Suggested Songs for November 4, 2012 Mass

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Liturgical Color: Green

“In Communion with GOD”

For the better understanding of the implementation of the New English translation of the Roman Missal, please watch this video courtesy of the Diocese of Novaliches.

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For the new guide of the Mass please click this and download this PDF format document courtesy of USCCB. Click here! For your comments and suggestions please email us at heavensmessenger99@gmail.com or text us at +639089741495 or +639167222465 J

Entrance:

1.     Mao Kini ang Paghinigugmaay

2.     Awit mga Binuhat

3.     Lungsod nga Balaan

4.     Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (Hontiveros)

5.     Purihin ang Panginoon (Isidro, Ramirez) Stanza 3 ang priority

6.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano, Francisco) 

7.     Happy Are the Ones (Schutte)

8.     My Heart’s Thanksgiving (Aquino) Stanza 2 ang priority.

First Reading                          Dt 6:2-6

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
"Fear the LORD, your God,
and keep, throughout the days of your lives,
all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you,
and thus have long life.
Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,
that you may grow and prosper the more,
in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers,
to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

Responsorial Psalm                     Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Second Reading                        Heb 7:23-28

Brothers and sisters:
The levitical priests were many
because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
but Jesus, because he remains forever,
has a priesthood that does not pass away.
Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,
but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son,
who has been made perfect forever.

Gospel                                 Mk 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
'He is One and there is no other than he.'
And 'to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself'
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflections/Homily (Nov. 4 Readings)

Our Lord Jesus said to the scribe, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." [Mk. 12:34] There was hope for this man because he understood what it meant to be in communion with God.

Good morning! I welcome all the members of the Parish and any visitors who may be present reading this now. It is always a joy to the Lord Jesus when He sees His children gathered as one body under the roof of His Home where He is present in the Most Holy Tabernacle.

Today, we should ask ourselves, "Are we in communion with God?" In order to answer that question, we must understand what it means to be in communion with the Lord God.

Starting with the First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we heard Moses giving to God's people the rules that are required to be in communion with God. Now I know that there are some who do not like rules. They think that there are too many rules in this world. There are rules that have to be followed at home, rules at work, rules at school, rules in the government, rules in sports, rules in the Church, rules everywhere. But in this case, if we value our precious Salvation, these rules are absolutely mandatory. We cannot bend these rules, nor ignore them.

To secure a perfect communion with God, Moses began his discourse by telling the people to fear the Lord God. Oops! Maybe I should not have used the word 'fear.' Some Catholics do not like to hear that we must have a fear of God. That is because they do not understand the meaning of 'love' versus 'fear.'

"God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." [1 Jn. 4:16b-19]

In other words, as we get to know God and we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit to grow in the love of God, our fear of God fades away. We come to perceive that God is good and just. He is not an abusive father who enjoys punishing His children. Now, I am not saying that He does not punish His children because at times He does because they deserve it.

On this subject, the Letter to the Hebrews states, "Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." [Heb. 12:7-11]

Therefore fear, that involves discipline, is part of the sanctifying process of the soul. When the believer has reached a higher level of holiness, the fear fades away, it being replaced with true love in Christ.

Moses continued, "Keep all the decrees and commandments so you may live a long time, observe them diligently." In other words, no bending the rules. Perseverance is necessary, right to the end.

Then, Moses commanded to remember in their hearts that God is One and that they must love God with all their hearts, with all their souls, and with all their might. This is a total consecration to God, living for God, living with God, and living through God. Nothing is done without God! Dwelling within the believers through His Holy Spirit, every thoughts, words and action of the believers must be holy as God is holy. The believers must shine in love as God is love. That is being in perfect communion with God.

Now things have changed a little bit since the days of Moses. Have any of you 'noticed' that? (If anyone says yes, he/she must be pretty old to 'notice' the change because Moses was born over 3,500 years ago.)

