Accept God's Invitation

Accept God's Invitation

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to accept God’s invitation. Today’s Gospel tells the parable of the wedding banquet, reminding us that God invites us to join Him at His banquet. He has already prepared everything and set the table before us. All we need to do is respond to His invitation and accept it. However, as we accept His invitation, we must also wear the proper garments. This does not refer to our outward clothing but rather to the posture of our hearts as we come before Him. In God’s eyes, we are precious and important. That is why He invites us to be with Him and share in His kingdom. Furthermore, we must prepare our hearts because God desires to unite us with Him. A wedding symbolizes the union between two people, reminding us of the intimate relationship God wants to establish with us. His invitation comes from His deep love for us. Therefore, we must nurture our relationship with Him every day through prayer, worship, and faithful obedience. As we come before God, let us clothe our hearts with the proper garments: praise, forgiveness, and thanksgiving. When we cultivate these qualities within ourselves, they will naturally become visible in our outward actions, especially in the way we treat others. A heart transformed by God’s love will reflect His goodness through kindness, humility, and compassion. Ultimately, accepting God’s invitation means more than simply showing up. It means preparing our hearts, growing in our relationship with Him, and allowing His love to transform our lives. Therefore, let us accept God’s invitation with hearts clothed in praise, forgiveness, and thanksgiving, ready to meet Him and faithfully respond to His unfailing love. Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time October 11, 2026 First Proclamation: Isaiah 25:1-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:1-3, 4:6-7 Second Proclamation: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 22:1-14 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/accept-gods-invitation/?feed_id=1042&_unique_id=6acb21a154875

Grow as Christ’s Disciple

Grow as Christ’s Disciple

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to Grow as Christ’s Disciple. In today’s Gospel, we are like Peter, who struggled to understand the suffering that Jesus would face. However, Fr. Erel emphasized that suffering also comes with our faith. Matthew 16:21 tells us that part of Jesus’ mission on earth was to suffer and die for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, the Scriptures were fulfilled, and God freely offered us salvation through Christ. We must remember that if we want to become His disciples, suffering comes with following Jesus. He gave us three ways to become His disciples: deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow Him. First, we must die to ourselves. This means dying to our sins, surrendering our pride, and choosing what is good for others. As Jesus continually works in our lives, we must learn to put aside our selfish desires and allow Him to transform our hearts. Second, we must carry our cross. Our willingness to endure suffering identifies us with Christ. It also means choosing to forgive others, even when we do not feel like forgiving. Furthermore, carrying our cross means leaving behind a comfortable Christianity and becoming willing to offer our time, talents, and abilities in service to others. Lastly, we must follow Jesus. Following Him every day leads us toward spiritual growth. More importantly, following Christ is a choice we must consciously make each day. So, are we willing to embrace our cross for others? Are we willing to let go of what we have for the good of others? God has already shown us who He is. Now, as we Grow as Christ’s Disciple, let us deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow Him faithfully each day. Twenty- Second Sunday of Ordinary Time August 30, 2026 First Proclamation: Jeremiah 15:15-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 26:1-8 Second Proclamation: Romans 12:9-21 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 16:21-27 Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/grow-as-christs-disciple/?feed_id=988&_unique_id=6a93bd35566b5

Live Like Jesus

Live Like Jesus

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel reminded us to Live Like Jesus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples who people said the Son of Man was. Some identified Him as Elijah, Moses, or John the Baptist. However, Peter boldly answered that Jesus is the Son of Man, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of Peter’s declaration of faith, Jesus named him Peter, meaning “the Rock,” and entrusted him with the responsibility of leading His Church. Like Peter, we are also called by Jesus to help build His Kingdom here on earth. Every day, we must seek to know Him more deeply through prayer, worship, and reading the Scriptures. However, following Jesus goes beyond simply knowing Him. If we truly want to Live Like Jesus, our faith must also reflect in the way we live and treat others. How do we respond when someone needs help? Do we show compassion and kindness, reflecting the character of Jesus? Or do we turn away when others are struggling? Our everyday actions reveal whether we are truly following Christ. Moreover, to Live Like Jesus, we must seek His guidance in every decision we make. Before choosing a path, we should ask whether our decisions align with His will and purpose. By surrendering our plans to Him, we allow Jesus to shape our choices, actions, and priorities. Therefore, let us take time to evaluate ourselves. If we declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, our lives should reflect that declaration. Let us follow Him daily, love others, serve those in need, and seek His will in everything we do. May our faith not only be something we profess, but something we live. Follow Jesus, reflect His character, and Live Like Jesus. Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time August 23, 2026 First Proclamation: Isaiah 51:1-6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-7 Second Proclamation: Romans 12:1-8 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 16:13-20 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/live-like-jesus/?feed_id=979&_unique_id=6a8a5f8bf1c41

