By Fr. Roy Cimagala THE Memorial of St. Francis Assisi (October 4) reminds us of the strategic role of poverty and detachment from earthly good in pursuing true Christian charity. And the gospel of that day reinforces this crucial theme in Christian life. It’s about the rich young man who wanted to know from Christ
October 4, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THERE is no doubt that we need to revisit the true nature and purpose of marriage, since this basic human and Christian institution is now besieged with so many misconceptions and malpractices. What the gospel once narrated about some leading Jews asking and testing Christ whether divorce was lawful (cfr. Mt
October 2, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala WE have to be wary of the conditions nowadays that would tend to desensitize us from our constant need for penance and conversion. This, I believe, is the message Christ wanted to impart to us when he said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds
October 1, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) Talamban, Cebu City Email: roycimagala@gmail.com CHRIST’S redemptive mission is very much an ongoing affair, and he involves all of us actually in this business. Those words that he addressed to his apostles, giving them their mission, can be considered as addressed to us
September 30, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala ON the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29), we are presented with that amusing gospel episode about the calling of Nathanael. (cfr. Jn 1,47-51) We might be wondering how Nathanael’s vocation is related to the existence of angels. My personal take on this question is that Nathanael,
September 29, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala YES, we have to be most careful with our tendency to fall into bitter zeal. It’s that zeal that was rebuked by Christ in that gospel episode where his disciples suggested that fire rains on those who did not welcome them while they entered a Samaritan village. (cfr. Lk 9,51-56) While
September 28, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THE gospel of St. Luke 9,46-50, shows us how being childlike in spirit would enable us to accept Christ as he is as well as to accept everybody else irrespective of how they are. It’s a great lesson we have to learn if we want to be truly Christian. In that
September 27, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala “Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mk 9,40) With these words, Christ told his apostles, and is telling us now, that we should have a universal regard for everyone, irrespective of the unavoidable differences and conflicts we can have among ourselves. Especially when these differences and conflicts are just
September 25, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THE secret, of course, of having our death as a way to our resurrection is to die with Christ. Only with him can our resurrection, our victory over sin and death, take place after our death. St. Paul encapsulated this most wonderful truth of our faith when he said, “For if
September 24, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THAT gospel episode where Herod the tetrarch was perplexed about Christ and was more disturbed than simply curious about him, (cfr. Lk 9,7-9) reminds us that if we are to be like Christ, we should be ready to be misunderstood and even hated. Like Christ, we can be a sign of
September 23, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THERE is no doubt we are all meant to be apostles of Christ, to be his ambassadors. That’s simply because we are meant to be like Christ, to be ‘another Christ,’ and so we share also in his redemptive mission which is a continuing affair as long as we are still
September 22, 2021
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THAT’S true! God can call us in a surprise. But that’s not because of God who wants to surprise us. Rather, it is because of us. To be sure, everyone is called by God because we are supposed to be like him and to be with him, sharing in his life
September 21, 2021