Reflection for Sunday May 10, Fifth Sunday of Easter: John 14:1-12

Gospel: John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way."

Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

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Reflection:

To whom do we put our destiny in this world? Do we put it in the hands of the government or we put it in the hands of God. In this era of covid-19 pandemic the government has put our destiny in their own hands. So, what we do is we don’t go out and we keep ourselves quarantined in our respective homes. We are even prevented from going out to practice our faith obligations such as to attend Holy Mass during Sundays.

But where would this culture of my destiny is in my hands or my destiny rest in the government hands bring us? This will eventually bring us to an existence in this world with a nominal God. A God that hardly matters anymore and when God becomes a nonessential for our existence we become creatures of this world rather than creation of God.

In the gospel Jesus tells us that we must believe more in Him more than we believe in ourselves. Believe more in Him more than we believe in the orders of the government to quarantine ourselves so that we can avoid getting sick of Covid-19.Hence, we defy government and we go out as if there is no danger of getting sick of Covid-19?

No we don’t defy the government neither we go out as if there is no danger of getting sick of covid-19. We simply put our destiny in the hands of God more than in the hands of the government and our own hands. We simply let go of our worries and let our almighty God take care of it. We therefore have to pray very hard to the Lord to help us banish this Covid-19 from the face of the earth. Because only in the hands of God lies the solution to this Covid-19 pandemic.

We cannot do anything without the intervention of the Lord, we are simply helpless without God. For only in God’s hands we would have life beyond this word.

To whom do we trust our destiny in this world? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 10, Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:1-12

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 1 Huwag mabagabag ang inyong mga puso. Manalig kayo sa Diyos, at manalig din kayo sa akin. 2 Mara­ming silid sa bahay ng aking Ama. Kung hindi’y hindi ko sana sinabi sa inyong: “Pupunta ako upang ipag­handa kayo ng lugar.” 3 At pag pumunta na ako at naipag­handa kayo ng lugar, muli akong darating at dadalhin ko kayo sa akin upang kung saan ako naroon, gayon din naman kayo.

4 At alam n’yo ang daan sa pupun­tahan ko.” 5 Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas: “Pangi­noon, hindi namin alam kung saan ka pu­punta. Paano namin malalaman ang daan?” 6 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ako siyang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang nakalalapit sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. 7 Kung kilala ninyo ako, makikilala rin ninyo ang aking Ama. Ngunit ngayon, kilala n’yo na siya at nakita ninyo siya.”

8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe: “Pangi­noon, ipakita mo na sa amin ang Ama at sapat na sa amin.” 9 Sinabi sa kanya si Jesus: “Ang tagal na panahon n’yo akong kasa­ma at hindi mo pa ako kilala, Felipe? Sa pag­ka­kita sa akin ninu­man, ang Ama ang naki­kita niya. Paano mong masasabi: ‘Ituro mo sa amin ang Ama’?

10 Hindi ka ba naniniwalang nasa Ama ako at nasa akin ang Ama? Hindi mula sa sarili ko sinasabi ang  mga salitang bini­bigkas ko. Sa akin nanu­nuluyan ang Ama, at siya ang guma­gawa ng kanyang mga gawa. 11 Mani­wala kayo sa akin na nasa Ama ako at nasa akin ang Ama. Kung hindi dahil sa akin, maniwala kayo dahil man lamang sa mga gawa.

12 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, magagawa rin ng nananalig sa akin ang gawang ginawa ko; at mas dakila pa kaysa mga ito ang gagawin niya. Sapagkat sa Ama ako papunta.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 9, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 14:7-14

Gospel: John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

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Reflection:

How well do we know God the Father? How well do we know Jesus? No one of us can say that by our own effort we know God the Father and Jesus very well. Because the gift of deeply knowing God the Father and Jesus is something that we cannot achieve by our own effort for it’s a gift by the Holy Spirit.

