The Underpinning

BY FR. ROY CIMAGALA It’s a virtue before it is an art. Detachment that is proper to us is a virtue that comes as a result of the spirit of Christ. And we can only have that spirit if we are open to God’s grace and faithfully follow the consequences and implications of such grace. …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to be ready to understand as quickly as possible some of the incredible teachings of Christ. One of them is that we need to die in order to live. (cfr. John 12:24-26) “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala That gospel episode where Christ shocked his apostles when they saw him walking on the water (cfr. Matthew 14:22-36) reminds us that the ways of God can overwhelm us and even throw us into the grip of fear. We should just remember what Christ told his apostles. “Take courage, it is …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala The parable of the sower and the seed (cfr. Matthew 13:1-9) prods us to undertake the urgent and most necessary task of spreading the Word of God widely and abidingly. It also urges us to be that good soil that brings good and plentiful fruit of God’s Word. Nowadays, we cannot …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala We are familiar with the story of the doubting Thomas who later on turned to be a fervently believing Thomas. (cfr. John 20:24-29) It’s a story that can only remind us of our duty to always nourish our faith to such an extent that Christ’s words to Thomas can also be …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7) That was the excited reaction of the disciple, who the gospel described as the one Jesus loved, when Christ’s disciples made an abundant catch of fish after being told by Christ, who at first the disciples did not recognize, to cast their nets over the …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala “Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22) Though addressed to his apostles, these words can also be addressed to all of us who …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala If we really know who we are and who we are supposed to be, it should be kind of instinctive to us to always look for Christ. After all, Christ is the pattern of our humanity, the savior of our damaged humanity. We are supposed to be like him. We have …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Given our human condition, marked always by all kinds of weaknesses, limitations, mistakes, and other negative things, we should be ready to face and bear them, never by our lonesome, but always with Christ who is always around, ever ready to help us in many and often mysterious ways. We should …

By Fr. Roy Cimagala “My sheep, hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) What reassuring words of Christ that also contain a duty that we have to carry out faithfully! If …