THAT’S how we have to understand our duty to pursue personal sanctity without let-up. It will always involve the apostolic duty because sanctity is not only about one’s own holiness. It is also concerned about the holiness of everyone else. The word “personal” should not be understood as simply to be
July 23, 2025
THE very first lesson we can learn from the life of St. Mary Magdalene is that no matter how big and ugly our sins are, God’s grace or gift of mercy is always there, more powerful than whatever damage our sins can inflict on us. It validates what St. Paul once
July 22, 2025
A BEAUTIFUL psalm expresses that call. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (95,8) This was articulated as a warning against hardening one’s heart, using the example of the Israelites’ rebellion in the time of the Exodus. They grumbled and questioned God’s provision, despite his prior blessings. Because
July 21, 2025
THAT’S what we can get from the gospel story about the two sisters, Martha and Mary. (cfr. Lk 10,38-42) If love is pure, we would not show off the things we do, baiting for praises; we would not compare ourselves with others to see if we are better lovers; we would
July 19, 2025
THAT gospel episode where some Pharisees complained against Christ’s disciples who were plucking ears of corn on a Sabbath to appease their hunger (cfr. Mt 12,1-8) again brings out the issue of our human laws and how they have to be made, understood and applied. While they are indispensable in our
July 18, 2025
PERHAPS we can get an idea about that secret from what Christ himself said. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11, 29) It’s when we are meek and humble, like Christ, that we can find true rest, which is
July 17, 2025
WE need to be very clear about this point. We often contrast charity with truth, mercy with justice. And that’s because we consider these values and virtues more from our own point of view, based only on our experiences, observations, sciences, etc., that while giving us some elements of truth can
July 16, 2025
“THEN began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for they had not done penance. ‘Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done
July 15, 2025
IT’S, of course, intriguing that while Christ is known to often greet his disciples with peace, as in “Peace be with you” (cfr. Jn 20,19; Jn 20,21), he also said at one time: “Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth; I came not to send peace, but
July 14, 2025
THE obvious lesson we can immediately gather from the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10,25,37) is that we should have true empathy and compassion with everyone, irrespective of how those involved are, whether they are friendly or not, of our type or kind or not, likeable and lovable or not,
July 12, 2025
THAT’S how willing we should go in our apostolic tasks if we truly dedicate ourselves, as we should, to Christ’s continuing work of human redemption. We should not be afraid of anything, the effort, sacrifices and all sorts of contradictions that may be involved along the way. We should do all
July 11, 2025
THESE should be the abiding traits we ought to have in this life. Given the fact that we are just having a pilgrimage toward our eternal destination in this life, we should see to it that we don’t lose sight of the idealism meant for us as well as the realism
July 10, 2025