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Suggested Songs for August 5, 2012 Mass

August 5, 2012
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Liturgical Color: Green
“The Eucharist, the Bread of Life”
Note:
For your comments and suggestions you may email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com or simply text us at +639167222465 or +639089741495. Please share us your photos of your choir activities and even your incoming activities so that we can feature you as “CHOIR OF THE WEEK”. Thank you J

Entrance…
1.     Diosnong Magtutudlo, “aron lamang mabuhi sa imong mga hatag.”
2.     Awit mga Binuhat
3.     Pag-aalaala (Francisco) “Sa piging”
4.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano & Francisco) 
5.     Table of Plenty

Kyrie…
1.     Kyrie 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo, chord of Am E7
3.     Ginoo Malooy Ka, chord of Dm A7 Dm
4.     Panginoon Maawa Ka, chord of Em-Am-B7
5.     Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)
6.     Lord Have Mercy (Francisco – Reyes)
7.     Kyrie Eleison (Misa de Angeles)

Gloria…
1.     Gloria 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)
3.     Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)

First Reading                                  Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them,
"Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!"

Then the LORD said to Moses,
"I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.

"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?"
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."
Responsorial Psalm                             Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Second Reading                                        Eph 4:17, 20-24
Brothers and sisters:
I declare and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,
in the futility of their minds;
that is not how you learned Christ,
assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him,
as truth is in Jesus,
that you should put away the old self of your former way of life,
corrupted through deceitful desires,
and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
and put on the new self,
created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Gospel Acclamation
                                                                                                                                                           
1.     Aleluya sa ‘tong Ginoo
2.     Aleluya Lamdag Ka
3.     Aleluya (Francisco)
4.     Celtic Alleluia (O’Caroll – Walker)
Gospel                                         Jn 6:24-35
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
"Rabbi, when did you get here?"
Jesus answered them and said,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."
So they said to him,
"What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."
So they said to him,
"What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.?
So Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world."

So they said to him,
"Sir, give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

Readings Reflections (Aug. 5)
 

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to today's celebration of the Holy Mass on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. May the grace of God richly bless each and every one of you through the Sacred Words that shall be echoed during your participation in today's holy celebration.

Today's First Reading from the sixteen Chapter in the Book of Exodus [Ex. 16:2-4, 12-15, 31a] made reference to a very well known event, the raining of bread from Heaven. The events mentioned in this chapter took place in the wilderness of Sin, the desert area between Elim and Mt. Sinai known today as Debbet er-Ramleh. It should not be confused with the "Wilderness of Zin," which lies West of the mountains of Seir.

Some of you my brothers and sisters may be curious about the nature of the manna. You may ask, "What exactly is manna? Is there a recipe for this bread?" The manna spoken of in the Holy Bible was a honeydew excretion produced by two species of scale insect that infested the tamarisk thickets of the area, which, in fact, have gained the technical name tamarix mannifera. From the leaves of the thicket the substance dropped to the ground where it became somewhat firm in the cool night air of the desert. It had, however, a low melting point (70 degree Fahrenheit) and hence had to be gathered by 8:30 A.M. before the sun caused it to melt. To the Bedouins who still roam the area, the manna remains a delicacy because of its sweet taste. Based on these scientific facts, it can be stated that the manna that was eaten in the days of the Old Testament continues to be available on earth to this date.

What about the meat, the quails? Where did they come from and are they still available nowadays? The quail is a small game bird that resembles the partridge. They fly South annually from their northern European and Scandinavian quarters in September and October to winter in African warmth. Then in May and June they take up their homeward journey. Their long flights over water causes them to land exhausted on the Sinai Peninsula where they may be captured easily. Based on these scientific facts, it can be said that during certain months of the year, the meat that was eaten in the days of the Old Testament continues to be available on earth to this date.

According to the Gospel of John, [Jn. 6:31-59] the manna was symbolic of what was to come. The manna was symbolic of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, Who is the Bread of Life. Consequently, the manna was a type of the Eucharist itself.

