Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb
weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in
white sitting there one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus
had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them,
“They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him. When she had
said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was
Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for? She thought it
was the gardener and said to him,“ Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where
you laid him, and I will take him. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and
said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni, which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop
holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers
and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father to my God and your
God.’Mary went and announced to the disciples,“I have seen the Lord, and then
reported what he had told her.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you always recognize the manifestation of
Jesus in your life? Certainly in so many ways Jesus always manifest Himself to
you in everyday of your life. You simply need to carefully discern it to be
aware of His presence.
For example, there are times that we get
lost, do things as what we want to do it, hence we sin. But Jesus would always
find a way to redirect our life to Him. He would straighten us and make us
understand that He is always there for us to remind us that we need not lose
hope for He’s there for us, we only need to trust Him.
Mary of Magdala was weeping outside the
tomb for she did not found Jesus. Perhaps she thought that Jesus’ body was
desecrated until Jesus manifested Himself to her. Instantly her feeling of
hopelessness was immediately replaced by joyfulness and hope. And then she
joyfully went to the disciples and told them that she met and had spoken with
Jesus.
Jesus our Rab-bo'ni (which means Teacher)
has already risen therefore He is just around watching over us. Let us always
call on His name and let us always ask Him to watch over us and be with us
as we continue our pilgrimage in this world. Why? Because Satan is always an
ever present evil character in our life always waiting for the right moment to
bring us to hell. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went
away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news
to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to
them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they
will see me.”
While they were going, some of the guard
went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief
priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum
of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by
night and stole him while we were asleep.
And if this gets to the ears of the
governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. The soldiers took
the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among
the Jews to the present day.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Up to where are we willing to be
manipulated by the many evils of money? Are we willing to lie for money? Are we
willing to sacrifice our souls to satan so that we can have dirty money? The
problem with allowing money to manipulate and control us, is it will destroy us
eventually.
Let us look at Judas Iscariot who betrayed
Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, what happened to him? He was eventually
destroyed by his insatiable greed for money. Judas killed himself because he
cannot anymore bear the guilt of his betrayal of Jesus.
There are many more real life stories of
men and women who allowed themselves to be controlled by the evils of money.
They took pleasure and served the many evils of corrupted money yet eventually
they were left with nothing except shame.
Here in our gospel there are soldiers who
allowed themselves to be blinded by the evil glitters of money. The soldiers
could have stood up to the chief priest and the elders. They could have told
them, we will not lie, we will tell the true story of Jesus’ resurrection. But
they failed to seize the moment to witness for the resurrected Christ.
When the time comes for us to be tempted
by corrupted/dirty money let us reject it immediately. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a rich church going catholic who was very proud of his faith. Every Easter Sunday he would display on his porch a banner with the risen Jesus coming out of the tomb. However, he was disliked by his poor neighbors because he treats them with disdain.
What does the empty tomb of Jesus signify to us? Does it signify a resurrection of life? We will answer yes of course for we know that Jesus has resurrected. But how did Mary of Magdala, the other women and the disciples of Jesus feel? Many thoughts were surely playing in their minds in fact Mary of Magdala cried for she was worried regarding the whereabouts of the body of Jesus.
Unlike Mary of Magdala who during that time did not know yet the whereabouts of the body of Jesus. We know that Jesus has resurrected, thus we now close the curtains of His resurrection? Does it end with the resurrection story?
We do not close the story of Jesus’ resurrection we continue to relive it whenever we do the acts of Jesus. Such as His acts of: kindness, humility, self-sacrifice, love, forgiveness and the like. Through these acts we continuously perpetuate the resurrection of Jesus.
Surely many are still not aware of the resurrection of Jesus or even the name of Jesus. But whenever we do good, we impart Jesus and we tell them that Jesus is alive. That Jesus is ready to help them and lift them up from their sickness, lowliness and weariness.
What have we done so far to tell others that Jesus is alive and risen? Have we given food to the poor? Have we forgiven someone who did us wrong? Have we given hope to the hopeless? Have we done something to help the sick? Have we brought others closer to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
After the sabbath, as the first day of the
week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And
behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from
heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was
like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with
fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in
reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised
just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell
his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to
Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away
quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his
disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They
approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do
not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see
me.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How would we know that Jesus is alive in a
person’s life? The answer is simple, if the person lives the teaching of Jesus
then we could safely conclude that Jesus is alive within that person’s life.
