Have you ever betrayed God? After high school, I moved to Manila from the province to study in one of the universities. There was a feeling of independence because, for the first time, I was going to live away from my family. However, that period of new found freedom was also a period when I […]
Today, we commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, a reminder for us on how his fellow Israelites welcomed Jesus. As we celebrate Palm Sunday today amidst the quarantine, we will be preparing palm branches to be blessed in a quite extraordinary way. But what do these palm branches mean? They are prominent symbols […]
When I was five years old, my cousin had a new toy car. As his playmate, I envied him because he had a fresh and amusing toy car and I really wanted to have the same. However, my parents could not afford it. So the next day, because I was so envious, I took his […]
It is indeed difficult when one stands for the truth. This is what happened to Jesus when people were trying to pin him down because of the accusation that he was desecrating the holiness of God. But Jesus was on the side of truth and truth will always be truth. Hence, Jesus was confident in […]
It is not just a one-time decision to follow Christ and live out this vocation to the priesthood. It has been three years since I entered the seminary and I realize that the formation ushers me to make daily a decision to follow Him and live out His call. As a priest-in-process, I profess a […]
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus said: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” I was struck by these words of Jesus and it made me remember the time when I started to know Jesus more deeply. It […]
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM.” Perhaps, the invitation for me is to look upon the crucified-risen Christ and believe that I will also be lifted up along with Him both in suffering and in glory. God is mysteriously at work […]
The Gospel for today reminds me of the instances in my life that made me reflect on my relationship with God. Even before entering the seminary, I have been addressing God in my prayers as Lord. I have this idea of God as a “police officer” who is your best friend and defender if you […]
I have no near-death experience, but I have dreamt of something in the past which made me realize how grateful I should be to the Lord for giving me life. Even before God called me to exist and be born, He has already written me in His palm. He shows me that my life is […]
The Gospel for today reminds me of the instances in my life that made me reflect on my relationship with God. Even before entering the seminary, I have been addressing God in my prayers as Lord. I have this idea of God as a “police officer” who is your best friend and defender if you […]