GOSPEL POWER |MAY 24, 2021|MONDAY | Mary, Mother of the Church

8th Week in Ordinary Time| Gospel: Jn 19: 25 – 34 (or Mk 10: 17 – 27)

Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that

sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

REFLECTION

Life is generated at the cost of pain. The Church — the new  people of God — is born on Calvary, where both Son and  mother, in perfect surrender to the divine plan, endure the  pangs of birth that will generate new life for the new reality that God  brings into existence. What Jesus suffers in his mortal body, Mary  suffers in her spirit. From Nazareth to Calvary, Mary’s response to the  vocation of motherhood has been a consistent “yes.” As she lets go  of her one and only natural Son, Mary generates many spiritual sons  and daughters and indeed becomes Mother of the Church

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, just as children learn from their mothers, may we too learn  from our mother Mary to seek God’s will in everything, even in the most  painful circumstances. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | MAYO 24, 2021 - Lunes sa Ikawalong Linggo ng Taon

Paggunita sa Mahal na Birheng Maria, Ina ng Iglesya

Humihingi ka ba ng tulong panalangin kay Maria sa mga isinusumamo mong kahilingan sa Diyos?

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 19:25-35

Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Hesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae ng ina niya, si Mariang asawa ni Cleofas at si Maria Magdalena. Kaya pagkakita ni Jesus sa ina at sa kanyang mahal na alagad na nakatayo sa tabi, sinabi niya sa ina: “Babae, hayan ang anak mo!” Pagkatapos ay sinabi naman niya sa alagad: “Hayan ang iyong ina.” At mula sa oras na iyo’y tinanggap siya ng alagad sa kanila. Pagkaraan nito, nakita ni Jesus na natupad na ang lahat ngunit kailangang maganap ang isa pang kasulatan at sinabi n’ya: “Nauuhaw ako.” May sisidlan naman doon na puno ng mapait na alak kaya ikinabit nila sa isang isopo ang esponghang ibinabad sa alak at idiniiti nila sa kanyang bibig. Pagkasipsip ni Hesus ng alak, sinabi n’ya: “Natupad na.” At pagkayuko ng ulo, ibinigay n’ya ang espiritu. Ayaw ng mga Judio na manatili sa krus ang mga bangkay sa Araw ng Pahinga. Paghahanda ng Paskuwa noon, kaya mas dakila pa ang Araw na iyon ng Pahinga. At hiniling nila kay Pilato na baliin ang mga binti ng mga nasa krus at saka alisin ang mga bangkay. Kaya pumaroon ang mga sundalo. Binali nila ang mga binti ng una at pati ng ikalawa na kasama niyang ipinako sa krus. Pagsapit naman nila kay Hesus, nakita nilang patay na siya kaya hindi nila binali ang kanyang mga binti. Gayunma'y sinibat ng isa sa mga sundalo ang kanyang tagiliran at umagos ang dugo at tubig. Ang nakasaksi ang nagpapatunay, at totoo ang kanyang patunay. At siya ang nakaaalam na totoo ang kanyang sinasabi kaya maniwala kayo.

PAGNINILAY:

Isa sa pinakamalungkot na experience ng pamilya namin ay nung mamatayan ako ng kapatid. Nasabi ng nanay ko na hindi raw dapat naglilibing ang magulang ng anak, dahil ito na ang pinakamasakit na pwedeng danasin lalo na ng isang ina. Nakita ko na sobra siyang nasaktan, pero kakaiba rin ang tapang at lakas na ipinakita niya, habang pilit niya itong hinarap at tanggapin. Naisip ko noon na espesyal talaga ang puso ng ina – siya lang ang makakaramdam ng ganitong sakit na mawalan ng anak na iniluwal at pinalaki niya, pero nagiging malakas ito sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Sa pagbasa natin ngayong araw, gusto kong tawagin itong pagpupugay at pag-alala sa mga ina na may ganitong karanasan. Huwaran ang dakilang puso ni Maria na nagpakita ng kakaibang lakas ng loob para matiis ang lahat ng sakit habang nakikita niyang naghirap hanggang sa kahulihang paghihintay ng kamatayan ng kanyang anak. Sa katuparan ng plano ng pagliligtas ng Diyos, buong pusong sumunod siya sa kalooban ng Diyos at buong pusong sinamahan ang anak man ng Diyos---- pero sa kanya bilang ina ay kaisa-isang anak na galing sa kanyang sinapupunan. Ang pagpapaubaya niyang ito ay nagbunga ng paghahabilin ni Hesus sa kanya na maging ina nating lahat --- inang kasama natin sa lahat ng pagsubok at paghihirap sa buhay. Sa araw na ito, papurihan at pasalamatan natin ang Diyos sa ating mga ina at kay Maria na Ina ng Simbahan at Sambayanang Kristiyano. - Sr. Reajoy San Luis, fsp (Daughters of St. Paul)

GOSPEL POWER |MAY 23, 2021| SUNDAY | Solemnity of Pentecost

Gospel: Jn 20: 19 – 23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

REFLECTION

Persecuted, wounded by scandals, maligned and  marginalized in many places, the Church — born at  Pentecost — does not cease to be the Body of Christ, whose  soul and animating principle is the Holy Spirit. Made up of sinners  who are saints-in-the-making, the Church continues to be a holy  presence in the world, witnessing to the transforming power of  God, to the ongoing divine project of renewing the face of the earth.  Today’s liturgical readings give us glimpses of the multi-faceted work  of the Holy Spirit. The first reading highlights the Spirit’s work of  creating unity out of diversity, allowing a message spoken in different  tongues to be understood by all hearers. The second reading focuses  on the Spirit’s work of empowering us, believers, to live out our new  identity as God’s children. And the Gospel speaks of the Spirit as our  internal teacher and the activator of the memory of Jesus

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for keeping your promise to send us the Advocate  as our dependable companion in our journey back to the Father. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | MAYO 23, 2021 - Dakilang Kapistahan ng Linggo ng Pentekostes

Posible bang matupad ang mithiing magkaisa sa kabila ng ating pagkakaiba-iba?

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 15:26-27, 16:1-4

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Kapag dumating ang Tagapagtanggol na aking ipadadala sa inyo mula sa Ama, ang Espiritu ng katotohanan na nagmula sa Ama, iyon ang magpapatotoo tungkol sa akin. At magpapatotoo rin kayo sapagkat kasama ko kayo mula sa simula. Marami pa sana akong sasabihin sa inyo, subalit hindi ninyo mauunawaan ngayon. Darating naman siya, ang Espiritu ng katotohanan at maghahatid sa inyo sa buong katutuhanan. Wala na siyang sasabihin mula sa kanyang sarili, kundi ang lahat niyang maririnig ang kanyang bibigkasin at mga bagay na darating ang ibabalita niya sa inyo. Ibabalita niya sa inyo ang tatanggapin niya mula sa akin. At sa gayon nya ako luluwalhatiin ang tanang sa Ama ay akin. Dahilan dito kaya ko sinabing mula siya sa akin tatanggap at magbabalita sa inyo.

PAGNINILAY:

Noong Marso nitong taong ito, sa gitna ng banta ng terorismo at ng COVID-19 Pandemic, natuloy sa pagdalaw si Pope Francis sa Iraq. Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ng Santo Papa sa nasabing bansa na kung saan dominante ang mga Muslim. Sa kanyang apat (4) na araw na paglagi sa Iraq, nakiusap si Pope Francis kay Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi at Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani na matigil na ang extremism at karahasan sa bansa. Nabisita rin niya ang mga lumang religious sites kabilang ang lugar kung saan isinilang si Abraham, at nakapagdasal sa Mosul na lubusang naapektuhan sa pag-atake ng ISIS.  Dala-dala ng 84 years old na Santo Papa ang Mabuting Balita ng kapayapaan, ng pakikipagkaibigan, ng paggalang, at ng pagkakaisa—mga kaloob na nagmumula sa Espiritu Santo! Mga kapanalig, sa maraming pagkakataon, ang ating pagkakaiba-iba—sa pinanggalingan, sa pananampalataya, sa pananaw, o sa pinapahalagahan sa buhay—ang sanhi ng maraming pag-aaway at di-pagkakaunawaan natin. Pero para sa Diyos, ang pagkakaiba-iba ang dahilan, ugat, at batayan ng pag-ibig. Ang Diyos Ama, ang Diyos Anak, at Diyos Espiritu Santo ay magkakaiba, pero sila’y nagkakaisa sa kanilang pagkakaiba. Hindi ba ganyan ang tunay na pagmamahalan? Ang Banal na Espiritu ng Ama at ni Hesus ang tumutulak at nagbibigay-lakas sa atin upang huwag matakot magmahal ng tunay. Kaya naman maglakas loob tayong manalangin, “Halina, Espiritu Santo! Hilumin mo kami. Buuin mo kami…” Amen.

- Fr. Angelo Paolo Asprer, ssp (Society of St. Paul)

Listen to: WORD & SONGS  

Theme: The Holy Spirit and His Gifts with Sr. Lines Salazar, fsp | Daughters of St Paul  

#WordAndSongs​​​​​​​​​​ #PaulinesRadioPH​​​​​​​​​​ #DaughtersOfStPaul​​​​​​​​​​

GOSPEL POWER | MAY 22, 2021 | SATURDAY | Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious | 7th Week of Easter

Gospel: Jn 21: 20 - 25

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

REFLECTION

There is a divinely ordained path for each one of us,  through which we can best glorify God. In our eyes, as  human beings, one path may appear to be better than the  others, more desirable and deserving of greater esteem. We, humans,  tend to compare. But to God, it is not the path that matters, but our  willingness to follow the one that has been ordained for us and to  let that path lead us to God. We may be strongly drawn to the path  being taken by another, but if that is not the one designated for us,  following it may only complicate and prolong our journey. There is  wisdom in minding our own path, as Jesus’ response to Peter seems to  imply. God is best honored by obedience. It is by faithfully following  the path marked out for us that we, like the beloved disciple of Jesus,  will be able to write, with our own lives, our own unique version of  the Gospel.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you deal uniquely with each one, and no two journeys are  exactly alike. Rather than compare, may we glorify you for drawing us all  to yourself. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | MAYO 22, 2021 - Sabado sa Ika-7 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay

May mga pagkakataon ba sayong buhay na feeling mo disconnected ka sa Diyos? Kelan ito nangyayari?

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 21:20-25

Paglingon ni Pedro, nakita n’ya na sumusunod ang alagad na mahal ni Hesus, ang humilig sa dibdib n’ya noong hapunan at nagtanong: “Panginoon, sino ba ang magkakanulo sa iyo?” Kaya pagkakita rito ni Pedro, sinabi n’ya kay Hesus: “Panginoon, ano naman ang mangyayari sa kanya?” Sinabi ni Hesus: “Kung loobin ko s’yang manatili hanggang ako’y pumarito, anong pakialam mo? Sumunod ka sa akin!” Dahil dito’y may lumaganap na paniwala sa mga kapatid na hindi mamamatay ang alagad na ito pero hindi naman sinabi ni Hesus: ‘Hindi mamamatay’ kundi ‘kung loobin ko s’yang manatili hanggang sa aking pagdating.’ Ito ang alagad na nagpapatunay tungkol sa mga bagay na ito at sumulat ng mga ito. Alam namin na totoo ang kanyang pagpapatunay. Marami pang ibang ginawa si Hesus, na kung masusulat ang mga iyon nang isa-isa, sa tantiya ko’y di magkakasya sa mundo ang mga isusulat na mga aklat.

PAGNINILAY:

May mga araw ba na ang pakiramdam mo, walang pakay o direksyon ang iyong buhay? Feeling mo na parang ginugulo ka ng tukso at nalilihis ang iyong daan… gulong-gulo ang iyong isip at kalooban at hirap kang mag focus… Pero sapat na dahilan ba ang mga ito upang tumalikod ka sa pagsunod kay Hesus? Pagnilayan natin kung kailan tayo hinihila na palayo sa pagsunod kay Hesus. Kung tayo ba ay nakatuon sa ibang tao o pangyayari? Sa chismis o inggit? Sa YouTube o Netflix? Sa takot na magkasakit ng Covid, mawalan ng trabaho, o magutom na nagiging sanhi ng ating kapighatian? Mga kapanalig, nasa Mabuting Balita ngayon ang mga katagang “ang alagad na mahal ni Hesus”. Sa buhay mo ngayon, maituturing mo ba ang iyong sarili, na isa sa mga alagad na mahal ni Hesus? Naranasan mo ba at naramdaman sa ‘yong puso ang pagyakap at pagmamahal ni Hesus? Pakinggan natin si Hesus na nag-aanyaya sa atin ngayon, na sumunod sa Kanya. Ang mahalin si Hesus ay ang pagsunod sa Kanya. At kung tayo ay nakatutok sa pagsunod kay Hesus, hindi tayo malilihis sa pakay ng ating buhay. Si Hesus ang Daan, ang Katotohanan at ang Buhay. Sundin natin Siya.

- Ebet Agustin (Association of Pauline Cooperators)

GOSPEL POWER |MAY 21, 2021

FRIDAY | Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Companions, Martyrs

7th Week of Easter | Gospel: Jn 21: 15 – 19

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go. (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

REFLECTON

Although this scene is meant to be the rehabilitation of Peter  for having denied Jesus, it is carried out with profound  gentleness and compassion. There is no accusing or blaming  of Peter, not even an allusion to his guilt. The only clues that remind  us of Peter’s denial are first, the charcoal fire that reproduces the scene  in the high priest’s courtyard; second, the threefold interrogation that  gives Peter the chance to undo his threefold denial with a threefold  avowal of love; third, Jesus’ addressing Peter, “Simon, son of John,”  which recalls their first meeting before Peter was called “Cephas.”  Peter had failed to be the “rock” on which the other disciples could  lean, but now Jesus renews the original call. Peter, humbled by his  experience, is now open to the workings of grace

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for your unconditional forgiveness, which, like  Peter, we have also experienced. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | MAYO 21, 2021 - Biyernes sa Ika-7 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay

Gaano mo kamahal ang Diyos? At paano mo pinapakita ang pagmamahal mo sa Kanya?

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 21:15-19

Nagpahayag si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad nang makapag-almusal sila, sinabi ni Jesus kay Simon Pedro: “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako nang higit pa sa mga ito?” “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam na iniibig kita.” “Pakanin ang aking mga kordero.” “Simon, anak ni Juan, mahal mo ba ako?” “Oo, Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam na iniibig kita.” “Akayin mo ang aking mga tupa.” “Simon, anak ni Juan, iniibig mo ba ako?” “Iniibig mo ba ako?” “Panginoon, ikaw ang nakaaalam ng lahat; alam mong iniibig kita.” “Pakanin mo ang aking mga tupa. Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa iyo, nang bata-bata ka pa, nagbibigkis ka sa iyong sarili at palakad-lakad ka saan mo man loobin. Ngunit pagtanda mo’y ididipa mo naman ang mga kamay mo, at iba ang magbibigkis sa iyo at magdadala sa ayaw mo.” Tinukoy naman ito ni Jesus bilang pananda sa paraan ng kamatayang ipanluluwalhati ni Pedro sa Diyos. At pagkatapos nito ay sinabi niya: “Sumunod ka sa akin!”

PAGNINILAY:

Mga kapanalig, narinig natin sa Mabuting Balita ang pagpapakita ni Hesus sa pitong alagad sa dalampasigan ng Dagat Tiberias. Nangyari ang tagpong ito pagkatapos ng kanyang muling pagkabuhay. Ano kaya ang iniisip ni Pedro sa tagpong ito na tatlong beses siyang tinanong ni Hesus, kung mahal niya ang Panginoon? Alam natin na tatlong beses din niyang sinabi na mahal niya ang Panginoon, pero nagdamdam siya doon sa ikatlong pagkakataon ng pagtatanong. Kaya nasabi niya – “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Sa sagot ni Pedro, dama natin iyong pagpapakumbaba – ibang Pedro ngayon ang kausap ni Hesus – hindi na iyong dating Pedro na sigurado sa kanyang sarili. Dito sa mga sagot niya, binigyan niya ng puwang si Hesus na basahin ang nilalaman ng kanyang puso! Alam na ni Pedro ang kanyang imperfection at hinayaan niyang si Hesus na lang ang sumagot.  Dito sa encounter na ito ng Panginoon at ni Pedro, makikita natin ang isang bagong Pedro – hindi na ang dating mangingisda, kung isang pastol ng simbahan na itinatag ni Kristo.

- Eli Doroteo (Institute of the Holy Family)

PANALANGIN: Panginoon, loobin mo po na huwag akong manghinawang humingi ng kapatawaran. Nawa patuloy ko ring patawarin ang aking sarili at ang aking kapwa. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER | MAY 20, 2021 | THURSDAY | Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest | 7thWeek of Easter | Gospel: Jn 17: 20 – 26

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

REFLECTION

In this part of his prayer, Jesus focuses on unity. The  oneness of believers of every generation, which reflects  Jesus’ oneness with his Father, will be the most powerful  and incontestable witness that may convince the world that Jesus  really comes from God. Genuine unity can never be achieved through  human effort alone. It can only come as a gift given from above. We  can be certain of this gift because it will be granted as a fruit of Jesus’  prayer. But this gift must be received with the right disposition — that  is, the readiness to rise above differences and set aside prejudices. In  that atmosphere of openness and receptivity, the Holy Spirit — the  builder of unity — can work freely among us

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help us to be docile and not to put up barriers against the  Holy Spirit’s unitive work among us. Amen