WORD ALIVE The 34th Sunday is the feast of Christ the King. When Jesus was crucified, a crude, wooden sign (caratola) was nailed over his head with the inscription INRI, which in Latin means “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum.” In English, “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.” Is Christ really...
WORD ALIVE In this Sunday gospel, Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters – ‘God and mammon’ that is, wealth as an evil influence.” (Lk 16,13). It is because in practical life, money is important. A witty guy once said: “Peo-ple say, ‘Money is the root of all evils,’ but they...
WORD ALIVE The gospel message this Sunday recalls the Lord choosing his twelve apostles. He says, “The harvest is great but the laborers are few.” Someone confided to his friend that there will always be “few laborers” if the Catholic Church does not abolish it’s rule of celibacy. To...
WORD ALIVE Once a pious woman who was bringing a bunch of novena-booklets to church met the parish priest. He asked, “Who is your favorite saint?” “Of course, I like the Blessed Virgin Mary best! But I also like her sister!” “Her sister? Who is she?” “Of...
WORD ALIVE There was a “fake news” that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead because the grave was borrowed. The wealthy owner, Joseph of Arimathea, was getting it back allegedly since he needed it. That’s not true. Jesus wanted to prove what he predicted and promised that he would rise on...
WORD ALIVE It's been related that while Father (later Bishop) Fulton Sheen was giving a public lecture, explaining Jonah and his mission, a heckler from the audience harrased him to the point of being disrespectful. The young fellow expressed cynical doubt whether God could make Jonah live...
WORD ALIVE Christ’s rising from death is the Father’s seal of approval on his life and work. As St. Paul puts it, “If Christ has not risen, in vain is our preaching and your believing in it” (Read 1 Cor 15,13). In other words, faith in God, our prayers, our striving to do good would all be...
WORD ALIVE Palm Sunday is called “Domingo de Ramos” or Mahal na Araw. It’s the start of Holy Week, in local parlance, “Mahal na Araw.” “Mahal” does not mean nag-mahal ang halaga ng gasolina at mga bilihin. (‘Mahal’ does not mean the price of gasoline and commodities rose...
WORD ALIVE During the days of the Civil War in America, a guard was caught sleeping on duty. For that, he was sentenced to death. When Pres. Abraham Lincoln heard about it, he himself talked with the guard and ordered the penalty be commuted. His generals complained, but the president’s decision...
WORD ALIVE When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 causing great devastation to Zambales and Pampanga provinces, many deemed it as God’s wrath over two “cities of sin” located within those provinces. The Mt. Pinatubo tragedy may be compared to the ones mentioned in the gospel of this 3rd...
WORD ALIVE A patient, who was being wheeled into the operating room, pleaded with the young doctor: “Doc, please be gentle with me; this…this is my first time to be operated on!” The surgeon, who also looked nervous, glanced at her and blurted out: “Do…don’t worry, madam, this…this is...
WORD ALIVE There's an amusing story about 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...
