Of Doubts and Dogs: Finding God in the Unexpected

   

Second Sunday of Easter

(Divine Mercy Sunday)

27 April 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 5:12-16

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel: John 20:19-31

 

Reflection

By: Therese B. Manio

 

It's easier to believe when something reaches your senses, when you've seen it, touched it, smelled it, or felt it deep in your bones. But what happens when the proof you crave never comes? What if you're standing in the middle of heartbreak, and nothing makes sense anymore? What if the silence is louder than hope, and all you're left with is the ache of absence? That's where we find Thomas, not as a skeptic, but as someone whose world just collapsed over the death of a loved one. And honestly, I get him. I think a lot of us do.

I've always found myself relating to Thomas. Not because he doubted out of arrogance, but because he needed something tangible, something real to hold onto when everything around him was falling apart. I imagine the silence after Jesus' death was deafening for Thomas. He had given his life to follow someone he believed in, and then suddenly, it seemed like all of that had come to nothing. It's not hard to understand why he needed to see the wounds.

In many ways, I've had my own "Thomas moments", times when I asked for signs, needed proof, and struggled with trust. One of those moments was when I received Magis in 2019, a shih tzu dog, into my life. He was my first pet, and I wasn't sure if I was ready. I just transferred to Laguna, living by myself, far from my family and friends whom I could easily call in case I need assistance or if she gets sick. My parents doubted my ability to take care of a pet which in a way added more doubts in myself. Could I be responsible for another life? Could I understand her needs? Could I be enough? I was filled with doubt. But as the days went on, Magis quietly taught me about trust, presence, and companionship. She actually took care of my mental health during the pandemic. She never made me feel alone, literally and figuratively. There were moments I cried in bed, she would climb, sit in my lap, or sleep beside me, which she would not do on usual days. Her quiet loyalty mirrored the presence of Christ in ways I didn't expect- faithful, unassuming, always there.

This week, as I grieve the loss of Magis and join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, I'm reminded that faith is not always grand or certain, it is often lived in small, courageous steps. Pope Francis was a shepherd who walked with the wounded, spoke for the voiceless, and loved those on the margins. His legacy challenges us to keep believing even when the world gives us reason to doubt. Like Thomas, we are called to move from doubt to belief, from fear to faith, from self-preservation to radical love.

Pope Francis showed us what Magis truly means not just "more", but the greater good, the deeper yes, the love that risks. His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy lives on in every act of mercy, every choice to love beyond reason, every moment risks in reaching out those in the peripheries, the last, the least, and the lost.

Today, as I remember Thomas' story, grieve the loss of Pope Francis, and look down at Magis curled at my feet, I am learning that faith isn't always bold and loud. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, like choosing to love even when you're scared, like seeing Christ in the ordinary and letting that be enough.

Prayer

Jesus, in my moments of doubt, draw near to me as You did to Thomas. Help me to recognize Your presence, not just in the extraordinary, but in the quiet, ordinary places of my life. Teach me to believe that life can come from death, hope can rise from despair, and love is never wasted. Strengthen my faith to follow You with courage, one step at a time. Amen.

Add reaction

Crossroads

    

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 August 2024

 

First Reading: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

Second Reading: Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32

Gospel: Jn 6:60-69

 

Reflection

By: Theresa B. Manio

 

There may be times where we find ourselves lost in following God’s will, moments when we doubt God’s providential plan, times when we become so unfaithful to Him, moments we feel so alone and fail to recognize God’s presence in our life. The Gospel we have today is a promise of Christ's deeper commitment and faithfulness to us. Jesus has become one of us so that we become like Him.

Jesus is asking us, “Do you also want to leave?” Do you want to quit? Humans that we are, sometimes our faith is also challenged by the problems that we have. Some of us fall short of our personal needs, wants, biases and whims. We also have our defense mechanisms in place.

When we encounter people or situations which are different to our tastes and personal views, we tend to reject them outright without first trying to understand. Today’s Gospel invites us to remain faithful to the Eucharist even when we don’t fully understand the mystery of it. When we take it, Jesus lives in us, thus, we have to try to be like Jesus to the people who judge and hurt us, stay to be kind and respectful no matter our differences in views and ideas, and be with the people who need most of our help and assistance. 

