New Life

Fifth Sunday of Lent

22 March 2026

 

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11

Gospel: John 11:1-45

 

Reflection

By: Anton Ocampo

 

The narrative of Jesus restoring Lazarus back to life is featured in the Gospel reading for this Sunday. With this miracle, Jesus gives a glimpse of what is to come. Aside from showing love for His beloved friend from Bethany, who was already dead for four days by the time He arrived to perform this act, with this wonderous miracle, He gives us a glimpse of the glory He will attain once He rises from the dead. Lazarus was resuscitated or revived back to life upon the loud call of Jesus. On the other hand, Jesus will rise from the dead by His own power, proving that He is indeed the one true God who came to save humanity by His Holy Cross and Resurrection.

Interestingly, immediately after the narrative of this wonderous miracle, the next event that was featured was a session that was held by the Sanhedrin in response to what Jesus has done for Lazarus. A meeting was immediately summoned by the Sanhedrin so that its members would have the chance to discuss among themselves their next move. What will they do as a response to this miracle which was done by this popular preacher who came all the way from Nazareth? If He continues to perform deeds like this, His popularity will continue to increase which will cause them headaches in dealing with Rome. This is where Caiaphas, the high priest at the time, provided a solution – one man will die for the sake of the people (John 11:46-49). The man they chose to suffer and die for the sake of the people is none other than Jesus who they are greatly envious of and want to get rid of.

Even though Jesus was not there in the meeting that was convened by the members of the Sanhedrin, He knew what was in their hearts. He knew fully well that they wanted to kill Him. Despite knowing what was in their hearts and minds, Jesus did not have any regrets in leaving His heavenly kingdom to come to the world in order to save humanity. Not even the cruel plot of the Sanhedrin to put Him to death made Him regret coming to the world to save humanity through His Cross and Resurrection. This is evidence of His great mercy, compassion, and love.

As stated in the Responsorial Psalm, the Lord is full of mercy. This is the reason why He chose to save us. In fact, this is what the Lord clearly stresses in the words He says through the Prophet Ezekiel in the First Reading. In the Second Reading, the Apostle Saint Paul talks about the gift of new life that was given to us through Christ Jesus. In giving us the gift of new life, God has proven that He is indeed merciful, compassionate, and loving. God has willed that His Spirit lives in us in order for us to experience the change He gives. We no longer live in sin. Rather, we are created anew. We become people who are filled with holiness and righteousness, which is pleasing to Him. 

God is truly merciful, compassionate, and loving. Aside from giving each of us an opportunity to experience life here on earth, He also gives us the gift of new life. This gift of new life is a life filled with holiness and righteousness, which is truly pleasing to Him. By coming down from Heaven to assume the role of the promised Messiah and Savior through His only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus, He has freely given us this wonderous gift.

   

Prayer

Filled with heartfelt gratitude for the gift of life, we humbly praise, worship, thank, and exalt You, O Lord. We also humbly thank You for giving us the gift of new life, a life filled with holiness and righteousness. Like Lazarus who was raised back to life, may we always choose to listen and obey Your word and will. Amen.

Bahay-Dalanginan

Kapistahan ng Pagtatalaga sa Palasyong Simbahan sa Laterano, Roma

Nobyembre 09, 2025

 

Unang Pagbasa: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

Ikalawang Pagbasa: 1 Corinto 3:9c-11, 16-17

Mabuting Balita: Juan 2:13-22

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Para sa mga aktibong Katoliko o Kristiyano, alam na natin na hindi lamang ang gusali o batong istruktura ang tinutukoy kapag sinabing simbahan, kundi ang sambayanan ng Diyos. Sa katesismo, nalaman nating tatlo ang sambayanan ng Diyos, ang Simbahang Nagtagumpay, Simbahang Nagdurusa, at ang Simbahang Nakikibaka. Magkaka-ugnay ang tatlong sambayanan ng Diyos dahil kailangan nila ang isa’t isa. Pero hindi ko na iisa-isahing ipaliwanag ito dahil mas personal ang gusto kong ibahaging pagninilay ngayon. Nanaginip kasi ako kagabi at nagpakita sa panaginip ko ang aking kaibigang namayapa na at isa pang kaluluwa na hindi ko kilala. Sa panaginip ko, nasa compound kami ng Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA), sa dati naming pinapasukan bilang alagad ng tagapaglathala ng Gospel Komiks, Catholic Digest at iba pang babasahin. Hinabol ko ang aking kaibigan nang dumaan sa harap ko at iba pang kasama naming nagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng CFA; Rocel Siena ang pangalan niya at sa panaginip ko nga ay alam kong patay na siya o kaluluwa na lang ang nakikita ko. Binati ko siya nang maabutan at kinamayan ko pero parang nag-aalangan siyang iabot ang kanyang kamay na mabilis ko namang kinuha at napansin kong malambot ito. Napansin ko ring kumikinang ang balat niya sa mukha. Sinabi ko sa kanya na buti’t pinayagan siya ng Diyos na makabisita muli sa lupa at ang sagot niya ay “siyempre kaibigan kita”. Tuwang-tuwa ako pagsabi niya noon, pero alam ko na nanghihingi siya ng panalangin. Nagtanong ako sa kanya kung totoo nga bang may Purgatoryo dahil gusto kong malaman kung dapat ko nga ba silang ipagdasal, pero hindi siya sumagot. Siguro’y limitado lamang ang salitang pinahintulutan ng Diyos na sabihin niya. Ang sumagot ay ang isa pang kaluluwa na kasama niya pero hindi ko siya kilala, ang sabi niya ay “mula sa kinalalagyan namin ay napakahirap makarating sa langit”. Pagkasabi niya noon, nagising na ako at naunawaan ko na kinakailangan natin talaga silang ipagdasal upang makasama na rin nila ang Simbahang Nagtagumpay na kapiling ang Diyos. Dapat nga talagang walang patid na ipanalangin natin (bilang Simbahang Nakikibaka) araw-araw ang Simbahang Nagdurusa (kaluluwang nasa Purgatoryo) dahil tayo lamang ang inaasahan nila. Bago nga pala ako nagising, nasabi ko kay Rocel na huwag niya kaming kalimutang ipagdasal din sa Diyos kung nanduon na siya sa Langit. Kaya nga marami sa ating mga mahal sa buhay na namayapa na sinasabihan nating ipagdasal din tayong nakikipaglaban pa sa mundong ito dahil naniniwala tayo na marami na sa ating mahal sa buhay na kapiling na ang Diyos.

