THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. My friend, Peter, who is barely 40 years old, cheerful and happily married, was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He does not smoke or drink and has a healthy lifestyle. He is a conscientious and law-abiding man, a good husband, and above all, a...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. In our gospel reading today, Mary sits idly listening to Jesus while her sister Martha is doing all the work. Martha complains: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40). The answer...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. received exuberant applause while delivering his inaugural address. I myself was moved by his sincerity and firm resolve. He seems poised to realize our dream of a better and brighter Philippines during his incumbency. He...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. In today's gospel reading, a young man enthusiastically volunteered to be a follower of Jesus, but he received this reply: “Foxes have dens, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Mt. 8:20). What Jesus...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. Today, 50 days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the solemn feast of Pentecost, traditionally considered the birthday of the Church. One of the enduring qualities of the Church is holiness, precisely because of the presence and activity of the Holy...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. In the past, whenever I read today's gospel reading, I used to focus on these words: "I give you a new commandment, love one another" (John 13:34). Today, I put more emphasis on the succeeding words: "As I have loved you." These words indicate HOW we...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. According to Chaos theory, what we consider ordinary, insignificant happenings can have far-reaching influence on subsequent events. A metaphor for this is the "butterfly effect." A butterfly flapping its wings can trigger a powerful typhoon elsewhere....
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. It is a common saying that truth is stranger than fiction. But today, fiction is stronger than truth. Just look at the impact of surveys on our choice of leaders. It is a case of numerical "might is right." Survey firms legitimize their findings by...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. In 1961, Fr. Jorge Bergoglio went to visit Fr. Enrico Pozzoli, an elderly priest who was confined in the hospital. Fr. Enrico was the one who baptized Fr. Jorge, and later became his long-time friend, benefactor, and spiritual director. When Fr. Jorge...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. Every Easter Sunday, I feel revitalized, renewed and, above all, forgiven. I feel like a prisoner who is granted unconditional pardon, a debtor whose debts are written off, a wayward child forgiven by a loving father. No questions asked, just a joyful...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. I like to think of Holy Week as Family Healing Week. It is the most opportune time to beg God to heal our families. Many people think that healing applies only to the hurt, sickness, or wounds of an individual. But families, like individuals, also need...
THROUGH UNTRUE Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P. On this day, I and four fellow Dominicans celebrate our 40th anniversary as priests. Every time I reach an important milestone in my life, people ask me: “What have you done so far?” or "What have you achieved after all these years? I think the more...
