WORD ALIVE 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 mean?” “Well,...
WORD ALIVE In the vigil service of Holy Saturday tonight, Christians await the Lord as He comes forth from the tomb. The paschal candle symbolizes the Risen Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and death. This is dramatically enacted as the church, with all the lights switched off, is enveloped in...
WORD ALIVE There is a true story about a Russian general, the governor of a province in one of the former Soviet Republics. Concerned with the outbreak of a rash of petty crimes, he issued an edict that anyone caught and convicted would receive one hundred lashes. As fate would have it, the first...
WORD ALIVE “7 Last Words.” The SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. will telecast online over ABS-CBN (Kapamilya channel) the “7 Last Words” on Good Friday, March 29 at 12 noon-3 p.m. Join us at the Divine Word Shrine in Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Blvd. We would like to...
WORD ALIVE According to a Jewish legend, when God was about to create man, he consulted the angels that stood about his throne. “Create him not,” said the angel of Justice. “For he will commit all kinds of wickedness against his fellowman; he will be cruel and dishonest and...
WORD ALIVE In most stories of the gospel, Jesus Christ is depicted as a gentle, kind, compassionate man. However, in one incident at the temple, the Lord is seen fuming mad (Jn 2,13-22). Making a kind of whip of cords, "he drove sheep and oxen alike out of the temple area, and...
WORD ALIVE When I did a post-graduate study at the University of Leicester in England, there was a British lady personnel named Joan with whom I occasionally talked about religion. “I find it hard to believe there’s someone up there,” she said. “What I’ve gone through cannot make me...
WORD ALIVE There’s a young man who was constantly bedeviled by sensual thoughts. Feeling guilty, he consulted a priest-friend. “Don’t worry,” the priest assured him, “these thoughts popped out in our minds. They’re not sinful but only enticements. But the moment you start...
WORD ALIVE Five deacons of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) were ordained priests on Feb. 10, 2024 at the Divine Word Seminary Holy Spirit Chapel, Tagaytay City. The SVD ordinands of the Lumen Class 2024 are: Rev. Edbelwin Jiah Manda assigned in the Philippine North; Rev. Carlo Salidaga, Papua...
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....
