Suggested Mass Line-Up for December 4, 2011 Mass (2nd Sunday of Advent)

December 4, 2011
Second Sunday of Advent Year-B
Liturgical Color: Purple

Hi before you continue to read the content below, I just wanted to know who are you or those people who visited my blog. It's been almost a year now that I post suggested line-up of songs of mass and I keep on wondering who are you guys and where you from... Would you mind to give time to post and introduce yourself at the comment link below or just click the follow button at the right side of the blog so that I will directly the content of this blog weekly to your email... I'm curious and I hope you will cooperate.... Thank you :)

We are in the season of Advent, the season of waiting and hoping, waiting and hoping for God, waiting and hoping for the Second Coming of Jesus. As much as we are waiting and hoping for God, can you imagine how much more God is waiting and hoping for each of us, waiting and hoping that we will turn to him during this season of grace, Advent? We have heard so often of God’s love. Do you ever think about God’s love searching for you, longing for you, wanting no hindrance or obstacle between you and him? Mmmm... Come and think of it...

Entrance:

1.      Andama ang Dalan, which is swak sa gospel

2.      Umanhi ka Mesiyas

3.      Balang Araw (Borres, Francisco)
Suggestion ko lang ‘toh; anyone can very well disagree: Palitan yung ‘Narito na’ng Manunubos, luwalhatiin ang Diyos!’ into ‘Darating na’ng Manunubos, luwalhatiin ang Diyos!’ (JR Medina)

4.      Purihin ang Panginoon. (Prioritize 3rd Stanza: “...Kaya’y Panginoo’y dinggin; ang landas Niya’y tahakin..”)

5.      All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford). Change all “has come” to will come.(JR Medina)

6.      Seek the Lord (especially Stanza 1) (O’Connor) 
Advent is not only about anticipation for the Christ’s first coming. It is also about preparedness for the Second Coming. (Traces of 32nd and 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time.)(JR Medina)

Kyrie:

1. Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo
2. Maawa Ka (Francisco-Reyes)
3. As We Prepare

For Advent, there should no Gloria. Omit Gloria.

First Reading:

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

The prophet Isaiah speaks to someone tasked to comfort Israel, to save Jerusalem, because their sins have been expiated, for the Lord is coming. A voice cries out in the desert, crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed. 

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12,13-14

 Lord, let us see Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation. 

Second Reading:

2 Peter 3:8-14

In the 2nd Letter of Peter, we are asked to conduct ourselves in holiness and devotion, to be without spot or blemish, because the Lord does not delay in His promise; it’s just that for the Lord one day is worth a thousand years, and a thousand years, a day. The day of the Lord was compared to a thief who comes suddenly; the heavens will pass away, and the earth will be found out. We await the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

Alleluia:

1. Ang Ginoo, Among Kahayag (D12)
2. Aleluya! Ang Pulong Mo (D9)
3. I just want to mention that this is a very good Sunday to sing the Alleluia that runs: Aleluya! Aleluya! Kami ay gawin Mong daan ng Iyong pag-ibig, kapayapaan, at katarungan. Aleluya! (Reinforces G No. 3: Make straight His path; make us the path) 
   
4. Alleluya (Francisco-Arboleda-Reyes)

Lighting of the 2nd Candle in the Advent Wreath: 
1. Hailina, O Jesus (Isidro/Que). 
2. Halina, Hesus (Javellana, Hontiveros)

Gospel:

Mark 1:1-8

Enumerate ko na lang yung mga consequential lines sa Gospel na ito; ang dami kasi eh.
1. Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of you. 
2. He will prepare Your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert
3. “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths”
4. John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 
5. One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. 
6. I have baptized you with water...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Important Ideas: Preparing the way, making the path straight, waiting, welcoming the coming One, Baptism

BTW I think instrumental solos are bawal kapag advent. A little moderation and be subdued po.