Trust God's Mercy and Grace

Trust God's Mercy and Grace

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to Trust God’s Mercy and Grace. The Gospel tells the story of a Canaanite woman who approached Jesus and asked Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. At first, Jesus did not answer her. However, despite His silence, the woman remained faithful and continued to plead for her daughter. Because of her faith, perseverance, and trust, Jesus eventually healed her daughter. Through this encounter, Jesus revealed His mercy and responded to the woman’s unwavering faith. The Canaanite woman’s perseverance reflected her deep faith in Jesus. She believed that He had the power to heal her daughter, even when the situation seemed hopeless. Similarly, our faith is often tested through trials and tribulations. Yet, these difficult moments can strengthen our perseverance and teach us to trust God more deeply. Therefore, we must remain patient and continue waiting faithfully for His mercy. Most importantly, we must trust God’s mercy and grace every day. Even when we cannot see what He is doing, God continues to work in our lives. Like the Canaanite woman, we must approach Him with faith, humility, and perseverance, trusting that He hears our prayers. Through the Eucharist, we receive the Bread and Body of Christ, reminding us of His constant presence, love, and grace. Whenever troubles arise, we can hold on to the assurance that God will never abandon us. So, whatever trials we face, let us continue to Trust God’s Mercy and Grace. Remain faithful, persevere in prayer, and believe that God is always working in our lives. https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/trust-gods-mercy-and-grace/?feed_id=970&_unique_id=6a813146d7506

Bear fruit with Jesus

Bear fruit with Jesus

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to bear fruit with Jesus. Today's Gospel presents the Parable of the Sower, one of Jesus' teachings that invites us to reflect on our daily lives. Through this parable, Jesus calls us to bear fruit with Jesus by allowing His Word to transform our hearts. The fruit we bear reflects the changes and growth within us. While others may notice our actions, only Jesus truly knows whether we bear good or bad fruit because these fruits come from our hearts. Moreover, Jesus describes four kinds of hearts where He, the Sower, plants the seed of His Word, and the soils as our hearts. First is the pathway, where the seeds cannot grow because the heart remains hard and refuses to surrender to God. Second is the rocky ground, which represents those who gladly receive God's Word but fail to remain committed. These hearts need to meditate on God's Word more deeply. Third is the thorny ground, which symbolizes hearts consumed by worldly desires, greed, resentment, and unforgiveness. These hearts need God's cleansing. Finally, Jesus speaks of the good soil— a heart that listens to His Word, reflects on it, obeys it, and remains open to correction. Such a heart produces an abundant harvest. Therefore, let us repent and pray to Jesus every day so that our hearts may become good soil for His Word. As we continue to grow in faith, may we faithfully bear fruit with Jesus, for this is His call and His desire for each one of us. Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 12, 2026 First Proclamation: Isaiah 55:6-13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 Second Proclamation: Romans 8:8-11 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/bear-fruit-with-jesus/?feed_id=925&_unique_id=6a530d424e940

