AT one time, Christ told this parable about how to behave when invited to some special event. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have...
INDEED, precious lessons can be learned from the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist whose liturgical memorial is celebrated on August 29. One is that we should expect suffering and possible martyrdom if we truly seek to follow Christ, the very embodiment of truth and...
IN a gospel parable about a faithful servant and an evil one (cfr. Mt 24,42-51), we are told to be fruitful in our life and, at the same time, vigilant also, since we know that we have to contend with all sorts of enemies—mainly the...
THIS is the ideal condition in our lifelong pursuit of holiness and its accompanying duty of apostolate. The desire for it should be, as much as possible, felt and acted on at every breath and heartbeat. Impossible? No doubt. We can even say it’s crazy to...
THIS is how we should feel everytime we celebrate or attend a Holy Mass. If we only know what a Holy Mass really is, we cannot help but be filled with extreme joy and ineffable thanksgiving. If we do not feel it that way yet,...
IN a number of instances, Christ lamented over the hypocrisy of some of the leading Jews of his time. At one point, he said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves,...
WHEN someone asked Christ, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” His immediate answer was: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Lk 13,23-24) It’s clear that Christ wants all...
IN this year’s celebration of the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, the gospel reading reminds us of that time when Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was. (cfr. Mt 22,34-40) We know very well what Christ said. “You shall love the Lord, your God,...
THAT gospel parable about a king giving a wedding feast to his son and invited many guests who, later on, refused to come (cfr. Mt 22,1-14), reminds us that we should see to it that we do not get trapped in our earthly and temporal...
THAT’S the lesson we can draw from that gospel parable about a landowner who hired laborers at different hours of the day to work in his vineyard. (cfr. Mt 20,1-16) The landowner promised to pay the usual daily wage to those he hired at the...