When we talk about Makati, three obvious things come to mind. First is wealth. Makati is the second richest city in the Philippines, only after Quezon City, which is 7.5 times bigger. Second is prestige. It is home to skyscrapers, the richest villages, and very beautiful malls. Third is the benefits. Education and medicine are among the best in the country. 

However, if there is one thing Makati should be known for is that it has a soul. The patron saints of the mother Church are Sts. Peter and Paul. The two greatest pillars of the Church. They were very different: Paul preached to the Gentiles, Peter preached to the Jews; Paul was an expert in the law, Peter was a fisherman; Peter, being the first Pope, was about unity, and Paul, who traveled to many cultures, was about universality. Yet their feast day is together although they were martyred three years apart, because of the importance of the Mission.

Three Missions to Evangelize

1. We cannot serve God and Mammon. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money. You are going to love one and despise the other. While money is very important in the world, when we start to have broken relationships, we then realize that money becomes a “god,” doing everything and anything to have it. Never mind if it is wrong, immoral, or illegal.
2. We came into this world with nothing. There is a saying, “At the end of a chess game, the king and pawn enter the same box.” No more money, no more fame, no more power. Naked we came into this world, and naked we will leave this world. Why put so much effort and emotions into things we cannot bring to the next life? 
3. Treasures in Heaven. Jesus talks about laying treasures in heaven. This is about the kindness we show others, especially those who have less in life; this is about forgiving our enemies even if they do not ask for forgiveness; this is about being a blessing to others. In other words, the many things that count in life are things that cannot be counted.

In this Mass, we thank God for the gift of faith. For a Church like Sts. Peter and Paul were founded in 1620. There is so much history and so much tradition. You hear of families taking care of images for centuries, and this is beautiful. You hear of groups taking care of devotions for centuries, and this is beautiful. But remember, the world is fast changing. Traditions are very important, and so are new ways of evangelization. Hence, with great blessings come great responsibility. Whether it be through tradition or new ways of evangelizing, remember that with the gift of faith, we will remind people of the parish to make proper use of their material blessings to reach eternal life.