Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 13 Sabado sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:16-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:16-21

Nang nagtatakipsilim na, ang mga alagad ay pumunta sa tabi ng lawa, sumakay sa bangka, patawid sa Capernaum. Madilim na'y wala pa si Jesus. Lumakas ang hangin at lumaki ang alon. Nang makagaod sila nang lima o anim na kilometro, nakita nila si Jesus na lumalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig, palapit sa bangka. 

At sila'y natakot. Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila, "Huwag kayong matakot, ako ito!" Tuwang tuwa nilang pinasakay si Jesus sa bangka; at pagdaka'y sumadsad ang kanilang bangka sa kanilang patutunguhan.

Reflection for April 12, Friday of the Second Week of Easter: John 6:1-15

Gospel: John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” 

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 

So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 

So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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Reflection:   

The story is told about a married couple who always find it hard to sustain their family's basic needs. A relative advised them to always be present at the Holy Mass celebration in their village's chapel. The married couple asked their relative, "Why is there a need for us to always be present during Holy Mass?" Their relative told them that they need to be present because this is where they meet, interact, and become one with the Bread of Life, which is Jesus Himself. 

The big crowd in the gospel was running after Jesus, primarily because of His miracles, healings, and life-changing sermons. The crowd numbered more than five thousand, and Jesus was naturally concerned for their welfare. Therefore, He wanted to feed them, but there was not enough bread and fish. So what Jesus did was ask for whatever bread and fish they had. 

Upon receiving the bread and fish, He looked up in thanksgiving to God. Thereafter, Jesus distributed the bread and fish to the crowd, and He was able to feed them all! They even had plenty to spare: twelve wicker baskets full of fragments. Jesus not only satisfied the crowd's physical hunger but also quenched their spiritual thirst. 

When we attend Holy Mass, we are also fed by Jesus with the same bread which He gave the crowd. It happens the moment we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. During Holy Communion, we are also nourished physically and spiritually by the Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself!  

This is what occurs when we attend Holy Mass. We are always being nourished by Jesus Himself! The same Jesus that fed the crowd who were following Him in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Thursday April 11, Memorial of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr: John 3:31-36

Gospel: John 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.  

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

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Reflection:

Why is it hard for many of us to convince others to go to church for Holy Mass and why can’t we share Jesus with them? This is for the reason that many of us don’t live the teachings of Jesus we don’t live our faith in other words.  

What must we do if we are in this kind of predicament?  Should we easily give up or should we change our ways and live our faith? It’s no brainer that the right choice is to change our ways and not give up. Because if we would give up, who will evangelize them? We leave them to be evangelized by those from other faiths?  

We must teach our faith but we must do it with humility, patience and love. We have to employ humility, patience and love so that we could open their hearts to the teachings of Jesus and our faith. For example our gospel for today tells us about the love of God for His Son. How would they know about this if we would not teach them if we would not practice love?  

We have to teach them using humility, patience and love. We will always become effective evangelizers/sharers of our faith if we are humble, patient and loving. For these are the qualities of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Abril 11 San Estanislao obispo at martir (Paggunita): Juan 3:31-36

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:31-36

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Jesus  kay Nicodemo: Ang mula sa itaas ay dakila sa lahat; ang mula sa lupa ay taga lupa at nagsasalita tungkol sa mga bagay sa lupa. Ang mula sa langit ay dakila sa lahat. Pinatototohanan niya ang kanyang nakita at narinig, ngunit walang maniwala sa kanyang patotoo. Ang naniniwala sa kanyang patotoo ay nagpapatunay na tapat ang Diyos.  

Sapagkat ang sinugo ng Diyos ay nagpapahayag ng salita ng Diyos; at walang sukat ang kanyang pagkakaloob ng Espiritu Santo. Minamahal ng Ama ang Anak, at ibinigay sa kanya ang kapamahalaan ng lahat ng bagay. Ang nananalig sa Anak ay may buhay na walang hanggan; ngunit ang hindi tumatalima sa Anak, hindi magkakaroon ng buhay -- mananatili sa kanya ang poot ng Diyos.

Reflection for Wednesday April 10, Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter: John 3:16-21

Gospel: John 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

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Reflection:

Can we be saved by simply believing in Jesus? Is it enough to believe and not live that belief? 