We Are God's Ambassadors

We Are God's Ambassadors

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us that we are God's ambassadors. Drawing from the Gospel, he reflected on Jesus' words to His disciples as He sent them on mission and warned them about the opposition they would face. Like the disciples, we are all called to mission. We may not travel to distant places, but every day God sends us to our workplaces, schools, offices, and communities. Wherever we go, He places us there for a purpose—to share His Word through our words, actions, and way of life. As God's ambassadors, we should not be surprised when others oppose or reject the message we carry. One of the greatest obstacles to sharing God's Word is fear. We often worry about criticism, rejection, or misunderstanding. However, Jesus repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. God's truth will always prevail because His truth is far more powerful than any human opinion or opposition. Therefore, we have every reason to trust Him and continue our mission with courage. Moreover, God knows everything that happens in our lives. Nothing escapes His attention. He allows certain circumstances because He sees the bigger picture and works through them for His purposes. As our sovereign Lord, He cares deeply for us and remains close to us in every situation. Whenever we come before Him in prayer, He listens and strengthens us. Ultimately, we are God's ambassadors. He calls us not only to believe in Him but also to make Him known. Through our daily encounters, words, and actions, we have the privilege and responsibility of representing Christ to others. May we overcome fear, trust in God's care, and faithfully fulfill our mission of bringing His truth and love to the world. Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time June 21, 2026 First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69 Second Reading: Romans 6:1-11 Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:24-33 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/we-are-gods-ambassadors/?feed_id=898&_unique_id=6a375b9636dce

Jesus Reigns Forever

Jesus Reigns Forever

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminds us of a powerful truth at the heart of our faith: Jesus reigns forever.

As we reach the end of the Liturgical Year, the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King, honoring Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Fr. Erel emphasizes that our God truly reigns—He is King, and He is always in control.

Nothing happens without the knowledge of our King. No matter what is happening in the world or in our personal lives, God is still in control. Jesus still reigns. Because He reigns forever, there is hope, there is peace, and there is always a solution rooted in His love.

A King Unlike Any Other

What kind of King do we have?
We have a merciful, forgiving, and loving King. Jesus seeks out the lost so He can bring them back into His embrace. He is a humble King, one who did not take advantage of His authority—even as He hung on the cross.

On the cross, Jesus proclaimed, “Father, forgive them.” In that moment, we witnessed a King overflowing with mercy, compassion, and grace. This is the King who invites us to surrender our hearts to Him.

Let Jesus Reign in Your Life

To proclaim that Jesus reigns forever is to allow Him to reign in our daily lives. Fr. Erel encourages us to submit our hearts to Christ the King—He who is faithful, loving, and ever-merciful.

May we always remember: Jesus reigns forever, and in His reign we find hope, healing, and true peace.

Feast of Christ the King - November 23, 2025

First Proclamation: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 46:1-3,4-6,7-9,10-11

Second Proclamation: Colossians 1:13-22

Gospel Proclamation: Luke 23:33-43

Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless!

https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/jesus-reigns-forever/?feed_id=637&_unique_id=6922a513da8cf

Give Wholeheartedly

Give Wholeheartedly

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to give wholeheartedly. As Ordinary Time comes to a close, we enter a moment of preparation—an invitation to open our hearts to the blessings God wants to pour into our lives before the new liturgical year begins. Our attitude shapes this readiness. When we offer our whole selves, we not only receive God’s grace but also become instruments of that grace for others. The Gospel clearly teaches that the Lord watches our hearts. Therefore, when we fulfill our responsibilities, we should avoid acting out of pride or self-interest, unlike the Pharisees described in the passage. Instead, we are called to imitate the widow, who gave her all without hesitation. Her humble generosity reveals the kind of heart that God desires. Moreover, the Lord does not measure our offering by its amount but by the love behind it. He looks not for a portion of what we have but for a proportion that reflects our trust in Him. This approach transforms giving from a mere obligation into a sincere act of faith. Thus, our generosity—whether through money, time, or effort—shows the depth of our belief in God’s providence. When we serve others without expecting anything in return, we live out the call to give wholeheartedly. God is never unfair; He sees every act of kindness and values the intention behind each one. Let us then choose to give without reserve, trusting that God notices every sincere offering and blesses a heart that gives wholeheartedly. Come and celebrate Holy Mass with us! 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time- November 16, 2025 Theme: Go and Proclaim: “Give to God What is Due Him: EVERYTHING!” First Proclamation: Malachi:3:16,4:1-2 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1-3,4-6,7-9 Second Proclamation: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Gospel Proclamation: Luke 20:39-47,21:1-4 Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/give-wholeheartedly/?feed_id=628&_unique_id=691943d31dc1a

Strive with God's Grace

Strive with God's Grace

In this Sunday’s Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva delivered a powerful reminder: to strive with God's grace.