Samantala, nakakalungkot namang makita na ang simbahang gusali na dinadalanginan natin ay nalalapastangan na ng mga negosyante. Maraming simbahan sa Europa ngayon na kailangang magbayad muna bago ka makapasok sa loob at napalitan na ang pagiging sagradong dalanginan nito sa mabilisang pagbisita ng mga turista para alamin lamang ang kasaysayan o mamangha na lamang sa disenyo't sining ng mga rebulto't santong nakapinta, o mamalas ang arkitektong istilo nito na para bang bumisita sa isang museo. Madami ring ibinebentang produkto na nagsisilbing souvenir sa paligid ng simbahan. Sa Pilipinas, hindi pa naman natin ginagawang museo ang mga simbahan at kalimitang bulaklak at kandila lang ang nabibili sa harap ng simbahan. Kung nawala ang respeto natin sa dambanang dalanginan, naglalaho rin ang pagmamahal natin sa ating Diyos na laging gustong tumulong sa atin na manalangin sa kanyang dambana.

 

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, paalalahanan mo kaming lagi na irespeto ang Iyong simbahang dalanginan upang araw-araw naming idulog sa Iyo ang mga namayapang kapatid namin upang makapiling Mo na sila sa Iyong Kaharian. Amen.

My Holy Dad

Solemnity of All the Saints
01 November 2009



Come, let us worship Christ, whose bride is the Church.

First reading Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14

I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.

After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’

One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 23:1-6

Second reading 1 John 3:1-3

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.
Surely everyone who entertains this hope
must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

Gospel Matthew 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.’

Reflection
By Mayzelle Atienza

Perhaps the most poignant suggestion of heaven and eternal perspective can be found in the Beatitudes – it is a promise of better things to come, a promise of reward in exchange of sufferings bore here on earth by our temporal bodies.

I’ve always liked the Beatitudes, maybe because of how it was written -- I like it for the seeming dramatic irony and being part of the telenovela generation, I like how it paints poetic justice – how one suffered and eventually becomes victorious at the end! But the ‘end’ painted here is not literally ‘here’ – it can be – but it points to more lasting than the here and now, it points to a more enduring and eternal goal of heaven.

As Christians, we are taught to look at the eternal perspective, to search for meanings in light of an eternal heaven and an eternal God. I am currently serving as a full-time staffer for my Catholic community; I had to forego several lucrative job offers in other countries because I wanted to serve God full-time first. There are times that I regret my decision and I doubt the wisdom why I’m doing what I’m doing but I am always reminded and grounded of the eternal perspective and I am fired up in serving once again. What we do and the decisions we made for God may seem pointless, trivial and even downright stupid at times, but we always need to look at it in the light of an eternal God.

By Pietro S. Albano

We are such a lucky people because God loves us 24/7! And because of that love He adopted us as His own. These first two days of November – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day - I believe are intertwined in the sense that, heaven is for real and is the reward that awaits all who would remain in God’s love. And those who enter heaven are called saints. Why? Because they now share in that perfection which God has called each of His children. Imagine when we all gain eternal life, we would be seeing God face-to-face in that future not yet revealed as indicated in St John’s Letter (Second Reading) and sitting side-by-side with the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph, and our other favourite saints. And not just those saints canonized in the Church, but others who spent their lives on earth doing God’s will – it could be a grandparent, parent, friend, or just any ordinary person you may have met or heard of.

All Souls’ Day is connected to All Saints’ Day because we have that virtue called hope. When we pray for the dead we have that hope that in God’s own time they will share in the eternal happiness proclaimed and promised by Jesus Himself in today’s Gospel. We remember the dead full of hope that they will be in that state when there will no longer be any problems or heartaches, only peace in the presence of our Savior.

We are all called to be in heaven in the future. I must admit that at times I feel so unworthy of it because of my sins, yet I never lose hope that the Lord would have pity on me, always giving me the nth chance to mend my foolish ways, and allow me to join the rest of His big family in heaven soon. I have that hope so I could always strive to be holy just as my Dad and yours (i.e. God) is holy.




Prayer

Lord, May we always look beyond the temporal and focus on what’s eternal. May we always look at our lives here on earth in the light of eternity and be always reminded of the promise of better things to come once we’re home with you in heaven. Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed through Your mercy, Lord, rest in peace. Amen.

Next week on God-speak
Giving-All-I-Have