Reflection for Sunday May 17, Sixth Sunday of Easter: John 14:15-21

Gospel: John 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

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Reflection:

Do we once in a while feel that somebody is watching over us most especially when we are alone? Do we often times feel that somebody is whispering to us telling us to do what is right when we are about to do what is wrong?

In this gospel episode Jesus is soon to leave the disciples but He is promising them the presence of an advocate after He leaves them. God the Holy Spirit is that advocate that is always with us, watching over us and always leading us to the right way of life. This is the same Holy Spirit that we received during our baptism and the very same Holy Spirit that was strengthened within us when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The question that needs to be answered is this: If the Holy Spirit is always with us, how come that we still commit sin? We still commit sin because we also have a freewill to do what is wrong or right. And many of us sad to say still choose to do wrong even if the Holy Spirit is urging us to do what is right. So, we don’t have peace and we are always disturbed.      

The key to always feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life is to love the Lord and to follow His commandments. This is a very simple instruction from the Lord but very hard to follow for many of us.  Because many of us are easily tempted by satan to sin. Thus, we don’t feel the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. What we instead feel is the presence of satan hence we live sinful, disturbed and complicated lives.

If we still have peace today despite the disorder that Covid-19 has created in our life the abiding, guiding and calming presence of the Holy Spirit is within us. This is so because we love the Lord and we observe carefully His commandments.

Do we still feel right now the calming and peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 17, Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:15-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:15-21

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, 15 Kung mahal ninyo ako, isasa­katupa­ran ninyo ang mga kautusan ko. 16 At hihingin ko sa Ama at ibibigay niya sa inyo ang bagong Tagapag­tang­gol upang makasama ninyo magpaka­ilan­man: 17 ang Espiritu ng katoto­hanan na hindi matatang­gap ng mundo dahil hindi siya  nito napapansin ni nakikilala. Kilala ninyo siya sapagkat namamalagi siya sa inyo at sasainyo siya.

18 Hindi ko kayo iiwang ulila; pabalik ako sa inyo. 19 Kaunti pang panahon at hindi na ako mapapansin ng mundo; ngunit papansinin ninyo ako sapagkat buhay ako at mabu­buhay din kayo. 20 Sa araw na ’yon ninyo malalaman na nasa Ama ako, at nasa akin kayo at nasa inyo naman ako.

21 Ang tumutupad sa tinanggap niyang mga kautusan ko, siya ang nag­ma­mahal sa akin. Mamahalin ng aking Ama ang nagmamahal sa akin, at mamahalin ko rin siya at ipamamalas ko sa kanya ang aking sarili.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 16, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:18-21

Gospel: John 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.

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Reflection:               

What does it mean to be hated by this world? We would be hated by this world if we would have the courage to go against the false teachings of this world. For example, if we would have the courage to say no to anything that is not good and sinful. Or if we suddenly have the enlightenment to say no to anyone who brings us nothing but worldliness and sin.

There comes a point in our life that we have to make a decision. Should we decide to take the side of God or follow this world and live a life away from God? The best decision is to follow God and discard anyone who brings us nothing but worldliness and sinfulness. This is for the reason that worldliness and sin will bring nothing but emptiness and misery in our lives.

Let us not be afraid to follow God, let us not be afraid to sacrifice this world for our love for God. For this is always the right decision to do. We can never go wrong with God and nobody has been misled by following God.  

If we choose to follow God over this world, we would experience something that we have not experienced before. And this is the guiding light and protection  of God in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 16, Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:18-21

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 18 Kung napopoot sa inyo ang mundo, alamin n’yo na sa akin muna ito napoot bago sa inyo. 19 Kung kayo’y maka­mun­do, inibig na sana ng mundo ang sariling kanya. Ngunit dahil hindi kayo maka­mundo kundi hinirang ko kayo mula sa mundo kaya napopoot sa inyo ang mundo.

