Mga Salita na Puno ng Aral at Karunungan - 16

 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 19, Biyernes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:20-23a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:20-23

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tatangis kayo at magdadalamhati, ngunit magagalak ang sanlibutan. Matitigib kayo ng kalungkutan, subalit ito'y magiging kagalakan. Kapag nagdaramdam na ang isang babaing manganganak, siya'y nahahapis, sapagkat dumating na ang oras ng kanyang paghihirap. 

Ngunit pagkapanganak, hindi na niya naaalaala ang hirap; siya'y nagagalak dahil sa ipinanganak na sa sanlibutan ang isang sanggol. Gayon din naman kayo: nalulumbay kayo ngayon, ngunit muli akong makikipagkita sa inyo at mag-uumapaw sa puso ninyo ang kagalakang hindi maaagaw ninuman.

"Hindi na kayo kailangang magtanong sa akin sa araw na iyon. " Tandaan ninyo: anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay ibibigay niya sa inyo.

Reflection for May 18, Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:16-20

Gospel: John 16:16-20

(Jesus said to his disciples) “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 

So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

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Reflection:

It’s always heartbreaking when somebody permanently say goodbye to us most especially if they’re very close to us. Tears will flow like a stream and our life will never be the same anymore because a deep void has been created by that person who left us.

Jesus is mysteriously saying His goodbye to the disciples and they could not understand it. They were puzzled and somewhat melancholy. But then Jesus is also saying to them that you will be seeing me soon after also.  

Unlike the permanent goodbye of a friend or relative, Jesus’ goodbye is temporary. He comes back to us the moment we sought Him back again. Actually it’s not Jesus who leaves us; it’s us (by way of our sinfulness) who run away from HIM. This occurs when we purposely forget HIM to embrace sin.

But why do we embrace sin knowing that it will only give us nothing but problems? Perhaps we think that we could escape the consequence of our sins. But it has been proven time and again that we always pay for our sinfulness whomever we are. It may take time but certainly we will pay, there’s no free ride in this world most especially in matters of sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 17, Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:12 - 15

Gospel: John 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples, I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. 

He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

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Reflection:

How can we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life? We need to live our lives according to how Jesus wants us to live it based on the commandments of love (Luke 10:27). Everything starts from following these commandments and the moment we follow and live it, we would have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.   

Therefore we must learn to live Jesus’ commandments of love. But do we live these love commandments of the Lord? Are we not selective when we give our love? For example, the command of Jesus pertaining to love of our neighbor, it’s so easy to follow this when the person is loving us in return. But when the person is hurting us it’s now very difficult for us to give our love. The challenge for us is to love even more those who are not loving us in return. 

The situation is basically the same on how we express our love for God. For many of us God is easier to love when HE answers all our prayers. But when HE doesn’t answer our prayers it’s sometimes difficult for us to express our love for God.  The challenge therefore for all of us is to  love God and neighbor in good times and in bad. 

Do we have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life? If our answer is no, we must start to follow Jesus’ commandments of love. Not according to how we want to follow it but according to how Jesus wants us to follow and live it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 16, Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:5-11

Gospel: John 16:5-11

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. 

But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

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Reflection:

Departures are always filled with sorrow, for example a loved one or a dear friend who dies. Or somebody close to our hearts whom we would not be seeing for so many years. These kinds of scenarios are heart wrenching and always filled with tears and grief. However, this is only physical disconnection the memories and the good things will always remain.   

In our gospel for today Jesus is slowly disconnecting Himself from HIS disciples (Now I am going to the one who sent me, John 16:5). This disconnection is only physical in nature because God the Holy Spirit would be upon them soon. 

It’s a fact of life that we will be leaving this world permanently. We don’t know when will it be but we will be leaving this world for sure. Do you want to permanently carve a permanent dwelling in the hearts of those who know you? Then, always do good and be like Jesus. 

More than two thousand years had passed since Jesus walked on this earth yet Jesus is still in our hearts. Why? For the reason that HE did good all the time, HE helped the poor, HE was the personification of simplicity, humility and kindness. 

We only exist once in this world, let us live like Jesus lived. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

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

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

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