4th Sunday in Ordinary Time                         In the fourth century, among the Desert Fathers one of the brothers desperately wanted to have a wife. All his companions in the community tried to persuade the young brother not to get married. Finally, the young brother did leave the monastery and get married.             Years passed, and … Continue reading BE FREE OF DISTRACTIONS

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time                         There was a movie, titled The Exorcist, back in the 1970s that caused quite a stir. (Perhaps some of you have watched it.) The movie is about a 12-year-old girl who is demon-possessed – displaying strange and aggressive behaviors, constantly swearing, and showing abnormal strength – which are early … Continue reading OUR NEED TO BE EXORCISED

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time                         Today’s gospel reading presents Jesus driving out what Mark calls “unclean spirit” – or, in other words, a demon. This is not the only exorcism Jesus will perform during his public life. The Gospels show him performing many such exorcisms. They were needed whenever an evil spirit took possession … Continue reading SPIRITUAL FAKERY

Saturday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time                          “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.”             This is how the Church Fathers and great mystics read this scene: “The sleeping Christ stands for the power and presence of God within the Church and within each of us.” “There is always a source of peace … Continue reading SLEEPING CHRIST

Friday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time              “…the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.”             The theme for today is clearly the kingdom of God and its coming among us. When we reflect on the world in which we live today, one of the basic facts that we must take into account … Continue reading BRINGING THE KINGDOM TO REALIZATION

Thursday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time                         “A lamp… placed on a lampstand.”             We are not to hide and we are not to be ashamed to manifest the goodness of God in our lives. This is the point of today’s gospel parable. As the metaphor explains, when we light a lamp, we place it … Continue reading GENEROUS OR MISER?

Wednesday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time                     Today’s gospel is commonly called the Parable of the Sower. But we can also call it the Parable of the Prodigal Sower. The first thing we are meant to notice in today’s parable is the peculiar, prodigal way by which the Sower sows. The Sower spreads his seeds … Continue reading THE PRODIGAL SOWER

Sts. Timothy and Titus                   We celebrate today the feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus. They were disciples of St. Paul. Both of them became bishops.             Basically, a bishop has two main roles: teaching authority and pastoral care. These he exercises in his service of the people. Timothy and Titus exercised this role and … Continue reading SHEPHERD

Conversion of St. Paul                    We celebrate today the Conversion of St. Paul. It was a great moment in the life of St. Paul and a great moment in the life of the Church. Alam naman natin kung ano o sino si Pablo bago ang kanyang pagbabagong-buhay. A persecutor of the Church became an Apostle; … Continue reading TOUCHED BY GRACE

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time                         Frederick Buechner, in one of his writings, talks about Christian vocation in these words: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” This is true to everyone called by the Lord to follow him.             Jesus, in today’s … Continue reading CHRISTIAN VOCATION