Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Sunday Homlies

  • System Upgrade

    System Upgrade

    January 25, 2026 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfm)

    “I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance & amend my life. Amen.”

    Words we say as we do our act of contrition during confession as we commit ourselves in faith with God’s help & grace, first to be sorry of our sins, to fulfill our penance as remedy and above all to change our way of living our lives for the better. These words we say in contrition emphasize that the sacrament of reconciliation is more than just about confessing our sins, faults & failures, but moreso our commitment to repentance & faith in our Christian life for the better.

    Consider then that in our gospel today, when he started proclaiming the Good News of God’s Kingdom upon us, Jesus challenges people to “Repent & Believe that the Kingdom of God is at hand”. Yes, we normally hear this challenge of the Lord for us during  Ash Wednesday as we receive the ashes on our forehead. However, these words remind us that God’s grace requires us above all our repentance & faith, and  make clear to us that the first & proper response for us to fully benefit from God’s offer of salvation of God-being with us is for us “to repent & believe the gospel”.

    We should know that repentance  is more than just being sorry for our sins & failure, and asking for forgiveness, for we all know that God’s offer of salvation is more than just about ourselves & our sinfulness. To repent is moreso about our  resolve to do better in life & to change our usual ways towards believing more in God & trusting more in His plans, wills & ways for us. Meaning, our repentance are meant for us to believe God than just to be sorry for our sins.

    Repentance & Faith are rightly described by the Greek word “Metanoia” that denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook, of man’s vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God. And somehow like system upgrade of computers & smartphones nowadays, “Metanoia” is required of us by Jesus for us to fully benefit from the offer of God’s salvation since then, until now & always.

    And clearly “Metanoia” – repentance & faith is what Jesus again emphasized in our gospel today. Through the parables of losing & finding (rf. Lost coin, sheep, & son),  Jesus values the importance of repentance & faith in God’s offer of the salvation for us. Because for Jesus, the Kingdom of God is more than just about our being righteous or sinner, about reward & punishment, about importance & unworthiness, but above moreso about God’s offer of grace & salvation for us of Him-being with us through His son Jesus. And so, what is only required of us as always is Metanoia – repentance & faith, i.e. “Repent & Believe the Gospel” & how we orient and amend our whole lives more towards God & less towards ourselves.

    As we are beginning a new year & a new liturgical season, perhaps we ask ourselves where are we in terms of Metanoia – repentance & faith. With all our experiences of life-journey with our Lord this past recent year so far, where are we in view of changing our minds & ways towards more repentance  & faith in the Lord? If you are to rate our response of Metanoia from 1-10, how much would you rate yourself? What are the signs of hope & growth? (…more trusting, more closer relationship, more inspirations). What needs improvement? (…Quality time in prayer, works of mercy, acts of kindness,).

    With such assessment, we pray that we may become more open to receive & benefit from God’s offer of grace now & up ahead always.

    So May it Be. Amen.

  • When God Chooses to Be Small    

    When God Chooses to Be Small    

    January 18, 2026 – Sunday, Feast of the Sto. Niño

    Is 9:1-6; Eph 1:3-6, 15-18; Mt 18:1-5,10

    Every year, around the Feast of the Sto. Niño, I remember a simple scene I once witnessed during a Sunday Mass. A young mother was struggling with her toddler who was restless, noisy, and clearly bored. Trying to control the child, she whispered, though loud enough for others to hear, “Behave. Stop it. Father will get angry. Look, he’s watching you.” The child suddenly froze, his eyes wide with fear, clutching his mother’s arm.

    I gently smiled at the boy and said, “That’s not true. I’m not angry. You can move, it’s okay.” Slowly, the fear left his face.

    That small moment stayed with me. Because without realizing it, many of us grow up learning to associate God, the Church, and faith with fear rather than love. We are taught to be quiet, to behave, to obey, but often through fear. In fact, a friend shared with me as well how she felt uncomfortable at first to bring their baby to the Church. She’s afraid that the grown-ups might stare harshly to her and her toddler when the boy would make some noise in the Church.

    And yet today, on the Feast of the Sto. Niño, God reminds us of something deeply important: God chose not to come to us as someone to be feared, but as a child to be loved.

    This is the heart of today’s feast. God chooses to be small so that no one will be afraid to come close.

