Dear Friends,

This is a continuation of the story, which I began in last week's article.

The Cross is not merely a religious symbol that we wear around our necks, place in our homes, or display in our churches. The Cross is the throne from which Christ conquered sin and death. It is the place where divine love was poured out completely for our salvation.

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from a very fulfilling three-month sabbatical, for which I am deeply grateful to God and to you, my dear parishioners, for your prayers, love, and support that sustained me throughout those months. I am very happy to be back home and once again among you, ready to serve.

I have so much to share with you about my sabbatical experience, and hope to do so in the weeks and months ahead. But let me begin with one incident that has profoundly stayed with me and deepened my appreciation of the power of the Cross of Christ.

Dear friends,

In our daily lives, misunderstandings and conflicts can easily arise within families, friendships, workplaces, and even our faith communities. We may be tempted to talk about someone's faults with others before having the courage to speak to the person directly. We can all take a wrong turning in our lives.

Dear friends,

In John's Gospel Jesus says: "In my Father's House there are many dwelling places...and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be." (John 14:2-3) Prior to His Passion Jesus gave out conditions for Discipleship: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mathew 16:21)

Dear friends,

Wise people say, "Those who do not forgive break the bridge on which they have to pass." This is because everyone needs forgiveness. In response to Peter's question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." (Mathew 18:21-22)

Dear friends,

We are called to a life of Holiness.

Holiness as a noun means "the state of being holy." It is "a life of holiness and a total devotion to God" (Definition from the Oxford English Dictionary). Holiness is an essential attribute of God, and it reflects His perfect and unblemished nature. Literally speaking, living a holy life means that the Christian is set apart, reserved to give glory to God. It is a life of discipline, focus, and attention to matters of righteous living.

Dear Friends,

One fascinating Biblical story for me in the Old Testament is that of the burning bush, where Moses met God in a mysterious way (Exodus 3:1-12). The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were facing a real crisis in Egypt, where they were forced to live in slavery. It was not easy for anyone to speak about God nor to experience His presence in suffering. However, while in exile shepherding his father-in-law Jethro's flock, Moses saw the bush on fire which was not getting consumed; he became curious about it, saying, "I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?"