Seven Last words of Jesus with Reflection

1. “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Are we forgiving? 

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Forgiveness simply means that we choose to move on and not allow hatred to destroy us.

Hanging on the cross and near-death Jesus spoke these profound words. Who was Jesus alluding  to when He spoke these words? Jesus was alluding to those who persecuted Him which led Him on the cross. They were His critics like the Pharisees, Scribes, High priest and so forth. Included also were the Soldiers who brought Him to the mountain of Calvary to nail Him on the cross.

Here we see that Jesus is full of mercy, love and forgiveness towards those who made life very difficult for Him. Jesus did not bear any hatred towards those who hated and killed Him.

We have to reflect here on how we forgive those who sinned against us. For example, if a person betrayed our trust or a person hurt us. Have we forgiven them already? We have to forgive no matter how deep the hurt the they’ve inflicted upon us. Why? Because if Jesus can forgive who are we not to forgive? 

Forgiveness is a gift that we give not to those who’ve hurt us or betrayed us. Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves for the simple reason that we are only hurting our very selves when we don’t forgive. We have to free ourselves from being imprisoned by hatred caused by our unforgiveness. Therefore, we have to forgive. 

Are we forgiving?

2.   “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Where is the paradise that Jesus is referring here?

The paradise is with Him, in Him and in His kingdom in heaven. Jesus addressed this statement to one of the criminals hanging on the cross by His side. The criminal said to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).” And right there Jesus said to the criminal: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

The criminal was enlightened while he was hanging on the cross side by side with Jesus.  This is the reason why he asked the Lord to remember him when He is already in His kingdom. Don’t we all want to have the same enlightenment that he had? Of course, we do want it as well. So, we have to humbly ask the Lord for the same enlightenment coursed through our prayers to the Lord.

Many of us are so fixated in this fleeting word that we think and feel that this is our paradise. But as we go through the covid-19 pandemic experience we already have that this world is not at all paradise. We seek worldly pleasures (many of these worldly pleasures influence us to sin). We seek temporal wealth and worldly power and influence only to find out that this is not where paradise is located. Why?  For the simple reason that we humans have no satisfaction we will seek these earthly things which we think would satisfy us. Only to realize in the end that it cannot and will not satisfy us.

So, where is the real paradise that the Lord is talking? This paradise we can only find, feel and experience with Him, in Him and through Him. The true and real paradise that Jesus mentions is already here and now when we make Him part and parcel of our daily living.  When we make Jesus our Lord and Savoir.   

Where is your paradise?  

3.  “Woman, behold thy son. After that, he said to the disciple: Behold thy mother.” (John 19: 26-27)

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  

When Jesus was on the cross dying, He saw His mother Mary still looking after Him. His mother who cared, nurtured and watched over Him from the beginning until the end of His life. Dying and all, Jesus saw that nobody would take care of His mother so He asked John, His beloved disciple to take care of her.

Do we also take care of the Blessed Mother by respecting her as Jesus respected her? Mary is the mother of Jesus therefore it is incumbent for us to give her the respect and love which she richly deserves.  We show our love and respect for the Blessed Mother when we pray the Holy Rosary. When we politely teach others to respect her because she is the mother of Jesus and our mother as well. Mary our mother who will always be there to listen to us when no one would dare listen to us.  Mary our mother who will always be there to pray for us.

This is also to remind us that we have to respect and love at all times our own respective mothers. We would never exist in this world without our mothers. We would never become who we are today without their guidance and nurturing. Jesus would not have existed in this world without the consent of his mother Mary. As a debt of gratitude to his mother Jesus saw it fit to entrust his mother to his beloved disciple John.

Do you respect and love the Blessed Mother and your own mother?  What are you doing right now to show your respect and love for the Blessed Mother? Do you invoke her intersession when you pray? Do you defend her when someone is demeaning her role in the life of Jesus?

4.“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

Do we sometimes feel forsaken by the Lord?

