Author Archives: Rick Montanez

Homily: Fifth Sunday of Lent (B) John 12:20-33 17 March 2024  Fr. Ricky Montanez “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I have always loved these lines from the Prayer for Serenity because they knockContinue reading “Accepting the Inevitable with Faith and Hope”

Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent / Laetare Sunday (B) John 3:14-21 10 March 2024 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 I’ve heard it said that if allContinue reading “Infinitely LOVED to LOVE”

Homily: Third Sunday of Lent (B) John 2:13-25 3 March 2024  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez In the entire Bible, Jesus is only recorded as having completely lost his temper one time. We are definitely not used to hearing about Jesus acting gruffly. The Jesus we come to know in the Gospels is one who isContinue reading “Owning Up to Our Mistakes”

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent (B) Mark 9:2-10 25 February 2024 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez One time, I was trying to prepare my Sunday homily when loud music was blaring from outside the rectory. The dogs were startled and they started barking. I could hear the household staff speaking loudly but I couldn’t make outContinue reading “To LISTEN To be SILENT”

Homily: First Sunday of Lent (B) Mark 1:12-15 18 February 2024 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez One time a little boy sadly told me, “Ang hirap maging mabait, Father.” (It’s hard to be good, Father.) Nananahimik ka minsan pero may mga makukulit ka talagang kaklase na magsisimula ng gulo. (Sometimes you are trying to mind yourContinue reading “Deliver Us from Evil, Lord!”

Homily: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) Mark 1:40-45 11 February 2024 Fr. Ricky C. Montanez  Usually we prefer someone who doesn’t talk too much but is profound and enlightening. Today’s gospel is like that. It is short but it is rich in its messaging. Let us first talk about leprosy, as a disease, inContinue reading “Extending Jesus’ Healing Touch”

Homily: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) Mark 1:29-39 4 February 2024 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez On Instagram, I came to know about this 29-year-old Kapampangan living in Nevada USA who became the dedicated full-time caregiver of his lola before she recently passed away at 97 years old. His lola was bedridden and nearly immobileContinue reading “As Channels of God’s Healing Mercy”

Homily: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) Mark 1:21-28 January 28, 2024 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez Social media influencers hold tremendous influence on today’s youth. They are the ones most listened to when it comes to advice and guidance in life.  It’s funny because some of these influencers are very young, barely out of their teens!Continue reading “Living a Life of Integrity”

Homily: Feast of the Santo Niño (Proper Feast in the Philippines)  Mark 10:13-16 21 January 2024  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez Someone once said “Children are the means by which we take hold of heaven.”  The usual interpretation is that we should be child-like to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. However, I think it also remindsContinue reading “Leading Our Children to God”

Homily: Second Sunday in Ordinary Tim John 1:35-42  14 January 2024  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez Sometimes, when we meet new people we ask veiled questions to get to know them better. When we ask: ”Where are you coming from?” (“Ano ang pinanggalingan mo?”), we are not simply asking what their hometown is but rather weContinue reading “Remaining in Jesus”