
with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”
So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with
them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to
them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he
vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts
burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to
us?”
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found
gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has
truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had
taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the
bread.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we sometimes feel down, hopeless and discourage for the reason of the
many life challenges that we’re going through right now? For example, this
covid-19 pandemic that is creating so much havoc in our world right now. Does
it make us feel down, hopeless and discouraged? We must not allow this covid-19
pandemic to bring us down. We must continue to remain hopeful for there is no
hopeless situation for as long as we have faith in God.
The two followers who were going to Emmaus were obviously discouraged
they were feeling down and somewhat hopeless. They were in such mood because
their Lord and Master had a violent death on the cross. They thought that Jesus
was their powerful savior but they were disappointed. For Jesus died on the
cross badly bruised and beaten.
Their expectations of a powerful Jesus were suddenly replaced by feeling
of loneliness, defeat and hopelessness. Until the Risen Christ walked
with them, conversed with them and eventually went to their house to break
bread with them.
After breaking bread with them, Cleopas and his companion recognized that
it was Jesus who walked, conversed and broke bread with them. Upon discovering
the identity of Jesus their loneliness and hopelessness were immediately
replaced by happiness, their discouragement was overpowered by encouragement.
Their hopeless spirits were suddenly aflame and glowing.
What do we do when we feel hopeless, sad and discouraged? Do we just sulk
in one corner as if we are the most hopeless and miserable person in this
world? Or we always call on Jesus to give us hope and strength?
When we are at our lowest we always have to remember that Jesus is always
there for us and walking with us ever ready to listen to us. He wants to give
us hope, He wants to inspire us and tell us this: Be hopeful for I have already
risen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized
will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will
accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will
speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they
drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick,
and they will recover.”
Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and
took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached
everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through
accompanying signs.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Have we done something to share the good news about Jesus?
One of our foremost mission as follower of Jesus is to share Him. If we
have no idea on how we would share Him we can even simply live His life.
Evangelization is not only confined to sharing with our vocal words for we can
also evangelize by the way we live.
When the disciples were sent by Jesus through their mission one of the
unwritten commands of Jesus for them was to live His way of life. For they
wouldn’t be successful missioners for Jesus without immersing their very lives
on Jesus way of life.
The challenge for us therefore is to share Jesus like how the disciples
shared Him. We also have to live the way of life of Jesus. For without living
the life of Jesus we will not become His true follower and evangelizer.
Many in the church or outside of the church profess to follow Jesus but
they do not live His life. Thus their evangelization is superficial it doesn’t
take root in the hearts of those who listen to them. Therefore, an effective
evangelizer is one who shares and lives the life of the Lord.
Have we shared Jesus and have we lived Jesus' life of humility and
simplicity? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
15 Sinabi
ni Jesus sa mga alagad: “Pumunta kayo sa buong daigdig at ipahayag ang ebanghelyo
sa buong sangkinapal. 16 Maliligtas ang maniniwala at magpapabinyag; hahatulan
naman ang di maniniwala. 17 At ito ang mga tandang sasama sa mga maniniwala:
magpapalayas sila ng mga demonyo sa aking Pangalan, magsasalita sila sa iba
pang mga wika, 18 hahawakan nila ang mga ahas, at di sila maaano kung
iinom man sila ng may lason. Ipapatong nila ang kanilang kamay sa mga maysakit
at gagaling ang mga iyon.”
19 Matapos
silang kausapin ng Panginoong Jesus, iniakyat siya sa langit at lumuklok sa
kanan ng Diyos. 20 At umalis sila at nangaral sa lahat ng lugar. Kasama
nilang gumagawa ang Panginoon at pinatatatag ang Salita sa tulong ng mga
tandang kasama nila.
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because
they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the
mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of
Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was
coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to
eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to
do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be
enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the
brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley
loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have
the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the
men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave
thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of
the fish as they wanted. When they had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they
collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five
barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the
sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come
into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him
off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a married couple who always find it hard to
sustain their family's basic financial needs. A relative advised them to always
be present in the Holy Mass celebration in their village’s chapel. The married
couple asked their relative, “Why is there a need for us to always be present
during Holy Mass?” Their relative told them that they need to be present because
this is where they meet, interact and be one with the Bread of Life which is
Jesus Himself.
The big crowd in the gospel was running after Jesus, primarily because of
His miracles, healings and life changing sermons. The crowd was more than five
thousand and Jesus was naturally concerned for their welfare. He
therefore wanted to feed them but there was no enough bread and fish. So what
Jesus did was he asked for whatever bread and fish that they have.
Upon getting hold of the bread and fish, He looked up in thanksgiving to
God. Thereafter Jesus gave the bread and fish to the crowd and He was able to feed
them all. They also had plenty to spare: twelve wicker baskets and some
fragments. It was not only the crowd’s physical hunger that was satisfied by
Jesus, He also satisfied their spiritual thirst.
When we attend Holy Mass, we are also feed by Jesus with the same bread
which He gave the crowd. It happens the moment we partake of His Body and Blood
during Holy Communion. During Holy Communion we are also nourished physically
and spiritually by the Bread of Life, Jesus Himself!
