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--> PAG-ASA SA MGA PUSONG WASAK Madalas na nating marinig ang kuwento ngayon (Lk. 24: 13-35) tuwing Pagkabuhay. Pag narinig natin ang salitang Emaus, tila alam na natin ang buong kuwento ng dalawang alagad na lumayo mula sa Jerusalem at sa daan ay sinabayan sila ni Hesus at sinaluhan sa hapunan. Pero teka, muli nating pagmasdan ang ganda ng salaysay na ito. Kay Lukas lamang ito makikita, at ito ang pinakamahabang kuwento ng Pagkabuhay. Dito hindi lamang nagpakita ang Panginoon kundi nagbigay pa ng turo tungkol sa kanyang paghihirap at pagkabuhay at ang kaugnayan nito sa plano ng Ama. Ang “dalawang” alagad na naglalakbay ay kabilang sa mga alagad na hindi agad naniwala sa sinabi ng mga babae. Nasiphayo sila kaya nais nilang lumayo sa Jerusalem. Pero habang naglalakad, si Hesus pa rin ang kanilang paksa ng usapan. At biglang sumabay sa kanila si Hesus. Hindi nila nakilala ang Panginoon. Iba kaya ang itsura niya noon? Pero sabi ni Lukas, ang prob...

--> HOPE TO BROKEN HEARTS We always listen to this Resurrection Gospel (Lk 24: 13-35) every Easter that we seem to be no longer excited about it. As soon as we hear about Emmaus, we readily conclude that we know the entire story of the two disappointed disciples fleeing Jerusalem and how Jesus appeared to them and joined them in the journey and in a meal. Let us take some time to appreciate the beauty of this passage. The story appears only in Luke and is the longest of all the gospel stories about the Resurrection. Here Jesus does not only appear but also imparts a teaching that explains how the passion, cross and resurrection fit into the Father’s plan of salvation. The “two” who were traveling were part of those who heard the testimony of the women but refused to believe. So deep was their disbelief that they set out to go far from Jerusalem. But as they were walking, they kept talking about Jesus, and at that time, Jesus appeared to them. ...

--> MATINDING ALINLANGAN, MATINDING PAPURI Ano ba ang kakaiba kay Tomas? Siya lang naman ang apostol na hindi “funny” o hindi “paniwalain,” hindi madaling makumbinsi (Jn 11:16; 14:5). At dahil wala siya sa unang pagpapakita ni Hesus, ayaw niyang maniwala kahit balitaan siya ng iba. Sobrang mapagduda si Tomas na meron pa siyang mga kundisyon para maniwala talaga: dapat kong makita! Dapat kong mahawakan! Nagduda din naman ang ibang mga apostol noong una, pero si Tomas ang talagang kinarir sa buhay ang salitang “duda.” Pero nang lumitaw muli ang Panginoon, matapos niyang batiin ang lahat, hinarap niya si Tomas at kinausap. Inanyayahan ng Panginoong Hesus si Tomas na usisain siya; na hawakan ang mga sugat niya. Sobrang gulat tiyak ni Tomas na nabasa ng Panginoon ang kanyang isipan at narinig ang kanyang sinabi noong una. Kaya malamang, hindi naman nahawakan ni Tomas ang mga sugat ni Hesus. Malaking insulto ito kung gagawin pa niya ...

--> THE MOST DOUBT, THE GREATEST PRAISE What is unique about Thomas? He was the disciple who could not be persuaded easily (Jn 11:16, 14:5). And so because he was absent when Jesus first appeared to the apostles, this time, he did not easily believe the testimony of the others. So unbelieving Thomas was that he even set a condition for his faith: to see is to believe; to touch is to believe! Other disciples entertained doubt at first too, but only Thomas embodied that doubt so personally in his life. But when Jesus appeared, after greeting the disciples, he turned to Thomas and addressed him. The Lord invited Thomas to see him and to touch his wounds. Surely Jesus knew the conditions Thomas stated earlier. Thomas must have been so surprised that the one he did not believe was risen actually knew what was in his heart. So probably, Thomas never really came forward to dare to touch the wounds of Jesus. If he had done so in the pr...

