Reflection for Thursday May 9 of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:16-20

Gospel: John 16:16-20

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

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

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Reflection:

Do you believe that after sorrow and pain comes redemption, joy and triumph? 

When Jesus said to his disciples: “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve but your grief will become joy (John 16:20).” Jesus was already alluding about his forthcoming passion and death that he has to go through and to his subsequent resurrection. 

 Jesus even compared it with a woman who is in labor pain. But after she has given birth she would forget that painful experience altogether because of the great joy that the newly born child would give her (John 16:21). 

Married life is not always blissful, the couple will go through humps and bumps that would test the strength of their fidelity before Jesus. But if they persevere and decide to stay in their union amidst their trials there would be joy in their hearts in the end.     

Same with our walk with Jesus, it will not always be a bed of roses, there would be trials, and sometimes we will be persecuted and tested because of what we do for God. 

In spite of these all let us continue to follow Jesus, for in the end there will be redemption, joy and triumph for those who are faithful to Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Mayo 9, Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:16-20

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:16-20

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: "Kaunting panahon na lamang at hindi na ninyo ako makikita; at pagkaraan ng kaunting panahon pa, ako'y inyong makikita uli." Nag-usap-usap ang ilan sa mga alagad, "Ano kaya ang ibig niyang sabihin? Bakit niya sinasabing kaunting panahon na lang at hindi na natin siya makikita uli? Sabi pa niya'y 'Sapagkat ako'y paroroon sa Ama.' Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin ng 'kaunting panahon na lamang'? Hindi natin maunawaan!"                                

Naramdaman ni Jesus na ibig nilang magtanong, kaya't sinabi niya, "Nagtatanungan kayo tungkol sa sinabi kong kaunting panahon na lamang at hindi na ninyo ako makikita; at pagkaraan ng kaunting panahon, ako'y inyong makikita uli. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tatangis kayo at magdadalamhati, ngunit magagalak ang sanlibutan. Matitigib kayo ng kalungkutan, subalit ito'y magiging kagalakan.

Reflection for Wednesday May 8 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:

What is the impediment that prevents us from discerning the presence of the Holy Spirit? It’s when we live our lives away from the teachings of the church. It’s when we create our own rules to follow instead of following the rules of the church. It’s when we follow the teachings of the church based on our convenience. 

 For example, the obligation of going to Holy Mass every Sunday. Many of us do not follow this Sunday obligation we instead follow our own self-created rule/s. This is the reason why we just go to Holy Mass when we feel like going. This kind of behavior prevents us from discerning the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  

The Holy Spirit acts as our honest and true counsellor it will never tell us to distort the truth or tell lies. In fact it will tell us to speak the truth no matter who gets hurt. It will forever counsel us to do good and not to do evil to extend love and forgiveness instead of hatred and unforgiveness.  

This is the reason why we are bothered by our conscience whenever we tell lies and do wrong. And this feeling of guilt does not fade away until we tell the truth and correct the wrong/s that we have committed. 

Do you have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Live your faith and be faithful to its teachings for this is the beginning of your journey with God the Holy Spirit.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Mayo 8, Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng 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 7, 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:

Have you been through an episode in your life where you somehow feel that God has somewhat abandoned you? We all pass through this kind of experience perhaps not only once but many times over in our lifetime. 

But God never leaves us for He is always with us. His presence within us is coursed through us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is always with us. Thus, we have nothing to fear even our biggest life challenge we will not fear! For we know that through the Holy Spirit God is always with us, it’s in fact us who forget of His presence in us. 

We only have to connect with God to discern His presence in us. We can do this thru our prayers,  presence at Holy Mass if we are unwell we can attend online Mass in the comfort of our himes. By reading of the words of God in the bible, by spending time with the Lord in the adoration  chapel by our interaction with the Lord through the sacraments of the church. 

In the gospel, Jesus is already saying His farewell to His disciples for he will soon be arrested. Yet He continuously assures them of His sacred presence in their lives. This presence is made manifest to them by the presence of the Holy Spirit who would be their helper and advocate in whatever way. 

We are never alone in the midst of the many difficulties that we are going through caused by our many life challenges for God through the Holy Spirit is always with us. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to lift us up whenever we are feeling down, unloved and neglected by the people of this world. We simply have to have an awareness of its presence in our lives. 

Do you feel the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Mayo 7 Martes Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng 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 6, 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:

Why do others kill for their religion? For example, those who blow themselves up in the midst of people so that they could kill as many as possible. They do this because they do not know Jesus. Yes, they have a God, but what their God is teaching is not what Jesus is teaching us. 

