Encountering God
I REMEMBER the years that I spent in the minor seminary, particularly those times when I would walk around the grounds of the seminary on a stormy morning, singing psalms…
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Of wonder and awe
FR. RONALD Rolheiser, O.M.I. contends that there is an important distinction between “amazement” and “wonder and awe.” He says that wonder and awe stop the flow of energy passing through…
Becoming all flame!
“BY and large the world is a good place,” claims Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, author of Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity. “But among all those…
On being patient with ourselves
“BUT though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people,…
The world as my tabernacle
REMEMBERING Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, “An Altar in World,” I caught myself saying to a friend as we were driving along California coast that the world is my “tabernacle.” By…
United, Nourished and Cared in the Eucharist
THESE past weeks have been anxious times for me as I prepare to finish my term of 12 years as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. There are times…
On mending our ways to live in peace
THE words of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 would always relevant to us: “Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live…
Where nothing fades away
FR. ANDREW Chung’s words during his First Mass as a newly-ordained priest still ring in my ears: “New vestments, new chalice, newly ordained priest…These are all things that will fade…
Prayer, as a way of witnessing
WHEN I see people praying ardently in church, I would remember Edith Stein (also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) — a German Jewish philosopher, who converted to…
When doing good hurts
THE advice of St. Peter to new converts to Christianity in the Second Reading this Sunday, 1 Peter 3:15-18, resonate with many us: “For it is better to suffer for doing…
On emboldening our children
“LIFE can be messy,” I told my friend the other day as we were talking about the problems and challenges of people in families, parishes, and other communities. “It’s definitely…
Musing in Valyermo
WHILE enjoying a quiet dinner with the monks of St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California during my day-off last Thursday, Fr. Francis, the former abbot, was on the microphone reading…
A reflection on training of future priests
YES, it ‘s official. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez has appointed me as a Member of St. John’s Seminary Faculty beginning the 1st of July this year. As I pray and…
The Eucharist, the priesthood and Christ’s Divine Mercy and love
WE commemorated three principal mysteries in our liturgy last Holy Week during Holy Thursday Mass: the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood; and Christ’s commandment of fraternal…
The glory of the Cross: An Easter message
I ALWAYS remember what my spiritual mentor, Nim Gonzales, once said: “At times, the unpleasant things that we reject in our lives, such as our struggles, our pains or our…
A period waiting: A test of faith and hope
“ May we never lose patience and hope in any painful period of waiting. May God strengthen us in every dark moment of life!” IT’S been five weeks since Malaysia Airlines…
The God who touches and heals
THE Pope broke another protocol. Usually, he confesses to a priest in private, but two weeks ago, he surprised everyone at St. Peter’s Basilica. He bowed down before the congregation…
The drink from the bucket
IN challenging and difficult times, how can we maintain peace? What we can we do to keep our minds sane and our spirits high? “We’ll just have to keep hoping…
Enthralled by the beauty of our Catholic Christian faith
“ We can’t always stay up in the mountain, we’ve got to come down from the mountain where our people are. We’ve got to feed the hungry, cloth the naked,…
No worries!
“DO not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself.” These words of Jesus are wise and unburdening but they’re challenging. It’s because for many of us, it’s not…
Ascesis for Lent
ASCESIS is another term for self-discipline. It comes from the Greek word, askesis, which literally means exercise. During this Lenten season, God calls us to a period of ascesis. The term…
What it means to be distinctly holy
WHEN Jesus said in the Gospel that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, he meant it well. In fact, he wants this Law of Love…
To love when it seems impossible!
IN HIS homily on Valentine’s Day, Pope Francis reminded all that love is “not a mere emotion, a psycho-physical state…it is a relationship, a growing reality.” May I also say…
Light of the world, salt of the earth
A POOR man asked a priest, “Why am a poor? The priest answered, “Because you have not learned to give? “What can I give, I don’t have anything,” the poor…
On fidelity
IT’S not everyday that we have a strong faith and prayer life. It’s not all the time that we’re passionate about living or we’re happy with our selves. There are…
The wisdom of God
“VANITY of vanities. All things are vanities!” Some thinkers say that these words from the Book of Ecclesiastes are the harshest words of the Old Testament Bible and yet the…
On humility in human encounters
I STILL think fondly about my enjoyable trip to Guatemala and El Salvador. I think not so much about the places that I visited but the warm encounters that I…
A personal revelation from God
THE cool and refreshing wind of Naga caresses my face and reminds me of my youthful days in the minor seminary. I remember those days vividly, particularly those times when…
On prudence
ONE of my great mentors in the seminary taught me and my peers not only to be holy but also to be prudent, not in the sense of acquiring a…
God and the human race
HAVE you been in a place with people from around the world? If so, you must have found it to be an amazing experience. You must have realized the capacity…