Jesus came to
his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished
and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not
the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph,
Simon, and Judas?
Are not his
sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took
offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor
except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many
mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Let us
imagine ourselves experiencing rejection. How would we feel about that
rejection directed at us? We would surely feel bad.
Jesus was
rejected and belittled when He returned to Nazareth, His native place. He did
not do anything offensive; He even taught in their synagogue. Yet He was
rejected. The sole reason for His rejection was that they knew Him only as the
son of a carpenter. His townspeople were too familiar with Him and His family.
They couldn’t
accept the fact that He had extraordinary wisdom and power. For these reasons,
they rejected Him. But why reject someone when they could have welcomed Him
with open arms? They rejected Jesus because they were envious of Him—envious of
His gift of healing, His intelligence, and the adulation He received from the
people. So, they rejected someone who could have helped them.
We will not
gain anything good if we harbor envy in our hearts. In fact, we are closing
ourselves off to the many blessings that Jesus wants to shower upon us. Instead
of being envious, why not simply be happy for the success of others? —Marino J.
Dasmarinas
God so loved the world that he gave his
only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but
might have eternal life. For God did n ot send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in
him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been
condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of
God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the
world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward
the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth
comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What would
happen to us if we do not embrace the teachings of God?
We will live miserable lives in this world. Almost all
of humanity knows that there is a God, but not all of us embrace His teachings.
We prefer to follow the ways of the world rather than the ways of God.
We prefer to enjoy life without God rather than life
with Him. Why? Is it because God sets rules and limits on how we live our
lives? Many of us do not want our freedom to be curtailed. But since freedom is
not absolute, there are limits to it.
God always wants us to avoid sin. The reason is
simple: the moment we commit sin, we envelope ourselves in darkness—and
darkness is the absence of the light of God. Just imagine a life in darkness. It’s
a life without hope, and this is precisely what the devil offers us: a life
without hope, sugar-coated with worldly pleasures.
But no sinner is beyond the reach of the love of God.
God always offers us His hand of forgiveness and love. This forgiveness and
love are for our benefit—but do we take advantage of this great gift?
God loves us so dearly that He gave us Jesus, His only
begotten Son, to save us from all our sinfulness. Let us not set Jesus aside
and tell Him that we will first enjoy the sinful pleasures of this world before
coming to Him—for it may be too late by then.
Let us embrace God now. Let us open our lives to Him
now. Let us start walking away from our sinfulness now. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos
sa sanlibutan, kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na Anak, upang ang sumampalataya
sa kanya ay hindi mapahamak, kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.
Sapagkat sinugo ng Diyos ang kanyang Anak, hindi upang hatulang maparusahan ang
sanlibutan, kundi upang iligtas ito sa pamamagitan niya.
"Hindi hinahatulang maparusahan ang nananampalataya sa Anak
ng Diyos; ngunit hinatulan nang parusahan ang hindi nananampalataya sa kanya.
Hinatulan sila sapagkat naparito sa sanlibutan ang ilaw, ngunit inibig pa ng
tao ang dilim kaysa liwanag, sapagkat masama ang kanilang mga gawa.
Ang
gumagawa ng masama ay ayaw sa ilaw, at hindi lumalapit dito upang hindi mahayag
ang kanyang mga gawa. Ngunit ang namumuhay sa katotohanan ay lumalapit sa ilaw;
sa gayon, nahahayag na ang kanyang mga ginagawa'y pagsunod sa Diyos.
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be
born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it
makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How
can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of
Israel and you do not understand this?
Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and
we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If
I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if
I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one
who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone
who believes in him may have eternal life.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Who is Nicodemus and how does his situation relate to
us?
He is a Pharisee, a secret but faithful follower of Jesus. He visited Jesus
during the night (John 3:1–21). Nicodemus also appeared after the Crucifixion
of Jesus to provide the embalming ingredients for His body. He assisted Joseph
of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus (John 19:39–42).
Like Nicodemus, we too must become faithful followers of Jesus—followers
who are averse to sin, followers in words and in deeds, and followers who will
stay with Jesus no matter how strong the temptation to betray Him.
We should aspire to become modern-day Nicodemuses who will support
Jesus, work for Jesus, and do things for Jesus even outside the glare of
lights. For this is the challenge before us who are followers of the Lord.
But are we really His true followers?
Or are we followers only in good times, but when the testing of our faith
comes, we easily betray Jesus in favor of the many sinful enticements of this
world? Like Nicodemus, are we also followers who are ever ready to leave behind
everything for Jesus?
