Reflection on the Seven Last words of Jesus

1. “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Are we forgiving? 

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Forgiveness simply means that we choose to move on and not allow hatred to destroy us.

Hanging on the cross and near-death Jesus spoke these profound words. Who was Jesus alluding  to when He spoke these words? Jesus was alluding to those who persecuted Him which led Him on the cross. They were His critics like the Pharisees, Scribes, High priest and so forth. Included also were the Soldiers who brought Him to the mountain of Calvary to nail Him on the cross.

Here we see that Jesus is full of mercy, love and forgiveness towards those who made life very difficult for Him. Jesus did not bear any hatred towards those who hated and killed Him.

We have to reflect here on how we forgive those who sinned against us. For example, if a person betrayed our trust or a person hurts us. Have we forgiven them already? We have to forgive no matter how deep the hurt the they’ve inflicted upon us. Why? Because if Jesus can forgive who are we not to forgive? 

Forgiveness is a gift that we give not to those who’ve hurt us or betrayed us. Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves for the simple reason that we are only hurting our very selves when we don’t forgive. We have to free ourselves from being imprisoned by hatred caused by our unforgiveness. Therefore, we have to forgive. 

Are you forgiving?

2.   “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Where is the paradise that Jesus is referring?

The paradise is with Him, in Him and in His kingdom in heaven. Jesus addressed this statement to one of the criminals hanging on the cross by His side. The criminal said to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).” And right there Jesus said to the criminal: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

The criminal was enlightened while he was hanging on the cross side by side with Jesus.  This is the reason why he asked the Lord to remember him when He is already in His kingdom. Don’t we all want to have the same enlightenment that he had? Of course, we do want it as well. So, we have to humbly ask the Lord for the same enlightenment coursed through our prayers to the Lord. Many of us are so fixated in this fleeting word that we think and feel that this is our paradise. But as we go through the covid-19 pandemic experience we discover that this world is not at all paradise. We seek worldly pleasures (many of these worldly pleasures influence us to sin). We seek temporal wealth and worldly power and influence only to find out that this is not where paradise is located. Why?  For the simple reason that we humans have no satisfaction we will seek these earthly things which we think would satisfy us. Only to realize in the end that it cannot and will not satisfy us.

So, where is the real paradise that the Lord is talking? This paradise we can only find, feel and experience with Him, in Him and through Him. The true and real paradise that Jesus mentions is already here and now when we make Him part and parcel of our daily living.  When we make Jesus our Lord and Savoir.   

Where is your paradise?  

3.  “Woman, behold thy son. After that, he said to the disciple: Behold thy mother.” (John 19: 26-27)

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  

When Jesus was on the cross dying, He saw His mother Mary still looking after Him. His mother, who cared, nurtured and watched over Him from the beginning until the end of His life. Dying and all, Jesus saw that nobody would take care of His mother so He asked John, His beloved disciple to take care of her.

Do we also take care of the Blessed Mother by respecting her as Jesus respected her? Mary is the mother of Jesus therefore it is incumbent for us to give her the respect and love which she richly deserves.  We show our love and respect for the Blessed Mother when we pray the Holy Rosary. When we politely teach others to respect her because she is the mother of Jesus and our mother as well. Mary our mother who will always be there to listen to us when no one would dare listen to us.  Mary our mother who will always be there to pray for us.

This is also to remind us that we have to respect and love at all times our own respective mothers. We would never exist in this world without our mothers. We would never become who we are today without their guidance and nurturing. Jesus would not have existed in this world without the consent of his mother Mary. As a debt of gratitude to his mother Jesus saw it fit to entrust his mother to his beloved disciple John.

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  What are you doing right now to show your respect and love for the Blessed Mother? Do you invoke her intersession when you pray? Do you defend her when someone is demeaning her role in the life of Jesus?

4.“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

Do we sometimes feel forsaken by the Lord?

On the cross and dying Jesus uttered these words. These are words of surrender, frustration and giving up. After going through all of the persecutions, torture and abandonment Jesus felt forsaken. Who among us would not feel the same way when we’ve been through what Jesus had been through? We would also understandably feel forsaken and abandoned by the Lord.    

But did God abandon Jesus when He was gasping and dying on the cross? Does God abandon and forsake us when we are at the lowest point of our lives? Is God absent as we navigate through the dangerous waters of  this covid-19 pandemic experience? God did not abandon Jesus, God was with Jesus all the way! God was strengthening Jesus when Jesus was at the lowest and weakest point in His life. And certainly God is also walking with us as we try to survive this covid-19 pandemic experience. 

We are humans subject to our own human frailties. It is understandable to feel forsaken by the Lord once in a while. But truth be told, God’s presence in our lives is strongest when we feel forsaken by this world and the people of this world. God will never forsake us, God will never abandon us and God will always be there to strengthen us. Therefore, we always have to cling to Him in good times and most especially in the turbulent episodes of our lives.

Do you sometimes feel abandoned and forsaken by the Lord?