The Second Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians [Ephes. 4:17, 20-24] addressed the absolute condition that is required for spiritual renewal. It affirmed the necessity to clothe ourselves with the new self, the new life that has been created in the likeness of God.

This Chapter from the Letter to the Ephesians gives a sharp contrast between their former pagan life and their new life in Christ. By the nature of the wording, it implies that the Christians from the Ephesian community could not have been converts for very long.

When St. Paul stated, "put away your former life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts," he was referring to the human nature as sons of Adam. Such a life is filled with human weaknesses that is prompted by countless moral failures that cause permanent spiritual death. [Rom. 8:13; Gal. 6:8]

To put away one's former life and to clothe oneself with the new self belongs to the baptismal liturgy. It echoes how in the early days of the Church, the candidates would remove their old clothes, plunged into the water and then put on new white clothing. Their outward sign signified an inner change, that the convert had put aside his former life, that he had "plunged" himself into Christ through faith, and was now, in Christ, beginning a new manner of life.

The "new self" refers to incorporation into Christ Himself, the new Adam, [1 Cor. 15:45] the Head of a renewed humanity that is sharing in His Spirit. It suggests the attainment of all that man was intended to be when God first created him according to His image. [Gen. 1:27]

Today's Reading from the Gospel of John [Jn. 6:24-35] echoes the words that are found in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant..." [Is. 55:2-3] The Jewish people were very familiar with these words. How is that? Because from their early childhood, they were required to learn the Holy Scriptures.

The event that we heard during the reading followed the miraculous feeding of five thousand persons. When Jesus realized that the people were about to come and take Him by force to make Him King, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. [Jn. 6:15] During the night, Jesus and His disciples quietly set out for Capernaum by sea. [Jn. 6:16-21]

The next morning, it did not take long for the crowd to realize that Jesus had disappeared. As such, they set out to Capernaum where Jesus and His disciples were known to resort. When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

Some of you may have noticed that Jesus did not answer their question. Nor was He about to perform another miracle for them. To perform another miracle would have produced the opposite effect from the one that Jesus intended. Rather, He spoke to them about His coming, that being what really mattered.

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves." Through these words, Jesus meant that the people had not perceived the true meaning of the signs. The people had only considered the material aspect of the miracle, having failed to reflect on its significance. Surely, the feeding of 5,000 echoed Divine power beyond any human capabilities!

Jesus continued, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." As previously said, these words echoed the words that were found in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. [Is. 55:2-3] Those Words of Jesus were a call to work for eternal life. While one is called to work for earthly bread, he is also called to work for eternal life. The first, earthly bread, shall pass; the last, eternal life, shall be eternal.

The difficulty that Jesus was experiencing was the worldly mindedness of the people. While Jesus spoke of spiritual food that will not perish, the people asked what they must do to perform the works of God. Obviously, they were not tuned in. They were spiritually blind. They were very worldly minded, lacking spiritual mindedness.

When Jesus said that the work of God was that they believe in Him Whom the heavenly Father had sent, the people asked for a sign. They understood Jesus' Words to mean that their faith in Him was merely to credit Him for what He was about to do.

To be "worldly minded" or "spiritually blind" does not mean to have "selective hearing." Nowadays, there are those who have selective hearing. Through their free will, they have chosen fame, wealth and the pleasures of the world as their masters. They have rejected the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit that is absolutely necessary for the salvation of their souls. They never go to Church or do so very rarely. Nor do they receive the Sacraments of the Church that are absolutely necessary to secure their salvation.

As Jesus tried to enlighten the crowd regarding His life giving Divinity, the crowd argued among themselves that Jesus had only multiplied earthly bread. Yet, through Moses, God had given His people "bread from heaven." Now that was some miracle!

The people failed to realize the prophetic nature of the manna, the bread from Heaven. It foreshadowed the true bread of God that was to come from Heaven, Jesus Himself. Christ gives true life whereas the manna could only nourish mortal men.

Failing to perceive the symbolic language of Jesus, that the Son of Man and the Bread of God that comes down from Heaven was Jesus Himself, the people said, "Sir, give us this bread." These are the words that the Samaritan woman spoke when asking Jesus for the living water. [Jn. 4:15] While the worldly minds could perceive that Jesus was speaking of a non-physical bread and that He could give this heavenly Bread, they had not yet understood that Jesus had identified Himself as the Bread.

