Tuesday, 2nd Week of Easter                         An Arab prince once owned a beautiful horse – a horse that was the envy of all. One man in particular tried to buy the horse, but the prince refused to set a price.             One day the prince was riding across the desert. He saw the body of … Continue reading CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Monday, 2nd Week of Easter                         We heard in today’s gospel reading Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus tells the Israelite elder: “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” According to Bishop Robert Barron, Jesus is speaking with great directness here about metanoia. What is this metanoia required to … Continue reading BORN FROM ABOVE

2nd Sunday of Easter                       Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Let me share a remarkable story about Divine Mercy…             There was a successful real estate salesman with a yacht, Ferrari and a house near the ocean. But his inner emptiness led him to a cocaine addiction. On account of it he lost his job, … Continue reading DIVINE MERCY

2nd Sunday of Easter                       The term ‘lockdown’ has become part of our daily conversation. Also the terms connected or synonymous to it: like quarantine, isolation, solitary, holding cell. Of course, those terms are not only in common parlance now; rather, being locked down has become a sad reality of our lives.             Same time … Continue reading SHALOM! PEACE BE WITH YOU!

2nd Sunday of Easter                       An old man, a war veteran, showed me his scars from the gunshot wounds he had taken during World War II. He was very proud in telling me, “These are wounds of love for my country.”             When the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples, one of the first things … Continue reading WOUNDED AND RISEN COMMUNITY

Saturday within the Octave of Easter                          Nitong mga nakaraang araw, ang mga pagbasa mula sa Ebanghelyo ay tumatalakay sa iba’t ibang pagpapakita o appearances ng Panginoong muling nabuhay sa kanyang mga alagad. Tulad ng nabanggit ko sa isang homily ko noong nakaraang Lunes, sa tuwing magpapakita ang Panginoong muling nabuhay, inuutusan niya ang sinumang … Continue reading PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

Friday within the Octave of Easter              Today’s gospel reading gives us another important resurrection appearance of the risen Christ. The disciples return to their former work – fishing. Most of them are fishermen by profession. Then Jesus, a carpenter, directs them, from the shore, to cast their net over the right side of the … Continue reading THE MEANS TO DO IT

Thursday within the Octave of Easter                         “You are witnesses of these things.”             The risen Christ wants his followers to be his witnesses. He wants them – he wants us – to be witnesses of his truth… of his self-giving love… of his death and resurrection… of his mercy and forgiveness… of his peace … Continue reading YOU ARE WITNESSES

Wednesday within the Octave of Easter                     The two disciples, in today’s gospel story, left Jerusalem – disappointed and frustrated. For these two disciples, Jerusalem is not only the physical place; but, more importantly, it stands for the root and center of their faith. It was in Jerusalem that they came to know Jesus Christ. … Continue reading TELLING OUR STORY

Tuesday within the Octave of Easter                           In confusion and grief, Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside Jesus’ tomb. This Rabbi who had loved her as no one had loved her was gone. Not only was he dead, his body was missing – apparently stolen away. Jesus so touched her heart when he was alive that … Continue reading PERSONAL ENCOUNTER