Word and Songs:

Word and Songs:

HOLY SATURDAY REFLECTION - God Always at Work In The World

GOSPEL POWER - APRIL 3, 2021 - HOLY SATURDAY

Gospel: Mk 16:1-7 

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother  of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint  him.  And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had  risen, they went to the tomb.  They had been saying to one another,  “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”  When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,  had already been rolled back.  As they entered the tomb, they saw  a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and  they were alarmed.  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are  looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised;  he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his  disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you  will see him, just as he told you.”

REFLECTION

St. Paul regards death as the “wages of sin” (cf. Rom 6:23),  the lot of all human beings, for all are sinners. Jesus,  though sinless, embraced this lot of ours to reveal to us what  God is truly like. God is redeeming love, who wants to restore to us shalom — the fullness of life that comes only from a right relationship  with the Divine. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the restorer of shalom, also  known as redeemer, has to be the closest relative. It is as our brother  that Jesus redeems us and restores to us the possibility of activating  our full potential as children of God. His death in the name of love  is life-generating. And because love is the greatest power of all, Jesus  cannot be held by bonds of death. Resurrection is inevitable. Love  has conquered death!

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, may our faith in your resurrection be our strongest weapon  against the culture of death promoted in our world today. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | Abril 3, 2021 – Sabado Santo

EBANGHELYO: MARCOS 16:1-7

Pagkatapos ng araw ng pahinga, si Maria Magdalena, at si Maria ina ni Jaime at si Salome ay bumili ng mga pabango upang pumunta at pahiran si Hesus. At dumating sila sa libingan kina umagahan ng uang araw ng isang Linggo. Pinag usap nila ay: “Sino ang magpapagulong at mag aalis sa malaking bato sa bukana ng libingan! Ay sino nga? Sino? Ngunit pagtingin nilay nakita nilang naigulong na ang bato napakalaki nga yon. Kaya pumasok sila sa libingan at nakita nila ang isang binata nakaputi na nakaupo sa kanan. At takang taka sila, ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila “Wag kayong matakot di ba’t si Hesus ang taga Nazareth ang ipinako sa krus ang hinahanap nyo? Binuhay siya at wala sya rito. Hayan ang lugar kung saan siya inilagay, ngunit humayo kayo at sabihin sa mga alagad nya at pati kay Pedro na mauuna sya sa inyo sa Galilea, doon nyo sya matatagpuan gaya ng sinabi niya sa inyo. Agad silang lumabas at tumakas mula sa libingan. Inalihan sila ng takot at sindak at wala silang sinabi kanino man, takot na takot nga sila.

PAGNINILAY:

Namangha ka ba na nawala si Hesus? Lungkot at sakit ang dala ng realidad na ito. Hindi pa natin kayang limutin ang pagkamatay Niya sa Krus, ngayon naman ay nawawala siya!  Nakalimutan mo ba na sa likod ng Krus ay tagumpay? Si Hesus ay nagtagumpay sa kamatayan; ang Kanyang buhay ay buhay na walang hanggan. Sa pagdiriwang natin ng Muling Pagkabuhay ng Panginoon, ipaparanas Niya sa atin na ang kamatayan ay hindi nagiging dahilan nang pagtigil ng buhay, bagkus ito ay isang daan para tahakin ang bagong landas ng buhay. Ang Muling Pagkabuhay ng Panginoon ay isang pagtawid ng tao mula sa buhay na puno ng sakit, dilim at hirap tungo sa buhay na niliwanagan at pinatatag ng Presensiya ng Diyos at ng kanyang pangakong kasama natin Siya magpakailanman. Inilagay ko ang aking sarili na kasama ng mga apostol na nagpunta sa Galilea. Dito ko sisimulan ang bagong paglalakbay na may kamalayang sa aking bawat hakbang si Hesus na muling nabuhay ay aking kalakbay. Kapanalig, move on na kasi si Hesus ay muling nabuhay para sa iyo at para sa akin.  Sasamahan Ka niya at ako sa pagtawid sa bawat tulay ng buhay na ating dadaanan na ang tanging hantungan ay Siya lamang.

Sr. Narci Peñaredonda, sjbp (Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd)

GOSPEL POWER - APRIL 2, 2021 - GOOD FRIDAY  (Fast and Abstinence)

Gospel: Jn 18:1–19:42  

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

The Gospel of John gives us a very different perspective of  the crucifixion. It is not viewed as a humiliating death,  but the moment when Jesus and the Father glorify one  another. It is the hour that Jesus has been anticipating all throughout  the Gospel. The lifting up of his body on the cross is the instant of  exaltation when he draws all people to himself. This very positive  and hopeful perspective comes from viewing the event through the  lens of the incarnation. The Word of God who became flesh to dwell  among us can now, by way of his earthly death, return to the Father  who is his origin and destination. His last words on the cross — “It is  finished” — declare that he has accomplished the mission entrusted  to him. Death therefore signifies fulfillment.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, your death turned upside-down the apparent triumph of  your opponents. For by your cross, you exorcised the Satanic ruler of this  world (Jn 12:31). Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | ABRIL 2, 2021 – Biyernes Santo

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 18:1-19:42

Nangakatayo naman sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus 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 niya: “Nauuhaw ako!” May sisidlan naman doon na puno ng mapait na alak. Kaya ikinabit nila sa isopo ang esponghang ibinabad sa alak at idiniit nila sa kanyang bibig. Pagkasipsip ni Jesus ng alak, sinabi niya: “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 Jesus, 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:

Kapanalig, malaya ka na dahil naganap na… tapos na… “paid in full.”   Wala ka nang utang dahil inako na ito ni Hesu-Kristo.   Ang Biyernes Santo ay araw ng kaganapan sa pangako ng kaligtasan.  Kaganapan ito sa ginawang ritwal ng ating Panginoon kahapon, sa hapag ng huling hapunan kung saan kanyang ipinaliwanag kung ano ang magaganap sa araw na ito.  Sapagkat paano niyang maipapaliwanag na ang kanyang katawan na sugatan at ang dugong dumadanak sa kanyang tagiliran ay para sa ating katubusan, kung siya ay nakabayubay sa krus at unti-unting nauupos.  Kaya nga’t ipinatawag na niya ang mga alagad sa isang salu-salo upang maisalarawan ang tunay na kahulugan ng mahal na araw. Malaya ka na kapanalig. Malaya ka nang tahakin muli ang tuwid na landas at baguhin ang iyong buhay.  Huwag mong sayangin ang iyong bagong kalayaan.  Mayroong namatay at nagbigay ng sariling buhay para sa’yo.  Ganyan kamahal ang iyong pagkatao. Ganyan ka kamahal ng Diyos, upang ang sarili Niyang Anak mismo ang tutubos ng iyong mga pagkakasala.   Kaya mga kapanalig, sa araw na ito, tingni, masdan mong muli ang taong nakabayubay sa krus.  Siya ang ating kaligtasan.  Halina’t siya’y sambahin.

- Sr. Mary Anthony Basa, pddm (Disciples of the Divine Master)

GOSPEL POWER - APRIL 1, 2021 - HOLY THURSDAY

Gospel: Jn 13:1-15 

 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had  come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved  his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  The devil  had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to  betray him. And during supper  Jesus, knowing that the Father had  given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and  was going to God,  got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and  tied a towel around himself.  Then he poured water into a basin and  began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel  that was tied around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus answered, “You do not  know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”  Peter  said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless  I wash you, you have no share with me.”  Simon Peter said to him,  “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said  to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the  feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not  all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had  returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have  done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for  that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your  feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an  example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

REFLECTION

Our limited notion of divine omnipotence is shaped by how  we see power exercised by human beings in the world.  Thus we conceive of it in terms of sovereignty, dominion and  control — actions normally associated with an exalted status. Today’s  Gospel offers us the scandalous but true picture of divine omnipotence — Jesus, the incarnate Word, washes his disciples’ feet. Divine  omnipotence is the power to love without limit and to demonstrate that  love by stepping down from the most exalted status to render the  humblest form of service. St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians  (2:6-11), speaks of this divine omnipotence as kenosis: Jesus, though  divine by nature, empties himself of glory, takes on the form of a slave  by becoming human, and obeys perfectly to the point of accepting  the lowliest form of death — death by crucifixion.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, only by having our logic turned upside-down do we get the  slightest hint of divine power as self-emptying love. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | ABRIL 1, 2021 – Huwebes Santo

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 13:1-15

PAGNINILAY:

Narinig natin sa Mabuting Balita na hinugasan ni Hesus ang mga paa ng mga apostol. Kagulat-gulat at isang malaking iskandalo ang ginawa niya, dahil mga alipin lang ang naghuhugas ng paa ng mga bisita. Sandalyas lang ang suot ng mga tao noon, hindi sapatos. Kaya’t makalipas ang isang araw na paglalakad sa maalikabok na daan, marumi at maputik ang kanilang mga paa. Kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka na tumanggi si Pedro. Mga kapanalig, anong aral ang nais ituro ng Panginoong Hesus sa ginawa niyang paghuhugas ng paa ng mga alagad? Tatlong bagay ang nais Niyang ipahiwatig sa atin… Una, ipinakikita Niya rito ang kababaang-loob na dapat taglayin ng sinumang nagnanais na maging pinuno at guro ng iba. Kinakailangan ang katangian ng isang servant leader, na hindi naghari-harian, kundi buong pagpapakumbabang naglilingkod sa Kanyang nasasakupan. Siya ang nauunang magtrabaho upang bigyan ng mabuting halimbawa, ang mga taong pinaglilingkuran, kung paano maging isang servant leader. May kahandaang makinig sa suggestion at tumanggap ng feedback para sa ikabubuti nang nakararami. Pangalawa, ipinakikita ni Hesus sa mga alagad at sa atin din, na dapat tayong maglingkod sa isa’t-isa… Aniya, “Kung ang Panginoon ninyo at guro ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, dapat din kayong maghugasan ng paa.”  Para magawa natin ito, kinakailangan nating taglayin ang sensitivity at mindfulness sa pangangailangan ng bawat miyembro ng ating pamilya o komunidad, upang magtulungan tayong mapagaan ang pasanin ng bawat isa. Ikatlo, ipinahihiwatig nito sa diwang sakramental ang pangangailangan ng tao na malinis sa kasalanan. Oo, kailangan nating aminin ang ating mga kasalanan at humingi ng tawad sa Sakramento ng kumpisal. Mga kapanalig, pagpapakumbaba at pagpapatawad ang susi para makatugon tayo sa panawagan ng Panginoon na maghugasan tayo ng paa. Sa totoo lang, mahirap hugasan ang paa ng ating kaaway, o ng taong nakasakit ng ating damdamin, at hindi natin mapatawad. Mahirap hugasan ang paa ng taong ayaw natin/ o ayaw sa atin. At lalong mahirap hugasan ang paa ng mga taong mayabang at mahirap abutin, dahil hindi nila nakikita ang pangangailangan na hugasan ang kanilang mga paa. Sa harap ng mga balakid na ito, kinakailangan natin ang grasya ng Panginoong Hesu-Kristo na matuto tayong magpakumbaba at magpatawad. Kapag malaya ang ating pusong umibig kagaya ni Hesus, kakayanin nating mag take ng risk para abutin ang mga taong tila mahirap pakisamahan at abutin, mga taong indifferent sa atin, at mga taong nakasakit ng ating damdamin. I-reject man nila tayo, at least we’ve done our part para abutin at paglingkuran sila. Ngayong sinisimulan natin ang Easter Triduum, hilingin natin ang grasyang magpakumbaba at patawarin ang mga taong nagkasala sa atin, upang huwag tayong mag-alinlangang abutin sila at hugasan ang paa sa diwa nang tunay na paglilingkod.

– Sr. Lines Salazar, fsp (Daughters of St. Paul)

PANALANGIN:

Panginoon, patawad po sa aking mga biases at prejudices sa aking pakikitungo sa kapwa. Matutunan ko nawang hugasan ang paa ng mga taong aking nakakasalamuha nang walang pagtatangi – miyembro miyembro man sila ng aking pamilya, komunidad at kasamahan sa parokya. Tulungan Mo po akong maging mapagpakumbaba at mapagpatawad nang huwag akong pangunahan ng takot na ma-reject, sa tuwing sinisikap kong abutin ang mga taong tila mahirap mahalin. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER - MARCH 31, 2021 - WEDNESDAY

Gospel: Mt 26:14-25 

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the  chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to  you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment  he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to  Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for  you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man,  and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the  Passover at your house with my disciples.’” So the disciples did as  Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and  while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will  betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to  him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one  who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The  Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom  the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one  not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not  I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.

REFLECTION

By opening this episode with an identification of Judas  Iscariot as “one of the Twelve,” Matthew drives home  the gravity of this treacherous act. It is somebody from the  intimate inner circle who turns into a mercenary and sells his Lord  for a meager price. Judas represents the shadowy and tragic side of  discipleship — the lowest point to which any believer, even today,  can be driven by disillusionment and broken loyalty. Two strands of  the mystery of salvation are tightly woven in this episode. One strand  portrays the death of Jesus not merely as the tragic result of a friend’s  betrayal. Rather, it is the fulfillment of what has been prophesied in  the Scripture. The other strand depicts Judas not only as a helpless  pawn who must carry out what has been prophesied. Rather, he is a  free person making choices and decisions whose consequences he  must bear.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help us to understand the grave responsibility that comes  with the gift of freedom, and give us the grace to live as free and responsible  children of God. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | Marso 31, 2021 – Miyerkules Santo