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:
The story is told about an ambitious young
man who thought that he would have a peaceful life the moment he becomes rich. So,
he worked hard to become rich but the more that he becomes richer by the day
the more that his life was mired with pressure and problems.
Peace of mind is something that we all
desire for our lives. But somehow the more that we want peace the more that it
becomes elusive for us. Why is this so? This is for the reason that many
of us have a wrong idea on how to have peace in our lives.
Where can we find peace? We can find this
elusive peace only in Jesus. We will not be able to find this peaceful
feeling in accumulating the riches and power of this world. No matter how rich
we are and no matter how powerful we are we will have no peace. Why? For the
simple reason that we seek peace in the wrong direction and things.
We have to be aware that true peace is
something that only Jesus can give us. Nobody can give it to us except Jesus
alone. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever
has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me
will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you
will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we
will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does
not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who
sent me.
"I have told you this while I am with
you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name— he
will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
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Reflection:
The story is told about a couple who always
go to Sunday Mass to fulfill their Sunday obligation. While at church they look
pious and devoted to the faith. However when they go home their other side
which is their real personality is suddenly revealed. They shout at their maid,
they yell at their kids and they act like dictators in their house.
Do they really love God? I don’t think so,
their love for God is superficial and is limited inside the four walls of their
church.
In the gospel Jesus says: “Whoever loves
me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Certainly Jesus and God the Father the first two persons of the trinity have
not revealed themselves to this couple.
Jesus further states: “Whoever loves me
will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our dwelling with him.”
Sometimes it’s very hard for many of us to
understand the mystery of the oneness of God and Jesus simply because we are
not true to our faith. What we hear and learn in the church during the Priest sermon/homily
just comes in and out in our ears. Many of us don’t live and give substance to
our faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."
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Reflection:
The story is told about a man who would always be troubled whenever he would see on TV news about massive wars and killings like what is happening in Ukraine. He would always ask himself, is the end of the world coming? Like this man we all have our own worries and fears, for example we worry about how we could sustain the future of our children. We worry about money, about the future and it seems that we are never running out of worries to think of in this world.
But have we thought of God in the midst of our worries? Have we thought of just telling Jesus, take care of my worries and fears whatever it may be?
We are very much bothered by our troubles in this world because we never trust Jesus that much and our faith in Jesus is lacking. What we do instead is to trust in ourselves and have faith in ourselves. This is the reason why we are bothered by our worldly troubles.
Why don’t we try to let go and let God? We let go of our worries and let God take control of everything? For example if you’re being bothered by a sickness, family problem or a personal problem. Start to slowly let go of those worries and pains, then raise everything up to God, learn to trust and have faith in the powerful name of Jesus.
In our gospel for this Sunday Jesus gives us an antidote for our worries and fears HE tells us: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me (John 14:1).
Sometimes we seek to discover things that we think will make us happy only to realize that it won’t and we keep on looking for it until we feel empty and broken. To avoid this from happening we must rediscover the important role of Jesus in our life and we have to trust Jesus with our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyag mga alagad: "Huwag kayong mabalisa; manalig kayo sa Diyos at manalig din kayo sa akin. Sa bahay ng aking Ama ay maraming silid; kung hindi gayon, sinabi ko na sana sa inyo. At paroroon ako upang ipaghanda ko kayo ng matitirhan. Kapag naroroon na ako at naipaghanda na kayo ng matitirhan, babalik ako at isasama kayo sa kinaroroonan ko. at alam na ninyo ang daan patungo sa pupuntahan ko."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas, "Panginoon, hindi po namin alam kung saan kayo pupunta, paano namin malalaman ang daan?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe, "Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe! Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa Ama. Bakit mo sinasabing: 'Ipakita mo sa amin ang Ama'? Hindi ka ba naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?
Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin: ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin. Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi ko, maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako sa Ama.
Jesus said to
his disciples: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on
you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the
Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with
you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has
seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak
to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his
works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else,
believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I
say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do
greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask
in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
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Reflection:
Do you
believe this pronouncement of Jesus that He is one with God? Of course you do,
then what’s next after believing? Next after believing is to put into concrete
actions what you believe.
Belief only
is not enough, you have to translate this into living faith. Faith that is seen
though your deeds, because if you only say that you believe. Yet you don’t
translate your belief into actual acts of mercy and compassion, then it’s
empty.
Jesus in our
gospel tells us, “Whoever believes in me will do the things that I do (John
14:12).” Let us pause and reflect if we are able to somehow measure up to this
challenge by Jesus. Are you doing the works of Jesus? Do you help someone in
need? Do you always say words that heal a broken person? Or you are quick to
throw judgment and condemnation?
It’s so
easy to say, I believe in the oneness of Jesus and God. Yet we are
always challenged by Jesus to always prove it by our words and actions. -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let
your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my
Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have
told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I
am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to
him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the
way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.”