20 Tandaan ninyo ang salitang sinabi ko sa inyo: ‘Walang lingkod na mas dakila sa kanyang panginoon.’ Di ba’t inusig nila ako? Uusigin din kayo. Tinupad ba nila ang aking salita? Gayon din nila tutuparin ang sa inyo. 21 Gagawin nila sa inyo ang lahat ng ito dahil sa aking pangalan sapag­kat hindi nila nakikilala ang nagpa­dala sa akin.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 15, Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:12-17

Gospel: John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:

What would happen if we follow this love commandment of Jesus?

There would be no more betrayal, hatred and separation amongst married couples only love. But the sad reality is we choose to turn a deaf ear to this love commandment of the Lord. For the simple reason that we love ourselves more than we love Jesus and our fellowmen.

There’s a saying that before we give love we have to love ourselves first. For how would we know how to give love if we have not experienced loving ourselves first? However this statement does not jibe on how Jesus interprets love or on how Jesus gives the truest meaning of love.

For Jesus to love is not to love oneself first, to love is to lay down ones life for the beloved, for Jesus to love is to forgive the many hurts that has been hurled and inflicted upon us by our beloved. For at the end of the day if we love the way Jesus loves us what would remain is love no hatred but only love.

But how do we love? We love selectively and we love with measure, we calibrate the love that we give by the love that we receive. And we oftentimes do not love our fellowmen when they do not fulfill our selfish expectation for them. Let us love without condition and let us love without expecting love in return for this is how Jesus loved us.

 How do we love?  -  Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 15, Biyernes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay:: Juan 15:12-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:12-17

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 12 Ito ang kautusan ko: magmahalan kayo kung paano ko kayo minahal. 13 Wala nang pagma­mahal na hihigit pa sa pag-aalay ng sariling buhay alang-alang sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

14 Mga kaibigan ko kayo kung gina­gawa ninyo ang iniuutos ko sa inyo. 15 Hindi ko na kayo tinatawag na mga lingkod sapagkat hindi alam ng lingkod ang ginagawa ng kanyang panginoon. Mga kaibigan naman ang turing ko sa inyo sapagkat ipinagbibigay-alam ko sa inyo lahat ng narinig ko mula sa aking Ama.

16 Hindi kayo ang humirang sa akin, ako ang humirang sa inyo at nagtalaga sa inyo para humayo at mamunga, at mamalagi ang inyong bunga. At ipagka­kaloob sa inyo anumang hingin n’yo sa Ama sa pangalan ko. 17 Iniuutos ko nga sa inyo: magma­halan kayo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 14, Thursday Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:

A newlywed couple promised to bring to their graves their marriage vows:  For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. But the irony was, after having one child and being together for two years they separated already. What happened to their promise of undying love for each other? What will happen to their only child?

Nowadays, many of us have a very shallow understanding of love, it’s not anymore undying love or sacrificial love. But love based on convenience, love based on what I can have and what I can possess. The word love has been stripped of its real value. This is the reason why we see married couples flirting with their officemates and friends just to vent out their lust, immorality and adulterous desires.  

This is the distressing reality right now that’s why we find young couples even middle-aged couples separating. For the self-serving reason that they are not anymore happy with their marriage. Are they really not happy in their marriage or they just want to satisfy their own selfish, lust and adulterous desires?

Jesus in the gospel commands us to love one another. This love is not based on selfish needs, neither based on convenience. This love is anchored on fidelity, sacrifice, self-giving and trust. This is the reason why the love of Jesus for us is most appropriate to incorporate in our married lives. If we have the love of Jesus we would stay with our marriage no matter what.

Let us remember that Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He keeps on loving us, He keeps on knocking in our hearts no matter how wayward and sinful we have become. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 14, Huwebes San Matias, apostol: Juan 15:9-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-17

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 9 Kung paano ako minamahal ng Ama, gayon ko rin kayo minahal. Ma­ma­lagi kayo sa pagmamahal ko. 10 Kung isasa­katuparan ninyo ang mga kautusan ko, mamamalagi kayo sa pagmamahal ko kung paanong isina­katuparan ko ang mga kautusan ng aking Ama at nama­malagi sa kanyang pagmamahal.