In this gospel episode Jesus tells the disciples and us too about His oneness with God. Yet Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father and that would be enough for them (John 14:8). What was going on in Philip’s mind? Perhaps Philip was simply following Jesus for the sake of His miracles and mission. There was no deeper conversion within Philip that’s why He wasn’t able to decipher the oneness of Jesus and the Father. 

When we decide to follow Jesus, let us not only follow Him because of His miracles and the desire to share in His mission. Let us decide to follow Jesus also because of our love for Him. Thus, we would yearn for our own spiritual growth with Him.

If we only follow Jesus for His miracles and mission sooner or later this desire for discipleship will decrease. Until we decide to lie low and eventually detach ourselves from following Jesus. Let us therefore pray and be open for the gift of deeper faith and deeper conversion within ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 9, Sabado sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:7-14

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:7-14

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad l7 Kung kilala ninyo ako, makikilala rin ninyo ang aking Ama. Ngunit ngayon, kilala n’yo na siya at nakita ninyo siya.” 8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe: “Pangi­noon, ipakita mo na sa amin ang Ama at sapat na sa amin.” 9 Sinabi sa kanya si Jesus: “Ang tagal na panahon n’yo akong kasa­ma at hindi mo pa ako kilala, Felipe? Sa pag­ka­kita sa akin ninu­man, ang Ama ang naki­kita niya. Paano mong masasabi: ‘Ituro mo sa amin ang Ama’?

10 Hindi ka ba naniniwalang nasa Ama ako at nasa akin ang Ama? Hindi mula sa sarili ko sinasabi ang  mga salitang bini­bigkas ko. Sa akin nanu­nuluyan ang Ama, at siya ang guma­gawa ng kanyang mga gawa. 11 Mani­wala kayo sa akin na nasa Ama ako at nasa akin ang Ama. Kung hindi dahil sa akin, maniwala kayo dahil man lamang sa mga gawa.

12 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, magagawa rin ng nananalig sa akin ang gawang ginawa ko; at mas dakila pa kaysa mga ito ang gagawin niya. Sapagkat sa Ama ako papunta. 13 Anu­mang hingin n’yo sa Pangalan ko’y gaga­win ko upang luwalhatiin ang Ama sa Anak. 14 At kung may hingin kayo sa akin sa Pangalan ko, gagawin ko.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 8, Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 14:1-6

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

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Reflection:

Are we afraid of this covid-19 pandemic that is creating massive deaths in the world? In this era of covid-19 life is so fragile, we really don’t know what tomorrow might bring us.

Where are we going therefore after our life in this world is over? We don’t know only God knows. But Jesus in our gospel is giving us a hint as to where would we be eventually. Jesus tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The secret therefore to know where we would eventually end up is to follow Jesus. Why follow Jesus? Because He is the truth and the life and we cannot reach the Father in heaven except through Him.

We will often hear in stories of conversion testimonies about troubled lives, lives lived without peace and contentment. Until they’ve known Jesus after which their lives were never the same again. From troublesome or worrisome lives it became peaceful and serene courtesy of Jesus.

Jesus is the only way and He is the only one that can give us peace that transcends this world. Jesus will give us a glimpse of this peaceful feeling the moment we immediately choose to rest our lives in Him.

We all know that life in this world is uncertain it may end very abruptly anytime. Let us therefore invest more on Jesus rather than on this world. We can do this by learning more about Him, by helping the poor and by living Jesus’ life of simplicity.

If we do this we can perhaps have our reserved dwelling place with the Lord in heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for May 7, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 13:16-20

Gospel: John 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid of suffering and betrayal? In His humanity Jesus was also afraid of sufferings and betrayal. But His fears did not prevent Him from achieving His salvific mission. It even further strengthened His resolve to continue amidst the difficulty of His mission. Jesus never gave up no matter how hard the odds were against Him for He knew that He has a mission to achieve.

Marriage starts like a rose garden and it seems that everything is rosy, beautiful and sweet. But after a period of time problems would crop up, there shall be sufferings and sometimes betrayal of vows. So what must we do? Should we simply walk away with our heads bowed in defeat? Or we stay, bear the brunt of the sufferings/betrayal and fight for the sanctity of the marriage covenant.

We must stay and fight for the sanctity of the marriage covenant. Let us remember that Jesus remained with His mission notwithstanding the sufferings and betrayals. What if Jesus simply gave up and walked away from His mission of salvation? Anyway He’s God and powerful but He remained for His love for God and for all of us.

Many married couples nowadays choose the easy way out when testing comes to their marriage. They choose to betray and eventually walk away from their marriage covenant. They simply walk away notwithstanding their sacred vows and the welfare of their children.

Jesus never walked away from His responsibilities towards humanity notwithstanding the sufferings and betrayals. He faced it all and triumphed over it! – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 7 , Huwebes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay : Juan 13:16-20

Mabuting Balita: Juan 13:16-20

Sinabi ni Jesus 16 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, walang ali­ping mas dakila sa kanyang pangi­noon, ni walang sinugong mas dakila sa nagpadala sa kanya. 17 Kung alam ninyo ito, mapalad kayo kung isina­sagawa n’yo ang mga ito.

18 Hindi kayong lahat ang tinutukoy ko. Kilala ko ang mga hinirang ko. Ngunit kaila­ngang ma­ganap ang Kasu­latan: Ang nakikisalo sa aking pag­kai’y tumalapid sa akin.” 19 Sinasabi ko ito ngayon sa inyo bago pa mang­yari upang maniwala kayong Ako Nga kapag nangyari ito. 20 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: ako ang tinatanggap ng tuma­tanggap sa ipinadadala ko, at ang nagpa­dala sa akin ang tinatanggap ng tuma­tang­gap sa akin.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 6, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 12:44-50

Gospel: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

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Reflection:

Do you know somebody who is sinful? Don’t give up on that sinful person continue to stretch your patience and pray for his/her conversion.

There are countless stories of conversion in the scripture/bible and foremost of these is the conversion story of Saul. Saul or Saint Paul was formerly the number one persecutor of the church. He in fact had a hand in the killing of many followers of Jesus yet Jesus did not judge Saul. In His infinite wisdom and mercy Jesus converted Saul/Paul to become the number one propagator of the Christian faith to the gentiles.   

What is the message of these conversion stories for us? The message is, there is hope for all of us no matter how sinful we are. And no matter how grave the sins that we have committed there is still hope for us! Jesus even said: for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world (John 12:47).

Jesus is not interested on the sins that we have committed He is rather very much interested in our conversion so that we can become His follower. He is interested to bring us to the light so that we can become His light for others.

                                                

This is our mission in this world to become bearers of Jesus’ light.  Do we open ourselves to this desire of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 6, Miyerkules sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay : Juan 12:44-50

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:44-50

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.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 5, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 10:22-30

Gospel: John 10:22-30

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.”

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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

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 5, Martes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay : Juan 10:22-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 10:22-30

22 Piyesta ng Pagtatalaga sa Jerusalem, taglamig noon. 23 Palakad-lakad si Jesus sa Templo sa patyo ni Solomon, 24 at pina­ligiran siya ng mga Judio at sinabi sa kanya: “Hanggang kailan mo ba kami ibibitin? Kung ikaw ang Kristo, sabihin mo sa amin nang lantaran.” 25 Sinagot sila ni Jesus: “Sinabi ko na sa inyo pero hindi kayo nanini­wala. Nag­papatunay tungkol sa akin ang mga gawang tinatrabaho ko sa ngalan ng aking Ama. 26 Ngunit hindi kayo nani­niwala sapagkat hindi kayo kabilang sa aking mga tupa.

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

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 4, Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 10:11-18

Gospel: John 10:11-18

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.”

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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 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 4, Lunes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay : Juan 10:11-18

Mabuting Balita: Juan 10:11-18

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.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for Sunday May 3, Fourth Sunday of Easter: John 10:1-10

Gospel: John 10:1-10

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.”

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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