Reflection for Friday May 26, Saint Philip Neri, Priest (M): John 21:15-19

Gospel: John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs. 

He then said to Simon Peter a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep. He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time “Do you love me?” and he said to him “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. 

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, Follow me.

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Reflection:

Do you love me? Jesus asked Simon Peter three times this question. How deep is your love for the Lord? Would you be willing to handle the responsibility that He will be giving you? Love is not love unless you’re willing to sacrifice something, unless you’re willing to handle a responsibility to prove that love. 

Simon Peter failed in His test of love for Jesus when he denied Jesus three times. He could have stood for Jesus but Peter was afraid to lose his life, Peter was afraid to sacrifice his very life for Jesus. That’s why he denied Jesus three times. At that moment when Simon Peter denied Jesus Peter gave more importance to his own survival than his love for his Lord and Master. 

However, even if Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus still profoundly loved him. Jesus knew of the human frailties of Peter, Jesus knew that when the going gets tough Peter would deny Him. Yet He still loved Peter, Peter's denial of Jesus did not diminish Jesus love for him. This is the reason why at the end of the gospel Jesus called Peter to follow Him. 

We too should remember that Jesus loves us very much notwithstanding our shortcomings and sinfulness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Biyernes Mayo 26, San Felipe Neri, pari (Paggunita): Juan 21:15-19

Mabuting Balita: Juan 21:15-19

Nang muling napakita si Hesus sa mga alagad niya at nang makakain sila, tinanong ni Jesus si Simon Pedro, "Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako nang higit kaysa mga ito?" "Opo, Panginoon, nalalaman ninyong iniibig ko kayo," tugon niya. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Pakanin mo ang aking mga batang tupa." 

Muli siyang tinanong ni Jesus, "Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako?" Sumagot si Pedro, "Opo, Panginoon, nalalaman ninyong iniibig ko kayo." Ani Jesus, "Pangalagaan mo ang aking mga tupa." Pangatlong ulit na tinanong siya ni Jesus, "Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako?" Nalungkot si Pedro sapagkat makaitlo siyang tinanong: "Iniibig mo ba ako?" At sumagot siya, "Panginoon, nalalaman po ninyo ang lahat ng bagay; nalalaman ninyong iniibig ko kayo." 

Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Pakanin mo ang aking mga tupa. Tandaan mo: noong kabataan mo pa, ikaw ang nagbibihis sa iyong sarili at lumalakad ka kung saan mo ibig. Ngunit pagtanda mo, iuunat mo ang iyong kamay at iba ang magbibihis sa iyo at dadalhin ka kung saan hindi mo ibig." Sinabi niya ito upang ipakilala kung papaano mamamatay si Pedro at sa gayo'y mapararangalan niya ang Diyos. Pagkatapos, sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Sumunod ka sa akin!"

Reflection for May 25, Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:20-26

Gospel: John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.   

And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me.  

I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you but I know you, and they know that you sent me I made known to them your name and I will make it known that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who engaged herself to caring for the poor in her community. She did this out of her concern for them, funds were hard to come by at times. Yet she was able to feed and nourish them because she believed that Jesus would always be there for her.  

We can always lean on Jesus all the time. He is always there ever ready to help us. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His very life for us on the cross. By doing so Jesus completed the mission that was given to Him by God. For our sake God gave the life of His only begotten son.  

God is never absent in our life no matter who we are, no matter what we are going through and no matter the sins that we have done. He is always there ever ready to listen to us. God manifested Himself to us through Jesus so that we can reach out to Him anytime.  

Yet, there is also a responsibility that rest upon our shoulders. And this responsibility is to pay forward this infinite love of God. For the reason that our faith in God is never complete and it will never grow and mature unless we learn to share it.  

Have you already shared your faith? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 25, Huwebes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:20-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:20-26

Noong panahong iyon, tumingala si Hesus at nanalangin, “Amang banal, hindi lamang ang aking mga alagad idinadalangin ko, kundi pati ang mga mananalig sa akin dahil sa kanilang pahayag. Maging isa nawa silang lahat, Ama. Kung paanong ikaw ay nasa akin at ako'y nasa iyo, gayun din naman, maging isa sila sa atin upang maniwala ang sanlibutan na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin. 

Ang karangalang ibinigay mo sa akin ay ibinigay ko sa kanila upang sila'y maging ganap na isa, gaya nating iisa; ako'y nasa kanila at ikaw ay nasa akin, upang lubusan silang maging isa. At sa gayon, makikilala ng sanlibutan na sinugo mo ako, at sila'y inibig mo katulad ng pag-ibig mo sa akin."

"Ama, nais kong makasama sa aking kinaroroonan ang mga binigay mo sa akin, upang mamasdan nila ang karangalang bigay mo sa akin, sapagkat inibig mo na ako bago pa nilikha ang sanlibutan. Makatarungang Ama, hindi ka nakikilala ng sanlibutan, ngunit nakikilala kita, at nalalaman ng mga ibinigay mo sa akin na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin. Ipinakilala kita sa kanila, at ipakikilala pa, upang ang pag-ibig mo sa akin ay sumapuso nila at ako nama'y sumakanila."

Reflection for May 24, Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:11b-19

Gospel: John 17:11b-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.  

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 

Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a prayerful man but the irony of his being prayerful is his prayer would always be for himself alone.  

When he died the man was ushered by an angel to a room full of the things that he prayed for.   The man thanked the angel for giving him the things that he wanted. Then he noticed that he was alone, so he asked the angel: “Why am I alone? The angel told him, you’re alone because you would always pray for yourself only when you were still alive. You never bothered to pray for others, your prayers was always for yourself.   

As Jesus was set to leave HIS disciples he prayed for their welfare, that they would always be in God’s protection and care. How about us when we pray? Is it always us starring in our prayers? Or we never bother to pray for ourselves instead we pray for those we love and care. Because we believe that God knows everything about us including our needs.    

God is an all knowing God, He knows everything about us including our needs and prayers. Therefore, it would be better if instead of praying for ourselves we instead pray for others. This does not mean that we will not anymore have our own personal prayers and petitions before God.    

We would still have our prayers before God but we put forward first the interest and needs of others before our own. For God doesn’t want us to become persons for ourselves only; HE always wants us to become a person for others.   

Which kind of person are you a person for others or a person for yourself only? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 24, Miyerkules sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:11b-19

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:11b-19

Noong panahong iyo, si Hesus ay tumingala sa langit, nanalangin at ang wika: Amang banal, ingatan mo sila sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng iyong pangalan, pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin, upang sila'y maging isa, kung paanong tayo'y iisa. Habang kasama nila ako, iningatan ko sila sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng iyong pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin. 

Inalagaan ko sila at ni isa'y walang napahamak, liban sa taong humanap ng kanyang kapahamakan, upang matupad ang Kasulatan. Ngunit ngayon, ako'y papunta na sa iyo; at sinasabi ko ito habang ako'y nasa sanlibutan upang mapuspos sila ng aking kagalakan. Naibigay ko na sa kanila ang iyong salita; at kinapootan sila ng sanlibutan, sapagkat hindi na sila makasanlibutan, tulad kong hindi makasanlibutan. 

Hindi ko idinadalanging alisin mo sila sa sanlibutan, kundi iligtas mo sila sa Masama! Hindi sila makasanlibutan, tulad kong hindi makasanlibutan. Italaga mo sila sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan; ang salita mo'y katotohanan. Kung paanong sinugo mo ako sa sanlibutan, gayon din naman, sinusugo ko sila sa sanlibutan. At alang-alang sa kanila'y itinalaga ko ang aking sarili, upang maitalaga rin sila sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan."

Reflection for May 23, Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:1-11a

Gospel: John 17:1-11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who worked hard to amass wealth. But on the course of his obsession to be wealthy he also noticed that whatever wealth that he earned immediately flew away from his hands. 

It became a vicious cycle for him, he works hard then he ends up with nothing. Why? The reason behind is he worked with the wrong motivation, he worked for this world alone. Thus he was slowly being eaten by the materialistic and evil culture of this world. 