11 Sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito upang mapasainyo ang aking kaga­lakan at maging ganap ang inyong kagalakan. 12 Ito ang kautusan ko: magmahalan kayo kung paano ko kayo minahal. 13 Wala nang pagma­mahal na hihigit pa sa pag-aalay ng sariling buhay alang-alang sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

14 Mga kaibigan ko kayo kung gina­gawa ninyo ang iniuutos ko sa inyo. 15 Hindi ko na kayo tinatawag na mga lingkod sapagkat hindi alam ng lingkod ang ginagawa ng kanyang panginoon.

Mga kaibigan naman ang turing ko sa inyo sapagkat ipinagbibigay-alam ko sa inyo lahat ng narinig ko mula sa aking Ama.

16 Hindi kayo ang humirang sa akin, ako ang humirang sa inyo at nagtalaga sa inyo para humayo at mamunga, at mamalagi ang inyong bunga. At ipagka­kaloob sa inyo anumang hingin n’yo sa Ama sa pangalan ko. 17 Iniuutos ko nga sa inyo: magma­halan kayo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 13, Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:1-8

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

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Reflection:

How does it feel without connection to the internet? It seems that something important in our lives is lacking. Most especially right now because we are quarantined in our respective homes caused by our fear of Covid-19. We cannot function properly if our job is reliant on the internet.

Somehow our lives now is associated with the internet be it wifi or cable based internet connection. When we are outside of our respective houses our smart phones are ever ready to find wifi connection. We look for it because we need or we want to be connected.

How about our desire to be connected with Jesus and God? Do we always seek a connection with Jesus and God? Is our desire for Jesus and God as intense as our desire for a wifi or internet connection?      

In our gospel for this Wednesday Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5) and as such we must always be connected with Him and God. Life without connection with God is meaningless, even if we have all the material wealth and power it’s still meaningless without God!

If only we would always desire connection with God more than we desire wifi or internet connection. If only we would invest more time with God as much as we invest time using our smart phones and laptops. Let us therefore always seek connection with God through our prayers, presence at Holy Mass. And by reading and reflecting upon His life transforming worlds in the bible.

The best is yet to come for us even if we are presently being battered by this Covid-19 pandemic. If we would seek  permanent connection with our vine and our vine grower no other than Jesus and God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 13, Miyerkules sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:1-8

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 1 “Ako siyang totoong puno ng ubas at ang Ama ko ang mag-sasaka. 2 Pinuputol niya ang bawat sangang di namumunga sa akin; at pinupungusan naman niya’t nililinisan ang bawat namumunga upang higit pang mamunga. 3 Ngayon malinis na kayo dahil sa salitang binigkas ko sa inyo. 4 Mamalagi kayo sa akin, at ako sa inyo.

Hindi makapamumunga ang sanga sa ganang sarili, malibang mamalagi ito sa puno ng ubas; gayundin naman kayo, malibang mamalagi kayo sa akin. 5 Ako siyang puno ng ubas, kayo ang mga sanga. Ang namamalagi sa akin at ako sa kanya, siya ang namumunga nang sagana pagkat hiwalay sa aki’y hindi kayo makagagawa ng anuman. 6 Kung hindi namamalagi sa akin ang sinuman, ihahagis siya sa labas gaya ng sangang natuyo na tini¬tipon at ginagatong sa apoy at nagli¬liyab.

7 Kung mamamalagi kayo sa akin at mamamalagi sa inyo ang mga pananalita ko, hingin ninyo ang anumang loobin n’yo at magkakagayon sa inyo. 8 Sa ganito parangalan ang aking Ama: kapag namunga kayo nang sagana at naging mga alagad ko.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 12, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:27-31a

Gospel: John 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you,‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

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Reflection:

Can we be vehicles of peace in this world? Yes we can certainly be! This could happen if we are not quick to pass judgement. If we are forgiving and if we are ready let bygones be bygones.  We are free when we are always peaceful. We are free from the primary sower of hatred and sin in our lives none other than satan. And we are free from anything that is not good.  

