The term refugee has become common in today’s world given the recent exponential rate of migration and refugee crisis in many parts of the world, especially in Europe and America. Significant with refugees or asylum seekers is that they are fleeing from a life-threatening or an unfriendly situation in their…
When Jesus rebuked his disciples for their inability to heal the little child, he emphasized that their lack of faith makes it impossible for them to succeed in that act of healing. This is because he has been with them enough for them to learn from him if they had…
We perhaps remember this ancient hymn: Yes, Heaven is the prize! When sorrows press around, Look up beyond the skies Where hope and strength are found. Ref. Tis Heaven!—’tis Heaven!—yes, Heaven is the prize! The feast of transfiguration reminds us of the amazing glory that awaits us. After the painful…
It is a real pleasure to comment on the Scripture passage which is dearest to my heart. Sometimes you Catholics from birth must wonder if the passages you use to support Catholic teaching are really convincing, or if you like them because they support positions you already hold. I am…
Today’s Gospel is the story of the mother with a demon-tormented daughter. She’s not Jewish, so was not part of the target audience of conversion to the new religion soon to be called Christianity. However, she gets the miracle she needs from Jesus. The theme of today’s reflection will be…
In the 1979 movie, Being There, Peter Sellers plays Chance the Gardener. Chance has spent his life living and working in the estate of a wealthy old man. Located in the center of power of the free world, Washington D.C. Chance’s only education is what he has seen on TV.…
The past two Sundays, we have been reading and listening to the gospel of St. John. Particularly the sixth chapter, wherein is found the “Bread of Life” discourse. My guess is the Church arranged the Eucharistic themes to be read for a while at a time to refocus her members…
The seed of faith grows and deepens, and the Eucharist is the best food for such faith-deepening. This religious truth is the focus of today’s reflection. After the miracle of the feeding of five thousand (Jn 6:1-15, 24-35), the Lord Jesus Christ leaves the western shore of the sea of…
Some people are born with dancing feet. I am not. I can sing a tune, but I am not good at swaying to a rhythm. When I sang fast songs in a karaoke gathering with friends, they were like punishments for me. My friends call me the “Singing Priest,” but…
Faith in the Old Testament One of my favorite Biblical verses is found in Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the realization of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” The remainder of the chapter goes on to offer examples of people of faith from the Old Testament such as…