In the days of Moses, the people had to approach God through the priests. As we are all called to die, some of the priests died, either of old age or of illness. That meant getting another priests to intercede to God on their behalf. But now, we have Jesus as our perfect priest through His eternal priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek. [Heb. 5:6, 7:17, 21] He is able for all time to save those who approach God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

We have the best of all high priests. Jesus is holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He does not have to make sacrifices day after day for Himself and then for others as the high priests of the Old Covenant had to do. He made the perfect Sacrifice once for all when He offered Himself as the sacrificial Lamb on the Holy Cross.

To assist us in our daily spiritual growth so we may enjoy a perfect communion with God, we have Jesus, the perfect high priest, the only Mediator between God and man. [1 Tim. 2:5]

Today's Gospel Reading teaches us that the fullness of our communion with God can be achieved through two spiritual laws. First, we must "love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength." Then, we must "love our neighbour as ourselves." These are the two Commandments that summarizes all the other Commandments of God. There are no other Commandments greater than these.

These Commandments are more important than any offerings or sacrifices. If one does not have love, he has nothing. If one spends his time in prayer but cannot show love towards his neighbour, he does not have true love in him, nor does God abide in him. For God is love and those who abide in love abide in God. They care about their neighbours. They reach out to them. They support them. They encourage them to persevere.

If we obey the two Commandments of love, our daily communion with God is being perfected through Christ, with Christ and in Christ. If we obey the two Commandments of love, we are not far from the Kingdom of God.

This week, let us reflect on the status of our daily communion with God. Are we where we should be in our spiritual growth, where Jesus wants us to be for the glory of the heavenly Father? If we are, then we should persevere in the grace of God. If we are not, then we should ask the Lord Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to guide us in the right path so we may attain the holiness that God the Father seeks of all his children.

Offertory:

1.     Pagdaygon Ka Dios

2.     Ani’ang Among Halad

3.     Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios

4.     Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)

5.     Narito Ako (San Andres)

6.     Paghahandog (San Andres)

7.     Paghahandog ng Sarili (Ofrasio, Hontiveros) or (Arboleda, Francisco)

8.     Panginoon, Narito Ako (Isidro, Que)

9.     Prayer for Generosity

10.   All that I Have (Hangad Music Ministry)

Communion:

1.     Kini Maong Akong Lawas

2.     Kinabuhi Mo, Kinabuhi Ko

3.     Sud-onga Amahan

4.     Ama Kong Mahal (Aquino) 

5.     Bawat Sandali (Gan, Francisco) 

6.     Diyos ay Pag-ibig 

7.     O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco) Also a very good choice

8.     Pagtitipan (Javellana, Hontiveros)

9.     Pananalig (Borres, Francisco)

10.   Panginoon Aking Tanglaw (Ramirez)

11.   Sa ‘Yo Lamang (Borres, Gan, Francisco)

12.   Tanging Yaman (Gan, Francisco)

13.   God of Love (Schutte) 

14.   I love the Lord (Aquino) 

15.   My Soul Finds Rest (Aquino) 

16.   Prayer of St. Francis (Temple) 

17.   You Are Mine (Haas) 

Recessional:

1.     Pagbanwag

2.     Ang Tawag

3.     Tanda ng Kaharian

4.     Magpasalamat sa Kanya

5.     Thank You (Hangad)

Have a nice long weekend Pals J

Suggested Songs for October 28, 2012 Mass

 OCTOBER 28, 2012

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Prison Awareness Sunday

Liturgical Color: Green

"My teacher, let me see again."

For the better understanding of the implementation of the New English translation of the Roman Missal, please watch this video courtesy of the Diocese of Novaliches.

Please click any advertisement on our blog so that we will earn for the privatization of the domain of this site. Thank you!

For the new guide of the Mass please click this and download this PDF format document courtesy of USCCB. Click here! For your comments and suggestions please email us at heavensmessenger99@gmail.com or text us at +639089741495 or +639167222465 J

Pasensya na po at hindi ako nakagawa ng line-up of songs for Cebuano Mass at ginahol na ako sa oras sa pagpili. Naging abala lang po this past few days. Thanks to JR Medina for the songs.

Entrance:

1. Ang Puso Ko'y nagpupuri
2. Sa Hapag ng Panginoon

3. Blest Be the Lord (Schutte)
4. City of God (Schutte)
5. Come With Praise (Schutte)
6. Praise the Lord, my Soul (Foley)

First Reading                                  Jer 31:7-9

Thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exault at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.

