Reflections

Lord, to whom shall we go?

By Fray Robin Ross Plata, OAR / August 26, 2018 / Comments Off on Lord, to whom shall we go?

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Jn. 6:60-69 | August 26, 2018 Oftentimes, when things seem to be hard to understand and our minds cannot comprehend the meaning of the things, events, and people around us we can easily turn our backs and go back to our former lives. This is so in our spiritual life.…

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To be wise is to see God’s hand

By Fray Robin Ross Plata, OAR / August 19, 2018 / Comments Off on To be wise is to see God’s hand

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jn. 6:51-58 | August 19, 2018   The readings this Sunday invite us to reflect on God’s invitation to communion. This communion is made in a family setting where everyone is to share at one table. This opens for us that God planned since the beginning to build a familial…

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Food for the Journey

By Fray Robin Ross Plata, OAR / August 12, 2018 / Comments Off on Food for the Journey

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jn. 6: 41-51 | August 12, 2018   Reflection: When hunger and fatigue comes to us, whether physically or spiritually, our immediate reaction is to give up. This is what the Prophet Elijah expressed in our 1st Reading. But God does not give up on us. He gives what is…

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On insults and provocations

By Frei Bo / September 23, 2017 / Comments Off on On insults and provocations

Let me tell you this story: Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of ethics – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to…

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The danger is within us . . .

By Frei Bo / September 10, 2017 / Comments Off on The danger is within us . . .

French author Victor Hugo has a short story titled, “93.” In the midst of this tale a ship at sea is caught in a terrific storm. Buffeted by the waves, the boat rocks to and fro, when suddenly the crew hears an awesome crashing sound below deck. They know what it is. A cannon they…

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Chip it away!

By Frei Bo / August 30, 2017 / Comments Off on Chip it away!

Let me tell you a story about a man who had a huge boulder in his front yard. He grew weary of this big, unattractive stone in the center of his lawn, so he decided to take advantage of it and turn it into an object of art. He went to work on it with…

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There is no limit to what God can do

By Frei Bo / August 13, 2017 / Comments Off on There is no limit to what God can do

The great spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, wrote a story describing the truth that there is a limit to what we can do by means of our natural abilities, but there is no limit to what God can do in and through us if we trust him and surrender ourselves to his will. The story: Once…

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We are vessels of clay

By Frei Bo / August 6, 2017 / Comments Off on We are vessels of clay

We are like clay vessels A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay vessels. It was like someone had rolled balls of clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they…

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Perseverance is the key!

By Frei Bo / July 15, 2017 / Comments Off on Perseverance is the key!

Perseverance is the key!            As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages.           It was obvious that the elephants could, at…

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Pamalandong

By Frei Bo / April 10, 2017 / Comments Off on Pamalandong

I FIND myself truly grateful that I have a hometown where there is an annual celebration of Holy Week. I had a guest once who is city born and bred, and with the faintest idea of what Holy Week stands for other than going with family or friends for a respite to the beach or…

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