Sunday Gospel Reflections

HOMILY: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:17-37

12 February 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” That is according to Mahatma Gandhi. “The way to change other’s minds is through affection and not anger.” That is according to the Dalai Lama. Both of these men are considered among the wisest men who have ever lived. But there is One whose wisdom is far greater than these two. What is the answer? GOD! The wisdom of God is so vast and great. No creature can ever match the wisdom of God. 

St. Paul tells us that God’s wisdom is not the same as man’s wisdom. It is rather mysterious. It cannot be discerned by us unless God does not reveal it to us. He uses the words “what eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or entered the human heart..” (1 Corinthians 2:9) to emphasize that we are not privy to the details and the entirety of the grand plan that God has predestined for us. Why is Teresa married while Marisol is still single until now? Why did I become a priest while my companions in the seminary did not continue on? Why did you study in UP instead of Ateneo? Why were you born with a disability? Why are your parents poor instead of being rich? We don’t know what God plans for each of us. Nevertheless, we are assured that in God’s infinite wisdom, His plan is for the good of all who love Him. 

Sirach tells us two very important things. First, he reminds us that God’s wisdom is immense — “mighty in power and all-seeing”! (Sirach 15:18) God sees our hearts and knows all our actions. Nothing escapes the eyes of God even our most hidden and secret sins. Second, he reminds us that we are free to choose to trust in God’s wisdom or reject it. The choice is ours — fire or water, death or life, good or evil. (Sirach 15:17) God will never be on the side of evil. So, if we choose to sin and act unjustly, we are essentially saying we do not trust in the wisdom of God’s ways. It’s like telling God that we know better. But as said earlier, we are mere creatures who will never be able to match God’s wisdom.

In our gospel today, Jesus makes clear that He did not come to abolish the law but rather to fulfill it. Why does He not abolish the law? Because there is nothing wrong with the law that the Jews follow. Where do their laws come from in the first place? Is it not contained in God’s Ten Commandments? It was God, Himself, who spoke to Moses and relayed the Ten Commandments! We can be assured that those rules were borne of God’s wisdom, for the good of those who believe in Him. Now out of those 10 rules, the Jewish Law was expanded to 613!!! There are so many! All aspects of their life are covered in detail — food, clothing, rituals, purification, worship and so on. Where is the problem? It was the interpretation and strict adherence to the law mandated by their leaders that caused people to forget the spirit of the law. Recall that Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two (2) — Love of God and Love of neighbour! That is the spirit of the law! 

Jesus respected the law, naturally, because its origin was God the Father. He even says “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law until heaven and earth have passed away and all things have taken place” in accordance to God’s plan. (Matthew 5:18) But why does Jesus seem to expand the interpretation of the laws? It is because Jesus goes one step further and asks us to guard our thoughts and feelings as they translate into actions. He says anger is already tantamount to killing because when someone takes the life of another in anger, it is because he/she has already killed all love and compassion for that person in his/her heart. When a man looks lustfully at a woman who is not his wife, his heart becomes restless with desire for that woman. That’s when he starts thinking that… “Sana dalawa ang puso ko”. (How I wish I have two hearts!) That is already a betrayal of his marriage vow to love his wife wholeheartedly.  Essentially, the law is good because it was based on God’s word. Jesus fulfills the law because He is the WORD made flesh! 

Everywhere Jesus went He demonstrated to all, by His words and actions, the spirit of the law — how people should love God and how they were to love one another. When He goes to the extreme of saying, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off or if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.” (Matthew 5:29) Jesus is cautioning humanity to be aware of what causes them to sin repeatedly.  Jesus seems to be saying that it is very important that we use our freedom to choose obedience to the laws that God has ordained. If we sin and reject God, we lose heaven forever. So, at all costs, do whatever is necessary to live a life pleasing to God — a life of love.

In the readings of the past weeks, we hear of the Pharisees criticising Jesus for feeding His hungry disciples or healing the sick on the Sabbath. Jesus always stands up to them in an attempt to help them see that in their desire to strictly obey the law, they failed to uphold the spirit of mercy and compassion which the law is grounded on. Love. Pag-ibig. That is the be-all and end-all of God’s laws. Hence, the question we have to ask ourselves in everything we do should always be: “Is this a loving thing to do?” For Jesus there is no doubt or confusion about this. Nor should we doubt it.

Brothers and sisters, let us try to live according to God’s will and instructions. Remember that our choices in life reveal our level of confidence in God. As Christians, we must fully trust God and His plan for us, even if we don’t fully understand it. Today, we ask Jesus — the Word of Life, God’s Word made flesh — to help us live our lives as He did — filled with love, compassion and mercy. AMEN.

HOMILY: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:13-16

5 February 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Does someone believe in you? Is it important that others have confidence in your abilities? Sometimes others see our potential and help us discover it. The world-renowned author Stephen King, who published over 65 novels, most of which were turned into movies, may not have succeeded if his wife did not have faith in him! The first one he wrote was rejected 30 times so he threw it away. But his wife had strong confidence in his ability so he persuaded him to persevere. He was able to publish “Carrie” that has sold more than four million copies! It was turned into four movies and a broadway musical. When Stephen King was struggling, he never imagined the impact his novel would make in the world.

