Suggested Songs for May 5, 2013 Mass

May 5 2013

6^th Sunday of  Easter

Liturgical Color : White

“The Holy Spirit, the human spirit and the Christian Spirit”

Entrance:

1.      Diosnong Magtutudlo

2.      O Espiritu Santo (Tune of : O Holy Spirit I Need You)

3.      Lungsod ng Balaan

4.      Purihin ang Panginoon

5.      Pagmamahal sa Panginoon

6.      Let Heaven Rejoice

7.      We Await You Spirit

8.      At Home in Our Hearts

First Reading                                                  ACTS 15:1-2, 22-29

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
about this question.

The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:

“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”

Responsorial Psalm                                                    PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading                                              REV 21:10-14, 22-23

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.

Gospel                                                             JN 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”

REFLECTIONS OF THE READINGS:

Good morning my brothers and sisters in Christ. Welcome to today's celebration of the Holy Mass on the Sixth Sunday of Easter. While reviewing today's readings, I realized that they have three common denominators. In the Christian spirit, we are called to do all things in the spirit with the Spirit of Christ.

In other words,

(1) we are called to walk in the Christian spirit;
(2) We are called to do all things in the spirit; and
(3) And we are called to walk with the Spirit of Christ.

What does it mean to walk in the Christian spirit? I am sure that all of you have heard the phrase "to embrace the Christmas spirit." To embrace the Christmas spirit means to be of one mind with the others who are celebrating Christmas. It means to be joyful and to make peace with others. It means to celebrate the arrival of baby Jesus in the world.

To walk in the Christian spirit also involves the embracing of certain characteristics. The first, and the most important, is the attribute of unity, all the members being of one spiritual mind. Through unity, there is harmony. Through harmony, there is strength. Through strength, there is perseverance in the living faith. And in the end, those who are joined in the Christian spirit, they achieve their goal, eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Some of you may question what the Holy Bible means when it says to have "eternal life." After all, if the soul is immortal, how can one gain eternal life? These two facts contradict one another. In the Gospel of John, we read, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." [Jn. 17:3] In other words, to have "eternal life" is "to know God." And "to know God" is to "have a personal relationship with Him." Therefore, when the Holy Bible speaks of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, it is a reference to having been saved and to enjoying the beatific vision of God for eternity.

Returning to my original topic, as we have heard during today's First Reading, the Christian spirit does not come by itself. One has to strive towards it by seeking the Divine Will of God and then by embracing the final decision of the authority of the Church. In the early days of the Church, certain individuals came down from Judea and taught that unless one was circumcised according to the custom of Moses, he could not be saved. Seeking the Divine Will of God on the matter, Paul, Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and the elders. Consequently the Church authority made a decision on the matter and sent Barsabbas and Silas to report back to the believers. Through these progressive actions is seen the Christian spirit at work.

During today's Second Reading, we perceived the Christian spirit at work through some of the descriptive words that are given to us. "I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb." [Rev. 21:22-3] Here we are able to perceive the unity of the people under One God, the Lamb. There are no idols. Nor are there any man-made religions whose's leaders get the credit for establishing faiths that differ from the Sacred teachings of Jesus. And, we also perceived the people's quality of holiness because they all belonged to the city of Jerusalem which is a holy city.

During the Gospel Reading, you may have perceived the Christian unity in those who obeyed the command of Jesus. The command of Jesus was, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." [Jn. 14:23] Those who love Jesus, they are of one spiritual mind with the others who also obey the command of the Lord.

When considering our presence here today, it is a sign of our Christian spirit. United in one Faith in the Lord Jesus, we are gathered here to adore and worship our Lord, our God. In the Catholic spirit, we are united to receive the blessings that are bestowed upon those who receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that is the Living Bread.