5.“I thirst.” (John 19:28)

What do we thirst for?

Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said: “I thirst.” In His humanity, yes physical thirst but more than that it was the thirst for those people who were formerly with Him. These are the people who were with Jesus during His healing and speaking ministry.

Dying on the cross perhaps, Jesus was whimpering while saying, “I thirst.” Why? For the reason that He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His miraculous healing and powerful speaking ministry. 

It is in the lowest episodes of our lives that we would know who is really for us and not for us. Those who are for us would choose to remain no matter the odds against us. Those who are not for us would immediately evaporate from our sights to save their necks.

When we encounter these words: “I thirst.”  Let us imagine that Jesus is addressing these words to us. I thirst for you to be faithful in your marriage covenant. I thirst for you to be honest where you are presently working right now. I Thirst for you to value the sacredness of life over the evils of abortion and extra judicial killing. I thirst for you to always be humble and simple.

 I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass everyday or even every Sunday if you cannot make it every day.  I thirst for you to become a good father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to your priesthood. I thirst for you to be faithful to your religious life. I thirst for you to help those who are going hungry caused by this Covid-19 pandemic.   

Would you respond to Jesus thirst? 

 6.“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

How do you feel after finishing a worthy undertaking?

You feel good and triumphant. This second to the last word of Jesus is a word of triumph, at last it’s over at last it’s mission accomplished!

Jesus finally defeated the voice of Satan who was whispering to Him not to finish His salvific mission. Jesus overcame the many hurdles and temptation for Him not to pursue to the end His mission of salvation. Finally, Jesus redeemed the sinful humanity from the enslavement of sin.

However, it’s not finished for us yet, we are still in this journey called life. We are still battling the many demons that constantly whispers to our ears to commit sin. So, what are we going to do to be able to say that, “It's finally finished!”

We have to be faithful to our Lord until our end in this temporal world overtakes us. Then, when it comes, we can finally say, it is finished because we have been faithful to the Lord. We did not give an iota of space for Satan to distract us in our disciples with the Lord.

Would we be able to successfully say, “It is finished ” when the sun sets upon us someday? It is finished because we have defeated the many demons that were constantly tempting us to give up in our disciples for Jesus.

7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)    

Are you afraid to die?

After all has been said and done it’s now the end, it’s the victorious death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus conquered our sinfulness by dying on the cross. By giving His very life on the cross Jesus showed us the true meaning of sacrifice and love.

Death is something that many of us fear but why fear death if we live our life with Jesus in this world? Why fear death when this is the final hurdle for us to be with the Lord in heaven? Why fear death when it ends all our sufferings in this world? If we have not done wrong in this world we would not fear death. When we love the Lord over this fleeting and temporal world we would not fear death.

Many of us fear death for the simple reason that we are so attached to this world. But if we are detached from this world and attached to our Lord, we would not fear death. What are the attachments that we have that makes us fear death?  Are we so attached to our worldly possession that’s why we fear death?

When we make this world our God we would fear death, when we make our worldly possession our master instead of servant we would fear death. Jesus conquered His fear of death because He has no worldly attachments. From the beginning Jesus detached Himself from this world because it would encumber Him from devoting His life to His mission of salvation.  

Let us slowly but surely detach ourselves from this world. So that when we are at the doorway going to the everlasting life we can say to our Lord: "I'm finally coming home my Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit." -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

1Reflection for April 2 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion: John 18:1-19:42

Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go. This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”  

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.  

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,  went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.  

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.  

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.  

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting  to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”  

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.  

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. here they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier.They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.  

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.  

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.  

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.  

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Today is Good Friday, why is this called Good Friday in spite of the fact that on this very day Jesus has died on the cross? We call this day Good Friday because Jesus has done the greatest sacrifice for all of us and that is to die on the cross for all of us.  

Before breathing His last; Jesus’ last word was: “It is finished.” After all the suffering inflicted on Him by the roman soldiers, after all the betrayal and denial by almost all of His disciples, after all the persecution by the Pharisees, scribes, Sanhedrin and the powers that be,  it is now finished—mission accomplished in other words.  

It is a no brainer why Jesus has to undergo this torture; this is all for us, for our salvation. For the love of us all He willingly went through these sufferings. Being God, He could have passed off this terrible period of His earthly life but Jesus saw that we were in great need of His Love and Mercy. So He gave His life as a ransom for us all. What have we done so far to reciprocate His love?  

Some of us are so enslave by this world that we don’t have time anymore for God. We don’t have time to worship Him at Holy Mass and in Prayer. This Good Friday let us begin to change this cycle of worldliness to Godliness. Let us aspire to know more about God for we would not go wrong with God.   – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for April 1 Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: John 13:1-15

Gospel: John 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.  

He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”  

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”  

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Would you be willing to emulate the humility of Jesus?  

Aside from being the son of God, What is the secret of the endless longevity of Jesus’ teachings? Countless people have already belittled Jesus as an ordinary human. Yet His legacy and teachings still echoes until this very moment and will continue to echo until eternity. What is the secret of the permanence of Jesus’ teachings?  

