Reflection for April 26, Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter John 3:7b-15

Gospel: John 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?  

Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek Jesus?  

Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin a Jewish judicial body. Why did he follow Jesus? He must have discovered something in Jesus that made him follow Him even until Jesus death on the cross. Nicodemus followership of Jesus did not stop on His death on the cross, Nicodemus also took care of the body of Jesus after His death (John 19:39).    

What would it take for us to become a follower of Jesus? Do we still need to see a miracle before we become a faithful follower? It might be too late already, why not follow Jesus now? Let us look up at Jesus on the cross, that man on the cross died for us! Would we not take a second look to that man on the cross? Would we not thank Him for giving His life for us?  

Nicodemus was initially not a follower of Jesus but when he heard about Jesus he strived to know Jesus until he met the Lord. From the point of hearing about the Lord transformation was also happening in the life of Nicodemus which led him to become a faithful follower of the Lord.

Nicodemus was initially not a follower of Jesus but when he heard about Jesus he strived to know Jesus until he met the Lord. From the point of hearing about the Lord transformation was also happening in the life of Nicodemus which led him to become a faithful follower of the Lord.

Nobody knows the deepest core of our lives; nobody knows our gravest sins except us. Notwithstanding our sins, we have to decide to follow the Lord now for He is ready to transform us. To give us peace in our lives which this world cannot give us. It’s no problem for Jesus if we would become a secret follower like Nicodemus what is important for Jesus is we follow Him.  

Would you follow the Lord beginning today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for April 25, Monday Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist: Mark 16:15-20

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

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Reflection:

A soldier was about to be assigned in a faraway place so he said to his wife: “Take care of the children. Teach them about our faith so that they’ll grow up to become responsible and God loving individuals.”  

The wife followed the command of his husband. She taught their children the teachings of the faith, she introduced Jesus to them and she educated them about discipline good manners and values. After five years he came back. His children were all grown up and he was so happy because they were all wonderfully brought up by his wife.   

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His disciples this marching order: “Proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) All the disciples lived to the hilt this command of Jesus. In fact majority of them were martyred for the sake of advancing the gospel of Jesus.  

The words of Jesus are like stream of water it endlessly flows with the passing of time and it speaks to us now so that we can respond to it. It tells us that we too have a mission and what is that mission? We are also tasked by Jesus to proclaim and live the good news. Have we shared and lived the gospel?  

Majority of us may have not shared and lived it yet we therefore have to live and share it. Not tomorrow, not next week but now, why now and not on a later date? This is for the reason that many are in need of the life transforming words of Jesus. Many are being eaten alive by worldliness, hedonism and sinfulness.  

We therefore should share the good news as the disciples shared it because the Lord is commanding us to do so. Let us share Jesus’ teachings by how we live. We have to remember that we become more fruitful and useful followers of Jesus when we obey Him and when we help Him advance His teachings.  

We allow ourselves to become blessings for others when we share and give Jesus to them. We also allow Jesus to bless us more not with material wealth but with spiritual gifts when we follow His marching order. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 25, Lunes San Marcos, manunulat ng Mabuting Balita (Kapistahan): Marcos 16:15-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

15 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad: “Pumunta kayo sa bu­ong daigdig at ipahayag ang ebang­helyo sa buong sangkinapal. 16 Maliligtas ang maniniwala at mag­papabinyag; ha­hatulan naman ang di maniniwala. 17 At ito ang mga tandang sasama sa mga mani­niwala: magpapalayas sila ng mga de­mon­­yo sa aking Pangalan, magsasa­lita sila sa iba pang mga wika, 18 hahawakan nila ang mga ahas, at di sila maaano kung iinom man sila ng may lason. Ipa­patong nila ang kanilang kamay sa mga maysakit at gagaling ang mga iyon.”  

19 Matapos silang kausapin ng Pangi­­noong Jesus, iniakyat siya sa langit at lumuklok sa kanan ng Diyos. 20 At umalis sila at nangaral sa lahat ng lugar. Kasama nilang gumagawa ang Panginoon at pinatatatag ang Salita sa tulong ng mga tandang kasa­ma nila.

1Reflection for Sunday April 24, Second Sunday of Easter/ Divine Mercy Sunday: John 20:19-31

Gospel: John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

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Reflection:

Do you want to have a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ?

Thomas in the gospel wanted very much to have an up-close and personal encounter with his lord and master. He was yearning for it like a parched land longing for water. Therefore, when Thomas was told by his fellow disciples that the risen Jesus appeared to them. He perhaps pretended not to believe but deep inside his heart he already believed what his fellow disciples told him.

Thomas already believed but he still yearned for physical evidence and encounter. He wanted to see the Risen Christ in the flesh and he wanted to touch the wounds of the Lord Jesus.

Thomas desire to encounter Jesus came to fruition after a week when they were all in that upper room where Jesus first appeared. While all of them were inside the upper room, lo and behold Jesus suddenly appeared before them all!

Right after His appearance Jesus singled out Thomas. He invited Thomas to see the wounds on His hands and to touch the wound on the side of His body which was pierced by a lance by a roman soldier while He was on the cross.  

Is it OK to doubt the resurrection of the Lord? Yes it’s OK but after doubting replace that doubt with curiosity by asking the Lord to let you discover more about Him. Feed it some more by praying to Him.

Sooner you will discover and feel for yourself that Jesus is real. That Jesus is alive and that Jesus is just a prayer or even a whisper away from you. Why? Because Jesus has never failed anyone who yearned for a personal encounter with Him.

Do you want to have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for April 23, Saturday in the Octave of Easter: Mark 16:9-15

Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. 

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus has risen? Well and good if you believe for He has indeed risen and appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene believed this too for she saw Him personally and she conversed with the risen Lord. 

But when she told the disciples that Jesus had risen they did not believe they instead continued to mourn the death of Jesus. The disciples finally believed only when Jesus personally appeared before them. And right there Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith in His resurrection. 

Perhaps the guiding principle of the disciples who did not believe is to see is to believe. For they only believed in the resurrection when He personally appeared to them. Were they already lacking in faith when they did not believe what Mary Magdalene told them? Yes! Lack of faith was slowly but surely creeping into their system until they saw Jesus in the flesh! 

The folly of not believing or lack of faith is we will not be blessed by Jesus if we don’t have faith or we don’t believe. We will not be healed by Jesus if we lack faith or we don’t believe. 

Do you believe that Jesus has risen? - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Abril 23, Sabado sa Walong Araw na Pagdiriwang ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Marcos 16:9-15

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:9-15

9 Pagkabuhay ni Jesus sa unang araw ng sanlinggo, una siyang napakita kay Maria Magdalena na mula rito’y pitong demonyo ang pinalayas niya. 10 Umalis ito at nag­balita sa mga ka­sama ni Jesus na noo’y umiiyak at nag­luluksa. 11 Ngunit hindi sila naniwala sa kanya nang marinig nilang buhay si Jesus at napakita sa kanya.   

12 Pagkatapos nito, napakita naman si Jesus sa ibang anyo sa dalawa sa kanila habang pa­punta sila sa labas ng bayan. 13 At pagbalik nila, ibina­lita rin nila ito sa iba pa pero hindi rin naniwala ang mga ito sa ka­nila. 14 Sa dakong huli, nang nasa hapag ang La­bing-isa, napakita sa kanila si Jesus at pinagsabihan sila dahil sa ka­wa­lang-paniwala nila at kati­gasan ng puso: hindi nga nila pinaniniwalaan ang mga nakakita sa kanya matapos siyang bu­hayin.  

15 At sinabi sa kanila: “Pumunta kayo sa bu­ong daigdig at ipahayag ang ebang­helyo sa buong sangkinapal.

1Reflection for April 22, Friday in the Octave of Easter: John 21:1-14

Gospel: John 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.”  

So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.  

So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”  

So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

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Reflection:

What is the scenario when fishermen arrive after long hours of fishing at sea? They naturally want to go home and rest their tired bodies.  

