MY FABULOUS ITALIAN WEDDING

Our wedding ceremony was held at the Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto, Italy  on that warm and bright Saturday morning of September 13, 1969. I was so overwhelmed by the guests and the crowds who were present that I could hardly believe that I made my wildest dream ever come true. In retrospect, I could even hardly find the most appropriate superlatives on how to describe my general feeling and state of mind during the ceremony. From my modest and humble beginning, I had the very sentiment so intensely magical that I was living every moment of it like in a dream. It was only during the exchange of vows and the rings that I had woken up and realized it was for real. 

I am so grateful to my parents-in-law that they planned and arranged everything to make the event a very successful and a fabulous wedding. Regardless that the distance was quite a long drive from their place, I requested them specially to have the wedding ceremony take place in Loreto, because it was the church in Bustillos that I often pass by or attend mass every time I go to school and the university. I thanked my friend Alex who sent me the barong shirt that I wore during the reception at the restaurant, thus enhancing my native look.

The event was attended by almost all of my wife's family, relatives and friends. On the other hand, if it were not for the two Filipina friends from the Philippine Mission in Geneva who came, I would have been the only Filipino present.

Divine Love for the Unlovable

September 10, 2026 Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

The Sermon on the Mount, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld Video Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.” Luke 6:27–30 Love, do good, bless, and pray. These four commands form the heart of Jesus’ exhortation in the Sermon on the Plain. They are not merely moral instructions or guiding principles, but are invitations to share in the very life of God through His Divine Mercy. Christian charity must extend to all people—even those who harm us—because authentic love is directed toward the image of God within every person, regardless of someone’s behavior. These commands are the active expression of divine charity, showing that love is not a passive sentiment or fleeting feeling but a deliberate choice to will the good of the other, even at great personal cost. To love one’s enemies requires a movement from natural emotion to supernatural grace. This is not a matter of ignoring evil. Rather, it is an intentional act of agapē—a love rooted in God and ordered toward the true and eternal good of the other. It does not excuse sin or downplay injustice. Instead, it conquers sin through mercy, just as Christ did upon the Cross. When Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,” He did not deny the gravity of their sin; He overcame and overpowered it with Divine Mercy. In this, He gave us the supreme example of what it means to love those who offend us. Doing good to those who hate you means responding to malice with goodness—not for the sake of superficial appeasement, but as a witness to the transforming power of grace. This active goodness breaks the cycle of retaliation—a common and deeply rooted struggle in first-century Israel—and reveals the presence of God’s new and glorious Kingdom, in which grace replaces vengeance and mercy reigns over judgment. When we return good for evil, we imitate the God who causes the sun to rise on both the just and the unjust. This goodness may not always soften the heart of the one who hates, but it will never fail to sanctify the one who chooses to love. Blessing those who curse you means using your words not to wound in return, but to heal, intercede, and edify. A verbal blessing given in the face of curses is not a sign of weakness, but of an inner strength that comes only from union with Christ. It reflects the behavior of the saints, who suffered revilement and ridicule yet responded with praise, truth, and mercy. Such a blessing becomes a form of spiritual warfare, unmasking and disarming evil with the power of grace-filled speech. It turns the tongue into an instrument of redemption rather than revenge. Praying for those who mistreat you is the highest expression of forgiveness. It entrusts the offenders to God’s mercy and seeks their conversion and salvation. Prayer lifts the burden of judgment from our shoulders and places it before the divine tribunal of love. In praying for our persecutors, we become most like Christ, who intercedes not only for His friends but even for those who drove the nails into His hands. This prayer has the power to transform hearts, including our own, and to bring reconciliation where human effort alone would fail. Reflect today on the power of God’s mercy alive in your life. Such divine love is capable of overpowering sin, healing wounds, and restoring hope. Let Divine Mercy consume any resentment you harbor and soften every hardened corner of your heart. Then go forth and extend that same overpowering mercy to those who least deserve it, trusting that in doing so, you will be conformed to the heart of Christ, and that through you, His Kingdom of mercy will shine. Most merciful Lord, You never allowed the sins of others to deter You from loving them with a pure and holy love. You loved Your enemies, did good to those who hated You, blessed those who cursed You, and prayed for those who mistreated You. Please purify my heart and unite it with Your own, so that the love I offer others may flow first from You and then, through me, to them. Jesus, I trust in You.

