Reflection for May 15, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 15:26-16:4a

Gospel: John 15:26—16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.                                                          

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

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Reflection:               

What strengthens your resolve to continue to move on with your life? It’s your prayerful connection with God and Jesus. Your prayerful connection to both God and Jesus inspires you and gives you hope whenever you are down and weary. 

Through your connection with God and Jesus you are given the gift of discerning the presence of the advocate or the Holy Spirit within your midst. For this reason, you have to have regular connection with God and Jesus. For both of them are facilitators of the presence of the advocate within your life. 

In the gospel, Jesus mentioned to the disciples the advocate whom He will send to them courtesy of His Father (John 15:26). The advocate will continue to inspire them to be steadfast in their mission no matter the difficulties that they may encounter. It will protect them from dangers and it will lead them to do what is right. 

We too can have an awareness of the presence of the advocate or the Holy Spirit if we are always connected with the Lord. And how could we have a connection with the Lord? We have to be prayerful.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 15, Lunes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:26-16:4a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:26-16:4a

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ngunit ang Patnubay, ang Espiritu ng Katotohan, ang paparito mula sa Ama. Susuguin ko siya sa inyo buhat sa Ama, at siya ang magpapatotoo tungkol sa akin. At magpapatotoo rin kayo tungkol sa akin, sapagkat sa pasimula pa'y kasama ko na kayo. 

"Sinasabi ko ito sa inyo upang huwag kayong mawalan ng pananalig sa akin. Palalayasin nila kayo sa mga sinagoga. Darating ang panahon na ang sinumang pumatay sa inyo ay mag-aakalang naglilingkod siya sa Diyos. At gagawin nila ito sapagkat hindi nila ako nakikilala ni ang Ama. Ito'y sinasabi ko sa inyo upang, pagdating ng oras na gawin nila, maalaala ninyong ipinagpauna ko na ito sa inyo." 

Inspirational Quotes and Words of Wisdom - 13

 

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

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 13, Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:18-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:18-21

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kung napopoot sa inyo ang sanlibutan, dapat ninyong malamang napoot na ito sa akin bago sa inyo. Kung kayo nga'y sa sanlibutan, iibigin kayo nito bilang kanya. Ngunit yamang hindi kayo sa sanlibutan, kundi pinili ko kayo mula rito, ito'y napopoot sa inyo.  

Alalahanin ninyo ang sinabi ko sa inyo: walang aliping higit kaysa kanyang panginoon. Kung ako'y inusig nila, uusigin din nila kayo; kung tinupad nila ang aking salita tutuparin din nila ang salita ninyo. Ngunit ang lahat ng ito'y gagawin nila sa inyo dahil sa akin, sapagkat hindi nila nakikilala ang nagsugo sa akin."

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

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 12, Biyernes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:12-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:12-17

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ito ang aking utos: mag-ibigan kayo gaya ng pag-ibig ko sa inyo. Walang pag-ibig na hihigit pa sa pag-ibig ng isang taong nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay para sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Kayo'y mga kaibigan ko kung tinutupad ninyo ang mga utos ko. 

Hindi ko na kayo inaaring alipin, sapagkat hindi alam ng alipin ang ginagawa ng kanyang Panginoon. Sa halip, inaari ko kayong mga kaibigan, sapagkat sinabi ko sa inyo ang lahat ng narinig ko sa aking Ama. Hindi kayo ang pumili sa akin; ako ang pumili at humirang sa inyo upang kayo'y humayo at mamunga, at manatili ang inyong bunga. Sa gayon, ang anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Ito ang iniuutos ko sa inyo: mag-ibigan kayo."

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 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 11, Huwebes sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:9-11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-11

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."

 

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   

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 10, Miyerkules sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:1-8

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.