Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Abril 16, Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:30-35

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:30-35

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ng mga tao kay Hesus:"Ano pong kababalaghan ang maipakikita ninyo upang manalig kami sa inyo ? Ano po ang gagawin ninyo?" tanong nila. "Ang aming magulang ay kumain ng manna sa ilang, ayon sa nasusulat, 'Sila'y binigyan niya ng pagkaing mula sa langit,'" dugtong pa nila.

Sumagot si Jesus, "Dapat ninyong malamang hindi si Moises ang nagbigay sa inyo ng pagkaing mula sa langit, kundi ang aking Ama. Siya ang nagbibigay sa inyo ng tunay na pagkaing mula sa langit. Sapagkat ang pagkaing bigay ng Diyos ay yaong bumaba mula sa langit at nagbibigay-buhay sa sanlibutan."

"Ginoo," wika nila, "bigyan po ninyo kaming lagi ng pagkaing iyon." "Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay-buhay," sabi ni Jesus. "Ang lumalapit sa akin ay hindi na magugutom, at ang nananalig sa akin ay hindi na mauuhaw kailanman."

Reflection for April 15, Monday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:22-29

Gospel: John 6:22-29

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks.  

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

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Reflection:

Why do we go to church for Mass or why do we pray? Is it for our love of Jesus or for our need of Jesus? Some of us go to church for Holy Mass because of our need for Jesus, some of us pray for the same reason as well.  

 After our need for Jesus has been addressed already many of us would  slacken and go back to our old ways. Until such time that we again encounter humps and bumps in our lives then we again will need Jesus and we naturally attend Holy Mass again.  

The people who were following Jesus were looking for Him because they saw how He feed them in the miracle of the loaves and fish. It was not for the love of Jesus that they were looking for Him neither for their desire to join Jesus disciples in their mission of evangelization.  

If we look for Jesus let us not look for Him because of our need for Him alone. We look for Him because we love Him and we want to share in His mission of evangelization. It’s always better to look for Jesus rooted in our love for Him.  Since this love that we have for Him is always rewarded by Jesus in many ways: such as good health, peace of mind, peace in the family. feeling of contentment and the like. 

Why do you look for the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita Lunes, Abril 15, Lunes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:22-29

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:22-29

Kinabukasan, nakita ng mga taong nanatili sa ibayo ng lawa na naroon pa ang isang bangka. Alam nilang si Hesus ay hindi kasama ng mga alagad, sapagkat ang mga ito lamang ang sumakay sa bangka at umalis. 

Dumating naman ang ilang bangkang galing sa Tiberias at sumadsad sa lugar na malapit sa kinainan nila ng tinapay matapos magpasalamat sa Panginoon. Nang makita ng mga tao na wala na roon si Hesus, ni ang kanyang mga alagad, sila’y sumakay sa mga bangka at pumunta rin sa Capernaum upang hanapin si Hesus.   

Nakita nila si Hesus sa ibayo ng lawa, at kanilang tinanong, “Rabi, kailan pa kayo rito?” Sumagot si Hesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo: hinahanap ninyo ako, hindi dahil sa mga kababalaghang nakita ninyo, kundi dahil sa nakakain kayo ng tinapay at nabusog. Gumawa kayo, hindi upang magkaroon ng pagkaing hindi nasisira at nagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan.  

Ibibigay ito sa inyo ng Anak ng Tao, sapagkat siya ang binigyan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos Ama.” Kaya’t siya’y tinanong nila, “Ano po ang dapat naming gawin upang aming maganap ang kalooban ng Diyos?” “Ito ang ipinagagawa sa inyo ng Diyos: manalig kayo sa sinugo niya,” tugon ni Hesus.

Reflection for Sunday April 14, Third Sunday of Easter: Luke 24:35-48

Gospel: Luke 24:35-48

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them 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.”

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Reflection:

A compassionate woman would always go to a poor community to give food to those who are hungry. The poor, whom she had helped, would ask her, 'Why are you doing this to us?' The woman would reply, 'I want to share the love and compassion of Jesus with you.'

How would we know that we are witnessing for the risen Christ? It’s when we hunger to do the things that Jesus did when He walked for three years in this world. For example, we saw a poor begging for food and we felt compassion for that person which led us to give food. Or whenever we see a person in need we always feel the drive to help.  

If we feel these emotions in our hearts we are in fact already witnessing for the Risen Christ. The Lord is manifesting Himself through us and we become the living and breathing witnesses that Jesus has indeed risen!  

Why are we witnessing for Jesus? We witness for Jesus because we want others to experience Him as close as we do in our own lives. Our witnessing for the Lord is a reflection of the positive impact that Jesus has made in our lives. And we desire the same transformative encounter for others too. Through our witness, others can come to know Jesus and feel His presence and love through us.

In the gospel, the two disciples recounted to their fellow disciples Jesus’ manifestation to them in the breaking of the bread. When we break bread or share our food with the poor and hungry, we are doing acts of mercy and compassion. By breaking bread or sharing our food with the hungry, we bear witness for Jesus and become His face to them. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Linggo Abril 14, Ikatlong Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay: Lucas 24:35-48

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 24:35-48

Noong panahong iyon, samantalang isinalaysay ng mga alagad ni Hesus ang nangyari sa daan, at kung paano nila siyang nakilala nang pagpira-pirasuhin niya ang tinapay. Samantalang pinag-uusapan nila ito, si Hesus ay tumayo sa gitna nila. "Sumainyo ang kapayapaan!" sabi niya sa kanila. Ngunit nagulat sila at natakot sapagkat ang akala nila'y multo ang nasa harapan nila. 

Kaya't sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, "Ano't kayo'y nagugulumihanan? Bakit nag-aalinlangan pa kayo? Tingnan ninyo ang aking kamay at paa, ako nga ito. Hipuin nga ninyo at pagmasdan. Ang multo'y walang laman at buto, ngunit ako'y mayroon, tulad ng nakikita ninyo." At pagkasabi nito, ipinakita niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay at mga paa. Nang hindi pa rin sila makapaniwala dahil sa malaking galak at pagkamangha, tinanong sila ni Hesus, "May makakain ba riyan?" Siya'y binigyan nila ng kaputol na isdang inihaw, kinuha niya ito at kinain sa harapan nila. 

Pagkatapos, sinabi sa mga alagad, "Ito ang tinutukoy ko nang sabihin ko sa inyo noong kasama-sama pa ninyo ako: dapat matupad ang lahat ng nasusulat tungkol sa akin sa Kautusan ni Moises sa mga aklat ng mga propeta at sa aklat ng mga Awit." At binuksan niya ang kanilang mga pag-iisip upang maunawaan nila ang mga Kasulatan. 

Sinabi niya sa kanila. "Ganito ang mga nasusulat: kinakailangang magbata ng hirap at mamatay ang Mesias at muling mabuhay sa ikatlong araw. Sa kanyang pangalan, ang pagsisisi at kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan ay dapat ipangaral sa lahat ng bansa, magmula sa Jerusalem. Kayo ang mga saksi sa bagay na ito."

Reflection for April 13, Saturday of the Second Week of Easter: John 6:16-21

Gospel: John 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.  

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

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Reflection:

Where do you go when you are fearful or when there’s an absence of peace in your life? Do you go to Jesus and ask Him to calm you and give you peace?  

 As we continue to with our temporary journey we would be encountering many fears and many of these fears will certainly unsettle us. Yes, we would worry about these fears but after a while we also learn to submit everything to Jesus and the moment we do we already have peace. 

While the disciples were on a boat on their way to Capernaum they encountered a strong wind and they were certainly bothered by it. What would have happened if Jesus was with them? Jesus would have told them, keep calm don’t worry for I am with you. But Jesus was not with them so they were all fearful.  

Many fears bother us when there’s an absence of Jesus in our lives. Why? Because there’s an absence of stability, serenity and peace. Even if a person is rich or powerful if he/she doesn’t have Jesus there would certainly be absence of peace and calmness.  

You will only have peace in your life if you have Jesus, if you don’t have Jesus expect the absence of peace to bother you. Wealth will not give you peace; power will not give you peace only Jesus will give you this elusive peace.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 13 Sabado sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:16-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:16-21

Nang nagtatakipsilim na, ang mga alagad ay pumunta sa tabi ng lawa, sumakay sa bangka, patawid sa Capernaum. Madilim na'y wala pa si Jesus. Lumakas ang hangin at lumaki ang alon. Nang makagaod sila nang lima o anim na kilometro, nakita nila si Jesus na lumalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig, palapit sa bangka. 

