The Greatest

There is a story of a school winning a basketball competition. Out of Jubilation, the students shouted and cheered, “We are number one.” After some time, the cheering and shouting died down. From the bleachers came a booming voice from one of the other school’s professors – “What is the problem of being number two”?…

Everlasting Life

Due to Covid, many people have been thinking about the meaning of life. Some of the realizations: In the Gospel, Jesus was asked if many will be saved. The response was of Christ, “It is how we live our life”. Hence, three things we can do to prepare ourselves: The three teachings of Christ when…

Talents

In the parish, when the pandemic hit us hard in 2020, so many people lost their jobs, so many people were displaced, and many people experienced fear, anxiety, worry, and depression due to the changes that we happening. The top priority then was helping out people with gift checks, thanks to Caritas Manila, and food….

Priests in Crisis

One of the sad realities in the Church is that there are priests who are not faithful to their promises when they were ordained: celibacy, simplicity, and obedience. These three are meant to counteract the three realities of today’s world. The actual reality is, these three are interrelated. When one is compromised, the other two…

Creation

One time I was riding a cab and the moment we got inside the complex the driver expressed surprise. He said he never thought that there would be a forest in the middle of the city.  I call San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex the lung center of Makati. Nowhere else in Makati will you find…

Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit As human beings, we are prone in comparing our life to others. Typically, we count their blessings and forget to be grateful for our own blessings. When these happens, typically, three things happen: The Gospel reminds us that our lives are meant to bear fruit. The time, talent and treasure that goes with…

Thank God for Mothers

John 2: 1-11 Once in a seminary theology class, our professor asked the class, “Who is the Mother of Perpetual Help?” Instantly, the class responded, “Mama Mary.” Then our professor asked, “Who is the Perpetual Help?” For a while there was silence. Then someone reluctantly answered, “Jesus?” Our professor immediately affirmed the correct response.  It…

God’s Calling

Matthew 9:9 We have a saying, “Do not judge a book by its cover.” We see a person with fine clothes, a nice car, and materially rich, we think he is okay and happy. Hence it is the desire to become rich. How many of us tell ourselves that “If I win the lotto, it…

Things We Thirst For

John 4: 5-42 According to science, an infant is 75- 78 percent water. By one year old, the infant is 65 percent water. When the infant reaches adulthood, the person is about 50 to 65 percent water. Hence, when we lack water, we get thirsty. Many ailments come from dehydration, including: In fact, a person…

Love of God and Love of Neighbor

Mark 12: 28-31 Once I had the opportunity to join a procession. We went around town praying the rosary and singing religious songs. It was solemn and beautiful. Upon reaching the Church, to signify the end of the procession, the priest blessed the Carozas. Suddenly, there was a commotion – people started receiving the flowers….