God’s Goodness Will Lead Us To Repentance

Fourth Sunday in Lent

First Reading: Joshua 5:2-12

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 15:11-32

Homily by Fr. Jun Peñalosa

The story in today’s gospel is very familiar to many of us. ”The Prodigal Son” is probably one of the many famous inspirational stories in the BIble used to reflect on, especially during this season of lent. The “son” pertains to all of us – who like him, easily wanders away from God.

Today’s readings can be summarized in the following:

  • The importance of our relationship with God. Understand that circumcision was assigned as a covenant, because our relationship with God is not casual, it’s not something to be taken lightly; it is always serious. The shedding of blood during circumcision reminds us of our responsibility.
  • The significance of repentance. How sometimes in our relationship, we fail to follow and oftentimes break off. But God assured us, He has already done  everything for us to reconcile. See, we are the ones who sinned against God, yet He is the one Who initiated reconciliation. What a demonstration of love!
  • The goodness of God is what makes us blessed. The reason why we are blessed as a people is because of God Himself Who loves us. Our relationship with Him will make us stay in that blessing. Detaching our lives from our Father will just make our lives cursed. We may abandon God and turn away from Him, but it will never change Him as God.

Stay connected with God always, no matter how hard or low our life is, He will let us taste and experience the goodness of God. Let us not wait for the time to hit  rock bottom in order to realize that we need God. Repentance has something to do with the goodness of God. Once we realized we have sinned against God, and have moved away from our relationship with Him, just remember, He loves us, He is not angry at us, He has forgiven us, He will never leave nor forsake us. Repentance is our response to the goodness of God!

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Acknowledging our Weakness, Acknowledge God’s Mercy

Third Sunday in Lent

First Reading: Isaiah 55: 1-9

Psalm Reading: Psalm 103

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 1- 12

Gospel Reading:  Luke 13: 1- 9

If Lent is focused on Repentance, it is the most joyful thing that could happen in a person. It is a season when people are changing and becoming more conformed to the image of God.

It is also a time of becoming serious with our relationship with God. God is looking a changed life, a transformed life. Lent is a journey, a pilgrimage that brings us into a deeper awareness that Christ is in us. Seeing Christ will help us know who Christ in us.

Our response to the mercy of God is REPENTANCE. It is to change our life according to what God has given us. Jesus is reminding us not to be judgmental. However, He is warning us, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Everything that God does has a purpose, including our life. God compares us to a tree. Our life is planted by the Lord. He is looking for fruits in our life, fruits of new life, fruits of repentance, a transformed life.

Fruits will only come if we will change. We need to respond to God’s mercy. Repentance in our life, is what God is looking from us. Repentance is not only turning away from sin, but turning to God.

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Steadfast in Faith, Moving Forward Through Narrow Way

Second Sunday in Lent

First Reading: Genesis 15:4-18

Psalm Reading: Psalm 27

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30 

Homily by Fr. Andy Ilustre

Salvation requires our earnest effort, our urgent attention, and our careful self-examination.

It requires our earnest effort because the door is narrow. It requires our urgent attention because the door is soon to be closed. It requires our careful self-examination because once it is closed, the door will be eternally closed.

Also, according to Mark 8:34-38, he who endures to the end will be saved.

Homily Recap by Sister Sally Illustre

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Dwell in the Word of God: Dwell in His Protection

First Sunday in Lent

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-12

Psalm Reading: Psalm 91:1-5; 14-16

Second Reading: Romans 10:6b-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Homily by Fr. Andy Illustre

 

Our message from today’s gospel is we have to have faith in God’s word. After Jesus identified with sinners in baptism, He then identified with us in temptation. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Here, Fr. Andy compares the scenes of Adam and Eve in the Garden and Jesus in the desert. Humans were in a lush garden, living with abundance, peace, and authority over the wild animals.

Jesus, on the other hand, was in the desolate wilderness, was not eating, and was subjected to the dangers of the beasts. Simply based on circumstances, Adam and Eve clearly had the upper hand of having their basic needs of food, shelter, and safety guaranteed which could surely help humans resist temptation.

In both the garden and the wilderness, the devil uses God’s very own words to make his temptation. The difference between how humanity and Jesus Christ responded when faced with temptation was stark. The indicator of whether they would fail or not depended on how well they knew God’s words and who spoke them. Jesus knew not only the words of Scripture, but He knew the One Who inspired them. Jesus also knew what they meant.

Satan put us to the test so that our true character might be revealed. As we enter into the season of Lent, this time of trial that Jesus endured on our behalf serves as context. It both reminds us of why The Incarnation and The Cross are necessary and become a source of strength. We too can call upon the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ, able to resist temptation. We too can commit ourselves to disciplines that help us to know the Spirit’s infilling. We too can sacrifice and trust that God’s word and work are true.

Let us build our strength in God during times of preparation. Take time to pray, take time to fast, take time to give, and be merciful.

Homily recap by Sally Illustre

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Ash Wednesday 2022

Ash Wednesday 2022

First Reading: Joel 2:1 – 2, 12 – 17

Psalm Reading: Psalm 51

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21

 

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Walking with Christ, Witnesses of His Glory

8th Sunday of Epiphany

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm Reading: Psalm 99

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:13-18

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36

Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

Today’s Gospel ushers us into the Lenten Season – a season of self-examination, repentance, and amendment of life. The transfiguration of our Lord reveals His glory as God. It is also one way for the Father to encourage and affirm His plan.

It also reminds us about our own spiritual transfiguration everyday as we walk in the Lord. Transfiguration means “change in appearance that comes from within.” Transfiguration is similar to transformation, to change or alter. Matthew and Mark use this word but Luke used alter or change.

How do we experience this transformation in our lives?

1.)Prayer

Luke emphasizes prayer as one factor to have a transformed life. As we spend time in prayer, we soak ourselves in His presence. We become sensitive to His voice as His Spirit intermingles with our spirit. We could see and understand His ways. However while Jesus was praying, James, Peter, and John did the reverse. They were sleeping, that’s why they didn’t understand what was going on. They even repeated this mistake in the garden of Gethsemane. No wonder Peter reacted in his own way because he didn’t understand the plan of God. “Sleeping” can also mean that we don’t give much attention to the things of God because we have other priorities or we are just lazy.

2.) Word of God.

Romans12:1-2 says that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind with the Word as we surrender our mind, body, and will to God. The Lord transforms us from within so that we will not conform to the ways of the world, that’s why God told them “Hear Him.” Changes in us do not happen overnight, it’s a decision and a process of daily dying to ourselves.

3.)Holy Spirit

The theological name for this experience is called Sanctification. A process in growing into holiness and transforming into the image of our Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, consciously or unconsciously, whether we like it or not. We should submit to His dealings in our lives, changing us from glory to glory, day by day, (2 Cor.3:18).

Lastly, I would like to add the Sacrament an avenue of grace to us, let the sacraments work in our lives as we combined it with faith and in the process our lives become a reflection of Jesus to the world.

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Keeping God’s Commandment, Expressed in Love

7th Sunday of Epiphany

First Reading: Genesis 45:3-15

Psalm Reading: Psalm 37

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:42b-49

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27-38

Homily by +Bp. Raymundo Abogatal

What makes a Christian different from other religions?

Loving one another.

God teaches us to treat other people, the just and unjust embracing the sins and sinners alike.

Matthew 5:45 states what God wants from us which is to seek the highest and greatest good from others, even those who are unjust. Our love in others must be like Christ and be marked with the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us.

Giving, forgiving, and loving one another is the core of today’s gospel. Give without expecting anything in return, forgive those who hate you, and how do we treat our enemies? We should love them, do good to them, and pray for them. Only God can satisfy our soul. If we have Jesus in our hearts, we have peace, and He makes the difference in our lives.

We should not feel vindicated by our enemies but we should be more like God in our character, for it lasts until eternity. Luke 6:37-38 reminds us also that what we sow, is what we reap. The same principle applies when we give ourselves in ministry. The works of God should not be sacrificed over our own activities and schedules for the heart of God is the mission. Let us not be afraid to share the word of God and serve Him especially those who really are in need, the sick, the poor, the unjust. For we serve a faithful God!

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Yielded to God: The Way to Blessed Life

6th Sunday of Epiphany

First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10

Psalm Reading: Psalm 1

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:19-26

Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

True blessedness comes a from a yielded heart.

Our Gospel talks to us about true blessedness. True blessedness comes from a yielded heart to God. A yielded, submissive, and surrendered heart trusts and obeys God.

Blessedness is a state of having divine joy and perfect happiness that comes from God. This is His promise to those who trust Him. But how come not everyone is experiencing this blessedness even when we were confessing that we are “blessed to be a blessing.” This all boils down to our submission to God’s will.

We are praying for peace, unity, and other things, but as long we are not submitted to God, it will be difficult for us to receive it. We just enjoy the outcome / result but we don’t do what we’re supposed to do.

We should develop a yielded heart by faith and  and do it through His grace. We can’t do it by ourselves. First, we must decide to submit to God knowing that away from Him, we can do nothing. We are doomed to failure without His guidance for His ways are higher than ours. It is a daily dying to ourselves and willingness to put God first.

Second, we must submit to the dealings of the Holy Spirit in us who is our sanctifier. There are times God would allow circumstances in our lives due to the hardness of our hearts. We should realize that our sufficiency is in Him and not ourselves. Jesus is the true example of a yielded heart. Our salvation became true to us because He submitted to the will of the Father. He said, “Not my will but your will shall be done.”

God is looking for a contrite and broken (humble spirit) and this is our loving sacrifice that God will not despise – letting God have His way in us.