Our regular attendance in the Mass and having a genuine quality time in worshiping, praying, and receiving Jesus' body and blood, really makes a difference in making our heart so strong like Christ’s, able to trust God, and live with the Holy Spirit. For when we allow the Holy Spirit to move within us, we will be drawn to our Father through Jesus. May we devote our full presence and attention each time we attend the Mass. 

Jesus has the words of eternal life. If we want to have eternal life, let us listen to Him wholeheartedly without any hesitation. Let us pray then that our Father in heaven grants us a welcoming and faithful heart and that Jesus may become the King in all aspects of our lives.

“Do you also wish to go away?” When Jesus asks us this question, may our answer be like Peter: “To whom shall we go?” May we remain steadfast in our faith and trust in the Lord. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I stand at this crossroads, I seek Your guidance and wisdom. Strengthen my faith and help me trust in Your plan. May Your light lead me, and Your presence give me peace. Grant me the courage to follow Your path, knowing that Your love and faithfulness will see me through.

Amen.

Increase Our Faith

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 06 October 2019
First reading Habbakuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.

Second reading                                                          1 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Gospel                                                                          Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed”

God always writes a very beautiful story for us. We just have to trust that He is orchestrating and custom-making everything for good. We can never fathom the goodness and greatness of the Lord. We just have to stay in faith and continue to increase our faith.

Six days before the wedding of our daughter, her fiancé got afflicted with dengue and has to be confined in the hospital. My daughter really broke down. Everyone we know and we don’t know stormed heaven with prayers. Personally I kept a strong faith that 2 days before the wedding, the groom will be healed and discharged. I even borrowed the miraculous Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico from a prayer group friend. I kept the faith. But 2 days before the wedding, the platelets count started to go down so the couple made the most difficult decision to postpone the wedding! Otherwise they will be penalized big time. In my mind, I questioned their decision why they did not keep the faith. With the difficult task of postponing the wedding I was already thinking the implications of the postponement. So see, I thought I have a strong faith but I also had bouts of doubt!

Most of us live like this. We want to keep the faith, but trials and challenges sometimes make us waiver in our faith. That’s why Jesus is challenging us if we can only have faith as small as the mustard see we can really move mountains. To continue my story, the engaged couple were able to reset the wedding 10 days from the original date. And the greatest miracle -- all the suppliers, the entourage, the sponsors, the Church, and the venue are available on the reset date without any penalty!! Whew! Truly God works in mysterious ways. God’s grace abound. We just have to trust Him, increase our faith and never entertain any doubts. God is faithful. So the wedding pushed through on the reset date and it was a very beautiful wedding and I really saw God’s Hands at work! All by His GRACE.

Prayer

Lord Jesus it is easy to say I will trust you. But just like Peter who walked in the water and saw the great storm, we can also get overwhelmed by the storms of life. The trials and challenges we face can really haunt us and make us doubt and be full of fear. But You tell us to stay in faith. Lord, continue to increase our faith. Be the Lord of our life so we can easily surrender everything to you and trust that You are orchestrating everything for good! Thank You Jesus. All this we pray in Your name, Amen. 

Doubts Conquered

“ When you begin to study, look up to Him and think: 'O Lord, how worthless this knowledge would be, if it were not for the enlightening of my mind for Your service, or for making me more useful to my fellow men.'”

- St Elizabeth Ann Seton

First Reading:  Acts 2:14, 22-33

          But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words."Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know --this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

          But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, `I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption.

          Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.' "Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

          This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.

Psalm: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21

          And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

          That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

          And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

          Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.

          When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection:

Doubts Conquered

By Benj Santiago

“He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 

Today marks the second Sunday after the Resurrection or Easter Sunday. For us who live in the now, in this timeframe where we have been freely celebrating Easter Sunday all over the world; it is a totally different situation. We believe for we are free to believe and we have heard and read many testimonies about the Risen Christ in the Bible. While it was already foretold by the prophets of old before it actually came to reality on that fateful first Easter Sunday, many still failed to believe for many reasons. Some of the Jews did not believe out of fear and deception of the authorities which even include the priests of Jesus time. Even Thomas doubted and Peter the impulsive and brave leader of the disciples were locking themselves up for fear of the Jewish authorities. They know the scriptures and they have been able to live and talk and eat with Jesus yet they doubted. 