On the cross and dying Jesus uttered these words. These are words of surrender, frustration and giving up. After going through all of the persecutions, torture and abandonment Jesus felt forsaken. Who among us would not feel the same way when we’ve been through what Jesus had been through? We would also understandably feel forsaken and abandoned by the Lord.    

But did God abandon Jesus when He was gasping and dying on the cross? Does God abandon and forsake us when we are at the lowest point in our lives? Is God absent as we navigate through the dangerous waters of  this covid-19 pandemic experience? God did not abandon Jesus, God was with Jesus all the way! God was strengthening Jesus when Jesus was at the lowest and weakest point in His life. And certainly God is also walking with us as we try to survive this covid-19 pandemic experience. 

We are humans subject to our own human frailties. It is understandable to feel forsaken by the Lord once in a while. But truth be told, God presence in our lives is strongest when we feel forsaken by this world and the people of this world.

God will never forsake us, God will never abandon us and God will always be there to strengthen us. Therefore, we always have to cling to Him in good times and most especially in the turbulent episodes of our lives.

Do we sometimes feel being abandoned and forsaken by the Lord?

5.“I thirst.” (John 19:28)

What do we thirst for?

Was it physical thirst that Jesus was feeling when He said: “I thirst.” In His humanity, yes physical thirst but more than that it was the thirst for those people who were formerly with Him. These are the people who were with Jesus during His healing and speaking ministry.

Dying on the cross perhaps, Jesus was whimpering while saying, “I thirst.” Why? For the reason that He was also thirsting for His followers and apostles who were with Him during His miraculous healing and powerful speaking ministry. 

It is in the lowest episodes of our life that we would know who is really for us and not for us. Those who are for us would choose to remain no matter the odds against us. Those who are not for us would immediately evaporate from our sights to save themselves.

When we encounter these words: “I thirst.”  Let us imagine that Jesus is addressing these words to us. I thirst for you to be faithful in your marriage covenant. I thirst for you to be honest where you are presently working right now. I Thirst for you to value the sacredness of life over the evil of abortion. I thirst for you to always be humble.

 I thirst for your presence at Holy Mass everyday or even every Sunday if you cannot make it every day.  I thirst for you to become a good father/mother. I thirst for you to become a good and God loving son/daughter. I thirst for you to be faithful to your priesthood. I thirst for you to be faithful to your religious life.

Would we respond to Jesus thirst?

 6.“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

How do you feel after finishing a worthy undertaking?

You feel good and triumphant. This second to the last word of Jesus is a word of triumph, at last its over at last its mission accomplished!

Jesus finally defeated the voice of Satan who was whispering to Him not to finish His salvific mission. Jesus overcame the many hurdles and temptation for Him not to pursue to the end His mission of salvation. Finally, Jesus redeemed the sinful humanity from the enslavement of sin.

However, it’s not finished for us yet, we are still in this journey called life. We are still battling the many demons that constantly whispers to our ears to commit sin. So, what are we going to do to be able to say that, “It's finally finished!”

We have to be faithful to our Lord until our end in this temporal world overtakes us. Then, when it comes, we can finally say, it is finished because we have been faithful to the Lord. We did not give an iota of space to the devil to distract us in our disciples with the Lord.

Would we be able to successfully say, “It is finished ” when the sun sets upon us someday? It is finished because we have defeated the many demons that were constantly tempting you to give up in our disciples for Jesus.

7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)    

Are you afraid to die?

After all has been said and done it’s now the end, it’s the victorious death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus conquered our sinfulness by dying on the cross. By giving His very life on the cross Jesus showed us the true meaning of sacrifice and love.

Death is something that many of us fear but why fear death if we live our life with Jesus in this world? Why fear death when this is the final hurdle for us to be with the Lord in heaven? Why fear death when it ends all our sufferings in this world? If we have not done wrong in this world we would not fear death. When we love the Lord over this fleeting and temporal world we would not fear death.

Many of us fear death for the simple reason that we are so attached to this world. But if we are detached from this world and attached to our Lord, we will not fear death. What are the attachments that we have that makes us fear death?  Are we so attached to our worldly possession that’s why we fear death?

