John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw
someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he
does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who
performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For
whoever is not against us is for us.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why do some Catholics leave the church in
favor of other Christian church? If we would ask them why they left they
would normally say that they felt Jesus’ presence more in their lives when the
Pastor of the Christian church shared passages about Jesus in the bible.
Should we get angry with these Christian
churches for convincing some of our brethren who grew bored in our church to
join their church? Of course not! We should rather be more innovative in our
preaching about the word of God so that our brethren will feel Jesus’ presence
in their lives.
John said to Jesus: “someone is driving
out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow
us.” Jesus replied: “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty
deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not
against us is for us.”
We should at all times be gentle, tolerant
and loving towards other Christian religions for we preach the same God. We may
have doctrinal differences with them but at the end of the day we preach the
same Jesus whose mission is to save us from ending up in hell someday. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Jesus and his disciples left from there
and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about
it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be
handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the
Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were
afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside
the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But
they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who
was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If
anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst and putting his arms around it,
he said to them “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives
me and whoever receives me receives not me but the One who sent me.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the most important virtue of a
follower of Jesus? It’s the virtue of humility. A humble follower of Jesus
seeks to follow Him for no other reason but to humbly serve without seeking
anything in return. The follower doesn’t follow Jesus because he/she wants to
be known, to be powerful and to be popular.
While Jesus and His disciples were passing
through Galilee, He was discussing with them the things that would happen to
Him soon. But the disciples were not paying attention because they were
preoccupied with discussing who among them was the greatest. What an ego trip
for the disciples! Instead of listening to Jesus, they were burnishing their
own self-image among themselves. They were discussing who among them was the
greatest.
During that instance the desire to humbly
follow Jesus was not anymore present in their hearts. What was present in their
hearts was arrogance, the desire to selfishly raise up their own self-image.
And the desire to be great based on the finite standards of this
world.
If we truly desire to follow Jesus, we
have to follow Him with humility. We have to forget our own selves; we have to
discard any form of arrogance in our hearts and the desire to occupy the starring
role. We have to be humble, simple and always ready to serve at all times for
this is the only way whereby we can bring others closer to Jesus. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What do you thirst for?
Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said, "I thirst"? In His humanity, yes, it was physical thirst, but more than that, it was a thirst for those people who were formerly with Him.
Dying on the cross, Jesus was perhaps whimpering while saying, "I thirst." Why? Because He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His powerful, miraculous healing and speaking ministry.
It is in the lowest episodes of our lives that we would know who is really for us and not for us. Those who are for us would choose to remain no matter the odds against us. Those who are not for us would immediately evaporate from our sights to save their necks.
When we encounter these words: “I thirst.” Let us imagine that Jesus is addressing these words to us. I thirst for you to be faithful in your marriage covenant. I thirst for you to be honest where you are presently working right now. I Thirst for you to value the sacredness of life over the evils of abortion and other forms of cruelty against humanity. I thirst for you to always be humble and simple, I thirst for you to respect your parents and so on.
I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass every Sunday. I thirst for you to become a good and responsible father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to me and to my teachings.
Would you respond to Jesus thirst? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Have you ever been in a situation where you
feared for your life? The disciples were in this predicament after Jesus died
on the cross. They were running for their lives and were being hunted by the
ruling powers during that time. It must have been very difficult for them. Some
of them might have even worn disguises to avoid being recognized.
With low morale and fearing for their lives,
they still managed to communicate and agreed to meet in a room. While in the
room, perhaps praying and strategizing for their next plan of action, lo and
behold, the Lord Jesus appeared to them. For what reason? To give them hope and
peace. And before they separated, Jesus breathed on them and gave them the
abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes, it is in the lowest points in our
lives that the Lord Jesus manifests His presence to us. Perhaps this is so
because this is always the moment when we are in need of Him. This is the
moment in our lives when our minds are not preoccupied by worldliness but are
solely occupied by our desire to ask for the Lord’s help.
Yet, the Lord comes to us not only by Himself;
He comes to us bringing with Him peace, hope, and surely the abiding presence
of the Holy Spirit. Why the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit? Because the
Lord Jesus perfectly knows that we would be facing our own share of
difficulties as we continue our journey in this world.
The Holy Spirit is also with us so that it can
disturb our conscience whenever we sin or are planning to sin. It will give us
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Courage, Knowledge, Peity and Fear of the Lord
(Isaiah 11:2-3 and Acts 2:1-4). Let us therefore pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit and let us ask the Holy Spirit to shower us the seven gifts.
Do you always pray to the Holy Spirit? Do you
regularly ask the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and shower you with its seven
gifts? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Peter turned and saw the disciple
following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during
the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When
Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him,
“What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You
follow me.”
So the word spread among the brothers that that
disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just
“What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of
yours?”