Not only did the people state, "give us this bread," but they stated, "give us this bread ALWAYS." This inspired word foretold of the necessity to always receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It foretold of the necessity to continuously receive Jesus in our lives in the Real Presence.

When Jesus said to the crowd, "I am the Bread of Life," he used the words "I am" for the first time during His ministry on earth. In those days, when those two words were spoken together in that particular order, they implied that God was speaking. Those two words were so Sacred that no one dared to say them. It was forbidden to say them because they implied that one was God or His equal. When Jesus used those words during His arrest in the garden, Judas, the police from the chief priests and the Pharisees stepped back and fell to the ground. [Jn. 18:6] Yet, Jesus used the words when He said, "I am the Bread of Life." He was telling the people that He was God, the Giver of Life." Did the crowd understand? Obviously not!

Jesus concluded His discourse by saying that "Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." [Jn. 6:35] These Words fulfilled the prophetic Words of God that are found in the Book of Nehemiah, "For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water for them out of the rock..." [Neh. 9:15]

Jesus is the Bread of Life. As Saint Paul stated in the First Letter to the Corinthians, "Jesus is the Rock." [1 Cor. 10:4] He is the Rock on which the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church has been built. [Mt. 16:18] Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." [Mt 7:24]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us thank the Lord for His gift of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. The Lord God has blessed us richly with the Gift of Life to guide us in the way, the truth and the life. May God's Most Holy Name always be praised!

Offertory…
1.     Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios, “gikan sa imong kamanggihatagon, nadawat namo kini…”
2.     Uban Ning Pan ug Bino
3.     Gasa sa Gugma
4.     Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San Pedro)
5.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)
6.     One Bread, One Body (Foley) Best Choice.
7.     Christify (Francisco & Reyes)
8.     Take our Bread (Wise)

Sanctus…
1.     Sanctus 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Santos (Fernandez) chord of C-F-G-C-G7-C
3.     Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco-Arboleda, Torres)
4.     Sanctus (Misa de Angeles)
5.     Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation…
1.     Si Kristo atong Handumon, “kaugalingon gihatag”
2.     Among Gihandum
3.     Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez), Sarili ay inihain bilang pagkai’t inumin”
4.     Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)
5.     Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay
6.     Christ Has Died (Bayogos)
7.     When We Eat This Bread

Amen…
1.     Pwede gamiton ang AMEN nga last part sa Gloria 3rd Mass
2.     7 Amen
3.     Amen (WYD ’95)

Pater Noster…
As usual, choose the best Our Father, Ama Namin, Amahan Namo which everyone in the church can sing with you J

Doxology…
1.     Kay Imo Man
2.     Sapagkat
3.     For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei…
1.     Cordero sa Dios 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Kordero sa Dios Pastorella (Villanueva)
3.     Kordero ng Dios (Cayabyab)
4.     Lamb of God Litany (Schutte) Use stanza 1 Come to be our bread of life.

Communion…
1.     Kini Mao’ng Akong Lawas, “dawata kini… langitnong kalan-on”
2.     Magsaulog Kita Karon, “Sa kauhaw ug kagutom, ang Ginoo nagapakaon.”
3.     Ito ang Aking Katawan (Isidro & Ramirez)
4.     Tinapay ng Buhay (Atienza, Borres & Francisco) 
5.     Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) admittedly Lenten, but if you prioritize Stanza 3...
6.     Tanggapin Ninyo (Que) 
7.     Say the Word (Torres & Pantig-de Jesus)
8.     Anima Christi (Arboleda)
9.     The Presence of Jesus (Haas)
10.   We Remember (Haugen) Stanzas 1 and 2 ang priority.