This was the situation when the fishermen arrived from their long hours of fishing without any catch. They simply want to go home and rest their very tired bodies.  But as they approach the shore, they saw Jesus who told the fishermen to put their empty nets back onto the sea.   

They simply obeyed Jesus and presto they’ve caught the biggest number of fish. We see here in the gospel that Jesus rewards those who obey Him. We see also the love and care that Jesus gave to His disciples. Love and care that never ends and not constrained by time and space.  

Why did Jesus appear to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection? Jesus wanted to reassure His disciples that He will never abandon them and that He is still with them in every step of the way. As if saying to His disciples, I am always with you wherever you go ever ready to guide and help you.  

Humans as we are we also pass through episodes of weariness, tiredness and frustrations brought about by our many life challenges. We are never alone when we pass through these challenging episodes of life. The Risen Christ is also with us ever ready to guide and help us.  

Let us always go to Him for the risen Christ is always there for us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for April 21, 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:

How would you react if a dead friend suddenly appears before you? Of course you will be shocked and perhaps after a few seconds you will shout and run away. This reaction is human nature, a natural reaction because you are not used of seeing a ghost.  

This was also the reaction of the disciples when Jesus suddenly appeared before them and said to them: Peace be with you. They were startled and terrified; who would not be? Then, Jesus slowly opened Himself to His disciples by inviting them to look at His hands and feet. And touch it if they want so that He could prove to them that He has indeed risen and is with them.  

Perhaps some of us are troubled and worried because of our present life circumstances. If we are, Jesus would tell us: "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Firmly believe in me and I will take care of you. Call on me anytime and I will be with you, follow me and I will not disappoint you! I will give you peace, peace that this world can’t give you. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!  

The peace that Jesus will give us is beyond compare nothing in this world can approximate it. Some of us mistakenly look for peace and comfort in this world only to end up holding an empty bag. Why? Because it’s only through Jesus that we will find true peace. 

Look for the peace that only Jesus will give you and humbly ask Him to give it to you. If you will be persistent He surely will give it to you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for April 20, 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:

A husband was always being urged by his wife to join his family to attend Sunday Mass. The husband would always say, I don’t want to go because I don’t understand what’s going on at Mass and I am also busy with other things.  

His wife told him, don’t you know that you always have a personal encounter with Jesus whenever you are at Holy Mass?  Don’t you know that the words of Jesus are always proclaimed to you at Holy Mass? And don’t you know that you always partake of Jesus Body and Blood during Holy Communion?  

In our gospel, while Cleopas and the other disciple were going to Emmaus, the risen Christ suddenly walked with them and conversed with them. They had no inkling that it was already the risen Christ who was with them. Why? This is for the reason that their focus was not on the risen Christ but on the Christ who died on the cross.  

When they reached Emmaus it was already night time so they invited Jesus to stay in their house. And while they were at a table Jesus took bread broke it said the blessings and shared it with the two of them. They immediately recognized that it was the risen Jesus who was with them. Because Jesus did the same sacred gesture before them and the apostles during the last supper in the upper room (Luke 22:19-20).  

Cleopas and the other disciple are not alone in this predicament of not immediately recognizing the presence of Jesus in their midst. For we too are often guilty of not recognizing that Jesus is always present at Holy Mass.  

And the reason behind not recognizing Jesus at Holy Mass is our lack of concentration and attention when we are at Mass. Our lack of interest with the Holy Mass readings and our failure to read Jesus life transforming words in the bible when we are in our homes.  

If only we would prioritize our presence at Holy Mass, if only we would focus our attention to what the priest does at Holy Mass. And if only we would find time to open and read the life giving words of Jesus in the bible every day. We would know and feel that Jesus is also walking with us and He is always ready to introduce Himself to us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for April 19, 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:

Are you always aware of the movement of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life? 

For example, you’re leaning towards jumping into an adulterous relationship. Then out of the blue you were suddenly reminded by your spouse about the evils and the punishment that could come after jumping into an adulterous relationship.

You immediately had an awareness of this mistake as if you were doused with cold water. You became aware that the devil is leading you to destroy your marriage. Who gave you the enlightenment? Who stopped the devil from destroying your marriage? It’s none other than Jesus Himself! 

