There is a saying in Tagalog that life is “weather weather lang.” In other words, like the weather, sometimes life is sunny, sometimes life is cloudy and overcast. Sometimes life is bright, sometimes life is stormy. Sometimes life gives you lemons or throws you a curve ball, sometimes life gives us a pleasant surprise. This…
Category: Trust in God
Greatest Commandment
Once when I was a seminarian, I had the opportunity to join Holy Week services in a town in the province. There was a procession that went around town. People were singing and praying the rosary. When the procession returned to the Church, the priest ended the activity with a prayer. Right after the prayer,…
Annunciation
When Adam and Eve sinned, the very first promise of God would be the Messiah. However the coming of the Messiah was not easy. In the Book of Genesis, it was said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and…
Terror of Demons
One of the greatest tragedies in a man’s life is to find out that your fiancée or your wife to be, is not faithful. It causes heartbreak and devastation, loneliness, betrayal and it hits the core of our humanity. “Am I worth being loved?” Hence, you can just imagine what St. Joseph felt when he…
Signs
I entered the seminary at the age of 36. This meant, I had many years of discernment whether to enter or not. Of course, I asked for signs. Looking back, there were some signs that were given, there were some signs that were not given and there were some signs that I did not notice….
Finding Love
Ed. Note: This is a homily from one of Fr. Mon’s wedding masses last year. As today is Valentine’s Day, it is a fitting entry on marriage and relationships, with lessons we can all relate to. If a person’s vocation is married life, therefore the greatest adventure would be to find that one, true and only…
Good News
Last week we celebrated Chinese New Year. A common theme for celebrations are the rituals that will bring you good luck and the objects that you have to buy to bring good luck. The question is, if good luck indeed comes your way, “What type of spirit answered your prayer?” Obviously, it did not come…
Conversion
Last year’s Simbang Gabi was memorable because I did it in Singapore. For nine nights at 8 pm, the Church was full. Maybe 90 percent Filipinos and 10 percent Singaporeans. The Dynamics of the Singaporeans is they are mostly converts to Catholicism, thus making them more serious and zealous in the faith. On January 25th…
Children
There was an article recently in the newspaper about the birthrate in the Philippines. In 2017, there were 2.7 children per woman. In 2022, the fertility rate was down to 1.9. The figure is 2.2 in rural areas and 1.7 in urban centers. This is already below the replacement level for two parents. Further, while…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 