THAT’S a verse from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (5,19), sometimes used as the Gospel Acclamation in some Masses. It highlights God’s love and desire for reconciliation with man. Through Christ, God is restoring the world to himself, forgiving sins, and...
THIS is the ideal condition of our life. Without love, we would be contradicting first of all our humanity, before we nullify our ultimate dignity and identity as God’s children, created in his image and likeness, and meant to share the very life of God...
“LET not any man’s heart be dismayed.” (1 Samuel 17,32) This was the response of the young David to King Saul when the former reassured the latter that he was willing to face to the strongman Philistine, Goliath. It was a response that came from...
WE have to be wary of this tendency that, obviously, is a universal one, given our wounded nature here on earth. While it’s true that we are meant to judge and to judge with dispatch as much as possible, we should see to it that...
THAT’S a verse from the Letter to the Hebrews (cfr. 4,12) that aptly captures what God’s word is all about. The complete verse goes: “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts...
THAT’S essentially the point of our celebration of the Feast of the Santo Niño that, thankfully, enjoys a very popular devotion in our country. Let’s hope that the message not only sticks in our mind but also is effectively lived out in our daily affairs. Christ...
(An excerpt of the Homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord last January 11, 2025 at San Pedro Cathedral.) When he came, when he was incarnated, whole story of Christmas, overflow pa Advent, the angel...
The world’s biggest, most spectacular and most popular Sto. Niño Fiesta is in the Philippines. It is also the longest in terms of community because it is celebrated for 2 weeks. Why? On the third Sunday of January, it is celebrated in 3 cities; 1....
THAT’S a question we can ask on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Even St. John the Baptist asked that question. But Christ insisted. “Suffer it to be so now. For so it becomes us to fulfill all justice,” Christ told St. John...
THAT gospel episode about a leper who asked Christ for healing and was immediately healed (cfr. Lk 5,12-16) can tell us many good lessons. One is that it shows Christ’s power over any disease and his willingness to touch and heal those considered outcasts of...