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Category: Weekday Homilies

  • Faith That Shows Up

    Faith That Shows Up

    January 5, 2025 – Monday after Epiphany; Memorial of St. John Neumann, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010526.cfm)

    When a community faces a problem like sickness, conflict, calamities or poverty, we find it necessary to ask for help. And so, we look for someone we can trust, someone who will not just talk, but will actually show up and do something. Thus, we value presence and value people who serve quietly, without drawing attention to themselves. This simple experience opens our hearts to the message of today’s readings and of the life of Saint John Neumann, a Redemptorist Bishop in the United States, whose feast we celebrate today.

    The Word of God today invites us to live our Christian faith that is true, discerning, and expressed in concrete service.

    In the first reading from the First Letter of John, we hear a strong reminder that our relationship with God is not only about words or feelings. When our hearts are aligned with God’s will, there is confidence and peace within us. But Saint John also warns us that not every spirit comes from God. Not every voice that sounds religious or inspiring is truly leading us to Christ. That is why discernment is important and necessary. The test is clear and simple, we can ask, “Does it confess Jesus Christ, truly God who came among us?”

    Remember, true faith always leads us closer to Christ and to love our neighbor expressed in concrete actions.

    Now, this message is very relevant to us today. We live in a time when many voices compete for our attention. There are all sorts of teachings in the social media, as well as opinions, and trends that promise happiness and success, but can also slowly pull us away from prayer, from the Church, and from compassion for others. Saint John reminds us that real faith produces real love, and real love is shown through obedience and service.

    The Gospel continues this invitation. Jesus begins His ministry by proclaiming repentance and by bringing healing. He does not stay in one place. He goes from town to town, teaching, curing the sick, and restoring hope. People follow Him not only because of His words, but because they experience God’s mercy through Him. Jesus reveals a God who is not distant, but close to human suffering.

    This is where the life of Saint John Neumann becomes a living Gospel for us. He was a Redemptorist priest who left his homeland to serve immigrants in America. He became a bishop not for honor, but for mission. Despite being physically weak and often misunderstood, he worked tirelessly. He gave his life and ministry in building schools, organizing parishes, visiting the poor, and strengthening the faith of ordinary people. He lived simply, prayed deeply, and served generously. He did not seek recognition. He only wanted people to know Christ and experience God’s love.

    Saint John Neumann teaches us that holiness is not about doing extraordinary things, but about doing ordinary things with great love and faithfulness. His life shows us what it means to discern rightly and to respond generously to God’s call.

    As Christians today, we are invited to live the same spirit. Faith must not remain inside the church. It must be carried into our homes, workplaces, and communities. As Jesus calls us, we are to bring healing. Like Saint John Neumann, we are called to serve quietly, faithfully, and consistently.

    So as we honor Saint John Neumann today, receive these two simple invitations.

    First, examine the voices you listen to. This means that you choose what leads you closer to Christ, to prayer, and to the love of neighbors.

    Second, commit one concrete act of service this week. Do it quietly and sincerely, trusting that God works powerfully through humble hearts. Hinaut pa.

  • Maturing in faith through time

    Maturing in faith through time

    December 30, 2025 – Tuesday, 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123025.cfm)

    As the days of Christmas pass, the noise slowly fades. The lights remain, but the excitement becomes quieter as most of you might have observed. Yet, it invites us to notice something important that Christmas is not meant to rush us, but to deepen us.

    The Church, on this 6th Day of the Octave of Christmas, gently reminds us to slow down. We should ask ourselves what kind of people we are becoming. This reflection calls for our growth not only in age, but in faith, wisdom, and love. As Christ was born for us, Christmas calls us now how our hearts should be formed over time to recognize what truly lasts.

    This is why the Gospel today brings us to Anna, the prophetess, a woman whose life had been quietly shaped by years of faithfulness. She did not rush through life, and she did not allow loss or loneliness to harden her heart. Her many years in the temple were not empty waiting but faithful presence before God. And so, when the child Jesus was brought to the temple, Anna immediately recognized Him. While others may have seen only an ordinary child, she saw hope being fulfilled. Her long journey of trust had trained her heart to see what truly mattered.

