WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In a class on homiletics (preaching), the professor emphasized the importance of making the facial expression harmonize with the homily. “When you speak of heaven,” he said, “let your face light up with a heavenly gleam; let your eyes shine with glory. But...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Some years ago when I was assigned at the Divine Word College of Legazpi, Albay, I visited an elderly SVD confrere who was a director of our high school in Sorsogon. One afternoon we were invited to a sumptuous lunch. As we sat in one corner busy, doing justice to...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s a man who spends a good deal of time in front of the TV. Once as he was watching the PBA championship, he dozed off. His wife was surprised to find him the next morning sleeping before the TV set. She shook him and said, "Wake up...it's 20 to 7!" Startled,...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Tomorrow is the feast of Christ the King of the Universe. Is Christ really a king? Standing before Pontius Pilate, Christ did not deny it. But then he said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world"” (Jn 18,36). * * * In his book titled, His Word Resounds,...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A fired-up preacher was drawing out from his supply of imagery to describe the end of the world. “Thunder will boom," he fulminated. "Rivers will overflow. Flames will shoot down from heaven and the earth will quake violently. Darkness will fall over the...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A story is told about a good and devout Catholic barangay chairman who died and off he went to the next life. In the afterlife, one either goes to the top floor called “heaven” where the righteous get their reward of eternal bliss. Those who have venial sins go...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD The gospel message of this 20th Sunday is puzzling. In one part of the Scriptures, Jesus Christ promises peace: "I leave you peace, my peace I give to you." But in this Sunday gospel, he says, "I have come to bring not peace but division" (Lk 12,51). Is that not a...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s a story about a happy and close-knit family. One of their recreations is trying their luck in the lotto. The father would buy some tickets and give them to his children as well as their 85 years-old lolo (grandfather). One day the father bought some again....
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In today’s gospel, Jesus relates about the rich man who He said was a fool and selfish (Lk 12, 13-21). The rich farmer in the parable could be a landowner, growing rice in Nueva Ecija or corn or mango in Cebu. * * * An abundant harvest forces him to tear down his...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A small boy praying in church said loudly: “Lord, bigyan ako…cheeseburger, French fries, apple pie, strawberry shake, diet coke…” A priest, who was passing by, said: “Iho, nanalangin ka ba o nag-oorder sa Diyos?” (Son, are you praying or ordering God?)....
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In the gospel of this 16th Sunday, we can discern two forms of spirituality as symbolized by the two sisters Martha and Mary. The busybody Martha symbolizes action or work, while Mary represents contemplation or prayer. * * * According to the gospel, Martha is so...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A woman was badly injured in an accident. A man came to the scene but had difficulty getting answers to his questions about her condition. As the Good Samaritan helped her as best as he could, he called up an ambulance on his cell phone, saying, “A woman has been...