    In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message spoken to a people who were living in darkness. This darkness was caused by suffering, injustice, violence, and fear. And into that darkness, the prophet proclaimed hope: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” But how does that light come? It comes not through power, not through force, and certainly not through fear. Isaiah said clearly: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us.”

    This is God’s surprising way. When the world expects strength, God gives a child. When the world uses violence, God responds with gentleness. When hearts are burdened by sin, guilt, and pain, God offers light, forgiveness, and peace. The Sto. Niño is God’s answer to our wounded world.

    Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, deepened this message. He told us that we have been chosen and blessed by God in Christ even before we deserved it. God did not wait for us to be perfect. God chose us out of love. And Paul prayed that our hearts may be enlightened, that we may truly see the hope to which we are called.

    This is important. Many people today live with wounded hearts. Families are burdened by poverty, stress, anger, and fear. Children grow up not always feeling safe, sometimes even in their own homes. During the pandemic, studies showed a rise in violence against children, abuse, and deep emotional distress. Many suffered quietly, unseen and unheard.

    And this is where today’s Gospel becomes very concrete and very challenging.

    In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus himself brought a child in the midst of the disciples. Why? Because in that culture, children were considered unimportant, a disturbance, and a waste of time. They had no status, no voice, and no power.

    Moreover, in Mark’s Gospel Jesus also said, “Let the children come to me. Do not prevent them.” And more than that, Jesus embraced them blessed them and placed them at the center.

    This is not just a sweet scene. It is a strong message of the Lord for all his disciples. Jesus rejects a culture that ignores, silences, or hurts the small and the weak. He tells us clearly that if we want to understand God, we must look at a child. If we want to enter the Kingdom, we must learn the humility, trust, and openness of a child.

    This is why the Sto. Niño is so powerful for us Filipinos. The image of the Child Jesus reminds us that God stands with the weak, the forgotten, and the wounded. God condemns attitudes that reject, ignore, or abuse the small especially children.

    And we must be honest. Sometimes, even without intending it, we hurt children with our words, our anger, our indifference, or our silence. Sometimes, we use fear instead of love. Sometimes, we choose convenience over protection. And Jesus is very clear that this must not be so.

    Yet, today’s feast is not meant to condemn us. It is meant to call us back to light, to mercy, to hope.

    The world may be darkened by violence, corruption, abuse, torn by war and indifference. Our hearts may carry pain, guilt, and brokenness. But God still chooses to be born among us. God still chooses to come as a child. God still chooses to bring light.

    So what does this feast invite us to do as ordinary Christians? There are four takeaways you can bring at home.

    First, learn again how to see God not as someone who frightens, but as someone who embraces us. Remember, faith grows not through fear, but through love. Let us teach our children that God is safe, merciful, and close to us.

    Second, let us become protectors of the small and the weak. This is not optional. It is a Gospel demand for us. Every child deserves safety, dignity, and love. Every decision we make, you as parents, leaders, neighbors, and community members, must be measured by this question, “Does this protect and nurture life, especially the most vulnerable?”

    Third, never use fear to represent God. Use patience, understanding, and love. The Sto. Niño teaches us that God draws near gently.

    Fourth, be a light for a child today. Do this through listening, protecting, correcting with love, or simply being present. Indeed, small acts matter as well.

    Thus, today God reminds us that greatness is not found in power, but in love. Not in control, but in care. Not in fear, but in trust. May the Sto. Niño dispel the darkness in our hearts and teach us again how to live as children of light. Hinaut pa.

  • Great is the CHILD

    Great is the CHILD

    January 18, 2026 – Feast of the Sto. Niño

    In our Wednesday novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, we always ask our Mother to help us learn to adapt to our growing children. Praying this, we acknowledge before the Lord that as Christians and in particular as parents, we are imperfect. We recognize that we encounter problems and difficulties in parenting our growing children and that, at times we fail to love and respect our children as persons and as God’s children. And for this, we implore Our Mother’s guidance and assistance as we parent our children.

    We, Filipinos love the Sto. Nino, the child Jesus, and today – every third Sunday of January, here in the Philippines, we celebrate the Feast of Sto. Nino. Like the Sto. Nino, we honor our children as also God’s gifts and instrument of salvation for humanity. We acknowledge our children as God’s blessing and signs of hope for our Christian families and communities.

    As God’s gifts, children then must be accepted, love and provided with the love and care they need for their growth and well-being. As God’s expression & instrument of His grace, they must also be respected for what they are and will be, with talents and limitations, for in their own unique way children can contribute to the building up of Christian families, and communities, and of God’s kingdom as well.

