Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 19 Sabado Santo Ang Magdamagang Pagdiriwang sa Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Lucas 24:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 24:1-12

Umagang-umaga nang araw ng Linggo, ang mga babae’y nagtungo sa libingan, dala ang mga pabangong inihanda nila. Nang dumating sila, naratnan nilang naigulong na ang batong nakatakip sa pintuan ng libingan. Ngunit nang pumasok sila, wala ang bangkay ng Panginoong Hesus.

Samantalang nagugulo ang kanilang isip tungkol dito, nakita nila’t sukat sa tabi nila ang dalawang lalaking nakasisilaw ang damit. Dahil sa matinding takot, sila’y lumuhod, sayad ang mukha sa lupa. Tinanong sila ng mga lalaki, “Bakit ninyo hinahanap ang buhay sa gitna ng mga patay?

Wala na siya rito – siya’y muling nabuhay! Alalahanin ninyo ang sinabi niya sa inyo noong nasa Galilea pa siya: ‘Ang Anak ng Tao ay kailangang maipagkanulo sa mga makasalanan at maipako sa krus, at sa ikatlong araw ay muling mabuhay.’” At naalaala ng mga babae ang mga sinabi niya. Pagbabalik mula sa libingan, isinalaysay nila ang lahat ng ito sa Labing-isa at sa iba pang kasama nila.

Ang mga babaing ito’y sina Maria Magdalena, Juana, at Mariang ina ni Santiago; sila at ang iba pang mga babaing kasama nila ang nagbalita nito sa mga apostol. Ngunit inakala ng mga apostol na kahibangan lamang ang kanilang sinabi, kaya hindi nila pinaniwalaan ang mga babae. Gayunma’y tumindig si Pedro at patakbong nagpunta sa libingan.

Yumukod siya at pagtingin sa loob ay wala siyang nakita kundi ang mga kayong lino. Kaya’t umuwi siyang nagtataka sa nangyari.

Reflection for April 18 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion (Fasting and Abstinence): John 18:1—19:42

Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. 

So if you are looking for me, let these men go. This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”  

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.  

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,  went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in.

Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.  

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.  

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.  

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”

At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”

Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting  to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”  

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.  

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”

The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me?

Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. here they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”

Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots.

This is what the soldiers did. 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.  

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.  

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 that 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.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.  

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.

They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

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Reflection:

Today is Good Friday. Why is it called Good Friday, in spite of the fact that on this very day Jesus died on the cross? We call this day Good Friday because Jesus made the greatest sacrifice for all of us—and that is to die on the cross for our salvation.

Before breathing His last, Jesus’ final words were: “It is finished.” After all the suffering inflicted on Him by the Roman soldiers, after all the betrayal and denial by almost all of His disciples, after all the persecution by the Pharisees, scribes, Sanhedrin, and the powers that be—it is now finished. Mission accomplished, in other words.

It is no mystery why Jesus had to undergo such torture; it was all for us, for our salvation. Out of love for us all, He willingly went through these sufferings. Being God, He could have chosen to bypass this terrible chapter of His earthly life, but Jesus saw that we were in great need of His love and mercy. So, He gave His life as a ransom for us all. What have we done so far to reciprocate His love?

Some of us are so enslaved by this world that we no longer have time for God. We don’t have time to worship Him at Holy Mass or communicate with Him in prayer. This Good Friday, let us begin to change this cycle of worldliness into godliness. Let us aspire to know more about God—for we will never go wrong with Him. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 18 Biyernes Santo sa Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon (Pag-aayuno at Abstinensya): Juan 18:1-19:42

Mabuting Balita: Juan 18:1-19:42

Noong panahong iyon, umalis si Jesus kasama ang kanyang mga alagad. Pumunta sila sa ibayo ng batis Cedron at pumasok sa isang halamanan doon. Ang lugar na ito'y alam ni Judas na nagkanulo sa kanya, sapagkat madalas magpunta roon si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad.  

Pumaroon si Judas, kasama ang ilang bantay sa templo at isang pangkat ng mga kawal na padala ng mga punong saserdote at mga Pariseo. May dala silang mga parol, sulo at sandata. Alam ni Jesus ang lahat ng mangyayari sa kanya, kaya't sila'y sinalubong niya at tinanong, "Sino ang hinahanap ninyo?" "Si Hesus na taga-Nazaret," tugon nila, Sinabi niya, "Ako si Hesus." 

Kaharap nila si Judas na nagkanulo sa kanya. Nang sabihin ni Jesus na siya nga, napaurong sila at nabuwal sa lupa. Muli siyang nagtanong, "Sino nga ang hinahanap ninyo?" "Si Jesus na taga-Nazaret," sagot nila. "sinabi ko na sa inyong ako si Jesus. Kung ako ang hinahanap ninyo, hayaan ninyong umalis ang mga taong ito," wika niya.

