It is a part of our Christian faith to believe in the afterlife. Ours is the victory of the resurrection and Jesus conquering death will always be a part of our most important beliefs. It is in fact, at the very core of our faith. “For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep... Read more
Jesus Himself admonished us many times to forgive. As Christians, forgiveness is a part of our beliefs. But while no Christian could deny the value of forgiveness, we also admit how difficult it can be. How do you forgive someone who has hurt you so deeply? Or how do you forgive the person who isn’t even asking for forgiveness? We are sometimes paralyzed by the immensity, if not the seeming impossibility of the task. Yes, we want to forgive those... Read more
Have you ever wondered how our human relationships would change in heaven? If you’re a Catholic or a Christian who believes in the afterlife, you must have wondered about your reunion with your loved ones in heaven. Like me, you may have also asked these questions: What would they look like? Would they recognize me? How would we love each other in heaven? I once heard a priest urging his listeners to make the most of the time we have... Read more
Have you ever felt afraid that once you strive for holiness, you will eventually risk losing your happiness? Holiness is not a word that our culture today seems to be fond of. It’s a word that seems to take away all the fun and pleasure from life. We associate it with suffering, difficulty and pain. Perhaps this is the reason many people can’t understand why someone would choose to be a priest or a nun. Why choose to live such... Read more
Christianity is all about love. Jesus even summed up all the commandments into two: to love God, and to love our neighbors. But does this ever include loving oneself? We live in a world that seeks self-fulfillment. In a technologically advanced society where we cannot even wait for a file to download, we want instant pleasures and satisfaction. Wherever we read self-improvement articles, we also come across articles urging us to love ourselves. Social media feeds us with images of... Read more
There is no better time than the Christmas season to familiarize ourselves with the Bible better. Throughout this busy time, may we never forget the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate the holidays. Following are 10 verses taken from the Douay-Rheims Version (DRA) of the Bible that can help us as we reflect upon the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. 1. Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Birth Prophesied “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign.... Read more
When was the last time you lifted up your heart to God in joy? When did you last allow Him to fill your heart with happiness? Let us remember that our Christian life is not only about sorrow and tribulations. It is not only about denials, dryness and fasts. Even the Bible reminds us that there are days when we are allowed to celebrate in great jubilation: “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions... Read more
Have you ever prayed and prayed and not received the answers you are praying for? Have you ever wondered what is taking God too long? Have you also thought about God’s silence just when you needed Him the most? Why is God not immediately giving us what we pray for? One possible reason is that it could not be the right time yet. God in His wisdom knows what will be best for us and He wants to give us... Read more
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation that marks the beginning of the Liturgical year. Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, it anticipates the coming of our Savior both in history and at the end of time when Jesus comes again. During this time, Catholics usually light the four candles in the Advent wreath, each candle representing the four weeks of Advent. Except for the rose-colored candle on the third week, all the rest are colored purple in... Read more
Every Christian knows the value of suffering. One may not know it by heart, but one knows it at least in theory. We are taught about it from the very beginning. Even our Lord did not escape suffering, and He warned us that we would also suffer in this world. Perhaps, it couldn’t have been clearer than when Jesus Himself told His disciples how necessary it is to carry one’s cross. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,... Read more
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