Responsorial Psalm                             Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Second Reading                                Heb 5:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel                                         Mk 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.

Reflection/Homily (Oct. 28 Readings)

Good morning my brothers and sisters in Christ. How pleased the Lord God must be to see this beautiful gathering of His children who hunger for spiritual food that comes from the message of the Gospel.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard of the persistent blind man who said to Jesus, "My Teacher, let me see again." What does it mean to see? Is there not physical and spiritual sight? While physical sight is desirable, spiritual sight is an absolute necessity for our salvation!

During the First Reading, we heard of the small number of people who had escaped the Assyrian captivity of 721 B.C. Purified through their exile, they were the new Israel, faithful to God. Through suffering, the people humbled themselves and turned to God with sincere repentance. Originally, while they had physical sight, they were spiritually blind. But now, through the suffering of slavery, they had received spiritual sight.

In this joyful moment, the people sang aloud with gladness, displaying endless echoes of thanksgiving to God who had delivered the weak, the lame, those with children and those in labour. These were the ones who had received spiritual sight, they knowing and understanding the righteousness of the Lord that delivers salvation.

During the Second Reading, we heard that while every high priest is chosen from among mortals and appointed by God to be in charge of things that pertain to God on their behalf, they too must offer sacrifices for sins because they also are subject to human weakness. The function of a high priest is not one of self- appointment or an appointment by man. It is a calling from God, just as Aaron was called by God.

Equally, Jesus, although God in human form, did not seek glory by elevating Himself as a high priest. No, it was the Heavenly Father who appointed Him when He said to Jesus, "You are My Son, today I have begotten you." Elsewhere, He said, "You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

To understand this Bible passage, we must have spiritual sight. Like the blind man, we must pray, Jesus, "My Teacher, let me see again." And when we receive spiritual sight, we come to know and understand that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." [1 Cor. 3:19] Through worldly sight, we can appoint anyone as priests, the famous, the intelligent, the educated, those who are slim, etc... but what guarantee have we got that they will be good priests? None whatsoever! But God knows the hearts and He cannot make an error in His infinite perfection. By embracing a spiritual heart, applying our gift of spiritual sight, we can walk in harmony with the Divine Will of God and appoint priests that have been chosen by God to carry on the work of His ministry on earth. 

Spiritual sight is not limited to the appointment of priests. It applies to everyone in every actions that are performed during the day. It applies to spiritual growth to ensure that the doctrines that are learned are sound like a house that is built on a solid foundation.

Many claim to have spiritual sight, to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ through the Holy Catholic Church. And they also claim to obey them. But do they?

Do you know that the Internet can be a blessing? It brings into light the severity of how many Catholics have fallen from the truth and the grace of God, embracing errors that justify drawing the Wrath of God. In the past, while reviewing the content of some alleged Catholic websites, I have asked myself so many times, "How can they be so spiritually blind?" Let me share some of my discoveries of spiritual blindness.

1. We all know how the Church tells us to value life. Pope John-Paul II has exhausted endless efforts to put an end to the death penalty throughout the world. But, in year 2000, knowing this, a Catholic judge passed the death sentence on a man. To justify this action, the lawyer indicated that this was not a Catholic doctrine but rather the personal efforts of the Pope. 

The question here is, "Are we spiritually blind to the power of the Holy Spirit that is being manifested through the Pope who is the spiritual father of the Holy Catholic Church?" By permitting the death penalty, is this not saying that the Pope is not inspired by God in his actions?

2. Let us look at another area of spiritual blindness. How many Catholic politicians throughout the world have voted in the past in favour of abortion legislature? By doing so, are they not automatically excommunicated in accordance with the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church? And yet, why is it that we hear nothing about their excommunications? Has everyone hardened their hearts to the point that they are spiritual blind, this ensuring their silence?

3. Again in year 2000, the Archdiocese of Baltimore condemned a local locutionist who claimed that Jesus would return again as a child. Why did the thousands of Catholics have to wait for the Archdiocese to make a decision on the matter? Were they all blind to this Satanic deception? There is a large number of locutionists and "christian" movements, Catholic and non-Catholic, that are making the same claim. Have they all gone spiritually blind? 

