Reflection for Sunday March 21, Fifth Sunday of Lent: John 12:20-33

Gospel: John 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. 

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven “I have glorified it and will glorify it again. The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder but others said, “An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man sick with cancer that asked the Lord, why me O Lord? I do not deserve this severe sickness! But he said, “I will embrace this trial in my life for I know that you have a good reason why I have this affliction.”  From thereon he resigned from his job and devoted his remaining time in this world on spreading the word of God. He was very successful in his new vocation for he led many to Jesus. 

There are instances in life that we have to encounter trials for us to lose our life in this world. And give this very same life a new breath of life in the vineyard of the Lord. Such is God when He wants to call us to advance His kingdom. He creates mysterious instances for us to find Him. 

 But how would we know that the good Lord has a mission for us?  We simply have to become sensitive to His call and be ready to leave everything and embrace something that is worthy and noble even if it is not easy to do. We could only find this new kind of life when we are ready to abandon everything into the hands of God. 

In the gospel, Jesus is already insinuating of His coming arrest, passion and death on the cross. In His humanity Jesus had His own trepidation during that fearful time. So He simply left everything into  the  hands of God. It was not easy for Him to do but Jesus had to embrace it so that He could fulfill His mission of salvation. 

There comes a point in your life that you also have to make a choice in order for you to find the real essence and meaning of your life. This is not easy to do most especially if you are already used to the present life that you have. But how can you find the real meaning of your life if you are afraid to hear the call of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 21, Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 12:20-33

Mabuting Balita: Juan 12:20-33

20 May ilang mga Griyego sa mga umahon para sumamba sa Piyes­ta. 21 Kaya lumapit sila kay Felipe na taga-Betsaida ng Galilea at ipina­kiusap sa kanya: “Ginoo, gusto naming makita si Jesus.” 22 Pinuntahan at sinabihan ni Felipe si Andres. Pinun­tahan naman at sinabihan nina Andres at Felipe si Jesus. 

23 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila: “Duma­ting na ang oras para luwalha­tiin ang Anak ng Tao. 24 Talagang-talagang sina­sabi ko sa inyo, nama­malaging nag-iisa ang butil ng trigo kung hindi ito nama­matay pag­kahulog sa lupa. Ngunit kung mama­tay ito, nagdudulot ito ng mara­ming bunga. 

25 Nagpapahamak ng kanyang sarili ang umiibig dito ngunit iingatan naman ito para sa buhay magpakailanman ng napopoot sa kanyang sarili sa mun­dong ito. 26 Patuloy akong sundan ng nagli­lingkod sa akin at kung nasaan ako, naroon din ang aking lingkod. Kung may nagli­­lingkod sa akin, parara­ngalan siya ng Ama. 

• 27 “Ngayo’y nababagabag ang aking kalu­luwa. Sasabihin ko bang ‘Ama, iligtas mo ako sa hatid ng oras na ito? Ngunit dahil dito kaya ako sumapit sa oras na ito. 28 Ama, luwalhatiin mo ang iyong Panga­lan.” Kaya may tinig na nagmula sa langit: “Niluwalhati ko at muli kong lulu­­wal­ha­tiin.” 29 Kaya pagkarinig ng mga taong naroon, sinabi nila: “Ku­mulog!” Sinabi naman ng iba: “Nangu­sap sa kanya ang isang anghel.” 

30 Sumagot si Jesus: “Hindi alang-alang sa akin kaya ito ipinarinig kundi alang-alang sa inyo. 31 Ngayo’y paghu­hukom sa mun­dong ito; ngayon itataboy palabas ang pinuno ng mun­dong ito. 32 At kapag itinaas ako mula sa lupa, hihila­hin ko sa akin ang lahat.” 33 Sinabi niya ito para bigyang-tanda ang uring kamatayang ikamamatay niya.

1Reflection for March 20 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 7:40-53

Gospel: John 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet. Others said, “This is the Christ. But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived? So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.  