Leaving everything behind means leaving everything that made us sin. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus
kay Nicodemo: Huwag kayong magtaka sa sinabi ko sa inyo, 'Lahat ay kailangang
ipanganak na muli.' Umiihip ang hangin kung saan ibig at naririnig ninyo ang
ugong nito, ngunit hindi ninyo alam kung saan nanggagaling at kung saan
naparoroon.
Gayon din ang bawat ipinanganak sa Espiritu." "Paano
pong mangyayari ito?" tanong ni Nicodemo. Sumagot si Jesus, "Guro pa
naman kayo sa Israel ay hindi ninyo nauunawaan ang bagay na ito? Tandaan ninyo:
ang aming nalalaman ang sinasabi namin, at ang aming nasaksihan ang
pinatototohanan namin, ngunit hindi ninyo tinatanggap ang aming patotoo.
Kung hindi ninyo paniniwalaan ang sinasabi ko tungkol sa mga bagay
sa sanlibutang ito, paano ninyo paniniwalaan kung ang sabihin ko'y tungkol sa
mga bagay sa langit? Walang umakyat sa langit kundi ang bumaba mula sa langit
-- ang Anak ng Tao."
"At
kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang ahas doon sa ilang, gayon din naman,
kailangang itaas ang Anak ng Tao, upang ang sinumang sumasampalataya sa kanya
ay magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.
There was a
Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and
said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for
no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”
Jesus
answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from
above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man
once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and
be born again, can he?”
Jesus
answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he
cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is
born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born
from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it
makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you
already born again?
Every
Catholic who is faithful to the faith is born again. Being born again means we
practice the sacred teachings and rituals of our faith and are faithful to our
fidelity to Jesus. We have already been born again by virtue of our baptism;
this means that we are new individuals in Christ. As such, we have to do good
all the time, and we have to follow the teachings of the Church.
If we are
fair-weather Catholics, we have not yet been truly born again. Therefore, we
need to be born again by having a personal relationship with our Lord, Master,
and Savior Jesus Christ. This personal relationship with Jesus will facilitate
our being born again in the faith.
In our
Gospel, Nicodemus took literally the meaning of being born again. This is the
reason why he said to Jesus, "Surely he cannot re-enter his mother’s womb
and be born again, can he?" (John 3:4). Yet Jesus reminded Nicodemus that
the essence of being born again is to be born of water and Spirit — which
actually refers to our baptism.
By virtue of
our baptism, all of us have already been born again — that was years and years
ago. There’s no need for any of us to change our religion to be born again.
What we need is to have a personal encounter with Jesus within our Roman
Catholic Church.
How would we
do this?
We go to Holy
Mass faithfully and humbly beg God the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, so that we
may understand what goes on within the celebration of the Holy Mass. We visit
the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel as often as possible, speak to Jesus there,
and ask Him to renew us according to His will. And we open and read our Bible,
so that we may have a personal encounter with the very words and life of Jesus.
Are you
already a born-again Catholic? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
May isang Pariseo at pinuno ng mga Judio, na nagngangalang Nicodemo. Isang gabi, siya'y nagsadya kay Jesus, "Rabi," sabi niya, "nalalaman po naming kayo'y isang gurong mula sa Diyos, sapagkat walang makagagawa ng mga kababalaghang ginagawa ninyo malibang sumasakanya ang Diyos."
Sumagot si Jesus, "Sinasabi ko sa inyo: maliban na ipanganak na muli ang isang tao, hindi siya paghaharian ng Diyos." Paano pong maiipanganganak na muli ang isang tao kung matanda na siya? Makapapasok pa ba siya sa tiyan ng kanyang ina para ipanganak uli?" tanong ni Nicodemo.
"Sinasabi ko sa inyo," ani Jesus, "maliban na ang tao'y ipanganak sa tubig at Espiritu, hindi siya paghaharian ng Diyos. Ang ipinanganak sa laman ay laman, at ang ipinanganak sa Espiritu ay espiritu. Huwag kayong magtaka sa sinabi ko sa inyo, 'Lahat ay kailangang ipanganak na muli.'
Umihip ang hangin kung saan ibig at naririnig ninyo ang ugong nito, ngunit hindi ninyo alam kung saan nanggagaling at kung saan naparoroon. Gayun din ang bawat ipinanganak sa Espiritu."
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you want to have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ?
Thomas, in the Gospel, deeply longed to have an up-close and personal encounter with his Lord and Master. He was yearning for it like a parched land longing for water.
So when Thomas was told by his fellow disciples that the Risen Jesus had appeared to them, he may have pretended not to believe—but deep in his heart, he already believed what they told him.
Thomas believed, but he still yearned for physical evidence and a personal encounter. He wanted to see the Risen Christ in the flesh and to touch His wounds.
Thomas’s desire to encounter Jesus came to fulfillment a week later, when all of them were gathered once again in the upper room—where Jesus had first appeared. And while they were inside, lo and behold, Jesus suddenly appeared before them!
Immediately after His appearance, Jesus singled out Thomas. He invited him to look at the wounds in His hands and to touch the wound in His side—the one pierced by a Roman soldier’s lance while He hung on the cross.
Is it okay to doubt the resurrection of the Lord? Yes, it’s okay. But after doubting, let that doubt turn into curiosity. Ask the Lord to help you know Him more. Feed that longing by praying to Him.
Soon, you will discover and feel for yourself that Jesus is real—that Jesus is alive, and that He is just a prayer or even a whisper away from you. Why? Because Jesus has never failed anyone who has yearned for a personal encounter with Him.
Do you want to have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Kinagabihan ng araw ding iyon, ang
mga alagad ay nagkakatipon. Nakapinid ang mga pinto ng bahay na kanilang
pinagtitipunan dahil sa takot nila sa mga Judio. Dumating si Jesus at tumayo sa
gitna nila. "Sumainyo ang kapayapaan!" sabi niya.
Pagkasabi
nito, ipinakita niya ang kanyang mga kamay at ang kanyang tagiliran.
Tuwang-tuwa ang mga alagad nang makita ang Panginoon. Sinabi na naman ni Jesus,
"Sumainyo ang kapayapaan! Kung paanong sinugo ako ng Ama, gayon din naman,
sinusugo ko kayo." Pagkatapos, sila'y hiningahan niya at sinabi, "Tanggapin
ninyo ang Espiritu Santo. Ang patawarin ninyo sa kanilang mga kasalanan ay
pinatawad na nga; ang hindi ninyo patawarin ay hindi nga pinatawad."
Ngunit
si Tomas na tinaguriang Kambal, isa sa Labindalawa, ay wala roon nang dumating
si Jesus. Kaya't sinabi sa kanya ng ibang alagad, "Nakita namin ang
Panginoon!" Sumagot si Tomas, "Hindi ako maniniwala hangga't di ko
nakikita ang butas ng mga pako sa kanyang mga kamay, at naisusuot dito ang
aking mga daliri, at hangga't hindi ko naipapasok ang aking kamay sa kanyang
tagiliran."
Makalipas
ang walong araw, muling nagkatipon sa loob ng bahay ang mga alagad; kasama nila
si Tomas. Nakapinid ang mga pinto, ngunit pumasok si Jesus at tumayo sa gitna
nila. Sinabi niya, "Sumainyo ang kapayapaan!" Saka sinabi kay Tomas,
"Tingnan mo ang aking mga kamay at ilapit dito ang iyong daliri.
Ipasok
mo ang iyong kamay sa aking tagiliran. Huwag ka nang mag-alinlangan, maniwala
ka na." Sumagot si Tomas, "Panginoon ko at Diyos ko!" Sinabi sa
kanya ni Jesus, "Naniniwala ka na ba sapagkat nakita mo ako? Mapapalad ang
mga naniniwala kahit hindi nila ako nakita."
Marami pang kababalaghang ginawa si
Jesus na nasaksihan ng mga alagad, ngunit hindi natatala sa aklat na ito. Ang
mga natala rito'y sinulat upang sumampalataya kayong si Jesus ang Mesias, ang
Anak ng Diyos, at sa gayo'y magkaroon kayo ng buhay sa pamamagitan niya.
+ + + + + + +
Repleksyon:
Nais mo bang makaranas ng isang
malalim at personal na pakikipagtagpo sa Muling Nabuhay na Panginoong
HesuKristo?
Sa Mabuting Balita, si Tomas ay hindi
basta nagduda lamang—siya ay nanabik. Labis ang kanyang pagnanais na makita at
maranasan mismo ang kanyang Panginoon. Ang kanyang puso ay uhaw, tulad ng
tuyong lupa na sabik sa patak ng ulan. Kaya’t nang sabihin sa kanya ng kanyang
mga kapwa alagad na nagpakita si Jesus sa kanila, kunwari ay ipinakita niyang
hindi siya naniniwala—ngunit sa totoo lang, may paniniwala na siya sa
kaibuturan ng kanyang puso.
Pero hindi sapat kay Tomas ang
kwento. Gusto niya ng katunayan. Nais niyang makita si Jesus sa Kanyang muling
pagkabuhay. Nais niyang mahawakan ang mga sugat sa Kanyang mga kamay at sa
Kanyang tagiliran. Kaya hindi siya binigo ni Jesus.
Makalipas ang isang linggo, habang
ang mga alagad ay muling nagtipon sa silid sa itaas, bigla na lamang nagpakita
si Jesus sa gitna nila. Hindi Siya pumasok sa pinto. Siya'y basta na lang
naroroon—tanda ng Kanyang kaluwalhatian bilang Muling Nabuhay na Panginoon.
At ang una Niyang ginawa? Tinawag
Niya si Tomas at sinabi sa kanya. "Tingnan mo ang Aking mga kamay. Ilapit
mo ang iyong kamay at ipasok sa Aking tagiliran. Huwag ka nang
mag-alinlangan—manampalataya ka." (Juan 20:27)
Isang tagpo ng pag-ibig, ng
pang-unawa, at ng biyaya. Hindi sinermonan si Tomas. Bagkus, tinugunan ni Jesus
ang kanyang pananabik at pagkauhaw sa Kanya.
May puwang ba ang pagdududa sa
pananampalataya?
Oo, may puwang ito. Ngunit huwag
nating hayaang manatili lamang tayo sa duda. Gawin natin itong pagkakataon para
mas hanapin si Jesus. Ipanalangin natin sa Kanya ang ating mga tanong. Hayaan
natin Siyang sagutin tayo sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang presensya, pag gabay at pagmamahal.
At sa takdang panahon, matutuklasan
natin na si Jesus ay totoo. Siya ay buhay. At Siya ay palaging naririyan—isang
panalangin, isang bulong, o isang luha lamang ang layo mula sa atin.
Dahil kailanman, hindi pa binigo ni
Jesus ang sinumang tapat na naghahangad ng personal na ugnayan sa Kanya.
Naghahangad ka rin ba ng personal na
ugnayan sa Panginoon? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
When Jesus had risen, early on the first
day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven
seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not
believe.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them
walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either. But later, as the Eleven were at table,
he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He
said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every
creature.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you
believe that Jesus has risen?
Well and good
if you do, for He has indeed risen and first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Mary
Magdalene believed this too, for she saw Him personally and conversed with the
Risen Lord.
But when she
told the disciples that Jesus had risen, they did not believe. Instead, they
continued to mourn the death of Jesus. The disciples finally believed only when
Jesus personally appeared before them. And right then, Jesus rebuked them for
their lack of faith in His resurrection.
Perhaps the guiding
principle of those disciples was: “to see is to believe.” For they only
believed in the resurrection when He personally appeared to them. Were they
already lacking in faith when they did not believe what Mary Magdalene told
them? Yes! Lack of faith was slowly but surely creeping into their hearts—until
they saw Jesus in the flesh.
The folly of
not believing—or having little faith—is that we will not be blessed by Jesus if
we don’t believe. We will not be healed by Jesus if we lack faith.
Do you believe
that Jesus has risen? — Marino J. Dasmarinas
Umagang-umaga ng araw ng Linggo,
matapos na muling mabuhay si Hesus, siya’y unang napakita kay Maria Magdalena.
Pitong demonyo ang pinalayas ni Hesus sa babaing ito. Pumunta siya sa mga
alagad ni Hesus, na noo’y nahahapis at umiiyak, at ibinalita ang kanyang
nakita.
Ngunit hindi sila naniwala sa sinabi ni Maria na buhay si Hesus at
napakita sa kanya. Siya’y napakita rin sa dalawang alagad na naglalakad patungo
sa bukid, ngunit iba ang kanyang kaanyuan. Bumalik sa Jerusalem ang dalawa at
ibinalita sa kanilang kasamahan ang nangyari, ngunit sila ma’y hindi
pinaniwalaan.
Pagkatapos,
napakita siya sa Labing-isa samantalang kumakain ang mga ito. Pinagwikaan niya
sila dahil sa hindi nila pananalig sa kanya, at sa katigasan ng ulo, sapagkat
hindi sila naniwala sa mga nakakita sa kanya pagkatapos na siya’y muling
mabuhay. At sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, “Humayo kayo sa buong sanlibutan at
ipangaral ninyo sa lahat ang Mabuting Balita.”
Jesus revealed himself again to his
disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together
were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I
am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat, but that night
they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them,
“Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he
said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find
something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the
number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is
the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his
garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples
came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a
charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the
fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the
net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the
disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the
Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like
manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his
disciples after being raised from the dead.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the
scenario when fishermen arrive after long hours of fishing at sea?