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Saved by His Grace, Rising to the Challenge

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Psalm Reading: Psalm 138

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:3-10

Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1-11

Homily by Fr. Andy Illustre

Luke 5:1-11 reminds us to become partakers of the Lord’s work.

God is calling people for His Kingdom. He calls us to become fruitful members of His kingdom. Being members of His kingdom means to represent Christ and His church, to bear witness to Him wherever they may be, according to the gifts given to us.

Peter rose to the challenge in obedience to God. Because of His faith, despite the contrary circumstances, he was rewarded with a good catch.

Like Peter, we must also rise to the challenge to follow God’s plan in our lives. What God’s calling does is make us aware of our unworthiness. But we need to be aware that God calls us not according to our unworthiness but according to His grace and mercy. Our dependence is on God.

It is because of God’s grace that we can follow Christ’s command to not be afraid. All we need to do is faithfully obey God and trust God to do His part.

In 1 Cor 15:1-11, God’s grace is what makes our calling possible. it is by faith to the Gospel of God that we are saved.

Homily recap by Sally Illustre

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Destined by God, Obedient Servant

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:21-31

Our gospel today talks about the response of the Jewish people to the first preaching of Jesus in His hometown. Let’s imagine ourselves as one of the people who were inside the synagogue with Him. How do you think we would respond? The Jews responded first with amazement, then later it turned into wrath and unbelief.

Why? First they could not believe that this homegrown boy proclaimed that the prophecy was fulfilled that day. Secondly, how could He say that He was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and specially in saying that salvation is also for the Gentiles. It pricks their pride as a chosen people and shattered their belief in the exclusiveness of salvation. This meant that they should also repent and believe in Jesus like Gentiles for them to receive salvation.

For us, how do we respond when we hear the Word? In the pulpit, when we read, or when somebody shares to us? Like the Jews, they like the truth when it enlightens them but hate the truth when it confronts them. They like gracious words but they don’t like to face the truth. May we have a submissive or surrendered heart towards God.

Jesus responded in love. He did not retaliate nor had a bad feeling against them but continued to be patient and forgiving to them and to us. He knew He had been called to be a prophet and The Messiah, to suffer and die for the sins of world. He was merciful to us knowing that apart from God we were miserable, destined for destruction and hell.

We are currently in the state of grace; God is giving us ample time to repent. This is what the acceptable year of the Lord is all about! Today is the day of salvation, don’t harden your hearts. The day of vengeance of the Lord is coming. In Isaiah 61:2 where this prophecy originated, it says that the day of vengeance of the Lord follows after the acceptable year of the Lord. This is reserve for His second coming. Our God is merciful, full of loving kindness and slow to anger, but He is also righteous.

May we respond to His grace in faith and humility.

 

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Called by God, Instruments of Salvation

Third Sunday After Epiphany

Theme: Called by God, Instruments of Salvation

Homily by Fr. Andy Ilustre

First Reading: Nehemiah 8: 1-4a, 5-10

Psalm Reading: Psalm 19

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 14-21

The Holy Spirit was given to us to do the work of Christ. Like the apostles who went out into the world and taught in all the nations, we should not stop doing Christ’s work until He comes back again.

It says in verse 18, that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. The Holy Spirit was at work in Christ’s life. Also, it is the same spirit that is in us, the same spirit that guided and helped Christ. It is also said in verse 18 that the Spirit anointed Him to preach the Gospel. The Gospel includes the good news of salvation and because of God’s salvation, we have received the right to become His sons and daughters.

With the Holy Spirit comes a mandate, a mandate to preach the gospel to the poor. Poor in the knowledge and understanding of the love and grace of God. That is why we should share the good news of the gospel and enlighten them with God’s love.

Also, we have the ability to heal the brokenhearted and those who were set apart and give light to those who are blind to God’s word and those who chose to be in darkness.

This is the task that the Holy Spirit has called us to do. Especially in this time, where it is the time of darkness. God calls us to become an instrument of salvation, hope, and life, knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us and is working with us.

Homily Recap by Sis Sally Illustre

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Children of God, Precious in His Sight

Second Sunday of Epiphany

Theme: Children of God, Precious in His Sight

Homily by Fr. Romie Jun Peñalosa

First Reading: Jeremiah 31: 10-17

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5

As a church, we are “Pro-Life” for we are the recipients of the life of God. We live by the life of Christ. Jesus emphasized to us that the kingdom of God belongs to the children. His standard is children. Children remind us that like them, it is necessary to be humble for the way
to the kingdom of God is through humility.
Without humility, we cannot receive the gospel, and without the gospel, we cannot enter into salvation.
Genuine greatness begins with humility and children are teachers of humility. The goal of humility is to always welcome Jesus in our life and one way of doing that is by welcoming the children.
So why is Satan trying to get rid of children? Why is he so bent on destroying their lives? Because children are heirs of God who will destroy the enemy. So it is important that we defend and preserve their lives.
Homily Recap by Paz Indulo

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I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING