Category Personal Blog

Let me share with you a not so holy story. This story was told to me by one of our priests in the seminary. He said there was an old priest, around 65 years old, who was approached by a…

I would like to believe that we share a common enemy these days. That enemy is called Mt. Pinatubo. The Gospel for today says, “You must love your enemies.” So I dare say that you must love Mt. Pinatubo. The…

The Greek word for the last days of the world is eschaton. Eschatology is the branch of Theology that studies the last things like death and the second coming of Christ. If there is a second coming of Christ, therefore,…

Many of us who were brought up in the old Catechism know that one of the seven sacraments used to be called Extreme Unction. Extreme means last, Unction means the act of anointing. The anointing of the sick used to…

If I see a man who is deeply in trouble and tell him to cheer up, I am almost certain I will get a bitter smile. He would probably reason out that I could say such words because I do…

It is very human to seek a sign. Husbands and wives seek signs from each other. A kiss is a sign of affection. An embrace is a sign of love. A gift is a sign of concern. There is nothing…

One day I was called to attend a meeting of priests. The meeting was called to evaluate a group of seminarians who were applying for ordination to the priesthood. It is not my work to evaluate. I have not been…

In today’s account of the Gospel, we see that Mary Magdalene failed to recognize the Lord. Why did she fail to see that the man talking to her was already the Lord? I see at least two reasons why she…

WE, TOO, CAN BE BEAUTIFUL BEFORE GOD Jn. 8:51-59 When I was still a younger priest, around five years ago, I met a classmate in high school who made good in college and landed a good job in a big…

Clearly, the theme of today’s Gospel is faith. It was the unwavering faith of the official that brought healing to his sick son. But there was a process to his faith, a progression in his faith which I want to…

MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN Mt. 7:7-12 I will be two years this December since my assignment at the EDSA Shrine. I remember the first weeks that we were here at the Shrine. We were having trouble getting all the things necessary…