It’s a question we should ask ourselves from time to time. We just cannot and should not end the day in any which way. There is actually a proper way to do it, and we should be aware that many are the ways that are actually not proper to us, and worse, are even dangerous to us, health-wise, spirit-wise, or otherwise.

Yes, why not? We should throw away the notion that when we have troubles, we should be troubled and sad. No. It does not have to be that way. If we have faith in God, if our spiritual life is strong and healthy, we know that after all is said and done, God will always take care of everything.

Because of the way we are, with our intelligence and will that enable us to know, to choose, to feel free, to love, etc., we will always have the possibilities of either rising to the zenith of our humanity, making ourselves no less than “another Christ” as we are meant to be, or plunging south to be the most wretched of all God’s creatures.

They may look similar and share certain qualities. But they are actually opposed to each other. Patience is a virtue, while indifference with its accompanying trait of insensitivity is a vice. And these days when things can get so complicated and confusing, it would be good that we have a clear grasp of the difference between the two.

With how things are now, we just have to learn how to do things online. In my case, I now have to do most of my preaching and teaching, be it at Holy Mass, a recollection or retreat, a simple meditation or commentary on the gospel, a class, etc., online. It’s nice to know that I am developing a growing audience of listeners and viewers. I hope I can keep or even improve the pace.

Just attended another ordination recently where two close friends received the sacrament of Holy Order. It’s always a day of joy and thanksgiving when someone becomes a priest simply because what is involved is the transformation of a person to become another Christ in a most special way, that of Christ as head of the Church.

Remember Christ telling his disciples, “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” (Mt 10,40) These words clearly show that we are meant to be so identified with Christ that anyone who receives us receives Christ. In another gospel, Christ said something similar also. “He who hears you hears me. He who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Lk 10,16) These words tell us that there has

Chastity, especially when lived in celibacy, can be difficult. Some people have regarded it as an impossible virtue, especially these days when the world is so soaked with all sorts of impure elements. Wherever you turn, they say, even in a crowd and especially when alone, temptations against this virtue attack with savagery.

Let’s count the endless sad possibilities we can fall into if we dare to simply be by ourselves instead of being with God always. This obsession of saying, “Without you…” need not only be expressed when thinking of missing a loved one or of being rejected by a beloved. The most appropriate object of such expression is when it is directed to God himself. Such gesture would certainly elicit the best results for us!

Sometime ago, I wrote an article about the close relationship between faith and works, citing that famous passage from the Letter of St. James: “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (2,18)