This is basically the yardstick on how we would know if Jesus is alive in a
person’s life.
In the gospel, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went to see the tomb of Jesus. But they were told by an angel that
He was not there anymore for He has already risen. Immediately after that their
hearts were already on fire and they were overjoyed.
This is how we should become also our
hearts must always be on fire and overjoyed for the risen Jesus. We must
therefore live the life and teachings of Jesus for this is the best method on how
to create awareness that Jesus is alive within us.
But the big question that needs to be
answered is this: Is Jesus really alive in our hearts? If Jesus is alive in our
hearts already, well and good. Then we now go to the next phase which is to
live the teachings of Jesus.
This we could do best by our life of
simplicity, humility, and gentleness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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 nail Him on the
cross.
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 went through the covid-19
pandemic experience and as we see the destructive result of Russia’s unprovoked
war against Ukraine 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 show 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 this covid-19
pandemic experience? 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 this
covid-19 pandemic experience.
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 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 every day 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
that’s why we fear death?
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
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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Why did Jesus die on the cross? It was in
loving obedience to the will of the Father. It was also out of His immense love
for us, Jesus died on the cross so that we may live and have life.
We ask ourselves this question: What have
we done in return to give back and to gratefully acknowledge this self-emptying
of Jesus on the cross? Have we lived and shared His teachings? Have we also
willfully carried or helped carry the cross of others to lighten their burdens?
Have we become another Christ to our fellowmen?
The cross is a sign of contradiction
because it is a sign of sacrifice but at the same time it is also a sign of
salvation and enlightenment. Let us not be afraid to carry our own cross even
if it seems that we would be burdened by it. Let us not be afraid to lighten
the cross of our fellowmen also because there will come a time that we will
harvest something worthy from that cross.
As Jesus loved the cross for our sake, let
us also learn to embrace and love our cross/crosses no matter how hard and
difficult it may seem. Because on that cross lies our redemption, enlightenment
and many hidden blessings that will unfold before us someday.
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
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:
Have you already experienced washing the feet of another person? Not
yet perhaps, the simple thought of washing someone’s feet makes us cringe in
aversion. This is for the reason that this kind of action is reserved for
servants, and no one of us wants to become servants of anyone.
We want to be served; we
don’t want to serve we want to be masters and not servants. We want ourselves
to be treated with respect and not to be disrespected. We want ourselves to be
esteemed, to be appreciated and not be depreciated.
When Jesus washed His
disciples’ feet it was for the purpose of giving them a lesson. That if they
truly want to become His followers they must learn to live and breathe humility
and service in everyday of their lives. They must at all times learn to serve
and not be served.
Those who served in the
church or identified to be close to the church are always faced with this
challenge of humility and service. For example, if there’s a problem in your
community that nobody wants to do because it somewhat demotes a person’s social
status. Would you be willing to offer yourself to do that task that nobody
wants to do? Are you willing to stoop and swallow your pride so that
relationship can be restored once again?
The true mark of a true
follower of Jesus is not measured by someone’s eloquence, riches, power and
ability to memorize and quote lengthy verses in the bible. The true mark of a
true follower rest in someone’s willingness to embrace without any question the
humility of Jesus.
Would you embrace the
humility of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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 are you capable of doing to possess
money? Would you embrace evil and betray somebody for it? Judas did it to
have money, money that possessed him and money that eventually destroyed him.
Money is not evil per see it becomes evil when you allow it to possess and
dictate upon you.
Perhaps Judas was not an evil person
initially he was a good person in the beginning. The proof of this is he joined
the group of select men who became Jesus apostles. If Judas was evil from the
beginning, he would not have joined Jesus.
Judas became evil when he became the treasurer
of the group. There he allowed Satan to seduce him so that he would be
possessed by money. Hence, Judas allowed greed to reign over him in the process
Judas betrayed Jesus. What did Judas achieve when he got money? Did he gain
peace in his life? Did he become happy? Judas gained nothing for his greed and
love for money except evil and misery in his life.
What if Judas did not allow himself to be
possessed by money? Jesus would have not died early and Judas wouldn’t have
decided to end his own life. But Judas allowed the many evils of greed
for money to control him.
Would you allow money to dictate and
possess you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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 already experienced how it is to
be betrayed by a trusted friend? Have you already experienced being denied by
somebody very close to you? Jesus experienced these all, He was betrayed by an
apostle in Judas and He was denied also by an apostle who sworn allegiance to
Him in Peter.
