Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Sunday Homlies

  • Rejoice, God is near and working even in our waiting    

    Rejoice, God is near and working even in our waiting    

    December 14, 2025 – Gaudete Sunday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm)

    We, Filipinos, know what it means to wait. We wait in long lines for government services. We wait for traffic to move. We wait for our salary and benefits to come in. We wait for relief goods after a disaster. We wait for healing when sickness enters our home. We wait for loved ones who work abroad, praying that they come home safe.

    Even in our personal lives, we also wait for many things. We wait for our parcel to arrive. We wait for our relationships to be repaired. We wait for our friend to speak to us again. We wait for our anger to cool down, for peace to return to our hearts. We wait for our debts to be paid. We wait for our dreams to come true. We wait to be loved, accepted, and embraced again.

    However, we also realize that some people wait longer than others. And the longer we wait, the more discouraged we become. And so we lose patience. We lose peace, become anxious, irritated, tired. Some even begin to stop moving forward, to stop dreaming, to stop hoping because it has been already exhausting to wait.

    These are our very real experiences. Many are exhausted emotionally. Some feel lifeless, controlled by bitterness or guilt within the heart. Others feel stuck, as if nothing will ever change.

    This is why today’s readings are so beautiful because God speaks directly to people who are tired and exhausted of waiting.

    The prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, spoke to a people who had suffered for decades. The Israelites were exiled to Babylon. It was about 1,700 miles away. They were forced to walk for months in misery. They believed it was because of their failures and the failures of their leaders and forefathers.

    They waited for God to rescue them. But years have passed and nothing changed. They felt abandoned and miserable. Yet, deep within the heart, there was that voice of hope that continued to pray, “Lord, come and save us!”  This is what our Psalm proclaims today.

    Indeed, many of us could have felt that way too. And so Isaiah stood  up and proclaimed with a loud voice, “Be strong, fear not! Your God will come and save you!”

    And then Isaiah painted images of hope, “the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame leaping, deserts blooming, sorrow and mourning fleeing away.” These images are God’s promise of healing, reconciliation, restoration, and freedom. This is why Gaudete Sunday is all about JOY because God has not forgotten His people. In fact, this is symbolized by the third candle in pink which reminds us to rejoice!

    St. James, in the second reading, taught us something important, “Be patient.” He used an image we understand well referring to the life of a farmer. A farmer cannot harvest tomorrow what he planted today because everything takes a process.

    And certainly, healing is a process. Forgiveness is also a process. Reconciliation is also a process. And so growth takes time. Healthy relationships take patience.

    James taught us now to trust God’s process and to trust God’s grace working slowly but surely in our lives. Powerfully, James also added, “Do not complain about one another.” Why? Because complaining, bitterness, and negativity in the heart blind us. They make us forget that God is actually moving and working.

    Moreover, John the Baptist in the Gospel was also tired and discouraged. John was already in prison this time. John was surely suffering. And he asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come? Or should we look for another?”

    This is the cry of hope from a man who is barely holding on, at the brink of giving up. Have you also ever prayed like this? “Lord, are You really there? Are You really coming to help me?”

    Jesus replied in the most tender and powerful way; “Go and tell John what you see: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, lepers are healed, the poor receive good news.” In other words, Jesus was saying: “John, do not lose hope. I am already working. Salvation is already happening.”

    We realize now that Gaudete Sunday is not a denial of suffering. It is not pretending that everything is fine. Gaudete Sunday is courage. It is choosing to rejoice even when life is difficult not because our problems are solved, but because God is already here, moving quietly, faithfully, and lovingly.

    Realize this too because there is an even greater truth that Jesus becomes present today when we become more like Him. Meaning, when we choose to heal instead of hurt, when we choose to reconcile instead to remain angry, when we choose honesty over corruption, when we help the poor and encourage the discouraged, then we become signs of the Messiah in our communities. We become Christmas for others. And that is a real reason to rejoice.