    Anna showed us that faith deepens when we stay rooted, grounded. She waited long, but her waiting did not turn into bitterness. Her years did not make her cynical. Instead, they sharpened her vision and her spirit more attuned to God’s coming presence. Thus, she could see hope because she had learned how to trust God through many seasons of loss and silence.

    Moreover, the first reading from the First Letter of John speaks to different stages of life. John addresses children, young people, and fathers. He recognizes that faith looks different at each stage of our life. Children know forgiveness. Young people are strong and have overcome evil. Elders know God deeply because they have walked with Him for a long time.

    However, John also gives us a serious warning. He said, “Do not love the world or the things of the world.” He is not saying that the world is bad. John, rather, reminds us not to build our lives on what does not last such as power, pleasure, possessions, and pride. Though these things promise satisfaction, but they fade quickly and leave hearts empty.

    Hence, this message is very relevant today. We live in a time when many are pressured to prove their worth through success, appearance, or status. Even during Christmas, many could have felt that pressure to have the best food, the nicest gifts, or the happiest photos we can post of our social media platforms. Yet Anna’s life quietly tells us another truth that certainly, a meaningful life is not measured by what we accumulate or show of to others, but by who we become.

    Hence, true maturity in faith is learning to long and desire what lasts. Anna desired God above all else. That is why, when salvation stood before her, she recognized it.

    For us today, this is an invitation to examine our hearts. We ask ourselves. What are we holding on to? What consumes our energy and attention? Are we forming our children only to succeed, or also to love and serve? Are we using our strength as young adults only for ourselves, or also for what is good and just? Are we allowing our elders to be teachers of wisdom, or have we forgotten to listen to them?

    Remember, Anna did not keep the good news to herself. She spoke about the child to others. Faith that matures always becomes generous. It shares hope.

    As Christmas continues, we are reminded that Christ is still growing among us. And like Anna, we are called not only to see Him, but to point Him out to others through our lives shaped by patience, simplicity, and trust.

    May this Christmas season teach us not just to celebrate, but to mature in love, so that when Christ passes by our lives, we will recognize Him and rejoice. Hinaut pa.

  • Learning to See the Light

    Learning to See the Light

    December 29, 2025 – Monday, 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122925.cfm)

    After the joy of Christmas Day, after the lights and songs, the Church gently asks us today an important question. Do we still know how to see the light, and are we willing to live by it?

    In the Gospel, we met Simeon, an old man who had waited his whole life for this moment. He carried no title, no power and no influence. What he had was patience, faith, and a heart trained to recognize God’s presence. When Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the temple, Simeon saw what many others did not. He saw salvation and the light. And holding the child, he said, “My eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation.”

    Simeon teaches us something important. Seeing the light is not about having sharp eyes, but about having a faithful heart. Many people were in the temple that day. Only Simeon recognized the Messiah. Why? Because he waited, listened, and remained open to God even when the years were long, boring and quiet.

    However, Simeon also spoke words that were hard to hear. He told Mary that this child will be a sign of contradiction, and that a sword will pierce her heart. Indeed, Christmas joy is real, but it is not shallow. The light that comes into the world will reveal what is true in every heart. Hence, as light brings comfort to us, but it also exposes. As light gives warmth, but it also demands a response from us.

    This is where the first reading from the First Letter of John speaks clearly to us. John told us that knowing God is not just about words or feelings. “Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments, is a liar.” These are strong words, but they are honest. Thus, faith that remains only in speech is incomplete. And love that is not lived becomes empty.

    Now, John even went further. He said that those who walk in the light do not hate their brother or sister. It is when we linger to hatred, resentment, jealousy, and indifference that we belong to darkness. Because they blind us and make us stumble without even realizing it. This is very close to our daily lives. We may celebrate Christmas, attend Mass, and speak about love, yet still carry anger, silent grudges, or coldness toward others.

    Hence, the message of today is simple but challenging. We are reminded that to see the light of Christ is to choose to walk in love. This tells us that light is not just something we admire from a distance. It is something we follow.

    Like Simeon, we know what it means to wait. Waiting can make us tired. Sometimes it can harden our hearts. But Simeon showed us that waiting with faith sharpens our vision. It teaches us to recognize God even in small and ordinary moments.

    Today, Jesus is still presented to us not only in the temple or in our Churches, but in people. Jesus comes to us in those who are difficult to love, in those who test our patience, in those who need forgiveness. How we respond to them reveals whether we are walking in light or still choosing darkness to linger in our hearts.

    As we continue the Octave of Christmas, let us ask ourselves honestly, “Do my actions reflect the light I claim to see? Do my relationships show that I am walking in love?”

    May Simeon teach us patience. May John teach us integrity. And may Christ teach us how to live as children of the light not just in season, but every day in our ordinary lives. Hinaut pa.

  • Called by Name, Sent with a Mission

    Called by Name, Sent with a Mission

    December 23, 2025 – 8th Day of Misa de Aguinaldo

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122325.cfm)

    Maayong Good Morning! In many Filipino families, the giving of a name is never simple. When a woman is pregnant, there are long conversations, sometimes even gentle arguments in giving a name to the baby. Some want to name the child after a grandparent, as a way of honoring family roots. In the case of my father, he chose to name me after his nickname.

    Well, others also choose the name of a saint, hoping the child will grow under that saint’s guidance. There are names inspired by faith, by gratitude, or by a story that touched the parents’ lives. And we believe that a name carries meaning. A name carries a story. A name also carries a hope.

    Today, on this 8th Day of Misa de Aguinaldo, the readings invite us to reflect not only on names, but on calling. They remind us that before we were named by our parents, we were already known by God. And more than being known, each of us is called for a purpose. And so, let us journey deeper into our readings today and realize God’s invitations for us.

    In the Gospel, we have heard the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Elizabeth gave birth, and the neighbors rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, the child is to be named. According to their custom, they want to call him Zechariah, after his father. That was the normal way. That was what people expected. But Elizabeth spoke firmly, “He will be called John.” The people were confused because no one in the family had that name. So they turned to Zechariah.

    Here, something important happened. Zechariah, who had been silent for many months, wrote on the tablet, “John is his name.” At that moment, his mouth was opened. His tongue was freed. He began to speak, praising God. And so, silence ended as he began to praise God. Yet, fear and wonder filled everyone who witnessed this moment.

    To understand this better, we need to remember that Zechariah doubted God’s graciousness. He asked for proof. Because of that doubt, he lost his voice. His silence was not just physical. It was also spiritual because it because a time of waiting, listening, and learning to trust again.

    When Zechariah finally obeyed God’s word and named his son John, something was healed. His obedience opened his mouth. His trust restored his voice. This teaches us a powerful lesson that indeed, when we align ourselves with God’s will, even after doubt or failure, God gives us a new beginning.

    Hence, God’s graciousness was revealed in John. He is the one spoken of in the first reading from the prophet Malachi. John is the messenger who will prepare the way of the Lord, who will purify hearts and turn people back to God. John’s life will not be easy. He will live simply but will speak boldly and will call people to repentance. And his mission is clear and that is to point not to himself, but to the One who is coming.

    This is why the people ask in wonder, “What, then, will this child be?” They sensed that God’s hand is at work. They knew that this child has a purpose beyond ordinary expectations.

    Here, the Word of God gently turns toward us now. Like John, each of us has been called by name. We are not accidents. We are not forgotten. Our lives are not meaningless. God knows us deeply, even more than our parents do. And like Zechariah, we sometimes struggle to trust that calling.

    Indeed, many of us today are perhaps carrying silent doubts. We doubt our worth. We doubt our ability to change. We doubt that God can still use us after our mistakes. Some of us have lost our voice. Not literally, but spiritually. We stop speaking about what is right. We stop standing for truth. We stop working for justice. We stop expressing faith because we are tired, afraid, or disappointed.

    However, the story of Zechariah today gives us hope. Silence does not have to be the end. Waiting also does not mean abandonment. God uses even our silent seasons to shape us. When the time is right, God can open our mouths again, not to complain, but to praise. Not to defend ourselves, but to proclaim His goodness and graciousness.

    The psalm today echoes this message, “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” It is the prayer of someone who knows that life is a journey. Hence, we do not always see clearly and so we need guidance. We need humility. God leads the humble in what is right. He teaches those who are willing to listen.

    As Christmas approaches in two days, John the Baptist stands before us as a reminder of our role that we are not the Savior. But we are called to prepare the way. In our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities, we can help make hearts ready for Christ. Not through loud words, but through honest lives. Not through perfection, but through our sincerity.

    Like the parents who choose a name with hope for their child’s future, God has placed hope in each of us first. Our names, our lives, our stories matter to God. And even when we have doubted, like Zechariah, God patiently waits for us to trust again.

    So, remember this, we are called by God not just by name, but for a mission. When we listen and obey, our lives become a voice that points others to Christ. I leave you now your two takeaways.

    First. Live your name and calling with intention. Ask yourself: How can my words and actions today help prepare a place for Christ in the lives of others?

    Second. Use your voice for good. Speak words that heal, encourage, and tell the truth, especially in situations where silence allows harm or indifference to grow.

    As we continue our Misa de Aguinaldo, may John the Baptist remind us that even before Christ arrives in Bethlehem, God is already at work, calling us by name and sending us with purpose. Ok lang? Sana All.

  • Let God Surprise You With His Nearness

    Let God Surprise You With His Nearness

    December 12, 2025 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121225.cfm)

    (A homily given to a group of Philippine Army.)

    The Season of Advent always carries with it a gentle sense of surprise. It is the kind of surprise you feel when something good happens in a place you never expected, or when someone shows up at a moment you had already resigned yourself to being alone. Advent tells us that God’s coming is never loud, never forced, but always unexpected but gentle. And that is the greatest surprise that the Almighty choosing to come close, choosing humility, choosing to enter our ordinary days, choosing to be within our human history.

    This is exactly what we hear in our Gospel today. Elizabeth did not expect a visit. She was living her normal, hidden life, bearing both her age and her long years of waiting. Then one day, Mary walks in simplicity, young, carrying not only her presence but the very presence of God Himself dwelling in her womb. The surprise was so overwhelming that even the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. John recognized what words could not yet express because God had visited them through Mary.

    Our Lady of Guadalupe is another moment in history when God surprised His people. This is the feast we celebrate today. Through Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego, God showed the tender concern for the poor, the oppressed, and the overlooked. It was God’s way of saying, “I have not forgotten you. I see your suffering. And I come close to you.” Every true surprise from God is like this, it reveals God’s heart, especially God’s love for the weak and the powerless.

    This is what the prophet Zechariah announces in the first reading. The Prophet said, “Sing and rejoice, daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you.” Not from afar. Not in theory. But to dwell among us. The reading emphasizes that God does not live distant from the anxieties of His people. His promise is always presence which is also the gift to us.

    Brothers and sisters in uniform, this message is especially for you. Many of you will spend Christmas far from home, far from family, children, parents, and your familiar traditions. Some of you may have already spent many Christmases this way. And it is never easy. There is a loneliness in that kind of sacrifice that most people will never see. But the Lord sees it. And today, through this Gospel and through the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, God tells us: “I come to visit you where you are.”

    Perhaps the surprise of God this Christmas is not that you will be home because of you won’t. The surprise may simply be this: that even in a distant assignment, even in quiet duty posts or long night watches, God draws near. God dwells with you. God visits you through moments of peace, through your camaraderie with one another, through unexpected strength that rises when you feel tired, through simple joys that you recognize in the middle of your routine.

    But for God’s surprise to reach us, our hearts must learn to be less guarded. Advent invites us to put down our judgments, our suspicions, our indifference, our anger and hatred. This also includes even our inner defenses that we think can protect us. Sometimes we are too careful, too defensive, too close-minded or too hardened by life. And that prevents God from entering. When we allow ourselves to admit our limitations, our sins, our failures, our woundedness that is when God can finally surprise us with healing, joy and freedom.

    And when God surprises us, like John in the womb, may our hearts also learn to leap with joy. May that joy not end with us. If God surprises us with His kindness, may we then become a surprise of kindness to others especially in a season when compassion and understanding is needed most.

    I leave you now with two simple invitations which you can do concretely in the coming days.

    First, make one small gesture of kindness to someone in your unit. You can expressed this through a word of thanks, an apology, an offer to help, or a listening ear. Surprise someone with kindness.

    Second, spend five quiet minutes each day asking only one prayer: “Lord, surprise me with Your nearness today.” Let that simple prayer open your eyes to how God visits you. Hinaut pa.