The two disciples mentioned in today’s Gospel also did not recognize Jesus. They did not believe in what was already foretold by Jesus that He will rise up on the third day!The Emmaus experience of the two disciples open their hearts and minds that indeed Jesus have risen from the dead. What opened their eyes was the breaking of the bread: “And it happened that, while he was with them at the table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished in their sight.”

For me, every Holy Mass is a repeat of the Emmaus experience of the disciples of Jesus. The Mass lets me open my eyes, my mind and my heart to what was foretold before Jesus time, and what continually happens in the present.  The celebration of the Holy Eucharist transports me back to the “Last Supper” of Jesus, and transforms me to bring this love to the people I meet that they may encounter in me the Risen Christ. The mass restores and strengthens my faith and hope that we too shall rise from our own “trials and deaths” for we have Jesus Who has conquered death!Open our hearts to the Risen Lord! Let His peace and love keep burning within our hearts. Let our faith, hope be to Him who have risen! Receive Him in the Holy Mass.

Prayer

Our loving and merciful Father, we thank You for giving us Your Son Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior. May our hearts continue to burn within us that it may set on fire the hearts of people we meet. May the risen Lord we receive in the Holy Eucharist continue to strengthen our faith and hope in Him. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Biggest Blessing in Biggest Problem

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
03 July 2011


We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.

First reading Zechariah 9:9-10
The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim
and horses from Jerusalem;
the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth.

Psalm: Psalm 144:1-2,8-11,13-14

Second reading Romans 8:9,11-13
Your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him, and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.

Gospel Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

Reflection
By Fely Santiago

Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.


Rest? How can you find rest when you’re in the midst of a BIG problem? What rest is Jesus talking about? Rest in Peace? Your mind could explode anytime, you don’t know what to do? You’re buried in debts and your creditors keep haunting you. You son is into drugs and doesn’t go to school anymore. Your 16-year old daughter just told you she is pregnant. Your husband is deep into ABS (alak [alcohol], babae [women], sugal [gambling]). Your most loved one just died. You just heard the news of a family member with stage 4 cancer. You just lost your job!

In the midst of these BIG problems most people would really question God. Worst they stop praying and going to church. Will you find rest?

YES! It is precisely for this reason that God is asking us to COME to Him. Those of us heavily burdened and find life so difficult. We need the grace of God. We need to allow Him to carry us. We are invited to place our trust in God. When we are able to find MEANING amidst all the trials and difficulties, meaning amidst the pain and sufferings then grace comes. Peace enters our hearts. We can find rest knowing that God will supply our every need. We just have to see that God is BIGGER than our problems! Our biggest problem can be our biggest BLESSING! God is the Master of turning burdens into blessings! Even when we don’t know why something bad happened, we know God has the power to use it for GOOD. Our biggest problems will be good stories to tell in the future! Our greatest testimony that our GOD is a LOVING God!!

In 2 Cor 17-18 –“ and this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.”

Also in James 1:2-8 “My brothers consider yourself fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who will give it to him; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. A person like that, unable to make up his mind and undecided in all he does, must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord”

So there you are, the scriptures are rich with words from God that really, in moments of heavy trials and difficulties, the MORE we need to go to GOD. When we do that, we find REST. God’s grace will see us through.

I know of someone who lost P80M during the financial crisis in 1997. His mind was about to explode anytime. He couldn’t sleep anymore. One time he decided to open the Bible and God led him to Phil 4:19 “My God will fully supply whatever you need according to His riches and glory." After reading that ,he BELIEVED and he was able to sleep like a baby. Years after, he recovered and even earned double than what he lost!

Dear Lord, it feels impossible to believe that my life can change, that I can move out of this rut I am in. I know I don't always live my life feeling Your love and being my best self. Help me to trust in You, to drop my defenses and to feel how deeply I am loved and forgiven by You. Give me the courage to feel it in my heart when You say, “Don't be afraid” and “Peace be with you.” I so long for that peace in my life but it feels so far away sometimes. Help me to believe in You, to drive away the doubts and unbelief that harden my heart. I know my life can change, if only I can say with all my heart, “I trust in You, Lord. I believe in Your mercy and I know that with Your help, my life can be healed.” Amen.