    I leave you now three concrete invitations as your takeaways on this Gaudete Sunday.

    First, encourage one person who is tired of waiting. Send a message or make a short visit and remind the person, “God has not forgotten you.”

    Second, do one small act of healing. Forgive someone, greet someone you avoid, or pray intentionally for someone you struggle with.

     Third, spend 5 minutes in silence and say: “Lord, You are near. Teach me to trust Your timing.” Let this prayer soften your heart and make room for joy.

    And so, rejoice, not because life is perfect, but because God is near. God is faithful and God is already at work in our waiting. Hinaut pa.

  • Joyful WITNESS

    Joyful WITNESS

    December 14, 2025 – Gaudete Sunday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm)

    After Eucharist, a man once approached me and asked for an advice. He said, “Father, my daughter is engaged to her boyfriend. But seemingly the guy’s family does not approve of their relationship because they have learned that I am now unemployed. They thought that I am lazy and irresponsible parent to my daughter. You see, Father, I am a retired seaman. I subsist now from the pension and time-deposit I’ve earned. I just wish to spend the rest of my life with my family after long years of absence from them. I really love my daughter and only wish for her happiness. Father, is it a sin to be unemployed, and enjoy my own family? What shall I do, then?”

    Like that man and John’s disciples in the gospel today, sometimes we become restless with life in anticipation for the Lord’s reign that we ask the practical question: “I believe that the Lord will come again, but what must I do, then?” Yes, we do believe that God so loves us that He gave his only begotten Son for our salvation. He has been good to us and continually showers us His love and blessings. But as faith necessitates actions, “what is the right thing to do then? What then does God require and demand of us?”

    If we reflect deeper on our readings today, we see that like any parents, God desires nothing much from us but our happiness. He simply wished us JOY in our relationship with Him. As what Jesus said to restless disciples of John, “Go and report what you see and heard here.” Meaning, Jesus wants us to see for ourselves and enjoy the great things happening and what God is doing us here and now.

    As God shares to us His life and salvation, He does not ask for our heroic acts or sacrifices but our whole being to enjoy, savor, and share his love and work with others. God does not demand of us so-called “holy” extra-works of doing physical penances, or attending or organizing bible studies, miracle crusades, or prayer meetings.

    But rather, He simply requires us to be as best Christian as we can be, that is, to love Him and our neighbor, follow His precepts, celebrate liturgies in worship, share responsibilities with our fellowmen, and make them feel and realize that we are God’s people. For God, then, what matters most are not our sacrifices but our obedience, not commandments but our faith – a loving & joyful relationship with Him, through Jesus Christ.

    Basically, God simply invites us not to be heroes, martyrs, or saints. But like John the Baptist, and the farmer who joyfully anticipates for the fruits, Jesus wants us to be His living and willing witnesses of the revelation and unfolding of God’s work of salvation. In other words, He simply wants us to joyfully witness God’s salvation here & now.

    For what is a witness? Like a best man in a wedding ceremony, a witness is someone, who first, let God’s work of salvation to happen before his very eyes, not controlling or programming, but simply experiencing the event. Second, a witness is someone who let the event disturb, influence, and affect His life, for God’s work is good news to those who recognize accepts & believes his experience. And a witness is someone who stand for, share & witness joyfully what he experiences and believes to others, for “Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me”.

    Through our faith-responses to God’s revelation and act of His love, by our encounter and acceptance of His son as Emmanuel “God-with-us” in our lives now, by being affected and changed by the person of Jesus, by sharing our faith to others, – in other words by being His living eye, ear & heart joyful witnesses of Christ, God’s blessings begin and continue to prosper within us today and forever.

    And so, in response to that man’s questions, I said to him, “it is never a sin to be unemployed. You are not only what you have or what you have done in life or what others say about you. But you are who you are before God now – His beloved child. Just Be the best and responsible father and husband you can be. Let God do the rest, and never to forget to enjoy the moment.”

    We began our advent journey with His challenge to: “Stay awake & Be prepared”. Then we are invited to “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. And today, the Lord calls to “Go & tell others what you hear & see”. And what are we to do then? Awareness, repentance & joyful witness.

    As we continue our advent journey in preparation for the birthday of our Lord in our lives nowadays, may we open our hearts, minds, body, soul, ears & eyes in joy to recognize & believe in Him always in our midst, & hope for another spirit & grace-filled year with Emmanuel, the God-with-us now & always. Amen.

  • Necessary Change

    Necessary Change

    December 7, 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm)

    Now, how is life at Age of New Normal?

    Not so long ago, we come to be familiar with the oxymoronic word “New Normal”. Strange & contradictory as it sounds, “New Normal” simply calls us to adapt & change whether we like it or not to the new realities that we are in. As we all know, life after COVID pandemic have really transformed our lives nowadays.

    Not only our personal immune systems have changed, we cannot help but be exposed to deal & challenge to confront realistically anew our old previous lifestyle & corrupted systems we are used to practice. Yes, we are in the New Normal realities now & it calls us to change not for the worse but for the better versions of ourselves.

    And what does new normal require of us? Albert Einstein is wise enough to remind us that “we cannot solve our problem with the same thinking we used when we created them”.  Meaning, new – (not same old) paradigm for new problem. New (not same old) system & framework for new solution. New (not same old) constants for new contexts.

    Same with new computer & smartphones systems, new normal entails system reformat & lifestyle upgrade or else we find ourselves obsolete & useless to the new realities we are in nowadays. Thus, New Normal necessitates our change towards updated lifestyle, values & thinking in life.

    We have just begun Advent season this new liturgical year that proclaims us that God’s kingdom is near & coming soon. And so we are to prepare & be aware as Jesus reminds us last Sunday, and, as John the Baptist today calls us out also to repent. As God’s reigns anew in our lives nowadays, our awareness & repentance are thus required of us faithful followers of Christ.

    This would clearly mean that constant need for our repentance is part & parcel of our Christian life. Because to repent is first of all to realize that “there is something wrong here” i.e., something is missing or lacking, or something out of sync or tune “yabag” happening in our life.

    Second, is to admit that “we are the one who is wrong here” and that there is no point of blaming others.

    Third is to recognize that “we need to change and we need help” recognizing God’s mercy and the assistance of others.

    Fourth is to resolve that “we want and choose to be better than this”.

    And lastly, to commit to someone and something good and better in life, i.e., we declare “We believe in God”.

    The challenge of repentance requires us then the realization that “There is something wrong”, the admission that “I are wrong”, the recognition that “I need help and need to change”, the resolution that “I want and choose to be better”, and the declaration that “I believe in God”.

    Somehow Advent is akin to our experience of hosting a VIP into our home. In preparation, you realize how messy your house is, and start to worry how to welcome your special guest.

    Then you begin to realize & admit that it is not only your house, but more so yourself is at mess. Then you try to do something and ask for help. In doing so, you resolve to make your house and yourself better because you now believe that your special guest look up to you and you guest’s visit could offer you a chance to make life meaningful and better.

    And here we understand that new normal & change are all interrelated. For we all know that repentance is more than just be sorry of our faults, but more so about the resolve to change our old ways & to do better in our faith & life as followers of Christ. We consider here that necessary change towards new normal is a significant & meaningful part of repentance. Some are unable to repent because they are unwilling to change. Some also are unable to change because they are unwilling to repent.

    But whether we like it or not we have to change & upgrade our life or else we remain obsolete & outdated in our ways.

    May we dispose ourselves during this Advent season to the necessary changes required of us in life as we believe & follow our Lord in our faith journey ahead.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • CHOICE NOW

    CHOICE NOW

    November 30, 2025 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113025.cfm)

    A mother once knocks at his son’s door and have this following Convo or exchange of words.

    Mother: “Son, wake up.” But the son said: “Mom, I don’t want to get up.” Mom continued: “Son, Get up now. You have to go to the church today.” Son said, “I don’t want to go to church today”. Mom asked: “Why not?” Son replied, “I will give you three reasons: “I’m too young to go church, it’s dull and boring in the church, and people there don’t like me.” Mom persisted, “Now, I will also give you only three reasons you should go to the church. Today you have to be there, you are already 30 years old and it’s your wedding day. So, Wake up and get up now. You are already grown up – enough to just go back to sleep again.

    Which is more difficult nowadays: to lay down and go asleep in the evening …or to get up and stay awake in the morning? Waking up and getting up in the morning, and staying awake the whole day have always been our daily struggle. We always want to go back to sleep. All day long there is a longing in us to go back to bed and sleep again. Even when we are up and awake, we still have bouts of daydreams and musings the whole day through. That is why we have a Filipino saying: (Mahirap gisingin ang taong gising). “It is not easy to wake up someone who is already awake”. In other words, how can you wake up someone who is already arise & awake?

    We may not only be dealing here about our getting up physically in the morning and the whole day through, but this may also be true about getting up and staying awake in our whole life. This may also be about how awake and aware are we in living our lives.

    As we go through our lives, there are many moments that we are more asleep than awake. Habitually we may have found ourselves already physically awake but still actually unaware, out of sync, lukewarm, numb, and out of touch of reality.

    In life, we find usually ourselves in situations where we are already yet still – already awake yet still asleep. It is like, you already realize your mistake, but still doing the same mistake all over again. Same way as that son, who is already awake but still find reasons and excuses not to get up but to go back to sleep on his wedding day. Or worse, number of people have already died not only cause by natural disasters but also political & government corruption yet still making excuses, blaming & politicking.

    Remember waking up and staying awake in life may be a struggle but it is also a choice. In other words, “to get up and stay awake OR to go back and remain asleep” in life is perhaps the first decision we have to struggle with and make daily in life. What is significant here is not only the action and decision taken but moreso on the awareness, realization, and choice of the present NOW in facing life. Since now you know your mistake, now you have the choice to continue the same mistake, or do something about it. Since you know NOW you are old enough to go to church today because it’s your wedding day as your special Day with your spouse before the Lord, you may get up OR to go back at bed to sleep again. Since now we are aware that corruption causes people’s lives, we rise up & voice our dissent & disgust against crooked ways of our government & leadership; OR remains asleep & silently tolerant about these social realities.

    This is why on the first Sunday of Advent in preparation for the coming Christmas day, the Lord has very simple message to us: STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared.

    Human as we are, the Lord knows that we rather stay asleep than awake in life. He recognizes that we are already awake yet at times mostly asleep in life. He also knows however that we do have the CHOICE NOW whether to stay awake or asleep. That is why He is particularly calling us to stay awake, be prepared, get up and go forward for He promises that there are more and better in life yet to come & happen in life. His words in our gospel today are not His warning but a wake-up call to us to brace ourselves to the New Normal Life Ahead.

    To remain awake and stay aware in life, is indeed a struggle yet a choice in life. But if we continue to heed and do our part in the Lord’s invitation of staying awake and being aware now in our life, we will see more and eventually become witnesses to fullness of the New Normal life God can offer us now & the near future ahead. Same way with smartphones, new system upgrade is to happen soon. It is up to you to remain with the old slow system OR prepare for an upgraded system that make the best of your smartphones.

    By the way, today on the first Sunday of Advent at the occasion of Bonifacio Day (our Philippines national hero day), the Archdiocese of Cebu calls for SUPAK, in English “Against” but a rough acronym of (Sugbuanong Pakigbisog Kontra Kurapsyon) in that would mean – People of Cebu’s struggle against Corruption. This is wake up call & constant reminder among people & faithful of Cebu Province that we choose not to remain asleep but be vigilant & ready for life-upgrade (not downgrade) soon.

    Because as the Lord reminds us today and always: “Therefore, Stay awake and be prepared… for the Son of Man will come.” In other words, Hoy Gising… Wake up for I am on-the-way coming NOW & sooner than you expect.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • Christ the King is our Courage and our Healing

    Christ the King is our Courage and our Healing

    November 23, 2025 – Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm)

    Jesus Christ our King is not the kind of king the world expects. When we hear “king,” we imagine someone powerful, protected, wearing a crown of gold. Yet, our Gospel today tells of a completely different image of a king. Jesus’ throne is a cross. His crown is made of thorns, and instead of soldiers guarding Him, people are mocking Him. To many, Christ our King looks weak, defeated, even powerless.

    And yet, we call Jesus our King. Why? Because the true strength of Jesus is not shown in force, violence, or armies. His power is shown in love that does not give up, mercy that never closes its doors, and hope that refuses to die.

    In the first reading of the Second Book of Samuel, the tribes of Israel came to David and said, “We are your bone and your flesh.” They chose David as king because he walked with them, suffered with them, led them, and protected them.

    Jesus is an even a greater King. He did not just walk with His people. He became one of us. He carried our pain. He entered our darkness, and He stayed.

    For many of us who lived through the Marawi Siege and the 2023 bombing, there were moments that perhaps we wondered and asked, “Lord, where are You? How can You be King if evil can do such harm?”

    However, the Cross reminds us that Jesus is the King who does not run away from suffering. He enters it with us. He is not a distant King. He is a wounded King. This is the reason why He understands our wounds. Indeed, we have a king who stands with the wounded.

    In the Gospel, one of the criminals looked at Jesus, bloody, weak, nailed to wood and recognized not a failure, but a King. He said, “Jesus, remember me.” And Jesus answered with the deepest royal authority, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

    This is the power of our King! Yet, not found in the power to crush enemies, but the power to restore, to forgive, to heal, to raise us up when life pushes us down.

    When violence tried to destroy this community, love still survived. When fear tried to rule our hearts, faith still whispered, “God is with us.” When the darkness of war tried to cover Marawi, the light of people helping each other rose again. This is Christ’s power at work in us. And Christ’s power is healing, not hurting.

    The psalm today echoes and speaks of our hope and joy, “I rejoiced when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” After all our community has endured, you might think people would be afraid to come back to church. Well, this was indeed the feeling and experience of some of you. But look at us now, we still gather, pray, sing, laugh, and rebuild. That is a miracle in itself.

    Indeed, the presence of each one of you here is a declaration that, Christ still reigns. Fear does not win. Evil does not win. Violence does not write the last chapter.

    Moreover, St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians that Jesus is the one who holds all creation together. Everything on earth, in the heavens, the entire universe—is in His hands.

    And that same King holds you and me. Our family. Our memories. Our grief. Our healing. He is not only the King of the universe. Jesus is the King of our hearts, of our homes, of our future.

    We may feel small after everything we’ve been through. We may feel broken at times. But Christ the King says: “You are not alone. I reign not by force, but by love.”

    And love always wins. Love always rises. Love always restores. This is the King we follow. I would like to offer you now three simple and doable takeaways.

    First, say this prayer every morning even for 2 minutes. “Jesus my King, stay with me today.” A short prayer, but it opens our hearts to Christ. And let His peace rule your thoughts. Let His mercy guide your actions. Let His strength carry your fears.

    Second, practice one act of reconciliation. Call someone you’ve avoided. Apologize if needed. Forgive even if it is still painful because the Kingdom of God grows wherever reconciliation begins.

    Choose hope even when it feels small. When fear or sadness comes, pause and say: “Lord, You are my King. I trust You.” Let hope be your quiet strength.

    Christ our King may have looked powerless on the Cross, but His love conquered sin, conquered fear, and conquered death. And that same love is conquering our wounds, slowly, gently, day by day.

    May Christ the King be our courage, our healing, and our peace. Hinaut pa.