The beauty of being vehicles of peace is we allow Jesus to become an active part of our life. This is for the reason that Jesus Himself lived a life of peace. Jesus chose peace instead of hatred and Jesus chose peace instead of revenge.

In the gospel for this Tuesday, Jesus said to His disciples; peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you (John 14:27). Let us own and accept this peace being offered by Jesus because this peace is also for us.

One of the best if not the best gift that Jesus gives us is the gift of peace and we need this peace that comes from Jesus today more than any other time. But many of us still don’t have peace right at this very moment and this is caused by our fear of getting sick of Covid-19. But if we have Jesus we would have peace notwithstanding Covid-19.

Do we have peace in our lives right now? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 12, Martes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:27-31a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:27-31a

27 Kapayapaan ang iniiwan ko sa inyo; kapaya­paan ko ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo. Hindi gaya ng ibinibigay ng mundo ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo. Huwag mabagabag ang inyong puso, ni panghinaan ng loob. 28Narinig ninyong sinabi ko sa inyo. ‘Paalis ako pero pabalik ako sa inyo.’ Kung minahal ninyo ako, magagalak kayo’t papunta ako sa Ama pagkat mas dakila sa akin ang Ama.

29Ngunit sinabi ko ito ngayon sa inyo bago pa mangyari ito. 30Hindi ko na kayo kakausapin nang mahaba sapagkat parating na ang pinuno ng mundo. Walang anumang kanya sa akin 31ngunit dapat malaman ng mundo na mahal ko ang Ama, at ayon sa iniutos sa akin ng Ama, ito mismo ang aking ginagawa.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 11, Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:21-26

Gospel: John 14:21-26

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

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Reflection:

Do we always feel the infinite love of God?

A few years ago every Sunday morning I would go to a middle-aged sick woman to nourish her with the Body of Christ. After I read to her the Sunday gospel she would give her short reflection on the same gospel after which I give her Holy Communion.

One reflection that she told was about the love of God and she said: When she was still in the pink of health she would never fail to go to Sunday Mass to manifest her deep love for God. And she said further, now that I am sick and not anymore able to go to church I still feel this same love of God because God is still sustaining me with His Body, Blood and Divinity.    

In our gospel Jesus tells us: Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” This words of Jesus is very true as I have seen it in the sick woman who loved God by way of going to Holy Mass every Sunday when she was still healthy. And when she got sick the Lord gave back the love that she gave Him.

One of the many truths of our life is its very short and it could end anytime. Therefore while we are still healthy let us express our deep love for God by our presence at Holy Mass every Sunday. But since we can’t go right now to gather in the Church for Holy Mass caused by Covid-19 pandemic, we instead attend online Sunday Mass. We do this not because we are expecting something from God someday. We do this out of our pure love for God.

How do we express our love for God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 11, Lunes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:21-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:21-26

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 21 Ang tumutupad sa tinanggap niyang mga kautusan ko, siya ang nag­ma­mahal sa akin. Mamahalin ng aking Ama ang nagmamahal sa akin, at mamahalin ko rin siya at ipamamalas ko sa kanya ang aking sarili.”

22 Sinabi sa kanya ni Judas, hindi ang Is­kariote: “Panginoon, paano mangyaya­ring sa amin mo ipama­malas ang iyong sarili at hin­di sa mundo?” 23 Sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanya: “Kung may nag­ma­mahal sa akin, isasakatuparan niya ang aking salita at mamahalin siya ng aking Ama at pupun­tahan namin siya at sa kanya kami gaga­wa ng silid para sa aming sarili. 24 Hindi naman isinasaka­tuparan ng hindi nagmamahal sa akin ang aking mga salita. At hindi sa akin ang salitang naririnig n’yo kundi sa Amang nagpadala sa akin.

25 Sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito habang namamalagi pa akong kasama ninyo. 26 Ituturo naman sa inyo ng Tagapag­tanggol ang lahat – ang Espiritu Santong ipadadala ng ama sa ngalan ko – at ipaa­ala­ala niya sa inyo ang lahat ng sinabi ko sa inyo.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.