The message for us today is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into our own deserts, to face our own struggles, difficulties and problems. We are called not to escape from our own difficulties and challenges in life but to face them with courage and faith. Like Jesus, we too are assured that the Holy Spirit is with us. Hopefully, we may discover and reaffirm God’s tremendous love and forgiveness for us in this season of Lent, to renew and transform us. Hinaut pa.Continue reading What are my temptations?
Get-rid, Get-into, Get through
Easy for us indeed to fall into temptations. The biggest problem in dealing with temptations is our lack of self-knowledge, our lack of recognizing and overcoming the evil within ourselves. We struggle with the evils of others and in our society but the toughest struggle is to acknowledge and overcome the evil within our own selves, the evil in our own hearts. We were born with conflicting goodness and evil within. That is why we can be good and can do good, but not easily, since there are always tensions and struggles within ourselves. Moreover, we can only withstand these difficulties, if we are wise enough to rely not only in our strength but in God’s help and power. Continue reading Get-rid, Get-into, Get through
Not mine but God’s power
This is how Jesus calls us today – that is to never forget that each of us is God’s instrument, that we are weak and powerless without God on our side, not to grow arrogant and self-centered but rather grounded on our experience of God’s goodness and generosity in us – that may hopefully make us humble enough to pray and ask God’s help.Continue reading Not mine but God’s power
ARK: Acts of Random Kindness
February 23, 2020 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm) Homily In the comedy film Evan Almighty, God said to Evan Baxter: “If you want to change the world, build an ARK.” Only later after all the trouble of exactly building a big ark that Evan Baxter realized that anContinue reading ARK: Acts of Random Kindness
Being consistent with who you are now with what you do
Important here is the consistency between our being and our doing now as Christian. In a way, Jesus is teaching us that our actions must reflect our being now as blessed and blessing people. In other words, Be consistent with who you are now with what you do, as Christian. Continue reading Being consistent with who you are now with what you do
What inspires and fulfills you?
February 16, 2020 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021620.cfm) Homily What brings you to life? What drives you and keeps you everyday? What fulfills your day? Our answers might range from God, family, children, wife or husband, community, or our job and precious career. There is always a reason whyContinue reading What inspires and fulfills you?
What matters most is what comes out from our heart
February 12, 2020 – Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021220.cfm) Homily How do we understand the human heart? From a medical point of view, it is a “hollow muscular organ” that serves as a pump controlling the blood flow into our body. From a psychological aspect, the heartContinue reading What matters most is what comes out from our heart
Light of the World and Salt of the Earth
February 9, 2020 – 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020920.cfm) Homily Let me tell you two stories. First, ten years ago I met, Nanay Elisabeth, a leprosy infected-old lady. She was confined in a hospital in Cebu that especially takes care of leprosy patients. Due to her illness, she neverContinue reading Light of the World and Salt of the Earth
Sugar within our Communities
February 9, 2020 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020920.cfm) Homily Weeks after ordination, four newly-ordained priests were summoned by the bishop for a meeting in his house. As they have settled down in his office, the bishop addressed them: “Young fathers, I have here some piece of stone, cotton,Continue reading Sugar within our Communities
Our Sacred Encounter with God
February 2, 2020 – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm) Homily The gospel that we have heard today reminds me of the inspiring presence of our grandmothers and fathers in our church. Most of our regular church-goers are the senior citizens. They have developed it into a habitContinue reading Our Sacred Encounter with God