Suggested Songs for January 13, 2013 Mass

January 13, 2013

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

“Anointed with the Holy Spirit and Power”

Una sa lahat nais kong bumati ng belated Happy New Year sa inyong lahat. Pasensya na po at ilang linggo din akong hindi nakapagpost ng kanta sa blog na ito dahil sa umuwi ako sa aming bundok. Gustuhin ko mang magpost dito pero ayon walang signal ng internet sa bahay at naputulan din ako ng connection dahil wala nang ipambabayad. Hehehe… Pero okay lang po ‘yan ang Dios na ang bahalang tumulong sa akin para gumawa ng paraan.

Sa katapusan ng buwang ito ay ang ikalawang taong anibersaryo na rin ng blog kong ito. Pero ngayon pa lang ay magpapaalam na ako sa inyo. Baka hanggang Mayo na lang po ako magpopost sa blog na ito dahil kung papalarin at makapasa sa interview ay papasok na po ako sa seminaryo sa darating na Hunyo.

Sana po ay ipagdasal ninyo ako sa panibagong landas na tatahakin ko sa aking buhay. Maraming salamat po sa inyong walang sawang pagsubaybay sa blog kong ito.

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Entrance:

1.     Lungsod nga Balaan

2.     Kon Magkatigum Ta

3.     Saulogon ta Karon

4.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon

5.     Purihi’t Pasalamatan

6.     Isang Pananampalataya

7.     Come with Praise (Schutte)

8.     Water of Life (Haas)

9.     Table of Plenty

First Reading                                  Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Or Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by a strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

Responsorial Psalm                     Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10.

R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Or Ps 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30

R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul.
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
you are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;
R. O bless the Lord, my soul.
You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul.
They look to you to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul.
If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

Second Reading                                Acts 10:34-38

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”

Or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7

Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

When the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Gospel                                 LK 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

Homily or Reflection of the Readings:

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's First Reading from the Book of Isaiah consisted of a prophecy related to the coming of the promised Messiah. The Reading from the Gospel of Luke announced that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, this was the event that marked the official beginning of the Lord's ministry on earth as Christ the Redeemer.

The First Reading consisted of God speaking to His people through the prophet Isaiah. In those days, God's chosen people were coming out of captivity. Jerusalem was in shambles. [Is. 49:17, 51:17] The Jewish people had endured great suffering.

The Lord God told Isaiah to comfort His people, to speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and to cry out to her that she had served her term that her penalty was paid, that she had received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

The repetition of the word "comfort" echoes a tone of mercy. God was about to show mercy towards His people. To speak tenderly meant to speak to the heart. This was a delicate expression of Divine love that God was manifesting towards His people. During the past centuries, the people had turned away from God. As such, they had been punished. They paid double for their sins. While some may view such a punishment as being very severe, it should not be perceived as Divine anger but as a time of purification. God sanctified a people unto Himself. Now, a new era was on the horizon, a time of joy and peace, the glorious moment when God's people would be redeemed.

Then the Lord said, "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" A voice crying out echoes a new exodus. The Lord Himself was about to lead the new exodus. He was about to take His people out of Babylon, through the desert, and back to Palestine.

The words, "in the wilderness prepare the way" introduces one of the richest terms found in the Holy Bible. The "Way" is a manner of life, for men and for God. There can be two ways, either good or evil. [Mt. 7:13-4] John the Baptist cried out in the wilderness to prepare "the way of the Lord." [Mk. 1:3] Jesus declared that He Himself was that Way. [Jn. 14:6, Heb. 10:20] Christianity itself is called "the Way." [Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23]

Through this prophecy, Jerusalem was highly glorified. It was hailed as the home of God on earth and the center of world redemption. The pre-exilic days of sensuousness and hypocrisy were finally coming to an end.

Jerusalem, synonym of Zion, was called the herald of glad tidings. It was proclaimed, "Here is your God!" In these prophetic words, Isaiah was not suggesting a human king of the lineage of king David but rather a Divine King, Yahweh Himself.

Among those words, there was a sudden change, from "king" to "shepherd." In other parts of the Old Testament, we find that the words "king" and "shepherd" are synonymous of each other. [2 Sam. 5:2; Jer. 3:15] Now, the prophet Isaiah reveals God as a shepherd- king who draws His people unto Himself and who even carries them. [Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:11-6; Ps. 23]

The Reading from today's Gospel of Luke presented John the Baptist's Messianic preaching. In the psychological setting, we can perceive that the people were expecting the arrival of the promised Messiah at any time. In their hearts, they wondered, "Is He the one that we are waiting for?"