Jesus preaches compassion, love, sacrifice and humility this is always what Jesus is teaching us. Jesus never taught us to spread violence and to blow ourselves into kingdom come so that we could inflict damage and fear. 

What are we going to do to them? Should we face violence with violence of course not for the simple reason that violence is not in the resume and teachings of Jesus. We should rather pray for them so that they can be converted and enlightened.    

Nothing is impossible for our God, we therefore should continue to pray for the conversion of those who continue to inflict hatred upon us. They may be members of our family, they may be our former friends or anybody whose objective is to create catastrophic damage and fear upon humanity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita Mayo 6, Lunes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng 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." 

Reflection for Sunday May 5, Sixth Sunday of Easter: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. 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:

A newlywed couple promised to bring to their graves their marriage vows: 'For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.' But the irony was, after having one child and being together for two years, they separated already. What happened to their promise of undying love for each other? 

Nowadays, many of us have a very shallow understanding of love, it’s not anymore undying love or sacrificial love. But love based on convenience, love based on what I can have and what I can possess. The word love has been stripped of its real value. This is the reason why we see married couples flirting with their officemates and friends just to vent out their lust, immorality and adulterous desires.  

This is the distressing reality right now, which is why we see young couples and even middle-aged couples separating. Is it truly because they are no longer happy in their marriage, or is it simply because they want to satisfy their own selfish and satanic desires? 

In the gospel, Jesus commands us to love one another. This love is not based on selfish needs or convenience. Instead, it is anchored on fidelity, sacrifice, self-giving, and trust. That's why incorporating the love of Jesus into our married lives is so crucial. With the love of Jesus, we would remain committed to our marriages, no matter the challenges we face. 

Let us remember that Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He keeps on loving us, He keeps on knocking in our hearts no matter how wayward and sinful we have become. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Linggo Mayo 5 Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Juan 15:9-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-17

Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Kung paanong iniibig ako ng Ama, gayon din naman, iniibig ko kayo; mananatili kayo sa aking pag-ibig; tulad ko, tinutupad ko ang mga utos ng aking Ama at ako'y nananatili sa kanyang pag-ibig. 

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito upang makahati kayo sa kagalakan ko at malubos ang inyong kagalakan. 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."

Reflection for May 4 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:               

What does it mean to be hated by this world? We would be hated by this world if we would have the courage to go against the false teachings of this world. For example, if we would have the courage to say no to anything that is not good and sinful. Or if we suddenly have the enlightenment to say no to anyone who brings us nothing but worldliness. 

There comes a point in our life that we have to make a decision. Should we decide to take the side of God or follow this world and live a life away from God? The best decision is to follow God and discard anyone who brings us nothing but worldliness and sinfulness. This is for the reason that worldliness and sin will bring nothing but emptiness and misery in our lives. 

Let us not be afraid to follow God, let us not be afraid to sacrifice this world for our love for God. For this is always the right decision to do. We can never go wrong with God and nobody has been misled by following God.   

If we choose to follow God over this world, we would experience something that we have not experienced before. And this is the guiding light and protection  of God in our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita, Mayo 4 Sabado sa Ikalimang Linggo ng Pasko ng 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 Friday May 3, Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles: John 14:6-14

Gospel: John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 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 him, “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:

A typical marriage vows goes like this: For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. A man and a woman become one by virtue of the Sacrament of Marriage. 

Jesus objective for instituting this Sacrament is to permanently bind these two separate and distinct individuals so that they may become one. This union must always be for life. It must never be based on convenience but based on mutual trust and respect for each other.  

In the gospel for today, it is very obvious that Jesus wants to point out to Philip and to us too that He and God the father are one. Although God the Father and Jesus are two different persons, they are one and the same God. They both have the same desire for all of humanity and that is salvation for us all. 

We believe this oneness of Jesus and God the Father, although they are two different persons. We must also strongly believe in the Sanctity of the Sacrament of Matrimony. That it is a union for life and nobody can separate both spouses except mortal death.  

But sad to say, many of us violates the sanctity of Marriage and the result is sometimes separation. And who is to blame for this? To blame is the arrogance of many of us for we don’t want to subscribe to the laws of God. We instead follow our selfish desires which in the end don’t bring us any good except endless misery. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Biyernes Mayo 3 San Felipe at Santiago, mga apostol (Kapistahan): Juan 14:6-14

Mabuting Balita: Juan 14:6-14

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus kay Juan, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. 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 akin 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 sumasaakin. 

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 hilingin 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."