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Righteousness comes from a Relationship with God
First Sunday After Christmas- December 29, 2024
First Reading: Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 148
Second Reading: Galatians 4:1-7
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22-32
Homily by +Bp. Romie- Jun Peñalosa
In his Sunday Mass homily at Saint Michael in Kalibo, Bishop Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that true righteousness comes from our relationship with God.
He pointed out that God has gifted us with the greatest treasure: the gift of relationship. We must actively cherish and nurture our connections with our community, friends, and loved ones. However, the most important relationship we are called to establish is the one with God, and we do this primarily through prayer. Prayer disciplines us to receive His blessings and share them with others.
By strengthening our relationships with others, we actively become living gateways for spreading the love of Christ to the world.
The first reading reminds us that God has clothed us with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness. The second reading teaches us that we are adopted children of God. We didn’t choose God; He chose us. This divine adoption makes us heirs to everything the Father possesses. The Gospel further affirms that God always fulfills His promises, just as He fulfilled His promise to Simeon.
Let us delight ourselves in the Lord by walking with the Father every day, trusting that He will grant us the desires of our hearts.
