God: Giver of Life

God: Giver of Life

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael, Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us of a fundamental truth of our faith: God is the Giver of Life. God gives life; He does not take it away. Life ends because of sin, yet in Christ we do not truly die, for He is the Author of life. The First Reading proclaims that we are created in God’s image and likeness. This means we reflect His character and are called to live as He lives. How, then, does God act? He acts through love. This truth flows clearly into the Second Reading, which assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. His love remains faithful and committed—unchanging despite our weaknesses and sins. As children of God, we are invited to embody this same steadfast love in our own lives. Today, the Charismatic Episcopal Church celebrates the Feast of the Lord, Giver of Life, remembering especially the unborn and suffering children. Jesus places great value on children, and so must we. Every human life deserves celebration because life itself is God’s greatest gift. As the Gospel teaches, welcoming children means more than receiving them physically; it means choosing to love them and making space for them in our lives. We love children by offering care, attention, and acceptance. Above all, we love them by discipling them—forming them to be humble, teachable, and forgiving. Children learn not only through words but through what they see. Their formation begins with us. Let us pray to the Lord, our Giver of Life, to transform our hearts so that we may shape and nurture the next generation of the Church— our children. Feast of our Lord and Giver of Life - January 18, 2026 First Proclamation: Genesis 1:26-28 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:1-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12 Second Proclamation: Romans 8:35-39 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 18:1-5 Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless!   https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/god-giver-of-life/?feed_id=700&_unique_id=696c59b0b140c