Why are we talking about this? It is because our gospel is proof that God also has full confidence in us. Jesus believes that we have the potential to make a huge difference in the world His Father created. The gospel tells us that we are to be like salt and light. No one said, “this only applies to those who are good, or to the intelligent, or to the religious.” What is being referred to here speaks of all of us who recognise and accept Christ. We all have the potential to affect the world in a positive manner. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses two metaphors to characterise the essence of discipleship: salt and light. Both metaphors help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. As Pope Francis once said: “Both salt and light are for others, not for oneself: salt does not give flavour to itself; light does not illuminate itself”. Can we eat salt by itself? Salt is bitter when eaten on its own and becomes useful only when used as a flavour enhancer or meat preservative. In the same way our faith is bland when it is not lived out in relation to others! Just as light is not placed under a bushel basket but rather on a pedestal, our faith can only become significant when it serves as light to the darkness of other people’s lives. Just as the light of a city on a high hill becomes the traveler’s guide in a dark night. Our Christian discipleship then is meant to lead us out of ourselves to serve others and continue the saving work of Jesus. The metaphors of salt and light help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. We are salt meant to enhance others; we are light meant to shine for others!

How can we be salt and light? This is answered in our second reading. St. Paul says that “our message and proclamation are not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power…”  It is not through persuasive speech and wisdom that we can reveal the good news but through our actions driven by the Holy Spirit and power from God on high. To become salt and light for the world does not require us to be such great public speakers like Nelson Mandela or John F. Kennedy. The most effective proclamation of the Gospel is the witness of our lives. As Ralph Waldo Emerson was attributed to have said: “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” 

In the first reading, we heard some concrete examples of good works by which we can make our light shine for others. Good works such as sharing bread/ food with the hungry, sheltering the homeless and oppressed, and clothing the naked, allow us to become the light shining forth God’s presence and salvation to the world. Let us not turn our backs on our neighbours and let us remove oppression from our midst, false accusations and gossiping from our lives. If we do this, God’s glory will always be behind us, protecting and supporting us and whenever we call on God for help, He will answer us. 

What does it mean to be salt and light these days? Being salt for the earth and light for the world can be as simple as teaching our children the Christian way of life by word, and especially by example. How can we teach our children to be respectful if we ourselves are disrespectful when talking to elders, those in authority or people we consider below our status in life? How can we encourage our children to pray and go to church if we ourselves forget and would rather spend time on other things? We need to practice honesty and responsibility in fulfilling our tasks! We have to show moderation by not being wasteful. If we go to a buffet restaurant, let us not take more than we can eat and let us not wrap up the food right away before everyone has eaten! (Kung pupunta sa buffet o sa mga kainan, huwag kukuha ng susobra sa iyong makakain at huwag magbabalot agad ng handa habang di pa lahat nakakakain!) These are only some of the ways we can prove to be true disciples of Christ!

As we conclude, I just want to reiterate that the work and responsibility of being salt and light has been given to all of us. We all have the potential to be good examples to our neighbours, especially to the youth. Aren’t we amazed at how much trust Jesus has in each one if us? Let us not think that we cannot do this or that this work is only for the religious, priests or nuns or for the hardworking, intelligent and talented. The moment we were baptised we signified it that we wish to belong to Him and in turn we are entrusted with a mission to be a light shining in the world and salt that seasons the world with the flavour of the gospel. Yes, we are not perfect and we always stumble and make mistakes but we never lose our potential to do good. Christ has more trust in us than we may have in ourselves. Never lose hope.  Let us trust in His power to transform us. Trust in His power to lead us and to accomplish great things for His glory.

HOMILY: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:1-12

29 January 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Do you know persons who do not drink water? They will only eat if they have a very cold soda at hand? However, when they are already very thirsty, they can also consume a ton of cold water. Water, mind you is what truly refreshes the body and quenches a thirst. Everything else is filled with either sugar, flavouring or additives that make you even thirstier. How easily we are distracted from the things that are best for us. We only recognise them when we are in dire straits or left with no options. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives five long discourses that envision a life He proposes to all His followers. Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses leading the chosen ones out of what enslaves them into redemption. These five long discourses are seen to match the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) that embody the Jewish Law. Just as the Pentateuch encapsulates the Jewish way of life, the Sermon on the Mount presents the ideal life Jesus offers His followers.  There are two things I would like us to consider today. First, “To whom has the Kingdom been promised?” Second, “When will we experience God’s Kingdom?”

“To whom has the kingdom been promised?” In the Beatitudes, Jesus assures the poor in spirit, the bereaved, the meek, the hungry and the thirsty for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted that they will possess the Kingdom of Heaven and its manifestations.  They are promises of a brighter tomorrow. What about those who are satisfied in life, those who are laughing now, those who have complete families and those who do not experience humiliation, and persecution? Are they not part of the promised future? Of course, they are! However, it is more difficult for them because their state and experiences in life prevent them from noticing the signs of the Kingdom or desiring the Kingdom enough to seek it. They are likely to be tempted into believing that they have it all and have achieved it all on their own; thus, they can keep it that way even if they seemingly will take it all for granted and not be as vigilant as they should be. Those who are used to drinking juice, soda drinks, iced tea, milk tea and alcohol, probably will not be happy with just ordinary water… even though water gives the most health benefit to the human body. The Kingdom of Heaven is a promise of better things for all, but we have to choose to want it for ourselves. It is those who suffer in this life desperately seeking relief from their present woes who will find respite and salvation in God’s Kingdom. 

“When will we truly experience God’s Kingdom?” Jesus tells us that this beautiful scenario of a just society all comes together in the Kingdom of Heaven. The future tense in Jesus’ statements emphasises aspects of the very distant reality — which we can only grasp in fullness if we get to Heaven. I quote… “You WILL be …comforted… You WILL inherit the land… You WILL be satisfied, etc.” Everything is in the future tense. This explains why we vaguely perceive ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’ in terms of its future fulfilment.  We think of it as something that we all have yet to experience. Accordingly, heaven can only be reached if a person is already dead. We can only enjoy the fullness of the Kingdom of God in the next life because the world we live in is imperfect and is surrounded by the effects of sin. The imperfections of the world are borne of the sins of human beings. As long as we succumb to the weaknesses of our human nature, we are likely to sin and the consequence of our sin makes life difficult for us and others. 

Does this mean that the poor in spirit, the hungry, the weeping, the persecuted etc, will never catch a break in this life? (Hindi naman.) If we look at the Scriptures, there are instances where Jesus explicitly speaks of God’s reign as already in our midst, in the here and now. Jesus tells the Pharisees: “For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17:21) Are we already confused? Yes, the fullness of the God’s Kingdom will only be realised in the next life, but Jesus Christ has given us a foretaste of this Kingdom. It is our duty as followers of Jesus to share what we have received from God.  Our society still has a long way to go in making this Kingdom of Heaven a reality. There is still so much injustice in the world. Many are wanting of the basic necessities while others can afford to be extravagant and wasteful. This is why we, as God’s people, have so much to do to build up the world we live in and help make it a place of truth, love, compassion, justice, freedom and peace.

So, what did we learn today? That we must… drink water! The Kingdom of God is real because Christ has proven it to us with His words and deeds. And as Christ’s disciples, we have the responsibility to make others feel the beauty and serenity we ​​hope to have with God the Father in His Kingdom.

May God make us true disciples every time we pray “Thy Kingdom Come!” so we can do our part in helping others experience God’s Kingdom and share in the hope that one day we shall all rejoice and be glad in the presence of the Lord.

HOMILY: Thanksgiving Mass, University Week, West Visayas State University

La Paz, Iloilo City

(Memorial of St. Frances de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)

24 January 2023

Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Alumnus 1992, BSED-English College of Education

It is so nice to be back at our alma mater! It warms my heart to see so many familiar faces, albeit more mature faces, of people who figured in my life as a student. I have had many fond memories in this school and this is where I first experienced a sense of family outside of my own  relatives. I am pretty confident that you will share my sentiments. We owe a debt of gratitude to this institution for providing us with an amazing experience. 

Today’s gospel passage also talks about family that is forged by something other than ancestry and genetics. Jesus changes the definition and constitution of His own family from one that is defined by blood, to one that is defined by allegiance and obedience.  When He is advised that His mother, and brothers are there to see Him, He answers “whoever does the will of My Father, is my brother, sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35) This must have been a shock to those listening! Even today, some misinterpret this as blatant disrespect. How can this be? Suddenly belonging to Christ is not about being related to Him by lineage! Jesus reveals that He genuinely considers anyone obedient to His Father as His very own brothers and sisters. Obedience to God’s will becomes the true mark of belonging to Jesus. The Son surrendered to the Father and effectively obtained for us salvation from sin. It is following the example of Jesus that merits assimilation into God’s family. Each one of us is invited to mirror that surrender in our own lives, making the will of God our own. It is only in doing so, that we will experience total liberation and become united as one with Him.

We cannot buy our way into God’s family the same way we are able to bribe our way into someone’s favour and good graces by lavishing them with whatever they enjoy — food, drink, jewelry, gadgets, money etc. In the Letter to the Hebrews we hear the irony that the best sacrifices offered on altars do not fully please God — “in burnt offerings and sin offerings you took no delight”.  (Hebrews 10:6) The passage proposes that it is our total union with the will of God that is the highest form of sacrifice. In the same way, our unfulfilled promises of repentance, extreme displays of self-mortification, grand gestures of generosity, even the rubbing of elbows with the top ranks of church heirarchy mean nothing if we do not personally submit to the will of God.

To call ourselves Christians, we have to be attuned to God’s will in our lives in order to submit ourselves to it. How do we know what GOD wills for us? We need to establish a relationship with God and nurture it consistently through daily prayer, reading and studying scripture (which is His Word) and Sunday worship with the rest of the Church body.  Submitting to the will of God allows us to enter into an intimate relationship with Jesus. We look to Mother Mary as an excellent model of perfect obedience to the will of God. Her FIAT (her YES to God) brought her into the closest of relationships with Jesus. She may not have understood the repercussions of her role in God’s plan but she gave an unconditional “yes” and never withdrew it. It was enough for her to know that it was God’s will for her. 

At the start of this reflection, I mentioned that throughout our tenure here and up to this day for you dear students, we consider ourselves part of the WVSU family. If we continue to choose to be proudly identified with this school, we owe it to our alma mater to embody the ideals it upholds. The diploma we hold and the pictures we have saved from our school days are just pieces of paper that could burn or disintegrate over time. However, if we consistently live by the standards our school has instilled in us, people will always recognize us as WVSU graduates! I invite you to recall our school hymn and mull over the lyrics with me.  “West Visayas State University… let genius bridge the earth and boundless sky. Set the youth to task half-begun, seek their rightful place ‘neath the sun… Till the youth their tasks fully done, find their rightful place ‘neath the sun.”   Clearly we have been primed to aim high, perceive the boundless possibilities, ensure we finish what we have begun, and make a mark for ourselves in the world!  This year’s homecoming theme emphasizes precisely that — transcending excellence through creativity, talent and innovation! My dear fellow alumni and students, excellence is the mark of WVSU that we must leave on everything we do. This is what forever binds us to the WVSU family. 

How we live out our profession, our vocation, and our lives in general, impresses on other people to whom we belong in this world. By our works, the way we treat others, the way we communicate are but a few ways of how we are indentified as part of a family — whether it be our clans, our provinces, our schools, and even our religion. Let us be mindful of this so we never forget who we are and what makes us what we are today. Let us be mindful of this so that each mark we leave in this world becomes a beautiful testament to the families to which we belong, most importantly our membership in God’s own family. 

In closing, I ask you all to pray with me our responsorial psalm and really mean it.  “Here I am Lord! I come to do your will.” (Psalm 40:7-8) Together we ask God to help us be obedient to His will in our life, in imitation of Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will and Mary’s Fiat. Lord, grant us sensitivity to Your voice and the courage to always do what is pleasing to You!

HOMILY: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 4:12-23

22 January 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

It feels good to always win. It’s awesome when we seem to come out on top of each game of chance.  We could be lucky in the lottery, lucky in business, lucky at work, lucky in marriage or lucky in our children. Which of us here is lucky at work? (Raise your hand!) …with your children? …with one’s spouse? (Of course, you won’t know if your marriage is really okay until you’re married and going through hardships… Today especially, the Lunar New Year celebration, we want good fortune.  I bet, there are some of us who buy lucky charms for this Year of the Water Rabbit.

The reality of life though is that we are not always dealt the good cards. Sometimes, we experience defeat, losses, disappointments. At most times, it can be frustrating, annoying or disheartening. But there are some losses that are devastating. Can we think of what we can lose that will bring us to the brink of insanity? 

Today, the lands of Naphtali and Zebulun are mentioned both in the First Reading and the Gospel. They are important lands in the ministry of Jesus. These lands nevertheless border the pagan territories and hence, they are viewed in a light that is less than complimentary. For the Jews, it was very important to keep their race pure and to maintain their food, dietary and worship customs intact. Hence, those places that did not conform to their customs were called pagan territories and lands of darkness. So, if you are born there, you are considered unfortunate. Most likely your Jewish neighbours would look at you differently and very unfavourably. One may also look down on you as if you cannot receive the grace of God.

Thus, it is surprising that Jesus chose to live there, to teach and to perform miracles there. In today’s gospel passage it is to these lands that Jesus appears proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven. We heard that “He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” He comes as a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Every Christmas Eve mass we read… “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.” (Isaiah 9:2) For us, this is to signify that all aspects of life, all corners of the world even those covered in darkness are illumined by the light of Christ. Those dwelling in darkness are not condemned forever. Jesus went to them and showed them the light. Jesus did this not only in His Word, and teaching but also in the miracles He performed. He proved that God’s mercy is offered generously and it is for everyone. 

What we see in the readings this Sunday are encouraging, hopeful images for those of us who may be losing our zest for life due to certain losses we have had to deal with. Of course, what hurts the most is the loss of our loved ones.  It could also be because we are grieving over our personal losses of freedom, of our independence, of our perceived control over our family, our work or even the very environment where we are. Didn’t we seem to be mourning during the lockdown since we couldn’t go out of our houses? The other sick people or the elderly who are bedridden seem to have no desire to live anymore. Or when there is a calamity — an earthquake or a flood or a typhoon that withers in an area where there is almost nothing to save for the residents… Aren’t those very difficult events that will test the strength of our hope? When we experience such losses, we tend to retreat into ourselves and fail to see clearly into the whole world that is filled with hope, beauty and positivity. 

Once, I accompanied a parishioner. This is someone who was going through the grieving process that was the result of the unexpected death of a fiancée a month before their wedding. So, they had been dating for a long time and are looking forward to their upcoming wedding. Everything was ready. They were excited, then suddenly the man died. It was painful and devastating how their nine-year relationship ended. It was difficult to find the words to console her, especially since the grief was raw. When the dust settled, it afforded us the opportunity to talk about the “dyings and risings” that make up the cycle of life. At the end of our conversation, her tears also stopped. She may not have fully accepted what we talked about but I’m sure that somehow his sadness was relieved through my presence.

As Christians, we have been given the assurance of the promise of rising again in each of our experiences of dying through the Paschal Mystery. This spurs us to believe that we will overcome every adversity in life. The mystery of Jesus’ life, His death and resurrection is a great gift to us.  With each death we come to experience… we can anticipate that new life will stem from it. So we should not lose hope.We believe that a great light will dawn upon us even in the midst of life’s gloominess.  What a gift indeed!

