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

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 17, Miyerkules sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:12 - 15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:12 – 15

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Marami pa akong sasabihin sa inyo, ngunit hindi pa ninyo kayang unawain ngayon. Pagdating ng Espiritu ng katotohanan, tutulungan niya kayo upang maunawaan ang buong katotohanan. 

Sapagkat magsasalita siya hindi sa ganang kanyang sarili; sasabihin niya sa inyo ang kanyang narinig, at ipapahayag ang mga bagay na darating. Pararangalan niya ako, sapagkat sa akin magmumula ang ipapahayag niya sa inyo. Ang lahat ng sa Ama ay akin; kaya ko sinabing sa akin magmumula ang ipapahayag niya sa inyo."

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      

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 16, Martes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:5 -11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:5-11

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ngayo'y paroroon na ako sa nagsugo sa akin. Wala isa man sa inyong nagtatanong sa akin kung saan ako pupunta. At ngayong sabihin ko sa inyo, natigib kayo ng kalungkutan. Ngunit dapat ninyong malaman ang katotohanan: ang pag-alis ko'y sa ikabubuti ninyo, sapagkat hindi paparito sa inyo ang patnubay kung hindi ako aalis. 

Ngunit kung umalis ako, susuguin ko siya sa inyo. Pagdating niya ay kanyang patutunayan sa mga tao sa sanlibutan na mali ang pagkakilala nila sa kasalanan, at ipakikilala niya kung ano ang matuwid, at kung ano ang kahatulan. Mali sila tungkol sa kasalanan, sapagkat hindi sila nanalig sa akin; tungkol sa matuwid, sapagkat ako'y paroroon sa Ama at hindi na ninyo makikita; tungkol sa kahatulan, sapagkat hinatulan na ang pinuno ng sanlibutang ito."

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."