1Reflection for May 22 Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 21:20-25

Gospel: John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” 

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?”  

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

 + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Do you always stay close to Jesus? 

John is the disciple whom Jesus loved; there is that closeness between them and we saw it when John reclined upon His chest (John 13:23-25). John was also the only disciple who was with Jesus until His last gasp of breath on the cross.  

In our present time it may be very odd to see a man recline upon the chest of another man. Our  imaginations will conclude something else which is not right. But during Jesus’ time; it suggest close friendship between the Master/Teacher (Jesus) and His disciple (John). John had Jesus’ ears that he could ask HIM questions whenever he wants too. The strength of their friendship was clearly evident when John stayed with Jesus until the very end of the Lord’s earthly life.  

This is also the friendship that the Lord wants from us, Jesus wants us also to always recline towards Him and to stay with HIM regardless of our life’s predicament. We stay close to Jesus in our happy moments and the more that we become closer to Jesus in our moments of sadness, difficulties and trials. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 22, Sabado sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 21:20-25

Mabuting Balita: Juan 21:20-25

20 Paglingon ni Pedro, nakita niyang sumusunod ang alagad na mahal ni Jesus, na siyang humilig sa tabi niya noong hapunan at nagsabing: “Pangi­noon, sino ba ang magkakanulo sa iyo?” 21 Kaya pag­kakita rito ni Pedro, sinabi niya kay Jesus: “Panginoon, ano naman sa kanya?” 22 Si­na­bi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Kung loobin kong mamalagi siya hang­gang ako’y pu­ma­­rito, ano sa ’yo? Ikaw, sumunod ka sa akin!”  

23 Dahil dito’y kumalat ang salitang ito sa mga kapatid na hindi mama­matay ang alagad na ito pero hindi naman sinasabi sa kanya ni Jesus na hindi siya mama­ma­tay kundi “Kung loobin kong mamalagi siya hanggang ako’y pumarito.”  

24 Ito ang alagad na siyang nagpa­patunay tungkol sa mga bagay na ito at ang sumulat sa mga ito. At alam namin na totoo ang kanyang patunay. 25Ma­rami pa ring ibang ginawa si Jesus, na kung isa-isang masusulat ang mga iyon, sa tantiya ko’y hindi magkakasya sa mundo ang isusulat na mga aklat.

Reflection for May 21 Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 21:15-19

Gospel: John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."  

He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." 

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you know that true love always requires humility and sacrifice? 

There’s always humility attached to the word love. We can’t love without sacrifice; we can’t love without emptying ourselves for the sake of the person that we love. The word love is not a lip service word it is always coupled with humble positive action for those we love. 

In the gospel Jesus asked Simon Peter three times: “Do you love me?” and whenever Simon Peter replies in the affirmative Jesus always gives him a responsibility (Feed my lambs, Tend my sheep and Feed my sheep) which he must do to substantiate his love. 

This is also what Jesus wants us to do if we profess to love Him: We have to be His humble followers. We have to be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of our love for Jesus. For the reason that humility and sacrifice are the essence of true love. Love without sacrifice and humility is not true love, it’s rather a selfish kind of love based on love for oneself. 

How do you love? – Marino J. Dasmarinas    

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 21, Biyernes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 21:15-19

Mabuting Balita: Juan 21:15-19

15 Pagkapag-almusal nila, sinabi ni Jesus kay Simon Pedro: “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako nang higit sa pagmamahal nila?” Sinabi nito sa kanya: “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam na iniibig kita.” Sinabi sa kanya: “Pakanin mo ang aking mga kordero.” 16 Sinabi sa kanyang maka­lawa: “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako?” Sinabi nito sa kanya: “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang naka­aalam na iniibig kita.” Sinabi sa kanya: “Ipastol ang aking mga tupa.”  

17 Sinabi sa kanyang makaitlo: “Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako?” Nalungkot na si Pedro dahil ma­kaitlo siyang sinabihan: “Iniibig mo ba ako?” kaya sinabi niya: “Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam ng lahat; alam mong iniibig kita.” Sinabi nito sa kan­ya: “Pakanin mo ang aking mga tupa. 

18 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo, nang bata-bata ka pa, ikaw mismo ang nagbi­bigkis sa iyong sarili at palakad-lakad ka saan mo man naisin. Ngunit pag­tanda mo’y ididipa mo naman ang mga kamay mo, at iba ang mag­bibigkis sa iyo sa hindi mo nais.” 19 Sinabi ito ni Jesus sa pagbibigay-tanda sa paraan ng kamata­yang ipanlu­luwalhati ni Pedro sa Diyos. At pag­katapos nito ay sinabi niya: “Sumu­nod ka sa akin!”

Reflection for May 20 Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:20-26

Gospel: John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.  

And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me.  

I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you but I know you, and they know that you sent me I made known to them your name and I will make it known that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who engaged herself to caring for the poor in her community. She did this out of her concern for them, funds were hard to come by at times. Yet she was able to feed and nourish them because she believed that Jesus would always be there for her.  

We can always lean on Jesus all the time. He is always there ever ready to help us. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His very life for us on the cross. By doing so Jesus completed the mission that was given to Him by God. For our sake God gave the life of His only begotten son.  

God is never absent in our lives no matter who we are, no matter what we are going through and no matter the sins that we have done. He is always there ever ready to listen to us. God manifested Himself to us through Jesus so that we can reach out to Him anytime.  

Yet, there is also a responsibility that rest upon our shoulders. And this responsibility is to pay forward this infinite love of God. For the reason that our faith in God is never complete and it will never grow and mature unless we learn to share it. 

Have you already shared your faith? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 20, Huwebes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:20-26

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:20-26

Tumingala si Jesus sa langit at nagsalita 20 Hindi lamang sila ang ipinapa­kiusap ko kundi pati ang mga nana­nalig sa akin sa pamamagitan ng kanilang salita. 21 Maging iisa sana ang lahat kung paanong nasa akin ka, Ama, at ako’y nasa ‘yo. Mapa­saatin din sana sila upang maniwala ang mundo na ikaw ang nag­sugo sa akin.  

22 Ibinigay ko naman sa kanila ang luwalhating ibinigay mo sa akin upang maging isa sila gaya nang tayo’y iisa: 23 ako sa kanila at ikaw sa akin. Kaya magaganap sila sa kaisahan, at maki­kilala ng mundo na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin, at minahal ko sila kung pa­anong minahal mo ako. 24 Ama, sila ang ibinigay mo sa akin kaya niloloob kong kung nasaan ako’y makasama ko rin sila at mapansin nila ang bigay mo sa aking kaluwalhatian ko sapagkat minahal mo ako bago pa man nagkaroon ng mundo.  

25 Makatarungang Ama, hindi ka kilala ng mundo: kilala naman kita at kilala rin ng mga ito na ikaw ang nag­sugo sa akin. 26 Ipinagbigay-alam ko sa kanila ang Ngalan mo at ipinagbibigay-alam pa upang mapasakanila ang pag­mamahal mo sa akin at ako ri’y mapa­sa­kanila.”

Reflection for May 19 Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:11b-19

Gospel: John 17:11b-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.  

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who would always pray  and his prayer would always be for himself alone. 

When he died the man was ushered by an angel to a room full of the things that he prayed for.   The man thanked the angel for giving him the things that he wanted. Then he noticed that he was alone, so he asked the angel: “Why am I alone? 

The angel told him, you’re alone because you would always pray for yourself only when you were still alive. You never bothered to pray for others, your prayers was always for yourself.  As Jesus was set to leave HIS disciples he prayed for their welfare, that they would always be in God’s protection and care. 

How about us when we pray? Is it always us starring in our prayers? Or we never bother to pray for ourselves instead  we pray for those we love and care. Because we believe that God knows everything about us including our needs.   

God is an all knowing God, He knows everything about us including our needs and prayers for Him. Therefore, it would be better if instead of praying for ourselves we instead pray for others. This does not mean that we will not anymore have our own personal prayers and petitions before God.   

We would still have our prayers before God but we put forward first the interest and needs of others before our own. For God doesn’t want us to become persons for ourselves only; HE always wants us to become a person for others.  

Which kind of person are you a person for others or a person for yourself only? – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 19, Miyerkules sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:11b-19

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:11b-19

Tumingala si Jesus sa langit at nagsabi 11 Wala na ako sa mundo ngunit nasa mundo pa sila habang pa­punta ako sa iyo. Amang banal, inga­tan mo sila sa iyong Pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin upang maging isa sila gaya natin. 12 Nang kasama nila ako, iningatan ko sila sa iyong Pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin, at pinangalagaan ko sila at wala sa kanilang napahamak liban sa nagpa­hamak sa kanyang sarili upang maganap ang kasulatan.  

13 At ngayon, papunta ako sa iyo at sinasabi ko ang mga ito habang nasa mundo upang maganap sa kanila ang aking kaga­lakan. 14 Ibinigay ko sa kanila ang salita mo at napoot sa kanila ang mundo sapagkat hindi sila mula sa mundo gaya nang hindi ako mula sa mundo. 15 Hindi ko ipinapa­ki­usap na alisin mo sila sa mundo kundi pangalagaan mo sila sa masama.  

