Reflection for April 8 Thursday in the Octave of Easter: Luke 24:35-48

Gospel: Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?  

Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

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Reflection:

What if the disciples did not recount their experience with the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread to their fellow disciples? Perhaps Jesus would have not appeared in their midst. Perhaps Jesus would have just said, I will not show myself to them anymore, anyway they’ve easily forgotten me.  

But Cleopas and his companion hearts were still aflame with desire in sharing their experience with Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Perhaps this was one of the reason why Jesus appeared in their midst and this gave Him enough reason to give them His greeting of peace.  

How often do we talk about Jesus with our friends and family members? Perhaps not very often, maybe we just hear and talk about Jesus when we are at church for Holy Mass. However, when we are at home or living our lives in the secular world we never talk about Jesus.  

Why is it that we rarely talk about Jesus when we are out of church? Are we ashamed of Jesus? Are we afraid that we would be disliked by our friends and they would perceive us as someone who is not in touch with the realities of life?  

Let us not think twice to talk about the Lord or to share our personal experiences on how the Lord has manifested himself in our lives. By doing so we bring others closer to the Lord and who knows we might be the bridge to their conversion.  

Have you shared your personal experience about the movement of the Lord in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 8 Huwebes sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Lucas 24:35-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 24:35-48

35 Isinalaysay ng dalawang alagad ang nang­yari sa daan at kung paano nila siya nakilala sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay. 36 Habang pinag-uusapan nila ang mga ito, tumayo siya mismo sa gitna nila (at sinabi sa kanila: “Huwag ka­yong matakot, sumainyo ang kapaya­paan!”). 37 Nagulat nga sila at natakot, at akala’y nakakakita sila ng kung anong espiritu. 38 Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila: “Bakit kayo naliligalig at puma­pasok ang alinla­ngan sa inyong isipan? 39 Ting­nan ninyo ang aking mga ka­may at mga paa, ako nga siya. Hipuin ninyo ako at unawain ninyo na walang laman at mga buto ang isang espiritu, at nakikita ninyo na meron ako.” (40 Matapos masabi ito, ipinakita niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay at paa.)  

41 Hindi sila makapaniwala sa labis na galak at nagtataka pa rin kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “May makakain ba kayo rito?” 42 At binigyan nila siya ng isang pirasong inihaw na isda (at pulot-puk­yutan). 43 Ki­nu­ha niya iyon at ku­main sa harap nila. 44 Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Sinabi ko na sa inyo ang mga ito nang kasama ninyo ako: kailangang matupad ang lahat ng nasusulat tungkol sa akin sa Batas ni Moises, Mga Propeta at Mga Salmo.”  

45 At binuksan niya ang kanilang isipan para maunawaan nila ang mga Kasulatan. 46 Sinabi niya: “Ganito ang na­susulat: kailangang magdusa ang Mesiyas at pagkamatay niya’y buhayin sa ikatlong araw. 47 Sa ngalan niya ipahahayag sa lahat ng bansa ang pagsisisi at ang kapa­tawaran ng mga kasa­lanan – sa Jerusalem kayo mag­sisimula. 48 Kayo ang magiging mga saksi sa mga ito.

Reflection for April 7 Wednesday in the Octave of Easter: Luke 24:13-35

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.  

He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?"  

They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.  

Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.  

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.  

Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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Reflection:

How would you feel if somebody close to you dies?  

We all feel very sad when somebody very important to us dies. The feeling is as if a big important part of us has been taken off from our lives. Cleopas and his companion had this feeling of sadness as they were walking towards Emmaus. They felt that a big part of their lives had been taken from them with the death of Jesus. 

However, as they were journeying going to Emmaus they did not recognize that the Risen Christ was already walking and conversing with them. So, while walking going to Emmaus Jesus asked them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk (Luke 24:17)?" They told Him their story and seemingly false expectations about Himself (Jesus).  

