WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD There’s a saying that goes, "Familiarity breeds contempt." In today’s gospel, this saying applies to Jesus when he returned to his hometown and taught in the synagogue. His town mates could not accept him because he was too familiar to them. * * * “How can he...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD Once heavy rains pounded and flooded a town. As the water kept rising, inundating the houses, a man known for his piety climbed up to the second floor of his house. A rescuer on a banca (row boat) came near and yelled, "Come, I came to save you." But the...
Word Alive FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A young man who was known for his impatience once prayed, "Lord, give me patience...and I want it now!" His impatience must really be that bad! Sometimes we grow impatient with everything, even with God when we see so much evil around us. * * * The slow progress in...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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?" asked...
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD 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." * * * Today is the feast of the Holy...
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 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...