Recessional…
1.     Ang Tawag
2.     Tanda ng Kaharian
3.     I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)

I need sponsorship for my priesthood… Anyone who has a good and kind heart please help me to fulfill this dream and calling…. Have a blessed week everyone J

Suggested Songs for August 5, 2012 Mass

August 5, 2012
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Liturgical Color: Green
“The Eucharist, the Bread of Life”
Note:
For your comments and suggestions you may email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com or simply text us at +639167222465 or +639089741495. Please share us your photos of your choir activities and even your incoming activities so that we can feature you as “CHOIR OF THE WEEK”. Thank you J

Entrance…
1.     Diosnong Magtutudlo, “aron lamang mabuhi sa imong mga hatag.”
2.     Awit mga Binuhat
3.     Pag-aalaala (Francisco) “Sa piging”
4.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano & Francisco) 
5.     Table of Plenty

Kyrie…
1.     Kyrie 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo, chord of Am E7
3.     Ginoo Malooy Ka, chord of Dm A7 Dm
4.     Panginoon Maawa Ka, chord of Em-Am-B7
5.     Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)
6.     Lord Have Mercy (Francisco – Reyes)
7.     Kyrie Eleison (Misa de Angeles)

Gloria…
1.     Gloria 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)
3.     Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)

First Reading                                  Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them,
"Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!"

Then the LORD said to Moses,
"I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.

"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?"
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."
Responsorial Psalm                             Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Second Reading                                        Eph 4:17, 20-24
Brothers and sisters:
I declare and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,
in the futility of their minds;
that is not how you learned Christ,
assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him,
as truth is in Jesus,
that you should put away the old self of your former way of life,
corrupted through deceitful desires,
and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
and put on the new self,
created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Gospel Acclamation
                                                                                                                                                           
1.     Aleluya sa ‘tong Ginoo
2.     Aleluya Lamdag Ka
3.     Aleluya (Francisco)
4.     Celtic Alleluia (O’Caroll – Walker)
Gospel                                         Jn 6:24-35
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
"Rabbi, when did you get here?"
Jesus answered them and said,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."
So they said to him,
"What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."
So they said to him,
"What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.?
So Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world."

So they said to him,
"Sir, give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

Readings Reflections (Aug. 5)
 

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to today's celebration of the Holy Mass on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. May the grace of God richly bless each and every one of you through the Sacred Words that shall be echoed during your participation in today's holy celebration.

Today's First Reading from the sixteen Chapter in the Book of Exodus [Ex. 16:2-4, 12-15, 31a] made reference to a very well known event, the raining of bread from Heaven. The events mentioned in this chapter took place in the wilderness of Sin, the desert area between Elim and Mt. Sinai known today as Debbet er-Ramleh. It should not be confused with the "Wilderness of Zin," which lies West of the mountains of Seir.

Some of you my brothers and sisters may be curious about the nature of the manna. You may ask, "What exactly is manna? Is there a recipe for this bread?" The manna spoken of in the Holy Bible was a honeydew excretion produced by two species of scale insect that infested the tamarisk thickets of the area, which, in fact, have gained the technical name tamarix mannifera. From the leaves of the thicket the substance dropped to the ground where it became somewhat firm in the cool night air of the desert. It had, however, a low melting point (70 degree Fahrenheit) and hence had to be gathered by 8:30 A.M. before the sun caused it to melt. To the Bedouins who still roam the area, the manna remains a delicacy because of its sweet taste. Based on these scientific facts, it can be stated that the manna that was eaten in the days of the Old Testament continues to be available on earth to this date.

What about the meat, the quails? Where did they come from and are they still available nowadays? The quail is a small game bird that resembles the partridge. They fly South annually from their northern European and Scandinavian quarters in September and October to winter in African warmth. Then in May and June they take up their homeward journey. Their long flights over water causes them to land exhausted on the Sinai Peninsula where they may be captured easily. Based on these scientific facts, it can be said that during certain months of the year, the meat that was eaten in the days of the Old Testament continues to be available on earth to this date.

According to the Gospel of John, [Jn. 6:31-59] the manna was symbolic of what was to come. The manna was symbolic of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, Who is the Bread of Life. Consequently, the manna was a type of the Eucharist itself.

The Second Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians [Ephes. 4:17, 20-24] addressed the absolute condition that is required for spiritual renewal. It affirmed the necessity to clothe ourselves with the new self, the new life that has been created in the likeness of God.

This Chapter from the Letter to the Ephesians gives a sharp contrast between their former pagan life and their new life in Christ. By the nature of the wording, it implies that the Christians from the Ephesian community could not have been converts for very long.

When St. Paul stated, "put away your former life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts," he was referring to the human nature as sons of Adam. Such a life is filled with human weaknesses that is prompted by countless moral failures that cause permanent spiritual death. [Rom. 8:13; Gal. 6:8]

To put away one's former life and to clothe oneself with the new self belongs to the baptismal liturgy. It echoes how in the early days of the Church, the candidates would remove their old clothes, plunged into the water and then put on new white clothing. Their outward sign signified an inner change, that the convert had put aside his former life, that he had "plunged" himself into Christ through faith, and was now, in Christ, beginning a new manner of life.

The "new self" refers to incorporation into Christ Himself, the new Adam, [1 Cor. 15:45] the Head of a renewed humanity that is sharing in His Spirit. It suggests the attainment of all that man was intended to be when God first created him according to His image. [Gen. 1:27]

Today's Reading from the Gospel of John [Jn. 6:24-35] echoes the words that are found in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant..." [Is. 55:2-3] The Jewish people were very familiar with these words. How is that? Because from their early childhood, they were required to learn the Holy Scriptures.

The event that we heard during the reading followed the miraculous feeding of five thousand persons. When Jesus realized that the people were about to come and take Him by force to make Him King, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. [Jn. 6:15] During the night, Jesus and His disciples quietly set out for Capernaum by sea. [Jn. 6:16-21]

The next morning, it did not take long for the crowd to realize that Jesus had disappeared. As such, they set out to Capernaum where Jesus and His disciples were known to resort. When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

Some of you may have noticed that Jesus did not answer their question. Nor was He about to perform another miracle for them. To perform another miracle would have produced the opposite effect from the one that Jesus intended. Rather, He spoke to them about His coming, that being what really mattered.

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves." Through these words, Jesus meant that the people had not perceived the true meaning of the signs. The people had only considered the material aspect of the miracle, having failed to reflect on its significance. Surely, the feeding of 5,000 echoed Divine power beyond any human capabilities!

Jesus continued, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." As previously said, these words echoed the words that were found in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. [Is. 55:2-3] Those Words of Jesus were a call to work for eternal life. While one is called to work for earthly bread, he is also called to work for eternal life. The first, earthly bread, shall pass; the last, eternal life, shall be eternal.

The difficulty that Jesus was experiencing was the worldly mindedness of the people. While Jesus spoke of spiritual food that will not perish, the people asked what they must do to perform the works of God. Obviously, they were not tuned in. They were spiritually blind. They were very worldly minded, lacking spiritual mindedness.

When Jesus said that the work of God was that they believe in Him Whom the heavenly Father had sent, the people asked for a sign. They understood Jesus' Words to mean that their faith in Him was merely to credit Him for what He was about to do.

To be "worldly minded" or "spiritually blind" does not mean to have "selective hearing." Nowadays, there are those who have selective hearing. Through their free will, they have chosen fame, wealth and the pleasures of the world as their masters. They have rejected the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit that is absolutely necessary for the salvation of their souls. They never go to Church or do so very rarely. Nor do they receive the Sacraments of the Church that are absolutely necessary to secure their salvation.

As Jesus tried to enlighten the crowd regarding His life giving Divinity, the crowd argued among themselves that Jesus had only multiplied earthly bread. Yet, through Moses, God had given His people "bread from heaven." Now that was some miracle!

The people failed to realize the prophetic nature of the manna, the bread from Heaven. It foreshadowed the true bread of God that was to come from Heaven, Jesus Himself. Christ gives true life whereas the manna could only nourish mortal men.

Failing to perceive the symbolic language of Jesus, that the Son of Man and the Bread of God that comes down from Heaven was Jesus Himself, the people said, "Sir, give us this bread." These are the words that the Samaritan woman spoke when asking Jesus for the living water. [Jn. 4:15] While the worldly minds could perceive that Jesus was speaking of a non-physical bread and that He could give this heavenly Bread, they had not yet understood that Jesus had identified Himself as the Bread.

