CEC Foundation Day

Theme: Understanding The Urgency Of God’s Work

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:15-16

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16:1-11

Second Reading: Galatians 5:19-25

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62

Homily by Fr. Romie Jun Peñalosa

“What we do in the church is reflective of the work being done in the Kingdom of God.”

Today is the ICCEC Foundation Day and we highlight it by giving our foundation offering for use in the different CEC churches. Father Jun reminded us that the church is involved in the mission of not only preaching the gospel to the world but also “Making visible the void.” This means that in our lives; the Word must be evident, it should be seen in our daily life.

Points to remember in today’s Gospel:

1. The work of the Kingdom is so important that we need to give utmost attention to it. Everything that is assigned to us, everything in the work in the Kingdom is very important to God. “Walang maliit na bagay pagdating sa Diyos.” It may not be important in the eyes of people, but not in the eyes of God especially if it is for the work of His kingdom.
2. The work of the Kingdom is so urgent, that we need to give immediate response. Remember, our life here on earth has an end. The moment we were born here, our clock started to tick for our countdown. We often think we have a lifetime here, but if you really think about it, our time is limited. In the Kingdom of God, we don’t have the luxury of time, therefore we need to respond always with urgency in fulfilling His works. Pay attention, do not delay, and respond immediately. Even Jesus has shown this to us, He focused, He never allowed His emotions to distract Him and continued on His mission with urgency.

The following are the common hindrances that prevent us from responding immediately whenever God calls us to work for Him. First, our attachment to comfort and convenience. To follow Christ is not about living a life of convenience and comfort. Do not wait for the most convenient time to do what God wants you to do. Second hindrance is our wrong priorities. When we receive Christ in our lives, set your mind on Him already. He should be the most important in your life. Third hindrance is our willingness to break ties. Break ties with people, with past and other things that will hinder you. Be ready to let go. Let us not be distracted by too much attachment with people or things that hinder us in acting immediately to God. God knows exactly and understands what we’re going through when we need to sacrifice certain things in order to do His works. Know that by prioritizing what God asked you to do, He is preparing something greater for us for there is no “little matter” in His kingdom.

We also need to remember that when we do work for the Kingdom of God, we should not allow our emotions, our personal grievances, our pride and ego to deter us in doing the works of God. Attitude is everything when doing the works of God. Having the wrong attitude will only disqualify us in doing what God wanted for His kingdom. The work of God is personal, but it should not be done individually; it should pave the way for us to work together and foster spirituality.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – June 19, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 65:1-9

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11

Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-29

Gospel Reading: Luke 8:22-25

Homily by Fr. Jun Peñalosa

“Do not worry, everything is going to be fine.” This was a statement of conviction uttered by Father Jun as he shared a story of what happened to one of his travel experiences where the airplane encountered turbulence in the air. A threat of death was in front of him, but he was assured it was not yet his time

Relating this in today’s gospel reading, “All of us will experience a storm in our life.” Not just natural storms, but storms brought by life itself. For as Jesus said, while we are in the world, we will have tribulations.

But the issue here is not about the storm, but how do we respond to the storm. No one is exempted. Rich or poor, educated or not, man or woman… everyone will come to a point where they will be facing a storm in their life. Even our Lord Jesus who lives in perfect obedience to God faced the greatest storm, His dying on the cross! But how should we respond to things beyond our control? The parable of the sower taught by Jesus to his disciples teaches us the right response when facing a storm if our life. After hearing the word of God, 1)receive it with all your heart, 2) retain it in your mind, 3) persevere and persist it to have fruit in your life. Every time we receive teachings from the Lord, it is always followed by testing. Storms always come at times you least expect. And Father Jun taught us the three dimensions of the storm:

1. Physical storm (a crisis that happens in our life, financial breakdown, and losses, friends rejection and betrayal, families torn apart, sickness, etc.)
2. Mental and emotional storm (fear, anger, anxiety, depression, etc)
3. Spiritual storm (questioning the principles of God, scriptures become insignificant, promises of God become vague, etc.)

No matter how hard and how long the storm is – it has an end. Only those who persevere in the word will receive the blessing.

