THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. As in previous years, people flocked to churches in great numbers last Ash Wednesday, despite the fact that it was not a holy day of obligation. The atmosphere in churches was almost sepulchral as the priests sprinkled ashes on our heads while he told...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. Last week, a friend told me: "I don't know what's happening to me. I’m constantly stressed and always tempted to be angry. Before the pandemic, I knew exactly who I was. But now, I'm turning into someone I don't want to be." When I told him I...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. The gospel reading today narrates that when Jesus called His first apostles, they left everything to follow Him. Discipleship seems very easy, like a walk in the park, but is it? Responding to God's call always entails suffering. And perhaps, the...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. First the good news: According to a study released by the Pew Research Center in America, there are more people attending Masses online than those who surf for sites devoted to gambling, banking, and trading in the stock market. This indicates that many...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. The word ALMOST is an incredibly sad word. It usually denotes a crushing sense of failure, disappointment, and regret. I once watched a race where the fastest runner was clearly ahead of his competitors. But as he approached the finish line, he slowed...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. Do you know that the constant flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a powerful typhoon elsewhere? According to chaos theory, seemingly insignificant and random happenings can have earthshaking effects. If the theory is correct, then even our...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. In ancient times, when a porcelain vase was broken, dishonest vendors would put the broken pieces together and applied wax ( cera in Latin) to cover the cracks. A vendor who had not resorted to deception to sell a broken piece would describe his product...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. It's a bit absurd that people who seldom think about God suddenly remember Him when tragedy strikes. Often, they think of God because they need someone to blame. They say: "You could have prevented this, but You did not. If You don't help me now, I will...
FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, O.P. THROUGH UNTRUE Many reacted negatively at the absolute pardon granted by the President to Joseph Scott Pemberton who brutally killed Jennifer Laude six years ago. Some high-ranking government officials hailed the President's action as "a personal act of forgiveness...
FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, O.P. THROUGH UNTRUE A survey of 2,000 parents, conducted a few years ago and published by the Daily Mail Reporter , showed that one in every four parents openly avoided disciplining their children because they wanted to be seen more like a friend than a parent. Very few of...
THROUGH UNTRUE FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, O.P. In the past, the term for chronologically old people was "matanda " or "gurang," Today, they are commonly known as "senior citizens" or "tanders." People in this stage of life are often thought of as suffering from biological deterioration and senility,...
THROUGH UNTRUE FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, O.P. In our lifetime, we get to know hundreds of people. But how many of them really mean something to us? In today's gospel reading, Jesus asks His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?' The question is not meant to test their knowledge about Him. He wants...
