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Category: AUTHORS

  • CHOICE NOW

    CHOICE NOW

    November 30, 2025 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113025.cfm)

    A mother once knocks at his son’s door and have this following Convo or exchange of words.

    Mother: “Son, wake up.” But the son said: “Mom, I don’t want to get up.” Mom continued: “Son, Get up now. You have to go to the church today.” Son said, “I don’t want to go to church today”. Mom asked: “Why not?” Son replied, “I will give you three reasons: “I’m too young to go church, it’s dull and boring in the church, and people there don’t like me.” Mom persisted, “Now, I will also give you only three reasons you should go to the church. Today you have to be there, you are already 30 years old and it’s your wedding day. So, Wake up and get up now. You are already grown up – enough to just go back to sleep again.

    Which is more difficult nowadays: to lay down and go asleep in the evening …or to get up and stay awake in the morning? Waking up and getting up in the morning, and staying awake the whole day have always been our daily struggle. We always want to go back to sleep. All day long there is a longing in us to go back to bed and sleep again. Even when we are up and awake, we still have bouts of daydreams and musings the whole day through. That is why we have a Filipino saying: (Mahirap gisingin ang taong gising). “It is not easy to wake up someone who is already awake”. In other words, how can you wake up someone who is already arise & awake?

    We may not only be dealing here about our getting up physically in the morning and the whole day through, but this may also be true about getting up and staying awake in our whole life. This may also be about how awake and aware are we in living our lives.

    As we go through our lives, there are many moments that we are more asleep than awake. Habitually we may have found ourselves already physically awake but still actually unaware, out of sync, lukewarm, numb, and out of touch of reality.

    In life, we find usually ourselves in situations where we are already yet still – already awake yet still asleep. It is like, you already realize your mistake, but still doing the same mistake all over again. Same way as that son, who is already awake but still find reasons and excuses not to get up but to go back to sleep on his wedding day. Or worse, number of people have already died not only cause by natural disasters but also political & government corruption yet still making excuses, blaming & politicking.

    Remember waking up and staying awake in life may be a struggle but it is also a choice. In other words, “to get up and stay awake OR to go back and remain asleep” in life is perhaps the first decision we have to struggle with and make daily in life. What is significant here is not only the action and decision taken but moreso on the awareness, realization, and choice of the present NOW in facing life. Since now you know your mistake, now you have the choice to continue the same mistake, or do something about it. Since you know NOW you are old enough to go to church today because it’s your wedding day as your special Day with your spouse before the Lord, you may get up OR to go back at bed to sleep again. Since now we are aware that corruption causes people’s lives, we rise up & voice our dissent & disgust against crooked ways of our government & leadership; OR remains asleep & silently tolerant about these social realities.

    This is why on the first Sunday of Advent in preparation for the coming Christmas day, the Lord has very simple message to us: STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared.

    Human as we are, the Lord knows that we rather stay asleep than awake in life. He recognizes that we are already awake yet at times mostly asleep in life. He also knows however that we do have the CHOICE NOW whether to stay awake or asleep. That is why He is particularly calling us to stay awake, be prepared, get up and go forward for He promises that there are more and better in life yet to come & happen in life. His words in our gospel today are not His warning but a wake-up call to us to brace ourselves to the New Normal Life Ahead.

    To remain awake and stay aware in life, is indeed a struggle yet a choice in life. But if we continue to heed and do our part in the Lord’s invitation of staying awake and being aware now in our life, we will see more and eventually become witnesses to fullness of the New Normal life God can offer us now & the near future ahead. Same way with smartphones, new system upgrade is to happen soon. It is up to you to remain with the old slow system OR prepare for an upgraded system that make the best of your smartphones.

    By the way, today on the first Sunday of Advent at the occasion of Bonifacio Day (our Philippines national hero day), the Archdiocese of Cebu calls for SUPAK, in English “Against” but a rough acronym of (Sugbuanong Pakigbisog Kontra Kurapsyon) in that would mean – People of Cebu’s struggle against Corruption. This is wake up call & constant reminder among people & faithful of Cebu Province that we choose not to remain asleep but be vigilant & ready for life-upgrade (not downgrade) soon.