Life constantly challenges us—whether in our work, studies, or relationships. Yet despite these struggles, we’re called to live out the gift of salvation in our daily lives.

To strive means making a firm decision to follow Christ even when it’s hard. It means sharing His Word, choosing truth, and living with integrity even when the path feels uphill. Becoming part of God’s family brings immense privilege, but it also carries great responsibility. Living in God's grace each day demands effort and surrender. But we don’t rely on our strength—we rely on God’s grace, which sustains us through every trial.

The enemy constantly looks for ways to distract and destroy us. It tries to steal the joy of salvation, leading us away from God through lies, temptations, and doubt. That’s why we must choose daily to resist. We die to ourselves—not once, but again and again—by letting go of pride, selfishness, and sin. As we do this, we begin to walk boldly in the salvation that Jesus already won for us.

Now is the time to strive with God's grace. Salvation isn't just a future promise—it’s a present reality. Jesus has already declared victory, and He equips us with every spiritual weapon we need. When we walk closely with God each day, trials won’t shake us. Instead, we will stand firm—unshaken and rooted in His grace.

So let us keep moving forward. Let us strive with God’s grace—fully, faithfully, and fearlessly—trusting that He who called us will finish the good work He began.

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time - August 24, 2025 First Proclamation- Isaiah 66:18-21 Second Proclamation- Hebrew 12:25-29 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 46 Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless!       https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/strive-with-gods-grace/?feed_id=520&_unique_id=68aa864480136

God is the Source of Everything

God is the Source of Everything

In his Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us of a powerful truth: God is the Source of Everything. From our talents and opportunities to the material blessings we enjoy, nothing truly belongs to us—it all comes from Him. Moreover, Fr. Erel warned that covetousness, driven by greed, is not only displeasing to the Lord but also destructive to our relationships. When we allow greed to take root in our hearts, it leads us away from the peace and harmony that God desires for us. Therefore, we should not exhaust ourselves chasing after things that hold no value in God’s eyes. While earthly possessions may seem important now, they lose all meaning at the end of our lives. In contrast, a heart centered on God and generosity reflects true spiritual wealth. Consequently, we are called to live each day with the awareness that God is the Source of Everything we have. Let us use His blessings not merely for personal comfort but to bless and uplift others. Ultimately, everything we do should point back to Him. Let us strive to live in a way that brings glory to God, who alone provides, sustains, and fulfills. 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time- August 3, 2025 First Proclamation- Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 Second Proclamation- Colossians 3:1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 49 Gospel Reading: Luke 12:13-21 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/god-is-the-source-of-everything/?feed_id=493&_unique_id=688ed7a1878e4

Celebrate the Eucharist

Celebrate the Eucharist

During this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to celebrate the Eucharist. Initially, he emphasized that the Eucharist is the very heart of our Christian journey. Each time we gather to celebrate it, we are reminded that Jesus is truly present with us—not only in the sacrament, but in our daily lives. In every Eucharistic celebration, we encounter Christ: we see Him, we hear Him, and we are united with Him. Also, Fr. Erel encouraged us to come to Mass each Sunday with hearts full of joy and gratitude. Christ gave His life so that we might be saved. In return, our most fitting response is to offer lives filled with thanksgiving, even amidst trials and difficulties. To conclude, As we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, may we deepen our appreciation for this incredible gift—Jesus offering His Body and Blood for our salvation and reconciliation. Let us thank God for His boundless love, and strive to live each day as a grateful response to His grace. Feast of Corpus Christi- June 22, 2025 First Proclamation- Genesis 14:14-20 Second Proclamation- 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111 Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 30-25   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/celebrate-the-eucharist/?feed_id=439&_unique_id=68579dbf7bb88