4. Another Catholic website promotes that one only has to say "Father" once to God the Father and he will be saved. According to this website, we do not need Jesus anymore! Catholics are flocking towards this movement, promoting images of God the Father on medals, books, etc... while the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly teaches us that God the Father is neither man, nor woman. He does not have a physical form. (C.C.C. # 239) Have these Catholics also become spiritually blind?

5. And then there are those locutionists who promote the false teaching of a Second Coming of Christ to rule for a thousand years on earth. Regarding this, the Catholic Church says, "The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh." (C.C.C. # 675) Such a belief is not of God!

6. And then there are the Catholics who have misunderstood the spirit of ecumenism. Here and there, we hear of some who are promoting ecumenism as meaning that all religions are equal, just being different ways of getting to Heaven. How can we debase the Catholic Church and say that other religions are equal when they do not have the apostolic succession, nor the Sacraments, that are absolutely necessary for salvation? Have we become spiritually blind where we no longer value the Sacraments of the Catholic Church?

7. From another perspective, fallen away Catholics are joining separated brother and sisters who claim apostolic succession, some of these groups promoting mystical books that were previously banned by the Holy Catholic Church because their content opposed the teachings of the Church, endangering the faith of the believers. Have so many Catholics become spiritually blind to the extent that they will accept the writings of false mystics over the teachings of Jesus Christ that are found in the Church?

8. And then there are the Catholics who are living in adulteress affairs and who are receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist while in their state of mortal sin. Is this not blasphemy against God for willingly approaching the Sacred Altar while in a state of mortal sin?

9. And what about the spiritually blind Catholics who no longer perceive the Sacrament of Baptism as a necessity to enter the Kingdom of God. These parents no longer have their children baptized because they do not feel it is important.

My brothers and sisters, I can go on and on about the spiritual battle that is taking place in this world between God and Satan. The fruits of Satan are abundant, touching every parish around the world. The saddest part of it all is not the fact that some have become spiritually blind by living in sin, but the fact that those who are supposed to enjoy spiritual sight, in reality, are spiritually blind by the fact that they have closed their eyes to these sins as if they did not exist.

When one has spiritual sight, he speaks up against the evils of the world, the falsehoods that are infiltrating the Church. Concerned with the salvation of all his brothers and sisters, he points out the errors that oppose Catholic teachings. And he does not run after false teachings because of supernatural manifestations that surround them, nor read material associated with false teachings. Why? Because such material corrupts the soul, places doubts in the mind and finally corrupts the heart of the individual.

This week, we should all access our status in the eyes of the Church. Are we all living as faithful Catholics should be living. Or are we embracing false teachings that endanger our faith? Do we have spiritual sight or are we spiritually blind?

I pray that today's Word of God will touch the heart of those who have been spiritually blind so they will find the strength in Christ to walk away from what destroys the faith. And I ask all my brothers and sisters in Christ to join their prayers with mine this week for the grace of God to shine on those in need so their eyes may be opened and remain opened.

Offertory:

1. Ang Tanging Alay Ko
2. Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)
3. Narito Ako (San Andres)
4. Unang Alay (Magnaye) 

5. Earthen Vessels (Foley) 
6. Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda) 
7. Dwelling Place (Foley)
8. To Be Your Bread (Haas)

Communion:

1. Awit ng Paghahangad (Cenzon)
2. Awit ng Paghilom (Aquino) Best choice.
3. Bawat Sandali (Gan, Francisco) 
4. Kahanga-hanga (Corpuz, Hontiveros)
5. Manalig Ka (Perez)
6. Manatili Ka (Francisco)
7. O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco) Also a very good choice
8. Panginoon Aking Tanglaw (Ramirez)
9. Sa Diyos Lamang Mapapanatag (Isidro, Que)

10. Come to Me (Francisco) 
11. Come to Me All Who Are Weary (Shutte)
12. Empty Space (Go, Francisco)
13. In Him Alone (Francisco)
14. Lead Me, Lord (De Pano)
15. The Cry of the Poor (Foley)
16. You Are Mine (Haas) 
17. Your Heart Today (Francisco) 

