Go and Proclaim: “Show Forth CHRIST Compassion to One Another”

First Reading: Genesis 50: 15-21

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103: 1-3; 8-10; 11-13

Second Reading: Romans 14: 9-12

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 21-35

GO AND PROCLAIM: SHOW FORTH CHRIST COMPASSION TO ONE ANOTHER

(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PENALOSA)

“Not all who have forgiven are forgiving.”

Our anger and resentments are one of the most ailing things that hurt so many souls. And oftentimes, it’s the people we love most that can hurt us much. But Jesus teaches us how to overcome this.

When we allow the offenses of other people to linger in our life, we allow them to define and mold who we are. Instead, let the grace, and mercy, and goodness of God to establish our life. Let go of all the hurts that other people cause in us in order to have peace, not for their sakes but first, for ourselves. Forgiveness is not about feeling good; it is a practice. And God wants us to learn to endure the pain but we should not allow it to stay longer in our hearts so that it will not harm us.

The first reading teaches us that whatever circumstances happen in our lives, it would never change the plans and purposes of God. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. What others meant for evil, God will always turn it around and use for our good. Just like Joseph, we should be mindful of what God has done for us.

Our second reading tells us not to stand in judgement of others. We will all be standing in front of God on judgement day. What we extend to other people will be the same measure God will extend to us.

The Gospel reading teaches us not to allow anger and resentment to stay longer in our hearts, for if we do so, it will be hard to forgive and will destroy our life. We cannot pray to God if we have a hard and unforgiving heart; and we cannot receive many things in our life if we have not asked. Jesus, in the gospel today teaches us how to forgive our brothers. Just as our Father does not keep account of our debts and trespasses, so we must also forgive our brothers and sisters as many times as needed. For what we have receive from Him, it will come out in our life. The reason why we cannot receive what He has given, is that we don’t accept it.

As Christians, we are forgiven; therefore, let us accept it and let it flow in our lives. If we really know and realize what God has done in our lives, His grace will mold our life. If you still struggle to forgive someone, it’s because you find it hard to accept what God has given to you. It requires complete humility to accept God’s forgiveness, but it will give also fullness of peace in your life.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Go and Proclaim: “God Rejoices When The Lost Are Found”

First Reading: Ezekiel 33: 7-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119: 33-34; 35-36; 37-38; 39-40

Second Reading: Romans 13: 8-14

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 12-20

Homily by Fr. Romie- Jun Peñalosa

GO AND PROCLAIM: GOD REJOICES WHEN THE LOST ARE FOUND

(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PENALOSA)

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain threw this question at God when He asked him where Abel was. This was a question asked in the Old Testament that was later on answered in the New Testament.

When we were baptized, let us understand that we were grafted in the church. Therefore, we cannot live out Christianity alone; it is always done with community. We cannot nurture the spirit of individualism because it breeds arrogance. As Christians, we have the responsibility to take care of each other especially each other’s spiritual life. We need to have a heart to look for the strayed brothers we have for God knows the danger that lurks around us when we walk away from God.

The first reading teaches us to try reaching out always to our brothers and sisters especially those who are straying way. It must be an attitude that we need to have as Christians. Try to exert effort for our strayed brothers so that we can bring them back to God through repentance, in order for them to be reconciled to God. Understand that upon baptism, the anointing of being a king, a prophet, and a priest is in us. Prophet Ezekiel warn us of our accountability also as brothers when we do not teach or correct our brethren from their sins or mistakes.

The second reading teaches us to love  one another. As children of God, we owe it to one another to love one another. There is no child of God that He does not love. And because He loves me, I must also love my brothers.

The Gospel reading teaches us how we can bring our strayed brothers and sisters back to be reconciled with God.

First, we need to go to our brother and talk to him. Tell him personally what you think and feel. If he listens, then you have won him. But what if he doesn’t?

Second, find witnesses that will prove his words. This is so he can realize what he was doing because of the evidence presented by others. Once he does, then the problem is solved. But if he doesn’t?

Bring the matter to the church. Let the leaders deal with the issue or problem. But after talking and trying to reach out to him with the church leaders and still he wouldn’t listen, then the leaders can now exercise their authority over him.

Finally, treat him like a pagan and tax collector if he continually refuses the teachings. This allows him to think and realize how to live a life alone (just like the prodigal son). Understand church that this is an act of love; not of punishment or condemnation.

A straying brother is a moving target for the enemy. Satan cannot destroy us when we walk side by side together. He divides us first and preys on the lone ones. But as Christians, we should not allow it. Why? A church that is bonded by prayers is a powerful force on earth. And as we go forth, let us be mindful of one another also for in gathering and fellowshipping, we gather that strength we need to make Satan stay away from us.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Theme: “Go and Proclaim: Our LORD JESUS’ Death is for our Benefits!”

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 3, 2023

First Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 26:1-3;4-5;6-8

Second Reading: Romans 12:9-21

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:21-27

Homily by Fr. Romie- Jun Peñalosa

GO AND PROCLAIM: OUR LORD JESUS DEATH IS FOR OUR BENEFITS

(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PENALOSA)

We oftentimes think that living an eternal life is living forever. But eternal life also means quality of life – meaning, the same life that God has is the same life that flows through us. (Fr. Jun)

Sometimes, we might think or ask why God wants us to live a life like Him. This is because He loves us, and because He loves us, He is willing to give us everything He has – even eternal life. And how can we have it? Scriptures say that to know Jesus is eternal life, and to know Him is to have a relationship with Him and walk with Him as disciples. Jesus is not just a subject we need to study and analyze. He is a person we need to connect with and can only be possible when we are in a relationship with Him. We can enrich our relationship with Him when we follow Him every day of our lives as disciples! Our connection to Jesus sustains and nurture us to bear fruit, like the branch which abides in the vine. Our attitude of following Him creates a loving relationship allowing us to grow in love also.

The first reading teaches us that when we walk in Jesus we sometimes encounter difficult times in life. Like the prophet Jeremiah who suffers indignation from Israelites because of his prophesies, we sometimes encounter same feelings of being lost, being hated or being outcasts. But he finds comfort in God’s words and promises that He will be with him

The second reading reminds us to walk in love. The Apostle Paul teaches us to choose love over evil. To love is to order your life for the good of others (Thomas Aquinas). Love that is not based on feelings or emotions, rather made by choice and commitment.

The Gospel reading today talks about being mindful of the plans of God. We need to understand that God’s plans always have an element of sacrifice. We need to listen carefully to God when He is telling us His plans and be mindful of the things of God unless we become an offense to Him. As disciples, we need to submit and incline our thoughts and hearts toward Him.

Four things we should understand in cultivating our relationship in Christ:

1. Have the desire. When we begin to think of the things of God, we start to have the desire to know Him.
2. Deny yourself. Once we desire to follow Jesus, understand that we will no longer do things on our terms but His terms.
3. Take up your cross. What is your cross? Suffering? Illness? Whatever it is, pick it up, carry and endure. “We can suffer with out love, but we definitely cannot love without suffering”. Like Jesus, He took our sufferings and turned them to sacrifice.
4. Follow Him. Walking with God means imitating God. Jesus, despite all the bad things people did to Him, never repaid with evil. So, “if someone does evil to you, do good. For it is not who they are that matters; it’s who you are.”

As God’s people, we are basically are good. Let us continually remind ourselves that we are created perfectly in His image. So, every time our brothers/sisters offend us, have that deeper understanding for them and remind them by returning good!

Recap by: MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Theme: Go and Proclaim: “Great Faith Works”
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 20, 2023

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:1-2,3-4,5-7
Second Reading: Romans 11:25-32
Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

In this Sunday Mass at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Jun reminded us that as a church, we are to be established in prayer. The best time to pray is when we don’t feel like praying. This is because we need to pray by faith, not by feelings. Short prayers with confidence and hope matter more.

If we are being tested, God wants us to exercise our great faith. To have great faith is to be persistent in prayer. Great faith never gives up, just like the woman in the Gospel who never gave up in approaching Jesus by faith. Her daughter received healing because she worshiped Jesus and continued to call upon Him.

This is a good reminder to us that to develop great faith, we have to continue praying and calling upon the name of the Lord.

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16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Go and Proclaim: “Sow the Good Seeds in the World”
July 23, 2023

First Reading: Isaiah 44:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3,4-6,7-10
Second Reading: Romans 8:12-18
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:36-43

GO AND PROCLAIM: SOW THE GOOD SEEDS IN THE WORLD
(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PENALOSA)

Our Gospel today is the continuation of the parable of the sower last Sunday. Here, Jesus explained the side of the sower/planter.

Jesus uses parables to encourage us to think. Parables are effective ways to teach the principles of the kingdom of God. Jesus as the greatest teacher knows exactly the things that people can relate well to. These parables make complex topics accessible and relatable.

The first reading teaches us that there is nothing impossible with God. He is saying (through Isaiah) that we just need to look and focus on Him because He can turn every bad thing into good things. Our thirst, our hunger, our longing for something in life…He can always fill and satisfy.

The second reading tells us about our sharing together of our lives to Christ. When we are in Christ, we become co-heirs of the benefits of Christ. We enjoy every thing God the Father has given to Him. He is so generous that even His only Son was given to us. But understand also that when we share in His blessings, we share also in His sufferings; because we are no longer guests in His house, we are His children, His family.

The first lesson from our gospel reading today is that “Nothing evil comes from God.” Jesus, being the sower/planter in the parable, never planted tares/weeds. Yet sometimes He allows them to grow with the wheat (the good seeds.) Our world today is the field, where we can see manifestations of what God has planted — such as the churches, the lives of the saints, the Christian communities, etc. However we also need to realize that wherever the Lord plants, evil with the intent to corrupt follows.

Wickedness always try to follow every great move of God. But understand that this is not a battle between good and evil. Satan is no match to God. Yet how come we still suffer or have problems? Because sometimes we fall asleep (spiritual sleep) and fail to notice that the enemy is already invading our place. Corruption and wickedness enters our life when we loosen our guard. That’s why Jesus reminds us to “watch and pray” together.

Evil always try to leech on to what is good. Unfortunately, evil can sometimes be successful in corrupting what is good. But know that it is never authored by God. Evil creeps into our life when we are not spiritually attentive. Uprooting evil is a delicate process but sometimes, God allows this evil to happen so He can turn it into something good.

Finally, we need to realize that there are evil works that only God can stop. Let us simply cling on to God. Let us look at the sower who stayed calm when he realized that the enemy planted tares on his field was wise enough not to pull them out lest he risk pulling out the wheat too. He patiently waits for them to be ready for harvest. In the same manner, we should also not allow our emotion to run over us when facing enemies. Instead, we should be spiritually awake, looking on and focusing on Jesus.

Recap by: MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time- July 16, 2023
Theme: Go and Proclaim: Fruitful by hearing and understanding God’s Word

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:9,10-12,11,13
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

GO AND PROCLAIM: FRUITFUL BY HEARING AND UNERSTANDING GOD’S WORD
(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PENALOSA)

Every day, God is talking to us. He has something always to tell us…but, we do not understand. We do not understand, because we don’t want to understand.

In today’s gospel, there are three things that Father Jun pointed out for us to become. We can be the sower, the seed or the soil. Prophet Isaiah (First Reading) speaks about the power of God’s word. It is so creative that once He speaks, it will happen, because everything comes from Him; it will always achieve the purpose for which He said it. One word from God, once you receive it in your heart, it can change your life forever. But the way we receive it matters.

