share your mustard seeds // 2022.01.28

I hated mustard when I was young, but have learned to love it as I grew up. So when Jesus used it as a metaphor for God's kingdom, it was fascinating for me. Imagine a small seed becoming a tree! Even a small gesture borne from your love of God can change the world! But we're afraid, aren't we? We might get judged and rejected. But just as I hated mustard and grew to love it to the point of not being able to live without it, trust that those who may hate your "mustard seed" at first, will grow with a love of God bigger than a mustard tree! I wouldn't have grown to love it had no one kept pushing me to eat one, right? Maybe that person looking for God, but hates Him right now, is just waiting for you to share God even in your own small way. Poco-a-poco!

a wager that wins exponentially // 2022.01.27

Blaise Pascal penned his famous wager... if God exists and you lived as such, you gain joy on earth and heaven in the afterlife; if God does not, but you still lived as such, you lose nothing. Today's readings give more perspective to Pascal's wager... if you give to God, you receive more than you gave, but if you give none, you lose even what you already have. There's a clincher though... that you give with love, and not merely as an "investment". Sounds like a tyrant to some, but when you give loving God a try, you'll find out it's the farthest from tyranny.

a backing towards bravery // 2022.01.26

How in the world could just a few people deemed unlearned stir the world and make Jesus' teaching influence it the most? St. Paul teaches St. Timothy, "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord." He speaks to us, too! Speak up! Take action! You have God backing you up!

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People immediately assume I'm one of the holy ones, but the first thing I did when waking up was check my phone, and go through all the notifications. To think my children call me old. Feeling like it's too late for you? Don't! Join me... let's do a better job at putting God first later and tomorrow!

go! go! go! // 2022.01.25

"Now, why delay?" was the next thing St. Paul heard when his eyes were restored and heard about Jesus. There are 1.34B Catholics and about 900K Protestants in the world who, in one way or another, have heard of Jesus and His call to evangelize the world. You're probably one of them. Have you started running with your faith, or are you still delaying? The 5B rest of the world are waiting to hear about God from you!

bigoted, outdated and selfish // 2022.01.24

The Church is bigoted, outdated and selfish. Even I thought that way when I was young. But as Fulton Sheen said, “There are not one hundred people... who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Sadly, a lot, including Catholics themselves, belong to this group. I dared to dig deeper decades ago, and what I constantly find is Truth and beauty. Riled up by a Catholic position or belief? Dig deep and find that there is actually love in what you find hateful.

crazy Jesus and crazy you // 2022.01.22

Jesus is a crazy man! That's what His enemies would shout even with miracles in front of them, and even with His message of hope and love. They knew what His claims were and saw the proofs. Yet He was still rejected because they refused to follow the teachings that came with accepting Him. Does the world think you're crazy for following Jesus and giving up everything? That's okay. Jesus experienced it, too. Instead, let your joy give witness to why it's all worth it.

the gift of fear? // 2022.01.21

Fear of the Lord. I have always wondered when I was young why that would be a gift. Who wants to have fear? As an adult, I realize fear prevents us from doing something stupid. I wonder how  many people threw away this gift. How about you? Pray that this gift stays with you, and keep you from doing wrong things.

God over your best // 2022.01.20

Saul was in front of David, like a lamb ready to be slaughtered. David's companions urged him to kill Saul, seeing it as God delivering Saul to him. But what makes David a great king is not letting his emotions and anger get the best of him. He spared Saul, and thus earned even the respect of his enemy. In a dilemma? Let God guide you, rather than the desperation of the moment.

from lousiest to greatest // 2022.01.18

King David was the lousiest choice for a king. He was the youngest, the smallest, and most of all, he was late! But he became the giant slayer,  and the king whose kingdom lasts forever! Why? Because his heart was for God, and this allowed God to work through him. Feeling small? Struggling with impossible challenges? In pain? Give your heart to God, and let Him slay your giants and regain the kingdom through you.

let go to get most // 2022.01.17

 Some people fail at growing in their faith, because they are unwilling to let go of what keeps them from moving forward. There is no chastity with a collection of porn, no honesty when you cheat at work or business, no prayer when you soak yourself in netflix or facebook... no love when you do not put others first. Jesus said new wine cannot enter old wineskins. You cannot receive God, if "you" is still in you. The good news is that the new wineskins are free, but we can only get them when we give up our old ones. When was the last time you "Marie Kondo'd" your life? As we move through 2022, let's let go to get more!

i'm a sinner, too // 2022.01.15

I think I'm at my worst when I'm driving, especially when I'm alone, because that's when my dream of being the most patient man shatters. I'd curse those who drive like crazy, and those who drive like they own the road. But why should I easily lose my patience over such petty mistakes? Jesus did say, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” And then it dawns on me, I am a sinner, too, and if Jesus comes for sinners like me, why can't I give myself for those who irk me, too?

taking away the good to stay good // 2022.01.13

Even good things go bad when used for our selfish desires. That is why God will sometimes take away what is good, that you will remain good.

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The leper that Jesus healed was filled with joy and gratitude that he cannot contain it even when Jesus asked Him to stay silent. This resulted in limiting Jesus's ministry. But that's what joy is; it cannot be easily contained when it is real. Yet at the same time, holding off on good may have its reason. Trust that God has a plan when He asks you to wait.

a question by who's in front of you // 2022.01.12

"He commands even evil spirits, and they follow," they would exclaim. This drew crowds who want to not only get healed, but be cleansed. Many people got healed after showing their faith in Jesus. Yet not everyone during that time recognized what was in front of them, and refused to receive God's grace. Sick? Dealing with habitual sins? Jesus is right in front of you, but will you surrender and believe He can heal you?

a thin line between counterfeit and authenticity // 2022.01.08

Faith becomes counterfeit when its focus is yourself, rather than God. Are you happy that you were able to be Jesus to others, or that others see you as "holy"? There's a thin line, but the difference is huge. How about you? Is your faith real or fake?

what we need wherever in the roller coaster // 2022.01.07

In Jesus's high and low, prayer was at the center of everything, even retreating from what most would consider more important. But He is consistent even with His words to Martha and Mary. Busy? Hands full? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Jesus reminds us that nothing can be more important than prayer. When was the last time you really prayed? Why not do it now?

with the lunatics // 2022.01.03

Mankind has a habit of calling God's commands crazy. The people laughed at Noah for building an ark, at Moses for asking to free the Israelites from slavery, at David for trying to subdue a giant with just a sling and without any armor,  at Samson for trying to break the main pillars despite being weak for ages, and many more. Jesus asks us to be faithful and give our lives totally to Him, yet in a way, the world laughs at that with the banner of "this is the modern time already". Noah was saved by the ark, Moses freed the Israelites, David defeated Goliath, Samson broke the pillars. The world may be laughing at what your faith asks you. You can join the crowd that drowned, or will you be like our heroes who stayed faithful despite the world's shouts of lunacy, and succeeded with flying colors?

our daddy and mommy // 2022.01.01

The feast of Theotokos reminds us that we are adapted children of God. Today's reading from Paul tells us, "As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God." This calls us to live as children who love the Father with full trust and abandon... trust that He looks after our best, and abandon that we serve Him not as His workers, but as His children. And, of course, always at peace that we have our Mother who cares for us and helps us in our walk to God.