Recessional:

1. Aba, Ginoong Maria
2. Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo
3. Ave, Maria
4. Awit ng Pasasalamat (Hontiveros)
5. Magpasalamat Kayo sa Panginoon (Ramirez) Stanza 2 ang priority.
6. Mapapalad (Ramirez)

7. Dear Lady of Fatima
8. Immaculate Mother
9. Hail Mary
10. Ave Maria 
11. All My Days (Schutte, Murray)
12. I Will Sing Forever (Francisco)
13. My Heart’s Thanksgiving (Aquino)

Have a blessed weekend everyone… See you later Cebu J

Suggested Songs for October 21, 2012 Mass

October 21, 2012

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

Liturgical Color : Green

“Let us hold fast to our confession”

For the better understanding of the implementation of the New English translation of the Roman Missal, please watch this video courtesy of the Diocese of Novaliches.

Please click any advertisement on our blog so that we will earn for the privatization of the domain of this site. Thank you!

For the new guide of the Mass please click this and download this PDF format document courtesy of USCCB. Click here! For your comments and suggestions please email us at heavensmessenger99@gmail.com or text us at +639089741495 or +639167222465 J

Entrance…

1.      Awit mga Binuhat, swak kaayo sa Tema karon nga Dominggo nga mao ang pagpangalagad ug panerbisyo

2.     Pag-inambitay

3.     Ang Puso Ko’y Nagpupuri (Hontiveros) Use Stanza 5.

4.     Bayan, Magsiawit Na! (Aquino) Use Stanza 2. 

5.     Buklod ng Pag-ibig (Pangilinan, Hontiveros) 

6.     Dinggin Mo (Esteban, Hontiveros) 

7.     Magnificat (Haas)

8.     As We Gather )Faye-Coomes)

First Reading                               Is 53:10-11

The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial Psalm                         Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading                            Heb 4:14-16

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel                                      Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Or Mk 10:42-45

Jesus summoned the Twelve and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflections/Homily (Oct. 21 Readings)

My brothers and sisters, through Jesus Christ, the true high priest, God's Throne has become the Throne of grace. So let us hold fast to our confession that Jesus Christ, our Lord, "being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on the cross" [Phil. 3:7-8] so we may receive the mercy of God and be freely justified through the Sacred Blood.

So detestable are the sins of the world to the eyes and Divine Presence of God that they demanded nothing less than a perfect sacrifice to atone for them. "For our sake [the Heavenly Father] made [Jesus] to be sin, [He] who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Cor. 5:21] Struck down and afflicted by God, Jesus bore our iniquities and carried our diseases, being made "the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." [1 Jn. 2:2]

Yes my brothers and sisters, the horrible sufferings that were inflicted upon Jesus from the moment of His arrest until His death on the Holy Cross, He accepted them willingly for you, for me, for each and everyone of us, so that we may qualify to inherit the Kingdom of God.

On August 14, 1941, Saint Maximilian Kolbe died of starvation in the place of a young father so that he may live. We view this act of self-sacrifice as extremely beautiful Christian love. But what did the young father gain from it? He gained the normal life span of a human being on earth. What Jesus has done for each and everyone of us far surpasses what St. Maximilian has done for the young man. Through Jesus, we are not gaining the normal life span of a human being on earth, but eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Through the atoning Blood of Christ, the Heavenly Father will no longer remember our sins. [Is. 43:25; Ezek. 33:16]

If only sinners could perceive that "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." [Lk. 15:7]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we sometimes ask ourselves, why does Jesus not answer prayers. We pray but we do not go to Church. We pray but we do not confess our sins. We pray but we do not receive the Living Bread in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Not being in a state of grace, nor having the life of Christ in us, "We [should] know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will." [Jn. 9:31] Do we want our prayers answered? Do we want to be abundantly blessed by God? Then let us humbly submit ourselves to His Divine Will in servitude and obedience.

