As people, we need people. In fact, it is people that give real happiness in life. Hence, one of the most painful of all human experiences is being “denied” – “You can choose your friends, but not your family” is typically said when we are disowning someone in the family. Further, being rejected is also…
Category: Mercy & Forgiveness
All Things Come to Pass
Once upon a time in New York there existed the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers of 110 floors were completed in 1973. In 2001, it was brought down by terrorists when two planes crashed on both towers. It was a strange feeling that the symbol of American capitalism was brought down just like that. …
Time to Hold On and Time to Let Go
A study found that the main source of true happiness is none other than relationships. As we know though, there is no relationship that is perfect and there is no relationship that has not been tested. The typical questions when it comes to strained relationships: Yes, we commit mistakes, we have our own bad side,…
Peace
Even before Covid, as priests, we already got a sense that many people are experiencing mental health issues – fear, worry, anxiety, depression, fear, and even suicidal thoughts. Then when Covid came, it even made things worse. That is why the words of Christ are very important – “Peace be with you.” Peace is not…
Betrayal
There is a saying, “Why is betrayal very painful? Because it does not come from an enemy but from a loved one.” There is betrayal everywhere: In marriage, in business partnerships, in friendships, in the family, and in organizations. It is very painful because there are questions that will remain unanswered, such as, “Why did…
Regret (Paghininayang)
Regret is one of the biggest and most common emotions a person can experience after losing someone. On top of the pain of the actual loss, the feelings of regret come rushing through, making even the strongest of us ask: In one of the more known Gospel stories, Martha’s regret after the loss of her…
Anger
During Confession, there are penitents who confess that they got angry. The question is usually, “Is anger a sin?” Even Jesus got angry when the temple was being turned into a marketplace. He also got angry when rules were more important than people when the children were not allowed to come to him, when the…
Heartbreak and Happiness
In 1938, Harvard started what would be an 85-year-old study to find out what makes people happy in life. The researchers gathered 724 participants from all over the world and asked detailed questions about their lives every two years. The result? It was not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. The most significant aspect of their lives…
The Art of Warfare
There is a book entitled, The Art of War which is an ancient Chinese military treatise dating from the 5th century BC, and is attributed to the famous military strategist Sun Tzu (“Master Sun”). The book is about conflict knowledge and tactics revolving around several key concepts, including: In the world that we live in, we must remember that…
Sins of the Ancestors
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The Jews of Jesus’ time asked this question because of many realities: The response of Christ: “Neither he or his parents sinned”. In other words, this is a case that is not due to sinfulness or generational curses, but rather that it…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 