Noong
panahong iyon, si Hesus ay pumunta sa Bundok ng mga Olibo. Kinaumagaha’y
nagbalik siya sa templo. Lumapit sa kanya ang lahat, kaya’t umupo siya at
sila’y tinuruan. Noo’y dinala sa kanya ng mga eskriba at ng mga Pariseo ang
isang babaing nahuli sa pakikiapid. Pinatayo ito sa harapan nila, at sinabi kay
Hesus, “Guro, ang babaing ito’y nahuli sa pakikiapid. Ayon sa Kautusan ni
Moises, dapat batuhinhanggang sa mamatay ang mga gaya niya.
Ano ang
masasabi mo?” Itinanong nila ito upang subukin siya, nang may maisumbong sila
laban sa kanya. Ngunit yumuko si Hesus at sumulat sa lupa sa pamamagitan ng
daliri. Ayaw nilang tigilan nang katatanong si Hesus, kaya’t sila’y tiningnan
niya at sinabi ang ganito, “Sinuman sa inyo na walang kasalanan ang siyang
maunang bumato sa kanya.” At muli siyang yumuko at sumulat sa lupa.
Nang marinig
nila ito, sila’y isa-isang umalis, simula sa pinakamatanda. Walang naiwan kundi
si Hesus at ang babaing naroon pa rin sa harapan niya. Tiningnan siya ni Hesus
at tinanong: “Nasaan sila? Wala bang nagparusa sa iyo?” “Wala po, Ginoo,” sagot
ng babae. Sinabi ni Hesus: “Hindi rin kita parurusahan. Humayo ka, at huwag
nang magkasala.”
The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,
“Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? The siblings Martha, Mary and Lazarus were friends with Jesus they have a personal relationship with the Lord. Jesus loves the three of them dearly.
When Jesus was informed by Martha and Mary than their brother Lazarus was sick the Lord went there. Even if He knew that Lazarus had died already the Lord nevertheless went to the siblings place notwithstanding the developing danger to his life. Why? Because Martha, Mary and Lazarus were best friends with Jesus.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, He showed us that there is life and resurrection for as long as we believe in Him. There is hope for a new life even if we die but to have this new life we should not only know Jesus. We must also die from our sinfulness and we should be friends with Him as well.
Jesus went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus for only one purpose and that is to bring His friend back to life again. Why? This is for the reason that Jesus wanted them to believe and have faith in Him. Jesus wanted them to know that nothing is impossible for Him, that even death He can mightily defeat.
Jesus’ raising of Lazarus opens our minds to the reality that there’s a new life after our mortal death provided that we are friends with Jesus and provided that we are willing to accept Him as our Lord and savior.
Are you now friends with Jesus and is He already your Lord and Savior? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Mabuting Balita: Juan Juan 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
Noong panahong iyon: Nagpasabi kay Hesus ang mga kapatid na babae ni Lazaro, “Panginoon, ang kaibigan mong minamahal ay may sakit.” Ngunit nang marinig ito ni Hesus ay sinabi niya, “Hindi magwawakas sa kamatayan ang sakit na ito. Nangyari ito upang maparangalan ang Diyos at sa pamamagitan nito’y maparangalan ang Anak ng Diyos.”
Mahal ni Hesus ang magkakapatid na Marta, Maria at Lazaro. Gayunma’y pinaraan pa niya ang dalawang araw matapos mabalitaang may sakit si Lazaro bago sinabi sa kanyang mga alagad, “Magbalik tayo sa Judea.” Pagdating ni Hesus, nalaman niyang apat na araw nang nakalibing si Lazaro. Nang marinig ni Marta na dumarating si Hesus, sinalubong niya ito; ngunit si Maria’y naiwan sa bahay.
Sinabi ni Marta, “Panginoon, kung kayo po’y narito, hindi sana namatay ang aking kapatid. Ngunit nalalaman kong kahit ngayo’y ibibigay sa iyo ng Diyos ang anumang hingin ninyo sa kanya.” “Muling mabubuhay ang iyong kapatid,” wika ni Hesus. Sumagot si Marta, “Nalalaman ko pong siya’y mabubuhay uli sa huling araw, sa muling pagkabuhay.”
Sinabi naman ni Hesus, “Ako ang muling pagkabuhay at ang buhay. Ang nananalig sa akin, kahit mamatay ay muling mabubuhay, at sinumang nabubuhay at nananalig sa akin, kahit mamatay ay mabubuhay kailanman. Pinaniniwalaan mo ba ito?” “Opo, Panginoon!” sagot niya. “Nananalig ako sa inyo. Kayo po ang Anak ng Diyos, ang Mesiyas na inaasahang paparito sa sanlibutan.”
Si Hesus ay napahimutok. “Saan ninyo siya inilibing?” tanong niya. Sumagot sila, “Panginoon, halikayo at tingnan ninyo.” Tumangis si Hesus; kaya’t sinabi ng mga Judio, “Talagang mahal na mahal niya si Lazaro!” Ngunit sinabi ng ilan, “Nakapagpadilat ng bulag ang taong ito. Bakit hindi niya nahadlangan ang pagkamatay ni Lazaro?”
Muling napahimutok si Hesus pagdating sa libingan. Ito’y yungib na natatakpan ng isang bato “Alisin ninyo ang bato,” sabi ni Hesus. Sumagot si Marta, “Panginoon, nangangamoy na po siya ngayon; apat na araw na siyang patay. Sinabi ni Hesus, “Hindi ba sinabi ko sa inyo na kung mananalig ka sa akin ay makikita mo kung gaano kadakila ang Diyos?”
At inalis nila ang bato. Tumingala si Hesus at ang wika, “Ama, nagpapasalamat ako sa iyo, sapagkat dininig mo ako. Alam kong lagi mo akong dinirinig. Ngunit sinabi ko ito dahil sa mga taong nasa paligid ko, upang maniwala silang ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin.” Pagkasabi nito, sumigaw siya, “Lazaro, lumabas ka!” Lumabas nga si Lazaro; napupuluputan ng kayong panlibing ang kanyang mga kamay at paa, at nababalot ng panyo ang kanyang mukha. Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, “Kalagan ninyo siya, at nang makalaya.”
Marami sa mga Judiong dumalaw kay Maria ang nakakita sa ginawa ni Hesus at nanalig sa kanya.
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a
town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he
said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled
at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her “Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in
your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and
will be called Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne
of David his father and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and of his
Kingdom there will be no end.
But Mary said to the angel “How can this be
since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative has also conceived a son in her old age
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren for nothing will be
impossible for God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it
be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What are you going to do if you receive a
shocking announcement? Perhaps the first that would come to your mind is to
pray and ask for guidance and strength from God.
When Mary received the annunciation from
angel Gabriel that she would be pregnant with the baby Jesus. She might have
been in shock for a moment, then right after she perhaps prayed to God for
guidance and strength. After which she was ok and with faith she accepted the
will of the Lord for her.
The pregnancy of the Blessed Virgin Mary
conveys to us that nothing is impossible for God. That God can do miracles as
He did to Mary. It conveys to us that our God is a God of possibilities,
blessings and miracles. Our God can make things happen for us for as long as we
have faith and for as long as we have unwavering belief in Him.
If you somehow feel weariness in your
journey in this world. Do not lose heart, continue to journey with God,
continue to pray, continue to work hard for whatever aspiration that you have
in your heart and continue to have faith and hope. For the Lord will
never abandon those who continue to trust Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did
not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the
Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to
the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
“Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and
they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the
Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know
where he is from.”
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as
he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did
not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I
know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
How courageous are you in your desire to
spread your faith?
In the gospel for today, even if there was
a threat to His life Jesus still secretly went to Judea to attend the Feast of
the Tabernacle. He courageously spoke in the temple area at the risk of His
life. Where does His courage comes from? It originates from His deep passion
for His mission and His oneness with God.
Let us also aspire to have the same
passion and oneness with God. So that we would also have the courage to express
what we want to say on how God has made a big difference in our life. So that
we would be able to face and overcome whatever problems and trials that may
come our way.
A good way to start is to have a regular
time for God. Through our daily readings of his words in the bible, through our
presence at Holy Mass and through our prayers.
If we do these acts of worship and piety
we surely would develop a deep friendship and oneness with Jesus. And the
result is we will have the courage to live His teachings, to share it and even
preach it.
A faithful follower should live and preach
the teachings of Jesus. If he/she can't preach it because not everyone has the
gift of preaching he/she must live it. For this is one of the many marks of a
faithful follower of Jesus.
What kind of follower are you? Are you a follower in name only or a follower in name and in deed? – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nilibot ni Jesus ang Galilea; iniwasan niya ang Judea, sapagkat
ibig siyang patayin ng mga Judio roon. Nalalapit na ang Pista ng mga Tolda,
isang pista ng mga Judio. Pagkaalis ng kanyang mga kapatid, si Jesus ma'y
pumunta rin sa pista, ngunit hindi hayagan.
Sinabi ng
ilang taga-Jerusalem, "Hindi ba ito ang taong gusto nilang patayin? Hayan!
Lantaran siyang nagsasalita, ngunit wala silang sinasabi laban sa kanya! Baka
naman nakilala ng mga pinuno na siya nga ang Mesias! Walang makaaalam kung saan
magmumula ang Mesias pagparito niya, ngunit alam naman natin kung saan nagmula
ang taong ito!"
Kaya't nang
nasa templo si Jesus at nagtuturo, malakas niyang sinabi, "Ako ba'y
nakikilala ninyo? Alam ba ninyo kung saan ako nagmula? Hindi ako naparito sa
ganang akin lamang. Ang Totoo ang siyang nagsugo sa akin, ngunit hindi ninyo
sila nakikilala. Nakikilala ko siya, sapagkat ako'y mula sa kanya, at siya ang
nagsugo sa akin." Tinangka nilang dakpin siya; ngunit walang nangahas,
sapagkat hindi pa niya oras.
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on
my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on
my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You
sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human
testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp, and for
a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater
than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that
I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the
Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor
seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do
not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you
think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But
you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I
know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept
him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not
seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before
the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your
hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he
wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my
words?”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How are you as a witness for Jesus? Do you
live and share His teachings? A good witness for Jesus is someone who walks
with Him all through the seasons of his/her life. What would you get for
witnessing for Jesus?
There would be instances that you would be
ridiculed. It doesn’t matter anyway because everything is worth it for Jesus
including the ridicules and chastisement. You may not immediately see the
fruits of your witnessing for Jesus but in His own perfect time you shall
harvest those fruits.
In our gospel Jesus mentions John the
Baptist who prepared the way for Him. John told those who were acclaiming him
to be the messiah that he was not. He told them that somebody greater is to
come after him and He was none other than Jesus.
John was an effective witness for Jesus
because he did not grab the credit that was only due for the Lord. He was
content to fade away so that Jesus would be highlighted more. With John’s
witness for Jesus we are educated about lessons on witnessing and humility.
That humility is one of the best if not
the best virtue that we could harness so that we can effectively bring and lead
others to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga Judio: "Kung ako lamang ang
nagpapatotoo tungkol sa aking sarili, huwag ninyong tanggapin, ngunit may ibang
nagpapatotoo tungkol sa akin, at totoo ang kanyang sinasabi. Nagpasugo kayo kay
Juan, at nagpatotoo siya tungkol sa katotohanan. Hindi sa kailangan ko ang
patotoo ng tao; sinasabi ko lamang ito para maligtas kayo.
Si Juan ay
parang maningas na ilaw na nagliliwanag noon, at kayo'y sandaling nasiyahan sa
kanyang liwanag. Ngunit may patotoo sa akin na higit sa patotoo ni Juan: ang
mga gawaing ipinagagawa sa akin ng Ama, at siya ko namang ginaganap -- iyan ang
patotoo na ako'y sinugo niya. At ang Amang nagsugo sa akin ay nagpapatotoo rin
tungkol sa akin.
