God the Good Farmer

God the Good Farmer

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, Bishop Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us of a comforting truth: God is a Good Farmer. Last Sunday's Gospel, the Parable of the Sower, revealed God's boundless mercy. Like a generous farmer, He scatters His seeds even on hearts that are not yet ready to receive them. He never gives up on us. The First Reading also reminds us that God's intentions are always pure, just, and merciful. The Second Reading highlights that God has given us free will. Our choices have consequences, not only for ourselves but also for future generations. In today's Gospel, Jesus explains the Parable of the Weeds. The landowner allows the wheat and the weeds to grow together because removing the weeds too early could also uproot the wheat. Instead, he waits until the harvest, when he can separate them safely. This parable reminds us that God is a Good Farmer. He is patient and merciful, giving us time to repent, grow in faith, and bear good fruit. Although good and evil exist side by side, God continues to work in every heart. Why does God allow this? Because His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in weakness. Even through life's struggles, He patiently shapes us according to His will. So, do not lose hope. God is a Good Farmer. At the proper time, He will gather the good harvest, remove all that is evil, and welcome His faithful people into the joy of His eternal kingdom. Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 19, 2026 First Proclamation: Isaiah 44:1-8 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10 Second Proclamation: Romans 8:12-18 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 13:36-43   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/god-the-good-farmer/?feed_id=934&_unique_id=6a5c492c9cbf9

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

Rest in Jesus

Rest in Jesus

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us to rest in Jesus. We often grow weary from the burdens of life—our relationships, health, debts, and even our sins. Yet, today’s Gospel assures us that Jesus knows the weight we carry. Therefore, He invites us to come to Him so that we may learn from Him and find rest in Him. Although the burdens of our responsibilities remain, they also teach us valuable lessons as we go through life’s challenges. Jesus never promised to remove all our problems completely. Instead, He calls us to take His yoke, reminding us that we can overcome our struggles together with Him. Moreover, God knows the difficulties we face today, and through them, He teaches us wisdom, perseverance, and faith. Jesus also tells us to cast our burdens upon Him because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In truth, Jesus carried a far greater burden than ours. Yet, He bore it with perfect love, making even the heaviest cross lighter to carry. Likewise, when we choose to love, our burdens no longer weigh us down in the same way. So, come to Jesus. Rest in Jesus, and you will find strength for every burden you carry. Speak with Him every day through prayer. Entrust your worries to Him, and He will help you carry your cross. Likewise, come to church every Sunday so that your soul may find true rest. Do not give up because of your problems. Instead, rest in Jesus. Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 5, 2026 First Proclamation: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 45: 7-9, 10-12- 13-15 Second Proclamation: Romans 7: 21-25; 8:1 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 11: 16-19- 25-30   Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless! https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/rest-in-jesus/?feed_id=916&_unique_id=6a49d17a2ed46