The line-up during 1st and 2nd Sundays of Advent would pretty much 90% similar; sa 2nd Sunday, ideal lang mag-add ng some song about John the Baptist and making straight the way, the path. (JR Medina)

PERSONAL REFLECTION:

Adam and Eve were hiding in the garden after eating the apple so God went searching for them? Let us listen to an excerpt of the 1996 Advent Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Desmond Connell of Dublin (then Archbishop),

“Adam and Eve are nowhere to be seen. They have gone into hiding after doing what he told them they were not to do. They have lost themselves in the shadows. How strange this seems. Do we not sometimes complain that God is hiding from us? That he is nowhere to be seen? If our hearts had not known the burden of sin we would never have wanted to hide: we would be out in the open and ready to walk with God. And then God asks a question: ‘Where are you?’ He is the one who begins the search. Does this not seem strange as well? We think of ourselves as searching for God and forget that it is he who is searching for us. Why should he bother to do so? Simply because he loves us. He has been searching in every century - throughout Old Testament times until he came at last with a human heart that could suffer for want of our love. ”

“[Jesus] invites us to come out of hiding and to walk with him: his suffering has earned us forgiveness of sin. “Where are you?” It is the question we may be asking ourselves as the dark side of the society we are shaping is making us fearful. Where are we indeed? Have we ignored God’s word on the difference between good and evil…? Are we willing to come out of the dark place in which we are losing ourselves?”

We can see this intimacy that God wants between him and us in the first reading today,

He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes. (Isa 40:11)

Imagine being held in the arms of God and leaning against his breast! This is the intimacy God wants between you and him. So during this season of Advent, let us ask ourselves is there anything keeping us and God apart? Is any sin of any kind in our lives keeping us separated from God? During this season of waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus, can we also look into our hearts and turn from sin to God asking forgiveness? You may say you have no sins and when you go to Confession you have to make up sins to tell the priest. Are you really that holy? There were only two people on this earth who had no sin, Jesus and Our Lady. If you say you have no sin are we expected to think that you are Jesus or Our Lady? If we say we have no sin do we not mean that we have allowed our consciences to go dead so that now we sin but are not even aware of it?

In the first reading we heard a beautiful prophecy about God liberating the Jews from captivity in Babylon,

“Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God
Across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in,
Every mountain and hill be laid low,
Let every cliff become a plain,
And the ridges a valley;
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” (Isa 40:3-5)

That prophecy has great meaning when we apply it to our own hearts. It is in our own hearts that we need to prepare a way for the Lord. It is in our hearts that we need to make a straight highway for God. It is the valleys of sin in our own hearts that are to be filled with God’s mercy and healing, and the mountains and hills of pride in our own hearts that are to become low. God is searching for us and wants to hold us against his breast.

The second reading today gives us a warning. God is patient with us now in order to give us time to repent but the time for repentance will not last. 

The Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises...rather is he being patient with you, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to repentance. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then with a roar the sky will vanish, the elements will catch fire and melt away, the earth and all that it contains will be burned up. Since everything is coming to an end like this, what holy and saintly lives you should be living while you wait for the Day of God to come, and try to hasten its coming...So then, my dear friends, while you are waiting, do your best to live blameless and unsullied lives so that he will find you at peace. (2 Pet 3:9-12,14 NAB)

We are living now in this time of mercy when we have an opportunity to repent. Let us receive as much grace as we can from God during this time of Advent. The Lord has no limits to what he wants to give us, it is we who put limits on what he wants to give us. The Lord is waiting to receive you in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to take you in his arms and hold you close to his breast. Let us pray as much as we can during this season of Advent. During this season of Advent we think in a special way of Our Lady, pregnant with Jesus. Pray to her and ask her to help you prepare your heart for Jesus. So during Advent, as well as other types of prayer I recommend the Rosary to you in a special way.

Christmas will lack its full meaning if we do not prepare in our own hearts a way for the Lord. It is in our hearts that we need to make a straight highway for God. It is the valleys of sin in our own hearts that are to be filled with God’s mercy and healing, and the mountains and hills of pride in our own hearts that are to become low.

“Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God
Across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in,
Every mountain and hill be laid low,
Let every cliff become a plain,
And the ridges a valley;
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” (Isa 40:3-5)

God is searching for us and wants to hold us against his breast.

He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes. (Isa 40:11)

 Will you allow him to pick you up and hold you?

Offertory:

1. Gasa sa Gugma (Koro Viannista) good choice
2. Daygon Ikaw, Ginoong Dios
3. Gasa Namo Kanimo
4. Pag-aalay ng Puso (Minsan Lamang) (Nemy & Que) as advent (at least the earlier part) has an eschatological notion. Traces of 32nd and 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time yata ito. (JR Medina)
5. Unang Alay (best choice)
   We can instantly make this song have an Adventish notion: The last line originally runs: “...Ngayo’y nananalig, nagmamahal sa ‘Yo.” Sing instead, “Ngayo’y umaasa, naghihintay sa ‘Yo.” You then reinforce the message re: anticipation.
   Now if your choir sings the Koda, you deliver one solid message if you sing: “Ngayo’y nananalig (umaawit), dumudulog (sumasamba), umaasa (naghihintay) sa ‘Yo.” 
   I will be so excommunicated by Fr. Rey Magnaye. (JR Medina)
6. Dwelling Place (“May Christ find a dwelling place in our hearts”) (Foley)
7. Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda)

