Jesus at the Center

Jesus at the Center

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa delivered a powerful reminder: keep Jesus at the center of your life. Drawing from the Sunday Readings, he emphasized three essential points that can help us live with Jesus at the Center every day. 1. Know how to recognize His presence. The first step in making Jesus the center of your life is learning to recognize His presence. This awareness is a spiritual gift. Abraham recognized the presence of God in the three visitors who appeared to him by the trees of Mamre. As soon as he realized who they were, he responded with urgency. Likewise, when God calls, we must respond immediately. Don’t delay what God wants you to do. As Scripture says, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Being attentive to His presence keeps Jesus at the center of your actions. 2. Know our priorities. Next, evaluate your priorities. Life becomes chaotic when we don’t know what truly matters. To keep Jesus at the Center, we must value and prioritize Him above all else. Jesus should never be just another task on your to-do list—He should be the foundation of everything you do. In the Gospel, Martha was distracted by many things, while Abraham gave his full attention to God. When you love God fully—100%—you’ll be able to love everything else in your life in the right way. When you put Jesus first, everything else finds its proper place. 3.Know that when God visits you, He wants to give us something. Finally, recognize that when God visits, He comes bearing gifts. When He visited Abraham, He promised him a son. In the same way, God comes into our lives not to take, but to give. He doesn’t need anything from us; rather, He offers everything we truly need in Christ. Sometimes, God may ask us to give something up. But when He does, He always gives back something better. Trust that His gifts are always good, and His timing is perfect. By following these three key points—recognizing His presence, setting the right priorities, and receiving His gifts—you can truly place Jesus at the Center of your life. Let this homily be a guiding light in your spiritual journey. 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time- July 20, 2025

First Proclamation- Genesis 18: 1-10

Second Proclamation- Colossians 1:15-23

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15

Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 38-42

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Love God and your Neighbor

Love God and your Neighbor

During this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Bishop Romie-Jun Peñalosa urged us to love God and our neighbor. He stressed that the Lord remains close to us, and grasping His Word doesn't demand exceptional intelligence. Rather, what truly matters is our willingness to obey.

The Gospel reading centered on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This powerful story teaches not only compassion but also our calling to love one another—just as God commands. From this Gospel, Bishop Peñalosa offered two key reflections.

First, we need to recognize and fully receive God's love. Only when we understand this deeply can we begin to love Him in return—from the core of our hearts.

Next, we must put that love into action. Simply knowing that we should love our neighbor isn’t enough—we must practice it daily. Love should not remain a concept or a feeling; it demands to be lived out. This means showing compassion to all, not just to those who are easy to love, but to everyone we meet.

In conclusion, Bishop Peñalosa encouraged us not to be selective in our kindness. Instead, he called us to reflect about God's unconditional love and show it to our neigbors.

  First Proclamation- Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Second Proclamation-Colossians 1:3-8 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25 Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 25-37   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/love-god-and-your-neighbor/?feed_id=466&_unique_id=68735038052d2

Receive Jesus Everyday

Receive Jesus Everyday

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us to receive Jesus everyday. We are called to give thanks to Him each day, for He is always present—ready to save and guide us. Walking with Jesus everyday means living out His Word. It’s not enough to hear the Gospel; we must apply it in our lives. Blessings follow when we live according to His teachings. By receiving Jesus everyday, we allow ourselves to be reborn into a new and transformed life. Continue to welcome Him daily—until eternity. But how do we truly receive Jesus? We do so by living according to the Gospel. This means actively participating in His life: immersing ourselves in the life of the Church, extending a helping hand to others, and being instruments of His love. If you have already received Jesus into your life, remain rooted in Him. Abide in His presence. Pray for the grace to carry out what He has taught us, for being entrusted with His mission is a great responsibility. We must strengthen ourselves through prayer. Finally, go where God sends you. Be His love made visible to the world.   First Proclamation- Isaiah 66: 10-16 Second Proclamation-Galatians 6:12-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66 Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 1-3, 17-20   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/receive-jesus-everyday/?feed_id=457&_unique_id=6869f84060ca7