Not only did the people state, "give us this bread," but they stated, "give us this bread ALWAYS." This inspired word foretold of the necessity to always receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It foretold of the necessity to continuously receive Jesus in our lives in the Real Presence.

When Jesus said to the crowd, "I am the Bread of Life," he used the words "I am" for the first time during His ministry on earth. In those days, when those two words were spoken together in that particular order, they implied that God was speaking. Those two words were so Sacred that no one dared to say them. It was forbidden to say them because they implied that one was God or His equal. When Jesus used those words during His arrest in the garden, Judas, the police from the chief priests and the Pharisees stepped back and fell to the ground. [Jn. 18:6] Yet, Jesus used the words when He said, "I am the Bread of Life." He was telling the people that He was God, the Giver of Life." Did the crowd understand? Obviously not!

Jesus concluded His discourse by saying that "Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." [Jn. 6:35] These Words fulfilled the prophetic Words of God that are found in the Book of Nehemiah, "For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water for them out of the rock..." [Neh. 9:15]

Jesus is the Bread of Life. As Saint Paul stated in the First Letter to the Corinthians, "Jesus is the Rock." [1 Cor. 10:4] He is the Rock on which the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church has been built. [Mt. 16:18] Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." [Mt 7:24]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us thank the Lord for His gift of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. The Lord God has blessed us richly with the Gift of Life to guide us in the way, the truth and the life. May God's Most Holy Name always be praised!

Offertory…
1.     Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios, “gikan sa imong kamanggihatagon, nadawat namo kini…”
2.     Uban Ning Pan ug Bino
3.     Gasa sa Gugma
4.     Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San Pedro)
5.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)
6.     One Bread, One Body (Foley) Best Choice.
7.     Christify (Francisco & Reyes)
8.     Take our Bread (Wise)

Sanctus…
1.     Sanctus 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Santos (Fernandez) chord of C-F-G-C-G7-C
3.     Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco-Arboleda, Torres)
4.     Sanctus (Misa de Angeles)
5.     Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation…
1.     Si Kristo atong Handumon, “kaugalingon gihatag”
2.     Among Gihandum
3.     Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez), Sarili ay inihain bilang pagkai’t inumin”
4.     Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)
5.     Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay
6.     Christ Has Died (Bayogos)
7.     When We Eat This Bread

Amen…
1.     Pwede gamiton ang AMEN nga last part sa Gloria 3rd Mass
2.     7 Amen
3.     Amen (WYD ’95)

Pater Noster…
As usual, choose the best Our Father, Ama Namin, Amahan Namo which everyone in the church can sing with you J

Doxology…
1.     Kay Imo Man
2.     Sapagkat
3.     For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei…
1.     Cordero sa Dios 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2.     Kordero sa Dios Pastorella (Villanueva)
3.     Kordero ng Dios (Cayabyab)
4.     Lamb of God Litany (Schutte) Use stanza 1 Come to be our bread of life.

Communion…
1.     Kini Mao’ng Akong Lawas, “dawata kini… langitnong kalan-on”
2.     Magsaulog Kita Karon, “Sa kauhaw ug kagutom, ang Ginoo nagapakaon.”
3.     Ito ang Aking Katawan (Isidro & Ramirez)
4.     Tinapay ng Buhay (Atienza, Borres & Francisco) 
5.     Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) admittedly Lenten, but if you prioritize Stanza 3...
6.     Tanggapin Ninyo (Que) 
7.     Say the Word (Torres & Pantig-de Jesus)
8.     Anima Christi (Arboleda)
9.     The Presence of Jesus (Haas)
10.   We Remember (Haugen) Stanzas 1 and 2 ang priority.

Recessional…
1.     Ang Tawag
2.     Tanda ng Kaharian
3.     I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)

I need sponsorship for my priesthood… Anyone who has a good and kind heart please help me to fulfill this dream and calling…. Have a blessed week everyone J

BUKAS PALAD SONGS

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