Ponder

Typically we look at life based only on two things: good luck and bad luck. That is why as we celebrate the Christmas season and prepare for the new year, we have all these superstitious practices. Even if we know they are offensive to the Lord, we do it just to bring good luck.  However,…

God’s Mysterious Ways

Matthew 11:2-11 One of the hardest of most human activities is to wait. All of us are waiting for something or someone in life: There are people waiting for love There are people waiting for the much-needed break There are people who are waiting for their plans and dreams to come true There are people…

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Archdiocese of Manila is the oldest diocese in the Philippines, created in 1579 as a diocese and elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese in 1595. Also, Manila was established as a suffragan diocese of Mexico in 1579 by Pope Gregory XIII. Hence many of the Mexican devotions were brought here to the Philippines.  According to…

Immaculate Conception

It is the desire of God that we human beings share his happiness. However, in paradise man and woman ate the forbidden tree, and original sin entered into our lives thus sending man and woman out of paradise.  Yet, it is the desire of God that we human beings share his happiness and that is…

Crisis and God

Last March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic started in the Philippines. We did not know what Covid was. We did not know how to treat it. We tried everything to avoid it.  It was very hard because we said goodbye to so many people. Many people experienced financial difficulties and up to now, many people are…

The Good Shepherd

It was said that Jesus was an excellent preacher because of three things: First, he spoke with authority. In other words, he had integrity and credibility. Second, he used stories and parables: Parable of the Sower, Parable of Weeds and Wheat, Parable of Kingdom of God, Parable of Mustard Seed, etc. Third, he used imagery…

Come Follow Me

Editor’s Note: This was a homily from last October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. As the life of St. Francis has lessons we can all learn from, we are including this here today. In the music industry, there is what is called “Fandom”. They are passionate and devoted fans who are…

Call to Sainthood

Ed. Note: This is a homily from last night’s mass at San Carlos Seminary, celebrating Fr. Mon’s 60th Birthday. Happy Birthday Fr. Mon! Thank you always, for the gift of your words, which have touched so many of our lives. Just last week we attended a conference on seminary formation in Iloilo. The experience nationwide…

All Things Come to Pass

Once upon a time in New York there existed the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers of 110 floors were completed in 1973. In 2001, it was brought down by terrorists when two planes crashed on both towers. It was a strange feeling that the symbol of American capitalism was brought down just like that. …

The Resurrection

The Resurrection is the most important celebration of the Church. Why? If Jesus did not rise, we would not be here. The original testimony that Christ had truly risen was the stone removed from the tomb (someone powerful had done it), the empty tomb (no body of Christ), and the folded cloth (which meant the…