Reflection for Wednesday May 1 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:

How does it feel without connection to the internet? It seems that something important in our lives is lacking. We cannot function properly if our job is reliant on the internet. 

Somehow our lives now is associated with the internet be it wifi or cable based internet connection. When we are outside of our respective houses our smart phones are ever ready to find wifi connection. We look for it because we need or we want to be connected. 

How about our desire to be connected with Jesus and God? Do we always seek a connection with Jesus and God? Is our desire for Jesus and God as intense as our desire for a wifi or internet connection?      

In the gospel for this Wednesday Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5) and as such we must always be connected with Him and God. Life without connection with God is meaningless, even if we have all the material wealth and power it’s still meaningless without God! 

If only we would always desire connection with God more than we desire wifi or internet connection. If only we would invest more time with God as much as we invest time using our smart phones, computers and laptops. Let us therefore always seek connection with God through our prayers, presence at Holy Mass. And by reading and reflecting upon His life transforming worlds in the bible. 

The best is yet to come for us If we would seek  permanent connection with our vine and our vine grower no other than Jesus and God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

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

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:1-8

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ako ang tunay na puno ng ubas at ang aking Ama ang tagapag-alaga. Pinuputol niya ang bawat sangang hindi namumunga; at kanya namang pinuputulan at nililinis ang bawat sangang namumunga upang lalong dumami ang bunga. 

Nalinis na kayo sa pamamagitan ng salitang sinabi ko sa inyo. Manatili kayo sa akin at mananatili ako sa inyo. Hindi makapamumunga ang sangang hindi nananatiling nakakabit sa puno. Gayon din naman, hindi kayo makapamumunga kung hindi kayo mananatili sa akin.

"Ako ang puno ng ubas, kayo ang mga sanga. Ang nananatili sa akin, at ako sa kanya, ang siyang namumunga ng sagana; sapagkat wala kayong magagawa kung kayo'y hiwalay sa akin. 

Ang hindi nananatili sa akin ay itatapon at matutuyo, gaya ng sanga. Ang gayong mga sanga ay titipunin at susunugin. Kung nananatili kayo sa akin at nananatili sa inyo ang mga salita ko, hingin ninyo ang inyong maibigan, at ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Napararangalan ang Ama kung kayo'y namumunga nang sagana at sa gayo'y napatutunayang mga alagad ko kayo.

Reflection for April 30, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 14:27-31a

Gospel: John 14:27-31a

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 

And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

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Reflection:

What is this peace that Jesus mentions to us in the gospel? It’s the peace that no one in this world can ever give us. We cannot find this peace with worldly power or riches. Because the more worldly power and riches we have the more that we’ll have no peace in our hearts. 

Many of us think that we will have peace by having power and wealth that’s why we aspire for it! We don’t even care if we sin as long as we could have this corrupted wealth and power. But we must be wary for the reason that the devil has always a concession for us to have immoral wealth and power and the concession is sin.  And by accepting the offer of the devil we are permanently under the devil’s devious spell until we die and we end up in hell. 

On the contrary, Jesus offers us His peace. Peace that no amount of worldly power and wealth could measure up.  Peace that will keep us permanently away from sin and peace that will plant contentment in our hearts. Therefore, we must embrace this peace that Jesus offers us. 

Do you already have the peace of Jesus in your heart? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 30 Martes Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:27-31a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:27-31a

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kapayapaan ang iniiwan ko sa inyo. Ang aking kapayapaan ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo; hindi ito katulad ng ibinibigay ng sanlibutan.

Huwag kayong mabalisa; huwag kayong matakot. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, 'Ako'y aalis, ngunit babalik ako.' Kung iniibig ninyo ako, ikagagalak ninyo ang pagpunta ko sa Ama, sapagkat dakila ang Ama kaysa akin. Sinasabi ko na ito sa inyo bago pa mangyari upang kung mangyari na, kayo'y manalig sa akin.

Hindi na ako pakahahaba ng pagsasalita sa inyo, sapagkat dumarating na ang pinuno ng sanlibutang ito. Wala siyang kapangyarihan sa akin, subalit dapat makilala ng sanlibutan na iniibig ko ang Ama at ang ginagawa ko'y ang iniuutos niya sa akin."

Reflection for Monday April 29, Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church: John 14:21-26

Gospel: John 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" 

Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 

"I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name— he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."

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Reflection:

Do you deeply love Jesus? 

Love begets love, for example if a husband will show his love for his wife he gets love in return from his wife. As the marriage move on the love between spouses flounders it passes through stormy waters. And it will take humility and forgiveness for both spouses to triumphantly pass through that turbulence.  

The love of Jesus for us is unconditional He loves us even if we have betrayed Him so many times. It is not even attached to any actions that we do for God has already forgiven us for the many betrayals that we’ve caused Him. 