The secret is in His Self-sacrifice, the secret is in His humility. Jesus never thought of His own safety, He never created any comfort zones or anything that would ensure His safety.  He instead blazed the trail of Self-sacrifice and Humility.  

In His self-sacrifice Jesus instituted this very day the Eucharist or the first Mass to humbly keep alive Himself and His teachings. He did this for us to have something to hold on as we face the many battles and struggles of our lives. Thus, He continuously strengthens us every time we make ourselves present in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. And He nourishes us every time we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion.  

By His humility Jesus’ embodied servant leadership. He showed the twelve apostles and us also how it is to truly serve. He washed the feet of the apostles to signify to them that they must do the same to those whom they will be serving. That they would only become true leaders the moment they learn to give their lives in humble service for others.  

Are you willing to follow the trail of Jesus’ Self-sacrifice and Humility? If you are willing your legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of those who know you   and they will remember you with fondness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

1Reflection for March 31 Wednesday of Holy Week: Matthew 26:14-25

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.  

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.  

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,

"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What happened to Judas Iscariot? He killed himself, what if instead of killing himself Judas simply approached Jesus and said, I’m sorry Lord for betraying you. How would have Jesus reacted? Jesus would have forgiven him but the sad part is to humble himself before Jesus never came to Judas' contemplation.  

For thirty pieces of silver Judas Iscariot sold His soul to the devil. Obviously Judas loved money more than the Lord otherwise he would not have betrayed Jesus. Indeed, the love of money is the root of every evil. Because of this greed, some have wandered away from the faith, bringing on themselves afflictions of every kind (1 Timothy 6:10).  

What power does money have that many of us are willing to sell our souls to the devil so that we could have it? What power does money have that many of us are punishing ourselves to the detriment of our health just to have it.  Money per see is not evil it becomes evil when we greed for it and when we allow it to possess us. But what price are we willing to pay just to have money? Judas betrayed the Lord and eventually destroyed his very life for his greed for money.  

There’s always a heavy price to pay when we allow ourselves to be possessed by our greed for money. Just observed those people who are greedy with money what happened to them? Where are they now? This betrayal of Judas courtesy of thirty pieces of silver sends us a chilling lesson. That our greed and love for money will bring us no good it would bring us only misery and countless more miseries.  

All the money in this will not buy us harmony in the family; all the money in this world will not buy us peace of mind and so forth. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for March 30 Tuesday of Holy Week: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” 

So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. 

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” 

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

+ + + + + +

Reflection:

Would you agree that there are times that you sin and thus betray the Lord? 

Whether we admit it not there are really times that we succumb to the temptation of Satan. Thus, we sin and we create distance between us and the Lord Jesus Christ. However, even if we sin or betray the Lord we still are not beyond redemption. Jesus loves us so dearly that He will always forgive us no matter how many times we sin or betray Him. 

In the gospel we read about Jesus alluding to His betrayal by Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. How could Judas betray his Lord and Master? It seems unthinkable for this apostle to betray his teacher and master but it happened. Why? This is for the reason that Judas allowed Satan to take control of him. 

But what is sad in Judas betrayal is it led to his self-inflicted death. Judas could have returned to the Lord but he did not he instead chose to wallow in desperation and it culminated by his suicide. If only Judas knew that Jesus was waiting for his return he would not have killed himself. 

As long as we exist in this world Satan and his many sinful enticements would always be there to temp us. And many of us would succumb to these sinful temptations. However we must not forget that no matter how grave our sins are we are not beyond redemption. 

The Lord Jesus is always waiting for us to go back to Him! He is ever ready to embrace us again with His Forgiveness, Mercy and unconditional Love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for March 29 Monday of Holy Week: John 12:1-11

Gospel: John 12:1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  

Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."  

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Is money at the top of your priority list?  

Money was always in the mind of Judas, his obsession to possess it drove him to betray Jesus. If only Judas learned to detach himself from the love of money he would not have encountered a gruesome death. But he chose to be enslaved by money.  

Martha did not chose money over Jesus she instead preferred to serve Jesus. The same is true with Mary and Lazarus, she preferred to anoint Jesus with expensive perfume, while Lazarus was with Jesus on the table.  

If we want our lives to be serene and peaceful let us always prefer Jesus over the desire to have money. For example, which would you choose to go to Sunday Mass or to go somewhere else to earn money?  

Money will never satisfy us, the more that we have money the more that we would desire it.  And there is no end to the viciousness of this cycle brought about by our loved for money. The more that we desire money that more that our lives would become complicated, stress-filled and problematic.  

Try detaching yourself from the love of money and subsequently begin attaching yourself to the good Lord. And see for yourself the big positive impact that it will bring into your life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday March 28, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Mark 14:1—15:47 (or 15:1-39)

Gospel: Mark 14:1—15:47 (or 15:1-39)

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.”  

When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you,  and whenever you wish you can do good to them,  but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”  

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.  

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,  when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,  his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them,  Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city,  and found it just as he had told them;  and they prepared the Passover.  

When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I?” He said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”  

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.

Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.”Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you,

I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane,  and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.  

Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will. When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.”  

Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.  

They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire.The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’” Even so their testimony did not agree.  

The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards greeted him with blows.  

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. Then the cock crowed. The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.  

As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.  

Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted again, “Crucify him.” Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.  

The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, AHail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him.  

They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.  

They brought him to the place of Golgotha — which is translated Place of the Skull —They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments  by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.  

At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemasabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah. One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.  

The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,  Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.  

When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Imagine the scene of Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem. Imagine that you’re there spreading your own cloak and waiving your own palm. While shouting hosanna, hosanna in the highest! To honor Him as He pass by you on a donkey. The mood is festive isn’t it?  

But after a few days the festiveness is replaced by somberness and isolation. The crowd shouting hosanna, hosanna has suddenly evaporated like the dew in the morning.  The crowd that has been with Jesus in His healing ministry was nowhere to be found. Where were they when Jesus needed them most? They simply abandoned Jesus because He was not doing anymore miracles and healings.  

They were the same crowd who allowed themselves to be dictated by the chief priests. That is why they shouted to release Barabbas instead of Jesus. And ironically the same crowd who loudly shouted: Crucify Him! Crucify him! With their betrayal Jesus’ went through His passion and death on the cross.  

Who are this modern day crowd? It’s no other than many of us if not all of us. We only acknowledge Jesus in our triumphs and victories, we recognize Jesus during the happy episodes of our lives and when we are in need of His help and guidance. But when we undergo trials and testing we sometimes question the Lord why we have to go through this challenging episode/s in our lives.  

We are in an extra ordinary time right now caused by this Covid-19 pandemic which has been continuously ravaging our country and our lives for more than a year right now. Let us use this Holy Week to pray, let us ask the Lord to heal our wounded land and people for everything is possible with God.  

We therefore have to watch online all the liturgical celebrations this Holy Week.   Let us begin today Palm Sunday until the Paschal/Easter Triduum (The Mass of the Lord’s Supper during Holy Thursday, the veneration of the cross during Good Friday and the Vigil Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection during Saturday evening).   

Let us make the most of this Holy week by strongly re-establishing our WIFI connection with God for we would always survive all the trials that we are going thru if we are always connected with Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Marso 28, LInggo ng Palaspas sa Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon: Marcos 14:1—15:47 (or 15:1-39)

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 14:1—15:47 (or 15:1-39)

1 Dalawang araw bago mag-Paskuwa at mag-Piyesta ng Tinapay na Walang Lebadura, nag­sikap ang mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas na gumawa ng pakana para ma­huli at mapatay si Jesus. 2 Ngu­nit sinabi nila: “Hindi ngayon sa piyestang ito, at baka magkagulo ang mga tao.” 3 Nang nasa Betania si Jesus at na­sa hapag sa bahay ni Simong ke­to­ngin, isang babae ang lumapit sa kanya, dala-dala ang isang sisidlang may purong pa­bangong-mira. Binasag niya ang sisidlan at ibinuhos ito sa ulo ni Jesus. 4 Kaya may ilang nagalit at kanilang si­nabi: “Bakit sinasayang ang pabangong ito! 5 Ma­ipagbibili sana ang mirang ito nang higit pa sa tatlundaang denaryo at maibibigay sa mga dukha.” At nagbulung-bulungan sila laban sa babae. 

6 Sinabi naman ni Jesus: “Bakit ninyo siya ginugulo? Huwag ninyo siyang paki­alaman. Mabuting gawain ang ginawa niya sa akin. 7 Ang mga dukha’y laging nasa inyo at matutulu­ngan ninyo sila ka­ilanman ninyo naisin pero ako’y hindi la­ging nasa inyo. 8 Ginawa niya ang para sa kanya: ini­handa na niya ngayon pa man ang aking katawan para sa pag­­li­libing. 9 Tala­­gang sinasabi ko sa inyo: saan man ipahayag ang Ebang­helyo – sa buong daigdig – mababanggit din ang ginawa niya sa akin bilang pag-alaala sa kanya.” 

10 At pumunta sa mga punong-pari si Judas Iskariote na isa sa Labin­dalawa para ibigay si Jesus sa kanila. 11 Natu­wa sila sa pagkarinig sa kanya at nanga­kong bibigyan siya ng pera. Kaya nag­hanap siya ng pagkakataong ma­ipag­kanulo siya. 12 Sa unang araw ng Piyesta ng Tinapay na Walang Lebadura, nang ki­na­katay ang mga tupang pampaskuwa, sinabi kay Jesus ng kan­yang mga alagad: “Saan mo kami gus­tong pumunta para maghanda ng Ha­pu­nang Pampaskuwa para sa iyo?” 13 Kaya ipinadala niya ang dalawa sa kanyang mga alagad sa pagsasabing: “Pag­­punta ninyo sa lunsod, sasalu­­­­­­bungin kayo ng isang lalaking may pasang isang ba­ngang tubig. Sumunod kayo sa kanya 14 at sabihin ninyo sa may-ari ng bahay na pupun­tahan niya, ‘Ito ang sabi ng Guro: Nasaan ang ku­warto para sa akin para pag­saluhan namin ng aking mga alagad ang Hapu­nang Pam­pas­kuwa?’ 15 Ituturo niya sa inyo ang isang malawak na silid sa itaas na ayos na at may mga kagamitan. Doon kayo mag­handa para sa atin.”  

