The Underpinning

By Fr. Roy Cimagala We should not be too surprised and bothered by this phenomenon. Given our human limitations and weaknesses, this predicament can take place anytime and often. What we need to do is to go immediately to God, ask for pardon and the grace to begin again. Our failures should not alienate us …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala The 3rd Sunday of Advent is usually dubbed as Gaudete Sunday (Rejoice Sunday) because the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass for that day starts with the joyful greeting, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5) We are clearly encouraged to be happy as …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to be clear about the intimate relation between the virtues of humility, magnanimity and magnificence. Often these virtues are understood as somehow opposed to each other. Humility is often understood as projecting a low profile, hidden, passive, and kind of indifferent to the things around, especially the big, raging …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala If we truly identify ourselves with Christ, as we should, then we have to realize that we have to love God and everybody else all the way. And this can go even to the extent of offering our very life, since, as we have been reminded, “There is no greater love …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala On this 2nd Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of these words of the Prophet Isaiah as recorded in the gospel of St. Matthew (3:3). These are words that should always be on our minds and, in fact, made as a guiding principle of our whole life. And the simple reason …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala “That they may be one, as we also are one.” (John 17:11) Words of Christ just before he entered into the culminating act of human redemption, expressing his greatest desire for us. We have to realize that this is the ultimate goal of our life here on earth. Reaching this goal would …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Christ once told his disciples, and now us, that we should be the salt and light of the earth. (cfr. Matthew 5:13-16) In other words, we should give the proper flavor and provide the proper light so all of us can be led to our proper destination. This basic truth about …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Again, as we begin another liturgical year with the season of Advent, we are reminded of our need to be always prepared for the end of our life and of time itself. “Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come,” Christ told his disciples, and now …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Let’s remember that we are not meant to solely live an earthly and temporal life. We are meant for an eternal life, where our body, still retaining its material form, would be completely under the law of the spiritual and the supernatural. We are reminded of this truth of our faith …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala This was clearly expounded by Christ himself when he said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.” (Mark 9:43) And he continued, “And if your foot …