It is this disciple who testifies to these things and
has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many
other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I
do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you always
stay close to Jesus?
John is the disciple whom Jesus loved; there is that
closeness between them and we saw it when John reclined upon His chest (John
13:23-25). John was also the only disciple who was with Jesus until His last
gasp of breath on the cross.
In our present time it may be very odd to see a man
recline upon the chest of another man. Our imaginations will
conclude something else which is not right. But during Jesus’ time; it suggest
close friendship between the Master/Teacher (Jesus) and His disciple (John).
John had Jesus’ ears that he could ask HIM questions whenever he wants too. The
strength of their friendship was clearly evident when John stayed with Jesus
until the very end of the Lord’s earthly life.
This is also the friendship that the Lord wants from
us, Jesus wants us to always lean towards Him and stay with Him regardless of
our life’s predicaments. We stay close to Jesus in our happy moments, and even
more so, we should lean closer to Jesus in our moments of sadness,
difficulties, and trials. With Jesus, we always have someone who will help us
overcome whatever difficulties we are going through. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you afraid to grow old?
The reality of life is this: we will
eventually grow old; this is a course of our life that no one of us can stop.
Whether we like it or not we will all be growing old and we will be at the
mercy of those who will be with us by that time.
Can we assure ourselves that we will be
properly treated when we become old and powerless? None of us can assure that
there will be proper treatment for us by that time but Jesus gives us some hint
on how to assure proper and equitable treatment for us when we become old and
gray.
He tells us in the gospel to feed and take
care of His people, in other words feed and take care of anyone who is hungry.
Don’t be selective; help everyone who is in need. But let us not help with the
motive in mind that we will do it because we will be in need of help also in
the distant future when we are old.
Let us help because this is the right act
to do, help because this is what Jesus wants from us immaterial if we will be
helped or not in the future. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What would happen if the love of Jesus is present in a
family? There is unity and there is an unbreakable bond that exists no matter
what happen inside that family. On the other hand what would happen
if the love of God is not present in a family? There would be disunity, human
created problems and dysfunctionality which would eventually lead to the
disintegration of the family.
Jesus love for God and God’s love for Jesus is the
only love that can bind and unify members of family. It’s a love
that is humble and persevering; no wonder Jesus remained faithful to HIS
mission of salvation. Jesus humbled Himself even if HE is equal
to God and He persevered to fulfill HIS salvific mission even at the
cost of HIS life.
If spouses want their family to remain united in love
forever they must also have the same humility and perseverance. The children
should have an active prayer life taught by their parents and anchored on their
wisdom filled shepherding as well. Thus, it will not fall to the trap of the
devil who always incite for the dismemberment of the family.
Let us reflect if we have the love of Jesus and God
inside our own family. Let us reflect if we breathe humility and perseverance
for the sake of the well-being of our children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus
prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so
that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them
in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was
lost except the son of destruction in order that the Scripture might be
fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world
hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to
the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep
them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong
to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me
into the world so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is
told about a husband and wife who wanted to adhere to the teachings of the
church that marriage is for life. So they thought of ways on how they would go
about it. In their reflection they thought of making prayer as an agent that
would bind them together until they breathe their last. To make a long story
short they made prayer part of their married life. Thus, they remained married
until the end.
As Jesus was about to be arrested, He prayed to God
for His disciples. That they may continually be united as one in their mission,
united for the reason that they would not succeed without unity. Isn’t
this true also inside a family and married life? A family needs unity for it to
succeed, what are the fruits of unity inside the family/marriage? The fruits
are: Humility, Honesty, Forgiveness and many more positive
attributes.
Every family/marriage that succeeds spiritually is a praying
family and a praying family is a united family. Let us therefore not devalue
the powerful miracle of prayer inside the family/marriage. Because the family
that prays as one would remain united forever.
Is prayer already part of the culture of your life,
family and marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a wife whose husband has
strayed so many times. Therefore, the wife’s relatives were asking her to leave
her philandering husband. However, the wife would have none of her relatives’
suggestion. She instead remained in their marriage covenant. Eventually, the
philandering husband was enlightened and they lived happily until the end of
their lives.
How could we remain in God’s love forever? Jesus gives
us the answer, we must keep the commandments. For example in the marriage
covenant, Jesus command for the couple is to be married until the
end. To share their burdens, trials and joys forever. Not to give
burdens, domination and mental torture forever.
The only way for a married couple to remain in God’s
love forever is to express love until the end. But none of us are perfect; many
of us sin and wander away from the marriage covenant. Nonetheless, we are not
hopeless for Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us to be
within the ambit of His love again whenever we sin and stray.
There is no perfect marriage in this world because we
are not perfect beings; each of us has our own flaws and shortcomings.
Therefore we should be forgiving and must always have the humility to admit our
own mistakes and shortcomings.