Sanctus:

1.      Santos (Mass III 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’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

3.      Memorial Acclamation (Marcelo-Fenomeno)

Amen:

1.      Amen Pagdaygon ang Dios

2.      Dakilang Amen (Francisco)

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-Torress)

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.      Panahon na Karon sa Pagbag-o, literally Christians repent during Advent and Lent season. So this is a good choice

2.      O Dios, Ikaw Haduol

3.      Andani, Pag-andam sa Ani, the main keyword is Pag-andam. For his coming we should prepare.

4.      Ginoo, Sayud Ka sa Tanan (Ad-7)

5.      Awit ng Paghilom. (I’d like to believe and comment that Stanza 2’s “sa daang matuwid” calls to mind G No. 3. Ganunpaman, I acknowledge that many people would say that this is a song more apprpri8 for the liturgical season of Lent.) Tsaka “Hanap-hanap Ka ng puso”

6.      Liwanag ng Aming Puso: Lentish but (“...sa amin manahan Ka...”) 

7.      O Halina, O Hesus (Isidro & Que)

8.      Panginoon Masdan Mo (Isidro & Que)

9.      Hiram sa Diyos. The first two weeks of Advent are very eschatological.

10.  Pananatili (“yayakapain ang landasin...Mo” is again terno sa G No. 3)

11.  Panginoon Aking Tanglaw (Ramirez)

12.  Panginoon, hanggang kailan? (Isidro, Ramirez)

13.  Panginoon Masdan Mo (Isidro & Que)

14.   Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) Sing stanza 1 repeatedly.

15.   Patience People (Foley) 

16.  The Face of God (Francisco)

17.  Let the Valleys be Raised (Schutte)

18.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

19.  The King of Glory (Jabusch)

20.  Empty Space (Foley) “So You may one day see my face” pero some consider this for the Sacred Heart mas apt. Bagaman mas nauugnay ito sa Kabanal-banalang Puso, this is taking it one step further: If we are anticipative and waiting so much, we might as well wait for the right One. Besides, this song could even help in increasing the longing. My own opinion lang ang last sentence; I’d love it if you’d disagree para natu3 tayo lahat thru exchange of reasonable reasons. ??Ang panget ng English ko, but you get what I mean.

21.   In Him Alone

22.  God of Silence (Francisco)

23.  Holy Darkness “As we await You” pero some consider this for the Easter Vigil mas apt.

24.  Hosea (Norbet) Lentish mas kilala, pero if you consider its links to eschatology...

25.  Love is the answer (Hannisian)

26.  One Thing I Ask (Tirol)

27.  This Alone (Manion)

28.  We Remember (Haugen)

29.  Turn to Me

30.  Breath of God: On the one hand, the Holy Spirit was indeed both in 1R and G No. 7. Besides, not too many people would outrightly consider this song as exclusively for Pentecost. 
However, I don’t think that this song should be used indiscriminately for all the Sundays of Advent; cguro 2nd Sunday of Advent lang, kasi the Holy Spirit is indeed the love of God the Father for the Son, and of the Son for the Father, i.e., the love that transpires between them: When the Father sees the Son Whom He loves so much, Siya ay napadidighay, at ang nadidighay is the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the breath of God, the breath of love, “hininga ng pag-ibig.” (But take note that this does not happen in the time continuum, for the Godhead is not immersed in a time line.) Pero palayo na ito sa thread. My more important point is this: I believe that Breath of God does not deliver the appropriate message on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of Advent.

Recessional:

1.      Pagpangatagak na Yamog

2.      Bayan magsiawit na (Aquino)

3.      Tanda ng Kaharian ng Diyos (Morano & Francisco)

4.      Halina, Jesus, aming Mananakop (Isidro, Que) 

5.      A Time Will Come for Singing (Schutte) 

6.      Wait for the Lord

7.      Life Forever More (Ellerton & Francisco)

8.      The Lord is my Light. Prioritize Stanza 2: “Your face, Lord, I seek.”

Hope this will help…Have a nice weekend everyone J

Suggested Mass Line-Up for November 27, 2011 (1st Sunday of Advent)

November 27, 2011

1st Sunday of Advent in Year B

Liturgical Color: Purple

Hi before you continue to read the content below, I just wanted to know who are you or those people who visited my blog. It's been almost a year now that I post suggested line-up of songs of mass and I keep on wondering who are you guys and where you from... Would you mind to give time to post and introduce yourself at the comment link below or just click the follow button at the right side of the blog so that I will directly the content of this blog weekly to your email... I'm curious and I hope you will cooperate.... Thank you :)


WHAT IS ADVENT?