We must believe and we must live and give substance to what we believe by making a positive difference in the lives of others and by detesting sin. For example, if we say that we love Jesus but we ignore the cry for help of those who are in need what then is the use of saying we believe and love Jesus? If we say that we believe yet we continue to allow ourselves to sin and be captured by the devil. What then is the use of our profession of belief in Jesus? 

When we say we believe we should firmly stand by our word by detesting sin in whatever forms and shapes. For the simple reason that this is the only way to Jesus, we are simply fooling ourselves if we say we believe yet we continue to sin. 

There are many of us who continue to say that we believe in Jesus but when testing comes. We push aside the light of Jesus to plunge into the darkness to be in the company of the devil. And then what comes after that are the many punishments that we impose upon ourselves thru our engagement with sin and the devil. 

So, why go with sin and the devil when Jesus is always there for us patiently asking us to leave sin and the devil? We therefore have to confront and then leave behind our sinful lives so that the Lord can embrace us with His forgiveness, mercy and love.

Would you confront and leave behind sin and satan? You may ask, why is their a need to confront? Why not simply leave behind? You need to confront sin and satan first because when you confront you immediately and permanently bury whatever relationship you have with sin and satan.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Tuesday April 9, Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter: John 3:7b-15

Gospel: John 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?  

Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek Jesus?  

Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin a Jewish judicial body. Why did he follow Jesus? He must have discovered something in Jesus that made him follow Him even until Jesus death on the cross. Nicodemus followership of Jesus did not stop on His death on the cross, Nicodemus also took care of the body of Jesus after His death (John 19:39).    

What would it take for us to become a follower of Jesus? Do we still need to see a miracle before we become a faithful follower? It might be too late already, why not follow Jesus now? Let us look up at Jesus on the cross, that man on the cross died for us! Would we not take a second look to that man on the cross? Would we not thank Him for giving His life for us?  

Nicodemus was initially not a follower of Jesus but when he heard about Jesus he strived to know Jesus until he met the Lord. From the point of hearing about the Lord transformation was also happening in the life of Nicodemus which led him to become a faithful follower of the Lord.

Nobody knows the deepest core of our lives; nobody knows our gravest sins except us. Nevertheless, we have to decide to follow the Lord now for He is ready to transform us. To give us peace in our lives which this world cannot give us. It’s no problem for Jesus if we would become a secret follower like Nicodemus what is important for Jesus is we follow Him.  

Would you follow the Lord beginning today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Monday April 8, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 

And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”  

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Do you always accept the will of the Lord for your life or you sometimes contradict it? 

The Solemnity of the Annunciation remembers the announcement of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about her being chosen as the mother of Jesus.

The Gospel tells us that God thru the Angel Gabriel had chosen the Blessed Mother to be the Mother of Jesus, of all women why the Blessed Mother? We don’t know the answer but the Blessed Mother’s humility, docility and abandonment to the will of God speaks volumes about her.  

The Blessed Mother humbly followed God’s desire and will when she said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38)." Mary humbled herself before God, Mary trusted her life to the will of God and Mary discerned the desire of the Holy Spirit in her life.

Like the Blessed Mother, are you willing to humble yourself before the Lord? Are you willing to abandon your life to the will of God? And do you always discern the desire of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday April 7, Second Sunday of Easter Sunday of Divine Mercy: John 20:19-31

Gospel: John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”  

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

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Reflection:

Where was Thomas when Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room? We don’t know we can only surmise that he was doing something that made him miss their meeting. Was his activity during that night more important than to meet and pray with his fellow disciples?  

By missing their meeting Thomas subsequently missed also the sacred presence of the risen Christ.  He missed being blessed by Jesus’ miraculous presence and Thomas missed being imparted the  blessing of peace by the Lord. What a lost of opportunity for Thomas! If only he knew beforehand that their Lord and Master would be making a miraculous appearance in their meeting he would have not dared miss it. 

Some of us may see ourselves in Thomas, we who oftentimes miss to go to church for Holy Mass. We who put our Sunday sacred meeting with the Lord at the backseat in favor of our many worldly preoccupations.  

