Category: Gospel Reading

Gospel Reading and Reflection

MARK 12:18-27 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (June 3, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

The Sadducees also came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way, “Master, in the Scriptures Moses gave us this law: If anyone dies and leaves his wife but no children, his brother must take the woman, and, with her, have a baby,  who will be considered the child of his deceased brother. Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. The second took the wife, and he also died, leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. In fact, all seven brothers died, leaving no children. Last of all, the woman died. Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For all seven brothers had her as wife.” Jesus replied, “ is this not the reason you are mistaken, you do not understand  the Scriptures or the power of God?  When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry, but are like the angels in heaven. Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never had thoughts about the burning bush in the book of Moses? God said to Moses: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are totally wrong.”

POINT OF REFLECTION

The pick-up points of this gospel reading is quite perplexing and needs prior understanding about the social standing and beliefs of the Sadducees. Sadducees were group of early elites that do not believe in resurrection after the physical death, anchored their beliefs on Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and values good relationship with the ruler to further their beliefs and tradition. This group is the liberal version of Pharisees deep stuck on the three major areas: Their of tradition, their view of supernatural, and their views on divine sovereignty and human responsibilities.

In the first place, the gospel is a question of resurrection to loosen the credit of Jesus as He immerse into the lives of human almost completely enslave of sins. They wanted to remove Jesus’ crown of popularity by letting people see that Jesus teaching is moot and not in accordance with the Laws, Torah. In other words, this somehow tries to drag Jesus down of the perplexing level of their question. Who return answer that truly caught them by surprise?

Because Sadducees does not believe resurrection, they question Jesus whose wife would a woman become after resurrection having married all the seven brothers here on earth? Jesus answer was so direct telling they were wrong and did not understand the Bible or the power of God. The logical thinking of the Sadducees was limited only on “the here and now” because they do not believe life after death. Their understanding on the Mosaic Law in the time of Moses which allowed the second brother to take the woman with no child of the first was a perpetuation of the Israelite’s tribe by way of the child. They never taught of life after death. That is why Jesus said they were wrong.

In this gospel, resurrection is real not even in the accounts of the New Testament but even more in the account of the Old Testament which was maliciously interpreted by the Sadducees in favor of their beliefs, practices and traditions. Jesus clearly speak to us, Christians, that there is life after death in Him. The mind of the Sadducees was contained in the loop of a single age and life tomorrow is a continuation of today.

There are two important ages to consider in this regard, the so called as “this age” and “that ages.” The “this age” is our life here and now. While the “that ages” is the resurrected life as the son of God.  Sadducees mind was loop on “this age” and does not understand life on “that age.”

Death is the gate way of resurrection unto Jesus as the son of the Father in heaven. Notice that early believer happily give-up their lives in the works of Jesus because they knew that they would be resurrected back to life like angels of God in heaven.

Finally, while Sadducees was trying to fall down Jesus using very difficult question that even them does understand, Jesus made it not into their favor. Instead, He turns it into an opportunity to further the cause of the Father’s kingdom by clarifying and assuring the reality that death is the gateway of resurrection.

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MARK 12:13-17 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (June 2, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

They sent to Jesus to some Pharisees with the members of Herod’ party, with the purpose of trapping him by his own words. They came and said to Jesus, ” Master we knew that you are truthful; you are nit influence by anyone, and your answers do not vary according to who is listening  to you, but truly teach God’s way. “Tell us, is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not!” 

But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, ” Why are you testing me?  Being me a silver coin and let me see it.” They brought him one and Jesus asked, Whose image is this, and whose name?

They answered, ” Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said, ” Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God, what is God’s.”  and they were greatly astonished.

Wisdom of men is foolishness to God, Book of Kings

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The Pharisees wanted to trick Jesus so that he would end up saying that could damage and ruin his name against authorities. But as they carefully present their logic Jesus knew it was a trick and Jesus said “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  

They  were caught in  great astonishment and leave Him upon hearing His response. In deed  Jesus was able to keep himself from the pitfalls of planned destruction or self demolition.

What is the meat of the gospel? We are living in a deceitful and judgmental world. Many of those who are around  waited for a perfect timing like lion ready to lark its prey. Others are judgmental, giving and publicizing their impartialities without  the merit of the due process of law. 

Furthermore, the tax collection of silver coin reminded us to get our income from a legitimate source only. Honest income is hard to spend. Wise spending brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be prudent in  our daily spending. Do not spend more than your earning because you may find it hard to meet both ends causing you to go around helplessly and vulnerable to financial sharks. In this case, you will end up into serious financial trouble in the future which will make life more difficult to paddled on.

PRAYER

Lord, holy is your name and great is your love.  Thank you for the teaching and wisdom of  the day. Forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who  trespassed against me. Grant me oh God courage and wisdom to review my ways of living and spending and reprogram according to your light and guidance to better my ways of living ahead. Amen

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Mark 12:1-12 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (June 1, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

Using parables, Jesus went on to say, “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and went abroad. In due time, he sent a servant to receive from the tenants the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized the servant, struck him and sent him back empty-handed. Again, the man sent another servant. They also struck them on the head and treated them shamefully. He sent another, and they killed him. In the same way they treated many others: some they beat up and others they killed. One was still left, his beloved son. And so, the last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said, ‘They will respect my son.  But those tenants said to one another,’ This is the one to inherit the vineyard. Let’s kill him and the property will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”And Jesus added, “Have you not read this text in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone; this is the Lord’s doing, and they marvel at it?” They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The world is a  wonderful and amazing creation of God jam-packed with abundance. In Genesis 1:28 “ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,  and replenish the earth, and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”It is clear that God created man to dominate upon the earth. We are given the authority to take control of the things around us and return to God his share for the promotion of his kingdom in heaven.

This is about being the steward of God’s  gifts to all of us.  We came from nothing and we really are nothing without God who created us in his image and likeness. When someone  is totally hook into the world because of  owning success and taking so much pride of it, tendency is, he/she might forget that what he/she has is not actually  his/her  but owned by the Father. We come into this world with nothing and nothing we will bring when life come to its end.  

The parable of the vineyard, teach us not to forget that God owns everything in us including our position. There are times that God would ask us something in return of all the blessing we have enjoyed and consumed  in this life.  Thou shall not refuse or steal from God what is intended for Him for he might punish and take everything in favor of others who faithfully give their share to the Lord for the glory of his kingdom.

Many look at these things in the material perspective but do not forget that God has given us the three T’s –time, talent and treasure. Many would say “How could I give for I do not have much in this life? That thing is a third only of what God has given us. We still have time and talent which are the maker of treasure. If we cannot give material things, then I am sure we can share our time and talent if we want to. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we can share our time in  service to the Lord. We can use some of our time to proclaim his word. And if we are blessed with a good voice, we can sing to the Lord. If we can dance well, then go worship and dance to the lord. It is said that while God has given us a lot of everything including time and talent,  let be our way of honing these talents our gift to God. How we used it to further God’s kingdom is an  important share God really wants from us.  

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Mark 12:1-12 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (June 1, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

Using parables, Jesus went on to say, “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and went abroad. In due time, he sent a servant to receive from the tenants the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized the servant, struck him and sent him back empty-handed. Again, the man sent another servant. They also struck them on the head and treated them shamefully. He sent another, and they killed him. In the same way they treated many others: some they beat up and others they killed. One was still left, his beloved son. And so, the last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said, ‘They will respect my son.  But those tenants said to one another,’ This is the one to inherit the vineyard. Let’s kill him and the property will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”And Jesus added, “Have you not read this text in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone; this is the Lord’s doing, and they marvel at it?” They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The world is a  wonderful and amazing creation of God jam-packed with abundance. In Genesis 1:28 “ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,  and replenish the earth, and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”It is clear that God created man to dominate upon the earth. We are given the authority to take control of the things around us and return to God his share for the promotion of his kingdom in heaven.

This is about being the steward of God’s  gifts to all of us.  We came from nothing and we really are nothing without God who created us in his image and likeness. When someone  is totally hook into the world because of  owning success and taking so much pride of it, tendency is, he/she might forget that what he/she has is not actually  his/her  but owned by the Father. We come into this world with nothing and nothing we will bring when life come to its end.  

The parable of the vineyard, teach us not to forget that God owns everything in us including our position. There are times that God would ask us something in return of all the blessing we have enjoyed and consumed  in this life.  Thou shall not refuse or steal from God what is intended for Him for he might punish and take everything in favor of others who faithfully give their share to the Lord for the glory of his kingdom.

Many look at these things in the material perspective but do not forget that God has given us the three T’s –time, talent and treasure. Many would say “How could I give for I do not have much in this life? That thing is a third only of what God has given us. We still have time and talent which are the maker of treasure. If we cannot give material things, then I am sure we can share our time and talent if we want to. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we can share our time in  service to the Lord. We can use some of our time to proclaim his word. And if we are blessed with a good voice, we can sing to the Lord. If we can dance well, then go worship and dance to the lord. It is said that while God has given us a lot of everything including time and talent,  let be our way of honing these talents our gift to God. How we used it to further God’s kingdom is an  important share God really wants from us.  

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JOHN 20:19-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (May 31,2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading


On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the door were locked where the disciples were because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples, seeing the lord, were full of joy. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me , so I send you.” After saying this, he breath on them. “ Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”


POINT OF REFLECTION


Today’s gospel is a perfect resemblance of the world under the threat of COVID 19. Almost all locked themselves in fear of their lives. This was of the same feeling of Jesus’ disciples when they locked themselves in fear of their lives against the Jews on the first day after Sabbath day. They were in great trouble because Jesus was not with them. They were eaten by their insecurities and worries because they have under estimated the power of God to take control. But Jesus took it all when he suddenly appeared in their midst and greeted “ Peace be with you!” and showed with them his hands and his side. There and then, all of them were full of joy.


In a situation of great fear and danger only Jesus can gave us fullness of joy. He alone can make us alive and courageous in the despair of this world.


In this time of crisis, the world seems to disappear from us. Many were kept in loneliness most specially if we lost sight unto Jesus. The period of quarantine is an opportune time for us Christians to find joy in Jesus. Lets make this isolation day a unification day unto Jesus so that when the new normal begins we will start it on fire by the breath of the Holy Spirit. This is so because Jesus send his disciples as the Father sent him as we are in this generation.

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JOHN 21:20-25 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (MAY 30, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

Peter looked back and saw the disciple Jesus loved was following as well, the one who had reclined close to Jesus at the supper, and had asked him, “Lord, who is to betray you?” On seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord what about him?

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I come, is that any concern of yours? Follow me!” Because of this, the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did say to Peter, “He will not die,” but,” Supposed I want him to remain until I come back, what concern is that of yours?

It is this disciple who testifies about the things and has written these things down, and we know that his testimony is true.

But Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, I think the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

There are two categories of prayers, personal prayer and community prayer. Often times, if not all, a person prays only for his/ her intentions and greater advantage. In other words,  it will boil down to what we called as selfish prayer. This is almost everybody’s way of praying. But what have we noticed? Did the Lord answer all our prayers? I think, God seems turning out our petitions into deaf ear of our personal request. Why?  Because God hears a prayer when any two agrees of what they ask for from the Lord, Matthew 18:19.  So, God will never grant anything to man if neither two nor more agrees on of what they asked for to the Lord.  Community prayer will likely be heard by the Father in heaven.

