Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "Ang tumatanggap sa mga utos ko at tumutupad nito ang
siyang umiibig sa akin. Ang umiibig sa akin ay iibigin ng aking Ama; iibigin ko
rin siya, at ako'y lubusang magpapakilala sa kanya." Tinanong siya ni
Judas hindi ang Iscariote, "Panginoon, bakit po sa amin lamang kayo
magpapakilala nang lubusan at hindi sa sanlibutan?"
Sumagot si Jesus, "Ang umiibig sa
akin ay tutupad ng aking mga salita; iibigin siya ng aking ama, at kami'y
sasakanya at mananahan sa kanya. Ang hindi umiibig sa akin ay hindi tumutupad
sa aking mga salita. Hindi akin ang salitang narinig ninyo, kundi sa Amang
nagsugo sa akin.
"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay
na ito samantalang kasama pa ninyo ako. Ngunit ang Patnubay, ang Espiritu Santo
na susuguin ng Ama sa pangalan ko, ang siyang magtuturo sa inyo ng lahat ng
bagay at magpapaalaala ng lahat ng sinabi ko sa inyo.
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who would always be troubled whenever he would see on TV news about massive wars and killings like what is happening in Ukraine. He would always ask himself, is the end of the world coming? Like this man we all have our own worries and fears, for example we worry about how we could sustain the future of our children. We worry about money, about the future and it seems that we are never running out of worries to think of in this world.
But have we thought of God in the midst of our worries? Have we thought of just telling Jesus, take care of my worries and fears whatever it may be?
We are very much bothered by our troubles in this world because we never trust Jesus that much and our faith in Jesus is lacking. What we do instead is to trust in ourselves and have faith in ourselves. This is the reason why we are bothered by our worldly troubles.
Why don’t we try to let go and let God? We let go of our worries and let God take control of everything? For example if you’re being bothered by a sickness, family problem or a personal problem. Start to slowly let go of those worries and pains, then raise everything up to God, learn to trust and have faith in the powerful name of Jesus.
In our gospel for this Sunday Jesus gives us an antidote for our worries and fears HE tells us: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me (John 14:1).
Sometimes we seek to discover things that we think will make us happy only to realize that it won’t and we keep on looking for it until we feel empty and broken. To avoid this from happening we must rediscover the important role of Jesus in our life and we have to trust Jesus with our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon: Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyag mga alagad: "Huwag kayong mabalisa; manalig kayo sa Diyos at manalig din kayo sa akin. Sa bahay ng aking Ama ay maraming silid; kung hindi gayon, sinabi ko na sana sa inyo. At paroroon ako upang ipaghanda ko kayo ng matitirhan. Kapag naroroon na ako at naipaghanda na kayo ng matitirhan, babalik ako at isasama kayo sa kinaroroonan ko. at alam na ninyo ang daan patungo sa pupuntahan ko."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas, "Panginoon, hindi po namin alam kung saan kayo pupunta, paano namin malalaman ang daan?" Sumagot si Jesus, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe, "Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe! Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa Ama. Bakit mo sinasabing: 'Ipakita mo sa amin ang Ama'? Hindi ka ba naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?
Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin: ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin. Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi ko, maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako sa Ama.
Jesus said to
his disciples: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on
you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the
Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with
you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has
seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak
to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his
works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else,
believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I
say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do
greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask
in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
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Reflection:
Do you
believe this pronouncement of Jesus that He is one with God? Of course you do,
then what’s next after believing? Next after believing is to put into concrete
actions what you believe.
Belief only
is not enough, you have to translate this into living faith. Faith that is seen
though your deeds, because if you only say that you believe. Yet you don’t
translate your belief into actual acts of mercy and compassion, then it’s
empty.
Jesus in our
gospel tells us, “Whoever believes in me will do the things that I do (John
14:12).” Let us pause and reflect if we are able to somehow measure up to this
challenge by Jesus. Are you doing the works of Jesus? Do you help someone in
need? Do you always say words that heal a broken person? Or you are quick to
throw judgment and condemnation?
It’s so
easy to say, I believe in the oneness of Jesus and God. Yet we are
always challenged by Jesus to always prove it by our words and actions. -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa
kanyang mga alagad: "Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang
aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe,
"Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na
kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe!
Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa
Ama. Bakit mo sinasabing ; 'Ipakita mo sa amin ang Ama'? Hindi ka ba
naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?
Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko
sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang
mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin: ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasa-akin.
Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi ko maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang
ito.
Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa
akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako sa
Ama. At anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay gagawin ko, upang
maparangalan ang Ama sa pamamagitan ng Anak. Gagawin ko ang anumang hihilingin
ninyo sa pangalan ko."
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let
your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my
Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have
told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I
am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to
him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the
way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you want to find meaning in your life?
It may seem that life is just routine. Wake up in the
morning, go to work or work from home and end the day, then the next morning we
do the same once again. As if we live like robots in this world; there is no
clear path that would point us to something meaningful and
profound.
In our gospel for today Jesus gives us a revelation on
how to have a meaningful and profound life amidst the many disturbances thrown at
us by this world. Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” What does this
statement of Jesus represent to us? Does this impel us to hunger for Him daily?
Or there is no effect at all and there’s no feeling of urgency to know more
about the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the
life. He was ingeniously telling His disciples to follow Me and you’ll know the
truth about life. That the true meaning of life has nothing to do with anything
of this present world. What you cling now in this world is nothing compared to
what you’ll receive if only you would decide to faithfully follow me. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa
kanyang mga alagad, "Huwag kayong mabalisa; manalig kayo sa Diyos at
manalig din kayo sa akin. Sa bahay ng aking Ama ay maraming silid; kung hindi
gayon, sinabi ko na sana sa inyo. At paroroon ako upang ipaghanda ko kayo ng
matitirhan, babalik ako at isasama kayo sa kinaroroonan ko.
At alam na ninyo ang daan patungo sa
pupuntahan ko." Sinabi sa kanya ni Tomas, "Panginoon, hindi po namin
alam kung saan kayo pupunta, paano namin malalaman ang daan?" Sumagot si
Jesus, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa
Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.'"
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet,
he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this,
blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the
Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel
against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it
happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives
the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent
me.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the weakness of many followers of Jesus? It’s
to act and behave as if they are bigger than Jesus. This is the failing of many
who are followers of Jesus. But a true follower doesn’t aspire to become
somebody, doesn’t aspire to raise himself in the pedestal of prominence.
He/she is simply content to become a nobody in the
vast ocean of humanity who follow Jesus. He/she works tirelessly and silently
with the end in mind that he/she has to advance the teachings and
goodness of Jesus in this world.
In the gospel, Jesus washed His disciple’s feet. Was
the washing of His disciples feet a simple ritual done by Jesus? Or there was a
silent message for His disciples and for us as well. What lies beneath the act
of washing His disciple’s feet is the message of humility. For they would not
be productive in their mission without humility. And they would not be able to
attract others to the faith without humility.
If we say that we are followers of Jesus it is also
expected that we would be humble at all times. Never arrogant, never
overbearing but always humble even if others are not. For the virtue of
humility is what separates true followers from fake and fair-weather followers
of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Nang mahugasan na ni Hesus ang mga paa
ng kanyang mga alagad, sinabi niya sa kanila:
Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang alipin ay hindi
dakila kaysa kanyang panginoon, ni ang sinugo kaysa nagsugo sa kanya. Kung
nauunawaan ninyo ang mga bagay na ito at inyong gagawin, mapapalad kayo.
"Hindi para sa inyong lahat ang
sinasabi ko; nakikilala ko ang aking mga hinirang. Ngunit dapat matupad ang
nasasabi sa Kasulatan, 'Ako'y pinagtataksilan ng taong pinakakain ko. Sinasabi
ko ito sa inyo bago pa mangyari upang, kung ito'y mangyari na, ay manalig kayo na
'Ako'y si Ako Nga.'
Tandaan ninyo: ang tumatanggap sa sinugo
ko'y tumatanggap sa akin; at ang tumatanggap sa akin ay tumatanggap sa nagsugo
sa akin."
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you
know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and
have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will
be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so
long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen
the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not
speak on my own.
The Father
who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen,
I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do
greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask
in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you want
to know God? You first have to know Jesus for it’s only through Jesus that you
will know God. But how would you know Jesus? Prayer should be an integral part
of your lifestyle. And you have to ask Jesus to give you the grace of knowing
Him deeper and the grace of having a personal relationship with Him.
How else would we have a personal encounter with
Jesus? We have to read His life in the bible we have to attend Holy Mass most
especially during Sundays. And then whatever we learn about Jesus we have to
live and share.
It’s usually through Jesus that we would have an
awareness of the presence of God the Father in our life. For Jesus is the
gateway to knowing more about God and through Jesus our eyes will be opened to
the many truths about our faith.
Do you want to know the way, do you want to know the
many real truths about life and do you want to find the real meaning of your
life? You have to ask Jesus and you have to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten
you more about Jesus.
To have Jesus is to have life, to have Jesus is to
find the real way that leads to peace and contentment. To have Jesus is to
discover the real meaning of life a life that is very much different from the
life that this world is forcing us to accept.
In our gospel, Jesus tells Thomas and us too, “I am
the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know
him and have seen him (John 14:6-7).”
Would you invest some of your precious time to know
more about Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus kay
Juan, "Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makapupunta sa
Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko. Kung ako'y kilala ninyo, kilala na rin ninyo ang
aking Ama. Mula ngayon ay kilala na ninyo siya at inyong nakita."
Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe,
"Panginoon, ipakita po ninyo sa amin ang Ama, at masisiyahan na
kami." Sumagot si Jesus, "Matagal na ninyo akong kasama, Felipe!
Diyata't hindi mo pa ako nakikilala? Ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita na sa
Ama.
Bakit mo sinasabing: 'Ipakita mo sa akin
ang Ama?' Hindi ka ba naniniwalang ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin?
Ang mga salitang sinasabi ko ay hindi ko sinasabi sa ganang aking sarili. Ang
Amang sumasaakin ang gumaganap ng kanyang mga gawain. Maniwala kayo sa akin:
ako'y sumasa-Ama at ang Ama'y sumasaakin.
Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala sa sinasabi
ko, maniwala kayo dahil sa mga gawang ito. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: ang nananalig
sa akin ay makagagawa ng ginagawa ko at higit pa rito, sapagkat pupunta na ako
sa Ama. At anumang hilingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay gagawin ko, upang
maparangalan ang Ama sa pamamagitan ng Anak. Gagawin ko ang anumang hihilingin
ninyo sa pangalan ko."
The feast of the Dedication was taking
place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on
the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How
long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us
plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you
do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do
not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know
them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given
them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s
hand. The Father and I are one.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can we make others believe in Jesus as
our Messiah/Savior? We have to share our faith in Jesus and we have to live His
teachings. For example, if we say that we follow Jesus what comes after
that is an honest to goodness self-examination about ourselves. Are we humble?
Are we forgiving? Are we simple? Do we live and practice the faith?
In our gospel for this Tuesday, the Jews
gathered around Jesus and they said to HIM, "How long will you keep us in
suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly (John 10:24)." They’re
obviously unbelievers/non-followers, yes they know Jesus but they don’t believe
in Jesus.
From the time of Jesus let us fast forward
today; our present technology driven times. Many are still unbelievers today,
yes they know Jesus but it ends there. There’s no personal encounter and
relationship with Jesus and there’s no living faith in Jesus. What are we going
to do about this?
The challenge before us all is so plain
and so simple, we have to learn to share and live our faith in Jesus. So that
those who don’t believe will now believe, those who don’t know Jesus will know
Jesus and those who don’t have faith will now have faith. Why? Because we dared
to share and live our faith in the Lord.
Would you share and live your faith in
Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Taglamig na
noon. Kasalukuyang ipinagdiriwang sa Jerusalem ang Pista ng Pagtatalaga ng
templo. Naglalakad si Jesus sa templo, sa Portiko ni Solomon. Pinaligiran siya
ng mga Judio at sinabi sa kanya, "Hanggang kailan mo kami
pag-aalinlanganin?
Kung ikaw ang
Cristo, sabihin mo na nang tiyakan." Sumagot si Jesus, "Sinabi ko na
sa inyo, ngunit ayaw ninyong maniwala. Ang mga ginagawa ko sa ngalan ng aking
Ama ay nagpapatotoo tungkol sa akin. Ngunit ayaw ninyong maniwala, sapagkat
hindi kayo kabilang sa aking mga tupa.
Nakikinig sa
akin ang aking mga tupa; nakikilala ko sila, at sumusunod sila sa akin.
Binibigyan ko sila ng buhay na walang hanggan, at kailanma'y hindi sila
mapapahamak; hindi sila maaagaw sa akin ninuman. Ang aking Ama, na nagbigay sa
kanila sa akin, ay lalong dakila sa lahat at hindi sila maaagaw ninuman sa
aking Ama. Ako at ang Ama ay iisa."
Jesus came to his native place and taught
the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did
this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son' Is
not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas' Are
not his sisters all with us' Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him. But Jesus
said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because
of their lack of faith.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Are you quick to disrespect your fellowmen
based on what you know about them?
Disrespect had been the feeling of Jesus’
townmates toward Him because they were familiar with Him. To them He was just a
carpenter’s son; they knew Him so well that‘s why they belittled Him.
But looking deeper into their hearts we
may also see that they were full of envy and hatred toward Jesus. They were
envious of the adulation that Jesus received from the people. Envy and hatred
are harmful emotion that darkens our judgment. It prevents us from achieving
total wellness in both mind and body.
Jesus knew of His townmates envy, disdain
and lack of faith in Him that’s why He did not do miracles in His native place.
If only they were not disrespectful and judgmental of Jesus. If only they were
not lacking in faith, they could have received many miracles and healings from
Jesus.
Do you sometimes act like the town mates
of Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, umuwi si Hesus sa kanyang bayan at nagturo sa sinagoga. Nagtaka
ang mga nakarinig sa kanya. Sabi nila, “Saan kumuha ng karunungan ang taong
ito? Paano siya nakagagawa ng kababalaghan? Hindi ba ito ang anak ng
karpintero? Hindi ba si Maria ang kanyang ina, at sina Santiago, Jose, Simon,
at Judas ang kanyang mga kapatid na lalaki?
At dito
nakatira ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae, hindi ba? Saan niya natutunan ang
lahat ng ito?” At ayaw nilang kilanlin siya. Kaya’t sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila,
“Ang propeta’y iginagalang kahit saan, liban sa kanyang sariling sambahayan.”
At dahil sa di nila pagsampalataya hindi siya gumawa roon ng maraming
kababalaghan.
Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you consider yourself a good shepherd? Everyone of us is a shepherd in our own little way. For example, if you are a parent, you have your own children to shepherd or guide. What kind of shepherd are you to your children?
Are you a good shepherd to them? Have you taught them already about your faith? Do you bring them to church for Holy Mass? Have you opened the bible to them and taught them about the life of Jesus? The model shepherd is Jesus, he is the one whom we should emulate.
Jesus tells us in the gospel: I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7). Do we shepherd our own respective families going to Jesus? Or we instead lead them away from Jesus by exposing them to the things of this world?
Who is the gate that Jesus mentions to us in the gospel? The gate is Jesus Himself! He is the good shepherd for He gave His very life for us. He established the church for us and He instituted the Eucharist for us His sheep. So that we would be guided properly as we continue our temporary journey in this world. We will never go wrong if we would let Jesus shepherd us and if we would follow the shepherding style of Jesus.
Let us reflect on who is shepherding us right now and on how we have been shepherding those who are under our care and guidance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo ito: ang pumasok sa kulungan ng mga tupa nang hindi sa pinto nagdaraan, ay magnanakaw at tulisan. Ngunit ang nagdaraan sa pintuan ay siyang pastol ng mga tupa. Pinapapasok siya ng bantay-pinto, at pinakikinggan ng mga tupa ang kanyang tinig.
Tinatawag niya ang kanyang mga tupa sa kani-kanilang pangalan, at inilalabas sa kulungan. Kapag nailabas na, siya’y nangunguna sa kanila at sumusunod naman ang mga tupa sapagkat nakikilala nila ang kanyang tinig. Hindi sila sumusunod sa iba, bagkus pa nga’y patakbong lumalayo, sapagkat hindi nila nakikilala ang kanyang tinig.”
Sinabi ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito, ngunit hindi nila naunawaan ang ibig niyang sabihin.
Kaya’t muling sinabi ni Hesus, “Tandaan ninyo: ako ang pintuang dinaraanan ng mga tupa. Ang mga nauna sa akin ay mga magnanakaw at mga tulisan, ngunit hindi sila pinakinggan ng mga tupa. Ako ang pintuan. Ang sinumang pumapasok sa pamamagitan ko’y maliligtas. Papasok siya’t lalabas, at makatatagpo ng pastulan. Kaya lamang pupunta rito ang magnanakaw ay upang magnakaw, pumatay, at magwasak. Naparito ako upang ang mga tupa’y magkaroon ng buhay – isang buhay na ganap at kasiya-siya.”
Many of Jesus' disciples who were
listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus
knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does
this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he
was before?
It is the spirit that gives life, while
the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the
beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And
he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many of his disciples
returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then
said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered
him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What should be our guiding principle if we
decide to follow Jesus? It must always be forever! We will not only follow
Jesus in good times we must also learn to follow Jesus in our most trying
times. We will stay with Jesus even if it’s hard to believe that He is
comforting us in the midst of our sufferings and tribulations.
The very large crowd (More than five
thousand of them) who were with Jesus when He multiplied the loaves and fish
suddenly became very few. Only the twelve apostles remained many of those who
followed Him returned to their former way of life. Why? Because they couldn’t
accept Jesus’ continuous insistence that He is the true bread of life that
whoever believes in Him will never hunger and thirst (John 6:35).
They rapidly had amnesia because they all
of a sudden forgot that it was Jesus who feed them when they were all hungry.
It was Jesus who healed them when they were sick and it was Jesus who gave them
hope when they were hopeless.
Such is the behavior of many of us, we
quickly question or even leave Jesus when we go through trials. We never
remember or perhaps we purposely forget the many blessings that He had given us
in the past. Let us never leave Jesus no matter how difficult our present
circumstances are right now. Let us always choose to be with the Lord in
sickness and in health, in our good times as well as in our difficult times.
What are we going to do if we leave Jesus?
We embrace Satan and his worldly teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and
drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and
drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my
Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in
me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of
the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This
is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and
still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." These things he
said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What is the difference between a person who is a
regular Communicant and the person who doesn’t partake of the Body of Christ at
Holy Communion? The person who devoutly goes to Holy Mass and who lets himself
be nourished by the Body of Christ is slowly but surely being transformed by
the Body of Christ to become Christ like.
What do this mean to us? It means that the very moment
we allow the Body of Christ to enter our body. We also open ourselves to be an
alter ego of Jesus. In other words it simply means that we become an ambassador
of Jesus when we receive Him.
But do we really allow this to happen to us? Do we
really allow the Body of Christ to spiritually nourish and transform us? Many
of us go to Holy Communion regularly but we never change. There’s no positive
behavioral and spiritual transformation that occurs within us. This is for the
reason that we don’t allow the Body of Christ to transform us.
One sure sign that the Body of Jesus Christ is
transforming us already is when we are able to share and live His teachings.
When we are able to forgive those who’ve hurt us, when we are able to overcome
our own sinfulness and our own arrogance and pride.
Have we already shared and lived Jesus? Have we
already asked Jesus to help us overpower our own sinfulness, arrogance and
pride? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nagtalu-talo ang mga Judio. "Paanong maibibigay sa atin ng
taong ito ang kanyang laman upang kanin natin?" tanong nila. Kaya't sinabi
ni Jesus, "Tandaan ninyo: malibang kanin ninyo ang laman ng Anak ng Tao at
inumin ang kanyang dugo, hindi kayo magkakaroon ng buhay.