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him? The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man. So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed. Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing? They answered and said to him “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”  

Then each went to his own house.

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Reflection:

Do you find time to read the words of Jesus in the bible with reverence? 

You allow the Lord to speak to you when you read the words of Jesus in the bible with reverence. And this encounter will transform you and create a positive impact in your life. There would be renewal in your life and you will live a life that has new meaning and purpose.  

The guards who were supposed to arrest Jesus were suddenly changed by the very words of Jesus. Thus they were not able to carry out their mission they instead became secret followers of Jesus. This is the great mystery of the words of Jesus the moment you begin to read it.  

Just try reading His words in the bible with reverence and notice how it will sink to you and how it will soon transform you. There’s great power in the words of Jesus if only we would try to read and reflect upon it.  

But do we still have time to read His words in the bible today? Today wherein our time is occupied by our worry about covid-19 on how we can avoid getting sick of it. We must create time for this noble endeavor regardless of what is happening around us. Because this is our ticket to have a personal encounter with Jesus and this is also our ticket to have calmness in the midst of the uncertainties around us.  

Never mind if you will read the words of Jesus for the very first time in a very long time. For the Holy Spirit will always be there to open your mind and walk you through it. After a period of time of reading the bible you will notice a positive transformation in your life.  

Positive transformation that will change you and those around you. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 19 Sabado sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 7:40-53

 

Mabuting Balita: Juan 7:40-53

40 Sinabi ng ilang nakarinig kay Jesus, “Tunay ngang ito ang Propetang hinihintay natin!” 41“Siya na nga ang Cristo!” sabi naman ng iba. Ngunit mayroon namang sumagot, “Maaari bang magmula sa Galilea ang Cristo? 42Hindi ba sinasabi sa kasulatan na ang Cristo ay magmumula sa lipi ni David, at ipanganganak sa Bethlehem na bayan ni David?” 43Magkakaiba ang palagay ng mga tao tungkol sa kanya. 44Gusto ng ilan na dakpin siya, ngunit wala namang mangahas na humuli sa kanya.  

45Nang bumalik ang mga bantay ng Templo, tinanong sila ng mga punong pari at mga Pariseo, “Bakit hindi ninyo siya dinala rito?” 46Sumagot sila, “Wala pa po kaming narinig na nagsalita nang tulad niya!” 47“Pati ba kayo'y nalinlang na rin?” tanong ng mga Pariseo. 48“Mayroon bang pinuno o Pariseong naniniwala sa kanya? 49 Mga tao lamang na walang nalalaman sa Kautusan ang naniniwala sa kanya, kaya't sila'y mga sinumpa!”  

50 Isa sa mga naroon ay si Nicodemo, ang Pariseong nagsadya kay Jesus noong una. At siya'y nagtanong, 51“Hindi ba't labag sa ating Kautusan na hatulan ang isang tao nang di muna nililitis at inaalam kung ano ang kanyang ginawa?” 52 Sumagot sila, “Ikaw ba'y taga-Galilea rin? Saliksikin mo ang Kasulatan at makikita mong walang propetang magmumula sa Galilea.”  53Pagkatapos nito, umuwi na ang lahat. 

Reflection for March 19 Friday Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

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Reflection:

Are you obedient to the will of God? 

When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant he decided to quietly separate from her. Quietly because Joseph is a quiet and humble man. As much as possible Joseph did not want to create any scene that could result to Mary’s being ostracized by her town mates.    

Perhaps the devil was already insidiously trying to provoke Joseph to do something that would humiliate Mary. But Joseph calmly defeated whatever evil machinations the devil had. He defeated this by listening to what the angel told him to do thus Joseph faithfully loved and protected his family. By his action of obedience to the will of God we can safely conclude that Joseph loved Mary deeply. 

Many fathers today easily give up when their marriage is tested by fire, they easily succumb when tempted by the devil. And they do not anymore listen to the voice of God who always tells them to keep the sanctity of marriage and family life. 

Let us be inspired by the life of Saint Joseph: His humility, His obedience to the voice of God. His unconditional love and protection for his wife and his child. 

Saint Joseph Patron Saint of Fathers, Patron Saint of Family and Patron Saint of Happy Death we beseech you to always pray for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 19 Biyernes, San Jose, Kabiyak ng Mahal na Birheng Maria (Dakilang Kapistahan): Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 1:16, 18-21, 24a

16 Si Jacob ang ama ni Jose – ang asawa ni Maria na siyang pinagmulan ni Jesus na tinawag na Kristo. 

18 Ganito ipinanganak si Jesucristo. Ipinag­kasundo na kay Jose ang kanyang inang si Maria pero bago sila nagsama bilang mag-asawa, nagdadalantao na siya gawa ng Espiritu Santo. 19 Kaya binalak ni Jose na hiwalayan nang lihim ang kanyang asawa. Matuwid nga siya at ayaw niya itong mapahiya. 

20 Habang iniisip-isip niya ito, napa­kita sa kanya sa panaginip ang Anghel ng Panginoon at sinabi: “Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tang­ga­pin si Maria bilang iyong asawa. Gawa ng Espi­ritu Santo kaya siya naglihi, 21 at ma­nga­nganak siya ng isang sanggol na lalaki, na panga­ngalanan mong Jesus sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang samba­yanan mula sa kanilang mga kasa­lanan.”  

24 Kaya pagka¬gising ni Jose, ginawa niya ang sinabi ng Anghel ng Panginoon at tinang¬gap niya ang kanyang asawa.

Reflection for March 18 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:31-47

Gospel: John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. 

He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. 

But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. 

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? 

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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Reflection:

How are you as a witness for Jesus? Do you live and share His teachings? A good witness for Jesus is someone who walks with Him all through the seasons of his/her life. What would you get for witnessing for Jesus? 

There would be instances that you would be ridiculed. It doesn’t matter anyway because everything is worth it for Jesus including the ridicules and chastisement. You may not immediately see the fruits of your witnessing for Jesus but in His own perfect time you shall harvest those fruits. 

In our gospel Jesus mentions John the Baptist who prepared the way for Him. John told those who were acclaiming him to be the messiah that he was not. He told them that somebody greater is to come after him and He was none other than Jesus. 

John was an effective witness for Jesus because he did not grab the credit that was only due for the Lord. He was content to fade away so that Jesus would be highlighted more. With John’s witness for Jesus we are educated about lessons on witnessing and humility.  

That humility is one of the best if not the best virtue that we could harness so that we can effectively bring and lead others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 18 Huwebes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:31-47

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:31-47

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 31 Kung nagpapatunay ako sa aking sarili, di  mapanghahawakan ang aking patunay. 32 Ngunit iba ang nagpapa­tunay tungkol sa akin at alam kong mapang­hahawakan ang patunay niya tungkol sa akin. 33 Nagpasugo kayo kay Juan at binigyang-patunay niya ang katotohanan. 34 Ipinaaalaala ko ito para maligtas kayo; ngunit hindi ko hangad ang patunay mula sa tao. 35 Siya nga ang ilaw na may sindi at nagniningning, at ginusto n’yong magalak pansaman­tala sa kanyang liwanag.  

36 May patunay naman ako na higit pa kaysa kay Juan – ang mga gawang bigay sa akin ng Ama upang tuparin ko ang mga iyon. Ang mga gawa mismong ginagawa ko ang nagpapatunay na sinugo ako ng Ama. 37 At nagpapatunay rin sa akin ang Amang nagsugo sa akin. Kailanma’y di ninyo narinig ang kanyang tinig ni    nakita ang kanyang anyo. 38 At hindi rin nama­malagi sa inyo ang kanyang salita dahil hindi kayo naniniwala sa kanyang sinugo.  

