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….

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…

When Death Does Not Make Sense

Every now and then we go to a wake, we send our condolences to the family and yes, we hear of the circumstances of how a loved one passed away. Yes, there are stories wherein death does not make sense. It is mixed emotions in the case of saying goodbye to an old parent who…

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,…

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…

Give or Take

In the Gospel, Jesus makes use of two contrasting characters. On one hand, you have the religious leaders. One would think they are the people who serve and give. Yet, in reality, they are the entitled and the takers. On the other hand, you have the poor widow. One would think that she is the…

Hope

It has been more than four years since the pandemic hit us. Of course, there were many people to whom we said goodbye to. Many people were displaced financially. There are still many people who are dealing with mental health: depression, fear, anxiety, worry, and even anger. Yet, there are far more people who never…

Praising God

We typically look at life based on two things: good luck and bad luck. That is why in these year-end celebrations, although we are Catholics, superstitious practices are an insult to God because it suggests we do not trust him. Many Catholics would still do it and say that it won’t hurt. We just want…

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,…