When Jesus said to Peter,“If I want him to remain until I come, is that any concern of yours? Follow me!” Jesus means that disciple and Christian follower’s concern is not His concern. His concern was those who would follow him and turn back their own concern of this life. And having called as Jesus said “Follow me!” the disciples follow his led without second thought but kept the joy of obeying Jesus command even to their death. This is how early Christians appeared that cause us who we are today as religious community.

Finally, this gospel reminded us that our concern is not God’s concern. God will never conform to our concern but we are duty bound to conform to His concern. In fact, our frustrations and failures of this life always happen every time when our actions do not conform to the concern of God.

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JOHN 21 :15-19 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (MAY 29, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

After they had finish breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John , do you love me more than these do? He answered, “Yes, Lord,  you know that I love you.”

And Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son  of John, do you love me?” Yes, Lord you know that I have love you.”Jesus said to him, “look after my sheep.”

And third time He said to him, “Simon, son of John do you love me? Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time. “ Do you love me?” and he said, Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep! Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked were you liked. But when you grow old, you well stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go.”

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And He added “follow me!”

POINT OF REFLECTION

When Jesus asked Simon three times if he loves him? Simon answered three times that he loves Him. Technically speaking, doing  it for the first is a kind of luck. Doing the same for the second times is daunting. But having done for  the third times  confirms truthfulness. Simon Peter has proven his love unto Jesus as He confirms what Jesus would like Peter to do after his near absence from his followers. Jesus tasked Simon Peter to keep us all under his watch and care until the judgment day. True enough, Simon Peter never failed to take good care of His lambs knowing how the church of Christ had survive for the many long years  to inspire faithful amidst difficulties and challenges of being Christians.

Jesus said, “When you were young, you put on your belt and walked were you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go.” This reminded us that our will is not the will of the Father. As Christian believers, we do not do these and that because we want to do it by ourselves but we simply do it for the Father has willed it. All of this should be done to glorify the Father who is in heaven.

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JOHN 17 :20-26 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (MAY 28, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

I pray not only for these. But also for those who through their  word will believe in me. May they all be one, as you Father are in me and I am in you. May they be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory  you have given me, that they may be  one as we are one: I in them and you in me. Thus they shall reach perfection  in unity; and the world shall know that you have sent mw, and that I have loved them, just as you loved me.

Father, since you have given  them to me,  I want them to be with me where I am,  and see the glory you have gave me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you and these have known that you have sent me. As I reveal your name to them, so will I continue to reveal it, so that, the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I also may be in them.”

POINT OF REFLECTION

When Jesus finally returned to the Father in heaven, his full concern was for his disciples and followers not just of yesterday but also today and in the future till his coming. Like sheep without a shepherd, his disciples and followers might end up losing their sense of direction in life. But Jesus did not just cross his arms instead, He consistently ask the Father to do something in his behalf about the people whom the Father has given him who listen and believe  the one who sent him to them. 

The real context is, Jesus ascension into heaven really prepares for our accommodation in the Father’s house in heaven. Since then and until today, Jesus would  be forever busy  in the Father’s house making sure that with the coming of our time, a room is already prepared for us, his followers. We need to know that Jesus’ works for our salvation, does not end on the cross, but still an ongoing process until the judgment day.

Now that we know what Jesus is doing for us yesterday, today and tomorrow, in the Father’s house; Have you done something for yourselves to compensate what Jesus is doing at the right hand of the Father? Yes,  it is true that Jesus is our ticket into heaven but be reminded that St. Augustine one’s said, “The God who created you without you cannot save you without you.”  Salvation is all but concerted efforts of God and man who wish to be saved.

In general, Jesus is always working for our unification to the Father. But such things does not happen like magic but can only be achieved in a sequential process which precede from the unity in the community, unity in Jesus and unity  to the Father.  This is called a perfect blend of unity, a unity which Jesus had spoken  “I am  united in them as I am  united in you.”  

