Reflection for Sunday May 24, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: Matthew 28:16-20

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

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Reflection:

When someone whom we respect and love tells us to do something for him/her. We will try every possible way to obey what that someone tells us. For example if our parents tell us to do something for them we will exert every effort to do it because we respect and love them. This is always the case: we obey because of our deep love and respect for them.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven. However, before He went up to heaven He first took time to meet the eleven disciples. To commission them to spread the faith to all nations and they all took seriously this command of Jesus for them. 

Who was Jesus for them? Jesus was their Master, Teacher and Lord the God that they worshipped and respected deeply. Their deep worship for Jesus gave birth to their faithful  and humble obedience to His command. They obeyed Him even at the cost of their lives; they obeyed even if they would go through severe testing of their faith. This successful obedience was all borne out of their deep respect, reverence and worship for the Lord.

We may not be aware of this but everyone of us has an important role to play in this commissioning by Jesus on the apostles.   By virtue of our Baptism we too are given by Jesus this important responsibility to spread our faith by our words and by our deeds.

It’s very easy to go to church and worship Jesus there in the celebration of the Holy Mass it’s an effortless undertaking for some of us.  But our worship for Jesus doesn’t end with our worship for Him in that sacred celebration it is in fact only the beginning.

What immediately follows is for all of us to live and share the teachings of the Holy Mass which is to spread the faith by our words and deeds. And to share Jesus with others especially to those who have not heard yet of the good news about Him. This is the enormous responsibility that rest upon our shoulders now. 

This command of Jesus to propagate the faith rings loudly today more than any other time. Today we are not allowed to attend Holy Mass because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But thanks to modern technology we can still propagate our faith using the internet through the celebration of online Holy Mass. So, we have to reserve time to attend on line Mass, we also have to share it in our facebook and other social medua accounts so that we can evangelize others.

We can also share our faith by sharing whatever we have to those who are in need. One of the many sad realities of this Covid-19 pandemic is it created so much hunger among many of us. We therefore have to do our share to help those who are hungry for this is what real evangelization is all about. By doing so we bring Jesus and His teachings closer to them.

What have we done so far to help the hungry caused by this Covid-19 pandemic? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 24, Pag-akyat ng Panginoon (Dakilang Kapistahan) Mateo 28:16-20

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 28:16-20

16 Pumunta naman sa Galilea ang La­bing-isang alagad, sa bundok na itinak­da ni Jesus. 17 Pagkakita nila sa kanya, su­mamba sila, ngunit may nag-aalinla­ngan pa. 18 At nilapitan sila ni Jesus at sinabi: “Ibinigay sa akin ang buong kapang­yarihan sa langit at sa lupa. 19 Kaya hu­mayo kayo at gawing mga alagad ang lahat ng bansa. Binyagan sila sa Ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espi­­ritu Santo, 20 at turuan sila na sundin ang lahat ng iniutos ko sa inyo. Kasa­ma ninyo ako sa lahat ng araw hang­gang sa wakas ng panahon.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 23, Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:23b-28

Gospel: John 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

"I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

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Reflection:

The story is told about an old man who was on his death bed and he was calling on Jesus to bring him into His kingdom. His relatives were whispering among themselves that he was already hallucinating. Then, suddenly the dying man breathed deeply and said to them: Jesus is here now and He’s holding my hand after which the dying man breathed his last with a smile on his face.

The name of Jesus is very powerful it can give us peace and serenity it can ward off evil thoughts and spirits. But do we invoke Jesus name often? Maybe yes or no or perhaps we only remember to call on Jesus when we are in dire need of Him. But after we’re through and over with our difficulties we once again forget Him. For example, surely many are praying hard right now because of Covid-19 but after this Covid-19 pandemic? Would many of us pray deeply to the Lord as before?

The name of Jesus is very powerful let us never forget to always invoke it. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are tired of the daily grind of life. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are losing hope caused by this Covid-19. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are sick and so forth.   

In good times and in bad times let us always remember to call on Jesus. Let us ask Him to bring our prayers to the Father for He will never fail us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 23, Sabado sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:23b-28

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:23b-28

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Sa araw na iyon, wala na kayong itatanong sa akin sapagkat talagang-tala­gang sinasabi ko sa inyo na ipagkakaloob sa inyo anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa Ngalan ko. 24 Hanggang ngayo’y wala pa kayong hiningi sa Ngalan ko. Humingi kayo at tatanggap kayo upang maganap ang inyong kaga­lakan.

