“IF any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Lk 9,23) Christ’s words may frighten us at first, but he is actually giving us the best deal we can ever have in this life. We...
IT’S Ash Wednesday once again. And with it, we begin the liturgical season of Lent, a serious time of preparation for the culmination of Christ’s redemptive mission through his passion, death and glorious resurrection. Thanks be to God, Ash Wednesday in our country always evokes a...
YES, we have such tendency, and so we have to be wary of it. We are reminded of this fact of life when after Christ told his apostles about his impending suffering, death and resurrection, the apostles were caught simply discussing about who the greatest...
“HIS disciples asked him in private, ‘Why could we not drive the spirit out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer.’” (Mk 9,28-29) This is the concluding part of that gospel episode where Christ was approached by the father of a...
“IF one strikes thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other: and if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him. And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with...
“WHOEVER wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mk 8,34) For sure, everytime we read these words, our Pavlovian reaction would be to be filled with dread. Who likes to deny himself, who likes to take up the...
WE need to appreciate better the unavoidable condition of our life here on earth that will always involve some suffering in one form or another, and eventually our death. If we would only adapt the mind and attitude of Christ toward human suffering and death,...
IT’S interesting to note that while most miracles performed by Christ had instant effects, there was at least one miracle that took time and stages before the final effect took place. This was when a blind man was brought to him, begging for a cure. (cfr....
“WATCH out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” (Mk 8,15) At first, the disciples of Christ thought Christ was referring to the fact that they only brought one loaf of bread. So, Christ had to clarify it to them until...
THE Pharisees argued with Christ asking him for a sign from heaven to test him. So, Christ got exasperated and said: “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left. (cfr....