16 Umalis nga ang mga alagad at pu­mun­ta sa lunsod at nakita ang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila, at inihanda nila ang Paskuwa. 17 Pagkalubog ng araw, dumating si Jesus kasama ang Labindalawa. 18 Ha­bang nasa hapag sila at kumakain, si­nabi ni Jesus: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: ipag­kakanulo ako ng isa sa inyo na kasalo ko.” 19 Nalungkot sila at isa-isang nagta­nong sa kanya: “Ako ba?” 20 Su­magot siya: “Isa sa Labindalawang kasabay kong mag­sasaw­saw ng tinapay sa plato. 21 Patuloy sa kanyang daan ang Anak ng Tao ayon sa isinulat tungkol sa kanya ngunit kawawa ang mag­kakanulo sa Anak ng Tao; mabuti pa para sa taong ito kung hindi na siya ipina­nganak.”  

22 Habang sila’y kumakain, kinuha niya ang tinapay, at matapos magpuri sa Diyos, pinaghati-hati niya iyon at ibinigay sa mga alagad habang sinasabi: “Kunin ninyo; ito ang aking kata­wan.” 23 Pag­katapos ay ki­nuha niya ang kalis, nagpa­salamat siya at ibinigay sa kanila, at uminom ang lahat. 24 At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ito ang aking dugo, ang dugo ng Tipan, na ibinubuhos para sa marami. 25 Sinasabi ko rin sa inyo: hindi na ako iinom pa ng galing sa ubas hang­­gang sa araw na inumin ko ang bagong alak sa kaharian ng Diyos.”  

26 At pagkaawit ng mga salmo pu­mun­ta sila sa Bundok ng mga Olibo. 27 At sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: “Matitisod kayong lahat. Sinasabi nga ng Kasulatan: ‘Ha­ham­­pasin ko ang pastol at mangangalat naman ang mga tupa.’ 28 Ngunit pagkabuhay kong muli, mau­una ako sa inyo sa Galilea.”  

29 Sinabi ni Pedro: “Kahit na matisod man ang lahat dahil sa iyo, ako’y hindi.” 30 Su­magot si Jesus: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo, sa gabi ring ito bago ma­ka­lawang tumi­laok ang tandang, tatlong beses mo akong itatatwa.” 31 Ngu­nit lalo pang sinabi ni Pedro: “Kahit mamatay pa akong kasama mo, hin­ding-hindi kita itatatwa.” Gayundin ang sinabi ng iba. 32 At nagpunta sila sa isang lugar na tinatawag na Getsemane at sinabi niya sa mga alagad: “Maupo kayo rito habang nag­darasal ako.”  

33 Isinama niya sina Pedro, Jaime at Juan, at nagsimula siyang labis na kilabutan at mamighati. 34 At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Labis na kalungkutan na pa­rang kamatayan ang aking nada­rama. Manatili kayo rito at mag­puyat.” 35 At pumunta siya sa malayu-layo pa at napatirapa at dinasal na kung maaari’y lu­mayo sa kanya ang oras na ito. At sinabi: 36 “Abba (na ibig sabihi’y Tatay), lahat ay posible para sa iyo. Alisin mo sa akin ang kalis na ito. Ngunit hindi ayon sa aking kalooban kundi sa iyo.”  

37 At pagbalik niya nakita niya silang na­tutulog at sinabi niya kay Pedro: “Simon, natutulog ka ba? Hindi ka ba maka­pagpuyat nang kahit isang oras lamang? 38 Magpuyat at manalangin upang hindi kayo madaig ng tukso. Talagang masi­gasig ang espiritu ngu­nit mahina ang laman.” 

39 Umalis siya uli para manalangin at gayon din ang kanyang sinabi. 40 At pagbalik niya, muli niya silang naki­tang natutulog; mabigat nga ang kanilang mga mata at hindi nila alam kung ano ang sasabihin sa kanya. 41 Sa pangatlong balik niya, sinabi niya sa kanila: “Sige, matulog kayo at magpa­hinga! Tama na. Dumating na ang oras at ibinibigay na ang Anak ng Tao sa mga taong makasalanan. 42 Gumi­sing na kayo at tumindig. Narito na ang nagkakanulo sa akin.”  

43 Nagsasalita pa si Jesus nang duma­­ting si Judas na isa sa Labinda­lawa, at ma­rami siyang kasama na ­ipinadala ng mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas at Matatanda ng bayan. May dala silang mga tabak at pamalo 44 at nagtakda sa kanila ang taksil ng isang senyas: “Ang siya kong haha­likan, siya ang tao, hulihin ninyo siya at dalhin at bantayang mabuti.” 45 Kaya lumapit siya kay Jesus at sinabi: “Guro!” At hinalikan niya ito. 46 At si­nung­gaban nila siya at dinakip. 47 Hinu­got naman ng isa sa mga naroon ang isang tabak at tinaga ang isang katulong ng Punong-pari, at naputol ang tainga nito.

48 Nagsalita naman si Jesus: “Isa ba akong tulisan at pumarito kayong may mga tabak at pamalo para hulihin ako? 49 Nasa Templo ako araw-araw sa pi­ling ninyo at nagtuturo, at hindi ninyo ako hinu­li. Ngunit kailangang ma­tupad ang mga Kasulatan.” 50 At iniwan siya ng lahat at sila’y nag­si­takas. 51 Sinundan siya ng isang binata na  nakabalabal lamang ng telang lino at si­nunggaban nila siya. 52 Kaya nalaglag ang tela, at hubo’t hubad siyang tumakas.  

• 53 Dinala si Jesus sa bahay ni Caifas na Punong-pari, at doon nagtipon ang mga punong-pari, mga Matatanda ng bayan at mga guro ng Batas. 54 Si­nundan siya ni Pedro sa malayo hanggang pu­masok siya roon sa patyo ng Punong-pari, nakiupo sa mga utusan at nagpainit sa apoy.

55 Naghahanap ang mga punong-pari at ang Sanggunian ng patotoo laban kay Jesus para maipapatay siya pero wala silang na­kita. 56 Marami ngang bu­laang saksi ang nagprisinta laban sa kanya pero hindi mag­kaisa ang kanilang mga pato­too. 57 May dalawang bulaang saksing tumayo at nag­pahayag: 58 “Si­nabi nito: Magigiba ko ang Templong ito na gawa ng tao at itatayo sa loob ng tatlong araw ang ibang di gawa ng tao.” 59 Gayun­man, hindi nagkaisa ang ka­nilang patotoo. 

• 60 At pagtayo ng Punong-pari sa gitna, tinanong niya si Jesus: “Wala ka bang ma­isasagot sa lahat ng ito? Ano ang patotoo nilang ito laban sa iyo?” 61 Ngunit nanatiling tahimik si Jesus at hindi suma­got ni isa man. Kaya muli siyang tinanong ng Punong-pari: “Ikaw ba ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Pinagpala?” 62 At sumagot si Jesus: “Ako nga. At makikita ninyo ang Anak ng Tao na nakaupo sa kanang kamay ng Maka­pang­yarihang Diyos at dumarating sa mga ulap ng langit.” 63 Pinunit ng Punong-pari ang kanyang mga tunika habang sinasabi: “Ka­ilangan pa ba ang mga saksi? 64 Kayo na mismo ang nakarinig sa paglapastangang ito! Ano ang inyong pasya?” At nagpasya ang lahat na kamatayan ang dapat sa kanya. 65 At may mga nagsimulang dumura sa kanya; piniringan nila siya at sinuntok ha­bang sinasabi: “Manghula ka!” At sinampal siya ng mga bantay.  

• 66 Habang nakaupo naman si Pedro sa patyo sa ibaba, lumapit sa kanya ang isa sa mga batang utusang babae ng Punong-pari. 67 Pagkakita nito na nag­pa­painit siya, tiningnan siya nito at sinabing: “Kasama ka ni Jesus na taga-Nazaret.” 68 Ngunit ikinaila niya ito sa pag­sasabing “Hindi ko alam ni naiin­tin­dihan ang ibig mong sabi­hin.” Luma­yo si Pedro at pag­punta niya sa may pin­tuan, 69 nakita siya uli ng babae at sinabi sa mga naroon: “Isa sa kanila ang taong ito.” 70 Ngunit muli niya itong iki­naila. Ma­karaan ang ilang sandali, sinabi naman kay Pedro ng mga naka­tayo roon: “Isa ka nga sa kani­la. Taga-Galilea ka nga.” 71Ngunit nagsimulang magmura at manumpa si Pedro: “Hin­ding-hindi ko nakikilala ang tao.” 72 At noon ang ikalawang pagtilaok ng tandang. At naalaala ni Pedro ang mga si­nabi ni Jesus: “Bago tumilaok nang dalawang beses ang tandang, tatlong beses mo akong itatatwa.” At hu­magulhol siya.  

 15 1 Maagang-maaga pa’y naghanda ang mga punong-pari ng isang pulong kasama ang mga Matatanda at mga guro ng Batas – ang buong Sanhedrin. Igi­napos nila siya at ipinadala kay Pilato. 2 Tinanong siya ni Pilato: “Ikaw ba ang Hari ng mga Judio?” Sumagot si Jesus: “Ikaw ang nagsasabi.” 3 Pinaratangan naman siya ng mga punong-pari at Ma­tatanda 4 kaya muli siyang tinawag ni Pilato: “Wala kang sagot? Naririnig mo ba? Kay dami ng mga sakdal laban sa iyo!” 5 Ngunit hindi siya umimik ni isa mang salita kaya nagtaka ang gobernador.  