Sinabi niya ito upang matupad ang kanyang salita, "Walang napahamak kahit isa sa mga ibinigay mo sa akin, Ama." Binunot ni Simon Pedro ang kanyang tabak at tinaga ang alipin ng pinakapunong saserdote. Natigpas ang kanyang tainga ng aliping yaon na ang pangala'y Malco. Sinabi ni Jesus kay Pedro, "Isalong mo ang iyong tabak! Dapat kong inumin ang saro ng paghihirap na ibinigay sa akin ng Ama." 

Si Jesus ay dinakip at ginapos ng mga bantay na Judio at ng pangkat ng mga kawal sa pamumuno ng kanilang kapitan. Siya'y dinala muna kay Anas na biyenan ni Caifas na pinakapunong saserdote nang panahong yaon. Si Caifas ang nagpayo sa mga Judio na mas mabuti para sa kanila na isang tao lamang ang mamatay alang-alang sa bayan. 

Si Simon Pedro at ang isa pang alagad ay sumunod kay Jesus. Kilala ng pinakapunong saserdote ang alagad na ito, kaya't nakapasok siyang kasama ni Jesus sa patyo ng bahay ng pinakapunong saserdote. Naiwan naman si Pedro sa labas ng pintuan.

Lumabas ang alagad na kilala ng pinakapumong saserdote , kinausap ang dalagang nagbabantay sa pinto, at pinapasok si Pedro. Si Pedro'y tinanong ng dalaga, hindi ba't isa ka sa mga alagad ng taong iyan?" "Hindi," sagot ni Pedro. Maginaw noon, kaya't nagpabaga ng uling ang mga alipin at mga bantay at tumayo sa paligid ng siga upang magpainit. Nakihalo si Pedro at nagpainit din. 

Si Jesus ay tinanong ng pinakapunong saserdote tungkol sa kanyang mga alagad at sa kanyang itinuturo. Sumagot si Jesus, "Hayagan akong nagsasalita sa madla; lagi akong nagtuturo sa mga sinagoga at sa templo ng mga Judio. Wala akong sinabing palihim. Bakit ako ang tinatanong ninyo?

Ang tanungin ninyo'y ang mga nakarinig sa akin; alam nila kung ano ang sinabi ko." Pagkasabi nito, siya'y sinampal ng isa sa mga bantay na naroroon. "Bakit mo sinasagot ng ganyan ang pinakapunong saserdote?" tanong niya. Sinagot siya ni Jesus, "Kung nagsalita ako ng masama, patunayan mo! Ngunit kung mabuti ang sinabi ko, bakit mo ako sinampal?" Si Jesus na nagagapos pa noon ay ipinadala ni Anas kay Caifas, ang pinakapunong saserdote.  

Samantala, naroon pa rin si Simon Pedro at nagpapainit. Siya'y tinanong nila, "Hindi ba't alagad ka rin ng taong iyan?" "Hindi!" sagot ni Pedro. Tinanong naman siya ng isang alipin ng pinakapunong saserdote , kamag-anak ng lalaking tinagpasan niya ng tainga, "Hindi ba ikaw ang nakita kong kasama ni Jesus sa halamanan?" Muling itinatwa ito ni Pedro. Siya namang pagtilaok ng manok. 

Mula sa bahay ni Caifas, si Jesus ay dinala nila sa palasyo ng gobernador. Umaga na noon. Hindi pumasok ang mga Judio sa palasyo ng gobernador, upang sila'y huwag maituring na di karapat-dapat kumain ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa. Kaya't sa labas sila tinanggap ni Pilato at tinanong, "Ano ang sakdal ninyo laban sa taong ito?"

Sumagot sila, "Kung hindi po siya gumawa ng masama, hindi namin siya dadalhin sa inyo." Sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato, "Dalhin ninyo siya, at hatulan ayon sa inyong kautusan." Sumagot ang mga Judio, "Wala po kaming kapangyarihang humatol ng kamatayan kaninuman." Nangyari ito upang matupad ang sinabi ni Jesus tungkol sa paraan ng kanyang pagkamatay. 

Si Pilato'y pumasok uli sa palasyo at tinawag si Jesus. "Ikaw ba ang Hari ng mga Judio?" tanong niya. Sumagot si Jesus, "Iyan ba'y galing sa inyong sariling isipan, o may nagsabi sa inyo?" "Ako ba'y Judio?" tanong ni Pilato. "Ang mga kababayan mo at ang mga punong saserdote ang nagdala sa inyo rito.

