Day: July 5, 2015

Categories
HOMILIES

THE PROBLEM WITH MIRACLES

This reflection is based on Mark 6:1-6.

jesus-declares-he-is-the-messiah_Isaiah_3-1800

This gospel account has always baffled me. Our Lord visits the neighborhood where he grew up, and preaches in their synagogue surrounded by relatives and childhood friends. Like everyone who hears him speak, they are amazed at the Lord’s teachings. However, whereas others develop faith in him as a result of hearing Jesus, these ones–people who probably know him best–do not. Instead they question him, unable to accept that someone from among them could become such a prophet.

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Categories
HOMILIES

RACHEL AND FREDDIE (04 July 2015)

This homily was delivered on 04 July 2015 on the occasion of the wedding of Freddie Austria and Rachel Consunji (now Austria). This is the unedited (and lengthier) version.

Photo from Jamie Lihan
Photo from Jamie Lihan

You can tell a lot about a wedding as much from the couple who’s getting married as from the reactions of the people around them.

And let me tell you, this wedding of Freddie and Rachel has elicited a whole repertoire of responses—from the expected mixture of surprise and gladness to—I kid you not!—hysterical screaming, the likes of which you probably last saw on the now-defunct Oprah Winfrey Show.When Quito, her brother-in-law, first heard the news, his immediate reaction was: “Ang suwerte naman ng mapapangasawa ni Rachel!” But I’m told that there was also some foot-stomping in certain quarters—and not exactly out of jubilation—but that’s okay: I have promised Rachel’s mom that I would not disclose that person’s identity.

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