Storms expose our foundation. We begin to see and know ourselves when we are subjected to trials. Our faith overcomes whatever storms that come into our life. We should not fear the storm but instead, we should be terrified of Him who commands the storm.

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ

Feast of Pentecost

First Reading: Acts 2: 1- 7

Psalm Reading: Psalm 104

Second Reading: Romans 8: 14- 17

Gospel Reading: John 15: 20- 27

Homily by Fr. Romie Jun Peñalosa

The season of Pentecost is about celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus before His ascension. Today’s gospel however, talks about persecution. Why? One of the works that the Holy Spirit would do for us is to make us partake and share in the inheritance of Jesus. Whatever Jesus inherits from the Father, we also inherit. Second reading today talks about us being co-heirs of Christ.

But church, we need to understand that as co-heirs, we do not share or partake only of the blessings, of joy, of peace…but we also inherit the totality of the life of Christ, including His sufferings.

Christianity is not a religion for comfort. It does not offer an easy and comfortable life. It offers holiness of life! And when you begin to live a holy life, this is where the trouble starts. Why? Jesus Himself talks of the world we are living in right now, a world who hates God. Because Jesus testifies the truth about God, the world hates Him. And if the world hated Jesus, do not expect a life of honor and acceptance in a world where your master was despised and crucified.

Jesus said, “A servant is not above his master.” Meaning, whatever Christ went through in life, we are going to go through also, perhaps in different ways. We may not all be nailed and crucified, but we all have our own cross to bear every day. He also said, “That while we are in this world, we will have tribulations”. But He does not end His statement here…for He promised to send us a “Helper” to accompany us always. Jesus knew exactly how difficult life will be for us. For He himself was the first one to carry out the mission. And what is it? To go out into the world, bring the truth, and testify about how God loves the world.

In all the difficulties, in all the trials we will be going through, it is impossible for us to be alone because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. The Holy Spirit testifies the truth about Jesus, just as Jesus bore witness and testified the truth about God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to always bring us to Jesus in order that we can carry out our mission. He (Holy Spirit) will immerse us and baptize us in Jesus that we may become one in the love of God. And the love of God that is in Christ will empower us to do everything and overcome whatever obstacles in doing what God us wants us to do.

The love of Christ propels us to do something beyond our capacity. The fire which descended upon the disciples is a symbolic burning of Christ’s love. And the same fire, when we keep it lit inside our heart, will keep us burning in the love of Christ and will let us do everything for the love of Christ.

We are all called for a mission. Let us not be afraid to go out and testify the truth of Jesus and the love of God for the world. We may not all have the supernatural power, nor gifts of the Holy Spirit; but we have the HOLY SPIRIT that lives and operates in our life!

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Theme : Resurrected Christ, Uniting Us To Himself and With One Another

First Reading: Acts 16:16-19

Psalm Reading: Psalm 98

Second Reading: Revelation 22:12-17

Gospel Reading: John 17:20-26

Homily by Fr. Romie Jun Peñalosa

The Gospel readings from the last three Sundays tells us the lasts messages of Jesus Christ to His disciples before He ascended to heaven. He gave His disciples a command to love one another as He loved them, then He gave them the gift of peace – not as the world gives but as He gives.

In today’s gospel, Jesus is not just teaching, but He is praying for His disciples. What a marvelous beauty knowing God himself is praying for them-“that you will be one”. See, unity is always in the heart of God. It is essential; so important that Jesus prayed for it. He did not pray for their success nor their prosperity; but for them to become one.

As people of God, it is so essential to unite and become one, for we are on a mission to bring the Gospel to the world. We need to reflect on this every day because sometimes, we neglect the things that are really important. Our minds oftentimes focus on little and minor things, which make us forget the important ones – and here, Jesus prayed for it!

As a church, we need to understand that unity is essential in our life; we need to fight for it, pray for it, and give emphasis in living out unity. Jesus’ prayer is not only for His disciples, but for all who would believe in Him through their message. He was not only praying for them at that time, but for all the church throughout the history of the world. Unity is important, because our mission will be in vain unless the world can see in us that Jesus is Christ whom God sent to the world.