They
naturally want to go home and rest their tired bodies. This was the
situation when the fishermen arrived from their long hours of fishing—without
any catch. They simply wanted to go home and rest their very tired bodies. But
as they approached the shore, they saw Jesus, who told them to put their empty
nets back into the sea.
They simply
obeyed Jesus—and presto! they caught the largest number of fish. We see here in
the Gospel that Jesus rewards those who obey Him. We also see the love and care
that Jesus gave to His disciples—a love and care that never ends and is not
constrained by time or space.
Why did Jesus
appear to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection? Jesus wanted
to reassure His disciples that He would never abandon them and that He is still
with them every step of the way. As if saying to His disciples: I am always
with you wherever you go, ever ready to guide and help you.
Humans as we
are, we also pass through episodes of weariness, tiredness, and frustrations
brought about by the many challenges of life. But we are never alone when we go
through these difficult moments. The Risen Christ is with us—ever ready to
guide and help us.
Let us always
go to Him, for the Risen Christ is always there for us. - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, muling napakita si Jesus sa mga alagad sa tabi ng Lawa ng
Tiberias. Ganito ang pangyayari. Magkakasama sina Simon Pedro, Tomas na
tinaguriang Kambal, Natanael na taga-Cana, Galilea, ang mga anak ni Zebedeo, at
dalawa pang alagad. Sinabi sa kanila ni Simon Pedro, "Mangingisda
ako." "Sasama kami," wika nila.
Umalis
sila at lumulan sa bangka, subalit walang nahuli nang gabing iyon. Nang
magbubukang-liwayway na, tumayo si Jesus sa pampang , subalit hindi siya
nakilala ng mga alagad. Sinabi niya, "Mga anak, mayroon ba kayong
huli?" "Wala po," tugon nila. "Ihulog ninyo ang lambat sa
gawing kanan ng bangka, at makahuhuli kayo," sabi ni Jesus. Inihulog nga
nila ang lambat at hindi nila ito mahila sa dami ng huli.
Sinabi
kay Pedro ng alagad na minamahal ni Jesus, "Ang Panginoon iyon!" Nang
marinig ito ni Simon Pedro, siya'y nagsuot ng Damit sapagkat hubad siya at
tumalon sa tubig. Ang kasama niyang mga alagad ay sumapit sa pampang, sakay
nang munting bangka, hila-hila ang bangka na puno ng isda. Hindi sila gaanong
kalayuan sa pampang -- mga siyamnapung metro lamang.
Pag-ahon
nila sa pampang ay nakakita sila roon ng mga baga na may isdang nakaihaw, at
ilang tinapay. "Magdala kayo rito ng ilang isdang nahuli ninyo," sabi
ni Jesus. Kaya't sumampa sa bangka si Simon Pedro at hinila sa pampang ang
lambat na puno ng malalaking isda -- sandaan at limampu't tatlong lahat.
Hindi
napunit ang lambat, kahit ganoon karami ang isda. Halikayo at mag-almusal
tayo" sabi ni Jesus. Isa man sa mga alagad ay walang nangahas magtanong
kung sino siya, sapagkat alam nila na siya ang Panginoon. Lumapit si Jesus,
kinuha ang tinapay at ibinigay sa kanila, gayon din ang isda.
Ito ang
ikatlong pagpapakita ni Jesus sa mga alagad pagkatapos na siya'y muling
mabuhay.
The disciples
of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to
recognize him in the breaking of bread.
While they
were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they
were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do
questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself.
Touch me and
see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And
as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still
incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to
eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of
them.
He said to
them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms
must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said
to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the
dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would
be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How would you
react if a dead friend suddenly appeared before you?
Of course,
you would be shocked—and perhaps after a few seconds, you would shout and run
away. This reaction is human nature; it's a natural response because you are
not used to seeing a ghost.
This was also
the reaction of the disciples when Jesus suddenly appeared before them and
said, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified—who wouldn’t be?
Then, Jesus slowly revealed Himself to His disciples by inviting them to look
at His hands and feet, and even to touch them if they wanted, to prove that He
had indeed risen and was truly with them.
Perhaps some
of us are troubled and worried because of our present life circumstances. If we
are, Jesus would tell us:
“Why are you
troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Firmly believe in me and I
will take care of you. Call on me anytime and I will be with you. Follow me and
I will not disappoint you! I will give you peace—peace that this world cannot
give. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!”
The peace
that Jesus gives us is beyond compare—nothing in this world can equal it. Some
of us mistakenly look for peace and comfort in the world, only to end up
holding an empty bag. Why? Because it is only through Jesus that we will find
true peace.
Look for the
peace that only Jesus can give, and humbly ask Him for it. If you are
persistent, He surely will give it to you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