16 Hindi sila mula sa mundo gaya nang hindi ako mula sa mundo. 17 Pabanalin mo sila sa katotohanan. Katotohanan ang sali­ta mo. 18 Kagaya nang ako’y sinugo mo sa mundo, sinu­go ko rin sila sa mundo. 19 At alang-alang sa kanila’y pinababanal ko ang aking salita upang pati sila’y pabanalin sa katotohanan.

Reflection for May 18 Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:1-11a

Gospel: John 17:1-11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. 

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What is the usual method of our prayers? Is it spontaneous prayer or we follow a certain pattern? Whichever it is, what is important is we put our heart in our prayers before God. For a prayer that connects with God is a prayer that originates from our hearts. 

We read in our gospel for this Tuesday that Jesus is praying before God. It is a personal prayer for Himself and at the same time a prayer also for His disciples and the people that He dearly loved.

If Jesus prayed to God, we too ought to pray also to God. We pray for our personal petitions before Him. For example prayers for strength to face our daily challenges. Prayers for enlightenment, prayers for us not to have any form of hatred in our hearts and so forth.

We also become one with God when we pray. We also allow God to heal us from our sickness most especially emotional and spiritual sickness. This is for the reason that through our prayers we allow God to dwell and move within us. Notice that after we pray we feel light and we feel better.

Let us beseech God to heal us of anything that ails us. And let us beseech God to give us the grace of connection with Him whenever we pray. Why? Because life without prayer and connection with God in this world is pure emptiness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 18, Martes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 17:1-11a

Mabuting Balita: Juan 17:1-11a

Tumingala si Jesus sa langit at nagsabi: “Ama, sumapit na ang oras. Luwalhatiin mo ang iyong Anak upang maluwalhati ka ng Anak 2 dahil ibinigay mo sa kanya ang kapangyarihan sa bawat tao upang bigyan niya ng buhay magpa­kai­lanman ang lahat ng bigay mo sa kanya. 3 Ito naman ang buhay magpa­kailanman: ang makilala ka, ang tanging totoong Diyos at si Jesu­cristong sinugo mo. 

4 Niluwalhati kita sa lupa, ginanap ko ang gawang bigay mo sa akin para tra­ba­huhin. 5 At ngayon, luwalhatiin mo ako, Ama, at ibigay sa aking katabi ang luwalhating meron ako sa tabi mo bago pa man nagkaroon ng mundo. 6 Ipinahayag ko ang pangalan mo sa mga taong kinuha mo sa mundo at ibinigay sa akin. Iyo sila at sa akin mo sila ibinigay, at tinupad nila ang iyong salita. 7 Ngayon, nakilala na nila na sa iyo galing ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin. 8 Totoo, ibinigay ko sa kanila ang mga pana­nalitang ibinigay mo sa akin, at tinanggap nila at kinilalang totoong sa iyo ako galing at naniwala sila na ikaw ang nagsugo sa akin. 

9 Sila ang ipinapakiusap ko. Hindi ang mundo ang ipinapakiusap ko kundi ang mga ibinigay mo sa akin dahil iyo sila. 10 Iyo ang lahat sa akin, at akin naman ang iyo, at naluwalhati ako sa kanila. 11 Wala na ako sa mundo ngunit nasa mundo pa sila habang pa­punta ako sa iyo. Amang banal, inga­tan mo sila sa iyong Pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin upang maging isa sila gaya natin.

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

Gospel: John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” 

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you want to have peace in your life? 

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

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

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

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

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 17, Lunes sa Ikapitong Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:29-33

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:29-33

Noong panahong iyon sinabi ng kanyang mga alagad kay Hesus, "Ngayon po'y tuwiran na ang inyong pangungusap sa amin at hindi na patalinghaga! Alam na naming batid ninyo ang lahat ng bagay, at hindi na kailangang tanungin ninuman. Dahil dito, naniwala kaming kayo'y mula sa Diyos."  

Sumagot si Jesus, "Naniniwala na ba kayo ngayon? Darating ang oras -- at ngayon na nga -- na magkakawatak-watak kayo, magkakanya-kanyang lakad kayo, at iiwan ninyo ako. Gayunma'y hindi ako nag-iisa sapagkat kasama ko ang Ama. Sinasabi ko ito sa inyo upang kayo'y magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa pakikipag-isa sa akin. Mayroon kayong kapighatian dito sa sanlibutan; ngunit lakasan ninyo ang inyong loob! Napagtagumpayan ko na ang sanlibutan!"

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

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

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

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 16:15-20

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

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

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

Gospel: John 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.  

“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

 How does it feel to say goodbye? It’s heartbreaking to say the least, as much as possible we don’t want to hear goodbyes. But goodbyes are for real and part of life. But why is it that we don’t want to hear goodbyes and we don’t want to be separated from the person that we love? Because goodbyes and separations entails loneliness and sadness.  

Perhaps the disciples in the gospel were also feeling lonely and sad. Just imagine being there in that situation where Jesus was already saying His goodbye to them. If we were with the apostles we surely would be lonely and sad also. But unlike human goodbyes which is often times permanent and leaves us empty. Jesus’ goodbye was not permanent and Jesus goodbye to His disciples did not left His disciples empty.  

Jesus assured His disciples that after He left them they could still invoke His name when they pray for something to the Father. And through His name they can have whatever they ask in prayer to the Father. 

Everything is possible with Jesus we can have whatever we want to have for as long as we ask Jesus’ help. The impossible becomes very much possible when we pray with faith to God through Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:23b-28

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

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

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

Gospel: John 15:9-17

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

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

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Have you been in love? 

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

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

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

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

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 14 Biyernes San Matias apostol (Kapistahan) : Juan 15:9-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 15:9-17

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 9 Kung paano ako minamahal ng Ama, gayon ko rin kayo minahal. Ma­ma­lagi kayo sa pagmamahal ko. 10 Kung isasa­katuparan ninyo ang mga kautusan ko, mamamalagi kayo sa pagmamahal ko kung paanong isina­katuparan ko ang mga kautusan ng aking Ama at nama­malagi sa kanyang pagmamahal.   

11 Sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito upang mapasainyo ang aking kaga­lakan at maging ganap ang inyong kagalakan. 12 Ito ang kautusan ko: magmahalan kayo kung paano ko kayo minahal. 13 Wala nang pagma­mahal na hihigit pa sa pag-aalay ng sariling buhay alang-alang sa kanyang mga kaibigan.   

14 Mga kaibigan ko kayo kung gina­gawa ninyo ang iniuutos ko sa inyo. 15 Hindi ko na kayo tinatawag na mga lingkod sapagkat hindi alam ng lingkod ang ginagawa ng kanyang panginoon. Mga kaibigan naman ang turing ko sa inyo sapagkat ipinagbibigay-alam ko sa inyo lahat ng narinig ko mula sa aking Ama. 

16 Hindi kayo ang humirang sa akin, ako ang humirang sa inyo at nagtalaga sa inyo para humayo at mamunga, at mamalagi ang inyong bunga. At ipagka­kaloob sa inyo anumang hingin n’yo sa Ama sa pangalan ko. 17 Iniuutos ko nga sa inyo: magma­halan kayo. 

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

Gospel: John 16:16-20

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

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

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

Are you afraid of separation? 

Separation from someone we’ve idolized or loved is one of the most difficult emotion that we can ever experience. For example when a close relative dies it’s as if a part of us dies as well, thus we will feel incomplete from thereon. That’s how heart wrenching some separations are. 

Here in the gospel Jesus is saying goodbye already to his disciples for He knew that He would soon be arrested, tortured and be killed.  However, He was also saying that a little while later you will also see me, He was referring about His resurrection three days after He dies. Unlike permanent separation from a friend or relative. The disciples’ separation from Jesus was temporary for He resurrected from the dead after three days. 

We are not anymore separated from the Lord we are in fact always connected to Him. Therefore, We make  Jesus always present and alive within ourselves when we follow His teachings. And through our humility and humble acts of selfless love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Mayo 13 Huwebes sa Ikaanim na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay: Juan 16:16-20

Mabuting Balita: Juan 16:16-20

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: 16 Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapapansin, at sandali pa at makikita ninyo ako.” 17 At sinabi ng kanyang mga alagad sa isa’t isa: “Ano itong sinasabi niya sa atin: ‘Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapa­pansin at sandali pa at makikita ninyo ako.’ At ‘Papunta ako sa Ama’?” 18 At sinabi nila: “Ano ba itong sinasabi niyang ‘sandali’? Hindi natin maintin­dihan ang sinasabi niya.” 

19 Naintindihan ni Jesus na gusto nila siyang tanungin kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “Nagtatanungan kayo tungkol dito dahil sinabi kong ‘Sandali pa at hindi n’yo na ako mapapansin, at san­dali pa at makikita ninyo ako.’ 20 Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, iiyak kayo at tataghoy, at maga­galak naman ang mundo. Maninimdim kayo ngunit magiging kagalakan ang inyong paninimdim.

1Reflection for May 12 Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:12-15

Gospel: John 16:12-15

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

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

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

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

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

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

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

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