The love of God is always there for us each day to
assure us that none of us are beyond its reach. The same with the love of a
spouse for his/her beloved He/she always keeps that sacred love for his/her
beloved inside her/his heart. Always hoping that the spouses who strayed would
soon find the light, forgiveness and love of God.
This is also God’s hope and expectation for you. That
you may soon find the light, love and forgiveness of God which by the way is
always there for you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who aimed for worldly
riches and greatness in his chosen field of endeavour. By his hard work he was
able to achieve his aims. He thought that it would be the crowning glory of his
life but he aimed for more riches. In doing so, he had no peace and contentment,
he became a slave of this world.
Jesus tells us in the gospel for this Monday, You will
have peace in me, in this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). Many of us
allow ourselves to be enslaved by this world up to this very moment. Until we
get sick, until we are near death and the reason behind is we keep on chasing
the temporal riches and power of this world. Which in reality will not give us
good health, peace and contentment.
Jesus offers us His peace. Peace that no one can give
us, peace that money can't buy, peace even in the midst of the many worries of
this world and peace that we can have even beyond this world.
Let us wholeheartedly accept this and the moment we do
we would begin to free ourselves from the possession of this world. Hence, we
will not live for this world anymore and we will not be concerned anymore about
others opinion toward us. For the simple reason that we already have the peace
of Jesus in our hearts.
Would you accept the peace that Jesus is offering you?
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
So 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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A policeman 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 so that they’ll grow up to become responsible and God-loving individuals.
The wife followed the command of her husband. She taught their children the teachings of the faith, introduced Jesus to them, and educated them about discipline, good manners, and values. After five years, he came back. His children were all grown up, and he was so happy because they were all wonderfully brought up by his wife.
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His disciples this marching order: 'Proclaim the gospel to every creature' (Mark 16:15). All the disciples lived out this command of Jesus to the fullest. In fact, the majority of them were martyred for the sake of advancing the gospel.
The words of Jesus are like a stream of water; they endlessly flow with the passing of time and these words speak to us now so that we can respond. The Lord tells us that we too have a mission, and what is that mission? We are also tasked by Jesus to proclaim and live the good news. Have we shared and lived the gospel?
The majority of us may not have shared and lived it yet. Therefore, we have to live and share it now. Not tomorrow, not next week, but now. Why now and not on a later date? Because many are in need of the life-transforming words of Jesus. Many are being eaten alive by worldliness, hedonism, and sinfulness.
Therefore, we must share the good news as the disciples did, because the Lord commands us to do so. Let us share Jesus’ teachings through how we live, because we become more fruitful and useful followers of Jesus when we live our faith, obey Him, and help advance His teachings.
We allow ourselves to become blessings for others when we share and give Jesus to them. We also allow Jesus to bless us more, not with material wealth, but with spiritual gifts when we follow His marching order.
Have you already followed this marching order of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How does it feel to say goodbye? It’s
heartbreaking to say the least, as much as possible we don’t want to hear
goodbyes. But goodbyes are for real and part of life. But why is it that we
don’t want to hear goodbyes and we don’t want to be separated from the person
that we love? Because goodbyes and separations entails loneliness and
sadness.
Perhaps the disciples in the gospel were also feeling
lonely and sad. Just imagine being there in that situation where Jesus was
already saying His goodbye to them. If we were with the apostles we surely
would be lonely and sad also. But unlike human goodbyes which is often times permanent
and leaves us empty. Jesus’ goodbye was not permanent and Jesus goodbye to His
disciples did not left His disciples empty.
Jesus assured His disciples that after He left them
they could still invoke His name when they pray for something to the Father.
And through His name they can have whatever they ask in prayer to the
Father.
Everything is possible with Jesus we can have whatever
we want to have for as long as we ask Jesus’ help. The impossible becomes very
much possible when we pray with faith to God through Jesus. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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."
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen,
I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will
grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in
anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born
into the world.
So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you
again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from
you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to
you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A good man was wondering about why he was experiencing
some difficulties in his life. He was in debt and his house was possessed by a
bank due to unpaid loans. He was now questioning the Lord about his very
difficult life. After a few days he won in a lottery and he was able to pay
everything and he had more to spare and save.
Jesus was telling the disciples that they would go
through difficult moments in their lives while others were rejoicing.
Nonetheless, He was also assuring His disciples that as long as they stayed
with Him, they would be able to pull through all of their difficulties.
The life that we have chosen with Jesus will not
always be a walk in the park or a bed of roses. There shall be drought and
loneliness once in a while, we may even feel alone. However, we will be able to
pull through all of these difficulties because we continue to hold and rest our
destiny upon Christ Jesus.
Let us never hold on to this world or even to
ourselves, for they will never help us solve our problems or difficulties in
life. Instead, let us hold on to Jesus, for He has the words of eternal life (John
6:68). – Marino J. Dasmarinas