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JOHN 16: 5-11 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

MAY 19, 2020

John 16: 5-11

But now I am going to the One who sent me, and none one of you ask me where I am going; instead your are overcome  with grief, because of what you have said. Believe me, it is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you, and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth before a sinful world;  and he will vindicate the paths of righteousness and justice. What is the world’s sin, in regard to me? Disbelief. What is the path of righteousness?  It is the path I walk, by which I go to the Father; and you shall see me no more. What is the path of justice? It is the path on which the prince of this world will always stand condemned.

POINT OF REFLECTION

Jesus died on the cross and was buried. In the third day, He rose to life and appeared to his disciples.  In this way, they were reminded, about the talk of the temple destruction and rebuilding  in three days. Now, the meaning was very clear to them.


Jesus appeared to his disciples and followers many times for the period of about 40 days. All of these days were spent working for the disciples’ encouragement to be steadfast of their works Jesus was leaving for them. On the final day of His ascension, Jesus assured them not to worry because a Helper, Holy Spirit,  will come on his behalf. Jesus brought his disciples in a place for them to witness how the son of man ascends into heaven. 


On the day of the Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus has risen, they gather in a room and prayed speaking in tongues so that the Holy Spirit  send down before them and converted more or less 3000 thousand faithful. At that very day, the promise was made true.

Christians now a day’s went their ways with the Holy Spirit. We are now living a life not in Jesus human flesh but in Jesus with the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus told the faithful that “they will not believe in you because they will not see me, you believe in me because I am with you in Spirit.


During the time of grave persecution, the high authorities wondered how the disciples endure and kept on their works amidst difficult circumstances. The very reason my dear brothers and sisters is the presence of the Holy Spirit working in them. They bravely witness Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Christianity conquers the world not by force and power of war equipment  but conquers the whole world by way of Jesus greatest love and sacrifices through the death of the faithful truly inspired by the works of the Holy Spirit.

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JOHN 17 :11b-19 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (MAY 27, 2020)

by Rogelio V. Mañanita, posted in Gospel Reading

I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your name, so that they may be one, as we also are. When I was with them,  I kept them safe in your name; and not one was lost, except the one who was already lost, and in this, the Scripture was fulfilled.

And now I come to you;  in the world I speak these things,  so that those whom you give me, might have joy-all my joy within themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the  world, I do not ask you to remove them from the world,  but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world,  just as I am not of the world.  Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. I have sent them into the world as you sent me into the world; and for their sake, I go to the sacrifice by which I am consecrated, so that they too may be consecrated in truth.

POINT OF REFLECTION

By birth, we belong only to this world.  It is so because our egg cracked open in sinfulness.  But the Lord who created us without us does not want us go astray in the cross road of life. God knows that with Him, all efforts would not be in vain for it is only He can make it happen. As a consequence,  God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, into the world  to alienate all men. The whole package of alienation  is  to believe and follow him whom the Father had sent for his chosen people. The task was to gather them all in faith and genuine trust to the Lord without losing one under his care. Jesus had done it perfectly when he was with the human in this world.

The alienation of men by Jesus, has resulted them to be disowned by this world. As Jesus was disowned by them who had came from the Father in heaven.   And as Jesus was with them, they knew everything about the Father by sharing to them the word that the Father had told him to do. And as the Father consecrated Jesus, His disciples and followers were also consecrated for they have shared Jesus life when he was with them.  

In their company, Jesus gave them all the assurance they need even if he would leave them  for a while and went back to the Father. But tell you brothers and sister, Jesus did not went off  light-hearted instead got off himself with a heavy heart for he knew that his absence will  expose them into evil’s  attention and therefore, will be in real danger.

Jesus apprehension made him  our great negotiator to the Father  asking him all, in our favor which included our safety, protection from all evil, to be united with the Father as one and consecrate us,  as the Father consecrated Jesus.  When our final day  comes, the Father will judge us according to what we have done as Jesus had told.  Jesus will be our lawyer in front of the Father doing his best to save us from the fires of hell.

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