25 Sa mga paghahambing ko ipina­ngungusap sa inyo ang mga ito. Ngunit may oras na sasapit na hindi sa pagha­hambing ako mangungusap sa inyo kundi lantaran ko nang ihahayag sa inyo ang tungkol sa Ama. 26 Sa araw na ’yon, sa ngalan ko kayo hihingi; hindi ko sinasabi sa inyo na makikiusap ako sa Ama alang-alang sa inyo 27 pagkat iniibig kayo mismo ng Ama dahil iniibig n’yo ako at pinaniniwalaang sa Diyos ako galing. 28 Galing ako sa Ama at dumating sa mundo. Muli kong iniiwan ang mundo at papunta sa Ama.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 22, Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:20-23

Gospel: John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

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Reflection:

Are we afraid to go through suffering/s? We all are, as much as possible we don’t want sufferings in our life. What we want is a suffering free life but a suffering free life is not a possibility for believers of Jesus. For without sufferings we would not be able to intensely feel the abiding presence of Jesus in our lives.

Jesus will help us conquer our sufferings for as long as we steadfastly hold on to Him. For example, we are all suffering right now one way or another caused by this Covid-19 pandemic. Yet in spite of this suffering that we are going through right now we continue to hold tightly to our faith in Jesus. And through our steadfast faith Jesus will sooner or later pull us out of this suffering.

In our gospel for this Friday, Jesus tells His disciples: You will weep and mourn (John 16:20). Jesus told them this for His hour of arrest, passion and death would soon come. Yet they will be joyful and triumphant after a period of time. Joy and triumph that nobody can take away from them. Joy and triumph which are brought about by Jesus resurrection and triumph over death.

What is important in life is we continue to steadfastly hold on to Jesus no matter how severe the trials that we may face. For there surely be triumph over our trials if we remain unwavering in our faith in the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 22, Biyernes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:20-23

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:20-23

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 20 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, iiyak kayo at tataghoy, at maga­galak naman ang mundo. Maninimdim kayo ngunit magiging kagalakan ang inyong paninimdim. 21 Naninimdim ang babaeng malapit nang manganak sa­pag­kat sumapit na ang kanyang oras. Ngunit pagkasilang sa sanggol, dahil sa galak ay hindi na niya naaalaala ang kagipitan: isang tao ang isinilang sa mundo.

22 Gayon nga rin kayo naninimdim ngayon. Ngunit muli ko kayong maki­kita at magagalak ang inyong puso, at walang makaaagaw ng inyong kaga­lakan sa inyo. 23 At sa araw na iyon, wala na kayong itatanong sa akin sapagkat talagang-tala­gang sinasabi ko sa inyo na ipagkakaloob sa inyo anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa Ngalan ko.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 21, Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:16-20

Gospel: John 16:16-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that after sorrow and pain comes redemption?

When Jesus said to his disciples: “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve but your grief will become joy (John 16:20).” Jesus was already alluding about his forthcoming passion and death that he has to go through and to his subsequent resurrection.

 Jesus even compared it with a woman who is in labor pain. But after she has given birth she would forget that painful experience altogether because of the great joy that the newly born child would give her (John 16:21).

Married life is not always blissful, the husband and wife will go through humps and bumps that would test the strength of their fidelity before Jesus. But if they persevere and decide to stay in their union amidst their trials there would be joy in their hearts at the end.    

Same with our walk with Jesus, it will not always be a bed of roses, there would be trials, and sometimes we will be persecuted because of what we do for God.

In spite of these all let us continue to follow Jesus, for at the end there will be redemption for those who are faithful to Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 21, Huwebes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:16-20

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:16-20

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 16 Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapapansin, at sandali pa at makikita ninyo ako.” 17 At sinabi ng kanyang mga alagad sa isa’t isa: “Ano itong sinasabi niya sa atin: ‘Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapa­pansin at sandali pa at makikita ninyo ako.’ At ‘Papunta ako sa Ama’?” 18 At sinabi nila: “Ano ba itong sinasabi niyang ‘sandali’? Hindi natin maintin­dihan ang sinasabi niya.”

19 Naintindihan ni Jesus na gusto nila siyang tanungin kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Nagtatanungan kayo tungkol dito dahil sinabi kong ‘Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapapansin, at san­dali pa at makikita ninyo ako.’ 20 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, iiyak kayo at tataghoy, at maga­galak naman ang mundo. Maninimdim kayo ngunit magiging kagalakan ang inyong paninimdim.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for May 20, Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:12-15

Gospel: John 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples, I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

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Reflection:

How can we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life? We need to live our lives according to how Jesus wants us to live it based on the commandments of love (Luke 10:27). Everything starts from following these commandments and the moment we follow and live it, we would have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  

Therefore we must learn to live Jesus’ commandments of love. But do we live these love commandments of the Lord? Are we not selective when we give our love? For example, the command of Jesus pertaining to love of our neighbor, it’s so easy to follow this when the person is loving us in return. But when the person is hurting us it’s now very difficult for us to give our love. The challenge for us is to love even more those who are not loving us in return.

The situation is basically the same on how we express our love for God. For many of us God is easier to love when HE answers all our prayers. But when HE doesn’t answer our prayers it’s sometimes difficult for us to express our love for God.  The challenge therefore for all of us is to  love God and neighbor in good times and in bad.

