Talk

BRO. BO SANCHEZ:

How many of you want the good life?

Yesterday, I was in Feast Tuguegarao. I was talking with one of our Feast Builders. He was telling me that our Good Life Feast Talk series sounded like a scam to him.

He said: “This series says, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who are persecuted. Blessed are those who mourn…’ Why?…”

Jesus, however, has a different definition of what a Good Life is.

I checked on Instagram the definition of good life. The good life is:

Having a selfie with Mount Fuji behind you. Having a selfie behind Eiffel Tower in Paris. Having a selfie with the Disneyland behind me. Having a selfie with a member of the BTS boy band, jumping up and down at a concert. That’s the good life.

But if you check Jesus, you’ll note He disagrees. There’s nothing wrong with Mount Fuji, Eiffel Tower, Disneyland, BTS, or even the Bini girl group…

Except that if after all those selfies, you go home and you find your relationships broken and strained.

Is that the good life?

For Jesus, one of the very important elements of the Good Life is peace. Ask yourself: “Are you at peace?”

Peace is Good Life.

Married people, single people, parents, and children: Is there peace in your relationships? If there is, then that is the Good Life.

Time for The Good Life

My Friend, it’s time to get The Good Life. At the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus talked of two ways to pursue peace in your relationships. We’re going to talk about that.

Extend your hand towards the Word:

Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet And a Light unto my path.In verse 45 of Matthew 5, Jesus said:

Put your hand over your chest. Say this after me:

“Jesus, let this be a special day where my relationships will have more peace. Help me. Teach me. Guide me.”

Key Message

My Friend, is there a relationship in your life that lacks peace? Maybe your relationship with your mother, with your father, with your sibling, with your spouse, or with your child.

Whatever it is, ask God to give you peace in that relationship today.

Starting today, claim it:

“Jesus, help me to have more peace in this relationship….” Name the person.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Today, I’m going to preach the message: Love your enemies.

If you put a bunch of people in a room, conflicts will happen. With your favorite people, conflicts will happen.

Even in church– especially in church. I don’t care how good, I don’t care how kind, I don’t care how religious, I don’t care how decent, I don’t care how noble they are– people will have conflicts.

In one special monastery, there was a perpetual vow of silence. You cannot talk.

There were only three monks in this monastery, and they were allowed to speak only once every seven years– one monk every time.

The monks were eating oatmeal almost every day.

In the first year, the first monk said, “I hate oatmeal.” Seven years later, it was the second monk’s turn to speak. He said, “I like oatmeal.”

Seven years later, it was the third monk’s turn to speak.

He said, “Hey, stop it! I’m tired of you debating about oatmeal!”

If you didn’t get that joke, can you pretend that you got it? It’s only for high-IQ people. What I shared with you was a fictional story.

May I share with you a real one?

I was a teenage missionary, usually visiting a convent. I love going there because it is so peaceful. I like going to that convent because I would write a little note to the nuns asking them to pray for me.

I remember talking with the Mother Superior, and she told me, “Bro. Bo, pray for us. Three of our nuns are not talking to each other.”

I was shocked. I told her, “Sister, I’m shocked. When I look at you, it seems as though you’re all angels.”

She laughed and said, “No, Bro. Bo. We are nuns.

We are humans fighting our inner demons. We do have conflicts. That’s why we’re desperate for God.”

Two Ways to Pursue Peace

My Friends, let your conflicts bring you closer to God. How do you pursue peace in a place of conflicts?

Jesus talks about two ways:

The reason conflicts happen is that people don’t keep promises. Yes, or no?

Husbands and wives don’t keep promises to each other. Parents don’t keep their promises to their children. Businesses don’t keep promises that they made to their customers. Politicians don’t keep the promises they made to their constituents. If people don’t make and keep their promises, conflicts take place.

We read about this in Matthew 5:33-36:

Here’s the context:

In ancient times, if a person made a deal with you, he would say, “I swear by God’s Name, I will pay you next week.”

They held God’s Name in such a high regard that they could not even mention His Name–Yahweh–because they were afraid God might strike them and they might die on the spot. That’s their belief. But they knew that if they mentioned the Name Yahweh, people would believe them.

