The Underpinning

By Fr. Roy Cimagala It’s amazing that despite the many good things Christ said and did that impressed many people, there were still some leading Jews who doubted him and were fond of asking somewhat are termed as “gotcha” questions. (cfr. Matthew 22:34-40) One of these questions was, “Which commandment in the law is the …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to be wary of this spiritual and moral anomaly that, sad to say, is a common affliction these days. It can easily take place when we fail to really give our whole selves to God and to the others, giving an opening for this most deceptive anomaly to enter …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala That question Christ asked his disciples about who did people say he, as the Son of Man, was should also be addressed to each one of us. And we should just try our best to give the right answer like what St. Peter did. (cfr. Matthew 16:13-20) And the simple reason …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala That series of “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites,” (cfr. Matthew 23:13-22) that Christ heaped on some of the leading Jews remind us of the sad and common phenomenon nowadays where we can be doing some good and yet miss the real and ultimate good meant for us. And …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala In the gospel, there is a part where Christ addressed some harsh words at some leading Jews who misled others with their false doctrine and their inconsistency between their words and actions — in other words, their hypocrisy. (cfr. Matthew 23:27-32) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala That part of the gospel where Christ was asked about marriage and divorce and that also talked a little about man being created man and woman (cfr. Matthew 19:3-12) gives us an occasion to clarify certain points that have become today’s hot button issues due to some ideological controversies. We cannot …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Christ said it in so many words. “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala That gospel parable about the Kingdom of heaven likened to a landowner who hired laborers for his vineyard at different hours of the day (cfr. Matthew 20:1-16) strongly reminds us that we should be contented and thankful for whatever God gives us. We have to be wary of comparing ourselves with …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Words of Mary to the servants at the wedding in Cana. (cfr. John 2:1-11) While the festive celebration was going on, the mother of Christ noticed that wine was running out. She approached him to inform him of the problem, but her request at first was denied. “Woman, what is that …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala “You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.” (John 8:23) Words of Christ addressed to those who did not believe him. With these words Christ is telling us that if we do not believe in him, we would be stuck in the world instead of heading …