Suggested Songs for January 29, 2012 Mass

Sunday, January 29, 2012

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Masasabi kong mas lalong maswerte ako sa taong ito dahil sa mismong kaarawan ko (January 23, 2012) ang Chinese New Year. Dati na akong maswerte simula nang magbalik-loob ako sa ating Poong Maykapal. Dahil sa kanya nakilala ko ang aking sarili. Nasagot niya ang mga katanungang bumabagabag sa akin noong nasa kadiliman pa ako ng buhay at hindi ko pa siya nakilala. Naging mabuti siya sa akin kahit na akong isang makasalanang tao. Totoo nga ang sinabi niya sa ebanghelyo niya noong nakaraang linggo na “Ako’y pumarito para sa mga makasalanan” at ako’y isa na doon.  Ipinagpasalamat ko at natagpuan niya ako at natagpuan ko rin siya.

I just want to say thanks to Annie, Mark Amihan, Ate Bambie Moran, Leoner Rosales, Noel Banday, Ellen, Tessa at kay Diding sa Haranita na ginawa n’yo ngayong gabi… Napaiyak n’yo ako!

Heto na po ang mga suhestiyon kong kanta para sa darating na linggo…

Entrance:

1.      Pag-inambitay

2.      Diosnong Magtutudlo ,swak sa 1^st and 2^nd Reading

3.      Purihin ang Panginoon (Isidro, Ramirez)

4.      Halina at Lumapit (Habito) prioritize stanza 3

5.      Sing to the Mountains (Dufford)

6.      Blest be the Lord (Schutte)

Kyrie:

1.      O Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Set 4)

2.      Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Neniel)

3.      Maawa Ka (Francisco-Reyes)

4.      Panginoon, Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)

5.      As we Prepare

6.      Lord, Have Mercy (Francisco-Reyes)

Gloria:

1.      Himaya sa Dios (Nars Fernandez)

2.      Himaya sa Dios III

3.      Luwalhati sa Dios (Sengson)

4.      Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

5.      Give Glory to God

6.      Glory to God (Francisco-Agatep)

First Reading:

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Moses spoke to all the people that God shall send a prophet like Moses, one who will tell them all that He (God) commands. 

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 95:1-9

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts. 

Second Reading:

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Be free from anxieties. 

Gospel Acclamation/Alleluia:

1.      Pangitaa ang Gingharian

2.      Alleluia Himoa Kami nga Dalan

3.      Alleluia 17

4.      Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)

Gospel:

Mark 1:21-28

Teaching with Authority 
The people were astonished at the way Jesus taught, for He spoke as One having authority, and not like the teachers of the Law. Here Jesus also drove out the evil spirit from a man who was in the synagogue.

Homily by Fr. Charles Irvin:

Two words in the Gospel account you just heard captured my attention… “astonished” and “amazed.” St. Mark reports that the people in Capernaum’s synagogue were astonished at Jesus’ teaching and all were amazed. So the question arises: Why? Why were they so astonished and amazed? After all they thought Jesus was a rabbi, someone who speaks God’s word, and they were, after all, in a synagogue, a place where one would expect to be hearing about what God had to say. So why were they so astonished and amazed?  

First of all we need to notice that this event occured at the very beginning of Our Blessed Lord’s public ministry. St. Mark reports this event in the first chapter, twenty-first verse of his Gospel account. Jesus has just finished gathering His twelve apostles and was now “going public,” so to speak. Jesus had not as yet performed His dazzling miracles. He had not as yet cured the blind, healed the lepers, healed the crippled, and raised people from the dead. The most astounding miracle of all -- His own resurrection from the dead -- had not yet occurred.

Why then was there astonishment and amazement at His first words here, at the beginning of His public ministry? It was common, we know, for rabbis to have followers and to move from synagogue to synagogue. What was so amazing about Jesus? Wasn’t He teaching the way rabbis taught? Wasn’t Jesus proclaiming the word of God to His people – something all rabbis did?

What I want to point out is the particular the style of speech used by Jesus and to note the way He taught. He did not say “The Lord’s words for you today are…” Nor did He say: “The God who sent me says this…” No. Jesus spoke in His own name, on His own authority. There is, you see, a big difference in Jesus’ speech here. He is telling everyone what He, the Christ is declaring to them. He is not speaking on behalf of God -- He is speaking as God!

In another gospel account, St. Matthew, reports Jesus as saying:

      "You have heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers, 'You shall not commit murder; every murderer will be liable to judgment.' What I say to you is …everyone who grows angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. "You have heard the commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery.' What I say to you is: anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts. "You have heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers, 'Do not take a false oath; rather, make good to the Lord all your pledges.' What I tell you is: do not swear at all. Say, 'Yes' when you mean 'Yes' and 'No' when you mean 'No.' Anything beyond that is from the evil one."

The Ten Commandments were revered by the Israelites. Those commandments and the tablets upon which they were written connected them -- directly connected them -- with God Himself. To alter or tamper with them was, for the Jews, absolutely unthinkable. To hear Jesus expand on those commandments was, to say the very least, astonishing and amazing. What Jesus taught was marvelous. It was luminous, enlightening, and brilliant. But how He taught was mind boggling because the way Jesus spoke was as God speaking. He didn’t speak about God. He didn’t begin by saying: Thus says the Lord…” No. He simply and directly spoke as only God would speak. Nothing could be more astonishing than that. Either Jesus is who He claimed to be and demonstrated Himself to be, or else He was a charlatan, a fraud, and a liar. He is either God the Son made human flesh, or He is not. One has to choose. One cannot escape making that choice.

Have you ever heard it stated that it really doesn’t matter what religion you belong to since they’re all leading us to God? When you hear that said you should realize that sort of thinking flies in the face of what we just heard about Jesus Christ, both in today’s passage as well as in many others. Because if it is true that Our Blessed Lord is God made flesh for us, then it really does matter what religion we have. The devils themselves recognized Him. Why do those who claim to be religious people refuse to acknowledge who He really is? It wasn’t the devils that gave Jesus a bad time. They simply vacated; they simply fled from His presence and went elsewhere to do their dirty work. It was the religious know-it-alls who gave Jesus a hard time. The more they realized that Jesus of Nazareth was really Someone, the more they understood what He was claiming to be, the more they wanted to rid themselves of Him. He spoke with God’s own authority. He was a terrible threat to the claimed authority of the big know-it-alls.

            Now there are many ways people try to rid themselves of Christ. They tried to kill Him, bury Him in a tomb and then post a detail of soldiers to guard that tomb. We know, however, how useless that was. Another way is to simply ignore Him. Many have done that, are doing it now, and will do it in the future. The danger about ignoring Him is equivalent to the danger of ignoring the instructions on drug prescriptions, or ignoring the directions on how to fly an airplane.

           

Still another way is to claim that Jesus is just another interesting religious figure in human history. You simply decide that Buddha or Mohammed, or some guru from the Far East is just as good as Jesus it comes to journeying to God. But if that’s true then why bother with going to church? Why not simply start your own church? I mean, after all, if you really believe that one religion is just as good as another you can probably do a better a job with organizing a religion than the ones we’ve got. But when you do, let’s see you cure people with various diseases, make the blind see, restore crippled limbs, and raise people from the dead. Finally, and most importantly, let us see you rise from the dead three days after you’ve been buried.

So is it really true that one religion is just as good as another? Do we take the words and teachings of Jesus with ultimate seriousness or do we just relativize His life, death, resurrection and teachings? Is His voice just one of many? Or is He the Word of God spoken for us?

Now I’m quite aware that all of you here today do not dismiss Jesus. You wouldn’t be here listening to His words and receiving His Body and Blood if your hearts and souls were elsewhere. But I’ll bet you have heard members of your families reduce religion to something equal to a cafeteria choice by declaring it doesn’t really matter what you pick and choose. Will you simply let those statements pass by unchallenged? Will you let your children, your grandchildren and members of your family, as well as your friends who say these things, go on without responding with your own convictions about Jesus Christ? We need to love them enough to call them to take Jesus of Nazareth seriously. After all, He really does speak with authority, and not like the others.

We’ve all heard a lot of talk about evangelizing. Evangelizing doesn’t mean that we have to go around town knocking on doors and preaching at others about our religion. It can be something far less difficult and far less offensive than that. Evangelizing can be as easy as simply and clearly stating the truth about Jesus and telling folks “We have never heard anyone else speak with such authority.”       

Offertory:

1.      Dios Nia Ko (swak sa 2^nd reading “magtugyan sa inyong kaugalingon ngadto sa pag-alagad sa Ginoo”)

2.      O Dios Dawata (Koro Viannista)

3.      Ginoo Walay Sukod (Juris of MYMP) “I don’t know if pang offertory ba jud siya but the lyrics seems to be for offertory”

4.      Diyutay Lang Kini (Koro Viannista)

5.      Mugna sa Dios (Koro Viannista)

6.      Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad (Arboleda, Francisco)

7.      Narito Ako (San Andres)

8.      Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)

9.      Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda)

Sanctus:

1.      Santos (Pastorela)

2.      Santos V (Villanueva)

3.      Santo, Santo, Santo (Que)

4.      Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco)

5.      Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

6.      Holy, Holy, Holy (Dufford-Schutte)

Acclamation:

1.      Si Kristo (Chord of Am)

2.      Si Kristo (Chord of E)

3.      Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

4.      Si Kristo ay Namatay (Dying)

5.      Memorial Acclamation (Marcelo-Fenomeno)

6.      When We Eat this Bread

Amen:

1.      Amen

2.      Dakilang Amen

3.      Amen (World Youth Day ’95)

4.      Amen Alleluia (Bayogos)

Pater Noster:

1.      Amahan Namo I (Set 1) chord of D

2.      Ama Namin (Marcelo)

3.      Aman Namin (Hontiveros 1)

4.      Our Father (Alipio)

Doxology:

1.      Kay Imo Man

2.      Sapagkat

3.      For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei:

1.      Kordero sa Dios IV (Chord of Dm-Bb)

2.      Agnus Dei (R. Villanueva Mass 8)

3.      Kordero ng Diyos (Cayabyab)

4.      Kordero ng Diyos (Que)

5.      Lamb of God (Folk)

Communion:

1.      Kini Maong Akong Lawas (Koro Viannista)

2.      Natawag ko na Ikaw (swak sa 2^nd reading)

3.      Ang Kinabuhing Mahinungdanon (swak sa 2^nd Reading)

4.      Kalig-on sa Pagtoo

5.      Awit ng Paghilom (Aquino) 

6.      Awit ng Paghahangad (Cenzon)

7.      H’wag Mangamba (Francisco)

8.      Manatili Ka (Francisco)

9.      O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco)

10.  Pagkakaibigan (Cenzon, Abad-Santos)

11.  God of Silence (Francisco)

12.  Here I Am, Lord (Schutte)

13.  On Eagle’s Wings (Joncas)

14.  You are mine (Haas)

15.  Your Heart Today (Francisco)

Recessional:

1.      Ang Tawag (Koro Viannista version)

2.      Kinsa? (sibo sa 2^nd reading)

3.      Ang Atong Tulubagon

4.      O Bayan ng Diyos (Aquino) Prioritize Stanza 2

5.      I am the Bread of Life (Toolan). Prioritize Stanza 5

Have a nice weekend everyone… J

Suggested Line-up of Songs for January 22, 2012 Mass

Sunday, January 22, 2012

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Naisip ko lang… If we can feature a choir each month on our blog… Pwede kaya ‘yun? Sinong una? ‘Yung choir ni Kuya Troy Fredrick Lim ng Cavite o kaya ‘yung choir ni Bro. Duffy Mark Cabanas ng Pampanga? Pwedeng i-feature natin ‘yung mga activity ng choir o kahit mga beautiful moments… Please post your ideas, comments and suggestions below or email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com. Ahmmm… Pwedeng paki-like naman po ninyo ang page namin sa Facebook… Please……

Heto na po ang mga suhestiyong kanta para sa ngayong linggo … J

Entrance:

1.      Kon Magkatigum Ta

2.      Pag-inambitay

3.      Pag-aalaala (Francisco) “pagliligtas niya sa atin”

4.      Halina, Lumapit sa Akin (Isidro, Que)

5.      Sing to the mountains (Dufford)

6.      City of God (Schutte)

Kyrie:

1.      O Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Set 4)

2.      Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Neniel)

3.      Maawa Ka (Francisco-Reyes)

4.      Panginoon, Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)

5.      As we Prepare

6.      Lord, Have Mercy (Francisco-Reyes)

Gloria:

1.      Himaya sa Dios (Nars Fernandez)

2.      Himaya sa Dios III

3.      Luwalhati sa Dios (Sengson)

4.      Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

5.      Give Glory to God

6.      Glory to God (Francisco-Agatep)

First Reading:

Jon 3:1-10 Jonah’s preaching
God told Jonah that He will soon destroy the great city of Nineveh. The people of Nineveh repented for their evil ways, and God did not carry out the destruction that He had threatened upon them.

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 25:4-9

Teach me Your ways, O Lord. 

Second Reading:

1 Cor 7:29-31

Time is short
Time is running out. The order of this world is vanishing.

Gospel Acclamation:

1.      Pangitaa ang Gingharian

2.      Alleluia Himoa Kami nga Dalan

3.      Alleluia 17

4.      Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)

Gospel:

Mk 1:14-20

Time of Fulfillment
This is the account where Jesus calls His first disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John. 

Reflection for the Readings:

The Bible is made up of many kinds of literature – we have songs, love poetry, myths, tales, histories, chronologies, and even comedies.  It may not seem so to us, but we need to realize that our first reading today was very funny to the Hebrews. I will try to explain why this is so.

In the story of Jonah, of which we get only a minuscule portion here,  God asked Jonah to be a prophet – he called him. But Jonah, knowing what horrors many of the prophets went through, told God ‘no – he didn’t want to’. God was adamant, though and kept asking him.  So Jonah decided to run from God.  God wanted him to go east – Jonah thought he would go west. He took off. But on his journey he was swallowed by a big fish, and when he was spit out, he found himself exactly where God wanted him to go – in the east, – so Jonah finally he gave in. God wanted him to go to the great city of Ninevah – we are told it was huge, so huge it even took three days to cross it.  He was to tell the people of Nineveh much the same message that all prophets told – God says to reform yourself and repent – or you will be destroyed. Jonah was desperate – he knew that he would be preaching to the wind, that they, the Ninevites, wouldn’t listen. How many stories had he read with the same plot – the prophet warns the city, the city doesn’t listen and the city is destroyed?  But he does it anyway; he goes out through the city and warns the people to repent. Except, totally out of the blue, they do repent, and he is flabbergasted. They actually listen to him.  He is amazed, but also disappointed. It actually saddens Jonah because any self-respecting prophet would know that God should have destroyed them.  They weren’t supposed to listen to him! Who do they think they were?  But God does not destroy the city. Happy ending. Comedy.

In our second reading Jesus is also at the beginning of his career, immediately after John the Baptist is silenced, and continues the work of the Baptist and tells his listeners to repent. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the good news.”

A few minutes on the words “Repent and believe in the good news.”  I am not sure we all remember what repent means. I know it is a little different from what I had originally thought it meant.  To repent means to ‘change one’s mind’, to open it up, to turn it around.  I always thought it just meant to be sorry for sin, but that is not the original Greek meaning.  We are to turn back, change our mind and believe in the good news.  Again, the original meaning is important.  It doesn’t mean to believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Gospels, as it is sometimes translated. No, it means to change your mind and trust in the good news that Jesus is bringing, and the good news that is Jesus himself.

Too long in the Catholic church and in many fundamentalist churches the good news has really been the bad news.  People were leaving church guilty, feeling bad, fearful for their souls and wondering if they would ever get to heaven. So many rules, so many things to avoid.  But that isn’t what the good news is about. The good news is that Jesus has come, God himself has come to earth, and by his life and death has made it possible for us to experience heaven in the future and even a little bit of heaven right now. We have already been redeemed. Jesus has already died for our sins. It has already happened and that is the good news! Over the time I have been with you, this has been a constant theme in my preaching, because I believe it to be so true and so important.  My job as pastor is to bring you the good news. And your job, according to Jesus is to open your minds, change your minds, turn back and come to trust and believe in his message that He is good news. Simple, right! I’m not so sure.

The last part of the Gospel reading is about the calling of the Apostles. Until  Ash Wednesday, the Gospel we read will be Mark’s. It is the first Gospel to have been written.  Mark’s Gospel is the shortest, most succinct, and contains the most human portrait of Jesus. In this Gospel, as in no other, we see the humanity of Jesus as he expresses compassion, strong anger, surprise, deep sighs, indignation and even ignorance of when history will end. But his powerful and mysterious presence always create wonder and make us question along with the people he meets: Who is this man!

Today’s reading is Mark’s introduction of Jesus.  Mark’s Gospel is so short; it has no birth narrative. Jesus arrives after John has been arrested, he proclaims the good news of God: that this is a privileged time, when God’s care for his people is almost here. He then calls them to a change of heart, take a new look at what they are doing, and trust in his good news.

But Jesus is not a solitary prophet like Jonah in the first reading. He wants company – companions; he knows he will need to be encouraged and supported, and so he enters the lives of four people with the simple command: “Follow me”. He calls ordinary people, people who in Mark never quite get it. They are almost always clueless. But, they do drop everything and follow him in any case. They become disciples.  And what does that word “disciple” mean? It means being with, accompanying Jesus, and doing the things of Jesus. There is a lesson here for all of us, too. If Jesus needed a community to support him, how much more do we need our community of St. Andrew’s to support us. It is not easy having Christian values in our society today.  Seeing our fellow parishioners as role models who share our values can be instrumental to helping us live out our own faith as well.

As I took on my calling to be the pastor to this parish three years ago today, those were the two things I hoped to bring to you. In the Eucharist I can bring Jesus to you in a very special way, and I hope in my actions as well, that you will see Jesus. Secondly, I have asked you to repent, to look at your lives and to do the things of Jesus – for as Jesus himself said – “You are my disciples!” I intend to keep bringing you the ‘good’ news and I will try my best not to be like Jonah and run, but to be here and serve you in the best way I can. As we begin another church year together, I hope you will take the time to reflect on what you have been called to, not to run away from it, like Jonah, but to embrace it, and to grow in your awareness of how you can participate in bringing the reality of the kingdom of heaven to this parish, this community and this world.

And this is definitely the good news I bring to you today

Offertory:

1.      O Dios, Dawata (Koro Viannista)

2.      Uban ning Pan ug Bino (Cubillas)

3.      Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad (Arboleda, Francisco)

4.      Pag-aalay ng Puso (Nero, Que) “minsan lamang”

5.      Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda) “Teach me”

6.      One Bread, One Body (Foley)

Sanctus:

1.      Santos (Pastorela)

2.      Santos V (Villanueva)

3.      Santo, Santo, Santo (Que)

4.      Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco)

5.      Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

6.      Holy, Holy, Holy (Dufford-Schutte)

Acclamation:

1.      Si Kristo (Chord of Am)

2.      Si Kristo (Chord of E)

3.      Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

4.      Si Kristo ay Namatay (Dying)

5.      Memorial Acclamation (Marcelo-Fenomeno)

6.      When We Eat this Bread

Amen:

1.      Amen

2.      Dakilang Amen

3.      Amen (World Youth Day ’95)

4.      Amen Alleluia (Bayogos)

Pater Noster:

1.      Amahan Namo I (Set 1) chord of D

2.      Ama Namin (Marcelo)

3.      Aman Namin (Hontiveros 1)

4.      Our Father (Alipio)

Doxology:

1.      Kay Imo Man

2.      Sapagkat

3.      For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei:

1.      Kordero sa Dios IV (Chord of Dm-Bb)

2.      Agnus Dei (R. Villanueva Mass 8)

3.      Kordero ng Diyos (Cayabyab)

4.      Kordero ng Diyos (Que)

5.      Lamb of God (Folk)

Communion:

1.      Kini Maong Akong Lawas

2.      Kalig-on sa Pagtoo

3.      Natawag ko na Ikaw

4.      Ang Tawo niining kalibutan

5.      O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco)

6.      Pananatili (Miranda)

7.      Huwag Mangamba (Francisco)

8.      Hiram sa Dios (swak sa 2R)

9.      Panunumpa (Gonzales). This is not a song exclusively for weddings. This could be for holy orders, basta when the apostles are involved.

10.  God of Silence (Francisco)

11.  Lead Me Lord (De Pano)

12.  Teach My Heart

13.  Here I am Lord (Schutte)

Recessional:

1.      Ang Atong Tulubagon

2.      Kinsa?

3.      Humayo’t Ihayag (Francisco-Catalan-Go)

4.      Magpasalamat kayo sa Panginoon (Ramirez) Prioritize Stanza 2. 

5.      Life Forevermore (Ellerton, Francisco)

6.      I Will Sing forever (Francisco) “A song of forgiveness” is so 1R.

7.      Pilgrim’s Theme (Go, Francisco)

Hope, makakatulong ito and those people who always visit my blog, please, please, please, please try to leave a comment on the comment box. Thank you!!!

