YES, just as there is the universal call to holiness, there is also the universal call to the apostolate. This is what is to be an authentic Christian. No one can be a true Christian if he fails to pursue this dual goal of holiness and apostolate. In a way, we
September 21, 2023
THAT, in effect, was what Christ told some people of his time. In spite of what Christ taught and did, they refused to believe him. “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep,” he said. “For John the Baptist
September 20, 2023
THAT’S what happens when we show compassion to anyone in need. We channel God’s love to others. We become more and more like God. We act out our being a person who by definition is meant to relate us with others. By being compassionate, we avoid getting trapped in our own
September 19, 2023
INDEED! That gospel episode where a centurion begged Christ to cure his dying slave (cfr. Lk 7,1-10) simply shows us that with a strong faith like that of the centurion, miracles can happen. “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof,” was
September 18, 2023
MANY reasons can come to mind to answer that question. One is that Christ himself said so. When asked by Peter how many times one should forgive, he stretched to practically infinite times the suggestion of Peter of 7 times to 70 times 7. On another occasion, Christ also said that
September 16, 2023
SEPTEMBER 15 celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, a most relevant memorial that tells us that the best way to handle our unavoidable sorrows in this life is to go to Mary. She is not only the best teacher of how to handle our sorrows but also the best
September 15, 2023
THE quick answer to that question is because the cross, that is, Christ’s cross, constitutes the supreme act of love Christ has for us. And if we love Christ as we should, and he clearly said that we have to love one another as he has loved us, then we should
September 14, 2023
ONE of the most intriguing teachings of Christ are the Beatitudes. (cfr. Lk 6,20-26) They make us wonder why it is blessed to go through all kinds of suffering here on earth—to be poor, hungry, persecuted, etc. The answer, of course, is that the Beatitudes clearly tell us what to expect
September 13, 2023
INDEED, everyone has a vocation! The idea of a vocation is not meant only for a few who may feel that they are called to the priesthood or to a consecrated religious life. It is not meant for those who may be generally regarded as inclined to do some missionary work.
September 12, 2023
IN the gospel, many instances are recorded where some leading Jews would make many rash judgments on Christ and his disciples. One such instance was when Christ cured a man with a withered hand. (cfr. Lk 6,6-11) These leading Jews were quick to observe if Christ would heal that man on
September 11, 2023
CHRIST describes for us what true fraternity among ourselves should be. It’s in that gospel episode were Christ told his disciples what they should do when one of them would sin against another. (cfr. Mt 18,15-20) “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and
September 9, 2023
ON the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8, we are reminded of the unique place Mary occupies in the history of human salvation. The entire household of God in heaven definitely rejoices at her birth. She carried out the highest mission ever entrusted to
September 8, 2023