What do we miss when we absent ourselves for Holy Mass? We miss to be with Jesus, we miss to partake of His Body and Blood. We miss to be blessed by His powerful and blessings- filled words. We miss to be in powerful prayer meeting with our brothers and sisters in faith. We also miss to receive His healing and blessing of peace which He silently gives to us every time we are at Mass.  

Thomas learned his lesson; that’s why he made himself available in their second meeting. We too should learn our lesson by always prioritizing our sacred meeting with the Lord at Holy Mass.  

Do you always try your very best not to miss your encounter with the Lord during Sunday Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 6, Saturday in the Octave of Easter: Mark 16:9-15

Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.  

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

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Reflection:

What can you do to influence others to believe that Jesus is risen? You have to proclaim the gospel through your way of life. What does this mean? You have to live the life and behavior of Jesus because this is the only way for others to be convinced that Jesus is risen.  

In the gospel, Mary Magdalene told her companions that Jesus is alive however nobody believed her. Jesus also appeared to the disciples and these disciples in turn told the other disciples about the appearance of the risen Christ but they did not believe either.  

The most concrete manifestation that Jesus is risen and alive is us! It is through us that others would believe about the risen Christ. What are we going to do so that those that we encounter would believe that Jesus is real, risen and alive?  

We have to become another Jesus for them. We have to be humble as Jesus is humble, we  have to be helpful as Jesus is helpful. We have to be loving and forgiving as Jesus is loving and forgiving and so forth.

We have to know how to empathize for Jesus knows how to empathize. We have to stop judging and condemning others as Jesus did not judge neither condemned anyone. In other words in Jesus we’ll find someone who will listen to us, who will not judge and condemn us for the things that we’ve done in the past. Because Jesus is only concerned of our present and our future with Him.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 6 Sabado sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Marcos 16:9-15

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:9-15

Umagang-umaga ng araw ng Linggo, matapos na muling mabuhay si Hesus, siya’y unang napakita kay Maria Magdalena. Pitong demonyo ang pinalayas ni Hesus sa babaing ito. Pumunta siya sa mga alagad ni Hesus, na noo’y nahahapis at umiiyak, at ibinalita ang kanyang nakita. 

Ngunit hindi sila naniwala sa sinabi ni Maria na buhay si Hesus at napakita sa kanya. Siya’y napakita rin sa dalawang alagad na naglalakad patungo sa bukid, ngunit iba ang kanyang kaanyuan. Bumalik sa Jerusalem ang dalawa at ibinalita sa kanilang kasamahan ang nangyari, ngunit sila ma’y hindi pinaniwalaan. 

Pagkatapos, napakita siya sa Labing-isa samantalang kumakain ang mga ito. Pinagwikaan niya sila dahil sa hindi nila pananalig sa kanya, at sa katigasan ng ulo, sapagkat hindi sila naniwala sa mga nakakita sa kanya pagkatapos na siya’y muling mabuhay. At sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, “Humayo kayo sa buong sanlibutan at ipangaral ninyo sa lahat ang Mabuting Balita.”

Reflection for April 5, Friday in the Octave of Easter: John 21:1-14

Gospel: John 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing. They said to him, “We also will come with you. So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” 

So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” 

And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you? because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

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Reflection:

Do you sometimes feel abandoned by Jesus? There are times that we go through some arid stages in our lives. We feel abandoned by our friends, relative and even Jesus, But does Jesus abandon us? Perhaps our friends and relatives would abandon us especially when they become rich or achieve an exalted status in life. But Jesus abandoning us? Never will He abandon us! 

With the death of Jesus the disciples had no other option but to go back to their former way of life: none other than fishing. It must have been difficult for them to go back fishing for they’ve been detached from it for three long years. Perhaps they even thought that they would never go back to fishing but something tragic happened to their Lord and Master. 

Therefore there was no other choice for them but to go back to their former job as fishermen. From being fishermen they became fishers of men and now they go back again to being real fishermen. After three long years they went fishing for the very first time, it must have been very hard for them. Perhaps when they were at sea they were still thinking of Jesus and terribly longing for His presence. That’s why they failed to concentrate on fishing in the process they caught nothing. 