Ano ba ang ginawa mo?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Ang kaharian ko'y hindi sa sanlibutang ito. Kung sa sanlibutang ito ang aking kaharian , ipinakipaglaban sana ako ng aking mga tauhan at hindi naipagkanulo sa mga Judio. Ngunit hindi sa sanlibutang ito ang aking kaharian!" Kung gayon, isa kang hari?" sabi ni Pilato.

Sumagot si Jesus, "Kayo na ang nagsabing ako'y hari. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ako ipinanganak at naparito sa sanlibutan: upang magsalita tungkol sa katotohanan. "Ano ba ang katotohanan?" tanong ni Pilato. 

Pagkasabi nito, muling lumabas si Pilato at sinabi sa mga Judio, "Wala akong makitang kasalanan sa taong ito. Ngunit ayon sa inyong kaugalian, dapat akong magpalaya ng isang bilanggo kung araw ng Paskuwa. Ibig ba ninyong palayain ko ang Hari ng mga Judio?" "Hindi!" sigaw nila. "Huwag siya, kundi si Barrabas!" Si Barrabas ay isang tulisan. 

Kaya't ipinakuha ni Pilato si Jesus at ipinahagupit. Ang mga kawal ay kumuha ng halamang matinik, ginawang korona, at ipinutong kay Jesus. At sinuutan siya ng balabal na purpura. Isa't isa'y lumalapit sa kanya ang wika,"Mabuhay ang Hari ng mga Judio!" At siya'y pinagsasampal.

Lumabas uli si Pilato at sinabi sa kanila, "Ihaharap ko siya sa inyo upang malaman ninyo na wala akong makitang kasalanan niya!" At inilabas si Jesus na may koronang tinik at balabal na purpura. Sinabi sa kanila ni Pilato, "Narito ang mga tao!" Pagkakita sa kanya ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga bantay sila'y sumigaw: "Ipako siya sa krus! Ipako sa krus! "

Sinabi ni Pilato, "Kunin ninyo siya, at kayo ang magpako sa, at kayo ang magpako sa kanya. Wala akong makitang kasalanan niya." Sumagot ang mga Judio, "Ayon sa aming kautusa'y nararapat siyang mamatay, sapagkat siya'y nagpapanggap na Anak ng Diyos." 

Lalong natakot si Pilato nang marinig ang mga pananalitang ito. Muli siyang pumasok sa palasyo at tinanong si Jesus, "Tagasaan ka ba?" Subalit hindi tumugon si Jesus. "Ayaw mo bang makipag-usap sa akin?" ani Pilato. "Hindi mo ba alam na maari kitang palayain o ipapako sa krus?" At sumagot si Jesus, "Kaya mo lang magagawa iyan ay sapagkat ipinagkaloob sa iyo ng Diyos ang kapangyarihang iyan, kaya mas mabigat ang kasalanan ng nagdala sa akin dito."

Nang marinig ito ni Pilato, lalo niyang hinangad na palayain si Jesus. Ngunit nagsigawan ang mga tao, "Kapag pinalaya mo ang taong iyan, hindi ka kaibigan ni Cesar! Sinumang nagpapanggap na hari ay kalaban ni Cesar." Pagkarinig ni Pilato sa pangungusap na ito, inilabas niya si Jesus, at siya'y lumuklok sa hukuman sa dakong tinatawag na "Ang Plataporma" Gabata sa wikang Hebreo. 

Araw noon ng Paghahanda sa Paskuwa, at mag-iikalabindalawa na ng tanghali. Sinabi ni Pilato sa mga Judio, "Narito ang inyong hari!" Sumigaw sila, "Patayin siya! Patayin! Ipako sa krus!" Ipapako ko ba sa krus ang inyong hari?" tanong ni Pilato. Sumagot ang punong saserdote, "Wala kaming hari kundi ang Cesar!" Kaya't si Jesus ay ibinigay sa kanila ni Pilato upang ipako sa krus.

Kinuha nga nila si Jesus. At lumabas siya na pasan ang kanyang krus, patungo sa lugar na kung tawagi'y "Dako ng Bungo" Golgota sa wikang Hebreo. Pagdating doon , siya'y ipinako sa krus, kasama ng dalawa pa -- isa sa gawing kanan at isa sa kaliwa. Sumulat si Pilato ng ganitong pangungusap at ipinalagay sa krus: "Si Jesus na taga-Nazaret, ang Hari ng mga Judio."

Nasusulat ito sa mga wikang Hebreo, Latin, at Griego at marami sa mga Judio ang nakabasa nito, sapagkat malapit sa lunsod ang dakong pinagpakuan kay Jesus. Kaya't sinabi ng mga punong saserdote kay Pilato, "Huwag ninyong isulat na Hari ng mga Judio, kundi, 'Sinabi ng taong ito, Ako ang Hari ng mga Judio.' " Sumagot si Pilato, "Ang naisulat ko'y naisulat ko na." 

