Jesus said to his disciples: “As the
Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my
commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commandments and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy might
be in you and your joy might be complete.”
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Reflection:
What makes marriage last forever? It’s
love! Not love according to the meaning of this world but love according to the
love of Jesus. Unfortunately, many of us express our love according to
this world. Not the kind of love that Jesus mentions to us in the gospel.
Otherwise, if the love that binds a couple
together in the sacrament of marriage is like the love of Jesus. There would be
no divorce or separation amongst couples.
The word love has been devalued by the
people of this modern world. Who is the culprit? No other than us! We have
lowered to the gutter the word love because we’ve not been faithful to Jesus
this is also the reason why we don’t feel the love of Jesus.
Let us go back and revisit the meaning of
love as Jesus meant it to be in the sacrament of Marriage.
Here goes: For better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "Kung paanong iniibig ako ng Ama, gayon din naman,
iniibig ko kayo; manatili kayo sa aking pag-ibig; Kung tinutupad ninyo ang
aking mga utos, mananatili kayo sa aking pag-ibig; tulad ko, tinutupad ko ang
mga utos ng aking Ama at ako'y nananatili sa kanyang pag-ibig.
"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay
na ito upang makahati kayo sa kagalakan ko at malubos ang inyong
kagalakan."
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the
true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me
that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears
more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its
own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will
bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me will be
thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them
into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in
you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my
Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
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Reflection:
What is the meaning of life without Jesus?
Nothing its pure emptiness it’s like you are chasing for something that doesn’t
exist. What then is the meaning of life with Jesus? With Jesus in your life you
exist with a purpose in this world. You may not have the worldly riches and
power which by the way cannot give you real peace and contentment.
However, to journey with Jesus in this
world is not all walk in the park. There would be hardship and to some extent
persecution every now and then. But we have nothing to worry, if God is with us
who can be against us?
In today’s gospel Jesus tells us
that HE is the true vine, and His Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1). What
does this statement of Jesus tells us? Being the true vine we must always
choose to be attached to HIM. We should not attach ourselves with anything that
is worldly and anything that would only make us sin.
We should always have a vision as we exist
in this world and this vision is heavenward. Therefore, it’s very important for
us to always be connected with the true vine and the vine dresser, nobody else
but Jesus and God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "Ako ang tunay na puno ng ubas at ang aking Ama ang
tagapag-alaga. Pinuputol niya ang bawat sangang hindi namumunga; at kanya
namang pinuputulan at nililinis ang bawat sangang namumunga upang lalong dumami
ang bunga.
Nalinis na kayo sa pamamagitan ng
salitang sinabi ko sa inyo. Manatili kayo sa akin at mananatili ako sa inyo.
Hindi makapamumunga ang sangang hindi nananatiling nakakabit sa puno. Gayon din
naman, hindi kayo makapamumunga kung hindi kayo mananatili sa akin.
"Ako ang puno ng ubas, kayo ang mga
sanga. Ang nananatili sa akin, at ako sa kanya, ang siyang namumunga ng sagana;
sapagkat wala kayong magagawa kung kayo'y hiwalay sa akin.
Ang hindi nananatili sa akin ay itatapon
at matutuyo, gaya ng sanga. Ang gayong mga sanga ay titipunin at susunugin.
Kung nananatili kayo sa akin at nananatili sa inyo ang mga salita ko, hingin
ninyo ang inyong maibigan, at ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Napararangalan ang Ama kung
kayo'y namumunga nang sagana at sa gayo'y napatutunayang mga alagad ko kayo.
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
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni
Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kapayapaan ang iniiwan ko sa inyo. Ang aking
kapayapaan ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo; hindi ito katulad ng ibinibigay ng sanlibutan.
Huwag kayong mabalisa; huwag kayong matakot. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, 'Ako'y
aalis, ngunit babalik ako.' Kung iniibig ninyo ako, ikagagalak ninyo ang
pagpunta ko sa Ama, sapagkat dakila ang Ama kaysa akin.
Sinasabi ko na ito sa inyo bago
pa mangyari upang kung mangyari na, kayo'y manalig sa akin. Hindi na ako
pakahahaba ng pagsasalita sa inyo, sapagkat dumarating na ang pinuno ng
sanlibutang ito. Wala siyang kapangyarihan sa akin, subalit dapat makilala ng
sanlibutan na iniibig ko ang Ama at ang ginagawa ko'y ang iniuutos niya sa
akin."
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
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "Ang tumatanggap sa mga utos ko at tumutupad nito ang
siyang umiibig sa akin. Ang umiibig sa akin ay iibigin ng aking Ama; iibigin ko
rin siya, at ako'y lubusang magpapakilala sa kanya." Tinanong siya ni
Judas hindi ang Iscariote, "Panginoon, bakit po sa amin lamang kayo
magpapakilala nang lubusan at hindi sa sanlibutan?"
Sumagot si Jesus, "Ang umiibig sa
akin ay tutupad ng aking mga salita; iibigin siya ng aking ama, at kami'y
sasakanya at mananahan sa kanya. Ang hindi umiibig sa akin ay hindi tumutupad
sa aking mga salita. Hindi akin ang salitang narinig ninyo, kundi sa Amang
nagsugo sa akin.
"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay
na ito samantalang kasama pa ninyo ako. Ngunit ang Patnubay, ang Espiritu Santo
na susuguin ng Ama sa pangalan ko, ang siyang magtuturo sa inyo ng lahat ng
bagay at magpapaalaala ng lahat ng sinabi ko sa inyo.
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
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "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 sumasa-akin.
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 hingin 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."
