Prayer

Luke 11: 1-13 Whenever we see someone who was once fat and has lost a lot of weight, the first question is, “How did you do it?” Or someone who was sickly and is now in the best of health, “How did you do it?” Or someone who suddenly looks so young and blooming, “How…

Greatest of All Commandments

Mark 12: 28-34 In management, we are always told to know the priorities. When several things come up in a day, we ask ourselves, which is the one I will have to do first? One method is to draw a box and divide it into four areas Box one is Urgent (Kaialangan na kailangan) and…

Signs of the Times

Ask the experts who study the weather. More or less, then can say if the typhoon will pass our area, how strong the winds are and how much rain to expert.  Ask the experts who study the stock market. They will tell you when to buy, when to sell or when to hold on to…

God’s Generosity

When I left PLDT to enter the seminary, I thought I made one of the biggest mistakes. Why leave a job that gave me security and why leave a job that had a lot of opportunities to move up the corporate ladder? Further, all that was offered to us in the seminary was, “Come and…

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…

Who is My Neighbor?

Luke 10: 25-37 I once celebrated Mass in a subdivision clubhouse. After the Mass, during the fellowship, I was talking to two couples, whom I introduced to each other. Couple 1 asked Couple 2, “What is your street?” It turns out that both lived on the same street. Not only that, it turns out that…

Service

John 13: 1-15 There are often international articles on Filipina nannies and the impact they have made on the lives of people. They are always remembered for the same things: The many sacrifices of their nanny taking care of them The love they have felt from their nanny The lessons in life and wisdom they…

Poison

John 11: 45-56 One of the surest ways to loneliness in life is to compare yourself with others. You observe one’s house, you observe one’s car. Where does the person work? You observe the friends that they hang out with, and eventually, you look at their talent. In other words, a person counts the blessings…

Love Your Enemies

Once a family friend requested prayers because she was going to undergo a hip replacement. Thank God that the procedure was successful. When I finally got to meet up with her and I asked how she was doing, her response made me reflect. She said, “The procedure was so painful that you are not even…

Wishing Others Well

Once, a woman came to me when she suddenly started feeling ill, having nightmares, and having unexplained paranormal experiences. When we studied her case, it turned out that it all started with a curse from a neighbor of hers. The neighbor even invoked the devil to bring her misfortune. In the Gospel, Jesus often reminds…