Last year on April 15, 2019, at about 6:50 pm, a fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral. After about six hours the fire was put out. One of the earliest pictures of the state of Cathedral that came out was a picture of the altar with all the burned wood and…
When Death Does Not Make Sense
Every now and then we go to a wake, we send our condolences to the family and yes, we hear of the circumstances of how a loved one passed away. Yes, there are stories wherein death does not make sense. It is mixed emotions in the case of saying goodbye to an old parent who…
Betrayal
One very important factor in any relationship is trust. It is something we build over time but can lose in just one moment. One image is that of a jar wherein marbles are collected over time for all to see. The collector demonstrates trust in those who see it, but sadly it just takes one…
Confession
Of the seven sacraments of the Church, the one I find most humbling is the sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. Why? People entrust priests with the sins that they cannot even tell their spouses or best friends. They trust that their deep, dark secrets are only between them and God. In the Gospel, we are…
Fake News
Thanks to technology, it is so easy now to get information: Anything that is happening in the world, television can feature it; if you need to know certain information, just “Google” it; if you need to send information, just text or send an email. Indeed, while technology is very useful, it has its downside too….
Service
In the Gospel, we often see the humanity of the apostles. In one passage, they were arguing who among themselves was greatest. They argued…who has done the greatest miracle? Who has the most followers? Who speaks the best? Who has the best talent? Jesus, who most likely was disappointed because after forming and teaching his…
Teachers
Luke 10:1-12 Every time we have a high school class reunion, we always remember our teachers: the strict one, the pretty one, the one who was like a brother, the one with mannerisms, the one who punished and the one that cried. One interesting reflection was made by a batchmate who, when growing up, made…
Anxiety
These days are difficult times. People have so much anxiety, worry, and fear. The economy is not doing well; there is so much chaos in the world; the Church too is chaotic; For those who are working, times are hard. Then there are concerns when it comes to the family. In a survey, people most…
Perseverance
Luke 8:4-15 A friend of ours has a very intelligent and pretty wife. Close friends of theirs would also ask the wife why she fell for her husband, when “she deserved someone better.” Her consistent answer was, “He showed perseverance.” While we Filipinos have a saying, “kung may tiyaga, may nilaga,” the Gospel today reminds…
The Sacredness of Life
Luke 1: 57-60 Look at the world we live in. There was a commercial I came across reminding us that children are expensive to raise, add responsibility, and limit freedoms. Hence, we are much better off without them. We have forgotten that each child means hope. Every June we celebrate the birth of John the…
3 Ways 2 Your 1 God 