When we make this world our God we would fear death, when we make our worldly possession our master instead of servant we would fear death. Jesus conquered His fear of death because He has no worldly attachments. From the beginning Jesus detached Himself from this world because it would encumber Him from devoting His life to His mission of salvation.  

Let us slowly but surely detach ourselves from this world. So that when we are at the doorway going to the everlasting life we can say to our Lord: "I'm finally coming home my Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit." -  Marino J. Dasmarinas    

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Reflection for April 19, Good Friday of the Lord's Passion; John 18:1—19:42

Gospel John 18:1-19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go. This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,  went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting  to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. here they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier.They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

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Reflection:

Why did Jesus die on the cross? It was in loving obedience to the will of the Father. It was also out of His immense love for us, Jesus died on the cross so that we may live and have life.  

We ask ourselves this question: What have we done in return to give back and to gratefully acknowledge this self-emptying of Jesus on the cross? Have we lived and shared His teachings? Have we also willfully carried or helped carry the cross of others to lighten their burdens? Have we become another Christ to our fellowmen?

The cross is a sign of contradiction because it is a sign of sacrifice but at the same time it is also a sign of salvation and enlightenment. Let us not be afraid to carry our own cross even if it seems that we would be burdened by it. Let us not be afraid to lighten the cross of our fellowmen also because there will come a time that we will harvest something worthy from that cross.

As Jesus loved the cross for our sake, let us also learn to embrace and love our cross/crosses no matter how hard and difficult it may seem. Because on that cross lies our redemption, enlightenment and many hidden blessings that will unfold before us someday. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 18, Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: John 13:1-15

Gospel: John 13:1-15

1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

6 He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean."

12 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

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Reflection:

Have you already experienced washing the feet of another person? Not yet perhaps, the simple thought of washing someone’s feet makes us cringe in aversion. This is for the reason that this kind of action is reserved for servants, and no one of us wants to become servants of anyone.

We want to be served; we don’t want to serve we want to be masters and not servants. We want ourselves to be treated with respect and not to be disrespected. We want ourselves to be esteemed, to be appreciated and not be depreciated.

When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet it was for the purpose of giving them a lesson. That if they truly want to become His followers they must learn to live and breathe humility and service in everyday of their lives. They must at all times learn to serve and not be served.

Those who served in the church or identified to be close to the church are always faced with this challenge of humility and service. For example, if there’s a problem in your community that nobody wants to do because it somewhat demotes a person’s social status. Would you be willing to offer yourself to do that task that nobody wants to do? Are you willing to stoop and swallow your pride so that relationship can be restored once again?  

The true mark of a true follower of Jesus is not measured by someone’s eloquence, riches, power and ability to memorize and quote lengthy verses in the bible. The true mark of a true follower rest in someone’s willingness to embrace without any question the humility of Jesus.

Would you embrace the humility of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 17, Wednesday of Holy Week; Matthew 26:14-25

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord? He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

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Reflection:

What are you capable of doing to possess money? Would you embrace evil and betray somebody for it?  Judas did it to have money, money that possessed him and money that eventually destroyed him. Money is not evil per see it becomes evil when you allow it to possess and dictate upon you.

 Perhaps Judas was not an evil person initially he was a good person in the beginning. The proof of this is he joined the group of select men who became Jesus apostles. If Judas was evil from the beginning he would not have joined Jesus.

Judas became evil when he became the treasurer of the group. There he allowed his greed for money to reign over him in the process Judas betrayed his master. What did Judas achieve when he got money? Did he gain peace in his life? Did he become happy? Judas gained nothing for his love of money except evil and misery in his life.

What if Judas did not allow himself to be possessed by money? Jesus would have not died early and Judas wouldn’t have decided to end his very life.  But Judas allowed the many evils of greed for money to control him.

