The Daily Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 8:31-42. 

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 
They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 
A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. 
I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 
I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. 
You are doing the works of your father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God." 
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 

Commentary:

God is Truth: "The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever."(Ps 119[118],160). "And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true" (2Sm 7,28); this is why God's promises always come true. God is Truth itself, whose words cannot deceive. This is why one can abandon oneself in full trust to the truth and faithfulness of his word in all things. the beginning of sin and of man's fall was due to a lie of the tempter who induced doubt of God's word, kindness and faithfulness (Gn 3,1).
God's truth is his wisdom, which commands the whole created order and governs the world. God, who alone made heaven and earth, can alone impart true knowledge of every created thing in relation to himself. God is also truthful when he reveals himself - the teaching that comes from God is "true instruction" (Mal 2,6). When he sends his Son into the world it will be "to bear witness to the truth" (Jn 18,37). "We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true» (1Jn 5,20).

God is Love...: God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son (Hos 11,1). His love for his people is stronger than a mother's for her children (Is 49,14-15). God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved (Is 62,4-5) ; his love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities and will extend to his most precious gift: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3,16). 

The Daily Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:1-11. 

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one (of) his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 
Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?
He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." 
(The) large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 
because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. 

Commentary:

The Gospel account impresses an intense paschal atmosphere on our meditation: the supper at Bethany is a prelude to Jesus' death in the sign of his anointing by Mary, a homage she pays to the Teacher which he accepts as foretelling his burial. However, it is also an announcement of the Resurrection through the very presence of Lazarus restored to life (cf Jn 11,44), an eloquent witness of Christ's power over death. Not only pregnant with Paschal significance, the narrative of the supper at Bethany is imbued with an anguishing resonance filled with love and devotion, a mixture of joy and pain...

Top 7 Churches to Visit this Lent

The Philippines, being the only Catholic country in the South East Asia, will observe the Visita Iglesia once again this Holy Week season, Visita Iglesia has been an age-old devotion practiced by the Filipinos, and by most Catholic people all over the world. This devotion normally entails visiting seven (7) churches during Holy Thursday to serve as penance, and a prayer is said at each church-stop, others reflect on the 14 stations of the cross, and double the number of churches to visit to 14. In the observance of the Lenten Season, Dablogbank gives you the most interesting heritage churches to visit in Manila – this is whether you’re a devout Catholic or just a curious mind of history and the arts.

The Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral or Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is located at Cabildo cor. Beaterio Streets, Manila. Tel. 527-3093 / 527-1796

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) says this cathedral was built in 1581, but it was damaged by a typhoon in 1582 and again destoyed by fire in 1583. Then it was re-built in 1592 but was damaged by an earthquake in 1600, while the third reconstruction was built of stone in 1614 and destroyed by the earthquake of 1645. The fourth reconstruction was completed in 1671 and destroyed by another earthquake in 1863. The fifth reconstruction was completed in 1879 and was devastated by the bombs of the Second World War. The sixth cathedral dates back to 1958.

 

The San Dionisio Chapel

San Dionisio Chapel is located at Quirino Avenue, Brgy. San Dionisio, Parañaque.  

This chapel in Paranaque is known for its headless image of San Dionisio, (Tatang Dune to the locals). The wooden altar has been kept intact. While you're in Paranaque, you may opt to see other heritage churches in the area like the Paranaque Cathedral, La Huerta Chapel and the wednesday famous Redemptorist Church.

The San Pedro Church - Makati

San Pedro Makati Church (Saints Peter and Paul Parish) is at  5539 D.M. Rivera Street, Poblacion, Makati. Tel. 890-3842

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) says that the Franciscans were the first missionaries in Makati in 1578 but it was the Jesuits who built the first church in 1620 and administered it until their expulsion in 1768. This church was dedicated to San Pedro in memory of the person who build it, Fr. Pedro de los Montes and Capitan Pedro de Britto, Regidor of Manila, who donated the site - Buenavista.

When you enter the church you will recognize its original wooden altar.

The Santa Ana Church

The Santa Ana Church is located at Pedro Gil Street, Sta. Ana, Manila. Tel. 564-4203

One of the highlights of the church is its impressive main altar which houses the image of Our Lady of the Abandoned (or the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados), a replica of the original one in Valencia, Spain.

At the back of the main altar is another National Cultural Treasure: The Camarin de la Virgen (the dressing room of the Virgen de los Desamparados), which is used primarily when the virgen's vestments are changed during the Sta. Ana fiesta. The ceilings are made up of 11 large mural paintings on wood depicting scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus.

 

The San Agustin Church

The San Agustin Church is located at Gen. Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. Tel. 527-4061

The only Intramuros church that stand the World War II, the San Agustin Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the oldest church in the Philippines, built from 1587 to 1607, the church withstood earthquakes, Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War and World War II, which saw the destruction of all other Intramuros churches.

When you visit this church, notice the impressive trompe l'oeil murals made by Giovanni Alberoni and Cesare Dibella. There were also 12 collateral chapels with a Baroque or Neoclassical retablo.

On the altar’s left side is a hall with the tomb of conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Inside the church museum are crypts that house the remains of Manila's prominent citizens like Juan Luna. 

The San Beda Chapel

San Beda Church is located at Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila. Tel. 735-5972

The San Beda Chapel, or the Abbey of Our Lady of Monserrat dates back to 1925 and is located inside the San Beda College school in Mendiola, Manila. It was designed by Swedish architect George Asp.

The Far Eastern University Chapel

Far Eastern University Chapel is at Nicanor Reyes, Sr. Street, Sampaloc, Manila. Tel. 736-0036 / 735-5621 to 30 loc. 251 (Admissions & External Relations Office

The Far Eastern University Chapel was designed by Felipe Mendoza. Take a look at the Stations of the Cross murals made by the National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco.