4th Sunday of Advent 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12,14, 16Rm 16:25-27Lk 1:26-38 Listen! I’m sure many of us are looking at planning for 2024. We are reflecting on what would be good resolutions, what are the things we want to accomplish next year, which days will we be taking leave, and many more. Among those resolutions, hopefully,... Continue Reading →
23 December, Saturday — Me Before You: Faith
Dec 23 – Memorial for St. John of Kanty, presbyter St. John of Kanty (1390-1473) was a Polish country lad. A brilliant student at the University of Krakow, Poland, he became a priest and professor of theology at the University of Krakow, where he was falsely accused and ousted by university rivals. At the age... Continue Reading →
22 December, Friday — Be Bold! Ask the Lord what he wants of you.
22 December 1 Sam 1:24-28Lk 1:46-56…and the Lord granted me what I asked him. If you were to have known or met me pre-COVID, you would have noticed one thing about me – I enjoyed drinking alcohol. In my 20s and 30s (even into my mid 40s), I was well-known to be able to finish... Continue Reading →
21 December, Thursday — Dancing with God
Dec 21 – Memorial for St. Peter Canisius, priest, doctor of the Church St. Peter Canisius (1521–1597) was the son of Jacob Canisius, a wealthy burgomeister, and Ægidia van Houweningen, who died shortly after Peter’s birth. He was educated in Cologne, Germany, where he studied art, civil law, and theology. He received a master’s degree... Continue Reading →
20 December, Wednesday — ‘If’ and ‘How’
20 December Is 7:10-14Lk 1:26-38 Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” Not possible Gabe, not possible…no way, Jose! Both you and me would conclude that this was some sort of weird dream, or perhaps the outcome of some sort of psychological disorder. Dreaming perhaps? Or... Continue Reading →
19 December, Tuesday — Obeying God’s call to holiness
19 December Jdg 13:2-7,24-25Lk 1:5-25…must drink no wine, no strong drink. If you were to have known or met me pre-COVID, you would have noticed one thing about me – I enjoyed drinking alcohol. In my 20s and 30s (even into my mid 40s), I was well-known to be able to finish off a fair... Continue Reading →
18 December, Monday — Who Is God To You?
18 December Jer 23:5-8Mt 1:18-24 ... a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. I am writing this while at a silent retreat in the rustic and peaceful grounds of the Cebu Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit Retreat House. On arrival in the evening of ‘Day Zero’, we were assigned a spiritual director and given a verse to... Continue Reading →
17 December, Sunday — Be the Bearer of Light
3rd Sunday of Advent Isa 61:1-2,10-111 Ths 5:16-24Jn 1:6-8,19-28 He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. Another Advent season, another year passes. So much has happened, and time has passed by so quickly. Yet as we stand at the close of another... Continue Reading →
16 December, Saturday — Friends as prophets
Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent Ecc 48:1-4,9-12Mt 17:10-13Happy shall they be who see you, and those who have fallen asleep in love In recent years, I have had to attend quite a few funeral wakes of deceased loved ones of friends. There is often a mix of emotions at the venue, but one... Continue Reading →
15 December, Friday — Remaining faithful
Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent Is 48:17-19Mt 11:16-19"Yet Wisdom has been proven right by her actions." There are times where children think that parents are unaware of the struggles they face in their life. Children feel that the advice given is not practical and perhaps, not even relevant to their lives. Yet often... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 