The readings for the 5th Sunday
of Lent for Year B focus on God's covenant with us, even though we are often
unfaithful. The first reading speaks of a new covenant. The second reading
speaks of the obedience of Jesus Christ brought about our salvation. And in the
gospel Jesus foretells his death and explains that those who follow him will
find eternal life.
The Mass readings for the 5th
Sunday of Lent Year B revolve around several interconnected themes that
highlight the transformative nature of faith, the fulfillment of God's
promises, and the path to eternal life through sacrifice and obedience. Here
are the main themes:- New Covenant and Inner Transformation: The
first reading from Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant that God will
establish with His people. Unlike the old covenant, which was external and
often broken, this new covenant will be written on their hearts,
symbolizing an intimate and unbreakable relationship with God. It
emphasizes God's mercy and the transformative power of His law within us.
- Obedience Through Suffering: The second
reading from Hebrews presents Jesus as the model of obedience and
submission to God's will, even in the face of suffering. It highlights the
idea that true obedience to God can involve hardship and pain but leads to
greater wisdom and fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.
- Death and Resurrection: The Gospel according
to John introduces the metaphor of a grain of wheat that must die to
produce life, illustrating the necessary passage through death to reach
the fullness of life. This theme is central to the Lenten journey,
pointing towards Jesus' death and resurrection as the path to new life for
all believers.
- Self-Denial and Service: Jesus' teachings on
self-denial and the importance of serving others are key themes in the
Gospel. He emphasizes that following Him requires a willingness to let go
of personal desires and ambitions in favor of a life dedicated to serving
God and others.
- Universal Salvation: Jesus' statement about
drawing all people to Himself upon being lifted up from the earth speaks
to the universal nature of His mission. His death and resurrection are not
just for a select few but offer salvation to all who believe in Him,
transcending cultural and religious boundaries.
- Divine Assurance and Human Response: The
divine voice affirming Jesus' mission and the varied responses from the
crowd illustrate the theme of faith and doubt. It highlights the
challenges believers face in understanding and accepting the mysteries of
faith, as well as the assurance that God's plan is being fulfilled through
Jesus.
These themes for the 5th Sunday
of Lent Year B guide the faithful towards a deeper understanding of God's love
and salvation plan, encouraging a personal and communal transformation that
aligns with the heart of the Lenten season.
Entrance:
1. Tun-I
Kami Ginoo
2. Mag-awit
Kita
3. Dios Namo
sa Kalooy
4. Buksan
ang aming puso (Tinio, Hontiveros)
5. Sa
Piging ng Panginoon (Tabuena, Hontiveros). “Buhay ay inialay N’ya sa dakilang
Diyos Ama. Upang atin nang makamtan buhay na walang hanggan.”
6. Hosea
(Norbet)
7. Blest
Be the Lord (Schutte)
Readings:- First Reading - Jeremiah
31:31-34: God promises a new covenant with Israel and Judah, different
from the old. He will write His laws in their hearts, be their God, and
they, His people. All will know Him and be forgiven.
- Responsorial Psalm - Psalm
51: Create a clean heart in me, O God.
I ask God for
mercy and cleansing from my sins. May He create a pure heart in me, not casting
me away, and restore the joy of salvation to guide others.- Second Reading - Hebrews
5:7-9: Jesus Christ, during His time on earth, earnestly prayed to the
Father, and was heard for His deep reverence. Through suffering, He
learned obedience, becoming the source of eternal salvation for His
followers.
- Gospel -John
12:20-33: When some Greeks sought Jesus during Passover, He spoke of
His impending death, likening it to a grain of wheat that must die to
produce many seeds. He emphasized self-denial for eternal life and the
honor given to those who serve Him. Jesus, troubled, chose to glorify
God's name over seeking rescue. A divine voice affirmed this, leading to
varied interpretations among the crowd. Jesus explained His crucifixion
would judge the world and draw all to Himself, revealing the nature of His
death.
Offertory:
1. Dios
Nia Ko
2. Ania
Among Halad
3. O Dios
Dawata
4. Kung
‘Yong Nanaisin (Francisco)
5. Narito
Ako, Panginoon (Que)
6. Panginoon,
Narito Ako (Isidro, Que)
7. Dwelling
Place (Foley)
8. Prayer
of Rupert Mayer (Francisco)
Communion:
1. Ako ang Kahayag
2. Anino
3. Balaan nga Gugma
4. Himig
Heswita Medley (you can see it on youtube.com)
5. Pagkakaibigan
(Cenzon, Abad Santos)
6. Awit
ng Paghilom (Aquino)
7. Dakilang
Pag-ibig (Pangilinan, Hontiveros)
8. Diyos
ay Pag-ibig
9. Huwag
Kang Mangamba (Pagsanghan, Francisco)
10. Likhain Mong Muli
(Alejo, Francisco)
11. Maging Akin Muli (Aquino)
12. O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco)
13. Anima Christi
(Arboleda)
14. Behold the Wood
(Schutte)
15. Come to Me
(Francisco)
16. Come to Me All Who
Are Weary (Schutte)
17. Come With Me Into
The Fields (Schutte)
18. Empty Space (Go,
Francisco)
19. Father, Mercy
(Dufford)
20. Holy Darkness
(Schutte)
21. If I Could Touch
You (Francisco)
22. Jesus on the Cross
(Go, Francisco)
23. Now We Remain
(Haas)
24. Only This I Want
(Schutte)
25. Out of Roads (Go,
Aquino)
26. You Are Mine
(Haas)
27. Your Heart Today
(Francisco)
Recessional:
1. Kinsa?
2. Ang Atong
Tulubagon
3. Maliban
na Mahulog sa Lupa
4. Pananagutan
(Hontiveros)
5. Seek
the Lord (O’Connor)
6. Save
Us, O Lord (Dufford)
We are now on the 4th Sunday of Lent, still thanking you
dear brothers and sisters for visiting us here.
The readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent Year B focus on God's
faithfulness in drawing us closer to him. The first reading tells how God
inspired Cyrus to allow the chosen people to worship once again in Jerusalem.
And in the gospel we hear of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, where Jesus
explains that he was sent to us out of the boundless love of God.
The 4th Sunday of Lent Year B presents a profound reflection on themes
of longing for restoration, God's mercy and grace, the dichotomy between light
and darkness, and God's unwavering love for humanity. These readings invite us
to contemplate our own lives considering God's enduring patience and
willingness to forgive. They challenge us to recognize our transgressions yet
reassure us of the possibility of repentance and returning to God's grace.
Through the narrative of the Babylonian exile and the words of Jesus in John 3,
we are reminded of the transformative power of belief and the hope that lies in
restoration.- Longing
for restoration -
Despite the reality of judgment and punishment, the readings for the 4th
Sunday of Lent Year B also emphasize the possibility of repentance and
restoration. In 2 Chronicles 36, the Babylonian exile is seen as a time of
purging and purification, and God later allows the people to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. In John 3, Jesus speaks of the
possibility of eternal life through belief in him.
- God's
mercy and grace -
The readings also emphasize God's mercy and grace towards humanity,
despite our sinfulness. In the first reading, God is patient and
long-suffering towards the people, giving them many chances to repent and
turn back to him. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of God's love for the world,
and his willingness to give his only son as a sacrifice for our sins.
- Light and
darkness - In John
3, Jesus speaks of the contrast between light and darkness, using light as
a metaphor for truth and righteousness, and darkness as a metaphor for sin
and ignorance.
- God's love
for humanity - The
readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent Year B also emphasize God's love for
humanity, despite our sinfulness. In 2 Chronicles 36, God is patient
towards the people, even as they rebel against him. In John 3, Jesus
speaks of God's love for the world, and his willingness to give his only
son as a sacrifice for our sins.
So the readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent Year B offer a deep
exploration of God's relationship with humanity, characterized by both justice
and immense love. Despite the harsh reality of judgment, there is always a path
back to God through repentance, illuminated by the light of Christ. These
themes encourage us to embrace the light, acknowledge God's sacrificial love,
and move towards a future where our actions are aligned with God's will. As we
journey through Lent, let us hold fast to the promise of restoration and the
gift of God's mercy, celebrating the profound love He has for each of us,
manifested through the giving of His only Son.
Entrance:
1. Tun-I Kami Ginoo
2. Mag-awit Kita
3. Dios
Namo sa Kalooy
4. Buksan
ang Aming Puso (Tinio, Hontiveros)
5. Blest be the Lord
6. Seek the Lord (O’Connor)
Readings:- First
Reading - 2
Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23: Judah's betrayal of faith led to their
exile as Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. God's warnings were
ignored, resulting in captivity. Fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy, the exile
lasted until Cyrus of Persia decreed the rebuilding of the temple, marking
the beginning of the return.
- Responsorial
Psalm - Psalm 137:
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
- In Babylon's
captivity, we wept for Zion, unable to sing our sacred songs in a foreign
land. Forgetting Jerusalem would be my greatest loss, my joy silenced
without its memory.
- Second
Reading - Ephesians
2:4-10: God, in His mercy, made us alive with Christ, saving us by
grace through faith, not by our deeds, to display His grace in Christ. We
are created for good works, predestined by God.
- Gospel - John
3:14-21: Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus and references Moses
lifting up the serpent in the wilderness as a foreshadowing of his own
crucifixion and the salvation that it would bring. Jesus emphasizes the
importance of believing in him as the Son of God in order to receive
eternal life, and highlights the judgment that will come to those who do
not believe.
Offertory:
1. O Dios Dawata
2. Aniang among Halad
3. Diyutay Lang Kini
4. Sumasamo Kami (Judan)
5. Panginoon Narito Ako
6. Unang Alay (modified version)
7. Now We Remain (Haas)
8. Take Our Bread (Wise)
Communion:
1. Kini Maong Akong Lawas
2. Kinabuhi mo Kinabuhi Ko
3. Ako ang Kahayag
4. Balaan
nga Gugma
5. Dios
Namo sa Kalooy
6. Awit ng Paghilom (Aquino)
7. Maging akin Muli (Aquino)
8. Dakilang Pag-ibig (Pangilinan,
Hontiveros) Prioritize Stanza 2. Swak sa 2R.
9. Likhain mong Muli (Alejo,
Francisco)
10. God of Silence (Francisco)
11. Empty Space (Go, Francisco)
Recessional:
1. Kinsa?
2. Ang Atong Tulubagon
3. Alay sa Kapwa (Esteban,
Hontiveros) Prioritize Stanza 3.
4. Save Us, O Lord (Dufford)