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Reflection:
Do you want to find meaning in your life?
It may seem that life is just routine. Wake up in the
morning, go to work or work from home and end the day, then the next morning we
do the same once again. As if we live like robots in this world; there is no
clear path that would point us to something meaningful and
profound.
In our gospel for today Jesus gives us a revelation on
how to have a meaningful and profound life amidst the many disturbances thrown at
us by this world. Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” What does this
statement of Jesus represent to us? Does this impel us to hunger for Him daily?
Or there is no effect at all and there’s no feeling of urgency to know more
about the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the
life. He was ingeniously telling His disciples to follow Me and you’ll know the
truth about life. That the true meaning of life has nothing to do with anything
of this present world. What you cling now in this world is nothing compared to
what you’ll receive if only you would decide to faithfully follow me. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet,
he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this,
blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the
Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel
against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it
happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives
the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent
me.”
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Reflection:
What is the weakness of many followers of Jesus? It’s
to act and behave as if they are bigger than Jesus. This is the failing of many
who are followers of Jesus. But a true follower doesn’t aspire to become
somebody, doesn’t aspire to raise himself in the pedestal of prominence.
He/she is simply content to become a nobody in the
vast ocean of humanity who follow Jesus. He/she works tirelessly and silently
with the end in mind that he/she has to advance the teachings and
goodness of Jesus in this world.
In the gospel, Jesus washed His disciple’s feet. Was
the washing of His disciples feet a simple ritual done by Jesus? Or there was a
silent message for His disciples and for us as well. What lies beneath the act
of washing His disciple’s feet is the message of humility. For they would not
be productive in their mission without humility. And they would not be able to
attract others to the faith without humility.
If we say that we are followers of Jesus it is also
expected that we would be humble at all times. Never arrogant, never
overbearing but always humble even if others are not. For the virtue of
humility is what separates true followers from fake and fair-weather followers
of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you
know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and
have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will
be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so
long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen
the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not
speak on my own.
The Father
who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen,
I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do
greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask
in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
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Reflection:
Do you want
to know God? You first have to know Jesus for it’s only through Jesus that you
will know God. But how would you know Jesus? Prayer should be an integral part
of your lifestyle. And you have to ask Jesus to give you the grace of knowing
Him deeper and the grace of having a personal relationship with Him.
How else would we have a personal encounter with
Jesus? We have to read His life in the bible we have to attend Holy Mass most
especially during Sundays. And then whatever we learn about Jesus we have to
live and share.
It’s usually through Jesus that we would have an
awareness of the presence of God the Father in our life. For Jesus is the
gateway to knowing more about God and through Jesus our eyes will be opened to
the many truths about our faith.
Do you want to know the way, do you want to know the
many real truths about life and do you want to find the real meaning of your
life? You have to ask Jesus and you have to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten
you more about Jesus.
To have Jesus is to have life, to have Jesus is to
find the real way that leads to peace and contentment. To have Jesus is to
discover the real meaning of life a life that is very much different from the
life that this world is forcing us to accept.
In our gospel, Jesus tells Thomas and us too, “I am
the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know
him and have seen him (John 14:6-7).”
Would you invest some of your precious time to know
more about Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus kay
Juan, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa
Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang
aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe,
"Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na
kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe!
Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa
Ama.
Bakit mo sinasabing: 'Ipakita mo sa akin
ang Ama?' Hindi ka ba naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?
Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang
Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin:
ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin.
Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi
ko, maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig
sa akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako
sa Ama. At anumang hilingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay gagawin ko, upang
maparangalan ang Ama sa pamamagitan ng Anak. Gagawin ko ang anumang hihilingin
ninyo sa pangalan ko."
The feast of the Dedication was taking
place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on
the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How
long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us
plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you
do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do
not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know
them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given
them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s
hand. The Father and I are one.”
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Reflection:
How can we make others believe in Jesus as
our Messiah/Savior? We have to share our faith in Jesus and we have to live His
teachings. For example, if we say that we follow Jesus what comes after
that is an honest to goodness self-examination about ourselves. Are we humble?
Are we forgiving? Are we simple? Do we live and practice the faith?
In our gospel for this Tuesday, the Jews
gathered around Jesus and they said to HIM, "How long will you keep us in
suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly (John 10:24)." They’re
obviously unbelievers/non-followers, yes they know Jesus but they don’t believe
in Jesus.
From the time of Jesus let us fast forward
today; our present technology driven times. Many are still unbelievers today,
yes they know Jesus but it ends there. There’s no personal encounter and
relationship with Jesus and there’s no living faith in Jesus. What are we going
to do about this?
The challenge before us all is so plain
and so simple, we have to learn to share and live our faith in Jesus. So that
those who don’t believe will now believe, those who don’t know Jesus will know
Jesus and those who don’t have faith will now have faith. Why? Because we dared
to share and live our faith in the Lord.
Would you share and live your faith in
Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
