John 20:19-23 One of the most difficult things to live with is when you know you have wronged or hurt someone. The worst scenario is when the person you have hurt passes away. I was once at a funeral wake and before the start of the Mass, a sibling of the deceased came in and…
Competition
As a priest, one reality of the ministry is that we are always compared to others. Fr. A sings better, Fr. B is very good in Filipino, Fr. C is always present and so easy to invite, Fr D gives good homilies, etc. Intentionally or unintentionally, this causes intrigue and competition. In a reading from…
Are You Born Again?
How many of us have been approached by a family member, a friend, an officemate, or even a stranger, only to be asked, “Are you born again?” Whatever the response, the next question would be: “Have you asked Jesus into your heart and received Him as his personal Lord and savior?” What then, is the…
Doubting Jesus
Since time immemorial, people have always doubted Jesus whether he is indeed the Son of God. Thomas doubted God and was told to reach out and put his hand into his side. Even disciples doubted when Jesus said that he was the bread that came down from heaven. When he was nailed on the cross,…
Invitation
Just after All Saints and All Souls’ Day, Christmas is truly just around the corner. Yes, there will be parties, homecomings, weddings, and baptismal invitations. However for many reasons, we are not able to attend all simply because that traffic is bad, there are so many invitations, time is limited, and yes, health due to…
Wise and Foolish
If you wish to know what people are most interested in nowadays, just go online. Not too long ago, the top three most viewed on YouTube were: No. 3 was a music video of Wiz Khalifa – See You Again No. 2 was a music video of Ed Sheeran – Shape of You No. 1…
Discipleship
During the time of Jesus, it would not be a surprise if many wanted to be his disciple. They must have seen his fame. People were following him were ever he may be. Further, they loved his preaching. They must have seen his power. Even the Chief Priests, the Scribes and the Pharisees were afraid…
Faith in God
Rol Rolheiser, OMI, says that Christians speak of love, peace, and unity, but based on the daily news and our own experiences of life, how can this be a reality? The world is so polarized, the gap between the rich and the poor is ever wider, there is so much hatred (just go to Facebook),…