At sila'y natakot. Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila, "Huwag kayong matakot, ako ito!" Tuwang tuwa nilang pinasakay si Jesus sa bangka; at pagdaka'y sumadsad ang kanilang bangka sa kanilang patutunguhan.

Reflection for April 12, Friday of the Second Week of Easter: John 6:1-15

Gospel: John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” 

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 

So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 

So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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Reflection:   

The story is told about a married couple who always find it hard to sustain their family's basic needs. A relative advised them to always be present at the Holy Mass celebration in their village's chapel. The married couple asked their relative, "Why is there a need for us to always be present during Holy Mass?" Their relative told them that they need to be present because this is where they meet, interact, and become one with the Bread of Life, which is Jesus Himself. 

The big crowd in the gospel was running after Jesus, primarily because of His miracles, healings, and life-changing sermons. The crowd numbered more than five thousand, and Jesus was naturally concerned for their welfare. Therefore, He wanted to feed them, but there was not enough bread and fish. So what Jesus did was ask for whatever bread and fish they had. 

Upon receiving the bread and fish, He looked up in thanksgiving to God. Thereafter, Jesus distributed the bread and fish to the crowd, and He was able to feed them all! They even had plenty to spare: twelve wicker baskets full of fragments. Jesus not only satisfied the crowd's physical hunger but also quenched their spiritual thirst. 

When we attend Holy Mass, we are also fed by Jesus with the same bread which He gave the crowd. It happens the moment we partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. During Holy Communion, we are also nourished physically and spiritually by the Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself!  

This is what occurs when we attend Holy Mass. We are always being nourished by Jesus Himself! The same Jesus that fed the crowd who were following Him in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 12 Biyernes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 6:1-15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:1-15

Noong panahong iyon, tumawid si Jesus sa ibayo ng Lawa ng Galilea, na tinatawag ding Lawa ng Tiberias. Sinundan siya ng napakaraming tao sapagkat nakita nila ang mga kababalaghang ginawa niya sa pagpapagaling sa mga maysakit. Umahon si Jesus sa burol kasama ang kanyang mga alagad at naupo roon. Malapit na noon ang Pista ng Paskua ng mga Judio. 

Tumanaw si Jesus, at nakita niyang dumarating ang napakaraming tao. Tinanong niya si Felipe, "Saan tayo bibili ng tinapay upang makakain ang mga taong ito?" Sinabi niya ito upang subukin si Felipe, sapagkat alam ni Jesus ang kanyang gagawin. Sumagot si Felipe, "Kahit na po halagang dalawandaang denaryong tinapay ang bilhin ay di sasapat para makakain ng tigkakaunti ang mga tao." 

Sinabi ng isa sa kanyang mga alagad, si Andres na kapatid ni Simon Pedro, "Mayroon po ditong isang batang lalaki na may dalang limang tinapay na sebada at dalawang isda. Ngunit gaano na ito sa ganyang karaming tao?" "Paupuin ninyo sila," wika ni Jesus. Madamo sa lugar na yaon. Umupo ang lahat -- humigit-kumulang sa limang libo ang mga lalaki.  

Kinuha ni Jesus ang tinapay at matapos magpasalamat sa Diyos ay ipinamahagi sa mga tao; gayon din ang ginawa niya sa isda. Binigyan ang lahat hangga't gusto nila. at nang makakain na sila, sinabi niya sa mga alagad, "Tipunin ninyo ang mga lumabis para hindi masayang." Gayon nga ang ginawa nila, at nakapuno sila ng labindalawang bakol.  

Nang makita ng mga tao ang kababalaghang ginawa ni Jesus, sinabi nila, "Tunay na ito ang propetang paririto sa sanlibutan!" Nahalata ni Jesus na lalapit ang mga tao at pilit siyang kukunin upang gawing hari, kaya muli siyang umalis na mag-isa patungo sa kaburulan.

Reflection for Thursday April 11, Memorial of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr: John 3:31-36

Gospel: John 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.  