However, even if Jesus has forgiven us already it is still our obligation to always humble ourselves before Him. We show Jesus that we love Him deeply when we humbly say sorry to Him for the many hurts that we’ve caused Him. This we do when we humbly submit ourselves to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

When was your last you’ve been through the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Would you want to show your love for Jesus by humbly submitting yourself to this healing Sacrament? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Lunes, Abril 29, Santa Catalina de Siena, dalaga at pantas ng Simbahan (Paggunita): Juan 14:21-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:21-26

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ang tumatanggap sa mga utos ko at tumutupad nito ang siyang umiibig sa akin. Ang umiibig sa akin ay iibigin ng aking Ama; iibigin ko rin siya, at ako'y lubusang magpapakilala sa kanya." Tinanong siya ni Judas hindi ang Iscariote, "Panginoon, bakit po sa amin lamang kayo magpapakilala nang lubusan at hindi sa sanlibutan?" 

Sumagot si Jesus, "Ang umiibig sa akin ay tutupad ng aking mga salita; iibigin siya ng aking ama, at kami'y sasakanya at mananahan sa kanya. Ang hindi umiibig sa akin ay hindi tumutupad sa aking mga salita. Hindi akin ang salitang narinig ninyo, kundi sa Amang nagsugo sa akin. 

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito samantalang kasama pa ninyo ako. Ngunit ang Patnubay, ang Espiritu Santo na susuguin ng Ama sa pangalan ko, ang siyang magtuturo sa inyo ng lahat ng bagay at magpapaalaala ng lahat ng sinabi ko sa inyo.

Reflection for Sunday April 28, Fifth Sunday 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 every one 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:

Where does life lead us without Jesus? It leads us to nowhere and nothingness. Our life is without meaning without Jesus. We are like a boat being buffeted by waves that has nowhere to go.

Life is meaningless without our connection to Jesus. We may possess abundance in worldly goods, yet these are all temporary; one day, we will leave them behind. Worldly possessions cannot provide peace of mind; instead, they often disturb our inner peace.

Jesus, through the gospel for this Sunday, tells us: 'You will never bear fruit unless you remain in me' (John 15:4). Yet, Jesus also tells us that we will bear much fruit if only we decide to remain in Him.

Therefore, let us always decide to be connected with Jesus through our presence at Holy Mass, through the Sacraments, through our visits to the Adoration chapel, and through reading His words in the Bible.

Let us not let go of Jesus even when life brings us numerous trials. For no trial is insurmountable for Jesus; if we are connected to Him, nothing can defeat us. No one could dampen our spirits, for His abiding presence is with us.

As the branch cannot survive without its connection to the vine. We too will not be able to survive without our connection with Jesus.  Are you always connected to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Ang Mabuting Balita para Linggo Abril 28, Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:1-8

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:1-8

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Ako ang tunay na puno ng ubas at ang aking Ama ang tagapag-alaga. Pinuputol niya ang bawat sangang hindi namumunga; at kanya namang pinuputulan at nililinis ang bawat sangang namumunga upang lalong dumami ang bunga. 

Nalinis na kayo sa pamamagitan ng salitang sinabi ko sa inyo. Manatili kayo sa akin at mananatili ako sa inyo. Hindi makapamumunga ang sangang hindi nananatiling nakakabit sa puno. Gayon din naman, hindi kayo makapamumunga kung hindi kayo mananatili sa akin.

"Ako ang puno ng ubas, kayo ang mga sanga. Ang nananatili sa akin, at ako sa kanya, ang siyang namumunga ng sagana; sapagkat wala kayong magagawa kung kayo'y hiwalay sa akin. 

Ang hindi nananatili sa akin ay itatapon at matutuyo, gaya ng sanga. Ang gayong mga sanga ay titipunin at susunugin. Kung nananatili kayo sa akin at nananatili sa inyo ang mga salita ko, hingin ninyo ang inyong maibigan, at ipagkakaloob sa inyo. Napararangalan ang Ama kung kayo'y namumunga nang sagana at sa gayo'y napatutunayang mga alagad ko kayo.

Reflection for April 27, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 14:7-14

Gospel: John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? 

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

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Reflection:

Whenever I go for a vacation in our province, I would always reunite with my relatives and friends. They would always say that they are reminded of my father because of how I look and sound. I always reply with a thank you and a smile in return. 

In the gospel Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9).” The two personalities or the Trinity is revealed by Jesus, him and God the Father and they are acting as one person. Jesus further told them whoever believes in me will do the works that I do (John 14:12). 

There is a great responsibility on us when we say that we are followers of Christ because Jesus tells us that if we are believers we must do the works that he did in other words we must emulate him if we profess to be His followers. 

