Tuesday, February 25, 2014

My Reflection for Wednesday February 26, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Mark 9:38-40

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
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Reflection:
Arrogance and intolerance are often times what prevent us from becoming effective followers of Jesus. For example if we see a homosexual couple who are living together, should we avoid them? Or should we be friend them and live the teachings of Jesus through them. The best course of action to take is to be friends with them with the hope in mind that by doing so we would be able to eventually convert and enlighten them.

When John saw someone who was not in their group driving out demons in the name of Jesus he tried to prevent them. Perhaps, John thought that they only have the monopoly of holiness to drive out demons. So what did Jesus do when John told Him about this incident? He told John let him do what he was doing for whoever is not against them is for them also.

To be arrogant, intolerant and judgmental is not good. It prevents us from genuinely doing the mission of Jesus, it prevents us from bringing people to Jesus. We might forget that Jesus became man not only for the righteous. He became man to convert sinners to give them mercy and forgiveness. 

Let us avoid to be arrogant, to be intolerant and judgmental. Let us instead show the mercy and love of Jesus. Who knows by doing so we may be able to bring them closer to Jesus. …

Saturday, February 22, 2014

My Reflection for Saturday February 22, Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle; Mark 16:13-19

Gospel: Mark 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
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Reflection:
When Jesus asked the disciples, Who do the people say that the son of Man is? No one was able to correctly answer except Simon Peter, who told Jesus: “You are the Christ the son of the living God. But Jesus immediately told Peter, it’s not by your own intelligence that you know me; it’s through the grace of my heavenly Father that you know who I am.

Why did Jesus told Simon Peter that it was not through his effort that he knows Him? Perhaps Jesus wanted to temper the behavior of Peter. Perhaps Jesus doesn’t want Simon Peter to boast about what he knew about Him.

In our continuing journey with Jesus there may be times also that we might be tempted to brag or boast concerning what we know about Him. This we must not do because everything is a gift, everything is a grace. What we know about Him is from Him alone, not from us; not from our own effort.

How many times have we boasted about our knowledge regarding Jesus and our faith? How many times have we acted as if we knew everything about God? Have many times have we acted as if we are the masters of the universe?

Let us pause and reflect about this. …   

Saturday, November 23, 2013

My Reflection for November 24, Solemnity of Christ the King, Luke 23:35-43


http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112413.cfm
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My Reflection:
Who among us would want to follow the kingship of Jesus?  He is an image of human weakness, He hangs on the cross blooded ang dying. The rulers sneered at Him even the soldiers taunted Him. Jesus on the cross was seemingly helpless and it seems that God has forsaken Him already.

If we were present during that time of His crucifixion we would not dare also touch Him with a ten foot pole. We would have also silently walked away like the others who were disappointed with Jesus show of human weakness.

What if Jesus projected the image of king David in our first reading (warrior, conqueror and leader) of course everyone would have flocked to His side. But Jesus did not show any warrior like demeanor, instead He showed a defeated behavior that His followers did not want to see from Him. That’s why in His most trying times everyone who followed Him eventually deserted Him.

 But during His moment of human weakness someone recognized His kingship. It was the criminal hanging on the cross beside Him. What made the criminal recognize His power and kingship? That he even asked Jesus to remember him when He is in His kingdom. It was the criminal’s humility and unwavering faith in Jesus. We may ask, is it possible for a criminal to be humble and is it possible for a criminal to have an unwavering faith in Jesus? Yes it is very possible!

How could this gospel help us to have a firmer grasp of the kingship of Jesus? We must always humble ourselves before Him. For example, we always go to Mass and we humbly submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible. We must not forget also to always ask Jesus to increase our faith.

But sad to say, many of us are situational followers of Jesus only. …   

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

As we see now the devastation brought about by the 7.2 quake which hit Bohol, Cebu and nearby towns yesterday October 15, is beyond human comprehension. Let us continue to include them in our PRAYERS AND MASS INTENTIONS. Let us also extend whatever HELP we can give them.

As we see now the devastation brought about by the 7.2 quake which hit Bohol, Cebu and nearby towns yesterday October 15, is beyond human comprehension. Let us continue to include them in our PRAYERS AND MASS INTENTIONS. Let us also extend whatever HELP we can give them.

Monday, October 7, 2013

I conduct and facilitate Recollections and Retreats.

I conduct talks and facilitate Recollections. For more details please get in touch at: mjdasma@yahoo.com or mjdasma@gmail.com. 
Tel no. 046-4303668

Sunday, August 11, 2013

My Reflection for August 11, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 12:35-40

My Reflection:
There is a story of a holy man who would always find time for God and his fellowmen. When he was asked why he was like that he would always tell them that this is his way of preparing for the coming of the Lord. He would compare the coming of the lord with death which comes to us without warning at all.  

Jesus in our gospel for this Sunday tells us to always be prepared and vigilant servant of the Lord. To be like the Israelites in our first reading who patiently waited with faith and courage for God to liberate them from the bondage of the Egyptians.  

How could we become vigilant and prepared servant of the Lord? By serving and obeying the Lord without any reservation. By having faith in HIM faith that is alive and working. This is the only way wherein we could be prepared and vigilant servant of the Lord.

If death will come to us which will certainly happen on God’s appointed time. Then, we are prepared we have nothing to fear for we will be in heaven with God.

What if we are not prepared and not vigilant servants? Where will we end up?  


Saturday, June 15, 2013

My Reflection for June 16, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-8:3

My Reflection:
A young lady who had five children from five different men was already labeled as an immoral sinner by her siblings and parents.  Her family has already given-up on her even if deep in her heart she was telling herself that she was ready to live a renewed life which is very different from her sinful past.

In our first reading for this Sunday we have King David who committed sin against God by coveting the wife of his soldier Uraih. He purposely feed Uriah to their enemies. So that he would be killed and hence possess his wife without any complications. The action of King David was sinful but notwithstanding his sin he was forgiven by God because he humbly admitted his sinfulness before God almighty.

Similarly, we have in our gospel a sinful woman who humbly went to Jesus to honor Him by kissing His feet and anointing it with ointment. She cried before Jesus as if begging Jesus for forgiveness and second chance. Jesus saw her humility and her honest desire to start a new life. That’s why despite of her grave sins she was forgiven by Jesus.

There is always hope and forgiveness for us sinners no matter how grave the sins that we have committed against Jesus. …      

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Why do we shout in anger at each other... ? Author Unknown

A saint who was visiting river Ganges to take a bath found a couple on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

The disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our temper, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint.

The disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained.

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small.

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return. …