WORD ALIVE Fr. Bel San Luis One time I was talking with a barangay chairman. I asked him why he keeps on running for the top barangay position. His reply was: “I want people to have a high regard for me and my family. I want people to recognize me.” I admired the man’s frank response but I...
Park-goers can now visit three popular sites in the historic Walled City of Intramuros and Rizal Park in Manila starting Thursday, Sept. 16, as they reopen their doors to the public but at a limited capacity and shortened operating hours. Fort Santiago, Intramuros (Photo from Department of Tourism)...
WORD ALIVE Fr Bel San Luis A lot of love stories end with the words: “And they lived happily ever after.” Is that really true? There’s a young man who got married expecting to get lasting marital bliss. * * * After a couple of years, he was asked by the priest who solemnized his wedding how...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD The theme of this 23 rd Sunday gospel relates about Jesus’ compassion on a deaf-mute man (Mark 7:31). However, in this time when the health workers are treated unjustly, deprived of their wages and benefits, Jesus would surely sympathize with these poor...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s a story about a Jewish rabbi (teacher) who was in prison. The rabbi used his small daily ration of water not for drinking, but for religious ritual of hand washing before eating. Because of his determination to obey the rules of ritual cleanliness, the...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD The Jews had been very much impressed by Jesus' teachings and actions. They had gone to great lengths to seek him out wherever he went, the gospel for this 21 st Sunday relates. But when he started talking about "eating his body and drinking his blood as food for...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A famous artist once held an exhibit of all his choice paintings. One painting which showed the face of a woman was extraordinarily beautiful. "Who's this?" spectators ask. "Is she your girlfriend?" "Why's this work so different from all...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD An elderly woman, accompanied by a young doctor, was being wheeled into a room in preparation for surgery. Visibly nervous, she blurted out, “Doc, doctor, please be gentle with me. This is my first time to be operated on.” * * * The youthful surgeon glanced at...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD When Hidilyn Diaz received the gold medal, she held it on her right hand and the Miraculous Medal on her left. Very inspiring! She wanted to tell the whole world that her success did not come from her talent, diligence and sacrifices alone but also from the help...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s an amusing story about two parish priests discussing about how they share the Mass collection with their assistant priests. "That's easy," the younger priest said. "I simply draw a big circle on the floor. I toss the money up in the air and what falls...
Word Alive FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Miss Melissa Anderson is an ambitious, go-getting woman whose main preoccupation is academic achievement. She has two undergraduate degrees, two MA degrees and a Ph.D. As she pursues her second Ph.D., the stress and strain of concentrated ...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Some time ago I celebrated the culminating Mass of a two-day Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) of the Loved Flock charismatic community at the DPWH chapel, Port Area in Manila. What I considered remarkable was that the organizers were lay people and professionals who...
