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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11th Sunday of Ordinary Time – June 18, 2023

Theme: “Go and Proclaim: We Are Called And Empowered”

First Reading: Exodus 19:1-9a

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 50:1-3,4-6,7,15,16-17,22

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-8

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:1-8

GO AND PROCLAIM: WE ARE CALLED AND EMPOWERED

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

Once, there was a story of a dying child who was comforted by his family, especially his father. Throughout their time together, the son observed his father’s calmness and peace, despite their difficult circumstances. In their final conversations, the father asked his son if he was afraid of dying. Surprisingly, the child replied that he wasn’t afraid, as long as God was like his father. Father Jun shared this story to remind us of the profound impact a father’s character can have.

Today, as we celebrate Father’s Day, we are reminded that fathers have a significant role in representing God the Father to their children. Sadly, many young people in our generation struggle because they cannot see the Father’s representation. They lack that picture of who God is. Fatherhood is a vocation; it is a calling.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus called His disciples to come to Him before sending them out for their mission. It is crucial to understand that when God blesses us, those blessings are not meant for our exclusive benefit, but rather for the benefit of others. The same applies to our calling. We are called not only for ourselves but because others need us. This emphasizes that once God pours His grace into our lives, it should be shared and used to serve others. Our mission begins within us, and our calling within the Church starts with our relationship with God. To stay close to Jesus, we need to engage in prayer. However, prayer must be a God-centered dialogue; not a self-centered monologue. Effective service in the church comes from a very good relationship with God.  We need to pray, listen, hear, and obey His words. When we are called, God also empowers us. Power flows naturally when we are in a relationship with God and often this power goes with authority. As we come closer to Christ, He gives us the authority to cast demons and heal all sicknesses and diseases.

Our relationship with Christ is a two-way process. We are called, then, we are sent out. He called us first in order for us to be in love with Him so that it would be easy for us to do the mission once sent off. The Gospel will naturally come out from our mouths when we are in love with Christ. Our coming to Christ, our constant talking and listening to God will eventually strengthen our relationship with God. And when our hearts are filled with His goodness, nothing can hinder us from sharing it with others—that is our mission.

However, our mission should begin in our own “Jerusalem.” Father Jun encourages us to start with our families, our friends, and the people who are connected to us. Let us boldly proclaim the goodness of Jesus in our lives. Today’s Gospel reading serves as both an invitation and a challenge for us. Let us respond with confidence, knowing that once God calls us, it becomes a command that will forever change our lives.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Trinity Sunday – June 4, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 1:26-31, 1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:5-13

Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

Today, the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. However, how many of us truly know or understand what the Trinity is? As Catholics, we need to learn this well because this is the foundation of our faith.

The Trinity is our faith that we worship one God Who exists in Three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although they are not the same, they are inseparable and united. This revelation of God of Himself is difficult for us to comprehend, and it will always remain a mystery beyond human understanding.

To illustrate the Trinity, Father Jun shared a story about St. Augustine’s dream of a child who tried to collect the vastness of the sea in a small hole. It represents the impossibility of fully grasping the Trinity, as God is incomprehensible. However, while God is not someone to be analyzed, we can develop a personal relationship with Him and communicate with Him to begin to understand Him.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus commissioned us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” So, how do we fulfill this mission? We should start within our own homes and families. We must establish a relationship with God together with our loved ones. Once we have done so, we can extend this relationship to our wider community by baptizing others in the name of the Trinity. It is important for the Church to understand that baptism is not merely a symbolic act of sprinkling water but a profound immersion of our lives in the life of the Holy Trinity. Thus, baptism marks the beginning of an ongoing journey with God.

We must be mindful of how we live our lives, for we are like living Bibles that our family, friends, and community read each day. In baptism, Father Jun reminds us of three key points to consider:

1. Communion: Our God is One in Three Persons, undivided and inseparable. Their union is so perfect that we cannot find nor see where they differ or separate from each other. It is the deepest longing for each other that they cannot be separated.
2. Prayer is the key to communion with God. We need to learn to listen to God. Communication is responding to communion.
3. Trinity is unity. As people of God, we share a common understanding of God’s love. Therefore, we work together as one for God, even amidst our diversity in character, attitude, and principles of life.

Father Jun encourages us to cultivate a deep appreciation of our life in God. Although we may never fully comprehend God, let us open ourselves to experiencing Him in our lives through constant communion, communication, and living out our faith within the community.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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Feast of Pentecost- May 28,2023

“Go and proclaim: The Heart of JESUS is the River of Living Water”

First Proclamation: Acts 2:1-7; 12-21

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104

Second Proclamation: 1 Corinthians 12:3-13

Gospel Reading: John 7:37-39

GO AND PROCLAIM: THE HEART OF JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

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

The heart of Jesus is to bless everyone.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the culmination of the Easter season. As we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the birth of the Church, we recognize that this does not signify the end, but a profound new beginning in our journey of faith. It is a time to celebrate with utmost joy, deep gratitude, and heartfelt thanksgiving to our Almighty God.

The Gospel reading today reminds us that we will not always have a comfortable life here on Earth. In fact, Jesus said that while we are in this world, we have trials and tribulations (John 16:33). Friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4) and indeed, the Christian life is not an easy one. Amidst our overwhelming tasks and limited time to fulfill it all, the Holy Spirit graciously steps in. He helps, rescues, and fortifies us in our endeavors. We all have our share of problems and inconveniences in life but praise God, Jesus encourages us not to fear or be troubled because He has already overcome the world. The character of Christ exceeds human understanding and He can triumph over the trials of the world. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us, He forges the Christ-like character in us by giving us the same power and strength to overcome this world’s tribulations. Quietly and consistently, the Holy Spirit is working daily in our lives. Though the fruits may not be immediately evident, He is bringing out that Jesus character in us, and we become witnesses of Christ, proclaiming that He indeed is Lord!

Today, Jesus invites us to come and drink from Him. For unbelievers, He is inviting them to believe; but for us believers, He invites us to receive the drink. For in drinking from Him, the Living Water will begin to flow in us (John 7:37-39). We will not just be filled but we will have also the ability to fill others. We need only to put our trust and confidence in the life of Jesus. The coming of the Holy Spirit like a mighty rushing wind and as tongues of fire is a picture of great power (Acts 2). Church, we need to understand that the same power working in our life is much greater than the power against us. God wants us to see that power. No matter what your problems or situations are right now, rest them in the palm of God. Do not run nor hide, but face it with the realization and understanding that God’s power within you is much greater than that of the world.

Let us allow then the Holy Spirit within us to operate in our life so that we will be filled by His power and that our mere presence in someone’s life becomes a blessing.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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7th Sunday of Easter – May 21,2023

“Go and proclaim: JESUS is the source of eternal life”

First Proclamation: Acts 1: 6-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps.68:4-5,9-11,18,19-20

Second Proclamation: 1 Peter 4:12-16

Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11

GO AND PROCLAIM: JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

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

The first reading in Acts  talks about Jesus’ ascension to heaven. Catholic churches usually commemorate it today but CEC celebrated it last Thursday, May 18, 2023. Father Jun, before starting his homily, gave us an overview of the different seasons we celebrate in our church calendar to remind us also of the unchanged cycle or pattern of time where we can continually nurture our relationship to God.

The event of Jesus’ ascension should not remain an overwhelming feeling or experience to us. The apostles who witnessed Him ascending to heaven was so joyful that even if He was no longer in sight they didn’t want to leave; yet the angel of God told them to go for it was the right thing to do, to go and live out the things He taught us to do. The same Jesus who ascends in heaven is the same Jesus who will come down again. Knowing this gives us joy, and like the apostles also, we should gather as family and pray together for if we really believe in Jesus’ ascension, our hearts will always be filled with joy. Joyous hearts will always gather to fellowship; for joy is the mark of coming together; it creates hunger to pray together, and as a church, this must be seen in us.

Joy in our hearts enable us to live peacefully. Living peacefully doesn’t mean the absence of troubles; in fact, St. Peter said that once the Holy Spirit comes in us, there will be persecution in our life. The world doesn’t like the changes that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives, that’s why it persecutes us. But again, St Peter told us not to worry, instead we should overcome it through prayers and the joy of the Holy Spirit in us. Let us pray for strength to endure the persecutions for it is the best way we can overcome it.

The essence of eternal life is to know God and to know Jesus Christ, the One He sent for us. It is not just blessings for blessings, but it should be a relationship with Him, for knowing God is having a relationship with Him.

The Feast of Ascension also means letting go of our old self, our own understanding of God. It is receiving Jesus into our lives, which entails so much responsibility. Understand that when we receive Jesus in our life, we need to obey Him, we need to let go of certain things we as humans uphold; things we think are good for us, but are against His will. We will let go of those wrong notions we have about God and let us allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.

We all have a touch of hypocrisy and stupidity in us. But praise God, He loves us despite these shortcomings and imperfections we have. Let us allow then the light of Christ to illuminate our mind so that we can let go of these, and live peacefully and joyfully in His presence.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

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