Reflection for May 10 Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 15 26—16:4a

Gospel: John 15:26—16:4a

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

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

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was trying very hard to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He would always be murmuring come Holy Spirit I need you, he had said this for countless times to no avail. 

We will not be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit by saying come Holy Spirit alone. We must live our lives always attuned to the teachings of Jesus; we must live and breathe the teachings of Jesus so to speak. 

Then as we live and breathe His teachings we would slowly but surely begin to feel the empowering presence of the Advocate or the Holy Spirit. Let us always live the teachings of Jesus. Let us never be afraid to share and live it because this is the only means whereby we can truly discern the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  

In the gospel, Jesus speaks to the disciples about the Advocate which is no other than the Holy Spirit. Jesus will give it to them in His own time of choosing what they need to do is to simply be faithful to Him and His teachings. This is what we need to do as well for us to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.  

Therefore inviting the Holy Spirit to come into our lives is not enough we first have to be faithful to the Lord and His teachings. If we do so we would soon feel the presence of the Holy Spirit which is our advocate – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 10 Lunes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:26—16:4a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:26—16:4a

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

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

1Reflection for Sunday May 9, Sixth Sunday of Easter: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

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

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.  

I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a wife whose husband has strayed so many times. Therefore, the wife’s relatives were asking her to leave her philandering husband. However, the wife would have none of her relatives’ suggestion. She instead remained in their marriage covenant. Eventually, the philandering husband was enlightened and they lived happily until the end of their lives.  

How could we remain in God’s love forever? Jesus gives us the answer, we must keep the commandments. For example in the marriage covenant, Jesus command for the couple is to be married until the end.  To share their burdens, trials and joys forever. Not to give burdens, domination and mental torture forever.    

The only way for a married couple to remain in God’s love forever is to love his/her spouse until the end. But none of us are perfect; many of us sin and wander away from the marriage covenant. Nonetheless, we are not hopeless for Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us to be within the ambit of His love again whenever we sin and stray. 

There is no perfect marriage in this world because we are not perfect beings; each of us has our own flaws and shortcomings. Therefore we should be forgiving and must always have the humility to admit our own mistakes and shortcomings.  

The love of God is always there for us each day to assure us that none of us are beyond its reach. The same with the love of a spouse for his/her beloved He/she always keeps that sacred love for his/her beloved inside her/his heart. Always hoping that the spouses who strayed would soon find the light, forgiveness and love of God.  

This is also God’s hope and expectation for you. That you may soon find the light, love and forgiveness of God which by the way is always there for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 9 Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:9-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-17

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

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

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

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

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

Reflection for May 8 Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:18-21

Gospel: John 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 

Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

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Reflection:     

The story is told about a worldly and sinful man who unexpectedly had a spiritual awakening. It happened when he suddenly opened his long dormant bible and was able to read this passage: “You do not belong to the world. (John 15:19)”

After reading that passage he began to detest every sin that he had been doing. And he completely left behind his worldly friends that drove him to sin. As a result of his righteous and drastic actions they condemned him as someone who is already out of his mind.

This world will hate us, even our worldly friends will hate us too once we choose to be faithful to the Lord. But we must not worry about worldly condemnation for so long as we are already with Jesus. As the bible says: “If God is with us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

It takes great courage to decide not to belong to this world for the reason that this would mean sacrificing temporal comforts. But it’s all worth it because if we have God we have everything if we have God we have peace and contentment and if we have God we would have flawless access to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 8 Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:18-21

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

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

1Reflection for May 7 Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:12-17

Gospel: John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. 

I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:              

What would happen if the love of Jesus is present in the family? There would be no conflict, no arrogance, no dominant behavior and no abrasive behavior. There would only be forgiveness, humility and love. All of these factors would be present because of the presence of the love of Jesus. 

Let us say that we take away the love of Jesus, surely, there would be conflict inside the family. This is brought about by arrogance, domination, infidelity, lies and the like. 

When Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them (John 15:12). He envisioned harmony, humility, trust and everything that is good for His disciples.  This is for the reason that Jesus wanted His disciples to become successful in their mission of evangelization. And this could only be possible if they love one another. 

Jesus perfectly knew that without love that originates from Him the disciples will not become successful in their mission. Their efforts would simply be in vain because they will simply be pulling each other’s leg downward. And there would be jealousy, arrogance and misunderstanding among His disciples. Therefore there would be failure of their mission of evangelization. 

We too will not become successful in our mission for Jesus and we will not have harmony inside the family. Unless we learn to imbibe, share and live this love commandment of the Lord. 

Do you live the love commandment of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 7 Biyernes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:12-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:12-17

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

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

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

Reflection for May 6 Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:9-11

Gospel: John 15:9-11

(Jesus said to his disciples) “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

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Reflection:

What is the primary fruit of remaining in God’s love? Its joy, hope and faith. 

When Jesus told the disciples that they must remain in HIS love HE knew that they would be going through trials, persecution and even death as they do their mission for HIM. And true enough, the apostles went through all of these except for Judas who betrayed HIM. 

Why is it important to remain in Jesus’ love? This is for the reason that we cannot rely on anyone’s love in this world except HIS love. We cannot rely on the love of our spouse even the love of our children we cannot rely on it. Because their love is based on human emotion that is always subject to change. 

Therefore what would remain is Jesus’ infinite love for us, this love is not subject to any form of human emotion. God’s love for us in anchored on infinite love, forbearance and forgiveness.   

As we journey in this world, we will sin and we will fail the expectation of the Lord. Nonetheless, God’s love is always there for us no matter what we have done. The Lord is always offering us this love and He begs us not to let go of it anymore by rebuking SIN whenever it appears in our doorstep. 

Do you always keep the Commandments of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 6 Huwebes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:9-11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-11

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

11 Sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito upang mapasainyo ang aking kaga­lakan at maging ganap ang inyong kagalakan.

Reflection for May 5 Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:1-8

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. 

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a good man; he was active in their church, he was a responsible father and husband. His friends and relatives look up to him for he lived his life worthy in the eyes of God and men. However, there was one instance wherein he became friends with a woman and that friendship created an attraction between them. 

He threw away his Godly values and he coveted the woman. In the process of his covetous desires his family and personal life started to suffer. Before he knew it he was already living a miserable life. 

This story sometimes happens to some of us, we sometimes choose to lead our lives our own selfish ways and not God’s way. Often times many of us are very stubborn in following our worldly caprices and wants even if we know that what we want is wrong. We follow our selfish desires and not the desire of God. 

In the gospel Jesus tells us that He is our vine and God is our vine grower. He urges us to remain in Him no matter what happens in our lives. For through Him emanates all graces. Sometimes there are instances where we also encounter trials/temptations. We must therefore not let these trials/temptations be an instrument of our separation from Jesus. 

What are these temptations that often steers us away from God? It’s the temptation of the flesh, the temptation to engage in corrupt acts to add more numbers to our bank accounts. And there’s a lot more temptation out there waiting to capture us. 

We must not cut ourselves from the true Vine (Jesus) and the Vine grower (God) for it is only through them that we would experience true happiness in this world that will outlast our lifetime. 

Eventually we will die, perhaps one of the questions that God would ask us before we are allowed entry into heaven is this: Did you remain with me in your lifetime? Did you not allow the temptations of the world cut you off from me; your Vine grower? 

How would we answer God then? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 5 Miyerkules sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:1-8

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

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

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

Reflection for May 4 Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:27-31a

Gospel: John 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.  

And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

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Reflection:

Do you allow the peace of Jesus to reign in your heart?  

There are cynical people whose thoughts are always on the negative side of life. They always have their own negative interpretations for every incident that happens. For us believers regardless of what unfolds we will be calm and always at peace because we have Jesus. There may be incidents that will temporarily jolt us but after a while we will be back to our normal peaceful selves.  

In the gospel Jesus told his disciples: “I leave with you; my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).  

 In this gospel episode Jesus is telling his disciples that whatever things that may happen to him in the unfolding days. They need to be calm and peaceful because he is still with them. The invincible presence of Jesus within them gives them calmness and peace. Calmness and peace that this world could not give them.   

The peace that Jesus gives is something that you will also experience. If you’re always connected with Jesus by means of frequent attendance at Holy Mass/online Holy Mass, frequent reception of the Body of Christ,  frequent and humble submission to the Sacrament of Confession, Through your frequent reading of Jesus life story in the bible  and through your regular prayer life. 

Do you already have peace in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 4 Martes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:27-31a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:27-31a

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

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