As Christians, we need to be mature in order to bear the fruit of a transformed life. Maturity is all about understanding what God is saying to you and responding to it. Many of us have grown old in our Christian faith, yet never achieve spiritual maturity. Why? Because we do not understand God. Though the word is powerful, it will never force us; instead it invites us always and waits for our response.

Our response to God’s word depends on how you understand. And how you understand depends on the condition of your heart. The key to receiving the word of God is understanding. And the level of our understanding depends on the condition of our heart or soul. Our gospel today teaches us the four conditions of the soils:
1. The hard one. Those who hears the word, but do not understand. The word was sown to them, but it doesn’t grow because the soil was hard. These are the people with unteachable hearts; a proud hearts.
2. The stony one. They are the ones who are so excited when they hear the word, so enthusiastic that it seems they will do everything for the Lord. But when trouble comes, their excitement wanes off.
3. The thorny one. These are the types of people who hear the word, but cannot let go of their past life. They cannot leave the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and they compromise the word, this is the reason why it doesn’t bear fruit in their life.
4. The good one. These are the ones who have been broken to God; they hear, they understand, and they respond which allows them to bear fruits. These are the hearts who have fully surrendered to God and long always for His love.

So, what is the condition of your heart?

In our everyday life, there are thousands of decisions that we need to make. These decisions determine the condition of our heart; and the condition of our heart determines how we receive and understand the word of God. If we truly understand Him, then we will be bearing fruits for we do not just hear Him, we also respond to Him. Let us remember then that the condition of our heart is our sole responsibility.

Recap by:
MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Go and Proclaim: Coming to GOD has its benefits, go for it

First Reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 45:7-9,10-12,13-15

Second Reading: Romans 7: 21-8:1

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 16-19,25-30

For this Sunday’s homily, Fr. Jun reminded us that we should not quit, but we should learn how to rest with God. In life, it is normal for us to become tired. However sometimes, we could not identify if that tiredness is physical, mental, or spiritual. He also emphasized some symptoms of spiritual tiredness, and they are the following:

*Having a hard time believing God’s promise;

*If we are troubled with how to start in prayer;

*If we become people-focused;

*If we settle rather than to seek more;

*If we stay in our comfort zones;

*If we want control;

*If we choose convenience than to seek our destiny;

*Unbelieving;

*If we are always angry;

*Dissatisfaction;

*If we tend to isolate ourselves from others;

*Insecurity; and

*Lack of self- control [discipline]

When we experience these things, we are experiencing spiritual tiredness or weariness. Come then to God. Jesus promises that He will give us peace and rest.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

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13th Sunday of Ordinary Time July 2, 2023

Theme: “Go and Proclaim: The Cost of Following Jesus”

First Reading: Jeremiah 28:5-9, 15-17

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:1-3,19-21,36-37

Second Reading: Romans 6:16-23

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:37-42

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Romie- Jun reminds us that Christian life is not a convenient life. People nowadays don’t want challenges because people settle for convenience, in such way that we also want our Christian life convenient. True Christianity is attained by becoming Christ’s disciple and by making Christ the center of your life. It is not easy, convenient, nor comfortable. But what does it mean? Christian life is not boring unless you live true Christianity. If you take on the challenge, our life would become an adventure.

The Gospel teaches us three things. First, to love God above our parents. Loving our parents is an intense form of love. But it should not be above our love for God. Secondly, we should take our own cross. We should carry our cross with patience. Jesus bore the cross together with our sicknesses and our poverty. If we are going to be His disciples, we ought to seek our cross by helping others to overcome their burdens. And lastly, to not love your life more than anything else. Anything that you will find for yourself, eventually, we will lose it. But if we decide to surrender it to Jesus, it will multiply. The only thing we can keep eternally is the one we share with others.

Live life in such way that we are willing to give it away. Our blessings are meant to be shared to others because we are blessed to be a blessing. It is God who will fill us with blessings. Be the Jesus in this world.

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