There is a saying that a good story can change our lives. In fact, when we were children, stories were a gateway to understanding the world and learning things. We learned values and lessons through stories. That is why Jesus used stories, as he was an excellent storyteller. Among the many lessons: In the Gospel, we…
Category: Love & Kindness
A God for All
One sad reality of humanity is that we tend to congregate among people we think we belong to. There is always the desire for exclusivity. Suddenly even in the Matters of faith, there is also exclusivity. In the Old Testament, Naaman was in need of healing but he felt initially that he should be treated…
The Kingdom of God
When one observes the world today, one can ask, “Where is God?” Is God’s presence fading or prevailing? Look at the evildoers, they are so bold; people do not know what is right or what is wrong; there is no more sense of sin. “Where is God?” The good news is that the Kingdom of…
Good Works
One huge difference between us Catholics and Protestants is that the Protestants believe in Faith Alone. That is, just say, “Jesus is Lord.” and “Receive Him as your personal Lord and Saviour”, and you will be saved. For Catholics, it is clear faith and good works. We remember Jesus telling his disciples, “The greatest are…
Sin and Healing
When Jesus was on earth, he was most sought after because of his healing. Yes, especially during those times, if one were sick that would almost be like a death sentence or long-term suffering. Hence, people would really search for Jesus for healing. Remember that we are both body and soul. If the body is…
Light of the World
If you are sixty years old and up, one thing very noticeable is that the world has changed a lot in terms of the values of people and the way people live. Mahatma Gandhi defined the seven deadly sins as the following: That is why the Gospel is always an urgent call for us to…
Envy
It is the desire of many people to be successful. Hence, they study hard, they work hard, and they learn from the experts. On the long way to the top though, these people have certainly encountered obstacles, challenges, and mistakes, and may have even hit rock bottom. Every step of the way there were envious…
Good News
After several years I am assigned back to the seminary. If there is one thing I noticed, the number of seminarians has gone down. Almost the entire building is empty. This is true with the other seminaries in the complex as well. In my conversations with other religious, this also seems to be the trend….
Jealousy
One of the most difficult of all experiences is when we compare our life to others. Eventually, three realities arise: Even Jesus was not spared from Jealousy. He preached with authority; He gave hope to people; He cured the sick and drove away demons. Yet, what did his enemies say? “He got his powers from…
Life’s Priorities
One thing about this generation is that we can do so many things in a given time because of technology. Anything we want, we can get immediately because of technology. Information, whether right or wrong, is so accessible because of technology. Hence, how many of us will even realize that time just passes us by…