39 Sinasaliksik ninyo ang mga Kasu­latan dahil inaakala ninyong doon kayo magkakaroon ng buhay magpa­kailan­man. Nagpapatunay nga sa akin ang mga iyon 40 ngunit ayaw n’­yong luma­pit sa akin para mabuhay. 41 Hindi ko hangad ang papuri mula sa mga tao, 42 ngunit kilala ko kayo: wala sa inyong sarili ang pagmamahal sa Diyos.  

43 Sa ngalan ng aking Ama ako dumating at hindi n’yo ako tinatanggap; kung sakaling may dumating sa sarili niyang ngalan, siya ang inyong tatang­gapin. 44 Paano kayo makapani­niwala kung pa­puri sa isa’t isa ang hangad n’yo at hindi ang papuring galing sa tanging Diyos ang hangad? 45 Huwag n’yong akalain na ako ang mag­sasakdal laban sa inyo sa harap ng Ama. Si Moises ang nagsa­sakdal laban sa inyo, siya na inyong inaasahan.  

46 Kung pinaniwalaan nga nin­yo si Moises, pani­niwalaan din sana ninyo ako sapagkat tungkol sa akin siya nag­sulat. 47 Ngu­nit kung hindi n’yo panini­walaan ang kan­yang mga sinulat, paano n’yo pani­niwa­laan ang aking mga pananalita?

1Reflection for March 17 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:17-30

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. 

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 

For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. 

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

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Reflection:

What does faith do to us? It makes us believe in something that is hard to believe for many. 

In the gospel Jesus mentions of His equality with God.  Do you believe it? If you do, count yourself as blessed for others do not believe. After believing in the equality of Jesus and God the Father, what should you do next? You must obey His teachings and help Him spread the good news of His salvation for this is His will for you. 

As we journey in this world there would be instances that we would veer away from Jesus and disobey His commands. We would embrace the teachings of this world, we would embrace sin and in the process we slowly but surely are creating distance between us and Jesus. 

But all is not lost no matter how despicable the sins that we have committed. The infinite love of Jesus is always there for us, it’s there for us to take and to ask for. Therefore, let us be aware of this infinite love and mercy of Jesus while we still have the luxury of time in this world. Let us go to Him and let us turn our backs from sin. 

In the latter part of the gospel Jesus mentions about judgment that would befall those who have done evil. Let us not wait for that judgment to come to us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 17 Miyerkules sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:17-30

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:17-30

Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio: “Gumagawa pa rin ang aking Ama kaya gumagawa rin ako.”  Kaya lalo pang hinangad ng mga Judio na patayin siya dahil dito sapag¬kat hindi lamang niya nilalabag ang Araw ng Pahinga kundi sariling Ama pa ang tawag niya sa Diyos, at ipinapantay niya ang sarili sa Diyos.

 Kaya sumagot si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi makagagawa ng anuman sa sariling kusa ang Anak maliban sa naki¬kita niyang gina¬gawa ng Ama. Anu¬man ang gawin niya, ganoon din ang pag¬gawa ng Anak. Sapagkat mahal ng Ama ang Anak, at itinuro niya sa kanya ang lahat niyang gina¬gawa. At mas maha¬laga pang mga gawa ang ituturo niya kayat mamamang¬ha kayo. 

Ibinabangon nga ng Ama ang mga patay at binibigyang-buhay; gayun¬din naman binibigyang-buhay ng Anak ang sinumang loobin niya. At hinding-hindi nga hinahatulan ng Ama ang sinuman kundi ibinigay niya sa Anak ang buong paghatol at pararangalan ng lahat ang Anak gaya ng pagpapara¬ngal nila sa Ama. Ang hindi nagpapara¬ngal sa Anak ay hindi nagpapa¬rangal sa Amang nagpa¬dala sa kanya. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na may buhay magpakailanman ang nakikinig sa aking salita at nani¬niwala sa nagpadala sa akin. Nakatawid na siya mula sa kamatayan tungo sa buhay, at hindi siya humahantong sa paghu¬hukom. 

Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na dumarating na ang oras, at nga¬yon na nga, na maririnig ng mga patay ang tinig ng Anak ng Diyos at mabubuhay ang mga nakaririnig. 26 May Buhay ang Ama sa kanyang sarili, gayun¬din naman, ibinigay niya sa Anak na magkaroon ng buhay sa kan¬yang sarili. At ibinigay din niya sa kanya ang kapangyarihang maghu¬kom sapagkat anak siya ng tao. 

Huwag n’yo na itong pagtakhan: dumarating ang oras na maririnig ng lahat ng nasa libingan ang tinig niya at mag¬sisilabas sila: sa pag¬ba¬ngon sa buhay ang mga gumawa ng ma¬buti, at sa pagbangon naman sa kapahamakan ang mga gumawa ng masama.

Wala akong magagawa sa sariling kusa. Ayon sa naririnig ko ako naghu¬hukom. At matuwid ang paghuhukom ko dahil hindi sariling kalooban ang hangad ko kundi ang kalooban ng nagpadala sa akin. 

1Reflection for March 16 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 5:1-16

Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk. Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. 

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat. He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk. They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’? 

The man who was healed did not know who it was for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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Reflection:

How does it feel to be sick? Those who got sick already would answer that it doesn’t feel good to be sick for you feel weak and can’t function properly. Absurd as it may sound but sickness is sometimes God’s gift to us for it’s through our sickness that we get to know God more deeply. It’s through our getting sick that we are reawakened of the presence of God. 

The blind man in our gospel had this kind of experience. He was beside the pool waiting for someone to help him immerse in the pool. He didn’t know Jesus thus he did not ask Jesus to heal him.  Jesus by Himself desired to appear to this man and He healed him right there. If the man was not sick Jesus would not have appeared to him.   

It’s through our sickness often times that Jesus strongly manifest Himself to us. Through our getting sick we get a clearer picture of who Jesus is. If Jesus healed the man in our gospel without asking for it, would He not heal us as well? We who know Him and we who always pray to Him.    

There's always a silver lining when we get sick, we may not know it immediately but there's certainly a silver lining. And the silver lining is to have that golden opportunity to know Jesus more deeply. 

Do you always call on Jesus when you are sick? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 16 Martes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 5:1-16

Mabuting Balita: Juan 5:1-16

1 Piyesta ng mga Judio at umahon pa-Jerusalem si Jesus. 2 May isang palan­guyan sa Jerusalem na Betzata ang tawag sa Hebreo, ma­lapit sa Pintuan ng mga Tupa. May limang pasilyo ito na may bubong. 3 Nakahandusay sa mga ito ang isang pulutong ng mga may­sakit, mga bulag, mga pilay at mga lumpo (habang naghi­hintay sa pagkilos ng tubig. 

4 Sa­pagkat pa­minsan-minsa’y bumababa sa pala­ngu­yan ang Anghel ng Panginoon at kinakalawkaw ang tubig. At umiigi sa anumang sakit ang unang makalusong matapos makalaw­kaw ang tubig.). 5 At doo’y may taong tatlumpu’t walong taon nang may sakit. 

6 Pagkakita ni Jesus dito na na­ka­han­dusay at pagkaalam niya na mata­gal na ito roon, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Gusto mo bang umigi?” 7 Sumagot sa kanya ang maysakit: “Wala po akong taong maka­paghahagis sa akin sa palanguyan kapag nakalawkaw na ang tubig. Habang paroon pa ako, may lumulusong nang una sa akin.” 

8 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buma­ngon ka, buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at maglakad-lakad!” 9 At dagling umigi ang tao, at binuhat niya ang kanyang higaan at naglakad-lakad. Araw nga ng Pahinga ang araw na iyon. 10 Kaya sinabi ng mga Judio sa taong pinaga­ling: “Araw ng Pahinga ngayon at di ipinahihintulot na mag­buhat ka ng higaan. 

