Opinion

After quite a while I'm back with my column, Conservation Matters. This will continue to bring lessons learned, successes, challenges, announcements, and innovative ideas and concepts as I continue my journey in the field of conservation work.After years of working as an independent professional in natural resources management, protected areas, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation in the country and to some extent in Southeast Asia, I am now working as the national coordinator/country programme manager for the Small Grants Programme Operational Phase 7 in the Philippines. The SGP-7 is a funding window of the Global Environment Facility with the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.This five-year initiative i...

The common theme running through today’s readings is clearly that of humility. Once held in high esteem, the virtue of humility is unfortunately less and less valued by our present secularized society.In today’s highly competitive world that estimates self-assurance and audacity as pre-requisite to getting to the top, humility is considered a weakness and even a liability. Since the advent of Enlightenment, the world has increasingly lost its understanding and appreciation of humility. The Scottish philosopher, David Hume, sees humility not as a virtue, but as a vice because it prevents one from flourishing and accomplishing. And that is how the world thinks today. Ambition is in, modesty is out. How else would you explain the continued adulation and support of the American public for ...

Once again, Jesus is presented with an intriguing question which he did not answer but used to impart an important teaching. "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus replied by saying, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”Jesus did not tell how many will be saved but who will be saved. He made his listeners understand that what is more important to know is not how many will be saved but rather how one can be saved.We are all called to salvation. This is the very reason why Jesus came on earth and became man. He came that all may have life, and have it abundantly. (cf Jn 10:10) And he came to save not only the people of Israel, but all peoples. Already in the Old Testament, the call to universal sa...

"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing… Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Coming from the Lord who is meek and humble of heart, these tough words are not only frightening but surprising. St. Paul tells us that Jesus is “himself our peace" (Eph 2: 14). His birth was proclaimed by the angels as the dawning of “[God’s] Glory in the highest and Peace on earth…” Peace was the first fruit of the resurrection. “Peace be with you!” were the first words of the risen Lord to his apostles, holed up in the upper room. If Jesus came to bring peace, how do we understand then what he is telling us in today’s gospel?“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gi...

Throughout the scripture, we read of a God of promise, (of great promises, in fact) who fulfills every one of his promises.The first reading tells us that the people of Israel were certain of their deliverance from the slavery of Egypt even before the night of the Passover because of the oath God made to their fathers.The second reading is a hymn on the fulfilment of God’s promises to the ancients, starting with those he made to Abraham. God asked Abraham to leave his country and go to an unknown land where he would find a “city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.” He also promised Abraham that he would have a son even as he was advanced in age and his equally aged wife was sterile. And true indeed, he bore a son. But just when his son was growing up to be a young m...

The gospel story is a familiar one which happens in many funerals. (As a wisecrack has it, “Where there’s a will, there are relatives.”) A man asks Jesus to arbitrate between him and his brother regarding their inheritance. The Lord refuses to get entangled in the family squabble. Instead, he takes the occasion to teach the valuable lesson on how to deal with the goods of this world.He tells his listeners, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Jesus does not condemn riches per se. The goods of this world are literally “goods.” They are God’s creation, meant to make man’s life happy and worthy of his dignity as bearer of the divine image.What Jesus is telling us is that we are to avoid greed. This means that w...

They call it “natural” gas.In the explainer by the United States Energy Information Administration, natural gas is defined as “a fossil energy source that formed deep beneath the earth's surface.” Like oil and coal. They are made up of “the remains of plants and animals (such as diatoms) built up in thick layers on the earth’s surface and ocean floors, sometimes mixed with sand, silt, and calcium carbonate.” Like oil and coal. It is found by drilling it from the earth and from the seafloor. Like oil and coal. And the burning of “natural” gas emits “nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), trace amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM).” Like oil and coal.Considering that “natur...

We can never thank enough the unnamed disciple who asked Jesus in today’s gospel, “Lord teach us to pray.” His request occasioned Jesus not only to teach us how to pray and what to pray for. More importantly, it prompted Jesus to invite us to enter into and experience his own prayer. By giving us the Our Father, Jesus takes us into his own intimacy and relationship with the Father and draws us in their conversation. He brings us into direct communication with God, enabling us to enter into the divine paternity. And so, we can now truly address God “Abba, Father.”This may be the reason why the Church traditionally prays the Our Father standing up. We stand on the same ground with Jesus, who has made us his sisters and brothers, children of his Father. Emboldened by his invitation, “we d...

As I write this homily from Tagaytay, the four-day National Synodal Consultation convened by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is about to conclude. The national synodal consultation is a gathering of all the bishops and representatives (priests, religious and lay) from all the dioceses for the purpose of looking into the present realities in the Church by listening to everyone, particularly those in the margins, in order to discern where God is leading us in our journey together towards the realization of our mission. Thus, the theme – “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.”As you may already know, Pope Francis called for the Synod of Bishops to be celebrated in October 2023 (with Synodality as its theme), but wanted it to be participated by...

Last Sunday, Jesus taught us what it means to be a disciple and what it takes to be one. Today, he continues his teaching on discipleship. A disciple is someone who follows him and is sent to proclaim the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom. A disciple is a missionary.We used to think that the missionary vocation was only for priests, religious or some exceptional lay persons who are “more committed and generous.” We are all called to be missionaries. Earlier in chapter 9 of Luke’s gospel, Jesus chooses his twelve apostles, gives them power over the devil and sends them to proclaim the gospel and to heal the sick. In today’s gospel (chapter 10), Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples and sends them on the same mission. Jesus entrusts his mission to the apostles and disciples alike. ...