WORD ALIVE Once a distraught man knelt in front of a life-size crucifix and poured out his many problems and sufferings. He was startled when the Lord suddenly spoke from the cross: “Alright, stop crying now. I know how you feel. Let’s exchange places. I’ll carry all...
WORD ALIVE 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 or what he is...
WORD ALIVE Tomorrow is the feast of the Sto. Niño in the Philippines. It is immensely popular among Filipinos. Rich and poor, young and old alike maintain a strong, if not fanatical, devotion to the Holy Child. * * * On the feast, big and mini statues are dressed endearingly in...
WORD ALIVE Some years ago I celebrated the culminating mass of a two-day Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) of the Loved Flock charismatic community at the DPWH chapel, Port Area, Manila. It was participated in by a cross section of teenagers and elders, the masa and government office personnel, many...
WORD ALIVE Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of the Magi or Epiphany. It is called Epiphany from the Greek term “epiphanein” which means to “manifest” because Jesus revealed himself not only to the Jews, the chosen people, but also to pagan visitors. * * * The gospel writer...
WORD ALIVE Once I solemnized the wedding of a friend. After that we didn't see each other for some time. When I met the couple, I asked: "How's your marriage going?" The husband said: “Father, I've found that there are three rings in marriage.” "That's new to me,” I replied....
WORD ALIVE On the eve of the graduation of a senior high school class, a dedicated and unassuming teacher was invited to a class farewell party. In her inspirational talk, the teacher said, “Someday you will all be successful in life. But remember, a peso is not a peso without one centavo. I am...
WORD ALIVE Gaudete, which means “rejoice,” “be joyful,” is the message of this 3rd Sunday of Advent. That’s why the liturgical color for this Sunday is not violet but pink. The Sunday tells us to be “joyful in hope” because Christ the Messiah has already redeemed us. However,...
WORD ALIVE A soldier and his wife were preparing for the baptismal party of their baby girl when the chaplain arrived for the Baptism. Taking the father aside, the priest asked, “Are you prepared spiritually for this religious event?” “Well, I don’t know, Father,”...
WORD ALIVE Somebody once said, “There are two things we cannot escape in this life — paying taxes and dying.” The first is certainly not true because we know too well that there are tax evaders. But with death, that’s a hundred-percent certainty. And, most often, we do not know when it...
WORD ALIVE Tomorrow is the feast of Christ the King. When Jesus was crucified, a wooden sign (caratola) was nailed over his head with the inscription INRI, which in Latin means “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum”; in English, “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.” * * * Is Christ really a...
Word Alive When I studied at the SVD theological seminary in Tagaytay, we had an exceptionally bright seminarian. In class when the professor was lecturing, he would make sketches on his notebook, seemingly unmindful of what the mentor was saying. When examinations came, he would get a perfect or...