Why false expectation? Because Cleopas and company were expecting Jesus to redeem Israel from the Jewish ruling class.  Jesus was already their hero, who would not consider Jesus as hero when He can make the lame walk, when He can make the blind see again etc. They thought that it was now all bed of roses for them since they were now following Jesus. Therefore, they were terribly disappointed with the death of Jesus.  

What is the lesson for us in this gospel episode? This tells us that we must not expect that everything would be turning out right for us since we are now followers of Jesus. There would still be trials, persecutions and disappointments for these are part of the test of our faith in Jesus.  

When they arrived at Emmaus they asked Jesus to stay with them. While there at a table with them He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). After doing it in front of them they recognized that it was the Risen Christ who was with them, that it was Jesus who was conversing with them while they were walking going to Emmaus. 

Where is Emmaus now in this smart phones, smart gadgets and social media driven times? Emmaus is certainly not located within your high-tech gadgets. Emmaus is the  church specifically located inside your church. When you go to your church to attend Holy Mass you go to Emmaus. 

There you have to hold in highest regard the words of God as it is proclaimed to you. There you reverently accept Jesus' Body and Blood as it is given to you by the priest or the Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. But the intensifying case of covid-19 prevents us from going to church to attend Holy Mass.  

So, where would Emmaus be? Your home becomes Emmaus when you encourage your family to piously watch the celebration of Holy Mass online. Do you always make yourself and your family available for online Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 7 Miyerkules sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Lucas 24:13-35

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 24:13-35

13 Nang araw ng Linggo, dalawa sa mga alagad ang naglalakad pa-Emmaus na isang nayong mga labin­limang kilo­metro mula sa Jerusalem. 14 Pinag-uusapan nila ang mga nangyari. 15 Sa kanilang pag-uusap at pagtatalakayan, lumapit si Jesus at nakisabay sa paglakad nila 16 pero parang may kung anong hadlang sa kanilang mga mata at hindi nila siya nakilala.  

17 Tinanong niya sila: “Ano ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo sa daan?” Tumigil silang mukhang malungkot. 18 Suma­got ang isa sa kanila na nagnga­ngalang Cleofas: “Bakit, mukhang ikaw lang ang kaisa-isahan sa Jerusalem na di alam ang mga nangyari roon nitong mga ilang araw?” 19 Itinanong niya: “Ano?” Sumagot sila: “Tungkol kay Jesus na taga-Nazaret. Sa paningin ng Diyos at ng buong baya’y isa siyang propetang maka­pang­­yarihan sa gawa at salita. 

20 Ngunit isinakdal siya ng aming mga punong-pari at mga pinuno para mahatulang mamatay at ipinako siya sa krus. 21 Uma­asa pa naman kaming siya ang tutubos sa Israel ngunit ikatlong araw na ngayon mula nang mangyari ang lahat ng ito. 22 Sa totoo’y ginulat kami ng ilang ba­baeng kasama namin. Maaga silang pu­munta sa libingan 23 pero hindi nila nakita ang kanyang katawan kaya du­mating sila at sinabi sa amin na naka­kita pa raw sila ng aparisyon ng mga anghel na nag­sabi sa kanila na buhay siya.  

24 Nagpunta rin sa libingan ang ilan sa amin at natag­puan nga nila ang sinasabi ng mga babae pero hindi nila siya nakita.” 25 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Mga hin­di makaunawa at mapupurol ang isip para maniwala sa lahat ng ipina­hayag ng mga propeta. 26 Di ba’t kaila­ngang mag­dusa nang ganito ang Mesiyas bago pu­masok sa kanyang Lu­walhati?” 27 At sinimulan niyang ipa­liwanag sa kanila ang lahat ng sinasabi ng Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya, mula kay Moises hanggang sa lahat ng Pro­peta.  