If we are true followers of Jesus we have no other choice but to do His works in the process we will be closer to Him. And whenever others would see us they will be reminded of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 27 Sabado sa Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 14:7-14

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:7-14

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."  

Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe, "Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe! Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa Ama. Bakit mo sinasabing ; 'Ipakita mo sa amin ang Ama'? Hindi ka ba naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?  

Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin: ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasa-akin. Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi ko maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang ito.  

Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako sa Ama. At anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay gagawin ko, upang maparangalan ang Ama sa pamamagitan ng Anak. Gagawin ko ang anumang hihilingin ninyo sa pangalan ko."

Reflection for April 26, Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 14:1-6

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 

Where [I] am going you know the way. Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth* and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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Reflection:

Do you know where would you go after your journey in this world is over? 

Perhaps many of us may lose sleep by mere mention of death, we don’t want to die at this point because we are not yet prepared. But who is prepared to die? Nobody, we are not prepared to die. Why? For the simple reason that majority of us still love to be in this world and enjoy whatever it can still offer us.

Nevertheless, Jesus is telling us in the gospel not to be troubled. For as long as we have faith in Him we would be OK even if we die. For our faith and friendship with Jesus is more than enough to conquer our fear of death. 

Therefore, we have to do our part to get close to Jesus for as long as we live. If we are close to Jesus we have nothing to fear, even death we will not fear. Jesus Himself assures us with these words: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places (John 14:1-2). - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Abril 25, Kapistahan ni San Marcos, manunulat ng Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

Noong panahong iyon, nagpakita si Hesus sa Labing-isa at sinabi sa kanila, "Humayo kayo sa buong sanlibutan at ipangaral ninyo sa lahat ang Mabuting Balita. Ang sumasampalataya at mabinyagan ay maliligtas, ngunit ang hindi sumampalataya ay parurusahan.  

Ang mga sumasampalataya ay magtataglay ng ganitong tanda ng kapangyarihan: sa pangalan ko'y magpapalayas sila ng mga demonyo at magsasalita ng ibang wika; sila'y hindi maaano dumampot man ng ahas o uminom ng lason; at gagaling ang mga may sakit na mapatungan ng kanilang kamay." 

Pagkatapos magsalita sa kanila, ang Panginoong Jesus ay iniakyat sa langit, at lumuklok sa kanan ng Diyos. Humayo nga ang mga alagad at nangaral sa lahat ng dako. Tinulungan sila ng Panginoon sa gawaing ito. Pinatotohanan niya ang Salitang kanilang ipinangangaral sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihang gumawa ng himala, na ipinagkaloob niya sa kanila.

Reflection for Thursday April 25 Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist: Mark 16:15-20

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons,they will speak new languages. 

They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

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Reflection:

Do you take time to share in whatever way possible what you know about Jesus? 

The gospel speaks is the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus and the start of the ministry of the apostles. We all know that the apostles were very successful in their mission of evangelization. But it was not easy for they worked very hard and except for one all of them died for their mission.    

It’s so easy to remain in our comfort zones and just live the lifestyle that we want. We do everything for ourselves and we tend to forget God and our mission to spread the gospel as well.  Then, when we are at the sunset of our lives we will find out that nothing really matters except God. Yes, at the end nothing really matters except God alone: Money will not matter influence and power will not matter either. 

God wants us to spread the good news in whatever way possible. He wants us to proclaim our faith not necessarily by words alone but through our actions as well.  If we can proclaim our faith thru our actions that would be much better since actions speaks volumes than words.  

As the Lord ascends to heaven He is gently reminding you about your baptismal mission. Which is to help the Lord spread the faith through your words and actions. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for Wednesday April 24 of the Fourth Week of Easter: John 12:44-50

Gospel: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

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Reflection:

Do you know somebody who is sinful? Don’t give up on that sinful person continue to stretch your patience and pray for his/her conversion. 

There are countless stories of conversion in the scripture/bible and foremost of these is the conversion story of Saul. Saul or Saint Paul was formerly the number one persecutor of the church. He in fact had a hand in the killing of many followers of Jesus yet Jesus did not judge Saul. In His infinite wisdom and mercy Jesus converted Saul/Paul to become the number one propagator of the Christian faith to the gentiles.   

What is the message of these conversion stories for us? The message is, there is hope for all of us no matter how sinful we are. And no matter how grave the sins that we have committed there is still hope for us! Jesus even said: for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world (John 12:47).

Jesus is not interested on the sins that we have committed He is rather very much interested in our conversion so that we can become His follower and soon after partner in His mission. He is interested to bring us to the light so that we can become His light for others.                     

This is our mission in this world to become bearers of Jesus’ light.  Do we open ourselves to this desire of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas