(Note: There are two reflections below: ‘Thursday of the Sixth week of Easter’ is used in those diocese where the Ascension is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. For those dioceses that celebrate the Ascension today, click here or scroll down.)
May 21, 2020
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Readings for Today
San Cristóbal Magallanes, Pari at Martir, at mga Kasama, mga Martir—Paggunita na Maaaring Ipagdiwang
“Amen, amen, sinasabi ko sa inyo, kayo ay iiyak at magdadalamhati, samantalang magagalak ang sanlibutan; malulungkot kayo, ngunit ang inyong kalungkutan ay magiging kagalakan.” John 16:20
Ang pagdadalamhati, pagluluksa, at maging ang pag-iyak ay bahagi ng buhay. Madalas umiyak ang mga bata sa napakaliit na suliranin, ngunit tayong lahat ay humaharap sa pagdadalamhati at kalungkutan sa buong buhay natin.
Sa sipi sa itaas, ipinababatid ni Hesus sa Kanyang mga Apostol na magiging bahagi ng kanilang buhay ang kalungkutan at pagdadalamhati. Napakaseryoso ngunit makatotohanan ng pahayag na ito ng ating Panginoon. Isang pagpapamalas ng Kanyang pagmamahal ang pagiging tapat sa Kanyang mga Apostol tungkol sa darating na mga paghihirap na kanilang haharapin.
Ang mabuting balita ay sinusundan ni Hesus ang pahayag na ito ng balitang puno ng pag-asa: ang kanilang “kalungkutan ay magiging kagalakan.” Ito ang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng sinasabi ni Hesus.
Totoo rin ito sa ating buhay. Hindi ipinangangako ni Hesus na ang ating buhay ay magiging malaya sa paghihirap at sakit. Hindi Niya sinasabi sa atin na ang pagsunod sa Kanya ay nangangahulugang magiging madali ang lahat sa buhay. Sa halip, nais Niyang malaman natin na tatahakin natin ang Kanyang mga yapak kung pipiliin nating sumunod sa Kanya. Nagdusa Siya, pinagmalupitan, at sa huli ay pinatay. At magiging kalunus-lunos sana ito kung hindi Siya muling nabuhay mula sa mga patay, umakyat sa Langit, at ginawang mismong daan ng kaligtasan ng sanlibutan ang lahat ng naunang pagdadalamhati at sakit.
Kung tatahakin natin ang Kanyang mga yapak, kailangan nating makita ang bawat pagdadalamhati sa ating buhay bilang maaaring maging daluyan ng biyaya para sa marami. Kung mahaharap natin ang mga paghihirap sa buhay nang may pananampalataya at pag-asa, walang makapananatiling lugmok sa atin sa huli, at ang lahat ay magagamit para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos at magbubunga ng malaking kagalakan.
Pagnilayan ngayon ang mga salitang ito ni Hesus. Unawain mong hindi lamang Niya sinabi ang mga ito sa Kanyang mga Apostol, kundi pati sa iyo. Huwag kang matisod sa pananampalataya o mabigla kapag dumating ang ilang paghihirap sa iyong buhay. Huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa kapag napaharap ka sa pagdurusa. Ipaubaya mo ang lahat sa ating Panginoon at hayaan mong baguhin Niya ang mga ito tungo sa kagalakang ipinangangako Niya sa huli.
Lord, I surrender to You all suffering in my life. My grief, hardships, sorrow and confusion I place in Your hands. I trust that You are all-powerful and desire to transform all things into a means of Your glory. Give me hope in times of despair and trust when life is hard. Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Prayed in preparation for Pentecost
Beginning Friday, May 22
Higit pang mga Pagninilay sa Ebanghelyo
Mga Pagninilay sa Inaawit na Awa ng Diyos
Santo sa Araw na Ito – San Christopher Magallanes, Pari at Martir, at mga Kasama, mga Martir
Mga Pagpipilian sa mga Pagbasa sa Misa
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The Continuing Presence of Our Lord
Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord
Mga Pagbasa para sa Pag-akyat sa Langit
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (Year A)
Jesus completes His mission on Earth and ascends into Heaven to take His seat on His glorious throne for all eternity. Or does He? The answer is yes and no. Yes, He does take His seat on His glorious throne, but no, He does not complete His mission on Earth. The Ascension is both the end and the beginning. It’s a transition to the next phase in the perfect plan of the Father. And understanding the way this plan unfolds should leave us in wonder and awe.
Sure, the Apostles were probably somewhat frightened and confused. Jesus was with them, then He died, then He rose and appeared various times, and then He ascended to the Father before their eyes. But He also told them that it is good that He goes. In fact, He said that it’s better that He goes. They must have been confused. Jesus also told them His Advocate would come to lead them into all Truth. So the Apostles went from joy, to fear, to relief and more joy, to confusion and sorrow, to curiosity and uncertainty.
Sound familiar? Perhaps that’s the way some find their lives to be. Ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and sorrows. Each phase reveals something new, something challenging, something glorious or something sorrowful. The good news is that the Father’s plan is unfolding perfectly.
The part of the perfect plan we find ourselves in with this solemnity is the part where Jesus begins to direct His mission of establishing the Kingdom of God from Heaven. His throne is, in a sense, the driver’s seat of our lives. From Heaven, Jesus suddenly begins to descend continuously into our lives fulfilling His mission in and through the Apostles, as well as all of us. The Ascension does not mean Jesus is gone; rather, it means Jesus is now present to each and every person who turns to Him and surrenders their life to His mission. From Heaven, Jesus is able to be present to all. He is able to live in us and invites us to live in Him. It’s the new beginning of the Church. Now all the Apostles need to do is wait for the Holy Spirit to descend.
Reflect, today, upon the abiding and intimate presence of our Lord in your life. Know that Jesus invites you to share in His mission. From His glorious throne He wants us to “preach everywhere.” He wants to invite each one of us to do our part. The part of the Father’s plan entrusted to each one of us is not entrusted to another. We all have a share in that plan. What is your part? How does Jesus direct His mission through you? Ponder this question today and know that He accompanies you as you say “Yes” to your part in the glorious unfolding of His perfect plan.
Lord, I do find that my life is filled with many ups, downs, twists and turns. There are joys and sorrows, moments of confusion and clarity. In all things, help me to continually say “Yes” to Your plan. Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Prayed in preparation for Pentecost
Beginning Friday, May 22
Higit pang mga Pagninilay sa Ebanghelyo
Mga Pagninilay sa Inaawit na Awa ng Diyos
Mga Pagpipilian sa mga Pagbasa sa Misa
Karagdagang Babasahin – Pag-akyat sa Langit
Panalangin at Pagninilay para sa Pag-akyat sa Langit
Image: Ascension by Benjamin West
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