We are Called by God

We are Called by God

In this Sunday Mass Homily in Saint Michael Kalibo +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us of an important truth: we are called by God. This divine calling is not just a general invitation—it is deeply personal. In fact, God invites each of us to journey with Him and ultimately to spend eternity in Heaven. Therefore, no matter what form our vocation takes, we must recognize that it comes from Him. For this reason, we are encouraged to ask in prayer: “Lord, what are You calling me to do?” However, despite God’s loving invitation, many of us find it difficult to respond. Oftentimes, we cling to things that hold us back. Whether it’s fear of rejection, discomfort with the unknown, attachment to past responsibilities, or anxiety about letting go, these can all become barriers to answering His call. Nevertheless, what matters most is our decision to follow God wholeheartedly. We must be willing to let go of worldly riches, personal attachments, and even relationships that hinder our spiritual journey. After all, these earthly treasures are temporary; they are not meant to be carried into eternity. In conclusion, while God’s call may not always be easy to follow, it leads us to something far greater than anything this world can offer. Ultimately, saying “yes” to God opens the way to eternal life with Him. Let us remember that though the path may be challenging, the reward is everlasting joy in Heaven. First Proclamation- I Kings 19: 15-16, 19-21 Second Proclamation-Galatians 5: 19-25 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16 Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 51-62 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-called-by-god/?feed_id=448&_unique_id=6860b626006b0

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

Trinity is the Way to Love

Trinity is the Way to Love

On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Bishop Romie-Jun Peñalosa shared a powerful Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, reminding us that the Holy Trinity is not only a central mystery of the Catholic faith, but also a living example of how we are called to love.

Understanding the Trinity

To begin with, the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is one God in three divine persons. While this may seem complex, the Church teaches that these three are not separate gods, but united in perfect love and harmony.

The Trinity Within Us

Moreover, the Trinity is not distant from us. On the contrary, the divine life of the Trinity dwells within us. As Bishop Peñalosa emphasized, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit act as one, forming a dynamic relationship that moves within our hearts. As a result, we are empowered to love—not just in words, but through real action.

Love as a Way of Life

Consequently, this divine love transforms our lives. It enables us to love one another, to build communities rooted in faith, and to show compassion even to those who are difficult to love. In other words, the love of the Trinity becomes our mission.

Experiencing the Trinity Daily

Furthermore, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity not only through prayer, but through real, personal experience. We encounter:

• God the Father as the Creator and source of all love,

• Jesus Christ the Son as the Beloved who redeems us,

• and the Holy Spirit as the living bond of love who unites us.

Living the Trinity

Therefore, as we honor Trinity Sunday, we are invited to live out this love in our daily lives. Remember this simple truth:
God is love. Jesus is the Beloved. The Holy Spirit is the love shared between the Father and the Son—and now poured into our hearts.

Trinity Sunday

First Proclamation- Isaiah 59:15-21

Second Proclamation- Romans 5:1-5

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29

Gospel Reading: John 16:1-15 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless!

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The Holy Spirit is our Helper

The Holy Spirit is our Helper

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that the Holy Spirit is our Helper. On this joyful Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the powerful moment when God empowered His Church by sending the Holy Spirit to aid us in our mission—to proclaim the Good News of salvation to all people.

To begin with, Jesus has already fulfilled His part of the mission through His life, death, and resurrection. Now, it is our turn to carry that mission forward. However, we cannot do it by our own strength. This is precisely why the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Without Him, we are left to depend on our limited human abilities and understanding.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit—also known as the Paraclete—walks beside us. He is ever present and ever faithful, leading us in truth and wisdom. As we journey in faith, it is the Holy Spirit who strengthens, guides, and sustains us.

As we commemorate the Feast of Pentecost, let us always remember that the Holy Spirit is our Helper, given to us as a precious gift from God. He empowers us to build His Kingdom here on earth. Therefore, we must open our hearts and minds to His voice. He equips us with the courage, wisdom, and grace needed to carry out the mission entrusted to us.

Finally, today is a moment of decision. Let us choose to step out in faith—with the help of the Holy Spirit—and begin, or renew, the mission God has given us. Let us go forth with boldness, love, and unwavering trust, knowing that the Holy Spirit is our Helper, now and always.

Pentecost Sunday - June 8, 2025 First Reading: Acts 2:1-7,12-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:3-4,31-32,24 Second Reading: Romans 8:14-17 Gospel: John 15:20-27 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/the-holy-spirit-is-our-helper/?feed_id=421&_unique_id=684529ef3c1a3