ON the Feast of St. James, the Apostle, celebrated on July 25, we are reminded of that episode where his mother asked Christ a favor. And that is that her two sons, James and John, “sit, one at your right and other at your left,...
THAT gospel parable about the sower and the seed (cfr. Mt 13,1-9) somehow reminds us that we have to be the good ground that would readily receive the seed of God and make it grow to its fullness. Only then can we aspire to transform...
THAT gospel episode where somebody in the crowd told Christ that her mother was around (cfr. Mt 12,46-50) can only tell us once again that as long as we follow the example of Mary, we too can be members of God’s family. And what is this...
THE Feast of St. Mary Magdalene on July 22 reminds us that we all are in need of conversion. Yes, even if we have been trying, for the longest time already, to be good and saintly, we know that our wounded human condition would always...
War began on land and later extended to the sea. In maritime conflicts from the 14th to the 18th centuries, the losing side’s leader faced dire choices: Fight to the death. Surrender and face torture or execution. Become a slave to the victor. Surrender and,...
(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the 60th Founding Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao, July 11, 2024.) And, today in this very special Jubilee, we say, Lord, we renew our faith in your...
As the church looks to the future, the role of the youth has never been more crucial. Often perceived as disengaged, the younger generation has proven to be a vibrant force within the church, ready to take on leadership and service roles with enthusiasm and...
IT’S interesting to note that despite the heavy and tight schedule Christ had during his public life, he always managed to find time to take care of the formation of his disciples. In fact, he invested a lot of time in training them. St. Mark, in...
THAT gospel episode about some Pharisees who dared to tell Christ that his disciples did not observe the Sabbath law since they were plucking corn in a field during Sabbath (cfr. Mt 12,1-8) somehow reminds us that if we are not truly with Christ, who...
TREMENDOUS and incredible words coming from Christ himself, perfect God and perfect man. He showed this humility and meekness of his in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, in his public life. He showed this even more graphically when he washed the feet of his disciples, when he...