Joy in Finding the Lost

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa powerfully reminded us of a central Christian truth: there is great joy in finding the lost.

In his homily, he reflected on the Gospel parables—stories that may sound absurd from a human perspective. Who would leave 99 sheep just to find one that wandered off? Who would turn the house upside down to look for a single coin? And yet, Jesus used these examples to reveal how God values every person.

If you were the lost sheep or the misplaced coin, God wouldn’t hesitate to search for you. He would seek you out with love and rejoice the moment He found you. In the same way, God calls us to do the same for others. When we reach out to someone who has gone astray and help them return to Him, we don’t just fulfill a duty—we share in His joy.

One way we can do this is through mission work. When we step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they are—especially those who feel forgotten or far from faith—we participate in God’s redemptive work.

We were once lost, too. We didn’t earn our way back; God pursued us with mercy and brought us home. Because of that, we now carry the mission to find others.

So, let’s seek out the least, the lost, and the lowly—not out of obligation, but out of love. Let’s bring them back to the Father, who never stops searching.

The joy doesn’t lie in numbers or status. The joy is in finding the lost.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time – September 14, 2025

First Proclamation: Exodus 32:7-14

Second Proclamation: I Timothy 1:12-17

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51

Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-10

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Humble Yourself

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa delivered a powerful reminder for all of us to humble ourselves. Among the seven deadly sins, pride stands out as the most dangerous. Therefore, it is crucial that we remain vigilant against it.

Pride is often an expression of self-interest, and if left unchecked, it can lead us to reject others, ultimately fostering greed. When we continue down this path, pride threatens to destroy our most valuable relationships—our families, our friends, and even our church community.

So, instead of feeding your pride, choose to humble yourself. Humility can be elusive and requires constant effort. We must be mindful and regularly examine our hearts to ensure that pride does not take root. Thankfully, God grants us the grace to cultivate humility within us.

Let us all commit to checking our hearts daily, so that we may walk in humility and avoid being driven by pride.

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time – August 31, 2025

First Proclamation- Proverbs 25: 6-12
Second Proclamation- Hebrews 13:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112
Gospel Reading: Luke 14:1, 7-14

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Embrace Hard Truths

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us of a vital lesson: we must embrace hard truths and courageously speak it. Often, we tend to accept the Word of God only when it is pleasing to our ears, conveniently rejecting the painful truths that Jesus teaches us. However, it is essential to learn to accept even those truths that hurt, for such hurts are part of God’s plan to mold us into His intended image.

In today’s world, we face a gloomy reality that often rejects the truth. Many shy away from embracing hard truths because it may lead to persecution or discomfort. Yet, true transformation requires an act of God — a change that must happen within us and be spoken aloud. Following Jesus is not easy; in fact, it is far from simple. We may lose many things we hold dear — our money, power, and possessions. But one thing remains certain: we will never lose our souls.

Jesus promises to destroy and transform our lives. We must invite Him into our hearts to remove everything that does not come from Him. By choosing to embrace hard truths, we allow ourselves to be cleansed, burning away ungodly principles and replacing them with His perfect goodness.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time- August 17, 2025

First Proclamation- Jeremiah 23:23-29

Second Proclamation- Hebrews 12:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 82

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:49-56

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Faith: Believing in What We Don’t See

In this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, Bishop Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us of the true essence of faith—especially faith in the things we do not see. He emphasized that our faith should not be limited to personal prayers or petitions. Rather, it must also be anchored in our hope and preparation for God’s second coming.

Moreover, we are called to remain steadfast as we wait for Christ’s return. This means having unwavering faith that God will indeed come again, even if we do not know when. But how do we prepare our hearts for such a promise? The answer lies in doing good to others.

Faith is not just about trusting in God; it is also about believing in the unseen goodness within the people we encounter. Too often, we are quick to judge others or assume the worst, which directly contradicts the teachings of Jesus. He calls us to see the good in others—even when it is not immediately visible.

By cultivating kindness and goodness in our own hearts, we begin to recognize the presence of Christ in those around us. This is a powerful act of faith: believing in the goodness we do not always see.

So, if Jesus were to return today, what should we do? The answer is simple yet profound: love others. For in loving those we may not fully understand or immediately trust, we are living out the very heart of faith—believing in what we do not see.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time- August 10, 2025

First Proclamation- Genesis 15:1-6
Second Proclamation- Hebrews 11:1-2,7-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:32-37

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Do Not Stop Praying

During this Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa offered a timely and heartfelt message: do not stop praying.

In today’s fast-paced world, we tend to want everything instantly—even in our spiritual life. As a result, we may rush through prayers or neglect them altogether. However, +Bp. Peñalosa reminded us that we must intentionally make time for prayer, whether in quiet moments alone or together in the celebration of the Mass.

More importantly, Jesus Himself taught us how to pray. He encourages us to P.U.S.H. — Pray Until Something Happens. In other words, persistence in prayer is key. When we do not stop praying, we open ourselves to God’s grace, trusting that He is not reluctant but fully willing to hear and respond.

Furthermore, +Bp. Peñalosa explained that God answers our prayers in four ways:

Directly,

Through denial,

With delays, or

In a different way—a way that only God, in His infinite wisdom, understands.

Therefore, whatever situation we find ourselves in, we must continue to approach God with faith. After all, He is able to do far more than we could ask or even imagine.

Ultimately, prayer is our direct line of communication with the Father. So, do not stop praying. Come before Him daily. Pour out your heart. Trust in His perfect will. Because in prayer, we grow closer to God—and in persistence, we grow stronger in faith.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time- July 27, 2025

First Proclamation- Genesis 18:20-33

Second Proclamation- Colossians 2:8-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-8

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:5-13

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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

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

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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

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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

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