But some people saw a loophole. Some people would not swear by the Name of God. Instead, they would say, “I swear by Heaven” or “I swear by the Temple of Jerusalem.”

That sounded religious enough. So, if a guy borrowed money from you, and swore by Heaven that he would pay you next week, you would believe him– precisely because he swore by Heaven.

In that person’s mind, however, since he didn’t swear by God’s Name, it was okay not to fulfill his promise.

It sounds funny, hilarious. But at that time, it made sense to some crooked people.

We read about this in Matthew 5:33-36:

Here’s the context:

In ancient times, if a person made a deal with you, he would say, “I swear by God’s Name, I will pay you next week.”

They held God’s Name in such a high regard that they could not even mention His Name–Yahweh–because they were afraid God might strike them and they might die on the spot. That’s their belief. But they knew that if they mentioned the Name Yahweh, people would believe them.

But some people saw a loophole. Some people would not swear by the Name of God. Instead, they would say, “I swear by Heaven” or “I swear by the Temple of Jerusalem.”

That sounded religious enough. So, if a guy borrowed money from you,

and swore by Heaven that he would pay you next week, you would believe him– precisely because he swore by Heaven.

In that person’s mind, however, since he didn’t swear by God’s Name, it was okay not to fulfill his promise.

It sounds funny, hilarious. But at that time, it made sense to some crooked people.

Be Practical

We do this all the time today:

The person borrowing money from you would say, “Peks man, mamatay man ang Nanay ko… I will pay you next week.”

So, you believe him. What you don’t know is his mother already died– seven years ago.

Jesus is saying: Let your Yes be Yes, your No be No.

Two weeks ago, I bought a house from a friend. I borrowed money from the bank to buy that house. I like the property because there are two apartments at the back.

Some tenants are already there, paying rent– a total of P30,000. Since the property is already mine, I was eyeing to receive the monthly rental.

The owner, my friend, told me: “Bro. Bo, can you pay me 50% of the cost of the property now? Let me keep my house for three months — because I still have to go to the province to build my little house there. That’s where I’ll live.

Pay me the other 50% when I finally leave the house after three months.” I said, “Sure.”

So, I had a lawyer make a contract of our agreement, and we signed it.

After the contract was signed, she said, “Bro. Bo, may we extend the three months to six months?”

I was laughing because we had already signed the contract for three months.

Anyway, I said yes. She was happy.

Then, she said, “Bro. Bo, what will we do with the P30,000 monthly rental?”

I knew she would use the 50%ndownpayment for building her house, so she needed the P30,000 rental for food and her other needs.

So, I said, “You may have the rental until you can already leave, after three months.”

Friends, I’m going to give you some very practical advice. Even if you deal with friends, please have a contract. It’s not because you don’t trust the other person– but because you don’t trust human memory.

Yes, we forget. We’re a forgetful bunch. Everything has to be in black and white. Everything has to be written down. Everything has to be signed– even among friends.

But… but…

Secret to Happiness

Do you know what makes relationships strong? It’s not the contracts– although they help.

Here’s the truth: What makes relationships strong is trust. And generosity. Generosity makes life easier, better, and happier.

When I dealt with the owner, I was at a loss. What happened was not fair for me.

But I have a secret. Do you know why I’m a happy person? When I deal with people, I don’t want it to be fair. I am not looking for fairness when

I do contracts. I’m not looking for fairness. I am looking for kindness.

I want to be on the losing end in a transaction.

People don’t understand that. People are always looking for win-win. I don’t. I look for win-loss. I postpone my win. It will become win-win. But I postpone my win. I want the other person to win first.

When that happens, do you think that person will trust me? Do you think in future deals, that person will look for me?

I don’t look for customers.

Customers look for me.

Why?

I’m trustworthy.

Do you want that kind of life?

You don’t look for people– people look for you.

Because of who you are: a person of your word, because you’re generous.

What does it mean to love your enemies?

Let’s read Matthew 5:38:

This means if I pluck your eye, then the punishment for me is you pluck my eye.

If I hit your face with my fist and then two teeth fell off, the punishment is you punch me also so that two teeth will fall off.

So, Jesus said:

“Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.” But…>>>>>>>>>

It sounds cruel. It comes from Exodus 21:

This means that if you kill somebody, the punishment is somebody has to kill you.

Life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

It sounds cruel. It sounds barbaric.

Here’s the truth: It’s neither cruel nor barbaric. In the context of the ancient world, it was compassionate.

Its purpose was to limit revenge.

I’ll give you an example. Imagine that in ancient times, you were living in a tribe. You were awakened one morning because you heard the sound of loud wailing in the village. You went out of the tent. You heard your neighbor was killed. They found his body floating in the river.

Not only that. What was worse was that a witness saw somebody– from the other tribe across the mountain– kill this man, slit the victim’s throat, and threw his body in the river. The elders of the tribe now debated, arguing what they were supposed to do. Many of them cried out for blood.

What happened was this: That very night, a contingent of men from your tribe attacked the other tribe and killed 10 people.

In the ancient world, it was not an eye for an eye. It’s not a life for a life.

It’s 10 lives for one.

Steps to Peace: Three Cases

So, this Law in the book of Exodus was to limit revenge.

Eye-for-an-eye is what you call proportionate justice– so that the crime will not spiral downward to a cycle of evil.

Jesus, however, was not just interested in limiting violence—He wanted peace.

So, He raised the bar. He took this Law to an entirely new level, and He gave three practical cases…

In ancient times, if I slapped someone using the back of my hand, it had great symbolism.

Back then, it was not to hurt physically– it was to hurt socially. It’s a symbol of control.

Here’s a demo with Bro. Audee Villaraza>>>> It’s a symbol, saying: “I’m better than you.

I’m higher than you. I’m more powerful than you.” But Jesus said: “Turn the other cheek.”

The left side.

Can I slap him with the back of my hand? No. Unless I’m Mr. Elastic in Fantastic 4.* So, what do I do? I use the open palm>>>>

In biblical times, an open palm slap was done between equals.

So, what Jesus was asking was deep.

Turning the other cheek is a brilliant move. Why? It was a non-violent, humble yet assertive, an invitation for the aggressor to see your value as a human.

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*The Fantastic Four is an American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios about four friends exposed to cosmic rays giving them super human powers.

Bless the Bashers

I get bashed every day. There was this one blogger who wrote around 27 pages of his criticisms of me. He called me anti-Christ, false prophet, and demon. It’s crazy.

I remember this one critic who said: “Poor Bo.

He will go to hell, and worst, he’ll bring his audience with him.”

So, my Friends, I’m sorry that this might happen to you… L J

People ask me: “Bro. Bo, does it affect you?

Some criticize you as a prosperity teacher and that you worship idols because you’re a Catholic?”

Honestly, it hurts. I’m still a human being. But do you know what I do when I read a basher saying these things to me?

I pray: “Lord, bless this person. This person is broken. Bashing takes time and energy. Heal this person’s hurts. This person is angry at the world.

Be Present to this person.”

My Friends, why do I do that?

Because that’s who I am. I’m a blesser. That’s who I am. I cannot curse anyone. I will bless.

But there’s a second reason: Whatever I give returns to me.

If I bless people, the blessings come back a thousandfold– pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

In the time of Jesus, creditors could get your cloak as collateral.

If you seized your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you were to return it to him before the sun sets– because that cloak was his only covering for his body. What else was he to sleep in? At that time, your collateral was not your phone or ring– but your cloak.

Let’s read Exodus 22:

Jesus said: “If somebody gets your shirt, give him your cloak.”

The crooked people who were looking for loopholes still wanted the collateral. This is hilarious: They don’t get your cloak. Why?

Their Torah says: “Do not get the cloak after sunset.” So, what they did was they got the shirt.

That’s what we do today. We look for loopholes. What does Jesus say?

If they got your shirt, give your cloak too. So, without shirt, without cloak, you’re now wearing just your shorts. You’re practically naked.

Everyone knows the creditors are cruel. You’ve just exposed their cruelty.

This what Jesus is saying. It’s incredibly how deep Scripture is– and how beautiful.

