Mga Salita na Puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 15

 

Reflection for Sunday May 14, Sixth Sunday of Easter: John 14:15-21

Gospel: John 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. 

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a wife who would always tell her husband that she loves him, her expression of love does not end by her vocal profession. She follows it up by actual acts of love, say for example by being a good mother and wife.

 As the wife continues to do these noble acts their love and marriage would surely flourish. And it would perpetually be blessed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus promised the disciples an advocate, who would always be there for them; that will be there to help and guide them. But for the advocate to be with them, the disciples must show their love for God by propagating the Lord’s teachings and by living HIS commandments. Therefore there is no fulfillment of the promise of the advocate without the disciples’ obedience and actual acts of love.

It’s very easy for us to profess that we love Jesus, but do we really love Jesus? For example, we say we love Jesus but we choose to turn a blind eye to someone in need of our help. Or we continue to engage with sin. Where is then the concrete action of our love for God?

For our love for Jesus to grow and bear fruit we have to nurture it with actual acts of love. We have to share Jesus and we have to become a living Jesus for others so that through us they will know Jesus.

As we do these noble acts we at the same time allow the Holy Spirit to come to us and we give it space to move freely within us. We therefore do good all the time and this we do not do by our singular actions. We do this because the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do it.

Do you want to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 14, Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:15-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:15-21

Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Kung iniibig ninyo ako, tutuparin ninyo ang aking mga utos. Dadalangin ako sa Ama, at kayo’y bibigyan niya ng isa pang Patnubay na magiging kasama ninyo magpakailanman. Ito’y ang Espiritu ng katotohanan, na hindi matanggap ng sanlibutan sapagkat hindi siya nakikita ni nakikilala ng sanlibutan. Ngunit nakikilala ninyo siya, sapagkat siya’y sumasainyo at nananahan sa inyo.

“Hindi ko kayo iiwang nangungulila; babalik ako sa inyo. Kaunting panahon na lamang at hindi na ako makikita ng sanlibutan. Ngunit ako’y makikita ninyo; sapagkat mabubuhay ako, at mabubuhay rin kayo. Malalaman ninyo sa araw na yaon na ako’y sumasa-Ama, kayo’y sumasaakin, at ako’y sumasainyo. “Ang tumatanggap sa mga utos ko at tumutupad nito and siyang umiibig sa akin. Ang umiibig sa akin ay iibigin ng aking Ama; iibigin ko rin siya, at ako’y lubusang magpapakilala sa kanya.”

Reflection for May 13, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:18-21

Gospel: John 15:18-21

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

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

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Reflection:

How can we be hated by this world? We would be hated by this world when we don’t conform to its many dictates. For example, when we avoid the company of those people who do no good. What they always do is to satisfy their cravings for this world even if it makes them sin. They would slowly label us as killjoy or somebody who doesn’t belong to this world. If this is the case then by all means let us not be afraid to be hated by this world. 

What does this world offer us? Happiness, riches, sin, sickness and after which it offers us death. And after death or even while we are sick this world will not anymore matter to us what will matter now is our faith and love for Jesus. What if we have no faith, we don’t love Jesus and we perpetually commit sin while we are in this world? 

Jesus discourse with HIS disciples is an eye opener for all of us, for it gives us insights about the mind of Jesus. HIS mind is not conformed to this world as how the mindset of many of us are conditioned to this world. 

Jesus teachings are always contradicting the dictates of this world and this is hard to accept for many of us. Why? For the reason that we are starting to love this world more than we love Jesus. And this is very dangerous, what will happen to us if we love this world more than we love Jesus? What will happen to us if our joy and happiness are all based in this world? 

We walk on this world without fear of God thus we become barren and empty. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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

Gospel: John 15:12-17

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

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

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Reflection:              

What would happen if the love of Jesus is present in the family?

There would be no conflict, no arrogance, no dominant behavior and no abrasive behavior. There would only be forgiveness, humility and love. All of these factors would be present because of the presence of the love of Jesus.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gospel: John 15:9-11

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

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

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Reflection:

What 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 

Reflection for May 10, Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:1-8

Gospel: John 15:1-8

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

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 

Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

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Reflection:

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   

Reflection for May 9, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:27-31a

Gospel: John 14:27-31a

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

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

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Reflection:

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

Reflection for May 8, Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:21-26

Gospel: John 14:21-26

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 

Reflection for Sunday May 7, Fifth Sunday of Easter: John 14:1-12

Gospel: John 14:1-12

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  

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 7, Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:1-12

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.

Reflection for May 6, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 14:7-14

Gospel: John 14:7-14

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

Words of Wisdom - 12

 

Mga Kawikaan at Kasabihan ng Puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 14