From Pastor Romeo Velos, BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life!” These words are shocking to the Jews. They sound like cannibalism. Many of the disciples of Jesus left him. What is Jesus saying here? He reveals Himself as the New Lamb. This is a sacrificial language. This points to the Passover lamb sacrificed to save the lives …

Food That Perishes

It’s so easy to do the right thing because we want to tick all the right boxes. We want to live by the law. We want to accomplish the work of God. Or, at least, we say that we do. But Jesus tells us that in order to accomplish the work of God, we have to believe in the one …

July 21, 2024 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Burnout. Recent studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of doctors and nurses have signs of it. You probably know what burnout is: long-term stress leading to emotional exhaustion and a lack of a sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout can threaten anyone who tries to seriously serve and love others. How does our faith inform this challenging experience, and how do we …

ORDINARY TIME

The Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar of the Church refers to the ordered life of the Church in watchfulness and joyful expectation of the Second Coming of Christ.  Ordinary comes from the Latin word, ordinalis which means numbers in a series. It also comes from the Latin word, ordo which means order. The weeks in the ordinary time are …

CORPUS CHRISTI

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ reveals God’s total self-giving love. When God loves, He loves to the end. When He gives, He gives all. Jesus said, “There is no greater love than this: laying down one’s life for his friends.” He revealed God’s extravagant love on the Cross. He is the New Passover Lamb …

THE HOLY TRINITY

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of our Christian faith and life. It is a mystery because it is beyond our understanding and imagination. It is also a reality because God involves, engages in our human affairs and intervenes in our human story. His self-revelation is His initiative and is rooted in salvation history. We believe …

PENTECOST

Pentecost is a Greek word which means fiftieth day. It is the fiftieth day after Easter and Resurrection of Jesus. It signals the end of the Easter Season and ushers the Ordinary Time. It is also the Solemnity of the Coming of the Holy Spirit, the birthday of the Church. It is the Holy Spirit that gives birth to the …

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

The Ascension of Jesus signals the successful completion of the work of Jesus on earth. It also ushers the time of the Church not abandoned but empowered by the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ascension is not departure, goodbyes, endings but new beginnings because of the new and eternal presence of Jesus in the Church. Jesus is taken …