Do we have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life? If our answer is no, then, we must start to follow Jesus’ commandments of love. Not according to how we want to follow it but according to how Jesus wants us to follow and live it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 20, Miyerkules sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:12-15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:12-15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 12 Marami pa sana akong sasabihin sa inyo pero hindi ninyo masasakyan nga­yon. 13 Ngunit pagdating niya, ang Espi­ritu ng katotohanan, ihahatid niya kayo sa buong katotohanan.

Hindi siya mangungusap mula sa ganang sarili kundi ang naririnig niya ang ipangungusap niya at ang mga bagay na darating ang ibabalita niya sa inyo. 14 Mula sa akin siya tatanggap at magbabalita sa inyo, at sa gayon niya ako luluwalhatiin. 15 Akin ang tanang sa Ama. Dahil dito kaya ko sinabing ‘Mula sa akin siya tatanggap at magbabalita sa inyo.’

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 19, Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:5-11

Gospel: John 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

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Reflection:

Have you been through an episode in your life where you somehow feel that God has somewhat abandoned you? We all pass through this kind of experience perhaps not only once but many times over in our lifetime.

But God never leaves us for He is always with us. His presence within us is coursed through us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is always with us. Thus, we have nothing to fear even this Covid-19 pandemic we will not fear! For we know that through the Holy Spirit God is always with us, it’s in fact us who forget of His presence in us.

We only have to connect with God to discern His presence in us. We can do this by our prayers, if already possible presence at Holy Mass if not we can attend online Mass in the comfort of our himes. By reading of the words of God in the bible, by spending time with Him in the adoration chapel if already allowed, by our interaction with Him through the sacraments of the church.

In the gospel, Jesus is already saying His farewell to His disciples for he will soon be arrested. Yet He continuously assures them of His sacred presence in their lives. This presence is made manifest to them by the presence of the Holy Spirit who would be their helper and advocate in whatever way.

We are never alone in the midst of the many difficulties that we are going through caused by this Covid-19 pandemic for God through the Holy Spirit is always with us. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to lift us up whenever we are feeling down, unloved and neglected by the people of this world. We simply have to have an awareness of its presence in our lives.

Do we feel the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 19, Martes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:5-11

Mabuting Balita: 16:5-11

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 5 Ngayon nama’y papunta ako sa nag­­padala sa akin, at wala sa inyong nag-ta­tanong sa akin kung saan ako pa­punta, 6 kundi tigib ng lungkot ang inyong puso dahil sinabi ko sa inyo ang lahat ng ito.

7 Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo ang kato­tohanan: makabubuti sa inyong ako’y umalis sapagkat kung hindi ako aalis. hinding-hindi darating sa inyo ang Tagapagtanggol. Kung aalis naman ako, ipadadala ko siya sa inyo. 8 At pagdating niya, hihiyain niya ang mundo tungkol sa kasalanan, sa daan ng pagkamatuwid at sa paghatol.

9 Ito ang kasalanan: hindi sila nana­nalig sa akin. 10 Ito ang daan ng pagka­matuwid: sa Ama ako papunta, at hindi na ninyo ako mapapansin. 11 At hina­tulan na ang pinuno ng mundong ito: ito ang paghatol.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for May 18, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 15:26—16:4a

Gospel: John 15:26—16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

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Reflection:

Why do others kill for their religion? For example, those who blow up themselves in the midst of people so that they could kill as many as possible. They do this because they do not know Jesus. Yes they have a God but what their God is teaching is not what Jesus is teaching us.

Jesus preaches compassion, love, sacrifice and humility this is always what Jesus is teaching us. Jesus never taught us to spread violence and to blow ourselves into kingdom come so that we could inflict damage and fear.

What are we going to do to them? Should we face violence with violence of course not for the simple reason that violence is not in the resume and teachings of Jesus. We should rather pray for them so that they can be converted and enlightened.   

Nothing is impossible for our God, we therefore should continue to pray for the conversion of those who continue to inflict hatred upon us. They may be members of our family, they may be our former friends or anybody whose objective is to create catastrophic damage and fear upon humanity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 18, Lunes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:26—16:4a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:26—16:4a

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ngunit ang Patnubay, ang Espiritu ng Katotohan, ang paparito mula sa Ama. Susuguin ko siya sa inyo buhat sa Ama, at siya ang magpapatotoo tungkol sa akin. At magpapatotoo rin kayo tungkol sa akin, sapagkat sa pasimula pa'y kasama ko na kayo.

"Sinasabi ko ito sa inyo upang huwag kayong mawalan ng pananalig sa akin. Palalayasin nila kayo sa mga sinagoga. Darating ang panahon na ang sinumang pumatay sa inyo ay mag-aakalang naglilingkod siya sa Diyos. At gagawin nila ito sapagkat hindi nila ako nakikilala ni ang Ama. Ito'y sinasabi ko sa inyo upang, pagdating ng oras na gawin nila, maalaala ninyong ipinagpauna ko na ito sa inyo."

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.