Nang maipako na ng mga kawal si Jesus, kinuha nila ang kanyang kasuutan at pinaghati-hatian ng apat. Kinuha rin nila ang kanyang tunika; ito'y walang tahi at hinabi ng buo mula sa itaas hanggang sa ibaba. Nag-usap-usap ang mga kawal, "Huwag nating punitin ito; magsapalaran na lamang tayo para malaman kung kanino ito mauuwi."

Nangyari ito upang matupad ang isinasaad ng Kasulatan, "Pinaghati-hatian nila ang aking kasuutan; at ang aking damit ay kanilang pinagsapalaran." Gayon na nga ang ginawa ng mga kawal.  

Nakatayo sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae nitong si Maria, na asawa ni Cleopas. Naroon din si Maria Magdalena. Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina, at ang minamahal na alagad sa tabi nito, kanyang sinabi, "Ginang, narito ang iyong Anak!" At sinabi sa alagad, "Narito ang iyong Ina!" Mula noon, siya'y pinatira ng alagad na ito sa kanyang bahay.

Pagkatapos nito, alam ni Jesus na naganap na ang lahat ng bagay; at bilang katuparan ng Kasulatan ay sinabi niya, "Nauuhaw ako!" May isang mangkok doon na puno ng maasim na alak. Itinubog nila dito ang isang espongha, ikinabit sa sanga ng isopo at idiniit sa kanyang bibig. Nang masipsip ni Jesus ang alak ay kanyang sinabi, "Naganap na!" Iniyukayok niya ang kanyang ulo at nalagot ang kanyang hininga. 

(Dito luluhod ang tanan at sandaling mananahimik.)

Noo'y araw ng Paghahanda, at ayaw ng mga Judio na manatili sa krus ang mga bangkay sa Araw ng Pamamahinga sapagkat dakila ang Araw ng Pamamahingang ito. Kaya't hiniling nila kay Pilato na ipabali nito ang mga binti ng mga ipinako sa krus, at alisin doon ang mga bangkay.

Naparoon nga ang mga kawal at binali ang mga binti ng dalawang ipinakong kasabay ni Jesus. Ngunit pagdating nila kay Jesus at makitang patay na siya, hindi na nila binali ang kanyang binti. Subalit inulos ng sibat ng isa sa mga kawal ang tagiliran ni Jesus, at biglang dumaloy ang dugo at tubig.

Ang nakakita nito ang nagpatotoo -- tunay ang kanyang patotoo at alam niyang katotohanan ang sinabi niya -- upang kayo'y maniwala. Nangyari ang mga ito upang matupad ang sinasabi ng Kasulatan. "Walang mababali isa man sa kanyang mga buto." At sinabi naman ng ibang bahagi ng Kasulatan, "Pagmamasdan nila ang kanilang inulos." 

Pagkatapos nito, si Jose na taga-Arimatea ay nagsadya kay Pilato upang humingi ng pahintulot na makuha ang bangkay ni Jesus. Si Jose'y isang alagad ni Jesus, ngunit palihim nga lamang dahil sa takot sa mga Judio. At pinahintulutan siya ni Pilato; kaya't kinuha ni Jose ang bangkay ni Jesus.

Sumama sa kanya si Nicodemo, may dalang pabango -- mga 100 libra na pinaghalong mira at aloe. Siya ang nagsadya kay Jesus isang gabi. Kinuha nila ang bangkay ni Jesus, at nilagyan ng pabango , habang binabalot sa kayong lino, ayon sa kaugalian ng mga Judio. Sa pinagpakuan kay Jesus ay may halamanan, at dito'y may isang libingang hindi pa napaglilibingan. Yamang noo'y araw ng Paghahanda ng mga Judio, at dahil malapit naman ang libingang ito, doon nila inilibing si Jesus.

Reflection on the Seven Last words of Jesus

1. “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) 

Are you forgiving?

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Forgiveness simply means that we choose to move on and not allow hatred to destroy us. 

Hanging on the cross and near death Jesus spoke these profound words. Who was Jesus alluding  to when He spoke these words? Jesus was alluding to those who persecuted Him which led Him on the cross. They were His critics like the Pharisees, Scribes, High priest and the like. Included also were the Soldiers who brought Him to the mountain of Calvary to crucify Him. 

Here we see that Jesus is full of mercy, love and forgiveness towards those who made life very difficult for Him. Jesus did not bear any hatred towards those who hated and killed Him. 