Kailanma'y
hindi ninyo narinig ang kanyang tinig, at nakita ang kanyang anyo. Walang pitak
sa inyong puso ang kanyang salita, sapagkat hindi kayo nananalig sa akin na
sinugo niya. Sinasaliksik ninyo ang Kasulatan, sa paniwalang doon ninyo
matatagpuan ang buhay na walang hanggan. Ang mga ito ang nagpapatotoo tungkol
sa akin, ngunit ayaw naman ninyong lumapit sa akin upang kayo'y magkaroon ng
buhay.
"Hindi
ako naghahangad ng parangal ng mga tao. Ngunit kilala ko kayo; alam kong wala
kayong pag-ibig sa Diyos. Naparito ako sa ngalan ng aking Ama, at ayaw ninyo akong
tanggapin. Kung may ibang pumarito sa kanyang sariling pangalan, siya'y inyong
tatanggapin. Ang hinahangad ninyo'y ang parangal ng isa't isa, at hindi ang
parangal na nanggagaling sa iisang Diyos; paano kayong makapaniniwala?
Huwag ninyong
isiping ako ang magsasakdal sa Ama laban sa inyo; si Moises na inaasahan ninyo
ang siyang maghaharap ng sakdal laban sa inyo. Kung talagang pinaniniwalaan
ninyo si Moises, ako'y paniniwalaan din sana ninyo, sapagkat sumulat siya
tungkol sa akin. Ngunit kung hindi ninyo pinaniniwalaan ang mga sinulat niya,
paano ninyong paniniwalaan ang mga sinasabi ko?"
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at
work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to
kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own
father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen,
amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he
sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father
loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show
him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and
gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the
Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may
honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my
word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to
condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the
hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of
God, and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in
himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he
gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be
amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the
resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection
of condemnation.
“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge
as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the
will of the one who sent me.”
+ + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you believe in the oneness of God the
Father and God the Son?
We can best summarize the first half of
Jesus pronouncements in the gospel as, “Like father like son.” We believe this
because Jesus is the second person in the Trinity. He is the word made flesh
(John 1:14).
Since we look up to Jesus as the founder
and leader of our faith it is without doubt that we are His followers. But are
we worthy followers of Jesus? Yes, we believe His pronouncements in the gospel
about His oneness with the Father. But do we translate this belief or this adherence
to actual actions of faith?
For example, do we extend help if
there’s someone in need? Do we speak the truth when we need to speak the truth?
Do we always embody the great virtue of humility? Do we live what read about
the pronouncements of Jesus?
Do we live the preaching of Jesus? For
example, if a spouse who went ashtray would ask for your forgiveness and wants
to reconcile with you. Will you forgive and reconcile? Or you will already slam
the door and lock it permanently with unforgiveness? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong panahong
iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga Judio: “Ang aking Ama’y patuloy sa paggawa, at
gayun din ako.” Lalong pinagsikapan ng mga Judio na patayin siya, sapagkat
nilabag na niya ang batas tungkol sa Araw ng Pamamahinga ay sinasabi pa niyang
ang Diyos ang kanyang Ama, at sa gayo’y ipinapantay ang sarili sa Diyos.
Kaya’t sinabi
sa kanila ni Hesus, “Dapat ninyong malaman na walang ginagawa ang Anak sa
kanyang sarili lamang; ang ginagawa lamang niya’y ang nakikita niyang ginagawa
ng Ama. Ang ginagawa ng Ama ay siya ring ginagawa ng Anak. Sapagkat minamahal
ng Ama ang Anak, at ipinakikita sa Anak ang lahat ng ginagawa niya.
At higit pa
sa mga ito ang mga gawang ipakikita sa kanya ng Ama at manggigilalas kayo. Kung
paanong binubuhay ng Ama ang mga patay, gayun din naman, bubuhayin ng Anak ang
sinumang nais niyang buhayin. Hindi humahatol kaninuman ang Ama. Ibinigay niya
sa Anak ang buong kapangyarihang humatol upang parangalan ng lahat ang Anak,
tulad ng kanilang pagpaparangal sa Ama. Ang hindi nagpaparangal sa Anak ay
hindi nagpaparangal sa Amang nagsugo sa Anak.
“Sinasabi ko
sa inyo: Ang nakikinig sa aking salita at nananalig sa nagsugo sa akin ay may
buhay na walang hanggan. Hindi na siya hahatulan kundi inilipat na sa buhay
mula sa kamatayan. Tandaan ninyo: darating ang panahon – ngayon na nga – na
maririnig ng mga patay ang tinig ng Anak ng Diyos at ang makinig sa kanya ay
mabubuhay. Ang Ama ang may kapangyarihang magbigay-buhay at ang Anak ay
binigyan niya ng kapangyarihang magbigay-buhay.
Binigyan din
siya ng kapangyarihang humatol sapagkat siya ang Anak ng Tao. Huwag ninyo itong
pagtakhan, sapagkat darating ang oras na maririnig ng mga patay ang kanyang
tinig. Sila’y muling mabubuhay at lalabas sa kinalilibingan nila. Lahat ng
gumawa ng mabuti ay pagkakalooban ng buhay na walang hanggan at lahat ng masama
ay parurusahan.”
“Wala akong
ginagawa sa sarili ko lamang. Humahatol ako ayon sa sinasabi sa akin ng Ama,
kaya’t matuwid ang hatol ko; hindi ang sarili kong kalooban ang aking sinusunod
kundi ang kalooban ng nagsugo sa akin.”
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called
in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill,
blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight
years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long
time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?”
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no
one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way,
someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your
mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews
said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you
to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take
up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it
up and walk’?”
The man who was healed did not know who it
was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this
Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not
sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told
the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews
began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Imagine that Jesus is in front of you and
He tells you this question: “Do you want to be well?” How would you reply?
Of course you will say, Yes, I want to be well! After which Jesus will tell you,
then go humble yourself before me in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then you
tell Jesus some other time Jesus I’m busy right now and then with the passing
of days you eventually forgot about the command of Jesus to go to the Sacrament
of Reconciliation.
Many of us want to get closer to Jesus and
we want to be healed by Jesus. Yet we don’t bother to humbly submit ourselves
to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this sacrament we are healed
from our spiritual sickness brought about by our many sins. And we may not know
it that through the Lords infinite power we are also healed from our many
physical sickness.
When we humble ourselves through this healing sacrament we allow Jesus to wash away all our sins no matter how severe. We entrust
ourselves to the infinite mercy of Jesus. Saint John Paul II once said:
"Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting
ourselves beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God."
The disabled man in our gospel for today
who had been sick for thirty eight years was instantly healed by Jesus because he obeyed His command. The disabled man
did not care if it was a Sabbath day, a day of rest for them. What was
important for him was to obey the command of the Lord. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Nang dumating
ang pagdiriwang ng pista ng mga Judio, pumunta si Hesus sa Jerusalem. Sa
lungsod na ito, malapit sa Pintuan ng mga Tupa, ay may malaking deposito ng
tubig na may limang portiko. Kung tawagin ito sa wikang Hebreo ay Betesda.
Natitipon dito ang maraming maysakit -- mga bulag, mga pilay, at mga
paralitiko. Hinihintay nilang gumalaw ang tubig, sapagkat may panahong bumababa
ang isang anghel ng Panginoon at kinakalawkaw ang tubig.
Ang maunang
lumusong pagkatapos makalawkaw ang tubig ay gumagaling, anuman ang kanyang
karamdaman. Doon ay may isang lalaking tatlumpu't walong taon nang may sakit,
at siya'y nakita ni Hesus. Alam nitong matagal nang may sakit ang lalaki. Tinanong
siya ni Hesus, "Ibig mo bang gumaling?" Sumagot ang maysakit,
"Ginoo, wala pong maglusong sa akin kapag nakalawkaw na ang tubig; patungo
pa lamang ako roon ay may nauuna na sa akin."
