Rick Montanez

Grace in the Toughest Places

HOMILY: Second Sunday of Advent (A) Isaiah 11:1-10 / Romans 15:4-9 / Matthew 3:1-12 7 December 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Have you ever noticed who sits beside whom at gatherings? In meetings, reunions, in school canteens, even simple parish meals, we naturally choose to be with people who make us comfortable. In theContinue reading “Grace in the Toughest Places”

Turning Toward the Light

HOMILY: First Sunday of Advent (A) Isaiah 2:1-5 / Psalm 122:1-9 / Romans 13:11-14 / Matthew 24:37-44 30 November 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Are you good at taking selfies? Some people are such experts — alam na nila agad (they know right away) where the light is, how to angle their face, howContinue reading “Turning Toward the Light”

Where Love Reigns: In the Quiet Places of Sacrifice

HOMILY: Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (C) 2 Samuel 5:1–3 | Colossians 1:12–20 | Luke 23:35–43 23 November 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA We Filipinos admire winners. When we are strong, wealthy, or well-connected — we get respect. Many times, our idea of leadership is shaped by loudness andContinue reading “Where Love Reigns: In the Quiet Places of Sacrifice”

When the World Shakes, God Stands Firm

Homily: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) Malachi 3:19–20a; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–12; Luke 21:5–19 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 16 November 2025 Do you look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus? Are you excited to see Him? If we truly love Him, our instinct is to say, “Of course!” Yet every time we hearContinue reading “When the World Shakes, God Stands Firm”

Built Not on Marble, But on Mercy

Homily: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome (C) Ezekiel 47:1–2, 8–9, 12 / 1 Corinthians 3:9c–11, 16–17 / John 2:13–22 9 November 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Whenever there is a typhoon, I am filled with dread over the flash floods that halt transportation, displace residents, and endanger lives. ThereContinue reading “Built Not on Marble, But on Mercy”

Alive in God’s Heart

Homily: Commemoration of the Faithful Departed Wisdom 3:1–9 / Romans 6:3–4, 8–9 / John 6:37–40 2 November 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA When someone we love dies, it feels like a part of our heart goes missing — that space reserved exclusively for them. Over the years, it gets easier to manage the longing,Continue reading “Alive in God’s Heart”

Holiness Hidden in Ordinary Lives

Homily: Solemnity of All Saints Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14 / 1 John 3:1–3 / Matthew 5:1–12 1 November 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA A few years ago, I was at the wake of a quiet woman from our parish. She was not the type to stand in front or hold positions. She sat in theContinue reading “Holiness Hidden in Ordinary Lives”

No Space, No Grace

Homily: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 / 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 / Luke 18:9-14 26 October 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Imagine someone coming up to you to give you a big box containing ten (10) million pesos in cash, legitimately and tax free (‘Di po galing sa ghost project!’)….Continue reading “No Space, No Grace”

Holding the Line of Faith

Homily: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Exodus 17:8–13; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1–8 19 October 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA These days I have observed that many Filipinos are so tired. Tired of working for little pay. Tired of paying taxes that do not benefit the nation. Tired of injustice. Tired ofContinue reading “Holding the Line of Faith”

When God’s Ways are Hidden in the Ordinary

Homily: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) (2 Kings 5:14–17; 2 Timothy 2:8–13; Luke 17:11–19) 12 October 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Have you ever noticed how often God surprises us — and not always in ways we like? How many of us are familiar with Oprah Winfrey? Yes, she trained for a careerContinue reading “When God’s Ways are Hidden in the Ordinary”