11 Su­magot siya sa kanila: “Ang nag­paigi sa akin ang siyang nagsabi sa aking “Buhatin mo ang iyong higaan at lumakad ka.” 12 Tina­nong nila siya: “Sino ang taong nagsabi sa iyong ‘Magbu­hat at mag­lakad-lakad?” 13 Ngu­nit hindi alam ng pinagaling kung sino siya, sapagkat naka­talilis si Jesus dahil maraming tao sa lugar na iyon.  

14 Pagkatapos nito, natagpuan siya ni Jesus sa Templo at sinabi niya sa kanya: “Hayan, maigi ka na. Huwag ka nang mag­­kasala pa, at baka may masa­hol pang mangyari sa iyo.” 15 Uma­lis ang tao at sinabi sa mga Judio na si Jesus ang nagpaigi sa kanya. 16 Dahil dito, inusig ng mga Judio si Jesus sapagkat sa Araw ng Pahinga niya ginawa ang mga ito.

Reflection for March 15 Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 4:43-54

Gospel: John 4:43-54

43 After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.  

And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live."  

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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Reflection:

How profound is your faith in Jesus?  

To have faith is to believe in something that you don’t see yet. The official in the gospel who begged Jesus to heal his sick son has this kind of faith. He wanted Jesus to go and personally heal his son who at that time was near death.  

But Jesus did not give in to his request, Jesus simply told the official, “Go; your son will live.” So he went home without Jesus but with faith in the words of Jesus in his heart. And when he arrived home his son was already recovering.  

To believe in something that we don’t see yet is very difficult to do most especially for those who have feeble faith. But for those who have faith, they will believe no matter the odds against them. If the official in our gospel did not believe in Jesus his son would surely not been healed. But he believed!  

We all have our own petitions before the Lord. He asks us nothing but to have faith for He will take care of everything. What are your petitions before Jesus? Simply believe, have faith and work for it also for He will never fail you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 15 Lunes sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 4:43-54

Mabuting Balita: Juan 4: 43-54

43 Pagkatapos ng dalawang araw, umalis si Jesus pa-Galilea. 44 Nagpa­tunay nga mismo si Jesus na hindi pina­rarangalan ang isang propeta sa sariling bayan. 45 Gayon pa man, pag­dating niya sa Galilea, tinanggap siya ng mga Galileo dahil nasaksihan nila ang lahat ng ginawa niya sa Piyesta sa Jerusalem. Na­roon nga rin sila mismo sa Piyesta.  

• 46 Nagpunta siyang muli sa Kana ng Galilea, doon niya ginawang alak ang tubig. At nangyari, na ang anak na lalaki ng isang opis­yal ng hari ay maysakit sa Capernaum. 47 Nang marinig niyang dumating si Jesus sa Gali­lea galing Judea, pinuntahan niya siya at ipi­naki­usap na lumusong at pagalingin ang kanyang anak na nasa bingit ng kama­tayan.  

48 Kaya sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Hang­ga’t hindi kayo naka­kakita ng mga tanda at mga kaba­ba­­laghan, hindi kayo mani­ni­wala.” 49 Sinabi naman sa kanya ng opis­yal: “Lumusong kayo bago mama­tay ang anak ko.” 50 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Makauuwi ka na. Buhay ang anak mo.” Naniwala ang tao sa salitang sinabi sa kan­ya ni Jesus at umuwi siya.  

51 At habang palusong na siya, sina­lubong siya ng kanyang mga alipin at sinabing buhay ang anak niya. 52 Ina­lam niya sa kanila ang oras nang magsimula siyang umigi, at sinabi nila: “Kaha­­pon po nang ala-una ng tanghali siya inibsan ng lag­nat.” 53 Kaya nalaman ng ama na ito ang oras nang sabihin sa kanya ni Jesus: “Buhay ang anak mo.” At na­niwala siya at ang buo niyang samba­hayan. 54 Ginawa ni Jesus ang ikalawang tan­dang ito pagkarating niya sa Galilea galing Judea.