In the book Praying Our Goodbyes, Sr. Joyce Rupp the author, says that life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. The very first goodbye was the womb that nursed us for nine (9) months. Simultaneous to this we said hello to the world. The very last goodbye will be our last breath, but then…
Category: Hope
Truly Alive
Luke 24: 35-48 When someone passes away, for some, they wish that they would be able to talk 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, for the Apostles, they…
Ups and Downs of Life
Luke 13: 10-17 How often have we heard people say, “You cannot tell life.” One day life is good, the next moment, all the challenges in life. Or one day life is difficult, then with an expected twist, suddenly life is good. In this Gospel, people were so amazed with how a demon was driven…
Rough Times
John 6:16-21 For those of us who have ridden a boat and were caught by a storm in the middle of the sea, we still remember the feeling – FEAR. We were in a small boat in Antique and suddenly we experienced strong rains and winds. Water was getting into the boat. With a small…
Desert Experience
In a trip to Egypt, I noticed that after a 9-hour road trip, nothing changed in the scenery. It was all sand, rocks, and cacti. It was only then that I realized how blessed is the Philippines. Any 9-hour travel would show how rich the country is in water, mountains, plants, trees, and birds. It…
Courage Versus Entitlement
Mark 12: 1-12 In today’s context, the Gospel could be retold as Mr. Juan de la Cruz, out of compassion and kindness, allowed a family to stay in his property. Many years after, the children grew up and got married. They built their houses at said property. Throughout the years, relatives from the province came…
How to Deal with Betrayal
John 13: 21-33, 36-38 One of the most important factors in any relationship is TRUST. We need trust in friendships; We need trust in a business partnership; We need trust in marriage. On the other hand, it is very painful if the trust is destroyed. I remember a story of a woman whose husband left…
Rest
During an Anointing of the Sick, I had the opportunity to speak to a doctor about sickness. The topic dwelled on what he calls the “Silent Killer.” This is none other than STRESS. It not only affects the heart, it affects the mind, the immune system, the digestive system, the sleep, etc. What causes stress:…
Signs of God
Mark 8: 11-13 Once I had to visit the Underground River in Puerto Princesa in Palawan. In the 1.5 km trip of God’s marvelous creation, the guide made a comment which perhaps describes one the mysteries of life. “Even in the deepest recesses of the world, animal and marine life are still bustling.” How many…
Dealing with Failure
Luke 24: 13-35 We all either admire or are envious of successful people. But whether we are envious or full of admiration for a person, one thing is sure – that person is good at what he or she is doing. How did he get to be that good in the field he or she…