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

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Reflection:

Why is it hard for many of us to convince others to go to church for Holy Mass and why can’t we share Jesus with them? This is for the reason that many of us don’t live the teachings of Jesus we don’t live our faith in other words.  

What must we do if we are in this kind of predicament?  Should we easily give up or should we change our ways and live our faith? It’s no brainer that the right choice is to change our ways and not give up. Because if we would give up, who will evangelize them? We leave them to be evangelized by those from other faiths?  

We must teach our faith but we must do it with humility, patience and love. We have to employ humility, patience and love so that we could open their hearts to the teachings of Jesus and our faith. For example our gospel for today tells us about the love of God for His Son. How would they know about this if we would not teach them if we would not practice love?  

We have to teach them using humility, patience and love. We will always become effective evangelizers/sharers of our faith if we are humble, patient and loving. For these are the qualities of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita Huwebes Abril 11 San Estanislao obispo at martir (Paggunita): Juan 3:31-36

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:31-36

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ni Jesus  kay Nicodemo: Ang mula sa itaas ay dakila sa lahat; ang mula sa lupa ay taga lupa at nagsasalita tungkol sa mga bagay sa lupa. Ang mula sa langit ay dakila sa lahat. Pinatototohanan niya ang kanyang nakita at narinig, ngunit walang maniwala sa kanyang patotoo. Ang naniniwala sa kanyang patotoo ay nagpapatunay na tapat ang Diyos.  

Sapagkat ang sinugo ng Diyos ay nagpapahayag ng salita ng Diyos; at walang sukat ang kanyang pagkakaloob ng Espiritu Santo. Minamahal ng Ama ang Anak, at ibinigay sa kanya ang kapamahalaan ng lahat ng bagay. Ang nananalig sa Anak ay may buhay na walang hanggan; ngunit ang hindi tumatalima sa Anak, hindi magkakaroon ng buhay -- mananatili sa kanya ang poot ng Diyos.

Reflection for Wednesday April 10, Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter: John 3:16-21

Gospel: John 3:16-21

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 not 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.

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Reflection:

Can we be saved by simply believing in Jesus? Is it enough to believe and not live that belief? 

We must believe and we must live and give substance to what we believe by making a positive difference in the lives of others and by detesting sin. For example, if we say that we love Jesus but we ignore the cry for help of those who are in need what then is the use of saying we believe and love Jesus? If we say that we believe yet we continue to allow ourselves to sin and be captured by the devil. What then is the use of our profession of belief in Jesus? 

When we say we believe we should firmly stand by our word by detesting sin in whatever forms and shapes. For the simple reason that this is the only way to Jesus, we are simply fooling ourselves if we say we believe yet we continue to sin. 

There are many of us who continue to say that we believe in Jesus but when testing comes. We push aside the light of Jesus to plunge into the darkness to be in the company of the devil. And then what comes after that are the many punishments that we impose upon ourselves thru our engagement with sin and the devil. 

So, why go with sin and the devil when Jesus is always there for us patiently asking us to leave sin and the devil? We therefore have to confront and then leave behind our sinful lives so that the Lord can embrace us with His forgiveness, mercy and love.

Would you confront and leave behind sin and satan? You may ask, why is their a need to confront? Why not simply leave behind? You need to confront sin and satan first because when you confront you immediately and permanently bury whatever relationship you have with sin and satan.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Miyerkules Abril 10, Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 3:16-21

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:16-21

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.

Reflection for Tuesday April 9, Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter: John 3:7b-15

Gospel: John 3:7b-15

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.”

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Reflection:

Do you seek Jesus?  

Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin a Jewish judicial body. Why did he follow Jesus? He must have discovered something in Jesus that made him follow Him even until Jesus death on the cross. Nicodemus followership of Jesus did not stop on His death on the cross, Nicodemus also took care of the body of Jesus after His death (John 19:39).    

What would it take for us to become a follower of Jesus? Do we still need to see a miracle before we become a faithful follower? It might be too late already, why not follow Jesus now? Let us look up at Jesus on the cross, that man on the cross died for us! Would we not take a second look to that man on the cross? Would we not thank Him for giving His life for us?  

Nicodemus was initially not a follower of Jesus but when he heard about Jesus he strived to know Jesus until he met the Lord. From the point of hearing about the Lord transformation was also happening in the life of Nicodemus which led him to become a faithful follower of the Lord.

Nobody knows the deepest core of our lives; nobody knows our gravest sins except us. Nevertheless, we have to decide to follow the Lord now for He is ready to transform us. To give us peace in our lives which this world cannot give us. It’s no problem for Jesus if we would become a secret follower like Nicodemus what is important for Jesus is we follow Him.  

Would you follow the Lord beginning today? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita Martes Abril 9, Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 3:7b-15

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:7b-15

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.

Reflection for Monday April 8, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 

And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”  

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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Reflection:

Do you always accept the will of the Lord for your life or you sometimes contradict it? 

The Solemnity of the Annunciation remembers the announcement of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about her being chosen as the mother of Jesus.

The Gospel tells us that God thru the Angel Gabriel had chosen the Blessed Mother to be the Mother of Jesus, of all women why the Blessed Mother? We don’t know the answer but the Blessed Mother’s humility, docility and abandonment to the will of God speaks volumes about her.  

The Blessed Mother humbly followed God’s desire and will when she said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38)." Mary humbled herself before God, Mary trusted her life to the will of God and Mary discerned the desire of the Holy Spirit in her life.

Like the Blessed Mother, are you willing to humble yourself before the Lord? Are you willing to abandon your life to the will of God? And do you always discern the desire of the Holy Spirit in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday April 7, Second Sunday of Easter Sunday of Divine Mercy: John 20:19-31

Gospel: John 20:19-31

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.

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Reflection:

Where was Thomas when Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room? We don’t know we can only surmise that he was doing something that made him miss their meeting. Was his activity during that night more important than to meet and pray with his fellow disciples?  

By missing their meeting Thomas subsequently missed also the sacred presence of the risen Christ.  He missed being blessed by Jesus’ miraculous presence and Thomas missed being imparted the  blessing of peace by the Lord. What a lost of opportunity for Thomas! If only he knew beforehand that their Lord and Master would be making a miraculous appearance in their meeting he would have not dared miss it. 

Some of us may see ourselves in Thomas, we who oftentimes miss to go to church for Holy Mass. We who put our Sunday sacred meeting with the Lord at the backseat in favor of our many worldly preoccupations.  

What do we miss when we absent ourselves for Holy Mass? We miss to be with Jesus, we miss to partake of His Body and Blood. We miss to be blessed by His powerful and blessings- filled words. We miss to be in powerful prayer meeting with our brothers and sisters in faith. We also miss to receive His healing and blessing of peace which He silently gives to us every time we are at Mass.  

Thomas learned his lesson; that’s why he made himself available in their second meeting. We too should learn our lesson by always prioritizing our sacred meeting with the Lord at Holy Mass.  

Do you always try your very best not to miss your encounter with the Lord during Sunday Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para Linggo Abril 7, Ikalawang Linggo ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay Linggo ng Banal na Awa ng Panginoon: Juan 20:19-31

Mabuting Balita: Juan 20:19-31

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. 

Reflection for April 6, Saturday in the Octave of Easter: Mark 16:9-15

Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

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.”

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Reflection:

What can you do to influence others to believe that Jesus is risen? You have to proclaim the gospel through your way of life. What does this mean? You have to live the life and behavior of Jesus because this is the only way for others to be convinced that Jesus is risen.  

In the gospel, Mary Magdalene told her companions that Jesus is alive however nobody believed her. Jesus also appeared to the disciples and these disciples in turn told the other disciples about the appearance of the risen Christ but they did not believe either.  

The most concrete manifestation that Jesus is risen and alive is us! It is through us that others would believe about the risen Christ. What are we going to do so that those that we encounter would believe that Jesus is real, risen and alive?  

We have to become another Jesus for them. We have to be humble as Jesus is humble, we  have to be helpful as Jesus is helpful. We have to be loving and forgiving as Jesus is loving and forgiving and so forth.

We have to know how to empathize for Jesus knows how to empathize. We have to stop judging and condemning others as Jesus did not judge neither condemned anyone. In other words in Jesus we’ll find someone who will listen to us, who will not judge and condemn us for the things that we’ve done in the past. Because Jesus is only concerned of our present and our future with Him.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita, Abril 6 Sabado sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Marcos 16:9-15

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:9-15

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.”