Opinion: Beware of false prophets and false Christs by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE ARE reminded of this warning in that gospel episode where St. John the Baptist told his disciples to ask Christ if he truly was the “who is to come, or should we look for another?” (cfr. Lk 7,19)

Opinion: Dealing with our sinfulness By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu City)

THE STORY of Zaccheus in the gospel (cfr. Lk 19, 1-10) offers us a precious lesson on how to properly deal with the unavoidable human condition of our sinfulness. And that is, no matter how big, ugly and plenty our sins are, God’s mercy is always available. We should not waste time rutting in guilt feelings, sadness and depression because these would only make things worse.

Opinion: Toughness amid unavoidable scandals By Fr. Roy Cimagala

YES, WE have to be tough, with the toughness of charity, amid the unavoidable scandals in the world. Christ already warned us about this. “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,” he said. (Lk 17,1) We should just be prepared for this condition in our life.

Opinion: Give without expecting any return By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

CHRIST somehow makes us understand that we have to learn to give ourselves to others without expecting any return by telling a host who invited him to invite those who would be unable to return the invitation. (cfr. Lk 14,12-14)

Opinion: Be always guided by faith By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

IN THE gospel, there is a part where Christ lamented about the lack of faith of the people. “This generation is an evil generation,” he said. “It seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 11,29)

Opinion: Loving without measure by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

THAT’S how love should be if it is true. That is to say, if it is the love that flows from the same love which is the very essence of God and that is also meant for us, since we are God’s image and likeness. We are reminded of this truth of our faith in that gospel episode where Christ was asked what God’s greatest commandment is. That is to say, what God really wants us to do and ultimately to be. (cfr. Lk 10,25-37)

Opinion: Charity should animate our zeal by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE should see to it that our zeal to do the things of God is always animated by charity. Without charity, that zeal would do us more harm than good. It would be a zeal that defeats the purpose of serving God.

Opinion: We have to give good examples always by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“NO one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.” (Lk 8,16)  These are words of Christ that clearly tell us that we have to always give good examples to others. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we should always keep in mind that we have a serious duty to give good examples to others.

Opinion: Let’s Be Quick To Show Compassion by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“AS he (Christ) drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her…” (Lk 7,12) So goes the gospel of Tuesday of the 24^th Week in Ordinary Time. To this sight, Christ immediately told the mother not to weep and proceeded to raise the dead son to life again.

Opinion: The Way to Know and Love Properly by Fr. Roy Cimagala

SINCE God is the creator of all things, and the original and ultimate lawgiver, he should know all things and love them in the proper way.

OPINION: The Battle for Purity of Intention by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE CANNOT overemphasize the importance of this concern. We have to do our best to see to it that we always have purity of intention in everything that we do, so that we only love and serve God, and because of that, we can properly love and serve everybody else.

OPINION: Let’s strive to enter by the narrow gate by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

GIVEN OUR wounded and sinful condition here on earth, Christ suggests that we choose to enter by the narrow gate. (cfr. Lk 13,22-30) That’s simply because we are very prone to get spoiled by the good things in the world and to develop undue attachments that detach us from God who is our everything in life.

OPINION: On Human Sexuality by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

IN THE gospel, Christ was once asked about marriage and divorce. And it was there that he had to clarify certain misunderstandings the people of that time had about these matters. And he also brought in the issue about celibacy. (cfr. Mt 19,3-12)

Opinion: When God seems harsh to us by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“IT IS not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” (Mt 15,26) These words of Christ certainly must have sounded harsh to the Canaanite woman who begged him to cure her daughter who was tormented by a demon. But instead of being turned off, she persisted in her request.

Opinion: Privileged but not feeling entitled by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

THAT’S how we should behave. We may be quite privileged in life because of the many gifts and other endowments God and others may have given us, but we should never feel entitled to anything. Instead, our attitude toward these privileges should be one of willingness to serve more, doing a lot of good while passing unnoticed, and all for the glory of God and for the good of all.

OPINION: With repentance, our faith becomes more alive by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE NEED to see the close relationship between our repentance and its effect on our faith. This relationship was highlighted in the Gospel of St. Matthew (12,38-42) where some of the leading Jews at that time asked Christ for a sign.

OPINION: Our true rest only with Christ by By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu City)

THAT’S what Christ clearly said. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest,” he said. (Mt 11,28) For those who try to follow Christ faithfully and are burdened as can be expected, they should find consolation in these words of his. He also reassured them that they should be unafraid to take Christ’s yoke for as he said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11,30)

Opinion: Being Realistic In The World By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu City)

“BE SHREWD as serpents and simple as doves.” (Mt 10,16) What a combination of qualities Christ is telling us! Hard and even impossible as it may seem, we just have to try our best to achieve such a condition, obviously with God’s grace, because as Christ himself warned us, in this world we would be like sheep in the midst of wolves. We just have to be clever without compromising our human and Christian integrity. 

OPINION: The Spirit More Than The Body by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE are composed of body and soul. But of the two, let’s see to it that we give utmost attention to the soul which is spiritual. It is what gives life, the real life to us.

OPINION: Not Only a Matter of Words and Intention by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

 “IT is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Mt 7,21) Christ says it very clearly. Our prayer should not just be a matter of sweet words and good intentions. It should be a matter of deeds that fulfill the will of God.