Good and Bad

Matthew 13:24-30 I am sure we all have asked the question, “If God is good, why is there evil”? Or perhaps even, “Why are there evil people in the Church”? Just look at the scandals every now and then. Or, “Why bother being good?”, when the lifestyles of evil people include nice cars, huge houses,…

Saying Goodbye

There are some famous songs from Broadway musicals: Don’t Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl Fly, Fly Away from Catch Me If You Can the Musical Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from Evita Goodbye Love from Rent And I am Telling You from Dream Girls What do they have in common? These songs talk…

Succession

About three times a year, I go up to Baguio with 2 of my closest priest friends. This is an opportunity to relax, read, pray and eat. About 4 years ago we learned that one of our favorite restaurants in Baguio, Star Café, closed down. It was founded in 1940, yet was closing down because…

Ryan and Clar

A few years ago, I officiated a wedding in Singapore for some friends. This was the homily at that celebration. — Barrington James, a uniquely successful recruitment company that has recently been recognized as a BEST COMPANY to work for, came out with an article entitled: “15 Reasons why Singapore is a great place to…

Dying to Oneself

Let me share with you a personal story. In the priesthood, one will never starve. Whether in joy or in pain, people will feed the priest. From birth to death, people will feed the priest. When there is a new restaurant, people are just so excited to feed the priest. Hence, it is not surprise…

Being Looked Down At

Regardless of who we are, we have all experienced being “looked down at.” A friend shared his experience when he was growing up. Every Christmas season his family would go to their cousin’s place in a very upscale community. He and his siblings had this feeling that even if they were related, they were not…

The Power of the Word

Children Learn What They Live If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with…

Doing Anything and Everything

Luke 16:1-18 One sad reality of today’s generation is the reality of greed.  If the weather patterns have changed (Climate Change), one could ask oneself, “How can people carelessly cut so many trees and not even plant new trees in return?”  If there is a huge disparity of wealth, one could ask oneself, “How come…

Who Are The Truly Blessed?

Lately we hear of well-known individuals who commit suicide. They had money, they had fame, they had a future, and they had friends all over the place. Why have hopelessness then? Why suicide? Why take your life when in the eyes of the world you are supposed to successful and happy? Let us remember that…

Praising Even in Difficult Times

There is a story of a king who accidentally cut his finger. When his servant saw the finger he said, “Praise God.” This greatly offended the king and he ordered that his servant be put in jail. One day, the king decided to go to the woods. While going deep into the woods, he was…