WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In the gospel of this 16th Sunday, we can discern two forms of spirituality as symbolized by the two sisters Martha and Mary. The busybody Martha symbolizes action or work, while Mary represents contemplation or prayer. * * * According to the gospel, Martha is so...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A woman was badly injured in an accident. A man came to the scene but had difficulty getting answers to his questions about her condition. As the Good Samaritan helped her as best as he could, he called up an ambulance on his cell phone, saying, “A woman has been...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD The gospel message of this 13th Sunday is about the failure of the three men who offered to become disciples but could not let go of their attachments. The first man could not follow the Lord due to the ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. Jesus said that discipleship or following...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ or CORPUS CHRISTI, a Latin term which means literally “Body of Christ.” One might ask, "Why does the Church put so much importance on the Eucharist or the Mass? Why not try other kinds of worship...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Once a pious woman who was bringing a bunch of novena-booklets to church met the parish priest. He asked, “Who is your favorite saint?” “Of course, I like the Blessed Virgin Mary best! But I also like her sister!” “Her sister? Who is she?” asked the...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Once an archbishop was discussing Christianity with a learned Japanese writer. The writer told the archbishop, "I can understand God the Father and God the Son, but I can never understand the significance of the ‘Honorable Bird’ (Holy Spirit)." * * * Today is...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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 to freedom. * * * The...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Tomorrow is national and local election all over the country. As good Christians and other religious denominations, let’s pray fervently to God but we should also vote wisely for the right candidates, especially presidential aspirants. Let’s not vote for...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There was a “fake news” that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead because the grave was borrowed. The wealthy owner, Joseph of Arimathea, was getting it back allegedly since he needed it. That’s not true, of course. Jesus wanted to prove what he predicted and...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD An SVD missionary in one of the Pacific Islands related how surprised he was one day to be visited in his parish by a woman carrying a handful of sand. “Do you know what this is?” she asked. “It looks like sand," replied the missionary. “What does this all...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD What's the meaning of life? Is it meant to be nothing but a vain struggle for a modicum of joy and satisfaction terminated by death? In the words of St. Paul, are we here in this world to "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die"? * * * Jesus, by his...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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 bum or villain when he fumbles, misses some baskets, and does not score as...
