Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
I will be back again soon... please find time to visit me once again. GOD BLESS YOU!
I will be back again soon... please find time to visit me once again. GOD BLESS YOU!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
My Reflection for November 24, Solemnity of Christ the King, Luke 23:35-43
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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. …
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Friday, November 08, 2013
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 07, 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
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. …
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, June 04, 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. …
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Friday, May 03, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
My Reflections for March 19, Tuesday Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mathew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Gospel: Mathew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of
Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth
of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but
before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph
her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to
shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy
Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you
are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When
Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his
wife into his home.
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My
Reflections:
When
Saint Joseph discovered that Mary was already pregnant he decided to quietly divorce
the Blessed Mother. Why quietly divorce? Why not broadcast it to their whole
community so that Mary will be embarrassed and severely punished by stoning to death.
Joseph decided
to quietly divorce Mary because deep in his heart he already loved the Blessed
Mother. Deep in his humble and righteous heart Joseph already loved the baby in
the womb of Mary. That is why Joseph wanted to quietly divorce Mary so that
Mary and the baby Jesus would avoid the punishment of death by stoning. But his
plan did not push through for the simple reason that Joseph listened to the
angel of the Lord. Who told him that the Blessed Mother conceived by the grace
of the Holy Spirit.
The love
that Saint Joseph exercised towards the Blessed Mother and the baby Jesus must
also be the love that we must always give to our family. We must at all times first
take into consideration the welfare of our family more than our own selfish
interest.
In his
heart Saint Joseph was always quietly praying for guidance and enlightenment. This may be
the reason why he never said a single word. He was always waiting for
the voice of God to tell him what to do during that critical moment of his
life. Humility,
selfless love, obedience and prayerful silence these are the values of Saint
Joseph.
Are we like Saint Joseph? Or do we have some of these values of Saint Joseph?
Are we like Saint Joseph? Or do we have some of these values of Saint Joseph?
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
My Reflections for March 8, Friday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 12:28-34
Gospel: Luke 12:28-34
One of the
scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the
commandments?” Jesus
replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The
scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and
there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your
understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is
worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he
answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom
of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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My
Reflections:
A homeless
man was basically alien to the word love of God and neighbor until someone pitied
him. The good Samaritan helped the homeless man by means of teaching him how to
love God and neighbor through his selfless actions.
Many are
like the homeless man but only a few of us are like the Good Samaritan. We are
averse to be in contact with the homeless and those who stray in the streets. Thus
they don’t know how to love God and neighbor.
If only
we would listen to Jesus two greatest commandments about love. …