Jesus is omnipresent He is always with us, He walks with us, He cries and commiserate with us. He comforts us, He gives us hope.  He is an ever-present shoulder to cry and lean on. But we are not always aware of this fact.  

Mary Magdalene in our gospel was not aware that Jesus was already beside her, she thought He was the gardener. Until Jesus called her name and right there she had an awareness that He was already with Jesus (John 20:14-16).  

How could we always discern the presence of Jesus in our life?  We must have our regular prayer time: Prayer time means time spent conversing and listening to Jesus. We must always attend Holy Mass and receive Him during Holy Communion. We must read about Him in the Bible and we must also lead a life worthy in the eyes of Jesus. 

Do you have an awareness of Jesus presence in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

1Reflection for April 18, 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:

Can we hide or suppress the truth?  

We can never suppress the truth no matter what we do. We may be able to suppress or hide it for a period of time but eventually the truth will come out. 

The chief priest and the elders tried very hard to hide the truth about the resurrection of Jesus. But except for their supporters who refused to believe. The followers of Jesus believed that He had risen from the bondage of human death. 

Just like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, we also believe that Jesus has defeated the curse of death thru His resurrection. But our belief is not enough we must put into actual acts of faith our belief that Jesus has risen.  

How are we going to do this? Let us do good all the time, let us help those who are in need, Let us be humble, let us be truthful, let us be, forgiving, kind-hearted, understanding and let us do all the good that we can do in this world. We need to do this so that the risen Jesus would become truly visible and risen in our lives.    

Otherwise if we would not do these worthy acts then our belief in our Lord is useless. And it would remain forever a figment of our imaginations. And in the process we become failed missioners for Jesus for the simple reason that we did not live our faith.  

Are you doing something to live your faith in the risen Lord Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection on the Seven Last words of Jesus

 

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

Are you 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 the like. 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 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 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 went through the covid-19 pandemic experience and as we see the destructive result of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine 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 Jesus part and parcel of our daily living.   

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 you 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 life? 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 hungry.   

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 Sunday April 17, 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:

How does the gospel reading today about the resurrection of Christ speaks to us? Does it speak to us with a deeper sense of hope and renewal? This gospel about Jesus resurrection must also be our own resurrection and triumph over our sinfulness.  

From being sinful we now try our very best to live a holy, sinless and meaningful life. For this is our own way of saying that Jesus has also resurrected within us. We therefore have to live our life according to what the resurrected Christ wants us to live it: A life free from sin and a life invested in Him and not in this world.  

Therefore from now on we will live our life according to what the resurrected Jesus wants us to live it. This will mean that we now leave behind anything that makes us sin. And we allow the resurrection of the Lord to usher within us the defeat of anything that is evil and sinful.  

We die a thousand times whenever we sin and we live again when we decide to permanently walk away from sin to follow the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 16, Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil: Luke 24:1-12

Gospel: Luke 24:1-12

At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.  

They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words.  

Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

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Reflection:

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? 

After the passion and death of Jesus on the cross comes His resurrection. What does Jesus resurrection signify? It signifies the Lord’s triumph over the forces of evil, this signifies also that evil will not in any way triumph over good.  

In this arena of life that we are presently walking thru the devil will test us with the intent to eventually capture us with the end objective to bring us to his kingdom in hell. Those who have no faith or feeble faith end up in hell because they have not fought the devil’s temptation they simply went thru it hence they suffer for their acquiescence to the devil.  

However, those who remained steadfast in their faith and love for God are able to defeat whatever scheming the devil throws upon them. And in the end they live life with God forever on their side. This is what Jesus did: He resisted the devil until the end even at the cost of His life.

What if Jesus did not resist the devil and simply went with the flow? There would have been no resurrection, there would have been no empty tomb and there would have been no triumph over death. But Jesus won over death because He resisted the devil. 

We also have to resist the devil who consistently comes to us to win us over to his side with the end objective of destroying us. We therefore have to reject Satan and all his evil scheming so that at the end we would also be victorious over death and be with God in heaven someday. - Marino J. Dasmarinas