A Christmas carol says that this is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, but for those who have attended the Simbang Gabi Masses, the many Gospels tell us that the lives of people who were related to Jesus were affected and disturbed. Their lives have been altered to the point of a crisis. There…
Category: Importance of Prayer
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. 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. One of the…
Christ the King
In this world, everything comes to an end. The most beautiful song has an end; the most beautiful movie has an end; the most meaningful relationships have an end; and all our lives will come to an end. Yes, this world will eventually come to an end. This Sunday we will celebrate the Solemnity of…
Can the Lord Do That?
On a personal note, one thing that has helped me in the priesthood is the ministry of exorcism. Among the ministries in the Church, it is only exorcism that deals with the world of the unseen. Further, St. Paul reminds us that the greatest battle ever among principalities – good versus evil, is constantly ongoing. …
Civil Authority
When Jesus founded the Church, he gave it authority. “Peter you are the rock and on this rock I will build my Church… whatever binds on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever is loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19) In this world, there is only one authority and that is…
Money
In a eulogy that I witnessed, a son was giving tribute to his father. He said when he was growing up, they would wonder why they were not as rich as the office mates of his father. His father would always say three things: First, God sees everything Second, it is better to eat simple…
Seeing God’s Hand
How many times have I been asked this question, “Why does God allow evil in this world?” That indeed is a very valid question. Just look at the current state of the world. First, the right is made wrong and the wrong is made right Second, the evildoers are very bold. Why stand up for…
Come Follow Me
In the music industry, there is what is called “Fandom”. They are passionate and devoted fans who are deeply engaged with their favorite artists, groups, or bands. They attend concerts, buy merchandise, boost streaming momentum, and participate in fan communities. In other words, they will follow their favorite artists anywhere they are and all that…
Social Sins
Ed. Note: This was a homily for a school mass. Student or not though, we can all relate to the lessons. In 1925, Mahatma Gandhi published in his newspaper Young India, a list of social sins. Almost 100 years later, now more than ever, these have become very relevant: Politics without principles Wealth without work…
