44 Malakas
namang sinabi ni Jesus: “Ang nananalig sa aki’y hindi sa akin kundi sa
nagpadala sa akin. 45 Ang pumapansin sa aki’y pumapansin sa nagpadala sa
akin. 46 Dumating ako na liwanag sa mundo upang hindi mamalagi sa dilim
ang bawat nananalig sa akin. 47 Kung may nakakarinig sa aking mga salita
at hindi ito iniingatan, hindi ako ang humahatol sa kanya sapagkat dumadating
ako hindi para hatulan ang mundo kundi para iligtas ang mundo.
48 May
humahatol sa bumabale-wala sa akin at di tumatanggap sa mga pananalita ko. Ang
salitang ipinangusap ko ang siyang hahatol sa kanya sa huling araw. 49 Sapagkat
hindi ako nangusap sa ganang sarili ko; ang nagpadala sa akin – ang Ama – siya
mismo ang nag-utos sa akin kung ano ang sasabihin ko at ipangungusap. 50 Alam
kong buhay magpakailanman ang kanyang utos. Kaya ang ipinangungusap ko’y
ipinangungusap ko gaya ng sinabi sa akin ng Ama.
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the
Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in
suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told
you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my
voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they
shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has
given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the
Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can we have an encounter with Jesus? We have to abide with what Jesus
tells us in the scripture/bible. If He tells us that He and the Father are one
we have to believe it without any doubt. For the simple reason that all of
Jesus pronouncements are not empty, it is solidly supported by other passages
in the bible.
What separates those who believe and those who don’t? Those who believe
receive the full graces of the power that emanates from Jesus. For example,
their lives are changed, their faiths are strengthened. And they themselves
become an agent of positive change in their own respective environments.
Those who do not believe or who take Jesus nonchalantly are left-out in
terms of spiritual graces, their individual faith life is not strengthened.
They are more vulnerable to the many forces of evil and they don’t have the
spiritual strength that believers have.
What is the secret for us to believe? We have to humble ourselves before
Jesus. We have to accept with faith every word that He tells us in the scripture/bible.
And the moment we do, this would be the beginning of our renewed life with Jesus.
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life
for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his
own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf
catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern
for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for
the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I
must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one
shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order
to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I
have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have
received from my Father.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who is shepherding us in the midst of this covid-19 pandemic is it our
fear of the unknown or Jesus? If the Lord is shepherding us right now we are in
good hands. We will survive this pandemic because Jesus is protecting us. A good shepherd is someone who desires nothing
but the good of his sheep. A good shepherd is also someone who would be willing
to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his sheep.
In modern times right now a shepherd could also be an object of our
attention or even obsession. That seeks to control and dictate upon us.
For example, greed for money could be our shepherd if we allow it to
control us. But if we allow money to be our shepherd it will not only control
us it may even possess us. It may even destroy not only us even our family as
well.
Our Job could also be our shepherd, in what manner could this be? This
could happen the moment we allow our job to enslave us. For instance, we focus
more on our jobs rather than our family that we hardly have time for our
family. So what would happen to the family? It may be destroyed and eventually
disintegrate. Our ambition to be wealthy could also be our false shepherd
and there are many more false shepherd wannabes.
In the midst of all these false shepherd wannabes. Jesus wants to offer
Himself to us for He is the good shepherd. He tells us in the gospel: I am the
good shepherd (John 10:11) and I will lay down my life for you (John 10:15).
Why don’t we consider this offer of Jesus and allow Him to shepherd our
lives?
Perhaps we could start by reading the life story and the life changing
words of Jesus in the bible. We can also begin to take seriously the
celebration of the Holy Mass by paying more attention to this sacred
celebration.
We might have already allowed money and other worldly ambitions to
shepherd or control us. But did it give us what we want? Did it give us
peace and contentment? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus
11 Ako siyang mabuting pastol. Nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa
mga tupa ang mabuting pastol. 12 Ang upahan at hindi pastol, na hindi
naman kanya ang mga tupa, pag napansin niyang dumarating ang asong-gubat, iniiwan
niya ang mga tupa at tumatakas. Kayat inaagaw ng asong-gubat ang mga ito at
pinangangalat. 13 Sapagkat upahan siya at wala siyang pakialam sa mga
tupa. 14 Ako siyang mabuting pastol. Kilala ko ang mga akin at kilala ako
ng mga akin, 15 kung paanong kilala ako ng Ama at kilala ko ang Ama. At
itinayo ko ang aking buhay para sa mga tupa.”
16 May iba
akong mga tupa na di mula sa kulungang ito. Maging sila ay kailangan kong
akayin palabas, at makikinig sila sa tinig ko at magkakaroon ng iisang kawan,
iisang pastol. 17 Kaya mahal ako ng Ama dahil itinataya ko ang aking
buhay, at saka muli ko itong kukunin. 18 Walang nag-aalis nito sa akin,
kundi ako ang kusang nagtataya nito. May kapangyarihan akong itayo ito, at
may kapangyarihan akong kunin itong muli. Ito ang utos na tinanggap ko mula
sa aking Ama.”
Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold
through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever
enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it
for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and
leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and
the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not
follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize
the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did
not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the
sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not
listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and
will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and
slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more
abundantly.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a poor family. The husband had an ordinary low
paying job and the wife was a housewife they had six (6) children. Because of
the meager salary of the husband they could barely survive and they always
borrow money from their relatives.
Despite of their poor financial standing this family was faithful to
Jesus and the church; they would always observe their Sunday obligation. The
parents introduced their children to Jesus and they educated their children the
values of the faith. The mother would always lead in the prayer of the Holy
Rosary and the father would always be there to join them.
Eventually all of their children became very successful in their
respective field of endeavors. Hence, they’ve given back the love and guidance
that their parents gave them. Obviously the parents were Good shepherds for
they introduced their children to the gate of life that is Jesus.
Jesus in the gospel tells the crowd that He is the good shepherd that
desires only the best for them. Jesus also tells them that He is the gate of
life but they did not believe Him.
It is said that: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Thus,
we know for a fact that Jesus is really our Good Shepherd. We believe and feel
in our hearts this declaration of Jesus. He desires nothing for us but our
wellbeing this is the reason why Jesus wants us to follow Him and make Him our
Good Shepherd. We also know that He is our only gateway to the many truths
about our faith. He too is our gateway towards life beyond this world and
without Him in our lives there would be no life beyond this world.
There are still many who do not know about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. There
are still many who do not know that Jesus is the gateway to the many truths of
our faith. There are still many who do not know that Jesus is the gateway to a life
beyond this world. Why? Because they do not allow Jesus to be their Good Shepherd.
They instead allow worldliness and the many lies of Satan to shepherd them thus
they are enslaved by money, power and sin.
Is Jesus your good shepherd? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Sinabi ni Jesus 1 “Talagang-talagang
sinasabi ko sa inyo, magnanakaw at tulisan ang hindi dumaraan sa pintuan
pagpasok sa kulungan ng mga tupa kundi lumukso sa ibang dako. 2 Ang pastol
ng mga tupa ang pumapasok sa pintuan.
3 Pinagbubuksan siya ng
bantay-pinto, at nakikinig ang mga tupa sa kanyang tinig. At tinatawag niya
sa pangalan ang sarili niyang mga tupa at inaakay palabas. 4 Kapag
napalabas na niya ang tanang kanya, sa harap nila siya naglalakad at sa kanya
sumusunod ang mga tupa, pagkat kilala nila ang kanyang tinig.
5 Hinding-hindi sila susunod sa
dayuhan kundi lalayuan nila ito sapagkat hindi nila kilala ang tinig ng mga
dayuhan.” 6 Ito ang talinhagang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila. Ngunit hindi
nila naintindihan ang gusto niyang sabihin sa kanila. 7 Kaya sinabi uli ni
Jesus: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Ako siyang pintuan ng mga tupa.
8 Magnanakaw at tulisan ang lahat ng nauna sa akin.
Ngunit hindi sila pinakinggan ng mga
tupa. 9 Ako siyang pintuan; kung may pumapasok sa pamamagitan ko, maliligtas
siya, at papasok at lalabas, at makakatagpo ng pastulan. 10 Hindi dumarating
ang magnanakaw kundi para lamang magnakaw, pumaslang at magpahamak. Dumating
naman ako upang magkaroon sila ng buhay at lubos na magkaroon nito.
Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is
hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were
murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you
were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit
that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you
are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus
knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would
betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can
come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way
of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do
you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom
shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and
are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What should be our guiding principle if we decide to follow Jesus? It
must always be forever! We will not only follow Jesus in good times we must
also learn to follow Jesus in our most trying times. We will stay with
Jesus even if it’s hard to believe that He is comforting us in the midst of our
sufferings and tribulations like with what we are going through with the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The very large crowd (More than five thousand of them) who were with
Jesus when He multiplied the loaves and fish suddenly became very few. Only the
twelve apostles remained many of those who followed Him returned to their
former way of life. Why? Because they couldn’t accept Jesus’ continuous
insistence that He is the true bread of life that whoever believes in Him will
never hunger and thirst (John 6:35).
They rapidly had amnesia because they all of a sudden forgot that it was
Jesus who feed them when they were all hungry. It was Jesus who healed them
when they were sick and it was Jesus who gave them hope when they were
hopeless.
Such is the behavior of many of us, we quickly question or even leave
Jesus when we go through trials. We never remember or perhaps we purposely
forget the many blessings that He had given us in the past. Let us never leave Jesus no matter how difficult our present
circumstances are right now. Let us always choose to be with Him in sickness
and in health, in our good times as well as in our difficult times.
What are we going to do if we leave Jesus? We embrace Satan and his
worldly teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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
