March 7, 2021
3rd Sunday
of Lent
Short Catechesis
1. The word Lent means spring. It is from the
Old English ‘lencten’ which means spring. It used to describe the lengthening
of days that marks the coming of spring. Di ba kapag winter, medyo mahaba ang
gabi, at maikli ang day. The original period of Lent was 40 hours. People back
then spent the time fasting to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ, and
the “40 hours” He spent in the tomb. In the early 3rd century, Lent was
lengthened to 6 days. About 800 AD, it was changed to 40 days.
2. Now it is a 40-day long season of preparation
before Easter. Because Jesus Christ rose on a Sunday, Sundays in Lent should
therefore not be counted. Lent is a reminder of the 40 days and 40 nights of
Jesus’ fasting in the desert. It is a great spiritual retreat lasting 40 days.
It is an extraordinary time of repentance and reconciliation. It is an
opportune time to turn away from sin, and turn toward the Lord Jesus. It is a
call to conversion.
3. Conversion involves a new discovery of God.
Conversion is an intimate encounter with God Himself.
4. The key penitential practices of Lent involve
increased prayer, increased almsgiving, increased fasting, and increased
self-denial.
a. Ang panalangin ang tapat at matiyagang
pagsisikap ng ating sarili na makipag-ugnay sa Panginoon.
b. Almsgiving represents a specific way to
assist those in need. It is an exercise to free us from attachment to worldly
goods. We can apply this concretely through doing the corporal works of mercy:
feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the
homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.
c. Fasting detoxifies us from the pollution of
sin and evil. We are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and are
encouraged to fast on Fridays of Lent. (In fact, some even eat mongo only on
Fridays, even if it’s not Lent.) But the heart of the precept involves fasting
from sin and from “luxuries”. Baka pwedeng mag-fasting tayo sa pakikipag-away
sa mga taga-ibang choir, o taga-ibang ministry, or tsismisan tungkol sa kanila.
d. Self-denial means giving up things this Lent.
Palagi akong may line-up sa mga estudyante ko about things that they can
sacrifice during Lent: Internet, social networking sites like FaceBook,
Twitter, coffee, alcoholic drinks, television, chocolate, soda,
swearing/cussing, smoking, sugar, porn, red meat, fast food, beer, sweets,
French fries, Starbucks, cookies, ice cream, shopping, nagging,
rumor-mongering, gambling, bacon, lying, teasing fellow classmates, fighting
with others, being disrespectful to their parents or teachers, texting, DOTA,
Internet gaming, designer clothes and bags, the latest gadgets, etc. I explain
to them that sacrifices help each of us to be spiritually mindful that our Lord
suffered and died for our sins.
5. Walang Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Holy Thursday
na ulit maririnig ang Gloria. Magfafasting tayo from the mirth of the angels
when they sang Glory to God in the highest.
6. Walang Alleluia.
7. Walang flowers sa altar.
8. Turn down the volume. Minimize the musical
instruments to be used. Musical instruments during Lent should give only the
bare minimum, or just the necessary support to the singing. Sustenance lang.
Baka nga mas maganda pa ang kalabasan kung mag-a capella tayo. Kailangan
maramdaman and ma-realize ng mga taong assembled that this season is very
distinct from other liturgical seasons, most especially Easter, and one way of
doing that is ibang style ng ating pagiging liturgical music leader.
9. Instrumental solos are bawal kapag Lent. When
movement of people ends (such as in the processional songs in entrance,
preparation of the gifts, communion), immediately find an ending for the
processional song. Halimbawa, sa communion, wala na namang taong nakapila para
tumanggap ng communion. Huwag nang kumanta. Find an end. Tumahimik. Give the
congregation an opportunity for silent reflection. Yung ibang parishes nga,
tinitigil talaga yung kanta, no matter what part they are in, when movement of
people ceases. Huwag nang maglagay ng 2nd communion song. People should be made
aware to reflect so they won’t chit-chat. Silence is far better during the
season of Lent.
10. During service songs, if you can apply these
to the tune of pasyon, the congregation will surely notice, and thereby realize
that this is a distinct season altogether. For example, if you can sing si
Kristo ay namatay into the tune of pasyon...ginawa yan minsan sa parish. Also,
you're encouraging enculturation.
SONG LINE-UP SUGGESTIONS:
Entrance:
1.
Tun-I
Kami Ginoo
2.
Himaya
ug Pagdayeg
3.
Ang
Tawag N’ya (Ofrasio, Hontiveros)
4.
Buksan
ang Aming Puso (Tinio, Hontiveros)Dinggin Mo (Esteban, Hontiveros)
5.