Sinabi sa
kanya ni Jesus, "Tumindig ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan, at lumakad
ka." At pagdaka'y gumaling ang lalaki, dinala ang kanyang higaan, at
lumakad. Noo'y Araw ng Pamamahinga. Kaya't sinabi ng mga Judio sa lalaking
pinagaling, "Araw ng Pamamahinga ngayon! Labag sa Kautusan na dalhin mo
ang iyong higaan." Ngunit sumagot siya, "Ang nagpagaling sa akin ang
nagsabing dalhin ko ang aking higaan at lumakad ako."
At siya'y
tinanong nila, "Sino ang nagsabi sa iyong dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at
lumakad ka?" Ngunit hindi nakilala ng lalaki kung sino ang nagpagaling sa
kanya, sapagkat nawala na si Hesus sa karamihan ng tao. Pagkatapos, nakita ni
Hesus sa loob ng templo ang lalaki at sinabihan, "Magaling ka na ngayon!
Huwag ka nang magkakasala at baka may mangyari sa iyo na lalo pang
masama." Umalis ang lalaki at sinabi sa mga Judio na si Hesus ang
nagpagaling sa kanya. Dahil dito, si Jesus ay sinimulang usigin ng mga Judio,
sapagkat nagpagaling siya sa Araw ng Pamamahinga.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the
husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ
came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband,
since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to
divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the
Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and
you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took
his wife into his home.
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Reflection:
Can you imagine what would have happened
if Saint Joseph did not cooperate with the plan of God? For example, if he
pursued his plan to quietly divorce the Blessed Mother. What would have
happened then?
But in his humility and docility Joseph
listened to God, thus he discontinued his plan to quietly divorce Mary. He
instead brought her home to shield her from public scandal. Such is Joseph a
Godly man, a man who valued the voice of God dearly. Saint Joseph did not only
assume his responsibility, he also ensured that his family would be protected
from any harm.
When He was told by an angel to bring his
family to Egypt because of the threat against Jesus he brought them to
Egypt (Matthew 2:13). When he was told once again by the angel that
they could now safely return to Israel he did so without asking any
question (Matthew 2:20).
Let us be inspired by the life of Saint
Joseph: His humility, his willingness to listen to the voice of God. His
unconditional love and protection for his wife and child. His character of
being a responsible spouse and parent.
Let us therefore reflect on how we carry
out our roles as parents most especially as a father and spouse. Do we listen
to the voice of God who at all times tell us to be a good father. Good father
means that we give more time to our children because this is how it must be for
them to be properly guided as they grow up.
Many fathers today hardly have time for
their children but they can create time for their social media exposure. Many
fathers today find it difficult to find precious time for their wives but they
have time for their friends.
Saint Joseph is reminding us to straighten
up our priorities which is no other than our respective families. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Si Jacob ang
ama ni Jose na asawa ni Maria. Si Maria naman ang ina ni Jesus na tinatawag na
Cristo.
Ganito ang
pagkapanganak kay Jesu-Cristo. Si Maria na kanyang ina at si Jose ay nakatakda
nang pakasal. Ngunit bago sila nakasal, si Maria'y natagpuang nagdadalang-tao.
Ito'y sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Isang taong matuwid itong si Jose na
kanyang magiging asawa, ngunit ayaw niyang mapahiya si Maria, kaya ipinasiya
niyang hiwalayan ito nang lihim.
Samantalang
iniisip ni Jose ito, napakita sa kanya sa panaginip ang isang anghel ng
Panginoon. Sabi nito sa kanya, "Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na
tuluyang pakasalan si Maria, sapagkat siya'y naglihi sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu
Santo. Manganganak siya ng isang lalaki at ito’y pangangalanan mong Hesus,
sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang bayan sa kanilang mga kasalanan.”
Nang magising
si Jose, sinunod niya ang utos ng anghel ng Panginoon.