Suggested Mass Line-up for January 15, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Feast of Santo Niño

Isang taon na rin ang nakaraan simula ng simulan kong gumawa ng gabay ng mga kanta sa Misa. Iilan sa inyo ay masasabi kong naging kaibigan ko na rin dahil sa blog na ito. Gaya nina Ate Nini ng Trento, Agusan del Sur, Duffy Mark Cabanas ng Pampanga, Juyjuy Libang ng Davao City at ni Kuya Troy Fredrick Lim ng Cavite. Masasabi kong naging matagumpay itong apostolado ko dahil iilan sa inyo ay nag-email at nagpahayag ng pasasalamat sa ginawa kong ito. Nakatataba po ng puso iyon. Minsan ay tinatamad akong gumawa nito pero iniisip kung nag-aantay kayo sa mga post ko na siyang nagbibigay lakas sa akin para ipagpatuloy ito.

            Hindi naman lingid sa inyo ang karamdaman ko at ipinagpasalamat ko ang mga dasal na inialay n’yo sa akin gaya ni Ate Norma ng Cagayan de Oro. Salamat po. Sana nga po ay tuluyan na akong gagaling. Ipagdasal po ninyo na sana’y makaipon na ako ng halagang kinakailangan ko para sa aking Colonoscopy sa darating na Marso (kung papalarin). Maraming salamat po uli sa inyong lahat. Sana’y magkaroon pa ako ng maraming kaibigan dito,

            Heto na po ang aking mga suhestiyong kanta para sa darating na linggo… Viva! Pit Señor!

Entrance:

1.      Lungsod nga Balaan

2.      Kon Magkatigum Ta

3.      Saulogon ta Karon

4.      Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (Hontiveros)

5.      Halina at Lumapit (Habito)

6.      Magnificat (Haas)

7.      Come with Praise (Schutte)

Kyrie:

1.      O Ginoo Kaloy-I Kami (Fernandez)

2.      Ginoo Kaloy-I Kami

3.      Panginoon Maawa Ka (Francisco)

4.      Lord, Have Mercy (Francisco-Reyes)

Gloria:

1.      Himaya sa Dios (Cinches)

2.      Himaya sa Dios (Hontiveros)

3.      Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

4.      Glory to God (Francisco-Agatep)

First Reading:

Isaiah 9:1-6

Son is given 

1. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light
2. A light has dawned on those who live in the land of shadow and death.
3. For the yoke of their burden…
4. For a child is born to us.

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 97:1-6

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. 

Second Reading:

Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 Blessings in Jesus

1. Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord
2. …to be His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ
3. May the God of Christ Jesus ou Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself to you and give you a spirit of wisdom
4. May He enlightens your inner version

Alleluia:

1. Aleluya, Lamdag Ka
2. Salamat Sa Dios (Hontiveros)
3. Aleluya Kami ay Gawin Mong Daan (Francisco)
4. Thy Words
5. Seek Ye First

Gospel:

Mark 10:13-16 or Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Like a child

1. Let the children come to Me
2. The kingdom of God belong to such as these

Reflection/Homily by Fr. Jessie:

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Sto. Niňo. An image and reality of a Christian God that let him be experienced as a child to teach us a lot of things but let me share two important things to attain eternal life.

First, the Lord teaches us the value of humility.
The world around us tells us that to be great means to be wealthy, well known or popular, to be pretty, to be handsome, to receive a lot of rewards and degrees on one’s field of expertise, etc.. However, the Lord tells us of another thing. To be the greatest is to be humble like a child. To be humble like a child is a prerequisite to eternal life.

Jesus, himself exemplifies this by emptying himself of being God by becoming a man. Why? God’s way of telling our very own consciousness that humility is an important ingredient in becoming great because He is the Greatest. Another thing, humility as an integral factor of seeing the truth that lies within experiences, people and faith. A child surely will tell you who really you are. Quite and simple. Provided this child is beyond the influence of adult that somehow blurred one’s insight to accommodate compromises and malice.

Second, never despise any of these little ones.
Infants and children are symbols of innocence, defenseless, downtrodden, and the have-nots. Despising anyone is not a Christian teaching but to despise any of these little ones will be punished more. It is adding insult to injury. An old friend once told me, despised anyone but never the poor because the little integrity left from them will be taken away. Once the little they have is taken away, they are ready to salvage it whatever might be the cause. They can kill for it. It is scary, huh! This is one of the realities that I have discovered in this little parish who happens to be notorious on killings. Since my arrival, we have prayed for this. We have to be careful, on how and what we say to our fellow man. I believe some of the killings that have occurred here resulted from simple words that somehow or another insulted another person that harbor hatred on their heart.

These two important issues challenges us to deepen our spirituality and enliven our fellowship as Christians.

Jesus is asking us to be child-like not childish. We must humble ourselves not only before God but also before one another. Humility let us see clearly as the child sees the truth in each and everyone of us. We let ourselves be seen as the way God see us.

Despise has many forms.
It is sad to say that there are people who took and are taking opportunity to the defenseless and the downtrodden. Are we, a generation too corrupt to take advantage on the weakness of other men and women. Seeing people taking advantaged of those who are suffering from psychological imbalance. Fooling people knowing that they are nice.

One striking experience, I have encountered, when I went to manila before Christmas. Along the boundary of Laguna and Rizal provinces, I saw many children along the highways asking for alms. Somebody commented, “it is Christmas time, maybe some commuters might pity their situation, one peso or ten is not a burden for somebody to give away for a cause”. (This is just one of the indications of worsening economic situation of the country. I am not against giving. My whole life depends on your generosity). My heart is pumping, would like to burst in anger. Not because of the present economic situation but more on the degradation of one’s integrity initiated by those who should defend most these little ones. Simply, because the parents of these children let them near the highways while cars, jeepneys, buses and trucks passed by endangering their safety. Are we that desperate? Is there nothing left on us that let our children on the brink of physical and moral destruction. Or is this the reality most of us would like to believe? After several minutes, maybe after three towns of Rizal, I saw Barrangay Tanod (Village Police) waving their hands asking also for alms. Well, this is not the worst scenario that one might encounter in this world, but we should not despise any on these “little ones”. Lest by their own parents.

We pray for humility, we pray that we might not despise anyone especially the little ones. We pray that we might have the strength to defend this little once.

Offertory:

1. Mugna sa Dios
2. Diyutay Lang Kini
3. Unang Alay (Magnaye)
4. Paghahandog ng Sarili (Arboleda-Francisco)
5. Take our Bread (Wise)
6. Dwelling Place (Foley)

Sanctus:

1. Santos (R. Villanueva)
2. Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco-Arboleda-Torres)
3. Holy, Holy, Holy (Dufford-Schutte)

Acclamation:

1. Si Kristo atong Handumon (Cebuano version of Si Kristo ay Gunitain)
2. Si Kristo ay gunitain (Ramirez)
3. Memorial Acclamation (Marcelo-Fenomeno)

Amen:

1. Amen Pagdaygon ang Dios 
2. Amen (Francisco-Arboleda-Reyes-Torres)
3. Amen Alleluia (Bayogos)

Pater Noster:

1. Amahan Namo
2. Ama Namin (Francisco-Arboleda-Torres)
3. Our Father (Pat-Martell)

Doxology:

1. Kay Imo Man
2. Sapagkat Sa’yo ang Kaharian (Francisco-Arboleda-Torres)
3. For The Kingdom

Agnus Dei:

1. Kordero sa Dios (Pastorella version by Fr. Villanueva)
2. Kordero ng Diyos (Hontiveros)
3. Lamb of God (Folk)

Communion:

1. Ako ang  Kahayag (swak sa first reading)
2. Kini Maong Akong Lawas (Koro Viannista)
3. Hesus na Aking Kapatid (Hontiveros)
4. Halina Lumapit sa Akin (Que, Isidro)
5. Lead Me Lord (de Pano)
6. One More Gift (Francisco)

Recessional:

1. Ang Tawag
2. Tanda ng Kaharian
3. All the ends of the Earth (Dufford)

Sana’y makatulong ito sa inyo…. Hala Bira! Viva Señor Santo Niño!