Minamahal
Mo ang Lahat (Reginio)
6.
Pagbabalik-loob
(Ofrasio, Hontiveros)
7.
Pagbabalik-loob
(Macalinao, Hontiveros)
8.
Panginoon
ay Dinggin (Bautista)
9.
Bless
the Lord, My Soul (Berthier)
10.
God
of Mercy and Compassion (Vaughn)
11.
Hosea
(Norbet)
12.
Save
Us, O Lord (Dufford)
13.
Way
of the Cross (Francisco). Prioritize Stanzas 2, 5, and 13.
First Reading Ex 20:1-17
In those days, God
delivered all these commandments:
“I, the LORD, am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishment for their fathers’ wickedness
on the children of those who hate me,
down to the third and fourth generation;
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not take the
name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
the one who takes his name in vain.
“Remember to keep holy
the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
or your male or female slave, or your beast,
or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and
your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him.”
OR:
In those days, God
delivered all these commandments:
“I, the LORD am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
“You shall not take the
name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
the one who takes his name in vain.
“Remember to keep holy
the sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the Lord, your God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him.”
Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (John 6:68c)
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The
law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
Second Reading 1 Cor 1:22-25
Brothers and sisters:
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Verse Before the Gospel Jn 3:16
God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
Gospel Acclamation:
1. Ang
mga Pulong mo
2. Pagdayeg
Alang Kanimo
3. Alalahanin
mo Panginoon
4. Wika
Mo
5. Glory
and Praise
6. Words
of Life
Gospel Jn 2:13-25
Since the Passover of
the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
“Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
“What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews said,
“This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?”
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
While he was in
Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
many began to believe in his name
when they saw the signs he was doing.
But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well.
Offertory
1. O Dios
Dawata (Koro Viannista)
2. Kini
Mao Akong Lawas
3.
Kung
‘Yong Nanaisin (Francisco) Alay-Kapwa (Tinio, Hontiveros)
4.
Nang
Buo Kong Buhay (Alejo, Hontiveros)
5.
Pag-aalay
(Pangilinan, Hontiveros)
6.
Sumasamba,
Sumasamo (Dionisio)
7.
Sumasamo
Kami Sa ‘Yo (Judan)
8.
Prayer
of Rupert Mayer (Francisco)
9.
Take
Our Bread (Wise) Stanza 2 ang priority. "Your blood"
10.
To
Be Your Bread (Haas) Stanza 3 ang priority. Best choice.
11.
To
You, O Lord (Haugen)
Do not sing Dakilang
Amen (Francisco).
Communion
1.
Misyon
sa Tawo
2.
Ang
Atong Tulubagon
3.
Ang
Tawo Niining kalibutan
4.
Krus
Kaluwasan
5.
Ama,
Kaawaan Ako (Isidro, Ramirez)
6.
Ang
Biyaya ng Diyos (Judan, Hontiveros)
7.
Ang
Kaluluwa Ko’y Nauuhaw (Isidro, Que) Best choice.
8.
Awit
ng Paghahangad (Cenzon) “Nauuhaw akong”
9.
Dunong
ng Puso (Labendia, Villaroman)
10.
Hesus
na Hain ng Diyos (Tinio, Hontiveros)
11.
Huwag
Mabalisa (Aquino)
12.
Likhain
Mong Muli (Alejo, Hontiveros, Francisco)
13.
Pag-ibig
Ko (Cenzon)
14.
Pag-ibig,
Patawad (Valcos)
15.
Pananalig
(Borres, Francisco)
16.
Sa
Piling Mo (Borres, Que)
17.
Sa
Iyong Mga Yapak (Cerino, Samuel)
18.
Saan
Kami Tutungo (Macalinao, Hontiveros)
19.
Anima
Christi (Arboleda) “Water from the side of Christ”
20.
Change
Our Hearts (Coney)
21.
Deep
Within (Haas)
22.
Eat
This Bread (Berthier)
23.
Empty
Space (Go & Francisco)
24.
Father,
Mercy (Dufford)
25.
God
of Silence (Francisco)
26.
I
Seek You For I Thirst (Valdellon) Best choice.
27.
Lord
Jesus, Sun of Righteousness (Consolacion)
28.
Only
This I Want (Schutte)
29.
Turn
to Me (Foley)
Recessional
1.
Asin
ug Kahayag
2.
Kinsa?
3.
Ang
Tawag ng Panahon (Tinio, Hontiveros)
4.
Pagkatao
(Hontiveros)
5.
Pinapawi
Mo Ang Tao (Reginoo)
6.
Time
to Change
