Two mystics and a theologian papal retreat master can help us explain. The German physician, poet and priest convert from Lutheranism, Johann Scheffler who adapted the name Angelus Silesius, had once said, "Though Jesus Christ were born in Bethlehem a thousand times/but not in you, then...
What are the "signs" of these human gestures syllabically put as L-D-W-T? The first sign common to all letters is physical presence. This happens when you see, hear, touch, smell the needy poor. This is flesh and blood human being like myself/ourselves. This can have a...
It was related by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, a Capuchin priest, that a person who did not like St. Teresa of Calcutta's work for the poor once said to her, "I would not do it for all the gold in the world." To which the saint...
The economic fallout after Covid-19 is terrifyingly huge. So the economists tell us. Massive economic poverty will surely hit us. More and widespread suffering cannot be avoided unless there is a global well-motivated way of decreasing the material needs we can live without. There are...
Media reports from India and Australia have been sending out news that China is to be blamed for the pandemic Covid-19. Yet China, also thru media, keeps on denying the allegations but does everything to help the victims and to come with vaccine soonest. This...
During the Covid-19 pandemic we senior citizens are limited in our social movements. The reason, they say, is we can be easily infected and thus might become virus-transmitters. While my body is being quarantined, my mind is not in the bind. In the limited surrounding of...
To relate to others is an essential element of human life. We have to relate to God, to fellow humans, to nature, to our inner and outer selves. The mysterious power that enables us to relate comes from the Holy Spirit. And this relationship is generally...
We begin our reflection with a story. A disciple once said to Confucius, "What are the basic ingredients of good government?" He answered, "Food, weapons, and the trust of the people." "But," continued the disciple, "if you were forced to dispense with one of these three, which would...
For more than two months now we have been quarantined in our homes. Call it "enhanced", "general" or "risked area", the lockdown guidelines forcibly limit our personal freedom of movement for the sake of the common good. So okay let us put aside our human...
After the Fiesta Mass the image of the patron saint is held over the heads of devotees. In Ilonggo this is called "Palapak" which means to step on something. This is the way they believe blessing is received. It seems to be practiced only in...