This is what occurs when we attend Holy Mass. We are always being
nourished by Jesus Himself! The same Jesus that fed the crowd who were
following Him in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why can’t we convince others to go to church for Holy Mass and why can’t
we share Jesus with them? This is for the reason that many of us don’t live the
teachings of Jesus. We are not humble we don’t live our faith in other words.
What must we do if we are in this kind of predicament? Should we
easily give up or should we change our ways. It’s no brainer that the wise
choice is to change our ways and not give up. Because if we would give up, who
will evangelize them? We leave them to be evangelized by those from other
faiths?
We must teach our faith but we must do it with humility, patience and
love. We have to employ humility, patience and love so that we could open their
hearts to the teachings of Jesus and our faith. For example our gospel for
today tells us about the love of God for His Son. How would they know about
this if we will not teach them?
We have to teach them using humility, patience and love. We will always
become effective evangelizers of our faith if we are humble, patient and loving.
For these are the qualities of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus
kay Nicodemo 31 Walang kapantay ang naparirito mula sa itaas. Makalupa
naman ang mula sa lupa at makalupa rin ang sinasabi niya. Walang kapantay ang
naparirito mula sa langit. 32 Pinatutunayan niya ang kanyang nakita at
narinig ngunit wala ngang tumatanggap sa kanyang patunay.
33 Pinagtibay
naman ng tumanggap sa kanyang patunay na totoo ang Diyos. 34 Sinasabi nga
ng sinugo ng Diyos ang mga salita ng Diyos sapagkat walang sukat na ibinibigay
sa kanya ang Espiritu. 35 Mahal nga ng Ama ang Anak, at ipinagkatiwala sa
kanyang mga kamay ang lahat. 36 May buhay magpakailanman ang nananalig sa
Anak. Hindi naman nakikita ng ayaw manalig sa Anak ang buhay kundi namamalagi
sa kanya ang galit ng Diyos.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that
everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be
condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he
has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people
preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who
does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that
his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Can we measure God’s love for us? No we cannot. God loves us infinitely
that He even gave His only begotten son so that we may live. How about us can
God measure our love for Him? Of course! If God’s love for us is infinite, our
love for God is finite it has boundaries. It only extends up to a certain
point, once that point is reached our love for God starts to decline also.
But why do we limit our love for God? Why can’t we love God as He loves
us? This is for the reason that we are afraid to lose our earthly liberty for
God. To love God infinitely is to follow the teachings of God without any
preconditions.
However, the paradox of infinitely loving God is we also have to begin to
hate many of the things that this world offers us. Number one on the list that
we must hate from this world is sin. Number two is our very high regard for
ourselves for we always want to be above everyone else. We often look down on
those whom we perceive to be inferior, weak and those not in our level. These
are but a few of the things that prevent us from loving God infinitely.
Come to think of it, if God loves us infinitely then we must be prepared
to do the same. We must reciprocate God’s love for us by loving those who are difficult
to love such as those who’ve hurt us badly. Loving them means forgiving them of
the many hurts that they’ve carved in our lives.
Are we prepared to reciprocate God’s infinite love for us? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we seek Jesus in our life? Do we thirst and hunger for Him? Nicodemus is a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin a Jewish judicial body. Why
did he follow Jesus? He must have discovered something in Jesus that made him
follow Him even until Jesus death on the cross. Nicodemus followership of Jesus
did not stop on His death on the cross, Nicodemus also took care of the
body of Jesus after His death (John 19:39).
What would it take for us to become a follower of Jesus? Do we still need
to see a miracle before we become a faithful follower? It might be too late
already, why not follow Jesus now? Let us look up at Jesus on the cross, that man
on the cross died for us! Would we not take a second look to that man on the
cross? Would we not thank Him for giving His life for us?
We don’t know the life of Nicodemus before he became a secret follower of
Jesus. We also don’t know the status of our own respective lives right now, if
we are a big time sinners or not. Nevertheless, we have to decide to follow the
Lord now for He is ready to give us peace in our lives that this world cannot
give us. It’s no problem for Jesus if we would become a secret follower like
Nicodemus what is important for Jesus is we follow Him.
Would we faithfully follow the Lord beginning today? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to
Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has
come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is
with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless
one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to
him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his
mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who is Nicodemus?
Nicodemus is a follower who is seeking deeper meaning in his discipleship
with Jesus. So Jesus gave him a clue on how to discover a more meaningful life
with Him. And that is to be born again.
How could we be born again when we have already been born? Indeed, we can
never be literally born again. However to be born again with a more meaningful
life of purpose in this world is very much possible for everyone of us.
How can we be born again with a life of purpose and meaning? We must be
willing to leave behind our sinfulness. For example, our greed,
self-centeredness and anything that makes us sin we must be willing to leave it
all behind us. So that we can have a life of purpose and meaning with Jesus and
those people that we love.
Who would benefit if we allow ourselves to be born again with a life of
purpose and meaning with Jesus? The first beneficiary is us, second is our
family and third is those who are around us and those who know us.
Would we allow ourselves to be born again with a new life of purpose with
the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
