WORD ALIVE In today’s gospel, Jesus declares: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” When he talked of persecutions, he was referring to the persecutions his disciples had suffered at the hands of the Jews and the Romans in proclaiming his teachings. Today, the persecutions...
WORD ALIVE The old mentality wherein the laity were expected just to say "amen" and to "pray, pay and obey" has long been over. As a result of the numerous charismatic seminars, some lay people I know, who attended such renewal activities, now preached in streets and restaurants. Entering...
WORLD ALIVE Some of you might have seen the movie “Survive,” based on a book entitled “Last Survivors of the Andes Mountains.” The true story relates about how 16 out of 45 passengers, mostly rugby players from Uruguay, survived a plane crash in the freezing Andes Mountains for 70 days. * ...
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!” Taken aback, the priest said, “Her sister? Who is she?” “Of...
WORD ALIVE Once an archbishop was discussing Christianity with a learned Japanese writer. The writer told the archbishop, "I can understand God the Father and God the Son, but I can never understand the significance of the “Honorable Bird” (Holy Spirit).” * * * Today is the feast of the...
WORD ALIVE 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: "I am with you always...
WORD ALIVE There’s a poignant story told when a destructive earthquake hit Turkey in December 1988. After the earthquake, rescue teams worked frantically, hoping that some people buried under the rubbles might still be alive. Eight days after the killer quake, miraculously a woman was found...
WORD ALIVE A reader, Ronald Ricamata, e-mailed me during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “In this difficult time, our priests, nuns and seminarians are also frontliners. “Our spiritual frontliners fight against unseen enemy. They must be acknowledged and appreciated, too.” * * * I agree...
WORD ALIVE Did you know that Jesus’ tomb was borrowed from a wealthy Jew named Joseph of Arimathea? And why did he have to rise on the third day? It’s because the grave was borrowed, and Jesus had to vacate it otherwise he would be evicted. Of course, that was not the real reason why the Lord...
WORD ALIVE 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 villain when he fumbles, misses some baskets and does not score as expected. * * * We can say a...
WORD ALIVE A group of friends wanted to know if there was basketball in heaven. They agreed that whoever died first should come back to inform them. Conrad died first. One night, Rodel heard something like the voice of Conrad. Rodel blurted out: “Are you the one, Conrad?” Conrad replied,...
WORD ALIVE A lady once approached a priest and confided, “I feel guilty, Father. This morning, before coming to Mass, I committed the sin of pride. I sat for an hour in front of my mirror admiring my beauty.” Will I have to do penance? The priest, looking at her, replied: “Not at all, my...