    Because as the Lord reminds us today and always: “Therefore, Stay awake and be prepared… for the Son of Man will come.” In other words, Hoy Gising… Wake up for I am on-the-way coming NOW & sooner than you expect.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • LIVING HOPE AMIDST SUFFERING

    LIVING HOPE AMIDST SUFFERING

    November 26, 2025 – Red Wednesday; Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112625.cfm)

    Today we celebrate Red Wednesday, a day when we remember, honor, and stand in solidarity with Christians around the world who suffer for their faith. We remember and pray for those who are silenced, displaced, threatened, and even killed because they follow Jesus. For most communities, Red Wednesday is a solemn reminder of a suffering happening “somewhere else.” But for us, this day carries a deeper weight and meaning.

    We do not remember persecution as something distant. We remember it as something you have survived. You carry scars in your minds, in your bodies, and in your hearts. These are the scars of the 2017 Marawi Siege, and more recently, the 2023 bombing, when violence interrupted our prayer, our peace, our Advent hope.

    And yet, here you are. Still praying. Still gathering. Still believing. And still choosing Christ. If the color red symbolizes the blood of martyrs, then the red we wear today also symbolizes your courage, your endurance, and your unbroken faith.

    Hence, we are all here because hope, no matter how wounded we are. This is what today’s theme proclaims, “Living Hope Amidst Suffering.”

    In the first reading from Prophet Daniel, King Belshazzar holds a feast of arrogance and disrespect. In the middle of his pride and extravagance, a mysterious hand appears and writes on the wall,
    “You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.” Belshazzar used sacred things for selfish purposes. He mocked what was holy. He exalted himself instead of God.

    Indeed, persecution anywhere in the world often comes from the same attitude. This is the arrogance that refuses to respect human dignity, a pride that rejects God, and a heart that worships violence more than life. And this may come politically and ideologically motivated.

    But while Belshazzar was “found wanting,” you, the people of faith, the survivors, the steadfast disciples, you have been weighed in the balance and found faithful.

    You did not give up your faith, even when fear tried to choke it. You did not stop praying, even when prayer became dangerous. You did not stop loving, even when hatred and suspicion tried us.

    If the writing on the wall declared judgment on Belshazzar, the writing on your lives declares something else entirely that “You have stood firm in the Lord.”This is hope found alive in us, in each of you.

    Moreover, in the Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples that persecution will come. Not “maybe,” not “possibly,” but certainly.

    Jesus said, “They will seize you.” “They will hand you over.” “You will be hated because of my name.” Jesus does not sugarcoat discipleship. He does not hide the cost of faith. He does not pretend Christianity as a path of comfort and power.

    Indeed, these words are not theoretical for you. You know their truth. Yet, Jesus is not giving this warning to frighten us. The Lord gives it to strengthen us. And so, Jesus now gives us two promises. These promises are born from His own suffering love.

    The First Promise is “I will give you words and wisdom.” Jesus assures us that in difficult times, we are never alone in our fear. The Holy Spirit is with us, guiding, strengthening, whispering courage into our trembling hearts. And indeed, this community has spoken words of hope when silence seemed safer. You have shown kindness when anger felt easier. You have extended forgiveness when hatred tried to dominate. You have lived this promise.

    The Second Promise is “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Perseverance, that quiet, stubborn faith that refuses to give up, is what saves us. Not the absence of suffering, not forgetting of memory, but the courage to rise again despite everything.

    The siege tried to break us, but you stood. The bombing tried to silence worship, but you returned. Fear tried to isolate you, but you gathered again at the table of Christ.

    This is what living hope looks like. A hope that limps but keeps walking. A hope that trembles but keeps believing. And a hope that cries but keeps loving.

    Today, Red Wednesday invites us not only to remember suffering, but to remember how God works inside our own suffering.

