THIS was how Christ described the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees of his time. (cfr. Mt 23,23-26) This was a lamentation of Christ that can still be applicable nowadays. And that’s simply because we cannot deny that there is a great majority of people today all over...
WE are precisely reminded of these points in that gospel episode where Christ issued a series of “Woe to you’s” to some people of the time precisely for their hypocrisy and their very narrow, shallow and outright erroneous understanding of what is right and wrong...
For the past few months, I have been saving for a family vacation in one of the resorts in Samal Island. The vacation is meant as a surprise graduation gift for my youngest daughter, who graduated from college last June 28, 2024. Since she is...
(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the Parochial Fiesta of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, F. Torres St., Davao City, August 15, 2024.) What is the first lesson? That as we journey, as we...
“Filipino: Wikang Mapagpalaya”. Ito ang tema ng ating pagdiriwang ngayong taong 2024. Ipinapakita ng tema ang mahalagang papel ng ating sariling wika sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng ating buhay. Ito ay hindi lang ginagamit upang makipag-usap, ito ay isa ring instrumento ng kalayaan, pagbabago, at...
THAT is how we should be. Our life does not contend only with the things of nature. It has to contend with spiritual and supernatural realities that often are shrouded in so deep and thick mysteries that no matter how much we try, we can...
WE can come to that conclusion when we consider what Christ’s answer was when he was asked what the greatest commandment of God was. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This...
THAT gospel parable about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son (cfr. Mt 22,1-14) reminds us that we should be ready when God calls us to himself. In that parable, the king was frustrated because all those whom he invited refused to...
THIS is a common problem. To be blunt, it happens because one’s intentions are not pure. Rather they bear a lot of ulterior motives that only focus on one’s self-interest. We have to be wary of envy. And to protect ourselves from it, we need to...
WE have to be most aware of this basic truth about ourselves. We are all called by God, our Creator and Father, to be holy and to do apostolate for the simple reason that we have been created by God in his image and likeness....