November 30, 2014, Saturday, marked a milestone in the life of SSAP guest friar priest, Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM. He launched his first book, Echoes of God’s Love (Homilies for Liturgical Cycle B) at the packed St. Bonaventure Room. The room was filled with parishioners, Franciscans, seminarians, family and friends, who came to show theirContinue reading ““Echoes of God’s Love” Book Launching”
Tag Archives: Robert Manansala
“GOD’S LOVE IN JESUS, IN THE DISCIPLES AND IN THE SAINTS,” By Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM, Sunday Gospel Reflection for 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A
The gospel passage on the 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A underscores, among others, the link between love and obedience and the presence of God in the person who loves. Love is the very motive for and the essence of the Father’s sending of Jesus into our midst. John 3:16 says, “For God so lovedContinue reading ““GOD’S LOVE IN JESUS, IN THE DISCIPLES AND IN THE SAINTS,” By Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM, Sunday Gospel Reflection for 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A”
“Because God Loves, He Suffers,” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
The yearly commemoration of the Holy Week, of the Passion and Death of Jesus leading to his Resurrection, starts with the commemoration of his pilgrim journey or entrance into Jerusalem. According to Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Part II), Jesus’ pilgrim journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is an “ascent” in bothContinue reading ““Because God Loves, He Suffers,” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“Who Do You Serve? God or Mammon?” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
Our God is a demanding God and He demands absolute loyalty. Jesus highlights this in the Gospel passage by declaring categorically that one cannot serve two masters (God and mammon) and that wealth can compete with our commitment to God. The word mammon is from the Greek word mamonas and it refers to earthly wealth.Continue reading ““Who Do You Serve? God or Mammon?” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“Some Challenges Of The Feast Of The Sto. Nino” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
The Feast of the Sto. Nino celebrates our nation’s great devotion to the child Jesus that has been maintained since 1521 with the gifting of the new Christian queen Juana with the image of the Sto. Nino by Magellan. The devotion has acquired different cultural trappings and practices, foremost of which are the Sinulog festivitiesContinue reading ““Some Challenges Of The Feast Of The Sto. Nino” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“Conversion: Being Shaken To Our Authentic Identity In God,” by Fr. Robert Manansala
Conversion is a journey towards who we really are before the Lord, to our authentic identity in God: Sinful yet Beloved! The German Jesuit priest Fr. Alfred Delp, who wrote powerful meditations from prison on “the spiritual meaning and lessons of Advent” before being martyred by the Nazis in a Nazi death camp in 1945,Continue reading ““Conversion: Being Shaken To Our Authentic Identity In God,” by Fr. Robert Manansala”
“Self-Idolatry And Humble Repentance” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
“One achieves uprightness before God not by one’s activity but by a contrite and humble recognition of one’s own sinfulness.” – J. A. Fitzmeyer The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a story of divine reversal that challenges us to reexamine our value systems and the way we evaluate ourselves and otherContinue reading ““Self-Idolatry And Humble Repentance” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“The Parable of the Prodigal Father and The Two Lost Sons”, by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
All of us are in need of continuous homecoming to God who is unconditional in his love and who alone can lead us to proper relationships with him and with one another. Today’s gospel pericope (Luke 15:1-32) is considered by many Biblical scholars as the heart of the gospel of Luke. If one gets theContinue reading ““The Parable of the Prodigal Father and The Two Lost Sons”, by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“Jesus’ Fire And Baptism” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
This is the paradox of Jesus’s coming. While he brings peace and eternal life, those who refuse to receive the fire of purification, conversion and renewal that he offers bring upon themselves discord and death. In the gospel passage today, Jesus describes his mission in terms of fire and baptism. By doing this, he makesContinue reading ““Jesus’ Fire And Baptism” by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
“Burning One’s Bridges and One’s Boats”, by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Last Saturday, I officiated the beautiful wedding of a wonderful couple named Christian and Chassie. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the couple’s touching personally written exchange of vows. This was done before the official and canonical exchange of vows prescribed by the Church, which canContinue reading ““Burning One’s Bridges and One’s Boats”, by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM”
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 