6 Tuwing magpipiyesta, pinalalaya ng gobernador ang sinumang bilang­gong gus­tuhin ng mga tao. 7 At may isang bilanggo roon na nagngangalang Barabbas, na nadakip kasama ng ibang rebelde na may pinatay sa paghi­himagsik. 8 Pag-ahon ng bayan, sinimulan ni­lang hingin kay Pilato na gawin ang dati niyang ginagawa 9 at nagtanong si Pilato: “Gusto  ba ninyong pakawalan ko ang Hari ng mga Judio?” 10 Alam nga niya na ipinadala ng mga punong-pari si Jesus dahil sa inggit. 11 Sinul­sulan naman ng mga punong-pari ang mga tao para hingin na si Barabbas ang pakawalan. 12 Kaya tina­nong uli sila ni Pilato: “At ano ang gagawin ko kay Jesus na tinatawag nin­yong Hari ng mga Judio?” 13 At sumagot ang lahat: “Ipako siya sa krus!” 14 Iginiit naman ni Pilato: “Ano ang kanyang kasa­la­nan?” Ngunit lalo nilang nilakasan ang sigaw: “Ipako iyan sa krus!”  

15 Sa hangad ni Pilatong bigyang-kasi­yahan ang bayan, pinakawalan niya si Barabbas at ipinahagupit naman si Jesus at ibinigay para ipako sa krus. 16 At ipinasok ng mga sundalo si Jesus sa Pretorio o bulwagan at tina­wag ang buong hukbo. 17 Dina­mitan nila siya ng kulay-pulang balabal at pumilipit sila ng isang koronang tinik at ipinutong ito sa kanyang ulo. 18 At sinimulan nila siyang batiin: “Mabuhay ang Hari ng mga Judio!” 19 Pinagha­hampas nila ng patpat ang kanyang ulo at dinuraan nila siya at saka palu­hod na sinamba-samba. 20 Matapos nila siyang libakin, inalis nila ang pulang balabal, isinuot sa kanya ang sariling damit at inilabas para ipako sa krus.  

21 Pinilit nila ang isang nagdaraan, si Simon na taga-Cirene, na pasanin ang krus ni Jesus. Galing ito sa bukid nang masalubong nila. Siya ang ama nina Alejandro at Rufo. 22 Dinala nila si Jesus sa lugar na tinatawag na Golgota, na Bungo ang ibig sa­bihin, 23 at pinainom nila siya ng alak na hinaluan ng mira. Tinikman ito ni Je­sus ngunit hindi niya ito ininom. 24 At ipi­nako nila siya sa krus at pinag­hati-hatian sa sugal ang kanyang mga damit para ma­laman kung alin ang para ka­nino.  

25 Alas nuwebe ng umaga nang ipi­na­ko siya sa krus. 26 Ipinaskel naman nila sa ulunan niya ang nakasulat na sakdal laban sa kanya: “Ang Hari ng mga Judio.” 27 Ipi­nako rin nilang kasama niya ang dalawang kriminal, isa sa kanyang kanan at isa sa kanyang kaliwa. 28 Kaya natupad ang Kasulatan na nagsasa­bing “Ibinilang siya sa masa­sama.” 29 Umiiling ang mga nagdaraan at iniinsulto siya: “Aha! gigibain mo pala ang Templo at itatayong muli sa loob ng tat­long araw. 30 Kaya iligtas mo nga­yon ang iyong sarili at bumaba ka sa krus!” 31 Pinagtawanan din siya ng mga pu­nong-pari at mga guro ng Batas na nag-uusap-usap: “Nailigtas niya ang iba, at sarili niya’y di mailigtas! 32 Bu­maba nga­yon ang Mesiyas, ang Hari ng Israel, mula sa krus at nang makita na­min at kami’y maniwala sa kanya.” At ininsulto rin siya ng mga kriminal na kasama niyang ipinako.  

33 Mula tanghaling-tapat hang­gang alas tres, nagdilim ang buong lupain. 34 Nang ikatlo ng hapon, sumigaw si Jesus nang malakas: “Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabac­tani?” na ang kahuluga’y “Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit mo ako pina­baya­an?” 35 Nang marinig ito ng ilan sa mga naroon, sinabi nila: “Tinatawag niya si Elias.” 36 May tumakbo at inilagay sa patpat ang isang esponghang isinawsaw sa suka para ipa­inom sa kanya. At sinabi nito: “Tingnan natin kung ililigtas siya ni Elias.” 37 Muling sumigaw si Jesus nang ma­lakas at nalagutan ng hininga. 38 Sa sandaling iyon, napunit mula itaas hanggang baba ang kurtina ng Santuwar­yo. 39 Nang makita ng kapitang naroon sa tapat niya na ganoon siya nalagutan ng hininga, sinabi niya: “Totoo ngang Anak ng Diyos ang taong ito.”  

