THROUGH UNTRUE During Holy Week, we meditate on the life story of Jesus, which some may call "A Biography of a Failure." It seems that Jesus was born to suffer and fail. Unreceptive and unbelieving crowds ignored His claims as the messiah. Those who listened to Him and benefited from His miracles...
THROUGH UNTRUE Since 1982, there have been at least 38 recorded cases of people coming back to life after being pronounced dead. This strange phenomenon is known as “Lazarus syndrome,” which refers to the spontaneous return of normal cardiac activity after multiple failed attempts to...
THROUGH UNTRUE Atherosclerosis is a grave health problem that causes at least 30 percent of all deaths worldwide. Physicians describe it as the hardening of the arteries. Its counterpart in the moral realm is prejudice — the hardening of our categories. We usually classify people based on...
THROUGH UNTRUE When two or more events occur simultaneously, seemingly by chance and for no particular reason, we call it a coincidence. For instance, when you are about to call a friend and he suddenly calls you, this unexpected convergence of events can be a coincidence. Our gospel reading today...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP We have all experienced having enemies. On social media, these can be people whom we have unfollowed, unfriended, blocked, or canceled. We avoid and ignore them, or pretend they do not exist. However, denying their existence does not take away the...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Valentine's Day is two days from now. For sure, traffic will be horrible on all streets leading to Dangwa Flower Market. Many people consider flowers as one of the most romantic symbols of love. But flowers easily droop, fade, and wilt, so the love that...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP In today's Gospel reading, Jesus compares Christians to salt and light, two basic necessities that have become expensive these days, like onions, rice, gasoline, and sugar. Perhaps Jesus uses these metaphors because, just as salt and light have become...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Today’s gospel reading is about the “Beatitudes,” or Jesus's guidelines for a happy life (Mark 5:1-12). At first glance, what Jesus says appears difficult to grasp because we have become accustomed to seeing influencers, celebrities, politicians,...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Unknown to many, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin had a younger brother who was his constant companion, confidant, and personal physician. He was Dr. Ramon L. Sin, who shied away from the limelight, preferring not to bask in his brother's popularity. He died...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Every newborn child is a proof that God has not yet despaired from creating new human beings. The Feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) reminds us that every child is a blessing. Sadly, for many people, a child is a curse, a threat to their security and...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Life is often described as a journey from the womb to the tomb, or as others put it, “from conception to resurrection.” Most people make this journey like tourists. They visit interesting places, enjoy transitory joys and pleasures, realize short-term...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP Many of us turn mad on New Year's Eve. We abandon our common sense and put our trust in astrologers, psychic gurus, and Feng Shui experts who pompously lecture on success and failure, life and death, and love and war. Blindly following their advice, we...