Christ who was truly God, was also truly Man, being born of the Virgin Mary. As a Man who never sinned, He endured the human nature and knows what we are enduring in this world, sympathizing with our weaknesses. As we are tempted, He also was tempted. [Mt. 4:1-11; Lk. 22:28]

Having overcome the world, He has been exalted before the heavenly Father to become our Mediator [1 Tim. 2:5] and our great high priest who intercedes before the heavenly Father on our behalf. Through Him, with Him and in Him, let us hold fast to our confession that He is our One and only true Lord. Let us turn to Him for Divine grace and mercy to overcome our human weaknesses.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard how John and James upset the other disciples when they asked Jesus for the honour of sitting at the right and left side of His heavenly Throne. Teaching them to be spiritually minded, Jesus told the disciples, to become great, they be as servants; to be first, they must be a slave to all. Jesus Himself did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. His example of perfect love is our example.

Allow me a few moments to tell you a short story of true love versus false love. A few years ago, in one of the major Western cities of Canada, there was an organization that collected clothing for the needy. The clothing was sold for pennies as a token of goodwill, such helping to pay a portion of the rent for the facility. The workers of this organization had the opportunity of experiencing the grace of God at work, seeing how hundreds and hundreds of christians supported the cause by generously donating clothing that helped those who lived on the street, the unwed mothers who needed baby clothing, the large families, the low- income families, etc... Many of the supporters, wishing to remain anonymous, left their bags of donated clothing at the door during the night. God only knows who these generous people were!

But, every now and then, someone would telephone and ask for a donation to be picked up. This required a volunteer to use his own time and pocket money to pay for the gas to pick up the goods. On one occasion, the bags of clothing were picked up only to discover that while they contained brand new men's shirts, the lady of the house had decided to cut off all the buttons, including the cotton around the thread that held the buttons. In other words, the shirts had become useless. And then there were those who had left their bags sitting in a damp corner of the basement or in their garages for months, the bags now being filled with bugs and moldy clothing.

In this kind of volunteer work as in many other worthwhile charities, it is easy to see who will be first and who will be last. It is easy to see who is serving others and who are serving themselves.

God did not write the rules for every circumstance. But He gave us a heart and He wrote His laws on it. He gave us faith so we can live by it and logic to ensure that our faith is sound. If we hardened our hearts, we cannot confess our faith. If we hardened our hearts, we cannot hear the Spirit of Christ whispering the laws of God within us. If we hardened our hearts, our logic becomes irrational. Our thoughts, our words and our actions become irrational.

This week, let us reflects upon our thoughts, our words and our actions. Are they confessing the Lord Jesus Christ in all things? Are we being thankful to the Lord Jesus for what He has done for us, giving up His life so we may inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of God? Are we servants and slaves to all so that at the end of our pilgrimage on earth, we will be worthy of being elevated in the Kingdom of God as a star that shines forever?

Offertory…

1.     Ginoo, Ania Ako

2.     Ania O Dios

3.     Aniang Among Halad

4.     Ania Ki’ng mga Gasa

5.     Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)

6.     Paghahandog (San Andres)

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

8.     Panginoon, Narito Ako (Isidro, Que)

9.     Earthen Vessels (Foley) 

10.   Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda) 

11.   We Offer Our Lives

12.   All That I Have (Hangad)

Communion…

1.     Misyon sa Tawo, best choice for the celebration

2.     Ang Pag-alagad

3.     Pagtitipan (Javellana, Hontiveros) Best choice. 

4.     Bawat Sandali (Gan, Francisco) 

5.     Narito Ako (San Andres) 

6.     Panunumpa (Gonzales)

7.     Tungo Sa’yo (Hangad Music Ministry)

8.     Prayer of Rupert Mayer (Francisco) 

9.     Prayer of Saint Francis (Temple) 

10.   Your Heart Today (Francisco) 

Recessional…

1.     Ang Tawag

2.     Ang Atong Tulubagon

3.     Bisan unsa nga kanta para kang Maria

4.     Aba, Ginoong Maria

5.     Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo

6.     Ave, Maria

7.     Dear Lady of Fatima

8.     Immaculate Mother

9.     Hail Mary

10.   Ave Maria

Have a happy weekend everyone J