Just imagine how Jesus felt during that
time; He knew that His world was getting smaller by the day. Then, came the
betrayal and denial of Judas and Peter perhaps Jesus’ heart was already
bleeding with sorrow. He was sorrowful but He never took it personally upon
them for Jesus knew that something good would soon come out of these
sorrows and betrayals.
What was the good that came out from Judas
betrayal? Jesus was able to unmask the traitor amongst His followers. What was
the good that came from Peter’s denial? Jesus was able to discover that even
those who profess to be loyal to Him would deny Him so that they could save
their own lives. Nevertheless, Jesus never took these betrayal and denial
personally; for He still forgave the two of them.
We too have denied and betrayed Jesus for
countless times already. Has Jesus took our betrayals and denials personally? No,
because Jesus doesn’t know how to keep ill feelings in His heart. What is the
lesson that we can learn from this gospel episode?
We should not betray anyone of their
trust. And if ever someone would betray us, let us forgive even if the betrayer
will not ask for forgiveness. Why? For the reason that we are followers of
Jesus and aside from that, keeping hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts will
not do us any good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Six days before Passover Jesus came to
Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a
dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those
reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from
genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her
hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his
disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold
for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because
he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and
used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep
this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do
not always have me.”
The large crowd of the Jews found out that
he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom
he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of
him.
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Reflection:
What can you offer Jesus this Holy Week?
Can you offer Him your time by going through all of the liturgical celebration
in your parish? Can you offer Him some of your treasures by helping somebody in
need? Or you have nothing to offer to the Lord because Holy Week is just like
one of the ordinary days for you.
When you treat Holy Week as one of the
ordinary days or you treat it as your vacation day. You miss something very
significant in your life. You miss the opportunity to have a personal encounter
with the Lord. You miss the opportunity to deepen your faith in the Lord.
When Jesus went to the house of the
siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus, the three of them gave their precious time
to the Lord. Martha prepared food, Mary was beside the Lord listening to Him
and even anointed His foot with expensive perfume. Lazarus dined with Jesus and
listened to Him as well. No wonder the three of them were close to the Lord
because they gave their precious time to the Lord.
Think also of how you could give your time
to the Lord this Holy Week. It could be by listening to Him via podcast or
youtube. it could be by serving Him or any activity that could bring you closer
to the Lord. You can also read your bible and meditate and reflect on the readings
about the passion of Jesus. This Holy Week, shut yourself out from this
boisterous world and enough of the noise of this world for this will not bring
you closer to Him.
When you decide to spend time with Jesus
this Holy Week you are already investing for your spiritual growth. Which you
could always lean on when you go through episodes of turbulence in your life.
How will you use your time this Holy Week?
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
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.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written:I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.
He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.’” The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see ‘the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses?
You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?” Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.”
Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.
When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field just as the Lord had commanded me.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha ¬—which means Place of the Skull —, they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.
The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be raised up.’ Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ This last imposture would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.
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Reflection:
Imagine that you are present in the events of the gospel today. From Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem up to His condemnation courtesy of the same crowd who cheered Him going to Jerusalem. Would you have reacted in chorus with the crowd? Perhaps yes or no but there is a bigger chance that you would react as how the crowd reacted.
So, you would also be hollering hosanna to the son of David as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem riding a donkey. So you would also be in chorus with the crowd yelling crucify him! Crucify him!
This is who we normally are; we go where the crowd goes, we are afraid to contradict or to go against the crowd. But if we will not go against the crowd, if we will always go with the majority and if we would always say yes. We will not be able to uncover the many wrongdoings that are happening around us.
Jesus dared to go against the crowd, he dared to do what others did not dare do. And what was it? Jesus exposed the Pharisees which was the ruling power during that time. Jesus exposed the Pharisees manipulative behavior and leadership.
Jesus opened the eyes of the masses about the enslavement that they had been going thru under the Pharisees. Hence, Jesus paid dearly for going against the crowd, for voicing his opinion and for exposing the powerful Pharisees for who they really are.
As we open the door of Holy Week let us reflect on the action of Jesus of going against the majority. Of having the courage to speak the truth even if it is not popular or even if we will temporarily suffer for it. Because it is only by daring to go against the crowd that we would be able to enlighten minds and touch hearts. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
