A call to return to God
THIS is one of the important messages of the Lenten season. We are asked to return to God even if we feel we do not deserve to be received by him. God’s love is such that it can heal whatever wound we have both in...
Author: Fr. Roy Cimagala
Beware of the dumb devil
THAT gospel episode of Christ casting out a dumb devil reminds us that we have to be wary when we keep critical and negative thoughts in our mind and heart, allowing them to fester to such an extent that we cannot anymore have any positive...
Divine law and human law
SOMEHOW, when Christ said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not abolish but to fulfil,” (Mt 5,17) we are led to realize that there must be different categories and levels of law and that...
Why is God so forgiving?
AND why should we, like God, be forgiving also? These questions can rise after reading that gospel episode where St. Peter asked Christ how many times should he forgive someone who has offended him. (cfr. Mt 18,21-35) St. Peter dared to suggest, 7 times, which...
God is always merciful
CONSIDERING our proneness to sin, we should always remember that there is always hope because God’s mercy is ever available for us. While we should try our best to avoid sin, we know that we can only go so far. We should not anymore make...
The water that springs into life eternal
THAT’S Jesus Christ, of course. That image of him is highlighted in that gospel episode where Christ, tired from his journey, stopped by a well in Sichar and met a Samaritan woman whom he later converted simply by talking about thirst and water. (cfr. Jn...
No evil can conquer authentic love
THAT’S what we can get from the story in the Book of Genesis about Joseph and his brothers. (cfr. 37,3-18) Joseph was the favorite of his father, Jacob, which made his other brothers so jealous of him that they went to the extent of plotting...
Trust in God always
ONE of the intended effects of the Lenten season is the transformation of our heart such that we trust God more and, in fact, always, rather than getting trapped in our tendency to rely mainly, if not only, on our human and natural powers. This was...
How to properly handle our greatness
THIS Lenten season, let's reflect on the importance of serving others, especially when we have been blessed with talents and privileges. Instead of expecting to be served, let's cultivate a heart of service and humility. This we can gather from what Christ himself said once to...
The proper setting of our intentions
THIS is none other than to do everything in our life with the intention of loving and glorifying God. And given how we, as children of God, are related to him, we should also do everything with the intention of loving others. We should not...