The fact that we are recipients of this “light”, it is our responsibility to be witnesses and bearers of this Light to others!  If we can only be sensitive, we will see that many around us are eager for the Christ’s light. May we let the words of this church hymn be our prayer… “May we bear the Christ-light for others in the night-time of their fears. May we hold our hand out to those who are in the darkness of grief and speak the peace they long to hear.” Let us not lose hope despite our defeats and losses in life. God’s light will find us, as long as we hold on and hold fast to Jesus.  God bless us all!

HOMILY: Feast of the Santo Niño (Proper Feast in the Philippines)

15 January 2023

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

When I was young… very young, I wished I would grow up as quickly as possible. I simply couldn’t wait to be an adult. Did you have the same experience when you were little? Maybe this is how things are… When we’re little children, we want to grow up right away. But when we are older, we do everything we can to stay younger.

But why did we when we were children want to become adults? It is because we liked  the feeling of being independent. We could go wherever we want. There was no need to always ask permission nor have someone to chaperone us. When we are adults we also seem to be more confident of ourselves. It seems like we know a lot and because of that younger people look up to us. Children know, that adults, are already working so they have the money to buy clothes, food, and nowadays, all kinds of gadgets!

Of course, most of that is true. Yes, problems may keep on coming one’s way and one may feel the hardships of life as well as the weight of one’s responsibility but one is still in control of one’s life. It is really up to each one of us how to make it through life. We will have to find a way to work or do business, get married and support our family. Because we need to fend for ourselves, we have the tendency to feel and act like we do not need guidance, direction or anyone telling us what to do and what not to. Mind you, brothers and sisters this is where we get it all wrong. 

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus cites once again the example of children to address the dispute, the conflict, the quarrel among His disciples as regards greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. “…unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Jesus was actually calling His disciples’ attention to the nature and needs of a child because He wanted them and those listening to realise that even as adults and as His chosen followers, everyone still needs guidance. To receive  it, there is a need to be open and most gracious. In God’s watchful eyes, in God’s directing hand, this is most important. 

When a parent is out of sight, isn’t it that the child gets  nervous? When they realise, they may be alone in public (in the mall or the park) they become fearful and agitated and they start to panic and look around for their mom or dad? But the parent is just there watching. No good parent would leave the child unattended. The child would only calm down when he/she sees the parents again, holds their hands and is lifted up in safety in their arms. Whether young or old, we all need the guidance of God the Father. And we should never hesitate to reach for His hand when we need His protection and guidance. We should accept God’s help and guidance with openness and humility.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in ourselves and our own problems that we do not realise that God is always there for us. He is present in the people around us who show us care and compassion. Usually, we expect that it is a member of our family or persons we love that God uses to guide us. But what if they are the cause of our problems, resentment and hurt — such as a wayward child, an unfaithful or abusive spouse? Or relatives and friends who are abusive and opportunistic? The Lord still does not abandon us. The Lord may be sending us help and guidance through good friends, neighbours or caring church people, strangers or even people you don’t know. It could be a prayer or inspirational post on Viber or Instagram that we read, a voice that we heard on a podcast, or a video that we watched on YouTube or Facebook about things that bring answers to our problems, courage to overcome them, or a little comfort in what we are going through in life. Of course, with God nothing is impossible. He will also use technology and social media to reach out to those He loves, if necessary. We just need to keep our eyes and hearts open to see how God is keeping an eye on us and guiding us.

Today’s gospel passage invites us to be like children with a child-like disposition — open and ready to God’s guidance in our lives. Like children, we have to recognise that we are very much dependent on the mercy and providence of God and we have to entrust our entire life to Him who directs us to what is best for us. 

The devotees of the Santo Niño in Cebu yell…“Pit Señor” as they dance through the streets of Cebu in honour of the Christ-Child. “Pit Senyor” is the short form of “Sangpit sa Señor,” a phrase in Cebuano that means, “to call, ask, and plead to the King.” As we celebrate the feast of the Santo Niño, the Christ-child, let us ASK the Father to make us more and more child-like in our faith, to have recourse in our loving Father and to be more trusting in Him. Pit Senyor!

HOMILY: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

8 January 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Did you enjoy the Christmas Season? We can actually still greet one another Merry Christmas until…. tomorrow. Liturgically, the Christmas season ends on the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.  Traditionally, other countries end their celebration of Christmas on the Feast of the Epiphany.  For them, the season begins on December 25 and ends on January 6. If you count that, it is exactly 12 days! I believe this is the basis for the famous Christmas Carol, the 12 Days of Christmas. They can be very strict about it.  One time, someone from the United Kingdom actually called my attention as to the date of the Epiphany Homily on my blog. He cheekily advised me to check with Pope Francis! For clarity, the customary feast of the Epiphany is the 6th of January, but for pastoral reasons, the Philippine Church celebrates it on a Sunday to emphasise the honour and just merit that it deserves as more people are able to attend mass on Sundays. 

The main characters in today’s Gospel story are the “wise men”. Who were they and where did they come from?  In the Greek text they are called magoi, which is usually rendered in English as “Magi”.  The Magi belong to a group or caste of scholars who were associated with the interpretation of dreams, Zoroastrianism, astrology and magic (hence the name ‘Magi’). In later Christian tradition they were called kings as evident in another Christmas carol usually sung for this feast. (We three kings of Orient are…) Biblically, this finds its influence in Psalm 72:10 (May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!), Isaiah 49:7 (Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves) and Isaiah 60:10 (Their kings shall minister to you).

We cannot know for sure that only three wise men paid homage to baby Jesus. There have been stories like the Fourth Wise man who brought Jewels but never made it to the manger. Who knows how many were actually present during that historic visit to the Christ-child. However, in the third-century, theologian Origen began the tradition of setting their number at three. Most likely because there were three kinds of gifts mentioned in the gospel passage — gold, frankincense and myrrh.  We know that they were from the East so you can imagine what their facial features may look like. It was only in the ninth century, that they were also given names – Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Caspar has been depicted as a black man (a person of colour) and thus the Magi were understood to represent the whole non-Jewish, Gentile world. 

If we may recall, the prophecy of a Messianic Saviour was given to the Jewish people to give them hope of deliverance from oppression. The First Reading from Isaiah, speaks for the first time of the God of Israel being worshipped and acknowledged by even pagan nations like Sheba, Midian and Ephah. This hope for the God-sent saviour is now something everyone, not just Jews, can anticipate and benefit from. It is the Magi’s encounter with the baby Jesus, that clearly shows us that God’s light of salvation is given to all people of goodwill, Jew and non-Jew. The child Jesus belongs to and is given to the whole world as its Saviour.

All in all, today’s feast is telling us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders.  Christ’s birth provides us with a light that disperses the darkness and shadows that divide us.  Jesus lay the foundation for our adoption as the beloved children of God.  St. Paul in our Second Reading clearly states that “Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body [of Christ] and co-partners in the promise of Jesus”. We belong to one single family with one Father, “our” heavenly Father.  (Ephesians 3:6) We are all brothers and sisters to one another. In Christ, there is no “Chosen People”, whether they be Jews or Christians (or even Catholics). As such, we are also called to strive to recognise our commonalities and become close to each other.  We should not treat one another or make each other feel like an outsider to the family of God. All are called to God’s light of salvation, the rich and the poor, the privileged and the lonely, the healthy and the sick, both saints and sinners alike.

In the same light, we are asked not to alienate ourselves from others. If we are not careful, we, can make ourselves the “outsiders”.  Usually, we speak about the upper crust of society alienating themselves because they feel they are the elite and deserving of special treatment. However, the ordinary people can also be guilty of alienating others, especially when we choose to shy away because we assume no one will listen to us, value us, or pay attention to us. In that instance, we are making the divide greater and making others feel that we are not welcome in our humble circles. When we make someone else feel like an outsider in our families, our communities, by reason of their external difference, we do not embody the characteristics of a follower of Jesus. Following the example of Jesus, we should show love and respect to all. When we deny others of the love and respect they deserve as children of God we reject the traits of Christianity and make of ourselves an outsider to the family of God. 

On this Feast of the Epiphany, we are asked to rejoice in the generosity of God. He gave His Son to all, so that all may be saved.  In spite of all our differences, the love of God binds us together as one in Jesus. Let us strive to live in Christ’s light of inclusivity. Merry Christmas! 

HOMILY: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Luke 2:16-21

1 January 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 

One of the most dreaded questions young children ask is “WHY?” It is easier to respond… “What’s this?” or “Who’s that?” It is harder to respond to a “why” question. The parents’ answer is often… “That’s it. That’s the way it is. Don’t be annoying.” Even as grown-ups, the “why” questions really force us to stop for a moment and think. I recall the very first question I was asked during my comprehensive exam in Theology was… “Why is it necessary for Jesus to have an earthly mother?” Now, go ahead, answer that!

When do we pray the words “Holy Mary, Mother of God…”? Yes! It’s the second part of the Hail Mary. We have prayed this many times in our life (I hope so…) and because we are overly familiar with these words, we oftentimes fail to appreciate the weight these words carry. It clearly states the special role of Mary in God’s plan of salvation and it affirms our belief in Jesus Christ as our Divine Lord. 

MARY. MOTHER. OF. GOD. The Greek word for the title is Theotokos, which literally means “God-bearer.” This is probably one of the most ancient titles for Mary by the First Christians in the First Century of the Church. The First Christians called Mary the “Mother of God” without hesitation. She carried Jesus, the Son of God, in her womb for nine months. Let’s think of it carefully — if Jesus is God and Mary is the mother of Jesus on earth, it cannot be denied that Mary is the mother of God. In English, if Jesus is God, and Mary is His mother, then Mary is automatically the Mother of God. This principle is called the “Communication of Idioms.”  Is it not? If I am the son of my father, and I am the son of my mother, both are undeniable truths and refer to the same person — ME. Jesus Christ is the Son of God but having been born of Mary, Jesus is also Mary’s Son. His two natures, the divine nature and the human nature, are united in Him. He is one divine person. 

