Envy

It is the desire of many people to be successful. Hence, they study hard, they work hard, and they learn from the experts. On the long way to the top though, these people have certainly encountered obstacles, challenges, and mistakes, and may have even hit rock bottom. Every step of the way there were envious…

Jealousy

One of the most difficult of all experiences is when we compare our life to others. Eventually, three realities arise: Even Jesus was not spared from Jealousy. He preached with authority; He gave hope to people; He cured the sick and drove away demons. Yet, what did his enemies say? “He got his powers from…

Double Life

A president of a company was looking for a replacement. He called five of his most talented employees who could succeed him. He gave them each a seed of a mango tree and said, “Show me the plant one year from now”.  After one year, all came back with full-grown plants, except one person. He…

The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8: 31-42 One program that is very successful in treating alcoholism is the program Alcoholics Anonymous. It is said that for a person who wants to be healed, the most basic requirement for the alcoholic is to admit that he or she needs help. No denial, no justification, no blaming. Just plain and simple,…

The Secret of True Wealth

Matthew 25: 14-30 Deng Xiaoping once said, “To get rich is glorious.” Indeed, it is quite glorious for many people, hence the desire to get rich. Some even want to fast-track their way to material wealth as the lure of houses, money, cars, and properties are so enticing. Why is money so alluring? Because it…

Deception through Flattery

Mark 12: 13-17 There is the famous tale from Aesop’s Fables, of a fox who wanted to eat the cheese he saw in the mouth of the bird. He first approached the bird and praised how beautiful his color was. He then praised how beautiful were the bird’s feathers. Then he said, “I am sure…

We Are Family

Matthew 18: 21-35 Once I was talking to a real estate broker and he mentioned that the best business nowadays is still Real Estate. He explained that land is not getting any bigger, yet there are more people and their incomes are increasing. Hence, property prices go up every year. He also mentioned something else…

Envy

In ancient Greece, there is a story of a very skillful athlete, Theagene. Since he brought great pride to the city, a monument was erected in his honor when he died. Theagene had a rival, Pausanias, who never won against him. Pausanias would vandalize the monument every night. One night, while he was vandalizing and…

Be Like God

We always ask the question, “If God is good why is there hell?” Our Christian faith reminds us that God created spiritual beings called Angels. Lucifer, a very beautiful angel, along with one-third of the angels, rebelled against God. Why? “They wanted to be like God.” Hence, Led by St. Michael, they were cast out…

Each Life is Important

If there is so much trouble in the world today, it is because we do not value life as it already is. We do not value people as they already are. Other things are given importance more than people.  Once upon a time, the safest place for a human being was the womb of the…