--> WALANG MAS HIHIGIT PANG KAPANGYARIHAN Ang pagsasaad ng mabuting balita tuwing Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ay halos laging nagsisimula sa mga babaeng dumalaw sa libingan upang matagpuan na wala na si Hesus doon. Nagulat sila at humanga dahil ang libingang may bangkay ngayon ay libingang walang laman at maluwalhati. Ganyan taun-taon tuwing binabasa natin ang mabuting balita ng Pagkabuhay Sa mabuting balita ayon kay Mateo, may kakaibang paglalahad. Pagkatapos ilibing si Hesus at bago ang tagpo ng mga babae, si Mateo ay bumalik sa tema ng mga punong pari at mga lider Hudyo na nagpapatay sa Panginoon. Kahit matagumpay nilang naipapatay ang Panginoon, inaalala ni Mateo ang kanilang galit at poot kay Hesus. Kung sa pagsilang ni Hesus nais nila siyang ipapatay, ngayon sa kamatayan ni Hesus, ayaw nilang may maiwang anumang bahid ng impluwesya niya sa lupa. Nakipagsabwatan sila sa mga awtoridad upang maglagay ng mga kawal sa labas ng puntod. Nilagyan din ni...

--> NO POWER GREATER THAN GOD’S The presentation of the Easter gospels almost always starts with the women who visit the tomb and find that the body of Jesus is no longer there. They stand in awe at the unexpected spectacle of a tomb that was occupied but now is empty and glorious!  This is how every year the Easter gospel speaks of the Resurrection of the Lord. In Matthew’s gospel, there is a unique Easter presentation. After the burial and before the women get in the area of the tomb, Matthew returns to the chief priests and Jewish leaders who plotted the death of the Lord. Even after the burial of Jesus, Matthew reminds us that these enemies of Jesus continue their hostility, their anger and hatred against Jesus. As they wanted to kill Jesus as an infant, now they want to eliminate every trace of Jesus and his influence on the earth after his death. Plotting with the authorities the chief priests and rulers of Israel placed guards outsi...

--> DIE A SERVANT After celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, I had a brief adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I realized how Jesus spent the night before he died was so different from how most people would like to spend the last moments before their death, if they ever knew when it would come. Just a few months ago, I watched  a film titled “Die Beautiful,” in which the actor (portraying a transgender woman) planned his death to the littlest detail. He told his friends to make sure that in death, he was stunning and gorgeous as when he was alive. approaching death, and thinking of how he would still impress others. How different Jesus was! On the night of his Passion, he thought only of others, not about himself. At the Last Supper, it seemed he did not really enjoy the feast. While the others were enjoying the Jewish holiday, all he could think of was to get a towel and a basin and kneel before each of his disciples, who he now claime...

--> MISTERYO NG TAHIMIK NA DIYOS Sa bago at napakagandang pelikulang “Silence” ni Martin Scorsese, batay sa nobelang ganito rin ang pamagat, ang bida ay isang misyonero mula sa Europa. Nagdusa siya dahil nakita niya ang paghihirap ng pinag-uusig na mga mahihirap, mahihina at walang kalaban-labang mga Kristiyano sa Japan. Sa puso niya nabuo ang isang tunggalian. Alam niyang mapagmahal ang Diyos pero bakit tila hindi niya tinutulungan ang kanyang mga anak? Bakit kapag nagdarasal siya, walang ibang tugon kundi “katahimikan” lamang? Ngayong mga Mahal na Araw ito siguro ang tanong din sa puso natin. Nagdasal si Hesus sa Getsemane. Di tulad sa dasal niya noong dati, mabigat at madilim ang panalangin sa hardin. Hiniling niyang alisin sa kanya ang kopa ng paghihirap pero walang sagot sa kanyang panalangin. Sa krus, habang nakapako, ang isip ni Hesus ay nakatuon sa isa lamang – sa Ama. Ililigtas kaya siya? Tutulungan kaya siya? “Diyos ko, Diyos ko...

--> SILENT GOD, SUFFERING PEOPLE In Martin Scorsese’s recent and great film “Silence,” based on a novel of the same title, the main character is a missionary from Europe. In the film, he suffers tremendously because he saw how the small, poor and helpless Japanese Christians suffer harassment, threats and death because of their faith. This creates a tension in his heart because he knows that God cares, that God saves, that he hears his people. Why was it then, that when he prayed for them and for himself, God did not reply? Was he praying only to “silence?” This Holy Week this must be the same question in our hearts. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Compared to his prayers while in active ministry, his prayer was gloomy and dark. He was asking his Father to let the cup pass him by, to deliver him from suffering. There was no answer. Again on the cross, when he was crucified, Jesus’ mind was fixed only on one person, his Father. Would ...