WORD ALIVE Once a student of a Catholic college was being initiated into a Catholic organization. He was asked: “What are the most important requirements of our Christian faith?” Without batting an eyelash, he replied, “Going to mass on Sunday and receiving Holy Communion.” Well, these are,...
WORD ALIVE Tomorrow is Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a day in the Catholic Church worldwide to focus attention on the religious vocations of priests, nuns and lay brothers, and to pray for more vocations. The need for priests and religious cannot be stressed enough. We need spiritual shepherds...
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 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 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....
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,”...
