Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.3, n.17 | issn 2599-5030 | 22 to 28 April 2018
giya sa prayer meeting
LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR GOD
I
n the first chapter of John’s Gospel, John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36), but in this Sunday Gospel Jesus Himself declares: “I am the Good Shepherd [who] lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11). A lamb is a baby sheep while the shepherd is one who shares with the ewe (mother sheep) in taking care for the lamb as well as the entire flock of sheep. How does Jesus become the Lamb and the shepherd at the same time? In the ancient Hebrew culture, a lamb Shepherd also. Jesus performed His salvific is a picked choice from among the sheep as acts gratuitously, and referring to this, He the best sacrifice offering to God said: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it which is slaughtered. On the other down on my own” (Jn10:18). In SUNDAY way around, God was understood this way, Jesus reveals to us REFLECTION by people then to offer as a what authentic freedom is. sacrifice for humanity His best!— Authentic freedom is doing the good which His own Son who was called “the ought to be done even if it entails laying Lamb of God” who was also ‘slaughtered’ down one’s life—even if performing our by crucifixion. tasks will not get any pay or reward. How Moreover, in places where herding of can we be freer than if we can serve without sheep is an industry, it can be noticed that getting paid? In the Gospel for this fourth sheep normally can keenly recognize who Sunday of Easter, this set of circumstances their shepherd is and much so distinctly which is very much observable in our recognize their voice. The sheep know very society today is properly expounded, thus: well the signals executed by their shepherd When a man looks after a flock of sheep for and they immediately respond to it like, pay, one cannot easily put his personal when a horn is blown to signal for grazing, or concern for the sheep he tends, and may for moving out towards a river for drink. even leave the flock in an imminent danger, This is the context why Jesus in the Gospel in but a good shepherd can lay down his life describing His “pastoral” work of redempfor the sheep. (Jn 10:11-13) tion, said: “I am the Good Shepherd, and I Today, we are all called to be shepherds know mine and mine know me, just as the who can lead others to God without pay! Father knows me and I know the Father; and Let us willingly share in the mission of I lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn 10:14-15). Christ to herd others too towards God’s Jesus is the Lamb of God inasmuch as he kingdom even those who do not belong to willingly obeyed the command of the the fold—our brothers and sisters who are Father—to lay down His life for all of us— not Catholics! 4 — Ramon L. Almoneda, which makes Him suitably as the Good PhD.Th.
The good shepherd lays down his life for his friends. { john 10.11 }
juan 15:1-8
Domingo 5, Pagkabuhay (Taon B)
“A
ko an totoong balagon, asin an Ama an paraubas.” Si Jesus an tunay na balagon. Maglikay kita sa mga nagsasagin-sagin na balagon—an mga pekeng propeta na nagtutukdong salungat ki Jesus. LECTIO An Ama iyo an dahilan DIVINA kan saiyang pagbunga. Duwa an trabaho kan Ama: an paghaklas kan mga sanga na daing pakinabang asin an pagtaras kan mga sangang may pakinabang tanganing ini lalo pang magbunga. Kasuarin ako dikit pang madara kan pekeng propeta? Ano an nangyari?
“Magdanay kamo sako, siring na nagdadanay ako saindo.” Si Jesus nagdadanay sa sato siring sa ilaw na nagtataong liwanag sa puso ta asin kalag. Kaya sagkod na nagdadanay kita saiya, makakatao man kitang liwanag sa satong kapwa. Kun dai kita saiya magdanay, siring kita sa bombilyang pundido o dai nakatakod sa kuryente. Siring man dapat kaini an simbahan asin parokya. Dapat syang magdanay na mabuhay sa liwanag ni Jesus. Kasuarin ako nakamati na garo ako sarong bombilyang pundido?
“Ako an balagon. Kamo an mga sanga.” Magdadanay kitang buhay sagkod na sugpon kita ki Jesus. Alagad, kun maputol kita saiya, mapuon naman kitang magmará siring sa gadan na sangá. Márikdag na sana kita sa daga tanganing tipunon, isugbá, asin isungó. Kun magdanay kitang buhay ki Jesus, kita madarang bunga sa pamilya, sa parokya asin sa banwaan. Mga bunga nin pakisumaro, pagmakulog, pagpadangat asin pakidumamay. Ano an bunga na buot kong ihiras sa sakong kairiba sa harong? parokya? Anong kongkretong aksyon an gigibuhon ko? 4