John 20: 1-2, 11-18 As a priest, every day I deal with sadness: whenever I celebrate a funeral Mass whenever I anoint people who are sick when people ask me to join them for prayer for their special intention. Sadness is always related to letting go. In death, we say goodbye to a loved one….
Things That Matter in Life
John 12:24 -26 Nathan Scott once said, “It is the oldest story in the world. One day you’re seventeen and planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever noticing, that someday is today. And the someday becomes yesterday. And this is our life.” The Gospel reminds us that life is short, swift, and uncertain….
Good and Bad
Matthew 13:24-30 I am sure we all have asked the question, “If God is good, why is there evil”? Or perhaps even, “Why are there evil people in the Church”? Just look at the scandals every now and then. Or, “Why bother being good?”, when the lifestyles of evil people include nice cars, huge houses,…
Saying Goodbye
There are some famous songs from Broadway musicals: Don’t Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl Fly, Fly Away from Catch Me If You Can the Musical Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from Evita Goodbye Love from Rent And I am Telling You from Dream Girls What do they have in common? These songs talk…
Succession
About three times a year, I go up to Baguio with 2 of my closest priest friends. This is an opportunity to relax, read, pray and eat. About 4 years ago we learned that one of our favorite restaurants in Baguio, Star Café, closed down. It was founded in 1940, yet was closing down because…
Ryan and Clar
A few years ago, I officiated a wedding in Singapore for some friends. This was the homily at that celebration. — Barrington James, a uniquely successful recruitment company that has recently been recognized as a BEST COMPANY to work for, came out with an article entitled: “15 Reasons why Singapore is a great place to…
Dying to Oneself
Let me share with you a personal story. In the priesthood, one will never starve. Whether in joy or in pain, people will feed the priest. From birth to death, people will feed the priest. When there is a new restaurant, people are just so excited to feed the priest. Hence, it is not surprise…
Being Looked Down At
Regardless of who we are, we have all experienced being “looked down at.” A friend shared his experience when he was growing up. Every Christmas season his family would go to their cousin’s place in a very upscale community. He and his siblings had this feeling that even if they were related, they were not…
The Power of the Word
Children Learn What They Live If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with…
Doing Anything and Everything
Luke 16:1-18 One sad reality of today’s generation is the reality of greed. If the weather patterns have changed (Climate Change), one could ask oneself, “How can people carelessly cut so many trees and not even plant new trees in return?” If there is a huge disparity of wealth, one could ask oneself, “How come…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 