Where do our worries come from? Do they come from our fear of not being able to satisfy our legitimate needs? Do they come from worrying about our loved ones? After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, what he did reached even those in Jerusalem. “Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus... Read more
Sometimes, I wonder why many people today who don’t believe in Jesus seem to think that the faithful are less intelligent and logical than them. Is it because they have truly used the scientific or philosophical way of analyzing things and found out that it is very unlikely Jesus did exist? Or that He couldn’t be who He claimed to be? I couldn’t help but think that perhaps some of them have only lightly questioned the idea and quickly carried... Read more
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.” -Psalm 34:3-5 (NRSVCE) I think that at the last moments of our lives, the one thing we will struggle with is “shame.” After coming to realize the great love of God for us, and knowing how much Jesus has... Read more
There is a stereotype of Christianity that has been popularized by the secular culture today. It’s that kind of Christianity that limits your freedom and stifles you. All it does is stop you from doing the things that you love, the things that can make you happy. As a result, people form an image in their minds that Christianity is limiting. What could be more suffocating than having someone always telling you not to do this or that? In addition... Read more
Have you ever felt guilty whenever you encounter a beggar or a homeless person? What do you usually do? Some people may be so used to seeing beggars in the streets that they simply look away. For some, their hesitation to help comes from the idea that homeless people are usually drug addicts or alcoholics who would only use the money to buy harmful substances for themselves. Others say that since they already pay taxes, it is the government’s responsibility... Read more
Fear is a word that seems incompatible with faith. When you have faith, you focus on the One you trust. And when you trust Him, is there still room for fear? But faith and fear seems to exist at the same time for some Christians. And fear sometimes disguises itself as fervent faith. How can it be? How can the opposite thing exist underneath a virtue? Let us try to see what’s happening in the world today. In our world,... Read more
Have you ever experienced those days when you just wanted to hear Jesus talk? You may have felt so lonely that you just wanted to hear His voice. You just wanted to know if He were truly there and that He wasn’t just a myth or a fictional character you’ve read in books. You recall how He talked to the prophets and the saints. You read how He spoke to those He healed. And you wanted Him to heal you,... Read more
“To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe While a martyr is technically a saint who died for one’s faith, it can also refer to a person who suffers for a greater good. Are you a married person who suffers from so many challenges in your family life? Are you a religious beset... Read more
Why has there been such a steep decline in the number of religious sisters for the past 50 years? According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, there has been a 72% decline in the number of religious sisters in the United States for a period of 50 years since 1965. From a peak number of 181,421, the number of religious sisters dropped to only 49,883 in 2014. Meanwhile, projected data released by the United States Conference of... Read more
Sometimes, a good intention may not be enough when trying to evangelize people. You have to be prepared. And you have to be humble enough to recognize your weaknesses so you could do better the next time. Every person has a blind spot. And while we can all improve from the feedback of people around us, such may not always be the case. This is especially true if you are a well-respected priest or pastor. People may fear offending you... Read more
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