When we begin to walk together in unity, not only the world will believe that Jesus was sent by God, but the world would even begin to believe that God loves them. Love is the foundation and the bond that brings us together. “Love causes us to crave for unity.” Unity is not our work; it is the work of God in our lives. So, what are we going to do as His people? We need to preserve it by continuing to immerse ourselves in the love of Christ. Our work, is not to bring unity; it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural power only God can accomplish – the bringing of us into one. We can only preserve and move within what the Holy Spirit is doing for us!

And what is the focal point of our unity? We need to look up on Christ. When we begin to see Him in everything in our lives, despite all the differences, then we begin to perceive that indeed, we are one.

The Cathedral Church of St. Michael is a church on a mission. We are to go out into the world, to proclaim the Good News. We need to continually immerse in Christ that the world may perceive Him in us!

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ

Sixth Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 16:9-15

Psalm Reading: Psalm 67

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-2, 22-27

Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29

Homily by Fr. Romie Jun Peñalosa

This season of Easter, let us rejoice in the knowledge that Christ has been resurrected from the dead and brought us newness of life. This newness of life means not only walking in love, but also living in peace.

We need to understand that this new life God has given us is a life where we can experience true peace. This peace surpasses all problems, conflicts and circumstances of life. Perfect peace comes from God and this is seen and lived in a new life.

So, how do we live out that newness of life? How do we live out the love of God in our life? Keep the word of God.  “The man who keeps the word of God will keep his mind focused on God always and will allow him to experience the love of God.”

The kind of peace that Christ brought us is not circumstantial. It does not depend on the circumstances of the world. It does not mean the absence of problems and conflicts. We can see this in the life of Christ, where every day in His ministry, He was bombarded by so many problems, enemies kept on attacking Him,  storms came along His way… yet even in that storm He slept peacefully.  Knowing that God loves us- there’s always peace in our heart.

Further, Father Jun quoted the following tips from Primate Dick on how to keep the word of God.

1. Meditate on His words. To meditate means not just to read but keep on thinking about what He said.
2. Confess the word. Speak the word every day. Align your thoughts to the thoughts of God.
3. Do the word. As often as possible, do what He is telling you.

“The effort comes from us, but the ability to keep the word of God comes from the Holy Spirit.”

So let us not be afraid of how difficult the work is and how big the storm is along the way. For God promised a great Helper for us who gives true and perfect peace!

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ

Easter Sunday

Theme: Christ Conquering Death, The Rejoicing Of His People

Psalm Reading: Psalm 114

Epistle Reading: Romans 6:3-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

Homily by Fr. Romie-Jun Peñalosa

Today, we are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, a victorious overcoming of death, a time for great celebration.

Easter’s message is always about the risen Lord. But do we know that this message is also a challenge for us? The resurrection of Christ is not just something we recall in our mind or think and talk about. It is something that has an effect in the renewal of our lives.

First reading emphasizes our baptism, where we died already to our sins with Christ. The more we realize this, the more we understand that we should not live this kind of life we have right now for it has been dead and buried with Him.

Father Jun summarizes today’s Gospel into the following points if we are going to move forward with the new life Christ has given us:

1. Change whatever your agenda in life is and go fulfill His purpose. Since we have a new life, God’s agenda must be the first to be seen and manifested.
2. Do not be afraid. A righteous man, though he may fall seven times, always rises and tries to move forward again. Holiness is not about being perfect. To be holy means every time we fall, we never run away from God.
3. Rejoice. To rejoice is something we need to learn. It must be done intentionally. We can be miserable in life, but choose to rejoice and be filled with joy.

As a church, we should be strengthened because the new life brought by Christ’s resurrection is our strength itself. Let our life then, be a proclamation of Christ!

Recap by:

MERCY DE LA CRUZ-ESPIRITU

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stmichaelkalibo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintmichaelkalibo
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141718362@N07/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104587191745272872189
Tumblr: http://saintmichaelkalibo.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stmichaelkalibo/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/saintmichaelkalibo/
Blogger: http://saintmichaelkalibo.blogspot.com/
iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/podcast/cathedral-church-saint-michael/id1139105076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DiiezN2MKXqq8OX7pvhaZ