THROUGH UNTRUE During the past few days, there has been a relentless flow of news about the hostile confrontation between Chinese and Philippine personnel in the South China Sea. Mainstream media and social networking sites describe China as "committing brazen acts of aggression, employing physical...
THROUGH UNTRUE In today’s Gospel reading, the relatives of Jesus see Him as someone who is “beside himself” (Mark 3:20-22). The phrase typically refers to a person who is acting crazy due to anger, fear, or any strong emotion that overwhelms him. For sure, St. Mark is not telling us that...
THROUGH UNTRUE Before his conversion to the Catholic faith, the famous writer C.S. Lewis imagined God as someone with a limitless appetite to be loved, served, and worshipped. The Bible seems to validate this idea, like the text: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...
THROUGH UNTRUE A few days ago, the House of Representatives approved, on the third and final reading, a bill legalizing absolute divorce in the country. Its proponent jubilantly declared that this “is a clear and resounding victory, signaling the imminent liberation of Filipino wives entombed in...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today’s gospel reading narrates: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19-20). Even as they heard...
THROUGH UNTRUE An integral part of the cosmic narrative of creation, fall, and redemption is the Ascension of Jesus, often regarded as the concluding chapter of His earthly ministry. However, rather than marking a closure, this event unveils fresh avenues for our involvement in Jesus's ongoing...
THROUGH UNTRUE A few years ago, a fellow Dominican suffered a stroke in our summer house in Baguio City. His two pet dogs, named Sasha and Vera, stood quietly near the doorway as he was taken to the hospital, where he eventually passed away. For many days, the two dogs stood by the door as if...
THROUGH UNTRUE A famous actress once declared that she stayed happily married to her husband for 50 years because they seldom see each other. She might have said that as a joke, but she made a good point. Togetherness nurtures love and intimacy, but it should not mean constant physical closeness....
THROUGH UNTRUE Today’s Gospel reading portrays Jesus as the good shepherd (John 10:11-13),and us, the sheep of His flock. However, to compare Christians to sheep seems like an insult. Contemporary usage of the word “sheep” often refers to persons who are gullible, dumb, easily fooled, and...
THROUGH UNTRUE Each family is a God-given treasure. But a treasure is only as good as the hands on which it rests. Today, we need hands that restore peace, not only to individuals, but to the family as a whole. Families need healing. When you toss a stone into a pool, the ripples continue...
THROUGH UNTRUE When fear grips us, we behave like those of Jesus’s apostles following His crucifixion. We read in today’s gospel reading: “When it was evening of the first day of the week, the disciples gathered together in a house, and they locked all doors for fear of the Jews” (John...
THROUGH UNTRUE We believe that with Jesus's resurrection, He triumphed over sin, death, and the devil. However, it appears that the devil has not entirely ceased to tempt us. He just adapted his tactics. Crafty as he is, the devil entices us to engage in seemingly harmless pursuits and...
