Reflection for May 17 Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 16:29-33

Gospel: John 16:29-33

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:

Do you want to have peace in your life? 

If this world gives us nothing but troubles, worries and sickness Jesus is always there to counter these worldly negativities with His promise of peace. Many of us think that the things of this world would give us peace, but it will not. 

The more that we tie our search for peace in this world the more that we would not find it. Why? Because this world will never give us peace what this world gives us is disturbance and chaos. So, where can we find real peace of mind? We can only find this real peace of mind in Jesus nobody would give this to us except Jesus alone. 

But how many of us have experienced this peace of Jesus? Not many perhaps and the obvious reason is we only remember Jesus when we are in dire need of Him. Or yes we remember HIM but when temptation comes we easily betray Him for the pleasurable temptations of this world. 

Why not change this cycle? Why not make Jesus our first priority so that we could finally feel His peaceful presence in our lives? And once we feel the peaceful presence of Jesus in our lives we already are complete and we lack nothing. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Reflection for Sunday May 16, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord/World Communications Day: Mark 16:15-20

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

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

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 16 Pag-akyat ng Panginoon (Dakilang Kapistahan)/Pandaigdigang Araw ng Komunikasyon: Marcos 16:15-20

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

15 Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad: “Pumunta kayo sa bu­ong daigdig at ipahayag ang ebang­helyo sa buong sangkinapal. 16 Maliligtas ang maniniwala at mag­papabinyag; ha­hatulan naman ang di maniniwala. 17 At ito ang mga tandang sasama sa mga mani­niwala: magpapalayas sila ng mga de­mon­­yo sa aking Pangalan, magsasa­lita sila sa iba pang mga wika, 18 hahawakan nila ang mga ahas, at di sila maaano kung iinom man sila ng may lason. Ipa­patong nila ang kanilang kamay sa mga maysakit at gagaling ang mga iyon.”

19 Matapos silang kausapin ng Pangi­­noong Jesus, iniakyat siya sa langit at lumuklok sa kanan ng Diyos. 20 At umalis sila at nangaral sa lahat ng lugar. Kasama nilang gumagawa ang Panginoon at pinatatatag ang Salita sa tulong ng mga tandang kasa­ma nila.

1Reflection for May 15 Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:23b-28

Gospel: John 16:23b-28

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 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 15 Sabado sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:23b-28

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:23b-28

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Sa araw na iyon, wala na kayong itatanong sa akin sapagkat talagang-tala­gang sinasabi ko sa inyo na ipagkakaloob sa inyo anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa Ngalan ko. 24 Hanggang ngayo’y wala pa kayong hiningi sa Ngalan ko. Humingi kayo at tatanggap kayo upang maganap ang inyong kaga­lakan.  

25 Sa mga paghahambing ko ipina­ngungusap sa inyo ang mga ito. Ngunit may oras na sasapit na hindi sa pagha­hambing ako mangungusap sa inyo kundi lantaran ko nang ihahayag sa inyo ang tungkol sa Ama. 26 Sa araw na ’yon, sa ngalan ko kayo hihingi; hindi ko sinasabi sa inyo na makikiusap ako sa Ama alang-alang sa inyo 27 pagkat iniibig kayo mismo ng Ama dahil iniibig n’yo ako at pinaniniwalaang sa Diyos ako galing. 28 Galing ako sa Ama at dumating sa mundo. Muli kong iniiwan ang mundo at papunta sa Ama.

1Reflection for May 14 Friday Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

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

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Have you been in love? 

Many of us have fallen in love already and many have fallen out of love as well. For those who are still in love up to this very day, say for example to your spouse   notwithstanding the hurts and pains. The love that you have in your heart is somewhat near to the love of God. 

The love of God is a love that is forgiving. It’s not a discriminating love for it does not look at the physical attributes, sins and the social standing of a person. For the love of God is a love that restores and heals.  

In the gospel, Jesus commands us, “love one another as I love you (John 15:12).” Here lies the challenge for all of us because if God’s love is encompassing our love for our fellowmen should be encompassing also. 

We should be capable of loving even those who’ve hurt us and those who do not love us in return. If we truly love Jesus, we have no other choice but to love like Jesus. – Marino  J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for May 13 Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:16-20

Gospel: John 16:16-20

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

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

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Are you afraid of separation? 

Separation from someone we have deeply loved or even idolized is one of the most painful emotions we can ever experience. When a loved one passes away, it can feel as though a part of our very being dies with them. From that moment on, something in us feels incomplete. Such is the heart-wrenching weight of certain separations. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. He knows that soon, He will be arrested, tortured, and crucified. He is saying goodbye—not out of fear, but out of love, to prepare their hearts. Yet He offers them hope: “In a little while, you will see me.” Jesus was referring to His resurrection, the glorious rising from the dead three days after His crucifixion. 

Unlike the finality of earthly separation, the disciples’ parting from Jesus was only temporary. He returned—victorious over death—to assure them, and all of us, that separation from Him is never permanent. 

As followers of Christ today, we are never truly separated from our Lord. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the sacraments, we are constantly united with Him. He is alive and present within us—especially when we open our hearts to His Word, live out His teachings, and express humble, selfless love to others. 

Let us not be afraid of separation, for the love of Christ bridges all distances. In prayer, in humility, and in love—we remain close to Him, and He remains within us. — Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 12 Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:12-15

Gospel: John 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. 

 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

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

 For example, the obligation of going to Holy Mass every Sunday. Many of us do not follow this Sunday obligation we instead follow our own self-created rule/s. This is the reason why we just go to Holy Mass when we feel like going. This kind of behavior prevents us from discerning the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic many of us are not able to go to Holy Mass in lieu of this we attend online Holy Mass. But many don’t have access with internet perhaps the best that we can do is to pray the Holy Rosary or we can read the Holy Mass reading for the day which we can easily find in the bible.  

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

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

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

1Reflection for May 11 Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:5-11

Gospel: John 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples: "Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  

And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:    

Have you ever experienced saying goodbye? 

Saying goodbye—especially a final farewell to a loved one or a dear friend—is one of life’s most heart-wrenching experiences. In our humanity, we often wish that goodbyes never had to exist. But the truth remains: each of us will face a moment when we must say goodbye, at a time appointed by God, according to His divine will. 

Yet even in the face of that reality, we are invited to live lives of meaning and purpose. Let us not allow our goodbye to be easily forgotten. Instead, may we strive to leave behind a legacy of love, kindness, and faith. 

Let us sow goodness each day—small acts of compassion, words of encouragement, silent prayers for others—that will live on in the hearts of those we leave behind. So when our time comes, the memory of our deeds will speak of a life well-lived in the service of God and neighbor. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus was gently preparing His disciples for His departure. He was saying goodbye—not with despair, but with love and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Over two thousand years have passed, yet Jesus remains alive in our hearts, still transforming lives. Why? Because He offered the greatest act of love: laying down His life for our salvation. 

As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same—not in grand gestures, but in daily acts of selflessness and faithfulness. May we, like Jesus, leave behind a lasting imprint of God’s love in this world. And when our final goodbye comes, may others remember not just our name, but the Christ they encountered through our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

1Reflection for May 10 Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 15 26—16:4a

Gospel: John 15:26—16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.     

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told of a man who longed deeply to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He would often whisper, “Come, Holy Spirit, I need You.” He repeated this prayer countless times—but still, he felt nothing. 

Simply calling upon the Holy Spirit is not enough. Yes, it is good to invite Him, but we must go beyond the words. We must live lives that are truly attuned to the teachings of our Lord Jesus. We must not only speak His words—we must live and breathe them, so to speak. 

