7th Day within the Octave of the Nativity                   “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us…”             These are the famous words in John’s Gospel that refer to the Incarnation. One theologian wrote this about the Incarnation: “I searched for God in the heavens but found he had fallen to … Continue reading THE WORD BECAME FLESH

6th Day within the Octave of the Nativity                   Today’s gospel reading tells us something about the Prophetess Anna who “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer.” What did Anna expect to find as she prayed in the temple and fasted for the coming of the Messiah? Was she … Continue reading ANNA’S ENCOUNTER

5th Day within the Octave of the Nativity                   The Church has always portrayed the birth of Jesus as “the coming of the light” into the world. Christ is the light of the world and of our lives. As St. John says, “The darkness is over and the real light begins to shine.”             Simeon … Continue reading REVEALING LIGHT

Holy Innocents                Today’s feast of the Holy Innocents reminds us of the scourge of abortion and our call to protect innocent life. It is also a reminder of the many thousands of children caught every day in the violence of war and domestic disputes. It also reminds us of the children who are abused … Continue reading DEFENDING THE DEFENSELESS

Holy Family                     More than fifteen years ago, I facilitated a retreat in which, in one of the activities, I asked the participants to complete this sentence: I want my family to be ______________________________________. I asked for three answers from each of them.             The top three answers I got from that informal surveys are: … Continue reading HOLY FAMILY

Holy Family                     According to a study of more than 500 family counselors, the following are the top traits of successful families: communicating and listening attentively; affirming and supporting family members; respecting one another and developing a sense of trust; spending time with one another and sharing responsibility; knowing right from wrong and holding moral … Continue reading BIBLICAL FAMILY VALUES

Holy Family                     Many people (self-proclaimed experts) will tell you what makes a family bonded, healthy, well-adjusted, integrated, functional, and peaceful. What is interesting is that they hardly talk about what makes a family holy. Should not this be our primary concern as a Christian family?             Today’s Feast of the Holy Family invites us … Continue reading WHAT MAKES A FAMILY HOLY

St. Stephen                       Today’s gospel reading seems to spoil the mood of the Christmas season. For the past weeks, we have heard heartwarming music and read pleasant messages of Christmas cheer. We have had family reunions – celebrating our being God’s family. In contrast to that, the Lord here draws a terrifying picture; “Brother will … Continue reading PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS PEACE

Nativity of the Lord – Christmas Day                         “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”             Exactly three years ago, after reading this particular passage for the “nth time,” somehow it just struck me in a new and surprising way how personal and intimate God could get. It is not that … Continue reading GOD BECAME EVERYTHING TO ME

9th Day of Simbang Gabi               According to St. Thomas Aquinas, hope involves the confident expectation of a “bonum futurum arduum possible.” Translation: A good future, difficult to attain, but possible.             Zechariah’s canticle, which we have just heard in the gospel, is a song of hope. He sings of a new future of light … Continue reading A SONG OF HOPE