Knowing their hearts, John the Baptist answered, "But one who is more powerful than I is coming." The words "one who is more powerful" echoed Jesus the great liberator in the war against Satan. The words "more powerful" or "mighty" was frequently used in the Holy Scriptures to describe the leader of the final struggle against evil. [Mk. 3:27; Lk. 11:20-2; Rev. 18:8]

In this particular passage, a great importance was given to the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Holy Bible, many amazing manifestations were credited to the presence of the Spirit, as the life and power of God. Such is seen in the creation [Gen. 1:2] and the warriors. [Judges 3:10, 11:29, 1 Sam. 11:6] But now, the Holy Spirit is identified as a separate Divine Presence in the Blessed Trinity. While the voice of the Heavenly Father was heard from Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in bodily form like a dove.

When John the Baptist stated that the believers would be baptized with fire, such is associated with sanctification and salvation. Fire represents a sanctifying action. At the same time, in Scripture, fire is very often associated with the presence of the Saviour-God. God will sanctify His people as through refining fire so they may be made righteous in His eyes to inherit the eternal salvation of the children of God.

When we hear that "all the people were baptized," we perceive a new episode, a whole community advancing towards the new and most joyful promised land, the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth. So great was the Divine Presence of God in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that all the people were touched, repented of their sins and were baptized. There was no space left for doubters. 

The voice of God from Heaven echoes the Heavenly Father's desire and determination to save His people. Through the Words, "You are my Son." the Heavenly Father confesses the Divinity of Jesus. Jesus is God incarnated in human form.

It should be noted that Jesus did not get baptized because He needed to repent of His sins. Being God, He was without sin! Why then was He baptized? Because from the moment of His birth to the moment when He began His ministry on earth, Jesus completely submitted Himself in obedience to the customs of His people. By submitting Himself to the Baptism of John the Baptist, He placed His seal of approval that we all need to repent of our sins. 

But there was more to it then could be perceived at that time. Jesus' example of being baptized was to tell us that the Sacrament of Baptism is the Way to the new life, to being born again of water and spirit. As Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." [Jn. 3:5]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is the Way, and the truth and the life. [Jn. 14:6] As John the Baptist was commissioned to prepare the Way of the Lord, we as baptized and confirmed Christians have been called by God and sent by our Bishop to preach the Good News to all those with who we come in contact during our life. For the glory of God, our commission obligates us to show the Way to those who have yet to find the Lord Jesus in their lives. For the glory of God, our commission obligates us to show the Way of the Lord to those who have shipwrecked in their faith. 

This week, let us reflect upon our actions. Have we prepared the Way of the Lord so all humanity may share in the blessed hope of the eternal joy and peace that awaits the righteous children of God who have lived their faith in Christ?

Offertory:

1.     Mugna sa Dios

2.     Palihug Dawata Ginoo

3.     Unang Alay

4.     Paghahandog ng Sarili

5.     Prayer of Rupert Mayer

Communion:

1.     O Espiritu Santo

2.     Kini Maong Akong Lawas

3.     Tubig ng Buhay

4.     Awit ng Paghahangad

5.     Huwag kang Mangamba

6.     As Water to the Thirsty

7.     I Seek You for I Thirst

Recessional:

1.     Ang Tawag

2.     Humayo na’t Ipahayag

3.     Any song from entrance na hindi nakanta

Have a blessed week everyone J

Suggested Songs for Misa de Gallo Mass and December 23 Sunday Mass

MISA DE GALLO LINE-UP

Please click the link below to get the line up suggestions courtesy of JR Medina

December 15 pm and 16 am  

December 16 pm and 17 am

December 17 pm and 18 am

December 18 pm and 19 am 

December 19 pm and 20 am

December 20 pm and 21 am

December 21 pm and 22 am

December 22 pm and 23 am

December 23 pm and 24 am

December 23, 2012

4^th Sunday of Lent Year C

Liturgical Color : Purple/Violet

“From You Shall Come Forth”

Readings lang po ang pinagkaiba sa Misa de Gallo at sa morning Sunday mass… Kaya pwedeng kantahin na rin ang line-up suggestions of songs na nakapaloob sa mga link na nasa itaas. J

First Reading                          Mi 5:1-4a

Thus says the LORD:
You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
and the rest of his kindred shall return
to the children of Israel.
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
and they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.

