OPINION: The Best Condition for Us by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

IN THE gospel, there is a part where Christ went to the house of Peter and cured Peter’s wife, after which many others who were sick came to be healed by Christ. Even evil spirits that possessed a few came out of those they possessed. (cfr. Lk 4,38-44)

OPINION: True Charity Surpasses Our Human Systems by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“I TELL you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” (Jn 5,20) Words of Christ that warn us of the danger of self-righteousness as exemplified by the scribes and Pharisees of his time and that undermine the true charity that comes from God who is the very essence of love as fully manifested by Christ.

OPINION: Another problem, another chance to grow by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“I HAVE told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn 16,33) What very reassuring words of Christ for us! That’s why no matter what happens in our life, even if we are drowning with all sorts of problems and troubles, we should remain at peace and confident, since Christ has taken care of everything.

OPINION: Joy in the cross by By Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“AMEN, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” (Jn 16,20) With these words, Christ is telling us not to be afraid of whatever evil, in any of its forms, that we would unavoidably have in this life. In other words, the cross will always be with us. But as long as we tackle that cross together with Christ, that cross will in fact be a source of joy and peace for us, for it is through it that we would attain our own salvation and that of many others.

OPINION: Why it’s difficult to believe in Christ by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

“HOW LONG are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (Jn 10,24) Perhaps we too can ask the same question. In spite of what we already know about Christ, we may still be harboring doubts as to whether Christ is really the one he presents himself to be.

OPINION: The Good Shepherd and The Sacrificial Lamb by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

IF WE are truly to be like Christ, we also have to be a good shepherd to the others as well as a sacrificial lamb for the others. Not only that. We also need to be both a shepherd and a sheep, one that takes care of others as well as one to be taken care of. Finally, we have to form ourselves as one sheepfold of Christ.

OPINION: The World as Pathway to Heaven by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

WE SHOULD be very clear about this basic truth about the world in general or about the whole of nature that has been created by God. We need to realize that as God’s creation, the whole world of nature has been imprinted with God’s laws that are meant to give glory to God and to lead us also to him, giving him glory as well. In other words, depending on how we see the world, it is actually a pathway to heaven, to God.

Let’s have complete trust in God by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

 “FOR THE one whom God sent speaks the words of God.” (Jn 3,34) With these words of Christ, we are made to understand that Christ is the word of God who would lead us to eternal life. The immediate conclusion that we can derive from these words is that we should have full trust in God’s providence.

OPINION: Deception Always Boomerangs by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

 WE HAVE to be duly warned about this fact of life. When we deceive others, we may succeed to a certain extent to attain the purpose of such deception. But never forget that deception will always come back and will inflict greater damage on the deceiver. 

OPINION: Our sinfulness and God’s mercy by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu City)

THAT GOSPEL story about the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8, 1-11) can teach us many lessons that we can learn. Among them, that we are all sinners, no matter how much we try to be good; that God’s mercy is always available, and thus we should never lose hope because of this lifelong predicament of ours; that we need to have constant conversion, exerting the necessary effort and developing virtues.

OPINION: Being Christ-like and suffering by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu City)

“IS HE (Christ) not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?” (Jn 7,25-26).

OPINION: Our sinfulness and God’s mercy by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

THAT GOSPEL story about the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8,1-11) can teach us many lessons that we can learn.