Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

5th Sunday in Lent- April 6, 2025 First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126 Second Reading: Philippians 3: 8-14 Gospel Reading: John 8:2-11 Homily by +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that mercy always triumphs over judgment. He emphasized that God carries out His judgment through His compassion.

The Old Testament reading encourages us to focus on the present moment, trust in God's power, and avoid being overly concerned about the future or dwelling on past sorrows. The New Testament reading teaches that everything else pales in comparison to the infinite value of knowing Jesus. Although we face suffering during transitions, God is always with us in the midst of our pain.

The Gospel calls us to embrace transformation in our spiritual journey. Rather than judging the sins of others, we are urged to reflect on our own shortcomings and surrender them to God. Lent is a season of introspection, offering us the chance to extend compassion to others and help them overcome their struggles with sin. Let us use this opportunity to grow spiritually by showing mercy and offering support to those around us.

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God is a Loving Father

God is a Loving Father

4th Sunday of Lent- March 30, 2025 First Reading: Joshua 5:2-12 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34 Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Gospel Reading: Luke 15:11-24, 25-32 Homily by +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa In his Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that God is a loving Father. He is always in pursuit of His people, continually working to reconcile us to Himself. God desires to renew our lives and guide us to live in His ways, so that we may share in His divine life. The Gospel presents the parable of a loving father, showing that, no matter the negative thoughts we may have about God, He remains a constant and loving Father. God's love for us is not based on what we do, but on who we are. You are never so far from God that He could not reach you. May the story of the Prodigal Son push us to reflect on the Goodness of God. Before ending his sermon, +Bp. Romie sings to us a snippet from the song, "Never My Love" by The Association. "You ask me if there'll come a time when I grow tired of you. Never My love."  This is a perfect picture of how much the Father loves us.

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

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Repentance: Choosing to be with God

Repentance: Choosing to be with God

3rd Sunday in Lent - March 23, 2025 First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:2-4; 5&7; 11-13 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 Gospel Reading: Luke 13:1-9 Homily by +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa In his Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that repentance is not just about turning away from sin; it's about choosing to be with God. The first reading tells us that repentance isn't only about leaving God behind, but about finishing the journey He has set for us. We face struggles because we choose to deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow Jesus. We need to get rid of distractions and focus on God. The Gospel reminds us that God is so good He has already made a way for us to follow. He is not quick to anger and is not scared of our sins. Even though He knows our sins, He still invites us to serve Him. God wants to be our friend. The way to grow closer to Him is by living our best lives, turning back to Him, and always choosing Him so He can guide us to greatness.

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

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Strive to Enter the Narrow Gate

Strive to Enter the Narrow Gate

2nd Sunday in Lent - March 16, 2025 First Reading: Genesis 15:4-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:2-3; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14 Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1 Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30 Homily by +Bp. Romie- Jun Peñalosa In his Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us to strive to enter the narrow gate. The Old Testament reading reveals that God is faithful in fulfilling His promises. However, it is not a one-sided covenant; we must also do our part by obeying Him every day of our lives. In the New Testament reading, Saint Paul teaches that following God comes with a cross. We must embrace the challenges we face, for it is in the darkness that we often witness God’s work in our lives. The central message of today’s Gospel is to let go of anything that hinders our journey to follow Jesus. During this Lenten season, it is an opportunity to purify our hearts and reflect His light in our lives each day. Let go of the things that do not glorify God and choose the narrow path—a path that leads to eternal joy. The philosopher Baruch Spinoza once said, “All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.” Excellence, in all aspects of life, is not easily attained. If something is easy to achieve, it becomes commonplace. We must endure struggle and hardship before we can attain greatness. God desires us to be great, but are we willing to release the things that do not please Him—such as our anger, wealth, and desire for power?

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

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Walk in the Path of God

Walk in the Path of God

1st Sunday in Lent - March 9, 2025 First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 91:1-3; 4-5; 14-16 Second Reading: Romans 10:6b-13 Gospel Reading: Luke 4:1-13 Homily by +Bp. Romie- Jun Peñalosa In his Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun reminded us to walk in the path that God has prepared for each of us. The season of Lent calls us to refocus our hearts on God, inviting us to leave behind old habits and devote ourselves more fully to Him. God leads us into our own wilderness to teach and transform us. Yet, along the way, we face temptations that can draw us away from the path He has set for us—the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. To overcome these temptations, Jesus has given us the commands to fast, give, and pray. We are called to spend extra time in prayer to humble our hearts, to fast from the desires of the flesh, and to give to others in order to overcome the lust of the eyes. Through these acts, we grow closer to God and stronger in our faith.

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

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Shine the Light of Jesus

Shine the Light of Jesus

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Transfiguration Sunday First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 99:1-2, 3&5, 6-7, 8-9 Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36 Homily by +Romie- Jun Peñalosa

In his homily at Sunday Mass in Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa encouraged us to shine the light of Jesus. On this Transfiguration Sunday, we celebrate how God reveals the glory we are destined to inherit. When we choose to follow Jesus, He transforms us into His image and likeness.

However, our walk with the Lord is often hindered by sin, which can dim our light. Like a dirty mirror, we cannot fully reflect the brilliance of God’s love. To truly shine the light of Jesus, we must embrace His love and live it out. Although this is not always easy, Jesus calls us not only to love those who love us but also to love our enemies. True love means ordering our lives for the good of others, and it serves as the foundation of our spiritual growth. To love authentically, we must spend time with God—through prayer and by listening to His Word.

Let us shine the light of Jesus every day through our actions and love. As we press forward toward our ultimate goal, let us remember that "the joy of the Lord is our strength." If God can love us unconditionally, surely we too can love others in the same way.

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Walk in Love

Walk in Love

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time- February 23, 2025 First Reading: Genesis 45: 3- 15 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37:19- 20, 21- 22, 23-24, 25- 26 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 42- 49 Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27: 38 Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva During the Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, Fr. Erel Villanueva reminded us to walk in love. Walking in love is the highest form of being blessed, as anything done without love is meaningless. Yet, loving others can be difficult. We are called to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28). Forgiveness, which is a true reflection of God’s love, is also not easy— it requires deep faith. But if we fail to forgive those who wrong us, it can have a negative impact on our lives. Unforgiveness is equivalent to disobeying God. This unforgiveness also blocks blessings from coming to our lives. Our work and life will be affected. Forgiving my be difficult, but it is not impossible. That is why we need the power of God and the fruits of the Holy Spirit to do this. If we choose to love one another, the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen us. Let us surrender ourselves to God and grow together in love.

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

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