This homily was delivered at Mary the Queen Parish for the first of the Christmas Novena Masses on 15 December 2012.
I think it would have been great if for this very first Simbang Gabi, the Gospel talked about Mary and Joseph, or the angels, or the shepherds–or even the drummer boy! But instead of any of the traditional and romantic Christmas characters, who do we get instead in this evening’s gospel reading? John the Baptist!
This funeral homily was delivered in Xavier School for Fr. Ismael Zuloaga SJ on 11 October 2011.
It’s not going to be easy to talk about the life of Fr. Ismael Zuloaga. The reason is: He didn’t just have one life; he had several. To those who knew of him–and especially to those of us who knew him personally, Fr Zuloaga was—there’s no other way of putting it—“larger than life.” By every possible account, his life was equivalent to much more than one; his works and accomplishments were really worth several lifetimes.
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GOD ACROSS THE CHASM (Luke 16:19-31): 26 September 2010 (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Last night I had a weird but powerful dream. I was with an old priest (Fr. Jim Reuter, the famous columnist and playwright, no less!) and a friend from high school. For reasons I don’t remember, we decided to pray together. When it was my turn, I closed my eyes dutifully and prayed. All I remember is beginning the prayer with “Dear Lord…” and then it happened.
SHOWING OFF MY WOUNDS (John 20:19-31): Easter
According to statistics, 11.5 million cosmetic procedures were done in 2006 in the United States alone. Over 3 million received Botox treatments. Almost 1.5 million underwent laser hair removal. And there were approximately 400,000 patients for liposuction and another 400,000 for breast augmentation.
Thanks to today’s advanced medical technology and an outrageously beauty-conscious culture, more and more men and women are going for cosmetic procedures. An ad for the metrosexual lifestyle may as well go: “Got a problem with a body part? Just fix it!”
FATHER, FORGIVE THEM (Luke 23:33-34): 31 March 2010 (Lent)
Reflections on the First of the Seven Last Words
Church of the Gesu
Ateneo de Manila University
31 March 2010
And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:33-34)
I don’t know about you, but I have a little problem with these first words of Jesus on the cross. I have a couple of questions.
First of all: Who’s ‘them’? Who is He actually forgiving? Our Lord could be referring to several groups of people who have wronged him before and during the crucifixion, people responsible for what happened in different ways and in varying degrees. Who could these people be?