Total self-giving needed to enter heaven
CHRIST said it in so many words. “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a...
Category Archives: Opinion
The rich-young-man syndrome
WE have to be wary of this syndrome. Many actually are afflicted with it, and worse, a good number do not even realize it. It is this syndrome illustrated in that gospel episode where a rich young man earnestly asked Christ how he can enter...
The Government Mining Policy and Mindanao (Part 3 of 3)
Q. Indigenous people A. Big problem. Smart miners got to the tribal datus, chieftains paying them, as consultants, hiring the relatives of the Datus as guards, Laborers. Some Indigenous tribes say yes (Surigao) some say no (Tampakan). The new mining policy must specify what the role...
Remember His Goodness
(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the 2nd Parochial Fiesta of San Pedro Poveda Parish, Catalunan Pequeño, July 28, 2023.) In a special day like today, through San Pedro Poveda I want to be close to the Lord, to renew...
Mother tongue stays despite DepEd revising the basic education curriculum
UNESCO or United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has encouraged mother tongue instruction in primary education since 1953 and UNESCO highlights the advantages of mother tongue education right from the start. Children are more likely to enroll and succeed in school and parents are...
When faced with a severe test of faith
THAT gospel episode about a Canaanite woman practically pestering Christ to cure her daughter who was tormented by a demon (cfr. Mt 15,21-28) gives us a precious lesson about what to do when we are faced with a severe test of faith where God may...
Marriage, divorce and the gender issue
THAT part of the gospel where Christ was asked about marriage and divorce and that also talked a little about man being created man and woman (cfr. Mt 19,3-12) gives us an occasion to clarify certain points that have become today’s hot button issues due...
“Where I’m coming from”
THAT’S the usual line many people use when they want to justify their reaction and even their attitude and behavior of anger, if not of hatred or despair, toward a certain person or event. They usually say that they were mistreated, misunderstood or prejudged, etc., and...
Real fraternity among ourselves
THE gospel reading of Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time, which falls this year 2023 on August 16, talks about the Christian duty of making fraternal corrections as a true expression of fraternal love among ourselves. It also talks about the Christ-given power...
What Mary’s Assumption reminds us of
THE Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady, celebrated on August 15, definitely reminds us that our body also shares in the dignity of being image and likeness of God. This is what our Catechism teaches about the basic truth of faith about ourselves: “The human...