For Francis, the man of peace, one can never take up the weapon of hatred and violence to defend the family. One can rely only on the power that comes from the overflowing love of the Triune God, shared with the family of humanity and of all creation.

When our Lord Jesus is told that someone who is not one of theirs is casting out demons in his name, our Lord tells them to let the man continue his work. Today the invitation God extends to us is an invitation to inclusiveness.

Jesus teaches that if we seek to be servants and possess the humility of a child, we will be the greatest in the kingdom of God. This is a long and painful path that few ever choose. But if we take it we shall indeed achieve a greatness that will…

Jesus invites us to take up our crosses and follow him. As we try our best to do so, we might follow in the spirit of a short statement attributed to St Augustine – that we pray not so much for a lighter load, but for stronger shoulders! 

Of the 86% Catholic among our Philippine population, only 10-20% are actively participating and are involved. As you start your ministry, do not forget the 80% out there - in the margins and peripheries of Church life, of our Christian life!

Pause for a while. Enter into silence. Ask God to touch your ears with his fingers. Beg him to say the healing words, “Be Opened!" For it is impossible to boldly proclaim the words of God, unless we allow the words of God to dwell into our hearts, disturb us…

James exhorts us in our second reading today. But more than looking at what our lips profess and our hands do, we are invited to look into our hearts, for as Jesus says in the gospel, it is from within us, from our hearts, that good and evil come.

What I am suggesting right now is that we begin to examine the ways that we have persisted in our fossilized self-image, our unassailable impressions of other people, and our static adherence to ideas and beliefs. God deals in the currency of brokenness and fluidity. Food and Drink. Bread and…

When Jesus says “I am the bread of life,” he is responding to the “at sea” question of a humanity that is voraciously hungry and is unable to satisfy this cavernous emptiness.

Now, I don’t know why, but I notice that desperation for God himself, beyond his miracles—it often entails the experience of a desert, of desertedness, of deep thirst that no waterfall of worldly wealth can slake. Do we dare desire God himself beyond his miracles? And if we do, are…