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                        Heb 10:5-10

Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in."
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will."
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this "will," we have been consecrated
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel                         Lk 1:39-45

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

Homily/Reflections of the Readings (Dec. 23)

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to the Fourth and last Sunday of Advent. In a few days, we will be celebrating Christmas, the day of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love. I pray that all of you have had sufficient time to spiritually prepare yourselves during the Season of Advent that is coming to a closing.

Today's First Reading from the Book of Micah [Mic. 5:2-5] announced the arrival of the promised Messiah. To enjoy a greater appreciation of the prophecy of Micah which took place around 750 B.C., one must place himself back in time to a few centuries prior to the birth of Christ. In those days, Micah prophesied that until such time as the Messiah arrives to deliver Israel from its oppressors, the Jewish people will continue to be subject to other nations.

From Bethlehem of Ephrathah shall rise the King from the royal line of king David. Both Jesse and king David [1 Sam. 17:12] came from Bethlehem which is located 5-6 miles South of Jerusalem. Bethlehem which means, "house of bread" was formally known as Ephrath [Gen. 35:19] and Ephrathat. [Ruth 4:11]

The rising Messiah shall have His origin from of old, from ancient days. In other words, the Messiah shall be God Himself. That God Himself would be the Messiah is repeated in the prophecies of Malachi in 397 B.C. Malachi stated, "See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way for Me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His Temple." Here, it is announced that the messenger John the Baptist would prepare the way for God Himself. Another proof that God would come to dwell with His people is found in the prophecy of Isaiah and its fulfillment affirmed in the Gospel of Matthew where the name of the Messiah is said to be "Immanuel" which means "God is with us." [Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:23] 

Micah continues by stating that Israel shall remain subject to other nations until such time as she who is in labour has brought forth. Then, God's people shall be delivered and united as one. If one tries to perceive this prophecy with a worldly mind, it will be misunderstood. Why? Because it is a reference to a spiritual delivery and freedom. It is a reference to the people's delivery from the slavery of sin through the Sacred Blood of Christ.

Regarding the woman in labour bringing forth a child, the Book of Isaiah says, "Before she was in labour, she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?" [Is. 66:7-8] For a land to be born in one day or for a nation to be delivered in one moment, this can only be a reference to the suffering, the death, the burial and the glorious Resurrection of Christ who has overcome sin for the redemption of mankind. It can only be a reference to the eternal establishment of the abode of the saints, the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.

Through physical death, those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism and who have persevered in their living faith in Christ, have inherited the Kingdom of God. Once and for always, they have been freed from all human oppression, suffering, and the ongoing inner battle between the spiritual and the worldly natures.

This is the Divine truth that the promised Messiah came to announce, the Good News that fulfilled all the promises of the Old Testament. The greatness of the incarnation of God shines in love, mercy and forgiveness. It glorifies the Most Holy Name of the Lord Jesus.

The coming of Christ into the world was to put an end to the Old Covenant under the Laws of Moses. It was to put an end to the imperfect sacrifices and offerings, the burnt offerings and sin offerings. The coming of Christ into the world was to abolish the Old Covenant in order to establish the New and Everlasting Covenant that was made perfect once and for all through the sacrifice of the Blood of Christ.

Through the sacrifice of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have been sanctified according to God's Divine Will and promises that were made during the days of the Old Testament. Through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ, during the Sacrament of Baptism, we have received the gifts of the new creation of the godly seed, the new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit. This Sacrament can only be received once for nothing human or spiritual can surpass the new creation of the godly seed and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

As we heard during today's Gospel Reading, when Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and expressed words that were eternally written in the Holy Bible. While in the presence of Elizabeth, John the Baptist, the child in the womb, was also filled with the Holy Spirit and leaped for joy.

In both cases, a spiritual manifestation came forth from those who were touched by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Equally, the coming of Jesus in the world should touch each and everyone of our hearts. From us should come forth the living water so it may flow freely towards our brothers and sisters in the love of Christ. As Elizabeth and John the Baptist expressed great joy in the presence of the Lord, we also should be expressing great joy.

On Christmas Eve, some of you will stay up until midnight to commemorate the arrival of Baby Jesus in the world. Others will wait until they rise on Christmas morning. Be it at midnight or in the morning, all should be prepared to rejoice in the coming of the Lord Jesus. 

For the fullness of our joy to be complete during the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world, our preparation demands that we receive the Lord Jesus in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist so the Lord may make His Holy dwelling in our bodily Temples.

To receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in full preparation, we must receive the Sacrament of Confession so, in a state of grace, we will be found worthy in the eyes of God. Then, our joy shall have reached its fullness.

May the joy of the Lord come forth from each and everyone of you during this holy Season. Alleluia!