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…
Category: Social Awareness
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…
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…
Persecution
According to the group Open Doors USA, 360 million Christians in 2021 lived in countries where persecution was “significant.” Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed. This is something that should not be…
Works of God
Every now and then, I get blessed with a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Of course, we come across different tour guides with different perspectives, specializations, and points of view. One of the things they would always talk about is the Six-Day War in Israel which happened during June 5 – 10, 1967. Although Israel…
Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?
In the US, there was a survey made by Gallup Poll that says in 2021, only 81 percent of Americans believed in God. The survey started way back in 1944. Up to the 1960s, 98 percent believed in God. Up to 2011, it was 92 percent believed. Up to last year, 17 percent do not…
Burden Free
Matthew 11:28-30 How many of us, from time to time, complain that we are tired of life already? Never-ending problems, always in debt, a sickness that won’t get healed, a loved one who has gone astray, a broken relationship, nothing is happening to a person we are helping, too many battles in life, or maybe…
Looks
Matthew 3:1-6 We have a saying, “Do not judge the book by its cover.” Why? Typically, people judge people by their looks. Just go to the parish and see how a well-dressed person is treated differently from a simple-dressed person According to studies, those who are tall usually have higher pay Here in the Philippines,…
