WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Today, ASCENSION Sunday, we commemorate the end of the Lord's public ministry in this world. “Mission accomplished,” Jesus would say. It does not mean that he is no longer with us or went into “retirement.” The evangelist Matthew writes Jesus’ declaration:...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Today is Mother’s Day. This recalls the story of a rescue operation in the sea. Ten men and one woman were clinging to a rope, hanging from a helicopter. They were overloaded. One person had to let go or they would all fall down and drown. Looking at each other,...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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."...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In today’s gospel, we read about one of the appearances of the Risen Lord to two disciples. The manifestations served to confirm and bolster the sagging faith of his close followers. They had doubts and misgivings if he was really the expected Messiah. "Did he...
Word Alive FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In today’s Second Sunday of Easter, the apostle Thomas manifested a lack of trust of Jesus’ Resurrection. Because of this, the term "doubting Thomas" was coined to describe all doubters and skeptics. The skeptical apostle said, "Unless I see the scars of the...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In basketball, a player is hailed as a hero when he commits a few errors and makes points during crucial moments. He becomes a "darling of the crowd." But the next time, he is treated as a bum or villain when he fumbles, misses some baskets and does not score as...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD One morning, a husband who had a quarrel with his wife went to church to attend Mass. When he came home, he looked for his wife and, finding her in the kitchen, embraced and lifted her up. Startled, the wife yelled, “Why did you do that? Did the priest tell you to...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s a saying: “A face that only a mother can love.” But with God, He loves even faces that a mother cannot love. * * * According to a Jewish legend, when God was about to create man, he consulted the angels that stood about his throne. "Create him...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In most stories of the gospel, Jesus Christ is depicted as a gentle, kind, compassionate man. However, in one incident at the temple, the Lord is seen fuming mad (read Jn 2,13-22, gospel for this 3rd Sunday of Lent). * * * Making a kind of whip of cords, "he drove...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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,"...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Once a jeepney was passing in front of a leprosarium. Two patients, though cured already but still bore physical deformities, boarded. There was an uneasy silence as they moved to the front seat right beside the driver. * * * A few minutes later, the two asked to...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Once a distraught man knelt in front of a life-size crucifix and poured out his problems and sufferings. He was startled when the Lord suddenly spoke from the cross: “allright, stop crying now. I know how you feel. Let’s exchange places. I’ll carry all your...