As we strive each day to walk in the footsteps of Christ, something beautiful begins to happen. Slowly but surely, we start to feel the quiet, empowering presence of the Advocate—the Holy Spirit. He does not rush in with fanfare, but gently fills the soul that is faithful and sincere. 

Let us therefore live out the Gospel boldly and joyfully. Let us not be afraid to share it, live it, and be transformed by it. For it is only by living the teachings of Jesus that we can truly discern and experience the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the coming of the Advocate—none other than the Holy Spirit. He assures them that the Spirit will be given to them at the right time, according to His will. What Jesus asks of them—and of us—is simple but profound: to remain faithful to Him and to His word. 

May we never forget that inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives is a beautiful beginning, but it is not the end. To truly welcome Him, we must also live in faithful obedience to Christ. When we do, we will indeed feel His presence within us—the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, our Guide, our Advocate. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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

Gospel: John 15:9-17

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

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.  

I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

+ + + + + + +

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 love his/her spouse 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

1Reflection for May 8 Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:18-21

Gospel: John 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 

Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:     

The story is told about a worldly and sinful man who unexpectedly had a spiritual awakening. It happened when he suddenly opened his long dormant bible and was able to read this passage: “You do not belong to the world. (John 15:19)”

After reading that passage he began to detest every sin that he had been doing. And he completely left behind his worldly friends that drove him to sin. As a result of his righteous and drastic actions they condemned him as someone who is already out of his mind.

This world will hate us, even our worldly friends will hate us too once we choose to be faithful to the Lord. But we must not worry about worldly condemnation for so long as we are already with Jesus. As the bible says: “If God is with us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

It takes great courage to decide not to belong to this world for the reason that this would mean sacrificing temporal comforts. But it’s all worth it because if we have God we have everything if we have God we have peace and contentment and if we have God we would have flawless access to heaven someday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 7 Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:12-17

Gospel: John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “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:              

What would happen if the love of Jesus is present in the family? There would be no conflict, no arrogance, no dominant behavior and no abrasive behavior. There would only be forgiveness, humility and love. All of these factors would be present because of the presence of the love of Jesus. 

Let us say that we take away the love of Jesus, surely, there would be conflict inside the family. This is brought about by arrogance, domination, infidelity, lies and the like. 

When Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them (John 15:12). He envisioned harmony, humility, trust and everything that is good for His disciples.  This is for the reason that Jesus wanted His disciples to become successful in their mission of evangelization. And this could only be possible if they love one another. 

Jesus perfectly knew that without love that originates from Him the disciples will not become successful in their mission. Their efforts would simply be in vain because they will simply be pulling each other’s leg downward. And there would be jealousy, arrogance and misunderstanding among His disciples. Therefore there would be failure of their mission of evangelization. 

We too will not become successful in our mission for Jesus and we will not have harmony inside the family. Unless we learn to imbibe, share and live this love commandment of the Lord. 

Do you live the love commandment of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for May 6 Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:9-11

Gospel: John 15:9-11

(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.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is the primary fruit of remaining in God’s love? Its joy, hope and faith. 

When Jesus told the disciples that they must remain in HIS love HE knew that they would be going through trials, persecution and even death as they do their mission for HIM. And true enough, the apostles went through all of these except for Judas who betrayed HIM. 

Why is it important to remain in Jesus’ love? This is for the reason that we cannot rely on anyone’s love in this world except HIS love. We cannot rely on the love of our spouse even the love of our children we cannot rely on it. Because their love is based on human emotion that is always subject to change. 

Therefore what would remain is Jesus’ infinite love for us, this love is not subject to any form of human emotion. God’s love for us in anchored on infinite love, forbearance and forgiveness.   

As we journey in this world, we will sin and we will fail the expectation of the Lord. Nonetheless, God’s love is always there for us no matter what we have done. The Lord is always offering us this love and He begs us not to let go of it anymore by rebuking SIN whenever it appears in our doorstep. 

Do you always keep the Commandments of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas