As we near the close of the 2025 Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” we are invited by the Church to pause and reflect on a truth that touches us all—our mortality. In just a few weeks, we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of Emmanuel, God-with-us, who is Life himself. But before we rejoice in that beginning, the Church asks us to look towards the end—our end. As the liturgical calendar also draws to a close, we are reminded that every journey, including ours, p

The Gospel today is a story of two “pray-ees”: a Pharisee and a tax collector. At first glance, it seems clear who the protagonist and the antagonist are—but looking carefully, we are invited to ask this question: “Who am I really before God?” The Pharisee stands upright, praying not so much to God as about himself. His prayer is a list of spiritual accomplishments: fasting twice a week, giving tithes, and living a moral life. He was doing everything right—on the surface.

Today’s readings speak powerfully to moments when life asks us to hold on—when we feel weary, discouraged, or tempted to give up. They remind us that perseverance in faith is not about relying on our own strength but trusting in the One who fights for us, who never sleeps, and whose justice will surely come.   In the First Reading, Moses stands atop a hill with hands raised in prayer. As long as his hands are lifted, Israel prevails. But Moses grows tired—like any of us wou

There are moments in life when healing arrives like dawn after a long night. It surprises us. It humbles us. But the Gospel today reminds us that healing is not the end—it is only the beginning. In the story of the ten lepers, all ten are cured, yet only one returns. Only one is moved to give thanks and come back to the One who healed him. And that one, we’re told, was a Samaritan—someone doubly marginalized by illness and ethnicity. Yet it is he who hears these words of Jesu

On the celebration of National Seafarers’ Day, we make the antiphon of the Responsorial Psalm our own: “Praise the Lord, my soul!” On 23 September 1997, President Fidel Ramos issued Proclamation Order No. 1094, mandating that the Apostleship of the Sea (now known as Stella Maris), in cooperation with the Shipping and Ports Advisory Council and the private sector through the Maritime League, plan activities related to the celebration.

“The wise man does not lay up his treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for himself.” — Niccolò Machiavelli. What does it mean to be wise? Today, we encounter a strange lesson from the parable of the Parable of the Unjust Steward. At first glance, it looks puzzling that a dishonest steward is commended for his shrewdness. Yet, his actions illustrate a crucial principle: we are called to use our resources prudently to build connections and secure our well-bei

There is something quietly unsettling about how we observe the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It invites us to look up at something ancient people used to avoid: a cross which has been (and still is) used for punishment. How could something meant for shame become a symbol of hope?

As we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary today, we recall her lowly beginnings. Her birth is not recorded in the Bible or any historical text. Not even her parents’ names, Joachim and Anne, are mentioned in the Bible. When Mary was born, there were no firecrackers, loud music, or singing angels to announce her birth. She came from an ordinary family in Nazareth and grew up no differently from other girls in her community.

Significant moments of our lives—like embarking on a new relationship, career path, or state of life—challe

Wedding feasts, whether in Jesus’ time or our own, attract people. Food and drinks come in abundance. In hunger-afflicted Palestine, wedding

We are taught that it is a place—or better, a state—where, in the presence of God, every longing of the human heart finds fulfillment. It is the state of perfect happiness. The Bible portrays this in many ways: it is where Lazarus is poor no longer, resting in the bosom of Abraham (Lk 16:22). It is where God wipes away every tear, where there will be no more death, mourning, wailing, or pain (Rev 21:4). More often, heaven is described as a banquet or feast, as in today’s Gosp

Today’s readings remind us of the cost of discipleship and the courage required to stand for the truth. In the First Reading, the prophet Jeremiah faced opposition for speaking God’s word. Central to Jeremiah’s message were prophecies of impending divine judgment as a warning against idolatry, social injustice, and moral decadence practiced by the inhabitants of Judea. Moreover, he told the people to submit to the yoke of the king of Babylon if they wanted to survive.

In my second year in the seminary, a discussion arose among us seminarians on whether Mary died or not. Some said  no —she was taken...

Faith means trusting God even when life seems unfair—when the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. It is believing, like Abraham, that God’s promises stand firm, and living as responsible stewards, storing up treasure in heaven.