OUR PARISH PRIEST

IT’S NOT JUST A TALENT SHOW Sunday - 33 Suddenly there were talent shows one after another, first from foreign television. And when it landed in our country, we had Pinoy Idol, Pilipinas Got Talent, Talentadong Pinoy and Showtime. Not only Filipinos, but people around the world went on a talent craze, a talent infection. The gospel speaks of talents. But talent here does not mean show business prowess like dancing and acting. Talent refers to the good things we receive form the Lord. God distributes talents; he distributes varied gifts to all his children. There are several lessons we need to remember about talents. First, we do not receive the same or equal talents. The Lord says, the master distributed talents, “according to the ability of each” person. Nobody has a monopoly on all talents. Susan Boyle was booed in Britain when she appeared as a lousy, unappealing country girl. But when she belted out her tunes, she brought the house down an...

THANK YOU, FATHER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA! SALAMAT PO MAHAL NA CARDINAL DENCY ROSALES! SA INYONG RETIREMENT, PATULOY NINYO KAMING IPAGDASAL… “The poor may not say it, but they look to us for accompaniment. This will take place when we respond with awareness of their presence. Can we put a “spirit” to this hunger of the poor that transcends the longing for (only) food? But company is more than accompaniment. In the example of Jesus accompaniment or being with others is really brotherhood. (Fraternity). We are brothers of the poor.” - His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, DD, Emeritus Archbishop of Manila, brother of the poor… (photo taken when the Cardinal visited the wake of my father on a Palm Sunday morning, a gesture that will never be forgotten by a grateful, unworthy brother priest. salamat po!)

WHY WISE AND FOOLISH? Sunday - 32 This is one of the most recognizable parables and also one of the most instructive about this life and the next. The gospel speaks of virgins about to attend a wedding ceremony. They were tasked to welcome the bridegroom and accompany him to the wedding feast. Five were wise virgins. Five were foolish. What does this classification mean - wise and foolish? Why not wise and ignorant? Ignorant would mean that these virgins were unaware of some things and therefore not guilty of not having oil for their lamps. Why not wise and dumb? Dumb would mean that they were simply incapable of thinking and reflecting deeply on things. Why not wise and lazy? Lazy would imply that these virgins were just plain sloppy in their task. The Lord Jesus preferred to call the virgins, wise and foolish. The foolish ones knew what they needed to do but simply refused to do it. While the wise virgins brought oil together with their lamps,...

FAITHFUL TO THE MISSION Sunday 31 Brace yourselves for this: God is angry at the people closest to him! In the first reading, the Lord issues a strongly worded indictment of his priests, the priests of Israel. They were not being faithful, not guiding the people of God well. And for that, God will remove their blessings. This condemnation continues in the gospel as Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees, people who were very close to the Temple, of duplicity. They teach, they perform rituals, but only to be seen and praised by people. Worse, they teach others precepts, but do not practice their very own teachings. The readings were written in the distant past, but they do sound familiar to our ears and our eyes. Isn’t it that we discover that priests too, are human beings? They too are weak and faltering in faith. Isn’t it that we also find people who make the church their second home and yet live lives of shallowness? They are in the church not to...

LOVE DEMANDS PROOF Sunday - 30 If we begin to talk about love, many thoughts enter our minds. We think of youngsters who begin to notice and impress each other, couples hand in hand in sweet demeanor, romantic partners committed to each other or even just for fun. In the world today, there is a prevalent attitude that love can be applied to the most flippant issue as well as to the most serious action of men and women. Thank God, many still try to explore the real meaning of love. The gospel contains one of the most familiar biblical verses: love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. This is not a mere motto for it also outlines the concrete expression that must accompany any claim of love. First, we love God. And this means that God is our priority and center of attention, the center of our hearts, the horizon of our entire lives. But the Lord insists, if this were true, then we must love God w...

PRAYER FOR THE RETREAT OF OUR PRIESTS IN PASIG LOVING FATHER, WE PRAY FOR OUR BISHOP AND PRIESTS IN THE DIOCESE OF PASIG AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR ANNUAL RETREAT THIS OCT 17-21. LEAD THEM, GUIDE THEM, AND BLESS THEM ON THIS OCCASION SO THAT IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO RENEW THEIR LOVING SERVICE, STRONGER RELATIONSHIP AND SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO SERVE YOU AND THE CHURCH. WE ASK THIS THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF MARY IMMACULATE, OUR PATRONESS. AMEN.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Sunday - 29 We go to church in semi-anonymity. Unless you are seated with a relative or friend, you are unknown to your seatmate in the pews. If you go alone, chances are, you are also looking for a spot where you can blend with the congregation and not be truly noticed by others. That’s how most Catholics go to church. Unlike our other Christian brethren, we do not relish an experience of familiar discourse with others. But the good news is this: you are not unknown in here! You cannot make the church a hiding place. The priest may not know you personally. Your seatmates may not be familiar with you. But someone here knows you perfectly. As you stand, sit or kneel in church, someone is here calling your name. The first reading is an excellent lesson in God’s supreme knowledge and his sincere interest in all of us. Isaiah echoes the word of the Lord to Cyrus, the king who is to help God’s people rebuild their lives. God s...

GOD BLESS THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA THE MOST REV. LUIS ANTONIO “CHITO” TAGLE, DD. MAY THE LORD STRENGTHEN HIM IN HIS SERVICE TO THE GREAT PRIMARY SEE OF ASIA. MABUHAY ANG BAGONG ARSOBISPO!!! AND TO CARDINAL GAUDENCIO ROSALES, DD EMERITUS ARCHBISHOP THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE FOR THE POOR AND YOUR SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART AND YOUR EXAMPLE OF HOW TO BE LIKE JESUS, THE UNIVERSAL BROTHER.

Prayer for a Sick Priest (REV. FR. MARS SELMAR) by Fr John Brian O Lord send Your angels to help our beloved FR. MARS SELMAR as You have promised in the Psalm - send angels to charge over us to keep us in our ways, so that we will not even stub our foot against a stone - Your wisdom is beyond our understanding and Your mercy is boundless and Your love never ends. In Your love and Your mercy, deal with FR. MARS and us according to your gentleness. Send Your healing touch to bring Your servant, FR. MARS, from this couch of sickness, the bed of suffering - so that he may rise to glorify with us Your Holy Name. We know you have made our bodies but temporal vehicles. We are grateful for Your mercy, gentleness and love given through him and we ask, through Your eternal kindness for those that follow Your ways that give him strength and healing of body, mind and soul. As You have taught us: "With God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27) So, we put our hope ...