On Fasting and Feasting
18 January 2025
Dear friends, Jesus reminds us that fasting creates space in our hearts for Him, our Savior. When we await His presence, we fast in anticipation, preparing ourselves to receive Him. But when He is with us, it is a time to feast and rejoice. This rhythm is beautifully reflected in the Holy Mass: we fast before Mass to prepare our souls, and during Mass, we feast on the Body of Christ in Holy Communion, celebrating His abiding presence among us.
Twin Miracles4 February 2025 Dear friends, in the moving stories of the woman cured of her hemorrhage and Jairus’ daughter, we witness the transformative power of faith and compassion. The woman’s courage to touch Jesus in her desperation and Jairus’ bold plea for his daughter’s healing exemplify profound trust in God’s mercy. Both encounters remind…
Healing & Forgiveness4 July 2024 Dear friends, Jesus heals the paralytic by first forgiving his sins. This shows that sickness, physical or mental, is caused by sin, original or personal. Personal sin could either be committed by the sick person or by someone else, or even by the community in general. Therefore, to be physically…
On Love and Rest21 January 2025 Dear friends, for the Jews, the Sabbath is a day of rest—a time to refrain from work. For Jesus, however, it is a day of love, a time to act with purpose and compassion. While rest might traditionally mean doing nothing, Jesus teaches that true love involves doing something…
St. Peter Baptist6 February 2025 Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Peter Baptist, a Franciscan missionary who exemplified profound faith and bravery. He is the patron saint of our Archdiocese of Caceres. His dedication to spreading the Gospel led him to Japan, where he ultimately faced martyrdom alongside his companions. St. Peter Baptist’s unwavering…
Santo Niño19 January 2025 Dear friends, as we celebrate the Santo Niño, the oldest and most beloved devotion in our country, let us reflect on how it calls us to care for the children around us. How can we honor the Christ Child while 95 Filipino children die daily from hunger, 38% of those aged…
On Sundays22 January 2025 Dear friends, Jesus reminds us how to observe Sundays through a fundamental question: Is it better to do good or to do harm? The Mosaic Law commands us to keep the Sabbath holy, but the Pharisees and scribes often misinterpreted this as doing nothing—an attitude that can lead to the sin…