Do you allow money to dictate and possess you?  - Marino J. Dasmarinas

Reflection for April 16, Tuesday of Holy Week; John 13:21-33, 36-38

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.”So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

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Reflection:

Have you been betrayed already? How did you feel? You felt bad of course; you felt anger and disappointment toward the person who betrayed you.

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas he felt bad and disappointed same perhaps when He was disowned by Peter not once, not twice but three times! However, after all had been said and done Jesus forgave them all. When Jesus was dying on the cross He said: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34).”

To be betrayed and disowned by those whom we thought were not capable of doing it to us is something that is very hard to accept. But that’s life, that’s how many of us are when we are tempted by the devil disguised as an attractive person, we easily embrace betrayal.

For example in the Sacrament of Marriage, how many times have we betrayed our sacred wows for those fleeting wicked self-gratification? Not knowing the immense consequence that will befall us.

Betrayal initially starts in the mind when we conjure images of the person who attracts us. Until he/she completely captures us, yet betrayal is not an act by the person alone. It is an act by the devil feed to the mind of the person. And when the person has weak faith he/she naturally succumbs to the wicked scheming of the devil until it completely destroy the person.

When Jesus said on the cross: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34).” He was not only referring to those who denied and betrayed Him during that time of His passion. He was also referring to us who are easily swayed by the many temptations of the devil.

In this Tuesday of Holy Week let us ponder about the many betrayals that we’ve made to Jesus. The many betrayals that we’ve made inside the Sacrament of Marriage/Matrimony. Let us beg for healing and forgiveness from Jesus. And lest we forget let us also beg for forgiveness and restoration from the person whom we have betrayed. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for April 15, Monday of Holy Week; John 12:1-11

Gospel: John 12:1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

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Reflection:

What can you offer Jesus this Holy Week? Can you offer Him your time by going through all of the liturgical celebration in your parish? Can you offer Him some of your treasures by helping somebody in need? Or you have nothing to offer to the Lord because Holy Week is just like one of the ordinary days for you.

When you treat Holy Week as one of the ordinary days or you treat it as your vacation day. You miss something very significant in your life. You miss the opportunity to have a personal encounter with the Lord. You miss the opportunity to deepen your faith in the Lord.

When Jesus went to the house of the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus, the three of them gave their precious time to the Lord. Martha prepared food, Mary was beside the Lord listening to Him and even anointed His foot with expensive perfume. Lazarus dined with Jesus and listened to Him as well. No wonder the three of them were close to the Lord because they gave their precious time to the Lord.

Think also of how you could give your time to the Lord this Holy Week. It could be by listening to Him, it could be by serving Him or any activity that could bring you closer to the Lord. This Holy Week, shut yourself out from this boisterous world and enough of the noise of this world for this will not bring you closer to Him.

When you decide to spend time with Jesus this Holy Week you are already investing for your spiritual growth. Which you could always lean on when you go through episodes of turbulence in your life.

How will you use your time this Holy Week? - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Sunday April 14, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion: Luke 23:1-49

Gospel: Luke 23:1-49

The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes, arose and brought Jesus before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.” Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. — Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

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Reflection:

Would you accompany Jesus in His journey this Holy Week?

When Jesus was already hanging on the cross only a handful stood by Him: His mother Mary, His apostle John and a few others. That is very understandable; for who would want to be identified with a badly punished and defeated man hanging on the cross? No one, right?

Except for a few nobody wanted to be identified with Jesus anymore. So unlike when Jesus was still performing miracles and healings: everybody wanted to be identified with Him. However, amidst the desertion of Jesus followers there was another man who suddenly had the enlightenment to follow Jesus all the way to paradise. He was the criminal hanging on the cross beside Jesus.

What was the key to the criminal’s sudden salvation? He humbly asked Jesus to remember him when He is already in His kingdom. The criminal’s humility was the key to his salvation. What does this gospel episode tell us? We still have hope, we who’ve been betraying Jesus through our countless sins. We too can go to that same paradise no matter how grave the sins that we have committed. Provided we humble ourselves before the Lord.    

As we enter the door of Holy Week let us have the determination to always be faithful to Jesus. Let us not be like Judas who betrayed Jesus for a few silver coins. Let us not be like the crowd who left Jesus because He was not doing miracles anymore.   

Your way to paradise with Jesus begins by your presence at Holy Mass this Palm Sunday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita at Repleksyon para sa Abril 14, Linggo ng Palaspas sa Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon: Lucas 23:1-49

Mabuting Balita: Lucas 23:1-49

1 At tumindig silang lahat at dinala si Jesus kay Pilato. 2 Doon nila siya sinimulang parata­ngan: “Napatunayan naming ginugulo ng taong ito ang aming bayan; tumututol siya sa pagbubuwis sa Cesar at sabi niya’y siya ang Kristong Hari.” 3 Tinanong siya ni Pilato: “Ikaw ba ang Hari ng mga Judio?” Sumagot si Jesus: “Ikaw ang nagsasabi.” 4 Nagsa­lita si Pilato sa mga punong-pari at sa mga tao: “Wala akong nakikitang kasa­lanan sa taong ito.” 5 Pero nag­pumilit sila at sinabi: “Nanga­ngaral siya sa bu­ong lupain ng mga Judio at ginugulo ang bayan. Galing pa siya sa Galilea at ngayo’y narito na siya.” 6 Nang marinig ito ni Pilato, itinanong niya kung taga-Galilea nga ang tao.

7 Nang malaman niya na tagaroon si Jesus at saklaw ni Herodes, ipinadala niya siya kay Herodes na nagkataon namang nasa Jerusalem din nang mga araw na iyon. 8 Tuwang-tuwa si Herodes nang ma­kita niya si Jesus dahil matagal na niya itong gustong makita; marami ang na­balitaan niya tungkol kay Jesus at uma­asa siyang ga­gawa ito ng himala sa harap niya. 9 Kaya matagal niyang tinanong si Jesus pero hindi ito suma­got. 10 Naroon naman ang mga punong-pari at mga guro ng Batas, at walang tigil na nagpaparatang sa kanya. 11 Pag­katapos ay hinamak at ininsulto si Jesus ni Hero­des at ng kanyang mga sundalo. At ipinabalik niya siya kay Pilato matapos bihisan ng damit-hari.

12 At sa araw ring iyon naging mag­kaibigan sina He­rodes at Pilato na da­ting magkaaway. 13 Tinawag ni Pilato ang mga punong-pari, ang Matatanda at ang bayan, 14 at sinabi sa kanila: “Iniharap ninyo sa akin ang taong ito na parang isang nanggu­gulo sa bayan. Pagkata­nong ko ngayon sa kanya sa harap ninyo, wala akong na­kitang batayan ng inyong mga paratang sa kanya. 15 At ni si Herodes, haya’t ipinabalik niya siya sa akin. Maliwanag na walang nagagawa ang taong ito para hatulan ng kamatayan. 16 Kaya paka­kawalan ko siya matapos maipahagupit.”

• 18 Pero sabay-sabay na nagsigawan ang mga tao: “Patayin ang taong iyan at si Barabbas ang pakawalan!” 19 Ibini­langgo ang taong iyon dahil sa pag­patay at sa isang pag-aalsang nang­­­yari sa lunsod. 20 Gusto ni Pilatong pakawalan si Je­sus kaya muli si­yang nagsalita sa ka­nila. 21 Pero nagpatuloy sila sa pag­si­gaw: “Ipako siya sa krus, ipako siya sa krus!” 22 Ikatlong beses niyang sinabi sa kanila: “Anong masama ang gina­wa niya? Wala akong nakitang dahilan para ipapatay siya. Kaya ipahahagupit ko siya at paka­ka­walan.” 23 Pero patuloy silang sumigaw nang malakas at hi­ninging ipako siya sa krus at lalo pang lumakas ang ka­nilang siga­wan. 24 Kaya ipinasya ni Pilato na gawin ang kanilang hinihingi. 25 Pina­kawalan niya ang taong kani­lang hinihingi na nabi­langgo da­hil sa paghihi­magsik at pag­patay, at ipinaubaya si Jesus sa kanilang kagustu­han.