By Roman decree, a Roman soldier may compel any citizen living in the Roman Empire to carry the soldier’s bag or load.

For example, you’re walking on the street when a Roman soldier comes and tells you, “Carry this for me.”

The main roads of the Roman Empire had mile markers already, which meant that you’re compelled to carry that load for one mile. Everybody hated it. It was humiliating to carry something for a soldier– particularly if he is from a foreign country — your conqueror.

But Jesus said: “Go the extra mile.”

Instead of complaining and telling the soldier, No,” Jesus told man on the street: “Walk a second mile.”

The first mile is an obligation. You’re compelled to do that. The second mile, let it be a gift.

My Story

I want to summarize this Talk

with my story that you may have heard before– but not all of it.

When I was 13 years old, I joined a youth group which mounted prayer meetings and recollections for other young people in different cities.

The religious leader of our group molested me. Never in my wildest dream did I imagine that my youth leader would abuse me. He was 10 years older than I was. Every day, he would wear a white Barong Tagalog, a huge crucifix around his neck, and he would carry a black leather Bible.

That fateful day, our group went to Laguna to hold a recollection for young people. That night, in one bedroom, he molested me. I suddenly woke up.

My shorts were down, and there was this naked man on top of me. I froze. I could not move. I wanted to shout, but nothing was coming out. I hated myself after that. I so hated myself because I didn’t fight or push him away.

I want you to know that the leader was ousted from leadership. He could not preach nor become a religious leader in the different circles.

But I had to go through self-hatred, shame, and porn addiction for years, battling my wounds.

In time, by His grace, God healed me.

People are shocked when I tell them I hold no hatred for the man who abused me. I learned that my past was very different from his past.

I talked with his mom, who told me: “Bro. Bo, forgive my son. My husband was a cruel man. When my son made a mistake, my husband would punish him by throwing him in a sack, tie the sack, hang it in a tree. And beat him with a stick.

Other times, he would put our son in a dark closet. He would lock the closet for hours.”

I was listening to that, and you know what came to my mind? If I were in the son’s shoes, and if I experienced that, would I have ended up like him? I don’t know. But for sure, I wouldn’t be who I am right now.

From Pain…

One reason I don’t hate my abuser– and pity him instead– is that God has transformed my pain into my platform.

When I started sharing my story of abuse, thousands upon thousands of people have been healed because of my message. They write to me. They tell me with tears. They got healed because they read my story.

My Friends, I have loved my enemy.

A few days before that man passed away, we actually met.

I was on a plane travelling. And he happened to be a passenger too. When I saw him, I stood up. I was the first one who approached him. When he saw me, he stood up.

In the aisle of that plane, I put my arms around him, and he said, “Bro. Bo, please forgive me.”

I said, “I’ve forgiven you a long time ago.” A few days later, he died.

… to Platform

I want you to know that the Good Life is loving your enemy. Better than a selfie with a Mount Fuji behind me. Better than a selfie with the Eiffel Tower. Better than a Disneyland. Better than jumping up and down in a BTS concert.

The Good Life is when you keep your promises. When you love your neighbor, including your enemies.

The world says: “Get even!” That’s how you take revenge. Jesus says: “Get even better. Get even kinder.”

People are shocked when they hear the story that I just shared — about how I was abused by a religious leader.

They ask me: “Why did you become a religious leader too? You should have just rejected it and not become one.”

I am a better religious leader than my abuser. I’m a better preacher than my abuser. He was a founder of a small group. I became a founder of The Light of Jesus. I’m better because I love my enemies.

The world says: “Get even!”

But the best revenge is: Get better. Just get better.

“Heavenly Father, we pray that you would come and you would heal everything that needs to be healed. Lord God, we realize that “loving your enemy ” is not human. It’s divine. Because once upon a time, we were the enemies. We rejected You and we rebelled against You, and we disobeyed You. But You loved us back and on the cross, You showed us: You wanted to embrace us while we were still Your enemies. And so, today, help us, love us, forgive us. Amen.

This story was first published in the Feast Family Online News Magazine
Published by THE FEAST (August 31, 2025)