ON PUTTING PEOPLE DOWN The devil can make a lot of progress against us by encouraging us to speak badly of other people. Active Christians can be extra vulnerable to the temptation of self-righteousness. Like the Pharisees, we can start thinking so highly of ourselves that we begin looking down on others. When … Read more
Not everything in religious life turns out as we expect. It never does. Religious life is under no obligation to give us what we expect. We take what we get and are thankful it is not worse than it is.
As we grow older, we realize that not every day is going to be a great day. There will be days when truly terrible things happen to us or to family members and friends—days when we know we have offered less than our best: a sharp word, perhaps, or a meanness of spirit that crept … Read more
On Rash Judgment St. Francis de Sales, a 17th-century saint, described various reasons that people engage in rash judgment. For some, there is a naturally negative disposition that leads to harshness in viewing the actions of others. Some judge out of pride that seeks a feeling of superiority. There can be a sort of self-satisfaction … Read more
As the pattern of our religious life unfolds, we will experience times of joy and times of sadness, times of energy and times of bone-sapping weariness, times of relative peace and times when we feel that things are spiraling a little out of control. But there is a grace in knowing that Jesus is present … Read more
Let’s face it, some people will say hurtful things. Sometimes on purpose. As a poison dart aimed at an individual. The victims still stew, feel judged, misunderstood, or under appreciated. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. We cannot change how someone else views us. That’s on them. We do not have to retaliate on … Read more
Is. 9:1-6; Eph. 1:3-6, 15-18 Mt. 18:1-5, 10. Why did God enter our country in the image of the Holy Child? What is his message to us? In Mt. 18:3-4 we read, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles … Read more
2nd Sunday of Advent9 December 2018 | Lk 3:4,6 Reflection: We are surrounded nowadays by many kinds of news, be they good, bad or sometimes fake. The difference between them is how one distinguish the truthfulness of the news and the effect they give to the hearers. The good news give joy, bad … Read more
1st Sunday of Advent2 December 2018 | Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 Reflection: As we begin our new Liturgical Year in the Church, we are invited to look at the end. The end or goal must be clear to us. Our readings this Sunday points to the end where Christ is, this is also our … Read more
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time11 November 2018 | Mk 12:38-44 Reflection: How do we measure generosity? Oftentimes, we measure it according to the amount given by a donor. Christ, however, gives us another criterion to consider, that is ‘How much do we give of ourselves in our giving?’ Jesus gives us the example … Read more