We have to reflect here on how we forgive those who sinned against us. For example, if a person betrayed our trust or a person hurts us. Have we forgiven them already? We have to forgive no matter how deep the hurt they’ve inflicted upon us. Why? Because if Jesus can forgive who are we not to forgive? 

Forgiveness is a gift that we give not to those who’ve hurt us or betrayed us. Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves for the simple reason that we are only hurting our very selves when we don’t forgive. We have to free ourselves from being imprisoned by hatred caused by our unforgiveness. Therefore, we have to forgive. 

Are you forgiving?

 

2.   “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) 

Where is the paradise that Jesus is referring? 

The paradise is with Him, in Him and in His kingdom in heaven. Jesus addressed this statement to one of the criminals hanging on the cross by His side. The criminal said to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).” And right there Jesus said to the criminal: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).” 

The criminal was enlightened while he was hanging on the cross side by side with Jesus.  This is the reason why he asked the Lord to remember him when He is already in His kingdom. Don’t we all want to have the same enlightenment that he had? Of course, we want it as well. So, we have to humbly ask the Lord for the same enlightenment coursed through our prayers to the Lord. Many of us are so fixated in this fleeting word that we think and feel that this is our paradise. 

But as we see the destructive result of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine as we see the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza we discover that this world is not at all paradise. We seek worldly pleasures (many of these worldly pleasures influence us to sin). We seek temporal wealth and worldly power and influence only to find out that this is not where paradise is located. Why?  For the simple reason that we humans have no satisfaction we will seek these earthly things which we think would satisfy us. Only to realize in the end that it cannot and will not satisfy us. 

So, where is the real paradise that the Lord is talking? This paradise we can only find, feel and experience with Him, in Him and through Him. The true and real paradise that Jesus mentions is already here and now when we make Jesus part and parcel of our daily living.  

Where is your paradise? 

 

3.  “Woman, behold thy son. After that, he said to the disciple: Behold thy mother.” (John 19: 26-27) 

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  

When Jesus was on the cross dying, He saw His mother Mary still looking after Him. His mother, who cared, nurtured and watched over Him from the beginning until the end of His life. Dying and all, Jesus saw that nobody would take care of His mother so He asked John, His beloved disciple to take care of her. 

Do we also take care of the Blessed Mother by respecting her as Jesus respected her? Mary is the mother of Jesus therefore it is incumbent for us to give her the respect and love which she richly deserves.  We live our love and respect for the Blessed Mother when we pray the Holy Rosary. When we politely teach others to respect her because she is the mother of Jesus and our mother as well. Mary our mother who will always be there to listen to us when no one would dare listen to us.  Mary our mother who will always be there to pray for us. 

This is also to remind us that we have to respect and love at all times our own respective mothers. We would never exist in this world without our mothers. We would never become who we are today without their guidance and nurturing. Jesus would not have existed in this world without the consent of his mother Mary. As a debt of gratitude to his mother Jesus saw it fit to entrust his mother to his beloved disciple John. 

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  What are you doing right now to show your respect and love for the Blessed Mother? Do you invoke her intersession when you pray? Do you defend her when someone is demeaning her role in the life of Jesus?

 

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) 

Do you sometimes feel forsaken by the Lord? 

On the cross and dying Jesus uttered these words. These are words of surrender, frustration and giving up. After going through all of the persecutions, torture and abandonment Jesus felt forsaken. Who among us would not feel the same way when we’ve been through what Jesus had been through? We would also understandably feel forsaken and abandoned by the Lord.    

But did God abandon Jesus when He was gasping and dying on the cross? Does God abandon and forsake us when we are at the lowest point of our life? Is God absent as we navigate through the dangerous waters of  the challenges and trials in our lives? God did not abandon Jesus, God was with Jesus all the way! God was strengthening Jesus when Jesus was at the lowest and weakest point in His life. And certainly God is also walking with us as we try to survive the trials and challenges in our lives. 

We are humans subject to our own human frailties. It is understandable to feel forsaken by the Lord once in a while. But truth be told, God’s presence in our lives is strongest when we feel forsaken by this world and the people of this world. God will never forsake us, God will never abandon us and God will always be there to strengthen us. Therefore, we always have to cling to Him in good times and most especially in the turbulent episodes of our lives. 

Do you sometimes feel abandoned and forsaken by the Lord?

 

5.“I thirst.” (John 19:28) 

What do we thirst for? 

Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said: “I thirst.” In His humanity, yes physical thirst but more than that it was the thirst for those people who were formerly with Him. These are the people who were with Jesus during His healing and speaking ministry. 

Dying on the cross perhaps, Jesus was whimpering while saying, “I thirst.” Why? For the reason that He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His miraculous healing and powerful 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 truly 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 extra-judicial killing. I thirst for you to always be humble and simple. 

 I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass everyday or even every Sunday if you cannot make it every day.  I thirst for you to become a good father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to your priesthood. I thirst for you to be faithful to your religious life. I thirst for you to help those who are hungry.   

Would you respond to Jesus thirst? 

 6. “It is finished.” (John 19:30) 

How do you feel after finishing a worthy undertaking? 

You feel good and triumphant. This second to the last word of Jesus is a word of triumph, at last it’s over at last it’s mission accomplished! 

Jesus finally defeated the voice of Satan who was whispering to Him not to finish His salvific mission. Jesus overcame the many hurdles and temptation for Him not to pursue to the end His mission of salvation. Finally, Jesus redeemed the sinful humanity from the enslavement of sin. 

However, it’s not finished for us yet, we are still in this journey called life. We are still battling the many demons that constantly whispers to our ears to commit sin. So, what are we going to do to be able to say that, “It's finally finished!” 

We have to be faithful to our Lord until our end in this temporal world overtakes us. Then, when it comes, we can finally say, it is finished because we have been faithful to the Lord. We did not give an iota of space for Satan to distract us in our disciples with the Lord. 

Would we be able to successfully say, ‘It is finished’ when the sun sets upon us someday? It is finished because we have defeated the many demons that were constantly tempting us to give up in our disciples for Jesus. 

7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)    

Are you afraid to die? 

After all has been said and done it’s now the end- it’s the victorious death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus conquered our sinfulness by dying on the cross. By giving His very life on the cross Jesus showed us the true meaning of sacrifice and love. 

Death is something that many of us fear but why fear death if we live our life with Jesus in this world? Why fear death when this is the final hurdle for us to be with the Lord in heaven? Why fear death when it ends all our sufferings in this world? If we have not done wrong in this world we would not fear death. When we love the Lord over this fleeting and temporal world we would not fear death. 

Many of us fear death for the simple reason that we are so attached to this world. But if we are detached from this world and attached to our Lord, we would not fear death. What are the attachments that we have that makes us fear death?  Are we so attached to our worldly possession/wealth that’s why we fear death? Life is dynamic never static we never know what would happen in the next seconds, minutes, hours and days. 

When we make this world our God we would fear death, when we make our worldly possession our master instead of servant we would fear death. Jesus conquered His fear of death because He has no worldly attachments. From the beginning Jesus detached Himself from this world because it would encumber Him from devoting His life to His mission of salvation.  

Let us slowly but surely detach ourselves from this world. So that when we are at the doorway going to the everlasting life we can say to our Lord: "I'm finally coming home my Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit." -  Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for April 17 Holy Thursday -Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: John 13:1-15

Gospel: John 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.  

He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”  

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”  

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” 

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Reflection:

Would you be willing to emulate the humility of Jesus?

Aside from being the Son of God, what is the secret behind the endless longevity of Jesus’ teachings? Countless people have already belittled Jesus as an ordinary human being, yet His legacy and teachings still echo to this very moment—and will continue to echo for eternity. What is the secret to the permanence of Jesus’ teachings?

The secret is in His self-sacrifice; the secret is in His humility. Jesus never thought of His own safety. He never created comfort zones or anything that would ensure His own protection. Instead, He blazed the trail of self-sacrifice and humility.

In His self-sacrifice, Jesus instituted the Eucharist—the first Mass—on this very day to humbly keep Himself and His teachings alive. He did this so we would have something to hold on to as we face the many battles and struggles of our lives. Thus, He continuously strengthens us every time we make ourselves present in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. He nourishes us each time we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion.

Through His humility, Jesus embodied servant leadership. He showed the twelve apostles—and us—what it truly means to serve. He washed the feet of the apostles to signify that they must do the same for those they are called to serve. They would only become true leaders once they learned to give their lives in humble service to others.

Are you willing to follow the path of Jesus’ self-sacrifice and humility? If you are, your legacy will be forever etched in the hearts of those who know you—and they will remember you with fondness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 17 Huwebes sa Pagmimisa sa Pagtatakipsilim sa Paghahapunan ng Panginoon: Juan 13:1-15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 13:1-15

Bisperas na ng Paskuwa. Alam ni Hesus na dumating na ang panahon ng kanyang paglisan sa sanlibutang ito upang bumalik sa Ama. Mahal niya ang kanyang mga tagasunod na nasa sanlibutan, at ngayo’y ipakikita niya kung hanggang saan ang kanyang pag-ibig sa kanila. 

Naghahapunan si Hesus at ang mga alagad. Naisilid na ng diyablo sa isip ni Judas, anak ni Simon Iscariote, ang pagkakanulo kay Hesus. Alam ni Hesus na ibinigay na sa kanya ng Ama ang buong kapangyarihan; alam din niyang siya’y mula sa Diyos at babalik sa Diyos. Kaya’t nang sila’y naghahapunan, tumindig si Hesus, naghubad ng kanyang panlabas na kasuotan, at nagbigkis ng tuwalya.