    Hope is not pretending everything is fine. This is merely optimism. Yet, hope is not about being optimistic. Hope is believing that God is working, even when nothing feels fine. Hope does not erase ours tears. It accompanies them. Hope does not deny wounds. It transforms them. And hope does not avoid danger. It gives courage to stand, to remain and be still before the presence of God.

    And so, this day is more than commemoration. It is a call to deepen our faith, to widen our compassion, and to strengthen our mission as disciples of the Crucified and Risen Christ.

    Because those who have suffered greatly are the very people that God sends to become witnesses of hope for the world. And you, brothers and sisters, are living proof that the Christian story is not a story of defeat, but of resurrection. Our Christian story is not a story of darkness, but of dawn. Not a story of violence, but of victory. This is the victory of love.

    Now, Red Wednesday does not simply ask us to remember. It rather invites us to respond. We are asked…

    How will we honor the suffering of others if we do not let our own suffering teach us compassion?

    How will we carry the memory of our wounds if they do not lead us to deepen our prayer, widen our love, and strengthen our commitment to peace?

    How can we claim to follow a crucified King if we refuse the path of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope?

    Indeed, suffering can make us bitter or better. It can harden our hearts or open them. It can close our hands or make them instruments of healing. Being persecuted, certainly, does not give us permission to hate. It gives us a mission to love even more dearly. Being hurt does not give us the right to close our hearts. It gives us the grace to open them wider. Being attacked does not mean our story ends in fear and trauma. It means Christ calls us towards courage, healing, unity, and peace.

    We now realize that living hope amidst suffering is not passive. It is a choice. A daily, brave, exhausting, and holy choice. And so, I leave you now three takeaways to make hope alive in us.

    First, pray intentionally this week for those who have hurt you. Even a simple prayer: “Lord, bless them. Heal them. Change their hearts.” This maybe a difficult prayer to make for those who have hurt us but also powerful in transforming our hearts.

    Second, reach out to someone who suffers in silence. A neighbor who is afraid. A young student who is traumatized. A parent who is struggling or sick. Sit with them. Listen to them. And be a small beam of Christ’s light and love.

    Third, commit one concrete act of peace-building. Repair a relationship. Start a dialogue. Help rebuild a broken community bond.

    Friends, you have passed through fire,  but the fire has not consumed you. Let is refine you. On this Red Wednesday, may your courage shine, your wounds speak truth, and your faith stand as a beacon of hope for a world that desperately needs it.

    May this Red Wednesday remind you that you are not just survivors, you are now bearers of living hope. Hinaut pa.

  • Building Life on what Lasts

    Building Life on what Lasts

    November 25, 2025 – Tuesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112525.cfm)

    Tomas loved collecting shiny things. He had always new gadgets, loud toys, and flashy decorations. His small house sparkled with many things, but nothing he owned actually ever lasted. One day, his old neighbor Nanay Cita invited him for snacks. He saw how her house was plain. Yet, something was different. It was rather filled with laughter, stories, and warmth from her family members and other neighbors. Tomas realized that her joy came not from flashy material things, but from people and moments lovingly shared.

    Recently, when a typhoon hit and flooded their community, his many shiny items broke and gone. While he felt devastated, Nanay Cita and other neighbors came to help and brought hope to others. This was how Tomas finally understood that what truly lasts are relationships, kindness and simple joys.

    Today, in our first reading, Prophet Daniel interpreted the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar. It was a dream of a great statue made of different materials. Yet, all of which eventually crumbled when struck by a small stone. Daniel told us that this stone represented the Kingdom of God. It seemed small and humble. Though it was unnoticed by the world, it was the only thing that lasts forever. Indeed, kingdoms rise and fall, powers come and go, but the Kingdom of God stands firm through all ages.

    Jesus, in today’s Gospel, echoed this truth. While the disciples admired the beauty of the Temple, Jesus reminded them of an important lesson. Even the most impressive earthly things will one day pass away. What endures, Jesus said, is not the expensive stones of the Temple. What lasts is the steadfast trust of those who remain faithful. They stay committed in the midst of trials, challenges, and uncertainties in life.

    Today these readings also speak deeply to my heart as I celebrate my 8th Anniversary of Priesthood. As I look back, I see many moments of weakness. There were many moments of unworthiness. I felt pains and hurts. There were times when I felt like that fragile statue in the king’s dream. It was easily shaken and easily broken.

    And yet, by the grace of God, I remain and still finding joy. Not because of my strength, not because of my abilities and potentials but because of God’s faithfulness. The stone that never crumbles is the unwavering goodness of God to me and to everyone whom I have encountered in my journey as a priest. This has been the foundation of my priesthood.

    If there is anything my eight years have taught me, it is this – God uses weak instruments. He chooses broken vessels. He works through imperfect servants so that His glory and not ours, may shine and bring life. This is what I witnessed, every time I felt tired, God renewed me. Every time I felt unworthy, God reminded me that the call is His, not mine. Every time I doubted, God remained faithful.

    I realized that certainly, this is not just my story. It is the story of every believer who tries, fails, rises and hopes again, and continues to walk with God.

    In fact, the world tells us that we must be strong. We must be impressive. We must be powerful like the mighty statue in the vision of the King Nebuchadnezzar. However, God tells us, “Just stand on the Rock. Stand on Me.” This is an invitation to find God as our true strength, our refuge and our security.

    Now, as we near the end of the liturgical year, these readings invite us to reflect: What in our lives is temporary, and what truly lasts? Are we building a kingdom that will one day crumble? Or do we place our trust in the Kingdom of God that cannot be shaken?

    Today, I thank God for eight years of priesthood, not as a journey of perfection, but a journey of God’s unwavering mercy. I ask you to continue praying for me. Please pray that I remain faithful to the Kingdom of God that lasts forever. May I always find joy in my ministry and bring life to others.

    May the Lord strengthen all of us to trust not in the passing things of this world, but in the enduring goodness of God.  I leave you now two simple and practical takeaways.

    First, build your life on what lasts. Spend more time each day on prayer, kindness, forgiveness, and love. These are the things that remain.

    Second, trust God even in your weaknesses. Whenever you feel unworthy or discouraged, whisper a simple prayer, “Lord, You are my strength. I stand on You.” Hinaut pa.

  • Christ the King is our Courage and our Healing

    Christ the King is our Courage and our Healing

    November 23, 2025 – Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm)

    Jesus Christ our King is not the kind of king the world expects. When we hear “king,” we imagine someone powerful, protected, wearing a crown of gold. Yet, our Gospel today tells of a completely different image of a king. Jesus’ throne is a cross. His crown is made of thorns, and instead of soldiers guarding Him, people are mocking Him. To many, Christ our King looks weak, defeated, even powerless.

    And yet, we call Jesus our King. Why? Because the true strength of Jesus is not shown in force, violence, or armies. His power is shown in love that does not give up, mercy that never closes its doors, and hope that refuses to die.

    In the first reading of the Second Book of Samuel, the tribes of Israel came to David and said, “We are your bone and your flesh.” They chose David as king because he walked with them, suffered with them, led them, and protected them.

    Jesus is an even a greater King. He did not just walk with His people. He became one of us. He carried our pain. He entered our darkness, and He stayed.

    For many of us who lived through the Marawi Siege and the 2023 bombing, there were moments that perhaps we wondered and asked, “Lord, where are You? How can You be King if evil can do such harm?”

    However, the Cross reminds us that Jesus is the King who does not run away from suffering. He enters it with us. He is not a distant King. He is a wounded King. This is the reason why He understands our wounds. Indeed, we have a king who stands with the wounded.

    In the Gospel, one of the criminals looked at Jesus, bloody, weak, nailed to wood and recognized not a failure, but a King. He said, “Jesus, remember me.” And Jesus answered with the deepest royal authority, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

    This is the power of our King! Yet, not found in the power to crush enemies, but the power to restore, to forgive, to heal, to raise us up when life pushes us down.

    When violence tried to destroy this community, love still survived. When fear tried to rule our hearts, faith still whispered, “God is with us.” When the darkness of war tried to cover Marawi, the light of people helping each other rose again. This is Christ’s power at work in us. And Christ’s power is healing, not hurting.

    The psalm today echoes and speaks of our hope and joy, “I rejoiced when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” After all our community has endured, you might think people would be afraid to come back to church. Well, this was indeed the feeling and experience of some of you. But look at us now, we still gather, pray, sing, laugh, and rebuild. That is a miracle in itself.

    Indeed, the presence of each one of you here is a declaration that, Christ still reigns. Fear does not win. Evil does not win. Violence does not write the last chapter.

    Moreover, St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians that Jesus is the one who holds all creation together. Everything on earth, in the heavens, the entire universe—is in His hands.

    And that same King holds you and me. Our family. Our memories. Our grief. Our healing. He is not only the King of the universe. Jesus is the King of our hearts, of our homes, of our future.

    We may feel small after everything we’ve been through. We may feel broken at times. But Christ the King says: “You are not alone. I reign not by force, but by love.”

    And love always wins. Love always rises. Love always restores. This is the King we follow. I would like to offer you now three simple and doable takeaways.

    First, say this prayer every morning even for 2 minutes. “Jesus my King, stay with me today.” A short prayer, but it opens our hearts to Christ. And let His peace rule your thoughts. Let His mercy guide your actions. Let His strength carry your fears.

    Second, practice one act of reconciliation. Call someone you’ve avoided. Apologize if needed. Forgive even if it is still painful because the Kingdom of God grows wherever reconciliation begins.

    Choose hope even when it feels small. When fear or sadness comes, pause and say: “Lord, You are my King. I trust You.” Let hope be your quiet strength.

    Christ our King may have looked powerless on the Cross, but His love conquered sin, conquered fear, and conquered death. And that same love is conquering our wounds, slowly, gently, day by day.

    May Christ the King be our courage, our healing, and our peace. Hinaut pa.

  • VOX FIDELIUM VOX DEI

    VOX FIDELIUM VOX DEI

    November 23, 2025 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm)

    A story once told about a town which was badly devastated by severe flooding. In the process of rebuilding their lives, they also worked together in building again their damaged church. But what worried them most in rebuilding their church was their old and antique statue of their Crucified Christ that damaged its hands and feet.

    A public consultation was made as to what should be done about their beloved but damaged Crucifix. Different ideas has been expressed and debated. For sentimental value, some are for restoring the statue; though others are against it, for fear that the restoration might completely destroy the original statue. For practical reason, some are in favor of buying a new one, though most would prefer their original Crucifix.

    Then, a respected old man made a suggestion to the plenum. After hearing and reflecting on the old man’s suggestion, everyone agreed that they will honor and implement what has been suggested. Hence, they never buy a new one nor restore the old one. But they just reinstall their old and original Crucifix, with damaged hands and feet. However now underneath the Crucifix, they put a sign: “This is Jesus Christ, who died so that we may live. He is now a PWD – Person with Disability, with damaged hands and feet. Will you now be His hands and feet for others?”

    Church tradition has it that during His crucifixion and death, the last words of Jesus was: “Natapos na. It is done. It is finished”. But, what has been done?…What has ended?…Yes, in the cross, His mission, suffering and life has ended and finished. He has already done the Father’s will. He has already done His work and part in bringing out life and mercy to all. His mission is now done and finished. He has already fulfilled the salvation that God has offered all. He has already revealed to us God’s great love for us.

    But what is not done yet is the God’s kingdom here on earth. What is not finished yet is the reign of God’s presence, love, justice, mercy and peace in our lives.

    While there are still people who are suffering from poverty and injustice due to our sins, insensitivity & corruption, the mission of Christ is already done… but our mission as Christian still lives and moves on. While there are still people who are poor, deprived and most abandoned, while there are still people who are imprisoned by greed for power, wealth and prestige, like our corrupt and manipulative politicians, contractors & capitalists, our Mission or Task as Christian followers & believers is not yet done.

    Remember on the cross, Jesus did not say: “I am finished” but said:  “It is finished”. Meaning, he is not finished yet. There is yet more to come, more yet to happen for our salvation. And this time, His salvation lives on with us & through us, as His hands & feet to do what we are to do, and to be what we should be as Christians.

    So for him to continue to shower us with God’s grace of salvation, Jesus still needs us. He still needs us to be His hands and feet for others.

    He has already saved us. God & Jesus have already done their part. Now it is in us & with us to transform our lives in our world today. It is now in our person – in our hands, feet, mouth, voice and faith to be sharers of God’s graces to others. Like Simon of Cyrene who helped carry the cross of Jesus, as Christians, it is now our tasks to carry, share, and partake the victory of Christ’s Cross to others. Time for us now, not to remain followers at the distance, but to take part in the mission of Jesus towards God’s salvation.

    Today, in the Solemnity of the Christ the King, we honor & celebrate the kingship of Jesus our Lord Christ in our lives today. However, we hear from our gospel today that Jesus, our King is not only a crucified king but also a king who is rejected, insulted, dishonored, and humiliated by the people. We cannot deny in our gospel today that Jesus Christ is a harassed, rejected, disgraced, maltreated, and persecuted King. Indeed, they mockingly proclaimed Jesus as King, but a Redeemer king who cannot even redeem and save himself – a needy king without a throne, and worse crucified on a cross.

    We do need to seriously reflect our gospel today, for it challenges us to deeply understand our faith not only on His kingship but most of all our faith in Jesus Himself. We might ask ourselves: “Do we really acknowledge and believe Jesus as Christ the king?” or “Are we like, Pontius Pilate who admits or not, because the crowd says so?” “Before me, who is Jesus? Who do I say Jesus is?”. Or perhaps ask ourselves: “who and what do I believe and worship? Is it God whom we believe and worship? Or we rather believe and worship our life, work, honor, wealth, and others than God himself?”

    This is a concrete call for us Christians to look deeply into our FAITH – our own personal commitment to what and who we really believe in.

    We honor Jesus today, our Christ and our King whom people have persecuted, humiliated, maltreated and rejected – somehow a needy PWD without hands & feet. “Would you still consider him as your King? Would you recognize and bear witness to Him as Your king? Or would you reject, dishonor, and persecute him again like what the crowds did and are doing today?”

    For come to think of it, God’s kingdom  does not rest only on the title of Christ the King but on our authentic witnessing and commitment of our faith in Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God is not in the voice of the crowd & leaders shouting at Jesus on the cross “Save yourself & save us”, but in the testimony of the good & faithful thief saying “remember me when you into your Kingdom” & in the words of Jesus “Amen, You will be with me in Paradise.”  It is Vox fidelium, Vox Dei then rather than Vox Populi, Vox Dei. Meaning, the voice of God is not in the voice of the people but rather in the voice of God’s people – in the voice of all faithful believers of Jesus Christ.

    Thus, we witness now Jesus as our King, not only because of what he has done for us but most of all on His own Faith towards the Father and for the salvation of all. God’s kingdom and the kingship of Christ do not only mean name, power, and prestige of Jesus but more so our heartfelt and wholehearted profession, proclamation, witnessing and commitment to God’s salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God then requires our total and authentic faith-commitment to Christ, same way as Christ commits Himself to us & our Father.

    Again, here in our celebration today, we Christians are called to proclaim and witness our faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus bears witness to His great love to the Father, we are also invited to the same total and wholehearted dedication and faith in Jesus. As Christians then, we should never be ashamed to express and proclaim our faith to ourselves, to each others and to others, even amidst the noisy crowd & popular opinions.

    Today, we honor Jesus and all Christians faithful who participate in sharing and spreading God’s salvation to the world. Because of them, the Cross of Christ continues now to be triumphant, and God’s grace, presence & kingdom reign in our lives.

    However, How about us, you & I now : Will we now be His hands, His Feet & His voice for others? Will we  now be Vox fidelium, Vox Dei? Will our voice of faith be God’s voice for all?

    Hinaut pa unta. So May It Be. Amen