WORD ALIVE 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!” Taken aback, the priest said, “Her sister? Who is she?” “Of...
WORD ALIVE 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 the feast of the...
WORD ALIVE Today, Ascension Sunday, we commemorate the end of the Lord's public ministry in this world. “Mission accomplished,” Jesus would say. It does not mean that he is no longer with us or went into “retirement.” The evangelist Matthew writes Jesus’ declaration: "I am with you always...
WORD ALIVE There’s a poignant story told when a destructive earthquake hit Turkey in December 1988. After the earthquake, rescue teams worked frantically, hoping that some people buried under the rubbles might still be alive. Eight days after the killer quake, miraculously a woman was found...
WORD ALIVE A distraught man approaches a priest and asks: “Please bless me, Father, because my son is a drug user, my daughter an unwed mother, and my wife a gambler. The priest, getting tired listening to his problems, says: “Isn’t there anything positive in your life? The man pauses for a...
WORD ALIVE A reader, Ronald Ricamata, e-mailed me during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “In this difficult time, our priests, nuns and seminarians are also frontliners. “Our spiritual frontliners fight against unseen enemy. They must be acknowledged and appreciated, too.” * * * I agree...
WORD ALIVE A priest came out to say Mass with his face plastered with band aids. “I’m sorry I look like this,” the priest said as he started his homily. “This morning as I was shaving and thinking of what to say in my homily, I cut my face.” After the Mass, while he was going over the...
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...