    In our gospel today, we hear how Jesus emphasizes greatly the value of us being God’s children, and of being children in God’s kingdom. For Jesus, “great is the child”. Our being beloved children of God is thus our very dignity and rights as a persons in this life.

    As God’s beloved children, we enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus and the Kingdom of God. We have the right and duty to grow in faith, to grow in our own personal relationship with God. It is also our calling to be His disciple – to come and follow Jesus Christ and express our response, by our love and respect for others.

    Today, Jesus invites us to especially love and respect our children, as much as we demand respect from them. We are reminded that like us now adults Christians, our today’s children are also God’s beloved children, where the greatness of God’s kingdom is founded.

    Now if we wish to learn how to adapt to our growing children – to respect God’s beloved children, take a good look at the picture of Our Mother Perpetual Help, a portrait of Mary carrying her child Jesus. By merely looking at the picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, we readily notice the mother & child relationship between Jesus and Mary – Mary as the mother, the parent of child Jesus the Redeemer.

    As parent, Mary presents to us the child Jesus – a child who like any other child needs nourishment, love, guidance, protection and care of a parent. We see Mary as the model of Christian Parenthood for she teaches us how to love, care, protect and adapt to our growing children. The picture also shows us Jesus growing and gradually learning that in fulfilling his vocation in life, there will be coming great changes and suffering (as shown by angels at the side bearing cross & hyssop on spears).

    And Mary has to adapt gradually to the changes going in her growing son’s life. As Jesus grew up in life, so did Mary grow to respect and share the sacredness & giftedness of the growing Jesus, as God’s beloved child to others.

    As we honor today the Sto. Nino, Jesus want us to remember that our devotion to the Sto. Nino must reflect not only our deep joy and thanksgiving to God for sharing us the gift of His only Son, but also expresses our love and concern for our growing children – God’s ninos and ninas amongst us.

    And the most relevant and meaningful way of honoring the Sto. Nino is not by merrymaking, parades or street dancing, but by concretely expressing our Christian respect, love and concern to our growing children, especially the poor and abandoned little ones.

    Perhaps better for us to BE with & spend quality time with our growing God’s children these days. Listen to their stories, their concerns, and their hopes in life.

    Respect and learn from them for they are also God’s children and messengers, for as Jesus warns us in our gospel today, “unless you turn and become like children (of God), you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” In our children & our being children of God, we could find then answer & access to God’s love for us.

    As a popular Filipino folk song would advise: “Ikaw ba’y nalilito, Pag-iisip mo’y nagugulo. Sa buhay ng tao, Sa takbo ng buhay mo?…. Itanong mo sa mga bata, Ang buhay ay hawak nila. Masdan mo ang mga bata, Ang sagot ay ‘yong makikita. (Are you confused, are your minds troubled, Of man’s life, of the direction of one’s life. Ask the children, life is in their hand. Look closely at children, You will find the Answer)

    Like Mary, may we honor the greatness of God’s kingdom in our growing children, and by adapting with them, may we discern and respect God’s ways and plans for a better life now & ahead of us.

    So May it Be. Amen.

  • Baptized to Become the Compassion of Christ

    Baptized to Become the Compassion of Christ

    January 11, 2025 – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

    Click here for here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011126.cfm)

    On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we are invited not simply to recall a moment in the life of Jesus, but to look deeply and honestly at our own lives as baptized Filipinos. This feast quietly yet firmly asks us: What has our baptism truly done to us, and what is it asking of us today?

    The Philippines remains one of the most religious countries in the world. According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, nearly 79 percent of Filipinos still identify as Roman Catholic.[1] Prayer, devotion to saints, novenas, and religious fiestas continue to shape our culture. At the same time, recent surveys reveal a growing tension beneath the surface. A Social Weather Stations survey reported that while about seven out of ten Filipinos[2] say they pray daily, far fewer attend Mass regularly, especially among the younger generation. Many still believe, but many also struggle to connect faith with daily decisions, social issues, and moral responsibility. Faith is present, but often fragile, routine, or confined to our rituals.

    Thus, this reality invites us to examine ourselves. Have we really grown in our faith? Have we deepened our relationship with God and with one another? But, let us remember, our faith cannot be reduced to kneeling and standing, holding a rosary, or faithfully reciting novenas though these are also important practices.

    As sociologist Dr. Jayeel Cornelio has observed, many Filipinos today are searching for something “more” from their faith.[3] This “more” is not about abandoning Catholic tradition, but about longing for a faith that transforms life, confronts injustice, heals wounds, and gives direction amid uncertainty. This “more” is precisely what the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord places before us.

    To discern this “more,” let us allow the Word of God proclaimed to us on this Sunday to guide us.

    In the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, we hear about the Servant of the Lord. This Servant is chosen, beloved, and pleasing to God. God’s Spirit rests upon him. But what defines this Servant most clearly is not power or dominance, but compassion. He brings justice not through violence or force, but through gentleness. Isaiah tells us that a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench. This Servant does not crush the weak; instead, he protects what is fragile, restores hope to the weary, and lifts those bowed down by suffering. He opens blind eyes and frees prisoners living in darkness. God’s justice, as Isaiah presents it, heals and restores before it confronts and corrects.

    The Psalm continues this vision in a quiet but powerful way: “The Lord will bless his people with peace.” This peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is the peace that flows from living in God’s presence, from recognizing that God is active in creation and present in every human life. When we truly acknowledge God’s presence in everything and everyone, respect and reverence naturally follow. Peace then becomes something we embody and share, not just something we pray for.

    This promise finds its fulfillment in the Acts of the Apostles. Peter proclaims that the Servant spoken of by Isaiah is Jesus of Nazareth. He is anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, and His life is marked by a simple yet profound description: He went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. These words summarize the entire mission of Jesus. He restores dignity, heals brokenness, and brings hope to those crushed by sin, fear, and injustice. This is how God chooses to be revealed and not through domination, but through mercy.

    All of this reaches its deepest meaning in today’s Gospel, the Baptism of the Lord. Jesus enters the waters of the Jordan, not because He needs repentance, but because He chooses full solidarity with humanity. His immersion in the water is an act of complete trust in the Father. As the Psalm proclaims, the voice of the Lord is over the waters, and Jesus allows Himself to be embraced by the Father’s will.

    As He rises from the water, the Spirit descends like a dove. This moment reveals that God is not distant or unreachable. God’s Spirit rests upon Jesus and remains with Him. Then comes the voice from heaven: “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.” These words echo Isaiah’s prophecy and confirm Jesus as the beloved Servant. He is sent to bring healing, justice, and peace.

    This feast today speaks directly to our own baptism as well. In baptism, we too are claimed as beloved. We too have received the Spirit. We too are sent. This is where we discover the “more” that many Filipinos are longing for in their faith. Baptism does not make us passive believers. Rather, it calls us to become active disciples of Jesus.

    We are reminded first that we are deeply loved. This truth alone has the power to heal many wounds, fears, and insecurities. In a society facing economic pressures, environmental threats, and growing inequality, our identity as beloved children of God becomes our deepest strength. We are also reminded that God’s presence is not far away. The Spirit of God dwells among us, in our families, workplaces, classrooms, and communities. We do not need to search only in the clouds to find God. We too are invited to recognize the Lord here and now.

    Our baptism also carries a clear responsibility. We are called to bring justice and peace, not through anger or force, but through compassion and gentleness. Isaiah reminds us that true justice protects the weak and restores hope.

    To live our baptism is to participate in the ministry of Jesus and that is to open our eyes blinded by greed, pride, and indifference, and to free hearts imprisoned by hatred, guilt, and sin.

    As we look ahead to 2026, Filipinos face serious challenges. We have economic uncertainty, the worsening effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, and a growing temptation to reduce faith to mere ritual. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord calls us back to the heart of discipleship. The “more” in our faith is “to make Jesus more present in our actions, more present in our words, and more present in our homes and communities.”

    Let me leave you with two simple reminders to carry with you now:

    First. Live your baptism daily. Let love, honesty, and compassion shape your choices.

    Second. Be Christ where you are. In your family, your work, and your community, allow others to encounter Jesus through you.

    May the grace of our baptism continue to renew us, strengthen us, and send us forth as bearers of God’s peace. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/02/22/506351/catholics-make-up-nearly-79-of-philippine-population/

    [2] https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195717

    [3] See https://www.ucanews.com/news/young-filipinos-keep-the-faith-but-shun-conventional-piety/97562

  • Following the Star That Truly Matters

    Following the Star That Truly Matters

    January 4, 2025 – Epiphany of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010426.cfm)

    What is it that drives you these days? What keeps you awake at night, and what makes you get up each morning and continue? Many of us could also be searching for someone, for something, or for a situation that we hope will finally make us happy. We look for contentment that will quite down our restlessness, for success that will ease our worries, or for love that will fill the emptiness we sometimes carry in silence. This search is very human. It is also very real.

    Each of us, in one way or another, is indeed on a journey. We take risks for what we hope will give meaning to our lives. We leave familiar places, sacrifice time with family, work long hours, and invest our energy in relationships and dreams. But we also know that every journey has its trials. We face failures, disappointments, wrong turns, and moments of deep uncertainty.

    This is where today’s feast, the Epiphany of the Lord, gently meets and calls us. Epiphany means manifestation because God makes Himself known to us. The Gospel tells us of the Magi or wise men, seekers, who followed a star. They were not kings in the political sense. They were probably scholars, observers of the heavens, men who knew how to read signs. They had a common desire and that was to find the truth behind the light they had seen. That star was not only a guide, it was also an invitation for them to behold and to encounter.

    They risked the long road, crossed unfamiliar territories, and faced uncertainty. And yes, they asked questions. They even made mistakes, stopping first at the palace of Herod, assuming that a king must be found among the powerful. Yet, in the end, the journey led them not to a throne but to a child.

    Isaiah speaks of this moment, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come.” Thus, the light of God is not meant for one people alone. It is meant to draw all nations towards the glory of God.

    Psalm 72 echoes this hope that justice and peace may flourish and that rulers may serve, not oppress. And Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that this mystery has now been revealed for in Christ, all are included, all are invited, all are heirs.

    This makes us realize that the heart of Epiphany is not really the Magi. The Epiphany is not about the Three Kings. It is the Epiphany of the child Jesus they have encountered.

    Hence, God chooses to reveal Himself not in strength but in vulnerability of a baby. Not in wealth but in poverty and simplicity. Not in the center of power but in a simple home, with Mary and Joseph, in a place easily overlooked by many. This is the great surprise of God.

    Yet, this was also the reason why Herod was troubled. He was shaken not by an army, not by a rebellion, but by a baby. Remember, power that is built on fear always feels threatened by truth and compassion. Corruption always trembles before humility and honesty. Herod represented all forms of leadership that cling to control and self-preservation. Jesus, even as an infant, already exposed this kind of power.

    For us Filipinos in 2026, this feast also speaks clearly to us. Many families continue to struggle with rising prices, unstable work, and the painful choice of leaving loved ones behind to work abroad. Our young people are searching for direction in a noisy digital world, often pressured to succeed quickly, to look perfect, and to keep up. We also face fatigue from political disappointments, from social divisions, from disasters that test our resilience again and again. In all this, we too are searching for a star.

    Yet, Epiphany reminds us that God is not absent from these struggles. However, we must learn where to look. God may not be found where influence is loud or where promises are grand. God is often revealed in the quiet faith of ordinary families, in honest work done with integrity, in compassion shown to the weak, and in courage that refuses to be silent before injustice.

    Let us remember that the Magi were wise not simply because they searched and were knowledgeable, but because they discerned. They listened. They allowed themselves to be led, even when the path was unclear. And when they found the child, they offered their gifts. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not random. They were acts of recognition and surrender.

    Gold was offered because Jesus is a true king. Frankincense was offered because  Jesus is a priest and divine. And Myrrh, an embalming oil, was offered because as a prophet and savior, Jesus will suffer and die.

    Today, the Lord also invites us to do the same. To seek Him above all. To discern where He is truly present. And to offer not just things, but our lives.

    Hence, I leave you now your three takeaways for this week.

    First. Choose your star carefully. Ask yourself honestly, “What is guiding my decisions right now? Success alone? Fear? Approval? Or the quiet call of God that leads to truth and life?”

    Second. Look for God where He usually hides. Pay attention to the poor, the weak, the unnoticed. God often reveals Himself there, and He waits for us to respond with humility and compassion.

    Third. Pray with openness and courage. Set aside time each day to speak honestly with the Lord. Ask for discernment. Ask for light. And ask for the grace to follow, even when the road leads somewhere unexpected.

    May this Epiphany help us follow the star that truly matters and may it always lead us to Christ. Hinaut pa.