What is your life’s motivation? Is it to live a comfortable life by way of amassing anything that is of this world? If this is your motivation that would be catastrophic, for anything of this world is of this world. Anyone that loves the things of this world is already imprisoned by the curse of this world.   

Jesus lived in this world not to become a citizen of this world. He lived in this world only to fulfill the will of God for HIM and that is to give His very own life for our sake. Jesus knew that He would gain nothing if HE favors this world over HIS fidelity to HIS mission of salvation.  

Do you love this world more than you love God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 23, Martes sa Ikapitong na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:1-11a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:1-11a

Noong mga araw na iyon, tumingala si Hesus sa langit at ang wika, "Ama, dumating na ang oras: parangalan mo ang iyong Anak upang maparangalan ka naman niya. Sapagkat pinagkalooban mo siya ng kapangyarihan sa sangkatauhan, upang magbigay ng buhay na walang hanggan sa lahat ng ibinigay mo sa kanya. 

Ito ang buhay na walang hanggan: ang kilalanin ka nila, ang iisa at tunay na Diyos, at si Jesu-Cristo na iyong sinugo. Inihayag ko rito sa lupa ang iyong karangalan; natapos ko ang ipinagagawa mo sa akin. Kaya, Ama, ipagkaloob mo sa akin ngayon ang karangalang taglay ko sa piling mo bago pa likhain ang sanlibutan." 

"Ipinakilala kita sa mga taong ibinigay mo sa akin mula sa sanlibutan. Sila'y iyo; ibinigay mo sila sa akin, at tinupad nila ang iyong salita. Ngayo'y alam na nilang mula sa iyo ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin; sapagkat itinuro ko sa kanila ang lahat ng aking nabatid sa iyo at tinanggap naman nila. Natitiyak nilang ako'y galing sa iyo, at naniniwala silang ikaw nga ang nagsugo sa akin." 

"Idinadalangin ko sila, hindi ang sanlibutan kundi ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin, sapagkat sila'y iyo. Ang lahat ng akin ay iyo, at ang lahat ng iyo ay akin; at pararangalan ako sa pamamagitan nila. At ngayon, ako'y papunta na sa iyo; aalis na ako sa sanlibutan, ngunit nasa sanlibutan pa sila."

Reflection for May 22, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 16:29-33

Gospel: John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.”  

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

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Reflection:

Do you want to have peace in your life? If this world gives us nothing but troubles, worries and sickness. Jesus is always there to counter these worldly negativities with His promise of peace. Many of us think that the things of this world would give us peace, but it will not. 

The more that we tie our search for peace in this world the more that we would not find it. Why? Because this world will never give us peace what this world gives us are disturbance and chaos. So, where can we find real peace of mind? We can only find this real peace of mind in Jesus nobody would give this to us except Jesus alone.  

But how many of us have experienced this peace of Jesus? Not many perhaps and the obvious reason is we only remember Jesus when we are in dire need of Him. Or yes we remember HIM but when temptation comes we easily betray Him for the pleasurable temptations of this world.  

Why not change this cycle? Why not make Jesus our first priority so that we could finally feel His peaceful presence in our lives? And once we feel the peaceful presence of Jesus in our lives we already are complete and we lack nothing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 22, Lunes sa Ikapitong na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:29-33

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:29-33

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ng kanyang mga alagad kay Hesus, "Ngayon po'y tuwiran na ang inyong pangungusap sa amin at hindi na patalinghaga! Alam na naming batid ninyo ang lahat ng bagay, at hindi na kailangang tanungin ninuman.

Dahil dito, naniwala kaming kayo'y mula sa Diyos." Sumagot si Jesus, "Naniniwala na ba kayo ngayon? Darating ang oras -- at ngayon na nga -- na magkakawatak-watak kayo, magkakanya-kanyang lakad kayo, at iiwan ninyo ako. Gayunma'y hindi ako nag-iisa sapagkat kasama ko ang Ama. Sinasabi ko ito sa inyo upang kayo'y magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa pakikipag-isa sa akin. Mayroon kayong kapighatian dito sa sanlibutan; ngunit lakasan ninyo ang inyong loob! Napagtagumpayan ko na ang sanlibutan!"

Reflection for Sunday May 21, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: Matthew 28:16-20

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
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Reflection:
A military man was about to be assigned to a faraway place so he said to his wife: Take care of the children. Teach them about our faith and teach them values so that they’ll grow up to become responsible and God loving individuals.

The wife seriously followed the command of his husband. She taught their children the basic tenets of the faith and she educated them about good manners and values. He retuned after five years, his children were all grown up and he was so happy for the reason that they were all responsibly and properly brought-up by his wife.

Jesus in our gospel episode for this Sunday is about to leave HIS disciples for heaven but before doing so. He gave them this marching order: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” The disciples lived to the hilt this command of Jesus. In fact some of them were martyred for the sake of advancing the Christian faith.

To whom does these powerful words of Jesus speaks to now? It speaks to us with the same fervor during this very moment. Who is the object of our evangelization? Is it the population at large? The target is not the population at large, the target is the members of our family.

Let us not only share Jesus’ teachings with them, let us also live the teachings of the Lord. Because it is only by living the Lord’s teachings that we would become His effective evangelizers.

The words of Jesus are like endless stream of pure water it flows with the passing of time and it speaks to us now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Mayo 21, Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-akyat ng Panginoon: Mateo 28:16-20

Mabuting Balita Mateo 28:16-20

Noong panahong iyon: Ang Labing-isang alagad ay nagpunta sa Galilea, sa bundok na itinuro sa kanila ni Hesus. Nang makita nila si Hesus, siya’y sinamba nila, bagamat may ilang nag-alinlangan. Lumapit si Hesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Ibinigay na sa akin ang lahat ng kapangyarihan sa langit at sa Lupa.

Kaya, humayo kayo at gawin ninyong alagad ko ang lahat ng bansa. Binyagan ninyo sila sa ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo, at turuang sumunod sa lahat ng ipinag-utos ko sa inyo. Tandaan ninyo: ako’y laging kasama ninyo hanggang sa katapusan ng sanlibutan.”

Reflection for May 20, Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:23b-28

Gospel: John 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 

"I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. 

For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

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Reflection:

The story is told about an old man who was on his death bed and he was calling on Jesus to bring him into His kingdom. His relatives were whispering among themselves that he was already hallucinating. Then, suddenly the dying man breathed deeply and said to them: Jesus is here now and He’s holding my hand after which the dying man breathed his last with a smile on his face. 

The name of Jesus is very powerful it can give us peace and serenity it can ward off evil thoughts and spirits. But do we invoke Jesus name often? Maybe yes or no or perhaps we only remember to call on Jesus when we are in dire need of Him. But after we’re through and over with our difficulties we once again forget Him. 

The name of Jesus is very powerful let us never forget to always invoke it. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are tired of the daily grind of life. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are losing hope and weary because of our many life challenges. Let us call upon the powerful name of Jesus when we are sick and so forth.    

In good times and in bad times let us always remember to call on Jesus. Let us ask Him always guide us and to always be with us for He will never fail us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita sa Mayo 20, Sabado sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:23b-28

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:23b-28

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Tandaan ninyo: anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay ibibigay niya sa inyo. Hanggang ngayo'y wala pa kayong hinihingi sa kanya sa pangalan ko; humingi kayo at kayo'y tatanggap, upang malubos ang inyong kagalakan." 

"Ang mga ito'y sinabi ko sa inyo ng patalinghaga. Subalit darating ang panahon na hindi na ako magsasalita sa inyo ng gayon; tuwiran ko nang sasabihin sa inyo ang tungkol sa Ama. Sa araw na yao'y hihingi kayo sa kanya sa aking pangalan; at hindi ko sinasabi sa inyo na dadalangin ako sa Ama para sa inyo, sapagkat iniibig nga kayo ng Ama. 

Iniibig niya kayo sapagkat ako'y iniibig ninyo at naniniwala kayong ako'y nagmula sa Diyos. Ako'y mula sa Ama at naparito sa sanlibutan; ngayo'y aalis ako sa sanlibutan at babalik sa Ama."