st. francis of assisi // 2021.10.04

Today is the feast of the saint that taught us that true happiness is not in what we have or don't have... 

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace 

Where there is hatred let me sow love. 

Where there is injury, pardon. 

Where there is doubt, faith. 

Where there is despair, hope. 

Where there is darkness, light. 

Where there is sadness joy. 

O Divine master grant that I may 

Not so much seek to be consoled as to console 

To be understood, as to understand. 

To be loved. as to love 

For it's in giving that we receive 

It's in pardoning that we are pardoned 

And it's in dying that we are born... 

To eternal life. Amen. 

Happy feast day, St. Francis!

not merely the words we speak in prayer // 2021.07.27

Prayer is not merely the words we speak, but more importantly the thoughts and self-giving that comes with it. As such, I may speak the same words yesterday, today and forever, but if my mind and heart is ever new with Him who I try to be present to, my prayer is always new.

all about the meaning of fullest // 2021.06.15

We always hear the words, "live life to the fullest", and yet a lot end up shouting failure at their attempts. The problem is how they defined "fullest". Set your eyes on the Infinite, and even the most minute success will be awesome. After all, a fraction of Him is still more than most of everything of the world.

called to give what we receive // 2021.06.14

When we realize how much God loves us despite how undeserving we are, we realize that we are called to unconditionally love each other, too.

repurposing pride month // 2021.06.10

I can say with honesty and clear conscience that I love and value all people, and sincerely wish everyone's true joy and happiness, regardless of color, gender preference, and belief. But that doesn't mean I need to support beliefs contrary to those I fundamentally believe in. With Pride Month, as the Church teaches me in CCC 2357-2359, while I cannot support some of what this event stands for, I accept those supporting it with full respect, compassion, and sensitivity. I do not support same sex relationships/marriages, but I am not a homophobic nor a bigot, and my friends with this tendency can attest how much I love and value them unconditionally. Instead of fighting, let us celebrate how, in our humanity, we can love each other even when we disagree.

redirecting makes you magnificent // 2021.05.31

Today is the feast of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, where she uttered the Magnificat. What's so beautiful in that scene is that even though it was her time to shine, she only took a second of it and immediately redirected everything to God (see Lk 1:39ff). Doesn't that make us want to do better at our work, and then proclaim to all where our strength came from?

throw it again // 2021.04.04

Maybe you're like Simon who kept throwing the net without a catch the whole night. Maybe you've been trying to free yourself from your problems or sins time and again with no progress, much more success. But Jesus asks you to throw again, and believe in Him. Prepare for your great catch!

the other way around // 2021.03.08

We keep wondering if we are worthy of the world, but God reminds us to ask ourselves, "Is the world even worthy of you?".

the bully version of modernity

There's a version of modernity that tries to bully us to ignore fruits of decades of established and well proven studies, as if believing tried and tested concepts ironically make one stupid. It's that version that calls logic and reasoning ignorance of reality, and calls emotional fits without academic bearing commonsense.