September 9, 2026 Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest Readings for Today Readings for Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Image via Adobe Stock Video “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.” Luke 6:20–23 Normally, we do not consider poverty, hunger, grief, or being denounced and insulted by others to be good things. Yet at the very heart of His Sermon on the Plain, Jesus declares that those who experience such trials are truly blessed—that is, deeply joyful and spiritually fortunate. To be “blessed” in this sense is to be happy in the truest sense of the word. In contrast, those who are rich, well-fed, laughing, and socially esteemed face a serious spiritual danger. Most likely, as the vast crowd of disciples listened to Jesus preach this sermon, many were at least perplexed—if not outright shocked—by what they heard. Throughout the rest of the week, we will continue reading from this powerful sermon in which Jesus teaches about the necessity of loving one’s enemies, refraining from judgment and condemnation, showing mercy, and building one’s life upon the solid foundation of His words. These teachings were deeply countercultural and demanded a radical reorientation of the values that many of Jesus’ disciples held dear. In order to accept His message, a paradigm shift was necessary—a complete reordering of their lives and foundational beliefs. The path of the Beatitudes leads through the Cross to the glory of God’s Kingdom. To walk that path—marked by trials and tribulations—divine wisdom is essential. The disciples needed to shed their shallow and incomplete moral and spiritual convictions so that they could understand, embrace, and live a much deeper and richer way of living. Because we are quite familiar with Jesus’ teachings and the Beatitudes, His words might not leave us shocked or even perplexed—unless we truly hear them, allow their meaning to take root in our lives, and permit them to effect the change they are meant to bring about. For this to happen, we must approach these teachings with humility, openness, and a willingness to let go of worldly values, so that the wisdom of the Cross may become the foundation of our lives. The Christian life is so much more than acting with kindness and gentleness, helping others, and making a difference within the community. Though those are essential qualities and duties, living the Beatitudes draws us much deeper into a life of holy and sacrificial love. The process of embracing the Beatitudes begins with our minds; we must understand their message. Poverty, hunger, grief, persecution, and every other trial we encounter must be faced and embraced with hope and with the firm belief that God can and will bring about a far greater good from the crosses we carry than if our lives were entirely free of suffering. This truth—that God brings good out of every cross—challenges us to the core of our thinking and must reshape our preconceived notions about what we prefer and dislike. We are blessed if we come to love every trial we are permitted to endure, even those very sufferings Jesus identifies in His sermon. Once we begin to see life through the lens of divine wisdom, as it is revealed in the Beatitudes, grace enables us to choose what we once would have avoided. The crosses we are given not only begin to make sense, they become objects of our desire because we recognize them as the means by which God brings about true and lasting happiness. Reflect today on one trial you are currently facing, and ask God to help you see it through the lens of the Beatitudes. Rather than running from the trial, what would happen if you embraced it with hope, trust, and even joy, knowing that it has the potential to lead you to holiness and eternal reward? Let the wisdom of Jesus’ words penetrate your heart, and allow Him to reorder your thoughts and desires according to His perfect and merciful will. Lord of perfect Wisdom, Your Word shatters the wisdom of the world and reveals the true path to happiness and holiness. Help me to hear Your voice, understand Your wisdom and act upon it, making Your Truth the foundation of my life. Reorient my whole life according to Your will, and work all things for good—even the trials I endure. Jesus, I trust in You!

HOW I MET MY WIFE? Part 3

The week before I started to work in an American company in France near the Swiss boundary of Geneva, I decided to book a ticket on an overnight train to go visit my girlfriend's place in Macerata and to meet her family and folks. It was the first time I travelled in a sleeper train in the company of total strangers who came from the south of Italy. When it was time to go to sleep, the train steward came to make our beds and to collect our ID cards or passports. At first, I was too hesitant to hand him my passport because I was afraid I might not get it back. However, he reassured me that it was for the usual boundary control and he'd return it after we had crossed the border the next morning.

