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 A man wanted to know what profession his four kids would pursue. So in a small room, on a table, he placed a stethoscope, a book on civil law and a Bible. He then called his kids one after the other and made them pick what they wanted. One took the stethoscope....
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...
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Bishop Moore tells the story of a little boy who was swimming one day in a lake when suddenly he suffered cramps in the legs and could swim no farther. The boy struggled for his life. He had gone under twice, when he felt the strong arm of a man lifting him. The man had seen...
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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...
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 A patient, who was being wheeled into the operating room, pleaded with the young doctor: “Doc, ple…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:...
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,"...
