5th Sunday of Easter Acts 9:26-311 Jn 3:18-24Jn 15:1-8 Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Have you gone out for a walk in the forest recently? In Singapore, where I am, the tropical heat has been quite brutal. But if... Continue Reading →
25 April, Thursday — A Name is Not Just a Name
Feast of St Mark the Evangelist He was a cousin of Barnabas and accompanied the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey; later he followed him to Rome. He was a disciple of Peter, and his gospel is told from Peter’s point of view. He is credited with founding the Church in Alexandria. His body... Continue Reading →
8 April, Monday — Sacrifices
8 Apr – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord The annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Gabriel the Archangel, that she was to be the Mother of God (Luke 1), the Word being made flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. The feast probably originated about the time of the Council of Ephesus... Continue Reading →
27 January, Saturday — Trusting in Faith
27 Jan – Memorial for St. Angela Merici, virgin St. Angela Merici (1474-1540) became a Franciscan tertiary at the age of 15. She received a vision telling her that she would inspire devout women in their vocation. In Crete, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she was struck blind. Her friends wanted to return... Continue Reading →
2 January, Tuesday — A voice cries out in the wilderness
2 Jan – Memorial for Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops St. Basil the Great (329-379) was a noble by birth. His parents and four of his nine siblings were canonized, including St. Gregory of Nyssa. He was the grandson of St. Marcina the Elder. As a youth, he was noted for organizing... 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 →
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 →
12 December, Tuesday — Consolations, You Are Still His
Dec 12 – Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe Guadalupe is, strictly speaking, the name of a picture, but the name was extended to the church containing the picture and to the town which grew up around the church. It makes the shrine, it occasions the devotion, it illustrates Our Lady. It is taken as... Continue Reading →
19 November, Sunday — Rush Hours
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Pro 31:10-13,19-20,30-311 Ths 5:1-6Mt 25:14-30You will not be expecting us to write anything to you...about 'times and seasons'...I recently returned from trips to South Korea and Australia. Apart from the lovely weather, what I appreciated about my time there was how people seem to be in much less of a... Continue Reading →
6 November, Monday — Patience and Wisdom
Monday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time Rm 11:29-36Lk 14:12-14 God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice. Today’s gospel reminds me of those many times when I ask God, “Why am I not able to walk?” There have been countless times when I fantasise myself in an alternate reality where I can... Continue Reading →