Dear Family of God,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus’ seemingly harsh treatment to a Canaanite woman in the end brought out the best in her. She was determined no matter what and she got what she asked for. Jesus said of her: “O Woman great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Dear Family of God,

What is courage? How do we acquire this virtue?

Courage or Fortitude is one of the Cardinal Virtues, CCC 1808 defines it as “the Moral Virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.” We all need courage in order to live uprightly and with dignity especially as followers of Jesus. Only in faith with Jesus Christ that we can live our faith with courage and perseverance, not with fear and retreat.

Dear Family of God,

Last June, I had an opportunity to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy for the 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to Manila and back. This Sunday’s Readings reminded me of the Eucharistic symbolism of this movie, especially the Lembas bread that strengthened Frodo and Sam’s bodies and spirit as they journeyed through the darkness of Modor.

Dear Family of God,

What are you willing to sacrifice in order to possess Eternal Life?

To know and experience the love of God is more than any treasure or any pearl of great price. To possess God or rather to be possessed by Him is more than anything we could possess in this world.

Dear Family of God,

Why does God seem lenient to sinners and wicked people?

The book of Wisdom describes God as unique: “There is no god besides you who have the care of all… For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.” (Wisdom 12:13ff).

Dear Family of God,

The parable of the Sower in our Gospel this weekend, challenges us to listen intently to God’s Word, to be open to it, and to allow our lives to be shaped by its power. The parable reminds us that man’s reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of his heart.

Dear Family of God,

Happy 250th birthday of our nation!

Do you know when and why we included “One nation under God” in our pledge of allegiance? In 1863, President Lincoln uses “under God” at the Gettysburg Address, “This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”