Pagkatapos, nagbuhos siya ng tubig sa palanggana, at sinimulang hugasan ang paa ng mga alagad at punasan ng tuwalyang nakabigkis sa kanya. Paglapit niya kay Simon Pedro, tumutol ito. “Panginoon,” sabi niya, “diyata’t kayo pa ang maghuhugas ng aking mga paa?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Hindi mo nauunawan ngayon ang ginagawa ko, ngunit mauunawaan mo rin pagkatapos.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Pedro. “Hinding-hindi ko po pahuhugasan sa inyo ang aking mga paa.”

“Kung hindi kita huhugasan, wala kang kaugnayan sa akin,” tugon ni Hesus. Kaya’t sinabi ni Pedro, “Panginoon, hindi lamang po ang mga paa ko, kundi pati ang aking kamay at ulo!” Ani Hesus, “Maliban sa kanyang mga paa, hindi na kailangang hugasan pa ang naligo na, sapagkat malinis na ang kanyang buong katawan. At malinis na kayo, ngunit hindi lahat.” Sapagkat alam ni Hesus kung sino ang magkakanulo sa kanya, kaya sinabi niyang malinis na sila, ngunit hindi lahat.

Nang mahugasan na ni Hesus ang kanilang mga paa, siya’y nagsuot ng damit at nagbalik sa hapag. “Nauunawaan ba ninyo kung ano ang ginawa ko sa inyo?” tanong niya sa kanila. “Tinatawag ninyo akong Guro at Panginoon, at tama kayo, sapagkat ako nga. Kung akong Panginoon ninyo at Guro ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, dapat din kayong mahugasan ng paa. Binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at ito’y dapat ninyong tularan.”

Reflection for April 16 Wednesday of Holy Week: Matthew 26:14-25

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.  

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.  

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,

"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."

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Reflection:

What happened to Judas Iscariot? He killed himself. But what if, instead of taking his own life, Judas had simply approached Jesus and said, “I’m sorry, Lord, for betraying You”? How would Jesus have reacted? Jesus would have forgiven him. 

But the sad part is that humbling himself before Jesus never came to Judas’ contemplation. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas Iscariot sold his soul to the devil. Obviously, Judas loved money more than the Lord—otherwise, he would not have betrayed Jesus.

Indeed, “the love of money is the root of all evil. Because of this greed, some have wandered away from the faith, bringing on themselves afflictions of every kind” (1 Timothy 6:10).

What power does money have that many of us are willing to sell our souls to the devil just to obtain it? What power does money have that we are willing to punish ourselves, even to the detriment of our health, just to have it?

Money per se is not evil; It becomes evil when we greed for it, and when we allow it to possess us. But what price are we willing to pay just to have money? Judas betrayed the Lord and eventually destroyed his very life because of his greed for money.

There is always a heavy price to pay when we allow ourselves to be possessed by greed. Just observe those people who are greedy for money—what happened to them? Where are they now?

The betrayal of Judas, bought for thirty pieces of silver, sends us a chilling lesson:
That our greed and love for money will bring us no good—only misery, and countless more miseries.

All the money in this world cannot buy us harmony in the family. All the money in this world cannot buy us peace of mind—and so forth. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 16 Miyerkules Santo: Mateo 26:14-25

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 26:14-25

Si Judas Iscariote, isa sa Labindalawa, ay nakipagkita sa mga punong saserdote. "Ano po ang ibibigay ninyo sa akin kung tulungan ko kayong madakip si Jesus?" tanong niya. Noon din ay binilangan niya siya ng tatlumpong salaping pilak. Mula noon, humanap na si Judas ng pagkakataon upang maipagkanulo si Jesus. 

Dumating ang unang araw ng Kapistahan ng Tinapay na Walang Lebadura. Lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad at nagtanong, "Saan po ninyo ibig na ipaghanda namin kayo ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa?" Sumagot siya, "Pumunta kayo sa lunsod at hanapin ninyo ang taong ito. Sabihin sa kanyang ganito ang ipinasasabi ng Guro: 'Malapit na ang aking oras. Ako at ang mga alagad ko'y sa bahay mo kakain ng Hapunang Pampaskuwa.' " Sinunod ng mga alagad ang utos ni Jesus, at inihanda nila ang Hapunang Pampaskuwa. 

