Matthew 4: 18-22 Last year I listened to an economic briefing and it was said that despite all the economic problems of the country, we are doing okay because of the OFW money which doubles every three years. In 1950, we were the second strongest economy in Asia. By the 70s though, Filipinos started to…
Month: November 2020
The Will of the Lord
For those of us who are on social media like Twitter, Instagram, or FB, it can be amazing on how many “friends” we have. On FB, for example, we get happy when many friends like the things we post. However, on a deeper reflection, the real question is, “How many friends really know us inside…
Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45-46 There is this story that a certain General Yamashita during World War II brought most of the gold from the Southeast Asian countries that they controlled to the Philippines with the intention of eventually bringing it back to Japan. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but even today there are many…
Narrow Gate
Last year there was a seminar at the University of Santo Tomas on Exorcism. This was participated by over 100 priests and over 100 lay people involved in the ministry. If you heard the talk, there are things that would have crossed your mind: The devil is real, hell is real and the devil will…
Last Days
Luke 17:20-25 To get a feel of what people are thinking, one just has to go to the internet. One of the most talked-about topics is the question – Are These the Last Days? Why the question? First, look at the natural disasters: earthquakes, storms, and droughts in one place and so much rain in…
Forgiveness
John 20:19-23 One of the most difficult things to live with is when you know you have wronged or hurt someone. The worst scenario is when the person you have hurt passes away. I was once at a funeral wake and before the start of the Mass, a sibling of the deceased came in and…
Competition
As a priest, one reality of the ministry is that we are always compared to others. Fr. A sings better, Fr. B is very good in Filipino, Fr. C is always present and so easy to invite, Fr D gives good homilies, etc. Intentionally or unintentionally, this causes intrigue and competition. In a reading from…
Are You Born Again?
How many of us have been approached by a family member, a friend, an officemate, or even a stranger, only to be asked, “Are you born again?” Whatever the response, the next question would be: “Have you asked Jesus into your heart and received Him as his personal Lord and savior?” What then, is the…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 