Ang kumakain
ng aking laman, at umiinom ng aking dugo ay may buhay na walang hanggan, at
muli ko siyang bubuhayin sa huling araw. Sapagkat ang aking laman ay tunay na
pagkain, at ang aking dugo ay tunay na inumin. Ang kumakain ng aking laman at
umiinom ng aking dugo ay mananahan sa akin at ako sa kanya.
Buhay ang
Amang nagsugo sa akin, at ako'y nabubuhay dahil sa kanya. Gayon din naman, ang
sinumang kumain sa akin ay mabubuhay dahil sa akin. Ito ang pagkaing bumaba mula
sa langit; ang kumain nito'y mabubuhay magpakailanman. Hindi ito katulad ng
kinain ng inyong mga magulang sa ilang; namatay sila bagamat kumain
niyon." Sinabi ito ni Jesus nang siya'y nagtuturo sa sinagoga sa
Capernaum.
Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
How can you have eternal life? You have to regularly receive the Body of Christ at Holy Mass. Always receive it with reverence and piety never doubt and don’t think of it as a simple bread because what you receive is Jesus Himself!
Just imagine the enlightenment and unfathomable blessing that it will bring you if you would always partake of the body of Christ. Just imagine the countless spiritual blessing that it would bring you if you would believe that Jesus is the Consecrated Host that you receive during Holy Communion.
Your belief and faith in the bread of life will open your mind to the many truths about Jesus and the church that He founded. Things that are hard to explain but is real and felt by the heart, all you have to do is to believe and have faith.
For without faith and belief you will not fully comprehend how this small and ordinary bread becomes the body of Jesus after it is consecrated by the priest. How this ordinary bread becomes your life and your reason for existing in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong mga
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao, "Walang makalalapit sa akin
malibang dalhin siya ng Amang nagsugo sa akin. At ang lalapit sa akin ay muli
kong bubuhayin sa huling araw. Nasusulat sa aklat ng mga propeta, 'At silang
lahat ay tuturuan ng Diyos.' Ang bawat nakikinig sa Ama at natututo ay lalapit
sa akin. Hindi ito nangangahulugang may nakakita na sa Ama; yaong nagmula sa
Diyos ang tanging nakakita sa Ama.
"Sinasabi
ko sa inyo: ang nananalig sa akin ay may buhay na walang hanggan. Ako ang pagkaing
nagbibigay buhay. Kumain ng manna ang inyong mga ninuno nang sila'y nasa ilang,
gayuma'y namatay sila. Ngunit ang sinumang kumain ng pagkaing bumaba mula sa
langit ay hindi mamamatay. Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay-buhay na bumaba mula sa
langit. Mabubuhay magpakailanman ang sinumang kumain nito. At ang pagkaing
ibibigay ko sa ikabubuhay ng sanlibutan ay ang aking laman."
Jesus said to
the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and
whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have
seen me, you do not believe.
Everything
that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who
comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will
of the one who sent me.
And this is
the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he
gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my
Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal
life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What would we
gain if we worship Jesus and become friends with Jesus? We will gain countless
benefits. For example, Jesus mentions to us in our gospel for today that if we
go to Him and believe in Him we will never hunger and thirst anymore. How could
this happen? We will not know until we try, we will not know until we develop
that especial relationship with Jesus.
Many of us don’t feel the big impact that Jesus does
in our lives because we don’t dare take Him seriously. We oftentimes leave Him
in favor of this world yet there are times also that we go to Him on bended
knees because we are in need of Him.
But after the storms in our lives we again start to
distance ourselves from Jesus and we begin again to embrace the world. How
would we know the big impact that Jesus is capable of making in our lives if we
don’t take Him seriously? If we treat Him like a thing which we only get when
we are in need?
We will really not thirst and hunger anymore if only
we would create a home for Jesus in our hearts. This is the key: To create a
home for Jesus in our hearts so that we will personally feel that what He is
saying is true.
Have you already opened your heart to Jesus? -
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga tao: "Ako ang pagkaing
nagbibigay-buhay," Ang lumalapit sa akin ay hindi na magugutom, at ang
nananalig sa akin ay hindi na mauuhaw kailanman."
"Ngunit
sinasabi ko sa inyo: nakita na ninyo ako, gayunma'y hindi kayo nanalig sa akin.
Lalapit sa akin ang lahat ng ibinibigay sa akin ng Ama. At hindi ko itataboy
ang sinumang lumalapit sa akin. Sapagkat ako'y bumaba mula sa langit, hindi
upang gawin ang kalooban ko, kundi ang kalooban ng nagsugo sa akin.
At ito ang
kanyang kalooban: huwag kong pabayaang mawala kahit isa sa mga ibinigay niya sa
akin, kundi muling buhayin sila sa huling araw. Sapagkat ito ang kalooban ng
aking Ama: ang lahat ng makakita at manalig sa Anak ay magkaroon ng buhay na
walang hanggan. At sila'y muli kong bubuhayin sa huling araw."
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:
Have we done
something to share the good news about Jesus?
One of our foremost mission as follower of Jesus is to
share Him. If we have no idea on how we would share Him we can also live His
life. Evangelization is not only confined to sharing with our vocal words for we
can also evangelize by the way we live.
When the disciples were sent by Jesus through their
mission one of the unwritten commands of Jesus for them was to live His way of
life. For they wouldn’t be successful missioners for Jesus without immersing
their very lives in Jesus' way of life.
The challenge for us therefore is to share Jesus like
how the disciples shared Him. We also have to live the way of life of Jesus.
For without living the life of Jesus we will not become His true follower and
evangelizer.
Many in the church or outside of the church profess to
follow Jesus but they do not live His life. Thus, their evangelization is
superficial it doesn’t take root in the hearts of those who listen to them.
Therefore, an effective evangelizer is one who shares and lives the life of the
Lord.
Have you shared Jesus and are living Jesus' life of
humility and simplicity? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, nagpakita si Hesus sa Labing-isa at sinabi sa kanila,
"Humayo kayo sa buong sanlibutan at ipangaral ninyo sa lahat ang Mabuting
Balita. Ang sumasampalataya at mabinyagan ay maliligtas, ngunit ang hindi
sumampalataya ay parurusahan.
Ang mga
sumasampalataya ay magtataglay ng ganitong tanda ng kapangyarihan: sa pangalan
ko'y magpapalayas sila ng mga demonyo at magsasalita ng ibang wika; sila'y
hindi maaano dumampot man ng ahas o uminom ng lason; at gagaling ang mga may
sakit na mapatungan ng kanilang kamay."
Pagkatapos
magsalita sa kanila, ang Panginoong Jesus ay iniakyat sa langit, at lumuklok sa
kanan ng Diyos. Humayo nga ang mga alagad at nangaral sa lahat ng dako.
Tinulungan sila ng Panginoon sa gawaing ito. Pinatotohanan niya ang Salitang
kanilang ipinangangaral sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihang gumawa ng himala, na
ipinagkaloob niya sa kanila.
22 On the next day the people who remained
on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and
that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples
had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place
where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people
saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the
boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side
of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because
you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for
the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which
the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his
seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the
works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that
you believe in him whom he has sent."
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we still have time to reflect about the
present state of our spiritual life? We do this to see if we are still living a
life of purpose. Many of us today don’t have time anymore to reflect about the
present state of our life with Jesus. Instead what we have time for is to think
on how we could earn more to assure our future in this world.
But what will happen to us if all we think
about is how to ensure our future in this world? We will become people of this
world that is completely alien to the significant role of Jesus in our lives.
As we exist in this world we must not also
forget to think about our relationship with Jesus. If we are able to feed our
bodies with food to make us strong and healthy. Then, it is also incumbent upon
us that we nourish our hungry spirits as often as we nourish our mortal bodies
with its worldly needs.
Why do we desire to follow Jesus? Is it
because we want to have material prosperity so that we can feed ourselves with
the best food that this world can offer? And so that we can buy whatever we
want from this world? Or we follow Jesus for the reason that we want to feed
our thirsty spirits?
In our gospel for today the crowd is
chasing Jesus not because they want to feed their hungry spirits. They simply
want to feed their hungry stomachs. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