Nang gabing yaon, dumulog sa hapag si Jesus, kasama ang labindalawang alagad. Samantalang sila'y kumakain, nangusap si Jesus, "Sinasabi ko: isa sa inyo ang magkakanulo sa akin." Nanlumo ang mga alagad, at isa't isa'y nagtanong sa kanya, "Ako po ba, Panginoon?" Sumagot siya, "Ang kasabay kong sumawsaw sa mangkok ang siyang magkakanulo sa akin. 

Papanaw ang Anak ng Tao, ayon sa nasusulat, ngunit sa aba ng nagkanulo sa kanya! "Mabuti pang hindi na ipinanganak ang taong iyon." Si Judas, na magkakanulo sa kanya, ay nagtanong din, "Guro, ako po ba?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Ikaw na ang nagsabi."

Reflection for April 15 Tuesday of Holy Week: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” 

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. 

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” 

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

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Reflection:

Have you been betrayed already? 

How did you feel? You felt bad, of course—you felt anger and disappointment toward the person who betrayed you. 

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He felt bad and disappointed, perhaps the same way when He was disowned by Peter—not once, not twice, but three times! However, after all was said and done, Jesus forgave them all. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). 

To be betrayed and disowned by those whom we thought were incapable of doing such a thing is very hard to accept. But that’s life. That’s how many of us are—when we are tempted by Satan, we easily embrace betrayal. 

For example, in the Sacrament of Marriage or Matrimony, how many times have we betrayed our sacred vows for fleeting, wicked self-gratification—without knowing the immense consequences that will befall us? 

Betrayal initially starts in the mind, when we conjure images of the person who attracts us—until he or she completely captures us. Yet betrayal is not just an act by the person alone; it is an act planted by the devil and fed into the person’s mind. And when that person has weak faith, he or she naturally succumbs to the wicked schemes of the devil—until it completely destroys them. 

When Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34), He was not only referring to those who denied and betrayed Him during His passion. He was also referring to us—those of us who are easily swayed by the many temptations of the devil. 

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, let us ponder the many betrayals we’ve committed against Jesus—the many betrayals we've made within the Sacrament of Marriage. Let us beg for healing and forgiveness from Jesus. And lest we forget, let us also beg for forgiveness and restoration from the person we have betrayed. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Abril 15 Martes Santo: Juan 13:21-33, 36-38

Mabuting Balita: Juan 13:21-33, 36-38

Noong panahong iyon, habang nakahilig kasama ng kanyang mga alagad, nagugulumihanang sinabi ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo: ako’y ipagkakanulo ng isa sa inyo.” Nagkatinginan ang mga alagad; hindi nila alam kung sino ang kanyang tinutukoy. Ang alagad na minamahal ni Hesus ay nakahilig na kalapit niya. Kinalabit siya ni Simon Pedro at sinabi, “Itanong mo kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.”  

Kaya humilig siya sa dibdib ni Hesus at itinanong: “Panginoon, sino po ba ang tinutukoy ninyo?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ang ipagsawsaw ko ng tinapay, siya na nga.” At nang maisawsaw ang tinapay, ibinigay niya ito kay Judas na anak ni Simon Iscariote. Nang matanggap na ni Judas ang tinapay, si Satanas ay pumasok sa kanya.  

Sinabi ni Hesus, “Gawin mo na ang gagawin mo!” Ngunit isa man sa mga kasalo niya ay walang nakaalam kung bakit niya sinabi ito. Sapagkat si Judas ang nag-iingat ng kanilang salapi, inakala nilang pinabibili siya ni Hesus ng kakailanganin sa pista o kaya’y pinapaglilimos sa mga dukha. Nang makain na ni Judas ang tinapay, siya’y umalis. Gabi na noon. 

Pagkaalis ni Judas ay sinabi ni Hesus, “Ngayo’y mahahayag na ang karangalan ng Anak ng Tao; at mahahayag din ang karangalan ng Diyos sa pamamagitan niya. At kung mahayag na ang karangalan ng Diyos, ang Diyos naman ang maghahayag ng karangalan ng Anak, at gagawin niya ito agad. Mga anak, kaunting panahon na lamang ninyo akong makakasama. Hahanapin ninyo ako; ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon ang sinabi ko sa mga Judio, ‘Hindi kayo makapupunta sa paroroonan ko.’” 

“Saan po kayo pupunta, Panginoon?” tanong ni Simon Pedro. Sumagot si Hesus, “Sa paroroonan ko’y hindi ka makasusunod ngayon, ngunit susunod ka pagkatapos.” “Bakit po hindi ako makasusunod sa inyo ngayon?” tanong ni Pedro. “Buhay ko ma’y iaalay ko dahil sa inyo.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Iaalay mo ang iyong buhay dahil sa akin? Tandaan mo: bago tumilaok ang manok, makaitlo mo akong itatatwa.”