Then the feeling of weariness, loneliness and the feeling of being abandoned was immediately replaced by joy and hope when they saw Jesus waiting for them ashore. Jesus asked them, have you caught anything? They said none, afterwards, Jesus told them; Put once again your nets at sea where you are right now. No need for you to go far, drop it where you are right now. And then the miracle happened they caught an enormous number of fish.     

Relating this gospel with our personal journey with Jesus. There would also be episodes of weariness, loneliness and perhaps feeling of abandonment. But in the midst of these episodes let us stay the course for Jesus will make His way back to us when we least expect it. Never will  He leave much less abandon us for He will always be there for us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 4, Thursday in the Octave of Easter: Luke 24:35-48

Gospel: Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?  

Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

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Reflection:

What if the disciples did not recount their experience with the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread to their fellow disciples? Perhaps Jesus would not have appeared in their midst. Perhaps Jesus would have just said, 'I will not show myself to them anymore; anyway, they've easily forgotten me.’

But Cleopas and his companion hearts were still aflame with desire in sharing their experience with Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Jesus appeared in their midst and this gave Him enough reason to give them His greeting of peace.  

How often do we talk about Jesus with our friends and family members? Perhaps not very often, maybe we just hear and talk about Jesus when we are at church for Holy Mass. However, when we are at home or living our lives in the secular world we never talk about Jesus.  

Why is it that we rarely talk about Jesus when we are out of church? Are we ashamed of Jesus? Are we afraid that we would be disliked by our friends and they would perceive us as someone who is not in touch with the realities of life?  

Let us not think twice to talk about the Lord or to share our personal experiences on how the Lord has manifested himself in our lives. By doing so we bring others closer to the Lord and who knows we might be the bridge to their conversion. 

Have you shared your personal experience about how the Lord has manifested in your life? Or perhaps how the Lord has made a miracle in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 3, Wednesday in the Octave of Easter: Luke 24:13-35

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.  

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days? And he replied to them, “What sort of things? They said to him, The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.  

But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.  

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.  

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.  

Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us? So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon! Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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Reflection:

Do you know that the Lord Jesus is always walking with you during the highest and more so in the lowest episodes of your life?

In the gospel, while Cleopas and the other disciple were going to Emmaus, the risen Christ suddenly walked with them and conversed with them. They had no inkling that it was already the risen Christ who was with them. Why? This is for the reason that their focus was not on the risen Christ but on the Christ who died on the cross.  

When they reached Emmaus it was already night time so they invited Jesus to stay in their house. And while they were at a table Jesus took bread broke it said the blessings and shared it with the two of them. They immediately recognized that it was the risen Jesus who was with them. Because Jesus did the same sacred gesture before them and the apostles during the last supper in the upper room (Luke 22:19-20).  

Cleopas and the other disciple are not alone in this predicament of not immediately recognizing the presence of Jesus in their midst. For we too are often guilty of not recognizing that Jesus is always walking with us.  And the reason is we are always busy with the affairs of this world, we are busy on how we would survive life’s daily grind.

But all that we do for this world will count for nothing someday if we have no personal relationship with Jesus. And if we don’t have a personal awareness of Jesus abiding presence in our lives.

God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. So that we would always have an awareness that He is always with us, walking with us even during the lowest episodes of our journey in this world. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 2, Tuesday in the Octave of Easter: John 20:11-18

Gospel: John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.  

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for? She thought it was the gardener and said to him,“ Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni, which means Teacher.  

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God.’Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and then reported what he had told her.

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Reflection:

How does it feel to lose a close friend or relative? It feels like an important part of you has been taken permanently away from you. This was how Mary Magdalene felt when she was near the tomb of Jesus. She was forlorn, who would not be? Anyone who loses somebody close would feel the same way.  

In the midst of her melancholy Jesus appeared to Mary and told her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your God (John 20:17).  

When Jesus told Mary stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Perhaps, Jesus wanted to tell Mary this: Let go of the memory of my violent death for I have resurrected already. Instead announce the good news of my resurrection which Mary did after Jesus appeared to her.  

How does this gospel speak to you? Do you feel Jesus speaking to you and telling you to move and share the good news? To have courage to share His teachings through your works and actions?  

Humans as we are we yield every once in a while to discouragement and sadness. Yet we must not forget that Jesus has risen, that Jesus abiding presence is with us and He always walks with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas