Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13 | Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 | 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 | Matthew 5:1-12

​On this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we’re invited to reflect on humility—accepting God’s lordship in our lives, discovering strength even in our weaknesses, and learning to love in a way that goes beyond doing just the bare minimum.

Isaiah 8:23—9:3 | Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 | 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 | Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

​This Sunday we continue our journey through the liturgical season known in our tradition as “Ordinary Time,” marked by numbered Sundays. In the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear how God’s people of old experienced the joy of God’s light and were no longer forced to live in darkness. This light of Christ unites us, calls us to follow Him, and invites us to help build the Kingdom of Heaven.

Isaiah 9:1-6 | Psalm 98: 1-5 | Ephesians 1:3-6.15-18 | Matthew 18:1-5.10 

​As a nation where children make up 34% of the population, Filipinos are known for their deep love for children. The sight of a child brings joy; a child is welcoming, comforting, and non-threatening. Its strength lies in its weakness, and its power is found in love. It is therefore no surprise that Filipinos have developed a long-standing and widespread devotion to the Holy Child Jesus. This devotion began more than 500 years ago, when the first image of El Santo Niño was brought to Cebu and given by Fernando Magallanes as a baptismal gift to the wife of Rajah Humabon. For Filipino Catholics, the Holy Child represents a God who is a source of great joy—a God who is accessible to all and can be approached without fear. Images of the Sto. Niño are commonly found on family altars in homes, as well as in schools, offices, community stores, and even inside jeepneys, quietly witnessing to a faith that is both intimate and enduring.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 | Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 | Acts 10:34-38 | Matthew 3:13-17

​Today, in union with the whole Church, we celebrate the great event of the Baptism of the Lord. At his Baptism, the Spirit proclaims Jesus as the Messiah: the PRIEST who would sacrifice his life for others, the PROPHET who would reveal God’s presence in word and action, and the KING who would proclaim his kingdom from the cross.

Isaiah 60:1-6  | Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13 | Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6 | Matthew 2:1-12 

​Legend tells us there were three kings from the East, but if you dig a little deeper, history hints at a spicier version: there were actually more than seven. They all saw the same star. They all packed gifts. They all set out on the journey. But, like many grand pilgrimages, not everyone stayed on the straight and narrow. Only three had the humility, patience, and basic sense of direction to reach Bethlehem and worship the King of kings (cf. Matthew 2:1–12). One king got distracted by a shinier sign, landed in New York, and reinvented himself as Burger King, offering flame-grilled meals instead of frankincense. Another drifted east, discovered noodles, and became Chowking. Two others lost signal somewhere over the Pacific, ended up in Manila, shrugged, and said, “Pwede na”—thus giving us Tapa King and Goto King. And the rest? Ah yes—the other kings. They saw the star too, but instead of following it, they followed opportunity. Why kneel before a newborn King when you could build an empire of your own? So they skipped Bethlehem altogether and went straight into business, dabbling in budget insertions, ghost projects, and developments that looked impressive only on PowerPoint slides. Their caravan was known as BuKing. Eventually, BuKing got caught. After that, they quietly went into hiding—and to this day, no one can seem to find them anymore.