28 Nang malapit na sila sa nayong pu­puntahan nila, parang magpapatuloy pa siya ng paglakad. 29 Pero pinilit nila siya: “Manatili kang kasama namin dahil dapit­hapon na at lumulubog na ang araw.” Kaya pumasok siya at suma­ma sa kanila. 30 Nang nasa hapag na siyang kasalo nila, kumuha siya ng tinapay, nagpuri at piniraso ito at ibinigay sa kanila. 31 At noo’y nabuksan ang kanilang mga mata at nakilala nila siya, at nawala siya sa kanilang paningin. 32 Nag-usap sila: “Hindi ba’t nag-aalab ang ating puso nang kinakausap niya tayo sa daan at ipinali­liwanag sa atin ang mga Kasulatan?”  

33 Noon di’y tumayo sila at nagbalik sa Jerusalem. Nakita nila roon na mag­ka­kasama ang Labing-isa at ang iba ni­lang kasamahan. 34 Sinabi ng mga iyon sa kanila: “Totoo ngang binuhay ang Panginoon at napakita siya kay Simon.” 35 At isinalaysay naman nila ang nang­yari sa daan at kung paano nila siya nakilala sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay.

1Reflection for April 6 Tuesday in the Octave of Easter: John 20:11-18

Gospel: John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.  

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for? She thought it was the gardener and said to him,“ Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni, which means Teacher.  

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God.’Mary went and announced to the disciples,“I have seen the Lord, and then reported what he had told her.

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Reflection:

How does it feel to lose a close friend or relative? It feels like an important part of you has been taken permanently away from you. This was how Mary Magdalene felt when she was near the tomb of Jesus. She was forlorn, who would not be? Anyone who loses somebody close to him/her would feel the same way.  

In the midst of her melancholy Jesus appeared to Mary and told her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God (John 20:17).  

When Jesus told Mary stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Perhaps, Jesus wanted to tell Mary this: Let go of the memory of my violent death for I have resurrected already. Instead announce the good news of my resurrection which Mary did after Jesus appeared to her.  

How does this gospel speak to you? Do you feel Jesus speaking to you and telling you to move and share the good news? To have courage to share His teachings through your works and actions?  

Humans as we are we yield every once in a while to discouragement and sadness. Most especially right now caused by this destructive Covid-19 pandemic which has been creating havoc in our country for more than a year now. Yet we must not forget that Jesus has risen, that Jesus abiding presence is with us and He always always walks with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 6 Martes sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 20:11-18

Mabuting Balita: Juan 20:11-18

11 Nakatayo namang umiiyak sa labas si Maria sa may libingan. Sa kan­yang pag-iyak, yumuko siyang naka­tanaw sa libingan. 12 At may na­pansin siyang dalawang anghel na nakaputi na naka­upo, isa sa may ulu­nan at isa sa may paanan ng pinag­lagyan sa katawan ni Jesus. 

13 Sinabi sa kanya ng mga iyon: “Ale, bakit ka umiiyak?” Sinabi niya sa ka­nila: “May kumuha sa Panginoon ko, at hindi ko alam kung saan siya inilagay.” 14 Pag­kasabi niya nito, tuma­likod siya at napan­sin niya si Jesus na nakatayo pero hindi niya nakilalang si Jesus iyon. 

15 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ale, bakit ka umiiyak? Sino’ng hinahanap mo?” Sa pag-aakala niyang iyon ang hardinero, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Ginoo, kung kayo ang nagdala sa kanya, sabihin n’yo sa akin kung saan n’yo siya inilagay at ku­kunin ko siya.” 

16 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Maria!” Pagka­harap niya’y sinabi niya sa kanya sa Aramaiko: “Rabbouni!” (na ibig sabihi’y Guro). 17 Si­nabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Huwag kang humawak sa akin sapagkat hindi pa ako nakaaakyat sa Ama. 