Finally I arrived at my destination before 12:00 noon and was met very excitedly by my girlfriend. She was accompanied by her younger sister and her boyfriend who drove us in a small Fiat car through the winding green hilly national roads lined up with wheat and corn fields and fruit trees all the way up to the top of the mountain where the old city of Macerata lies. I later observed that many cities in the region are located on the same altitude.

When I arrived at her parents' house, I was greeted warmly and with open arms by her mother and with a big hug, while her father, a strong handshake. Her mother told us that the lunch would be ready in an hour's time and let me take a short rest on the terrace after my long and tiring trip.

When the table was ready, I didn't expect that we had a big party composed of her sisters and brothers with their family. The lunch was sumptuous and rich. I never had such delicious spaghetti with thick tomato sauce combined with roasted chicken and quayle together with leafy green salads, and fried potatoes. Her father served his own home-made verdicchio white wine from his vineyard. Although I'm not an avid wine drinker, I found it more delicate  to my taste than the ones I had drank.

During the rest of my stay, her father drove us to visit Assisi, Loreto and Cascia. He showed us his ancestral home and vineyard in Rosora. On my last day, we spent an afternoon on a beach in Porto Sant'elpidio along the Adriatic coast. To be continued.

The Dawn of Salvation

September 8, 2026 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Readings for Today

Image via Adobe Stock Video “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20–21 The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and is one of only three liturgical feasts commemorating a birth, alongside those of Jesus and John the Baptist, highlighting her unique role in salvation history. Though Scripture is silent on her birth and early life, early Christian tradition, particularly the Protoevangelium of James, offers insights and gives us the names of her parents, Joachim and Anne. The feast likely originated in the fifth or sixth century and is linked to the dedication of a church near what was believed to be her birthplace in Jerusalem. The Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth is symbolically depicted as the “dawn of salvation” because she is the pure and holy vessel prepared to bear the Son of God. Today, as we celebrate her birth, we also honor her entire life and her perfect holiness, rejoicing in the wondrous work God accomplished in and through her. She is the dawn that precedes the rising Sun. In honoring her nativity, we celebrate the approach of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The longer version of today’s Gospel presents us with the lengthy genealogy of Jesus according to Saint Matthew. While at first glance this may seem only to be a historical list, it teaches us that God’s plan of salvation unfolds gradually and purposefully through generations. Each name, each family, each story, contributes to the coming of the Messiah. The Blessed Virgin Mary stands at the culmination of this line, as the one chosen before time to give flesh to the Eternal Word. In her, the promises made to Abraham and David are fulfilled. The genealogy includes not only patriarchs and kings, but also some Gentiles, and others with morally complex stories. In each of them, we are invited to rejoice that God used the great and the lowly, the righteous and sinner, all to bring about the Incarnation and the gift of salvation. This same truth remains in our lives today. Though Jesus’ bloodline is traced back to Abraham, with whom God made His foundational covenant, there is a mystical way in which His genealogy continues today. Though the Immaculate Conception, the Birth of Mary, and the Incarnation of the Son of God took place in a singularly unique way some 2,000 years ago, these glorious events in salvation history continue in our lives. Like each person in Jesus’ bloodline, we are called to contribute to His ongoing presence in this world by being members of His family, sons and daughters of the Mother of God, and members of His new bloodline of grace. One way we do this is by imitating Saint Joseph. As today’s Gospel continues, we hear the angel’s words to Joseph, assuring him of the divine origin of Mary’s Child. Joseph’s holy obedience allows the mystery of the Incarnation to proceed within the sanctity of a human family. Mary’s maternity, safeguarded by Joseph’s silent strength, reveals that God’s greatest works unfold in humility and hiddenness. Today, in imitation of Mary and Joseph, God also says to us, “Do not be afraid…” Do not be afraid to be the dawn of salvation today, for yourself and as instruments of God’s living presence to others. Do not be afraid to say “Yes” to God’s will, even when it is hidden in mystery. Do not be afraid to carry Christ within you, to bring Him to birth in the lives of others, to stand in silent trust when the world does not understand the ways of grace. God’s light dawns again today in your own life. Rejoice in that light. Reflect today on how you are called to carry forward the light of Christ in this world. Ponder the hidden ways God continues to unfold His saving plan through your life. Rejoice in the gift of Mary, the Mother of God and our mother, and seek her prayers so that you may become more fully a member of the household of faith and a bearer of divine life to others. Dearest Mother Mary, we rejoice in your holy birth, the dawn of our salvation. You are the pure vessel prepared by God to bring forth the Savior of the world. Intercede for us, your children, that we may say “Yes” to God’s will as you did and allow His saving grace to shine through us. May we never be afraid to walk in His light. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Seeing is Believing?

September 7, 2026 Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Healing the Man with a Withered Hand, by Carl Jobst and Franz Jobst Video On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Luke 6:6–8 Even on the surface, the thinking and actions of the Pharisees are absurd. They had become blinded by their jealousy for power and envy of Jesus. This is clearly evident in the fact that they were hoping Jesus would perform a miraculous healing on the Sabbath—not because they desired a man to be healed or longed to see divine authority at work, but because they had decided that miracles were considered “work” and, therefore, a violation of the Sabbath law of rest. The absurdity of their reasoning is shocking. Even an atheist who witnessed a miraculous healing would find it difficult to explain away or ignore. Only the Creator, who established the laws of nature, is capable of bending those laws at will. What makes the Pharisees such a pitiful group of men is not that they disbelieved Jesus’ miracles, but that they believed and intentionally rejected the meaning of those miracles. Miracles were, in part, signs of Jesus’ divine identity. The Pharisees clearly witnessed the sign with their own eyes, but what they saw was not able to purge their self-centeredness. Rather than worship Jesus, they rejected Him and began to plan His destruction. Imagine being there in the synagogue, witnessing the miraculous healing of this man’s hand. Being a local synagogue, the people present most likely had known the man for years, and his withered hand would have been undeniable—as would the cure. Consider also, as you watch the miracle, the reaction of the Pharisees. Rather than rejoicing in the goodness of God or falling to their knees in awe and gratitude, they seethe with anger. Their hearts are so hardened by pride and selfishness that even the undeniable power of God does not move them. Instead of seeing this act as a manifestation of divine love and mercy, they see it as a threat to their authority. And rather than allowing the miracle to open their hearts to faith, they begin to plot against Jesus. In each of our lives, the absurdity of the Pharisees’ irrational hate could easily arise. At times, others might treat us or our loved ones with a disdain that is so irrational, we sit back in confusion, declaring that such actions make no sense—because they don’t. This irrational thinking can also tempt each of us when we allow the sins of jealousy and envy to fester in our souls. Those sins lead to irrational and, at times, absurd thinking. Though the Pharisees are anything but inspiring, their witness can inspire us in another way—shocking us into an awareness of just how destructive pride and envy can be. The Pharisees’ bad example becomes a warning and a call to self-examination. When we see grace at work in others, our hearts must be filled with gratitude, not tainted by jealousy or envy. Reflect today on the irrationality and spiritual blindness that can arise from self-centeredness, jealousy, and envy. Consider the Pharisees—not to condemn them, but to recognize how easily the same temptations can take root in our own hearts. When God blesses others, are you able to rejoice? When someone else is praised, succeeds, or receives grace, does your heart rise in gratitude or fall into resentment? Be honest. Pray for the grace to be humble, so that you never fall into the trap of rejecting what is good simply because it did not come through you. Let the Pharisees’ behavior serve not only as a warning, but as a call to sincere self-reflection, repentance, and faith. My divine Lord, Your power is undeniable, and Your identity certain. When You act in this world, Your grace and goodness become manifest for all to see. Give me the grace I need always to rejoice in the good You do, especially when it is done in and through others. Free me from the jealousy that resents Your blessings in my neighbor and from the envy that blinds me to Your presence outside of myself. May I humbly love You in every way You come to me, whether through Your Word, Your Sacraments, or the holiness of those around me. Jesus, I trust in You.

HOW I MET MY WIFE? Part 2

As soon as I arrived in front of the university to attend the general assembly of the foreign students, I spotted immediately the girl from San Marino who was chatting with somebody. I went directly toward her and she invited me to join her. Spontaneously, she introduced me to her friend whom she mentioned to me about during our first conversation.

The very moment we faced each other and looked straight in the eyes, I suddenly perceived a strong affinity and liking for her because I found her reserved and unpretentious. Surprisingly, I felt a strong current the moment she shook my hand so warm and gently as to make my limbs somewhat weak causing me to stammer unnoticeably as I quickly regained my voice to continue our conversation normally. In the meantime, however, the girl from San Marino excused herself to meet and talk to other students and left us discreetly.

She told me she came from the Marche region and was still pursuing her studies and preparing her thesis in language and literature contemporaneously at the universities in Macerata and Pescara. She was engaged as an assistant professor in an exchange program to teach Italian.

We saw each other as much as possible and managed to sit close to each other in the same class. We went together to dine at the university restaurants to eat different culinary specialties, such as German, Italian and Arab cuisines. We went to cultural and dance events that were organized by local groups for foreign students. Whenever we found the weekends in Lille boring and uneventful, we often hitchhiked to Paris and stayed at her friend's place in the Latin Quarter overnight. We visited the places we loved and enjoyed to explore and discover more, like the Louvre museum that was then free of charge. I wonder how many times we went to see the painting of Mona Lisa but still intrigued by her enigmatic smile until now. We could never forget the long stroll we made along the banks of the Seine from the Eiffel tower and the ascent to the Montmartre cathedral to admire the view of Paris. On other occasions, we went on one-day trips to discover and explore other cities nearby, like Amiens, Calais, Ghent and Brugge. The trip we loved and enjoyed most was the 4-day tour of the Loire valley during the Easter of 1968 where we visited and explored the famous and beautiful castles in the region, like Angers, Chambord, Chenonceaux, Azay le Rideau, and Blois.

On that grey and cool evening of Valentine's Day in 1968, I invited her to a quaint restaurant for a drink. Immediately after I offered her a red rose, I timidly proposed to her. To be continued.

The Joy of Reconciliation

September 6, 2026 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Readings for Today

Image via Adobe Stock Video Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.” Matthew 18:15 When someone sins against us, especially in a grievous way, anger and condemnation can quickly arise as strong temptations. Our natural sense of justice often takes over, and we may find ourselves rationalizing a response rooted in judgment rather than compassion. In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus offers the much better path—to seek reconciliation, not division. The ultimate goal is to win the sinner back to God and restore the bond of communion. Sin touches every human relationship, with the sole exception of the one shared between Jesus and His Blessed Mother. Their mutual and perfect charity rendered sin and division entirely absent from their union. What a sublime and singular gift they shared! But we are not perfect. Even the most loving and holy relationships are affected by human weakness, and sin inevitably creeps in. We sin against others, and others sin against us. Sometimes the sin is deliberate and deeply wounding. Other times, it stems from weakness or the absence of fully formed virtue. Regardless of its source, every sin inflicts harm and weakens the communion we are called to share and deeply desire. In today’s Gospel, while Jesus appears to be addressing serious sin that severs a person from sanctifying grace—mortal sin—the same principles apply to all offenses, even venial sins and spiritual imperfections. The Christian response to sin must always be grounded in mercy. Whether we are correcting or being corrected, the goal must always be to heal, to restore, and to deepen our unity in Christ. To begin applying these spiritual principles, call to mind those toward whom you may harbor resentment. Start with your family, since familial bonds—due to their natural closeness—are especially vulnerable to sin. Resentment born of sin is often present in close relationships. While some wounds may have caused deep fractures, even the most loving bonds can suffer subtle injuries. Prayerfully examine these relationships in your life. If the wounds are deep and hostilities strong, the path forward is usually clear: Seek to win over your brother, sister, parent, or spouse. And if you are the one who has caused the wound, then humbly acknowledge your sin without excuses. This is always the better path. Always. To aid this process, it is helpful to recognize a hidden dynamic: Holding onto resentment or anger can bring a certain emotional satisfaction. Though it may seem surprising, this is often the case. Anger energizes the emotions and creates a charged feeling that, while disordered, can feel gratifying—like a drug that fuels addiction. The first step is to recognize this disordered emotional pattern for what it is. The next step is to realize that a healed and reconciled relationship offers a deeper and more lasting fulfillment that is far superior to the fleeting satisfaction of resentment or hostility. Winning over another—or being won over by one we have wronged—is profoundly rewarding. It transcends emotion and enters the realm of grace, producing true peace and spiritual joy. Reflect today on the first step of reconciliation outlined by Jesus in the Gospel: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Take sin seriously. Acknowledge its presence in your relationships, especially the close ones. See yourself both as one who is sinned against and as one who sins. Identify the offenses that diminish love. Confront those sins with courage and humility. Reject the false comfort of resentment, and seek instead the true consolation that comes from unity and charity. This is the path that leads to a share in the holy love between Jesus and His Blessed Mother—a love they desire us to know and live. Lord of perfect mercy, Your Sacred Heart burns with a deep desire to win us back to Yourself—fully reconciled and united in love. I repent of my sins before You, and I pray that Your love, living within me, may become a wellspring of mercy for others. I forgive all who have sinned against me, and I repent of the sins I have inflicted upon others. Restore every relationship in my life, Lord, and endow them with the same pure and holy love You shared with Your Blessed Mother. Jesus, I trust in You.

How I met my wife?

When I was growing up I was too young to know what love meant between adults that would culminate in a marriage. I was 10 years old when I became very fond and attracted to watch white people whom I saw frequently on foreign-produced films. That was the time when I ever dreamed of meeting a white girl to marry and to have children. 

However, taking into account my poor and unstable state of financial situation in my early 20s, such a wish of meeting white girls locally was highly impossible because all of them or even the half-breeds were either promised or reserved to the rich or good-looking men who had power and influence. Therefore, it's highly likely that such a girl, if ever there was one available who would ever take fancy on me at all, would unlikely concede to go with me out on a date either to a movie house or to the park alone in a local transport.

After high school, I studied in a vocational school to learn a trade that would help find an office job to enable me to earn a living and experience. After a couple of years of working hard on a very low salary, I decided to enroll at the university so that I could get a degree that would qualify me to obtain an all-expense-paid scholarship grant abroad. During that time, I had a choice between the U.S. and Europe. However, the U.S. offered only the scholarship grant but the plane ticket was at your own expense. On the contrary, France, which was the only available country, offered all benefits that I won, fortunately.

On my first days in France regardless of fatigue and jet lag from a long flight, I immediately spent all my time visiting and admiring all the iconic spots that I saw and read on the travel magazines and brochures I collected when I was young, like the Eiffel tower, the Seine river, the Notre Dame, the Louvre museum, and Montmartre. 

I was too happy and thrilled to be enrolled officially at the University of Lille in the first week of November 1967 and to be able to meet and talk to my classmates who came from different countries of Europe, North and South America for the first time. 

The first person I talked to in Italian was a girl from San Marino. However, she introduced me to someone from Italy. To be continued.

Confronting Opposition

September 5, 2026 Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin—Optional Memorial

The Disciples Plucking Corn on the Sabbath, by Gustave Doré Christ in the Field of Grain or Christ in the Wheatfield, by Josef Untersberger Video While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Luke 6:1–2 Though Jesus’ public ministry was still in its early stages, confrontations with the religious leaders had already become frequent. This episode marks the fourth recorded instance of such tension. In the previous days, the Pharisees had accused Jesus of blasphemy for forgiving the paralytic before healing him, of scandal for eating with tax collectors and sinners after calling Levi, and of impiety for neglecting the traditional practice of fasting. Now, He and His disciples are accused of violating the Sabbath law by picking heads of grain, rubbing them, and eating them. Slowly, the Pharisees are emerging as hardened opponents of Jesus, increasingly focused not on the divine power and mercy He reveals, but on preserving their own rigid interpretations of the Law. These confrontations reveal both their growing hostility and Jesus’ authority as the true interpreter and fulfillment of the Law. Though the Pharisees began going out of their way to confront Jesus, He was not intimidated and confronted their opposition directly. Today, as we read the Scriptures, we know well that many of the religious leaders at that time were deeply misguided in their understanding of the Law and its purpose. Such confrontations were shocking in a culture where ordinary Jews rarely challenged religious leaders. While the leaders themselves often debated among one another, it was almost unheard of for ordinary Jews to challenge them openly. For that reason, many of Jesus’ disciples likely felt a sense of surprise and tension as these encounters unfolded. At the same time, they may also have experienced a sense of relief as they witnessed Jesus expose the rigidity and oppressive practices that had long left many Jews feeling burdened, discouraged, and spiritually exhausted. Though Jesus’ confrontation was necessary, we too must learn from their negative example. While we no longer encounter scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, or elders in the same form as in first-century Israel, the underlying sins that afflicted them remain just as present in our world today. Those underlying sins could be summed up as a misuse of authority for its own sake, a tendency toward outward religious observance without inward transformation, and a preference for human traditions over divine revelation. These tendencies manifest themselves in every generation. They are found not only within the Church but also in homes, businesses, governments, and every human institution. Wherever pride overshadows humility or control stifles compassion, the spirit of the Pharisees lives on. Therefore, as disciples of Christ, we must be vigilant in our own lives—first examining our hearts for these tendencies, and then responding with the same holy courage and divine clarity that our Lord Himself displayed. Do you experience oppression from others? Are you the cause of that oppression? Misused authority, whether by individuals or institutions, wounds hearts, stifles freedom, and obscures the gentle call of grace. Before condemning such behavior in others, we must honestly examine whether we, too, have clung to positions of control or influence in ways that burden rather than bless. Reflect today on the fallen human tendency to love authority for its own sake. Do you struggle with this? Power that is exercised without humility and without charity that seeks only the good of others is dangerous and often abusive. Look for such structures in your life—whether external or internal—and prayerfully surrender them to Christ. Allow Him, the true Lord of the Sabbath, to reorder your heart according to truth, love, and mercy, so that every exercise of authority in your life becomes an act of service, modeled after His own. My all-powerful Lord, Your divine authority is absolute. You are the Source of all that is, the Sustainer of creation, and the Holder of dominion over all things. Every exercise of Your authority flows from perfect charity and infinite wisdom. Please reign in my life with that same loving authority, and help me to exercise any authority entrusted to me with humility, mercy, and the charity that flows from Your Sacred Heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

HONG KONG - HOMEWARD BOUND

Personally, I found that two weeks in Manila were already too much to stay for me while for my wife, she was not only too happy but also delighted to meet my family and friends and to enjoy the places where she went to that I was very familiar with.

The following day after Easter Sunday, we flew back to Hong Kong for another stopover for a few days before we returned to Paris. This time, we spent most of the time going around shopping and to buy the things fthat my friends had ordered and interesting souvenirs and trinkets for our family.  

We did most of the shoppings along Nathan Road in the Mong Kok area, particularly for souvenirs and photography items. Incidentally, I was able to buy a sapphire ring and a Chinese kimono dress for my office colleagues. On one occasion, after a long process of haggling over the tagged price with a photo shop dealer, I finally bought a large format Mamiya camera, which I believed was cheaper than in France or in Belgium.

When my wife remembered that she was out of her hygienic pads, we went to a drugstore to inquire from a lady staff if they had Tampax. To my surprise, she was too confused for a woman to easily know what on earth I was talking about. After my simple explanation, she gave up and asked her male colleague to listen to me. Like a magician, he immediately opened a drawer behind the counter and produced a box of Tampax. Nevertheless, judging from her complete ignorance on the existence of Tampax or other disposable brands, she could could be considered an unsung hero for having been raised by a traditional family who had been resorting to non-disposable and reusable absorbent cloth to use for their monthly cycle, which would eventually diminish gradually the continuous proliferation of disposable wastes in the environment worldwide.

