Categories
HOMILIES

CHRISTMAS IS COMING HOME

For today, I am sharing this moving homily (based on Luke 2:1-14) delivered by Bro. Robbie Paraan on Christmas Eve Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Cebu. A blessed Christmas to all!

I saw a viral video the other day about a touching homecoming which happened on an airplane.  Juan Paolo Fermin hasn’t spent Christmas with his family in 17 years. Juan Paolo’s mother—like many Filipino parents—had to leave for abroad when he was 8 years old. Though they would see each other occasionally since then, almost two decades would pass before they could spend Christmas together.

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Categories
HOMILIES

“HOW CAN THIS BE?”

This homily is based on Luke 1:26-38 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her about God’s invitation, Mary asked one question: “How can this be?”

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HOMILIES

GUESSING GAME

This homily, based on John 1:6-28, is for the Third Sunday of Advent.

What struck me about today’s Gospel passage is all the guessing game that seems to be going on.

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Categories
HOMILIES

CROOKED LIVES

This homily is based on Mark 1:1-8 for the Second Sunday of Advent.

A friend of mine wasn’t raving about the film “Smaller and Smaller Circles.” “It’s supposed to be a psychological thriller,” he explained, “but I didn’t even recognize the climax, and it was over!”

smaller-and-smaller-circles-movie-review

Categories
HOMILIES

WATCH

This homily , based on Mark 13:33-37, has been written for the First Sunday of Advent, as well as the Feast of St. Francis Xavier (03 December 2017).

Yesterday I found myself wandering through a familiar street in a foreign country. The familiarity was comforting, but it was also wrapped in some sort of nostalgia. You see, I was sauntering through one of the alleys of Taipei’s famous Zhongxiao Dunhua shopping area, and the place felt quite familiar because I had spent two years here, nearly thirty years ago, as a Jesuit scholastic training in media production.

The old Kuangchi Program Service (光啟社) building
The old Kuangchi Program Service (光啟社) building, where I trained in media production.