WORD ALIVE Once a young man went out hiking at a mountain ridge. Since it was getting dark, he slipped and down he rolled over the ridge. It meant sure death, but fortunately his hand grabbed the branch of a tree which stopped his fall. Hanging precariously with the branch about to give way, he...
WORD ALIVE Did you know that Jesus’ tomb was borrowed from a wealthy Jew named Joseph of Arimathea? And why did he have to rise on the third day? It’s because the grave was borrowed, and Jesus had to vacate it otherwise he would be evicted. Of course, that was not the real reason why the Lord...
WORD ALIVE In basketball, a player is hailed as a hero when he commits a few errors and makes points during crucial moments. He becomes a "darling of the crowd." But the next time, he is treated as a villain when he fumbles, misses some baskets and does not score as expected. * * * We can say a...
WORD ALIVE A group of friends wanted to know if there was basketball in heaven. They agreed that whoever died first should come back to inform them. Conrad died first. One night, Rodel heard something like the voice of Conrad. Rodel blurted out: “Are you the one, Conrad?” Conrad replied,...
WORD ALIVE A lady once approached a priest and confided, “I feel guilty, Father. This morning, before coming to Mass, I committed the sin of pride. I sat for an hour in front of my mirror admiring my beauty.” Will I have to do penance? The priest, looking at her, replied: “Not at all, my...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis Once I was trying to patch up the bitter quarrel between two teachers. Calling them one by one to my office, I tried to use my Dale-Carnegie-influence of burying their hatred and reminded them of Christ’s teaching of forgiveness. As I entreated and coaxed the first...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis Once a Jew was arguing with a Christian. “Your whole religion is based on ours,” the Jew said. “Why, you even took the 10 Commandments from us.” “We may have taken them,” said the Christian, “but you certainly can't say we've kept them.” Christ teaches...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis Fr. Joseph Dau Vu, SVD, was a Catholic chaplain of the Vietnamese boat-people refugees in Morong, Bataan. He related to me how he, together with 55 compatriots, slipped out of communist Saigon on an old, decrepit motorized boat and sailed out, not knowing where they...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis A man once bragged that he read the Bible from cover to cover several times. But someone remarked, “People who read the Bible from cover to cover, know only the cover.” * * * Just reading the Bible is not enough. What’s most important is to ponder God’s message...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis Three classmates in high school met in a class reunion. “In our town,” said the first, “people call me ‘Monsignor’ because I am a lay minister.” The second bragged: “Well, I’m a charismatic elder. I give spiritual talks so everybody calls me...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis This Sunday, the immensely popular feast of the Sto. Niño in the Philippines, is celebrated. Rich and poor, young and old alike maintain a strong, if not fanatical, devotion to the Holy Child. Colorful fiestas and processions are held in his honor. * * * In the gospel,...
WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Three Kings or Magi. Magi were wise men or enlightened astrologers. The feast is also called “Epiphany” (from the Greek word ‘epiphanein’) which means “manifestation” because the newborn Messiah showed himself to the...