Many non-Catholics today still raise an objection to the title “Mother of God” because they say that it implies that Mary was the “originator of God”. They say they can readily accept the title “Mother of Christ” but they cannot accept the title “Mother of God”. Is it okay? It is like saying that Jesus Christ is not God. This is the paradox of our Christian belief. We believe that Christ is 100% human and 100% divine. Not 50-50.  We do not say that Mary is the mother of God the Father. She is the mother of God, the Son, who is God nonetheless.  In the council of Ephesus in 431 AD, the Church resolved that ancient heresy by affirming that Jesus is one divine person, with two natures — “his mother’s human nature and his Father’s divine nature”. Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, both God and man. This is what we profess every time we say the Creed. 

Let’s go back to the earlier question… “Why did Jesus have to have an earthly  mother?” The answer is because He had to be human. Who among us here were not born? You may not be human. We are all born into the world. This is how we come to be in this world. We are born through our mothers. In my case, I had an adoptive Mama who raised me but I had a different Nanay who gave birth to me.  So, I am sure I am human. Jesus had to become human so he could be one of us. That was the plan. Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation. Sabi nga ng isang Christmas Carol na kinanta ni Jose Mari Chan… “Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day…” But it does not end with his birth. He had to be cared for and nurtured until He grew up and was ready for His mission. And so, on the first day of the New Year we honour Mary for being the perfect mother for the Son of God, the Saviour of humankind.  

Why is this important to us today? Mary’s mothering of Christ is the beginning of our salvation story. Jesus Christ taught us the way back to the Father — He reconciled humanity with the Father and re-opened the gates of heaven for humanity. By the actions of Mary’s Son, we have gained the status of children of God; brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ. By extension, Mary becomes and is our mother, too. As she bore Jesus physically, Mary bears each one of us spiritually.  Her love is unconditional like the love of Jesus. She is always there, loving us deeply even when we don’t pay her attention and assisting us quietly even when we don’t ask for help. Such is the love of a great mother.

We are at the beginning of a new year. We don’t know what awaits us. There are good things and of course, sad and unpleasant ones to expect.  Let us not fear. This is life. Let us be grateful that we have made it to 2023 and let us remember with fondness those who have gone ahead of us in the past year.  As we honour Mary as the “Mother of God” we see her as a model of how we, at the beginning of this year and every day thereafter, should remain prayerful, open, attentive and accepting of what God asks of us, even when we do not yet understand fully His plan for us. We entrust ourselves to our loving Mother Mary and we continue to hope and trust in the love and care of God for all His children.

HOMILY: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

25 December 2022

John 1:1-18

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

When do you  usually open your Christmas gifts — the 24th or the 25th of December?  Do you remember the most expensive gift you have ever received? What did you give in return to the one who gave you that gift? Our celebrations of Christmas is now often identified with the tradition of gift-giving. That is why we have the “holiday rush” when department stores and shops are unusually busy in the weeks leading up to Christmas as everyone  scrambles to stretch their budget for all the gifts they need to buy. Even among neighbours, there is the traditional exchange of food items. Someone is always ringing our doorbell to deliver a gift and when we have nothing to give in return, we make a hasty purchase of something to give in return. Is it not? We feel it is a must to give something back in return! We are completely embarrassed if someone gives us a gift and we don’t have something for them.   

Our consumerist society tells us everything is quantifiable.  We cannot help but look at the value of the gifts we receive.  We tend to favour the more expensive and fancy gifts. The price is the standard. We don’t want to be labeled as “kuripot” or a cheapskate.  We don’t want our gift to be criticised so we make an effort to spend, even if it is beyond our means. How many times have we maxed out our credit cards at Christmastime? We convince ourselves that we can figure out later how to pay off our debts. Why do we make such a fuss? Perhaps it is a reflection of our own tendency to be judgy.  If we are the first to hand over a pricey gift don’t we feel a tinge of regret when what we receive in return is not equal in value to what we have given? 

Brothers and sisters, that is most definitely NOT what Christmas is about. We give because we are moved by love and appreciation for others. We give in thanksgiving and to share the many blessings we have received.  We give, expecting nothing in return.  We give in imitation of the generosity of our God although we can never match Him in His generosity. 

The feast we celebrate today presents to us a gift-giving that is imbalanced and uneven. It is extremely stacked in our favour. We are the ones who benefit the most because God the Father gave His Son Jesus to save humanity. This is the nature of the divine gift in Jesus Christ. We gain untold merits by the person of Jesus Christ, God-made-man.  We, the recipients, can never return the full value of this divine gift. As the little drummer boy sings: “I have no gift to bring… that’s fit to give a king.”  Even if we are very rich or very talented, nothing we can do or offer can surpass the gift of God.

In the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the love of God who sent no less than His own Son to save us, no matter how many times humanity has failed Him.  Listen closely to the words of the Third Preface for the Mass of the Nativity of our Lord — “Through Him the holy exchange that restores our life has shone forth today in splendour: when our frailty is assumed by your Word.  Not only does human mortality receive unending honour but by this wondrous union we, too, are made eternal.” God becoming man, revolutionises our humanity. We are no longer merely human because as children of God we have been endowed with the divine potential. If we desire and work hard, one day we can be holy like Him. “To those who did accept Him He gave power to become children of God.” (John 1:12) St. Irenaeus of Lyons expressed this process of divinization or deification as “God becoming what we are so that we might become what He is.” Each Christmas, we recall this divine condescension and marvel in worship at this unfathomable mystery of God’s love. 

Come to think of it, God did not need to save us. Who are we? We are naturally fragile, sinful and stubborn. We do not deserve the gift of His Son. We can neither make ourselves worthy of Him. What is consoling is that God knows that and He still chooses to save us because of His great love for us. He sent His own Son to suffer the indignities and the lowliness of humanity that we may identify with Him and understand better the divine plan of God for His chosen people.  He did it, not only for Mary, St. Joseph, the apostles or the people who lived in those days. He did it for me and for you!

As flawed individuals, how can we ever reciprocate God’s boundless love for us? We can not hope to match God’s gift to us. Yet we, lowly as we are, can still offer a gift to Him this Christmas by making a conscious effort “to live temperately, justly and devoutly” as God desires of us.  For the Lord, it is not the value of the gift, but the thought and the effort that counts. We are not expected to be perfect but He places a premium on our struggle and our perseverance. Never lose heart because God values and cherishes each one of ​​us. 

Our best gifts are not the ones where we even up the score.  The greatest gifts can never be reciprocated and quantified. We are a people that has been greatly blessed by the Incarnation of our Lord.  As Christians, we await further a still greater blessing when Christ returns to us at the end of time! Meanwhile, let us continue to value the givers more than the gift and to cherish the friends and family we have around us. Be grateful for your blessings and be a blessing to others. A Blessed Christmas to everyone!

HOMILY: Fourth Sunday of Advent (A)

Matthew 1:18-24

18 December 2022 

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez, AA

Just before Advent, the Christ the King Parish celebrated its 43rd fiesta. If I recall correctly, the theme was ‘Welcome back to CTK!’, in line with the CBCP Directive encouraging parishioners to return to face-to-face worship in the church. Live-streamed masses have been reduced to encourage everyone to come join the celebration of the mass in person. “Miss na namin kayo.”  Indeed, nothing beats everyone’s actual presence! 

In today’s gospel passage, we are told of the circumstances leading up to the birth of Christ. God has now taken on human form as a baby growing in the womb of Mary. It is a time of firsts. This is the first time Joseph receives confirmation from heaven that he and Mary have a role in God’s plan. This is also the first time that the name of the Messiah is made known to humanity and the first-time heaven confirms that the baby in Mary’s womb is the child foretold by Isaiah. The tremendous impact of God’s physical presence among His people is ground-breaking and yet so subtle and understated. The angel tells Joseph in a dream of Isaiah’s prophecy about the child to be called Emmanuel, which Matthew explains: “God with us”. Jesus is the Emmanuel — the very presence of God among His people. As St. John points out in his Prologue: “The Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us” (John 1:14). In Jesus, God is with us and better yet, God chooses to be one of us.  This precious gift of His presence even continues beyond the Resurrection. We recall that before Jesus ascends back to the Father, He assures His disciples of His abiding presence among His followers: “I am with you always – to the very end of time” (Matthew 28:20). The Emmanuel, remains with humanity forever.  And this is the reason why we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus in our time. Through his Body, the Church – the Christian community – Jesus continues to be visibly present among us in word and action.  

“God-with-us” is a manifestation of how close God is to us. He is no longer a distant authority but one who has lived and experienced our reality. We do not worship a God who is detached from us, unapproachable and too uncaring to notice us but rather one who knows our every need and who has felt our every pain and suffering and has compassion for us. This is probably the reason why the veneration of images by touching and kissing them is very popular among us Filipino Catholics. This faith practice reveals nothing of the perceived idolatrous practice to which it is often judged and misinterpreted. Instead, it is a concrete expression of a devotee’s constant desire to be more intimate with God and to feel His presence in our lives. In his Philippine Star article, ‘A tangible, accessible God’, Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ says of the Filipinos’ special devotion to the Black Nazarene: “It celebrates the nearness of God who makes Himself accessible and tangible to His people suffering under the weight of the cross of poverty and inequality. Burdened by the hardships of life, our people are looking for God and are awaiting His response to their pleas and petitions.” 

‘Being there’ or being present for others is such an important aspect of human relationships.  Due to all the demands of life, making ourselves available for one another is a precious gift we can give to those we love. Seemingly, the pandemic made us realise that life is short and that we never know how long we have left with our loved ones.  Hence, we find ways to make our presence felt through different channels of communication such as letters, cards, phone calls, email, text messages and the like. 

This year, as the Philippines transitions from heightened restrictions to normalcy, we have the opportunity to go out again, with a degree of caution, of course. We are no longer confined to virtual meetings. We can now feel safe to be among friends and relatives — to shake hands, give hugs and revel in the warmth and energy of each other’s presence. Let us not forget to appreciate the people we are with and the one’s whom we will get to meet along life’s path. When we have the chance to spend time with one another, let us put our gadgets away momentarily so we can be fully present. Moreover, let us listen and speak with each other; be generous with our time and compassion and let us not waste the opportunity to be present in the moment. 

As we continue to contemplate on the readings of the remainder of our Misa de Gallo, may the good news of the Christmas story, “God chose to be with us” speak to us. It is a story of a God who desires to be personally present for His people, to accompany us on our journey, and to continually invite us into His wonderful life. As followers of Jesus, we must accept the challenge to also strive to be present to one another, in imitation of the Emmanuel: God-with-us!