As a priest, one of the more meaningful experiences in the ministry is to hear confessions of people who are about to transition to the next life. Typically, it is a long confession: Further, after the confession, the typical question is, “Has God really forgiven me of my sins?” The well-known parable of the prodigal…
Category: Humility & Selflessness
Judging
One thing we are guilty of is judging people. Some common examples: We judge people based on their looks, their place of residence, their family name, how they speak, the school they come from, and the list can go on and on and on. In the Gospel, even Jesus was not exempted from being judged….
Healing
One of the most difficult of all human experiences is being sick. Typically, we would do anything and everything to get healed: In the Gospel, we hear of two cases of sick people. One thing in common was that both were already desperate. The first case was the synagogue officer: He fell at his feet…
Peace and Family
Whenever we celebrate Mass for a deceased parent, we are honoring their memory. A testimony that these have indeed bore fruit is that peace is further in the family. Peace is a very important theme in Gospel readings because we are told: If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able…
Isolation
As people, we are relational by nature. “People need people” and “No man is an island” are two quotations proving this. Yet every now and then, we have family, a friend, or a loved one who suddenly isolates himself or herself. Not going out, not answering phone calls, no response by text. By this, we…
Reap and Sow
Typical of Chinese New Year are the many articles on what our future will be like. The Year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon and there are those, accordingly, who will have a good year, those who will have a bad year, and those who will avoid bad luck if they do this and…
Better Life
Luke 5:27-32 As human beings, there is always room to learn, room to be a better person, and room to discover about oneself. On the other hand, the worst situation one can be in is when he or she feels they are better than others and knows it all. The Gospel does not glorify sinners,…
Healing Family
An article once said that if proof is needed of how broken the world is today, just look at the family. What is referred to as a “modern” family means either no mother or no father or a lack of both. As priests assigned in a seminary, we notice that the human development of a…
Why Fast?
During the season of Lent, Catholics are encouraged to fast during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Since Filipinos are used to eating six times a day, from breakfast to morning merienda, to lunch to afternoon merienda, to dinner to midnight snacks, fasting is difficult. While it is very challenging to skip meals, let us be…
Open Heart
Of all the organs in the body, it is the heart that is most important. It is the heart that determines whether the body has life or not. In the spiritual life, the heart is equally important. There are very many bible passages when it comes to the heart. As we reflect on the life…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 