Puntahan mo ang mga kapa­tid ko at sabihin sa kanila: ‘Paakyat ako sa Ama ko at Ama ninyo, sa Diyos ko at Diyos ninyo.’” 18 Pumunta si Maria Magdalena na ibinabalita sa mga alagad: “Nakita ko ang Panginoon.” At sinabi niya ang mga sinabi sa kanya.”

1Reflection for April 5 Monday in the Octave of Easter: Matthew 28:8-15

Gospel: Matthew 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”  

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

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Reflection:

How do you manifest in your life that Jesus is alive and risen? The best manifestation that Jesus is alive and risen is by sharing your faith. Sharing it with your words and sharing it with your works. 

For example, you see someone who is in need of guidance or counseling, do you take time to offer your guidance? Or you see somebody who is hungry; do you have the initiative to give food? When someone who did you wrong ask for forgiveness, do you forgive and let bygones be bygones?  

When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw the empty tomb. They immediately run to share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to their fellow believers. They were excited to share the good news of Jesus’ conquering death.  

The best proof that Jesus has conquered death and is risen is you! Every time you do good works, every time you say good and healing words. And every time you forgive those who did you wrong you manifest that Jesus is alive and risen. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 5 Lunes sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Mateo 28:8-15

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 28:8-15

8 Agad na iniwan ng mga babae ang libingan na natatakot at labis na nagagalak, at tumakbo sila para balitaan ang kanyang mga alagad. 9 Nakasalubong nila sa daan si Jesus at sinabi niya: “Kapayapaan.” Paglapit sa kanya ng mga babae, niyakap nila ang kanyang mga paa at sinamba siya. 10 Si­nabi naman ni Jesus sa kanila: “Huwag kayong matakot. Humayo kayo at sabihin sa aking mga kapatid na pumunta sila sa Galilea; doon nila ako makikita.”  

11 Samantalang pabalik ang mga babae, nagbalik naman sa lunsod ang ilang mga bantay at ibinalita sa mga punong-pari ang lahat ng nangyari. 12 Nakipag-usap naman ang mga ito sa mga Matatanda ng bayan kaya kumuha sila ng sapat na halaga at ibinigay sa mga sundalo, 13 at tinagubilinan silang “Sabihin nin­yong dumating nang gabi ang kan­yang mga alagad at ni­nakaw ang katawan habang natutulog kayo. 14 Kung mabalitaan ito ng gobernador, kami ang bahala sa kanya at hindi kayo magka­kaprob­lema.” 15 Tinanggap ng mga sundalo ang pera at ginawa ang itinuro sa kanila; at laganap pa hanggang ngayon ang kuwentong ito sa mga Judio.

Reflection for Sunday April 4, Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord: John 20:1-9

Gospel: John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."  

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.  

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

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Reflection:

Imagine you were in the situation of Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, would you have been worried as they were upon seeing that Jesus was not anymore in the tomb? Of course! It is simply the normal human reaction, you would feel bewildered and worried as well.  

But what if they knew before hand that Jesus would be rising from the dead after three days? Would they be as apprehensive? Of course not they would have been excited and in a celebratory mode for their expectation would already be fulfilled. 

This is what separates you now from Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and John (the beloved disciple) because during their time they did not know that Jesus had risen it was only during the succeeding events that transpired that they got the revelation of His resurrection.  

Notwithstanding the gloom that is brought about by Covid-19 We who knows about the resurrection of Jesus must still be joyful. For the reason that we have a God who gave His life on the cross for our sake. We have a God who loves us so dearly and we have a God who forgives us of our sinfulness no matter how severe.  

This Easter Sunday the Risen Jesus is calling you to become His living witness. He calls you to live your faith and to radiate His sacrificial love to everyone most especially to those who are in difficult situation right now brought about by covid-19 pandemic. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 4, Linggo ng Pasko Pagkabuhay: Juan 20:1-9

Mabuting Balita: Juan 20:1-9

pagkatapos ng Araw ng Pahinga, habang madilim pa, maagang pumunta sa libingan si Maria Magdalena, nang makita niyang tanggal ang bato mula sa libingan, 2 patakbo siyang pumunta kay Simon Pedro at sa isa pang alagad na mahal ni Jesus. Sinabi niya sa kanila: “May kumuha sa Panginoon mula sa libingan, at hindi namin alam kung saan nila siya inilagay.”  

3 Kaya lumabas si Pedro at ang isa pang alagad, at pumunta sa libingan. 4 Sabay na tumakbo ang dalawa. Ngunit mas mabilis tumakbo kay Pedro ang isa pang alagad, at unang nakarating sa libingan. 5 Pagkayuko niya’y nakita niyang nakalatag ang mga telang linen pero hindi siya pumasok.  

6 Dumating namang kasunod niya si Simon Pedro, at pumasok sa libingan. Napansin niya ang mga telang linen na nakalatag, 7 at ang panyo namang nakatalukbong sa ulo niya ay di kasama sa mga telang linen na nakalatag kundi hiwalay na nakabilot sa mismong lugar nito. 8 Pumasok noon ang isa pang alagad, ang unang nakarating sa libingan, at nakita niya at siya’y naniwala. 9 Sapagkat hindi pa nila alam ang Kasulatan na kailangan siyang magbangon mula sa mga patay.

Reflection for April 3 Holy Saturday: Mark 16:1-7

Gospel: Mark 16:1-7

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large.  

On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”

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Reflection: 

What does the phrase “To see is to believe” mean? This means that we would only believe the moment we see. Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices for they were supposed to see the body of Jesus to honor it. But they did not find there the lifeless body of Jesus. Instead they found an empty tomb! Where is the lifeless body of Jesus?  It’s nowhere to be found for Jesus has already resurrected.  

After going through so much suffering  and after dying on the cross. Jesus has finally risen, let us therefore rejoice and be glad for He has risen! What can we do now to honor the risen Christ? The best honor that we could ever do to the risen Christ is to follow His way of life.  

The resurrected Jesus doesn’t want any pomp and extravagance to honor His resurrection. He simply wants us to follow His way of life for this is the best honor that we could ever do Him. We honor His resurrection by following His life of humility. We honor Him by following His life of total surrender to the will of God.  

Jesus has risen and Jesus is alive let us therefore rejoice and honor Him by following His life changing examples. In so doing we continue to spread the good news of His resurrection. Let us therefore embrace His resurrection by becoming another Jesus to our fellowmen. What does this mean? This means that we try our very best to follow the life of Jesus. And we try our very best to share Jesus with the hope that in doing so we bring others closer to Him.  

Would you begin to follow the Lord from now on? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 3 Sabado Santo: Marcos 16:1-7

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:1-7

1 Pagkatapos ng Araw ng Pahinga, si Maria Magdalena at si Mariang ina ni Jaime, at si Salome ay bumili ng mga pabango para pumunta at  pahiran si Jesus. 2 At dumating sila sa libingan kinaumagahan ng unang araw ng sanlinggo.  

3 Pinag-usapan nila: “Sino ang mag­pa­­pagulong at mag-aalis sa malaking bato sa bukana ng libingan?” 4 Ngunit pagtingin nila’y nakita nilang naigu­long na ang bato – napakalaki nga niyon.

5 Kaya pumasok sila sa libingan at nakita nila ang isang binatang nakaputi na nakaupo sa kanan, at takang-taka sila. 6 Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila: “Huwag kayong matakot. Di ba’t si Jesus na taga-Nazaret, ang ipinako sa krus, ang hina­hanap ninyo? Binuhay siya at wala siya rito. Hayan ang lugar kung saan siya inilagay. 7 Ngunit humayo kayo at sabi­hin sa mga alagad niya at pati kay Pedro na mauuna siya sa inyo sa Galilea. Doon ninyo siya matatagpuan gaya ng sinabi niya sa inyo.”

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    

Reflection 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.

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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