In one of the more popular Gospel stories about mothers, we hear of two who were both pregnant, and both undergoing difficulty. Elizabeth was old and was now with Child; Mary was not married yet was pregnant; both experienced the miracle of God. Elizabeth was old and barren. Mary conceived her Son through the Holy…
Category: Family Values
The Good Shepherd
Many children grew up complaining about their parents. Then eventually, when they had a better grasp of life, they realized all the love, giving, and forgiving of their parents. Once they had children of their own, those who were once children, had the realization as parents – dad was right after all, mom was right…
Birthdays
Whenever a person celebrates a birthday, it is only fitting to honor his/her mother and father, the source of life. When one celebrates his/her birthday, that person is also reminded of the preciousness of life. How is that? Remember that behind each person is not only a father and mother but also: …and the numbers…
Fathers
According to a study, these are some of the typical experiences of a person who grew up without a father: While the well-known Gospel parable of the prodigal son is about unconditional forgiveness, it is also worth reflecting on the difficulty of fatherhood. The youngest considered his father dead when he asked for his inheritance. The…
Lorenz and Lilibeth
Ed. Note: This was a homily from one of Fr Mon’s wedding masses earlier in the year. As Covid taught everyone to assess what really matters in life, we have included these valuable words for all to reflect on. Today is the 3rd anniversary of the start of the Covid lockdown. We look back and…
Thanking God for People
Matthew 5:13-16 Every single time it is quiet and there is a time to reflect, one of the things that I do is to thank God for various people in my life. This is what St. Matthew’s Gospel invites all Christians to do: with your good works, you give God greater glory. Three reflections of…
Sins of the Ancestors
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The Jews of Jesus’ time asked this question because of many realities: The response of Christ: “Neither he or his parents sinned”. In other words, this is a case that is not due to sinfulness or generational curses, but rather that it…
Mary Mother of The Church
There is a saying, “Without a mother, there is no life”. It is the mother’s womb that takes care of us for nine months and throughout our lives, the mother continues to care for us. Even if we reach 50, 60, or even 70 years old, in the eyes of a mother, we are still…
Family and Calling
I have been a priest for eighteen years this year. It is not easy but I tell people that it is the world’s best-kept secret. How a priest enters the life of people and family in their happiest moments and their most difficult moments, is beyond compare. In the words of Christ, “Anyone who has…
Care of Child
There is a saying that the youth is the future of any country. Hence, a country like the Philippines is in a so-called “sweet spot” because the average age is 25.7 against the global average of 30.7. We also know this: it is not just the quantity but the quality. What kind of children are…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 