WITH recent cases of sacred places being desecrated, we need to remind ourselves that it is our duty to give these places due respect since they hold deep cultural or religious significance, and they also arouse strong emotional connection with the people. We are reminded...
WHAT criteria to use in choosing our leaders and public officials? Definitely, we should hold integrity and competence as indispensable requirements. We need to look into the background of each candidate for public office whether these criteria are met. Integrity ensures ethical decision-making, transparency and accountability...
TO be like Christ, as we should, we have to develop an abiding compassion toward everyone, especially the lost ones. We are reminded of this Christian duty in the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. (cfr. Lk 15,1-10) Compassion should have a...
WE should not be surprised if Christ used what we may consider as harsh words to make us follow him. With all our weaknesses and limitations, there is no way but for him to use these strong words to keep us on the right track...
THAT gospel parable where Christ talked about a certain man who invited many persons to a great supper (cfr. Lk 14,15-24) can lead us to ask the question of how to balance the forcefulness of love and our freedom. As the parable narrates, all those invited...
THIS is an attempt to describe the increasingly sharp differences between the so-called Gen Z people (those born roughly between 1997 and 2012 who grew up with widespread access to the internet, smartphones and social media, and often described as digital natives) and the senior...
IT’S good that in our country we have this very popular tradition called “undas” when families go to cemeteries to visit, clean and decorate graves of loved ones. There they offer prayers, light candles and leave flowers and even food for the departed. It’s also...
PERHAPS that’s what we can learn from the readings of Friday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time. (cfr. Rom 9,1-5; Lk 14,1-6) There we can see how St. Paul expressed his deep sorrow and anguish for his unbelieving people and was willing to be...
THAT’S simply because things would just get worse if we behave otherwise. In our life, we should expect these things to happen to us. It’s part of our wounded human nature. It should not surprise us. But obviously, we should learn how to be properly...
TO get to the point without beating around the bush, the only way we can truly be sincere with everyone and with everything is when we are with God who, after all, knows all things and knows them always with charity, justice, mercy, prudence and...