40 May mga babae ring nagmamasid mula sa malayo, kabilang sa kanila sina Maria Magdalena, Mariang ina nina Jaimeng Maliit at Joset, at si Salome. 41 Sinundan nila siya at pinag­lingkuran nang nasa Galilea siya, at naroon din ang marami pang babae na umahon sa Jeru­salem na kasama nila.

 42 Araw ng Paghahanda noon bago mag-Araw ng Pahinga kaya nang mag­tatakipsilim na, 43 dumating si Joseng taga-Arimatea na marangal na kagawad ng Sanhedrin. Hinihintay din niya ang kaharian ng Diyos, at buong tapang niyang nilapitan si Pilato at hiningi ang katawan ni Jesus. 44 Nagulat si Pilato na namatay na pala ito kaya ipinatawag niya ang kapitan at itinanong kung patay na nga si Jesus. 45 Nang malaman niya ito sa kapitan, ibinigay niya ang katawan kay Jose. 46 Bumili ito ng telang linen, at pagka­baba nito sa katawan ay ibinalot sa tela at inilagay sa libingang inuka sa bato. At saka niya pinagulong ang isang mala­king bato sa bukana ng libingan. 47 Tiningnan naman ni Maria Magdalena at ni Mariang ina ni Joset kung saan siya ini­lagay.

Reflection for March 27, Saturday, the Fifth Week of Lent: John 11:45-56

Gospel: John 11:45-56

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him; 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  

48 If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all; 50 you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."  

51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.  

54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called  E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

There’s a saying that, Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  

During the time of Jesus the Pharisees were the ruling class they were very powerful yet they were also afraid to lose power. Why were they afraid to lose power? For the reason that they were afraid to lose their influence in their territory.  

 After years of being in power the powerful Pharisees were suddenly being threatened by the powerful and charismatic personality of Jesus. So they must do everything to hold on to their power which include the plot to kill Jesus.  

But why were the Pharisees afraid to lose power? They were afraid that people would discover the many skeletons in their closets. That’s why they plotted to kill Jesus because they saw in Jesus someone who would finally unseat and expose them.  

What is the lesson for us here? 1. We should not be threatened by anyone who does good, instead of being threatened we should help that person who does good. 2. Our hands must always be clean and free from any form of sin otherwise there would come a time that we would be exposed eventually. 3. We must not use and manipulate our fellowmen to advance our own corrupt and selfish agenda/s. – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Marso 27 Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Kuwaresma: Juan 11:45-56

Mabuting Balita: Juan 11:45-56

Marami nga sa mga Judio ang nagsiparoon kay Maria at nangakakita ng ginawa ni Jesus, ay nagsisampalataya sa kaniya. Datapuwa't ang ilan sa kanila ay nagsiparoon sa mga Fariseo, at sinaysay sa kanila ang mga bagay na ginawa ni Jesus.

 Ang mga pangulong saserdote nga at ang mga Fariseo ay nangagpulong, at nagsipagsabi, Ano ang ginagawa natin? sapagka't ang taong ito'y gumagawa ng maraming tanda. 48Kung siya'y ating pabayaang gayon, ang lahat ng mga tao ay magsisisampalataya sa kaniya: at magsisiparito ang mga Romano at pagkukunin ang ating kinaroroonan at gayon din naman ang ating bansa.  

49Nguni't ang isa sa kanila na si Caifas, na dakilang saserdote nang taong yaon, ay nagsabi sa kanila, Kayo'y walang nalalamang anoman. 50 Ni inyong niwawari na sa inyo'y nararapat na ang isang tao ay mamatay dahil sa bayan, at hindi ang buong bansa ay mapahamak.  

51Ito nga'y sinabi niya na hindi sa kaniyang sarili: kundi palibhasa ay dakilang saserdote nang taong yaon, ay hinulaan niya na si Jesus ay dapat mamatay dahil sa bansa; 52 At hindi dahil sa bansa lamang, kundi upang matipon din naman niya sa isa ang mga anak ng Dios na nagsisipangalat. 

53Kaya't mula nang araw na yaon ay pinagsanggunianan nilang ipapatay siya. 54 Si Jesus ay hindi na naglalakad ng hayag sa gitna ng mga Judio, kundi naparoon doon sa lupaing malapit sa ilang, sa isang bayan na tinatawag na Efraim; at siya'y nanahanan doong kasama ng mga alagad.  

55Ang paskua nga ng mga Judio ay malapit na: at maraming nagsiahon sa Jerusalem mula sa lupaing yaon bago magpaskua, upang magsipaglinis. 56Pinaghahanap nga nila si Jesus, at pinaguusapan ng isa't isa, samantalang nangakatayo sila sa templo, Anong akala ninyo? Na hindi na kaya siya paririto sa pista?