We Filipinos, when it comes to blessings, are very faithful. When we get a new house, a new car, or a new office, we have it blessed. Typically, when one is asked why do the blessing, the response is for “Good Luck” and that “Money Flows In.” If it is truly about good luck and…
Category: Church Traditions
Follow Jesus
There is a saying that when times are good, there are many people around you. Why? You have something that they want – it could be money, it could be fame, it could be power. Then when you hit rock bottom in life, they are nowhere to be found. In the Gospel, there were people…
Like Father, Like Son
John 5: 17-30 How many of us think that God is a God who is angry? “I go to Mass because otherwise, bad luck might be experienced in my personal life, in my family life, or in my professional life”. Or “if I experience misfortune, it is only because of my sins in the past….
The Lord is my Shepherd
John 10: 1-10 In the Middle East, one of the most visible people in the countryside is the Shepherd (Pastol). Being a shepherd is considered one of the oldest professions, about 5000 years old. Most shepherds were usually men and not married because they had to go from one place to the other. When Jesus…
Truly Alive
Luke 24: 35-48 When someone passes away, some wish that they would be able to talk to or see their loved one. “Magparamdam man lang,” would be the desire. But others, would say, “Huwag kang magparamdan, ipagdadasal kita.” Why is this so? Many of us have fear of ghosts. Certainly, the Apostles wanted to see…
God Revealing Himself to Us
Mark 12: 35-37 In St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus continues to introduce Himself to the people. He is both Son and Lord based on Scriptures – Son of man by birth, and Lord and Savior by nature. While most of the people were happy and indeed rejoiced, the many opponents of Jesus were not happy. They…
The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
Matthew 16: 13-19 When we studied Church History as seminarians, our professor told us that when you look at the history of the Church, twenty-one centuries of it, you will realize that it is a very human organization. It is composed of 99 percent lay people and less than one percent ordained ministers. It has…
Where Your Heart Is
John 3: 1-8 Jesus once said that “Where your heart is, there will be your treasure.” In other words, what is most important to a person is most likely what one will pursue. What could it be? Money? As long as you have all the basics in life, money in the bank is more than…
A Heart that Ponders
When my mother was still alive some years ago, the doctor’s clinic and hospital admittance became part of the last five years of her life. Being the one who has the most flexible schedule of my siblings, I would always accompany my mother. Eventually, I noticed that regardless of the type of doctor we would…
Power of Words
Matthew 8:5-13 There is a saying that “A pen is mightier that a sword.” Throughout history, words have influenced people and not violence. A person who grew up with affirmation, is confident. Compare this to a person who grew up with criticism, as often criticism also comes out of the mouth. In St. Matthew’s Gospel,…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 