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.

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.