When Life Gives You Tangerines: A Pentecost Perspective

Homily: Solemnity of Pentecost (C) John 20:19-23 8 June 2025  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA  Have you heard the phrase: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Recently I watched a similarly titled Korean Drama called: “When Life Gives You Tangerines”. In the Philippines, we know them more as Ponkan oranges. They generally look sweet,Continue reading “When Life Gives You Tangerines: A Pentecost Perspective”

Belonging to God through Love

HOMILY: Sixth Sunday of Easter (C) John 14:23-29 25 May 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA  Who do you consider family? Does a family member always need to be a blood relative? Do they need to marry into your family?  Some families adopt children, others consider close friends part of their family. Others consider strangersContinue reading “Belonging to God through Love”

A Love that Glorifies God

Homily: Fifth Sunday of Easter (C) John 13:31-33a; 34-35 18 May 2025  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA It is that time of year again for graduation marches, moving up ceremonies, and recognition days. Students heave a sigh of relief for having made it through the many years of exams, projects and presentations. I know ofContinue reading “A Love that Glorifies God”

The Shepherd’s Mission to All Nations

Homily: Fourth Sunday of Easter (C) / Good Shepherd Sunday / World Day of Prayer for Vocations John 10:27-30 11 May 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA When I was a child, whenever my siblings and I were wandering out in public, we knew precisely when Mama was calling us to her side without herContinue reading “The Shepherd’s Mission to All Nations”

Empty Nets, Full Hearts: Encountering Christ Again

Homily: Third Sunday of Easter (C) John 21:1-19 4 May 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA  Is there anyone here who believes he/she owes a deep debt of gratitude to someone else? (Meron ba kayong pinagkakautangan ng loob?) I am not talking about a monetary debt, but rather one that arises from another or othersContinue reading “Empty Nets, Full Hearts: Encountering Christ Again”

No Sin Too Great, No Soul Too Lost

Homily: Second Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday John 20:19-31  27 April 2025  Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA Do you find it easy to forgive someone who offended you? If your answer is “NO”,  ask yourself if it is easy for you to ask forgiveness when you are the offending party?  Some people onlyContinue reading “No Sin Too Great, No Soul Too Lost”

Light in the Darkness: The Hope of Easter

Homily: Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection (C) John 20:1-9 20 April 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA  This is the day!! Look to your seatmate and happily announce to them “This is the day!” For us, Christians, no other day holds more significance than THIS DAY!  Jesus is risen! Our Messiah has conquered sinContinue reading “Light in the Darkness: The Hope of Easter”

Kenosis: The Descent of Love

Homily: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (C)  Luke 1:1-49 13 April 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA At the start of the mass, we gathered outside with our palm fronds to get a feel of what it was like to be present at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This was a momentContinue reading “Kenosis: The Descent of Love”

Mercy Over Judgment: Jesus’ Response to Sin

Homily: Fifth Week Week of Lent (C) John 8:1-11 6 April 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA  “Bawal ang judgmental!”  (“Being judgmental is prohibited!”) I’m sure most of you have heard that line before. It is a very common sentiment these days, especially among the young. In books, memes, movies, videos, and even in everydayContinue reading “Mercy Over Judgment: Jesus’ Response to Sin”

Embracing God’s Unconditional Love

HOMILY: Fourth Sunday of Lent (C)  (Laetare Sunday) Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 30 March 2025 Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA In the past few days, no one has made us prouder to be Filipino than 19-year-old Filipino Tennis Player Alexandra “Alex” Eala. On Thursday she won against the world’s #2 tennis player, Iga Swiatek. However, herContinue reading “Embracing God’s Unconditional Love”