26 Nang dalhin siya nila, pinilit nila ang isang nagnga­ngalang Simon na taga-Cirene na galing sa bukid at ipinapasan dito ang krus para dalhing ka­sunod ni Jesus. • 27 Napakaraming tao ang sumu­sunod sa kanya, kasama ang mga ba­baeng nananaghoy at tumatangis dahil sa kanya. 28 Lumingon sa kanila si Jesus at sinabi: “Mga kababaihan ng Jerusalem, huwag ako ang inyong iyakan kundi para sa inyong mga sarili at sa inyong mga anak kayo umiyak. 29 Sa­pagkat palapit na ang panahon na sa­sabihin: ‘Mapapalad ang mga baog, ang mga babaeng di nag­kaanak at mga dibdib na di nag­pasuso.’ 30 At sasabihin nila sa mga bundok, ‘Bu­magsak kayo sa amin,’ at sa mga burol, ‘Tabunan ninyo kami.’

31 Sapagkat kung ganito ang ginagawa sa kahoy na sariwa, ano pa kaya ang gagawin sa tuyo?” 32 Dinala ring kasama ni Jesus ang dalawa pang kriminal para bitayin. 33 Dumating sila sa lugar na tinatawag na Kalbaryo, at doon nila siya ipinako sa krus kasama ng mga kriminal, isa sa kanan at isa sa kaliwa. 34 (At sinabi ni Jesus: “Ama, patawarin mo sila sapag­kat hindi nila nalalaman ang kanilang gina­gawa.”) At pinaghati-hatian sa su­gal ang kanyang mga damit. 35 Naroon ang mga tao na nakatingin. Pinagtatawanan naman siya ng mga pinuno: “Nailigtas niya ang iba, iligtas din niya ngayon ang kanyang sarili kung siya ang Kristo, ang Hinirang.” 36 Pinagtawanan din siya ng mga sun­dalong lu­mapit para painumin siya ng alak na may halong suka. 37 Sinabi nila: “Kung ikaw ang Hari ng mga Judio, iligtas mo ngayon ang iyong sarili.” 38 May nakasulat nga sa wikang Griyego, Latin at Hebreo sa kanyang ulunan: “Ito ang Hari ng mga Judio.”

• 39 Ininsulto rin siya ng isa sa mga kriminal na nakapako sa krus: “Di ba’t ikaw ang Kristo? Iligtas mo ang iyong sarili pati kami.” 40 Pero pinagsabihan ito ng isa pang kriminal: “Wala ka bang pitagan sa Diyos, ikaw na gayon ding pagdurusa ang dinaranas? 41 At bagay ito sa atin sapagkat tinatanggap la­mang natin ang nararapat sa ating mga ginawa. Ngunit wala naman siyang nagagawang masama.” 42 At sinabi pa niya: “Jesus, alalahanin mo ako pag­dating mo sa iyong kaharian.” 43 Su­magot si Jesus: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo: sa araw ring ito, maka­kasama kita sa Paraiso.”  44 Nang mag-aalas dose na, nagdilim sa buong lupain hanggang alas tres – 45 naglaho ang araw. At napunit naman sa gitna ang kurtina ng Templo. 46 Malakas na sumigaw noon si Jesus: “Ama, sa mga kamay mo ipinagkakatiwala ko ang aking espiritu.” At pagkasabi nito, nalagot ang kanyang hininga. 47 Nang makita ng kapitan ang nang­yari, ipina­hayag niya ang katotohanan; sinabi niya: “Talaga ngang matuwid ang taong ito.” 48 Umuwi naman ang lahat ng nagkakatipon sa panooring ito, na dinadagukan ang kanilang dibdib pag­ka­kita sa nangyari. 49 Nakatayo sa malayo ang lahat niyang kakilala pati ang mga babaeng sumunod sa kanya mula sa Galilea, at nasaksihan nila ang lahat ng ito. 

Reflection for Saturday, April 13, Fifth Week of Lent; John 11:45-56

Gospel: John 11:45-56

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish. He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?

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Reflection:

What would be your reaction if someone you know has achieved greatness? Will you envy and eventually decide to bring down this person? Or you will be happy for his/her success and you will even wish him/her more success. 

Because of His many miracles Jesus was already becoming popular to the people especially the poor. And the ruling authorities (Pharisees) were already threatened by Jesus growing popularity. So they did what they have to do to silence Jesus. They hatched an evil plan of killing Jesus with the thought that if Jesus dies so goes also His popularity. But it did not happen that way, for their plan did not go as they want it to be.  

What if the Pharisees did not envy Jesus? What if they simply had a dialogue with Jesus so that they could work hand in hand to help the poor? The Pharisees could have been an agent of positive change in the lives of the poor. But they chose to allow the devil to sow envy and greed in their hearts. Hence, they committed a despicable crime of killing an innocent man in Jesus.  

Can envy and greed do us any good? No, it will not do us any good, it will only push us to do evil just like what the Pharisees did to Jesus. Let us therefore weed out any feeling of envy and greed in our hearts. Instead of being envious let us be happy with those who succeed. Instead of being greedy, why not become generous? - Marino J. Dasmarinas   

Reflection for Friday, April 12, Fifth Week of Lent; John 10:31-42

Gospel: John 10:31-42

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

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Reflection:

How deep is your faith and belief in Jesus?

As we near Holy Week we hear Jesus inviting us all to believe in Him. Why? Why is He inviting us to fully believe Him? Because He wants us all to be saved from the evils of this world, this is the primary reason why Jesus wants us to believe.

We will not lose anything except our sins, worldliness and vices if we would choose to believe and embrace Jesus.  Everything is ours to gain including eternal life if we would decide to finally believe and follow Jesus.

 Everything in this world is passing and temporary we are in fact not in control with our lives. We can even evaporate from this world anytime and this is reality. Life is so fragile and fleeting.

 Jesus invites us to believe in Him for this will serve as our security blanket. And our assurance that no matter what happens in our lives we are firmly secured in the loving arms of Jesus.  Don’t gamble your life in this world by embracing its many evils which are attractively package to entice you.

Embrace the love of Jesus which He generously offers to us free of any cost. Thus, we already secure our life here in this world and our future life after this world.

Would you embrace Jesus?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

Reflection for Thursday, April 11, Fifth Week of Lent; John 8:51-59

Gospel: John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

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Reflection:

What does Jesus gives us? Jesus gives us eternal life, we believe that if we have faith in Jesus we will never die. Yes we literally die through our physical death but after that we believe that we will be with Jesus in heaven to live eternally.

Among other reasons to believe in Jesus we primarily believe and love Jesus because we want to be with Him in heaven someday. But there are still many who do not believe in Jesus, yes they know Jesus but they don’t believe in Jesus.  Same as with the Jews in our gospel who did not believe Jesus when He told them that He already had seen Abraham and yet they didn’t believe Him they even had the temerity to throw stone at Him (John 8:57-59).

So what must we do to those who know Jesus but do not believe or they believe in Jesus but their belief is in name only? We must therefore bring them closer to Jesus and to our faith. For example, this coming Holy Week, let us encourage them to attend the many liturgical celebrations in our respective parishes. For this surely will strengthen their union with Jesus and the church that He Himself founded.

Liturgical celebration such as the Way of the Cross, the Chrism Mass, The institution of the Eucharist in the afternoon, the Veneration of the Holy Cross during good Friday and the Easter Vigil Mass during black Saturday. Let us not keep to ourselves our faith and love for Jesus let us share and live it as well. So that others may have an awareness of Jesus through us.

Will you be present in all of the Liturgical celebration this coming Holy Week?   – Marino J. Dasmarinas