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1.

The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday from November 27 to December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return.

Advent wreaths are used to mark the passage of the season

The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as savior and to his second coming as judge, special readings are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent.

The usual liturgical colour in Western Christianity for Advent is purple or blue. The purple colour is often used for hangings around the church, on the vestments of the clergy, and often also the tabernacle. On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, rose may be used instead, referencing the rose used on Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent. In some Christian denominations, blue, a colour representing hopefulness is an alternative liturgical colour for Advent, a custom traced to the usage of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and the medieval Sarum Rite in England. In addition, the colour blue is also used in the Mozarabic Rite (Catholic and Anglican), which dates to the eighth century. This colour is often referred to as "Sarum blue". The Lutheran Book of Worship lists blue as the preferred colour for Advent while the Methodist Book of Worship identifies purple or blue as being appropriate for Advent. There has been an increasing trend to supplant purple with blue during Advent as it is an hopeful season of preparation that anticipates both Bethlehem and the consummation of history in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Proponents of this new liturgical trend argue that purple is traditionally associated with solemnity and somberness, which is fitting to the repentant character of Lent. During the Nativity Fast, red is used among the denominations of Eastern Christianity, although gold is an alternative colour.

In Advent, the Advent Prose, an antiphonal plainsong, may be sung. The "Late Advent Weekdays", December 17–24, mark the singing of the Great Advent 'O antiphons'. These are the antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers, or Evening Prayer (in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches) and Evensong in Anglican churches each day and mark the forthcoming birth of the Messiah. They form the basis for each verse of the popular Advent hymn, "O come, O come, Emmanuel".

From the 4th century the season was kept as a period of fasting as strict as that of Lent(commencing in some localities on 11 November; this being the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, the fast became known as "St. Martin's Lent", "St. Martin's Fast" or the "forty days of St. Martin"). The feast day was in many countries a time of frolic and heavy eating, since the 40-day fast began the next day. In the Anglican and Lutheran churches this fasting rule was later relaxed, with the Roman Catholic Church doing likewise later, but still keeping Advent as a season of penitence. In addition to fasting, dancing and similar festivities were forbidden in these traditions. The third Sunday in Advent was a Rose Sunday, when the color of the vestments was changed and a relaxation of the fast was permitted. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches still hold the tradition of fasting for 40 days before the Nativity Feast.

In many countries Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. In England, especially in the northern counties, there was a custom (now extinct) for poor women to carry around the "Advent images", two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny coin was expected from everyone to whom these were exhibited and bad luck was thought to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at the latest.

In Normandy, farmers employed children under twelve to run through the fields and orchards armed with torches, setting fire to bundles of straw, and thus it is believed driving out such vermin as are likely to damage the crops. In Italy, among other Advent celebrations, is the entry into Rome in the last days of Advent of the Calabrian pifferari, or bagpipe players, who play before the shrines of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Italian tradition being that the shepherds played these pipes when they came to the manger at Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus.

In recent times the commonest observance of Advent outside church circles has been the keeping of an advent calendar or advent candle, with one door being opened in the calendar, or one section of the candle being burned, on each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.

End of the liturgical year

In Anglican churches the Sunday before Advent is sometimes nicknamed Stir-up Sunday after the opening lines of the Book of Common Prayer collect for that day. In the Roman Catholic Church since 1969, and in most Anglican churches since at least 2000, the final Sunday of the liturgical year before Advent has been celebrated as the Feast of Christ the King. This feast is now also widely observed in many Protestant churches, sometimes as the Reign of Christ. In consequence, the collect for the first Sunday of Advent in the Episcopal Church USA is no longer "stir up". Since the 1979 revision of the Book of Common Prayer that collect is read on the third Sunday of the season.

Entrance:

1. Ayaw Paglangan Ginoo
2. Andama Ang Dalan
3. Bayan magsiawit na (Song #33)
   Advent is about, among others, anticipation for Christ’s coming. Naturally being repetitive, this song’s refrain would have an adventish touch and begin very strongly that mission to arouse the congregation’s anticipation for the coming JC when one sings: “Dakilang biyayang pangako Niya sisilay na” rather than “sumilay” na. Kung baga ang lakas ng pasok/dating nito. Parang the film outfit would be creating a teaser dahel may ilo-launch na big budget film! Most sincere apologies po to Father Arnel if binastardo ko yung song niya.
4. Halina, Jesus, aming Mananakop (Isidro, Que) 
5. Dinggin Mo (Esteban, Hontiveros) "Ama nami't Panginoon" is so 1R.
6. Seek the Lord (especially Stanza 1) (Song #289)
   Advent is not only about anticipation for the Christ’s first coming. It is also about preparedness for the Second Coming. (Traces of 32nd and 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time.)
7. Blest be the Lord (Schutte)
8. All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford)

Kyrie:

1. Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo
2. Maawa Ka (Francisco-Reyes)
3. As We Prepare

For Advent, there should no Gloria. Omit Gloria.

First Reading

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,

our redeemer you are named forever.

Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,

and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?

Return for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

with the mountains quaking before you,

while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,

such as they had not heard of from of old.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you

doing such deeds for those who wait for him.

Would that you might meet us doing right,

that we were mindful of you in our ways!

Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;

all of us have become like unclean people,

all our good deeds are like polluted rags;

we have all withered like leaves,

and our guilt carries us away like the wind.

There is none who calls upon your name,

who rouses himself to cling to you;

for you have hidden your face from us

and have delivered us up to our guilt.

Yet, O LORD, you are our father;

we are the clay and you the potter:

we are all the work of your hands.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,

from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Rouse your power,

and come to save us.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

look down from heaven, and see;

take care of this vine,

and protect what your right hand has planted

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,

with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;

give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Second Reading

1 Cor 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account

for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,

that in him you were enriched in every way,

with all discourse and all knowledge,

as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,

so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift

as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will keep you firm to the end,

irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful,

and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia:

1. Ang Ginoo, Among Kahayag (D12)
2. Aleluya! Ang Pulong Mo (D9)
3. Aleluya Wikain Mo
4. Alleluya (Francisco-Arboleda-Reyes)

Gospel

Mk 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Be watchful! Be alert!

You do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man traveling abroad.

He leaves home and places his servants in charge,

each with his own work,

and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.

Watch, therefore;

you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,

whether in the evening, or at midnight,

or at cockcrow, or in the morning.

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"

Important Ideas: Anticipation, waiting, preparedness, some degree of eschatology

PERSONAL REFLECTION:

We mark the passing of time by celebrating special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. Some days are more special for us than other days. Wedding days are special days and wedding anniversaries are special days. In one sense those special days are the same as every other day because the sun rises and sets in the same way and everybody else goes about their business in the normal way, but for the happy couple such a day is a special day, a day to be celebrated, a day for which to be thankful and grateful.

Today is a special day, and not just a day, but the beginning of a special season, Advent. During Advent we focus on waiting, waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus, and during the week before Christmas our waiting changes to waiting for our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Anytime we wait we do so because we expect something to happen; we wait for a bus or train because we expect it to arrive. When we are wait for a bus or train we cannot see it coming but hope it will come. During Advent we are waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus because the Second Coming of Jesus will bring all God’s plans for the world to completion. As we wait in hope for the Second Coming of Jesus we know he is with us in so many ways especially in the sacraments. So during Advent we are conscious of the fact that God is present with us while we wait for the fulfillment of God’s plans.

The words of Jesus in the Gospel today express the mood of this early part of the Advent season,

“Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33)

In the first reading today the Jews expressed hope in God even when going through a difficult time and so we heard glimpses of hope in that reading,

“Return, for the sake of your servants….
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down
- at your presence the mountains would melt.” (Isa 63:17; 64:2 JB)

In the second reading Paul reminds his listeners of the many gifts they have received from God which will support them until the Second Coming of Jesus,

“you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” (1 Cor 1:7)

For those who are finding these times difficult for one reason or another the message of Advent is “Wait for God in patient hope.” God has not abandoned us, God is with us though sometimes our lack of faith prevents us from seeing him. Remember Jesus in the womb of Mary for nine months; Mary could not see Jesus but she knew that the Word had been made flesh and she was waiting in hope for his birth. Wait in patient hope for God to fulfill his plans in his own way in his own time. Remember the Jews in our first reading waiting in patient hope for God,

“Return, for the sake of your servants….
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down
- at your presence the mountains would melt.” (Isa 63:17; 64:2 JB)

Remember Jesus in our Gospel advising never to give up waiting,

“Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33)

Remember Paul,

“you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” (1 Cor 1:7)

If you find these times difficult remember the message of Advent, “Wait for God in patient hope.”

Offertory:

1. Gasa sa Gugma (Koro Viannista) good choice
2. Daygon Ikaw, Ginoong Dios
3. Gasa Namo Kanimo
4. Pag-aalay ng Puso (Minsan Lamang) (Nemy & Que) as advent (at least the earlier part) has an eschatological notion. Traces of 32nd and 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time yata ito.
5. Ang Tanging Alay Ko Prioritize Stanza 3. One reinforces the more common message of Advent even more when in Stanza 3 this is sung: “Aking hinihintay ang ‘Yong pagdarating, Jesus” rather than “pagbabalik, Jesus.” Nevertheless, pagbabalik can certainly remain, as again this season also has an eschatological notion.
6. Unang Alay (best choice) We can instantly make this song have an Adventish notion: The last line originally runs: “...Ngayo’y nananalig, nagmamahal sa ‘Yo.” Sing instead, “Ngayo’y umaasa, naghihintay sa ‘Yo.” You then reinforce the message re: anticipation.
   Now if your choir sings the Koda, you deliver one solid message if you sing: “Ngayo’y nananalig (umaawit), dumudulog (sumasamba), umaasa (naghihintay) sa ‘Yo.” 
   I will be so excommunicated by Fr. Rey Magnaye.
7. Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda)
8. Take our Bread (Wise)
9. To Be Your Bread (Haas)

Sanctus:

1.      Santos (Mass III 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’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

3.      Memorial Acclamation (Marcelo-Fenomeno)

Amen:

1.      Amen Pagdaygon ang Dios

2.      Dakilang Amen (Francisco)

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-Torress)

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.      Panahon na Karon sa Pagbag-o, literally Christians repent during Advent and Lent season. So this is a good choice

2.      O Dios, Ikaw Haduol

3.      Andani, Pag-andam sa Ani, the main keyword is Pag-andam. For his coming we should prepare.

4.      Ginoo, Sayud Ka sa Tanan (Ad-7)

5.      Awit ng Paghahangad (Cenzon) Our response to be watchful: Ika’y pagmamasdan sa dakong banal, nang Makita ko ang ‘Yong pagkarangal.

6.      Awit ng Paghilom (Aquino). “Hanap-hanap Ka ng puso”

7.      Hesus na Aking Kapatid (Hontiveros) Focus on “Tulutan Mo aking mata” Lentish admittedly though.

8.      Liwanag ng Aming Puso: Lentish but (“...sa amin manahan Ka...”) 

9.      O Diyos, Iniibig Kita (Rodrigo & Hontiveros)

10.  Pagsibol (Aquino)

11.  Panginoon Aking Tanglaw (Ramirez)

12.  Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) Sing stanza 1 repeatedly.

13.  Patience People (Foley) 

14.  The Face of God (Francisco)

15.  God of Silence (Francisco)

16.  Holy Darkness “As we await You” pero some consider this for the Easter Vigil mas apt.

17.  Hosea (Norbet) Lentish mas kilala, pero if you consider its links to eschatology...

18.  Love is the answer (Hannisian)

19.  One Thing I Ask (Tirol)

20.  This Alone (Manion)

21.  We Remember (Haugen)

Recessional:

1.      Pagpangatagak na Yamog

2.      Balang Araw 
Suggestion ko lang ‘toh; anyone can very well disagree: consider changing yung ‘Narito na’ng Manunubos, luwalhatiin ang Diyos!’ into ‘Darating na’ng Manunubos, luwalhatiin ang Diyos!’ I just think it will be more faithful to the chronology, na for this season of advent, we should all help build up the anticipation for His coming. Technically Christ already came 2000 years ago, but we do have a liturgical year—every year and time, events that happened 2000 years ago are ever more renewed and ever more recalled to mind, and akma yung message mo when you hit the right pamanahon ng pandiwa (tenses of verbs).

3.      Tanda ng Kaharian ng Diyos (Morano & Francisco)

4.      Any Marian Song (kasi Nov 27 is Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal)

5. A Time Will Come for Singing (Schutte) 
6. Wait for the Lord
7. Life Forever More (Ellerton & Francisco)

Have a happy weekend Brothers and Sisters… For more questions and suggestions please send me SMS at +639089741495… God Bless Us All