A couple of days before our flight home, we spent it leisurely with my sister to eat in the local restaurants in the Mong Kok area and to go to the other tourist spots that we missed during our first stopover. From the top of the double decker we saw the floating restaurant and the junks along the way. Then we proceeded to Victoria Peak, where we made a brief stop to see the place where the beautiful and romantic scene between Jennifer Jones and William Holden in the film "Love is a many splendored things" was shot. And last but not the least, we visited and sauntered around the famous Tiger Balm gardens.

Read STOPOVER HONG KONG : https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/19133557/6532675344181816361

Spouse of My Soul

September 4, 2026 Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Jesus Reproves the Scribes and Pharisees, by Iulian Rosu Video The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:33–35 Though most of the scribes and Pharisees rejected the ministry of John the Baptist, here they attempt to use his discipline of fasting as a weapon to criticize Jesus. But our Lord, perceiving the hollowness of their accusation, turns it into an opportunity for divine revelation. He discloses to them, and to us, a profound truth about His identity: He is the Bridegroom. By doing so, Jesus draws from the rich prophetic imagery of Isaiah and Hosea, which portrays God as the divine Spouse of Israel. Isaiah declared, “As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you” (Isaiah 62:5). Hosea, speaking the word of the Lord, proclaimed, “You shall call me ‘My husband’… I will betroth you to me forever” (cf. Hosea 2:18–22). Jesus is not merely using a poetic image. By calling Himself the Bridegroom, He reveals a nuptial mystery: Christ comes in the flesh to unite Himself to His Bride, the Church. The proper response to His presence is not fasting in sorrow but rejoicing in the wedding feast. Fasting will have its place, but only once the Bridegroom is taken away, which is a prophetic reference to His Passion. This exchange exposes not only the Pharisees’ superficial religiosity but also unveils a central mystery of salvation: In Christ, God draws near in spousal love. To follow Him is to enter into a covenant of joy and grace. Though nuptial imagery might seem more naturally relatable to women, it expresses a truth that transcends gender. Just as “a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body” (Genesis 2:24), so each soul is called to a transforming union with Christ. This is not merely symbolic; it is a real and spiritual union. We are called to become His Mystical Body. Saint Paul captures this mystery when he writes, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:19–20). Traditionally, this union has been described as Mystical Marriage or Divine Union. Saint Teresa of Ávila favored the image of Mystical Marriage, emphasizing the soul’s intimate, spousal love for Christ. Saint John of the Cross more often spoke of Divine Union, highlighting the complete transformation of the soul in God. Though they use different terms, both describe the soul’s ultimate vocation: perfect union with Christ. In Heaven, when this Divine Union is fully realized, fasting and other penitential acts will be unnecessary. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples did not fast because the Bridegroom was with them—an extraordinary grace unique to those three years. But after He was “taken away,” fasting took on a new importance, becoming a participation in His Passion and a preparation for the Wedding Feast to come. Reflect today on the glorious end to which you are called: union with Christ, your Bridegroom. This journey requires sacrifice, so fasting and penance remain essential. Yet when we keep our eyes fixed on the joy of Divine Union, every sacrifice becomes lighter and a joyful embrace of love. The difficulty of fasting and penance is overshadowed by the union they help bring about. Resolve to fast, to pray, and to stay close to Christ, the Bridegroom of your soul. He is the faithful Spouse who will never abandon you. Bridegroom of Your Church, You came to enter into union with us, Your sons and daughters by grace. By Your Incarnation, You wedded Yourself to humanity, and through Your Passion, You purified Your Bride, the Church. As I journey toward the Wedding Feast of Heaven, purify me now through acts of penance and prayer, so that my soul may be ready for the Divine Union to come. Jesus, I trust in You.