The second common factor that is found in all of today's three readings is that we are called to do all things in the spirit. Jesus said, "The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." [Jn. 4:23-4]

What does it mean to do all things in the spirit or to worship in spirit? It means that when we received the Sacrament of Baptism, just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, within us, a new creation was raised from death to walk the new life that was received through Christ. [Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12] (628) Without the Sacrament of Baptism through water and Spirit, we could not enter the Kingdom of God. [Jn. 3:5]

This gift of God, instituted through Jesus Christ in the New Covenant, fulfills the promises of the Old Testament. During the Sacrament of Baptism, we received a new heart and a new human spirit. [Ezek. 11:19-20; 18:31] Through our new heart, we have become children of light. We have been blessed with a spiritual mind that enables us to worship God in spirit and in truth.

During today's First Reading, we can perceive how Paul, Barnabas, Barsabbas, Silas, the apostles and the elders answered their call to do all things in the spirit. Embracing a spiritual mind, these followers of Jesus placed the Divine Will of God first. They faithfully served the Lord for the common good of all. By subjecting themselves to the authority of the Church, they sacrificed their personal opinions on the subject of circumcision.

This is an exemplary model for those who cling on to mixed feelings regarding abortion, birth control, cloning, euthanasia, female priesthood, etc... By accepting the final decision of the Holy Catholic Church, one finds peace of mind. Through peace of mind, one can answer his calling to do all things in the spirit as a new creation of God.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard Jesus say, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." [Jn. 14:27] When we do not do all things in the spirit, our hearts are troubled. We are afraid because deep inside we know that we are in disobedience and the Wrath of God is pending. We are afraid because the Spirit of Christ talks to us in our hearts and reminds us that we are not walking in the spirit. The peace of Christ comes to us when we obediently submit ourselves to God's Divine Will through the authority of the Church. Then, we are blessed with Divine peace; we are no longer troubled or afraid. The mixed feelings that we once had, they have faded away.

The third common factor that is found in all three of today's readings is that we are called to walk with the Spirit of Christ. When we walk with the Spirit of Christ, we shine in the fruit of the Spirit. These are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." [Gal. 5:22-3]

Those who walk with the Spirit of Christ, they are led by the Spirit. When the apostles and the elders reviewed the issue of circumcision that Paul and Barnabas had brought before them, such was done under the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit. This truth is affirmed in the content of the response that the Church authority sent to Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. The reply from Jerusalem began with the words, "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." In other words, they were walking in the Spirit of Christ, proclaiming spiritual wisdom that had been made known to them through the Holy Spirit.

During the reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus made reference to the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in His Name. Such was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost [Acts 2:1] when the Lord Jesus breath the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. [Jn. 20:22; Acts 2:2-4] At that moment, the official ministry of the Holy Spirit had its beginning on earth.

In making known to us the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is twofold. The first goal is to build up the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Visible in nature with its seat in Rome, its invisible reflection is the holy city with its seat in Jerusalem where the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church had its beginning. The unity of the two form the mystical Body of Christ, the Church also being known as the Bride of Christ. The second goal is to sanctify us in Christ so we may be purified and transformed in the likeness of Jesus.

Today's Second Reading from the Book of Revelation spoke of the holy city that is being built by the Holy Spirit for the "glory of God." [Rev. 21:11] Year after year, as the saints are added to it membership by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, the holy city progressively experiences growth. This growth shall continue until such time as God determines in His infinite Wisdom that the fullness of the spiritual Jerusalem has been achieved.

In consideration of all what has been said until now, in the Christian spirit, we are called to do all things in the spirit with the Spirit of Christ. The three applications of the word "spirit" cannot be separated. It is by the power of the Spirit of Christ that we received our new creation, that we are being transformed into holy beings and that we are being moved to imitate the love of Christ towards our Christian brothers and sisters. Without the Spirit of Christ, we would be spiritually dead.

Through the same Holy Spirit, we are drawn towards Jesus in the unity of the Christian spirit. Through the same Holy Spirit, we are sanctified in the likeness of Christ. Through the same Holy Spirit, the works of God are manifested through our humble persons who are subjected to Christ in obedience and humility.

My brothers and sisters, this week, let us reflect upon these three things. When we do, let us remember the words, "He, me and us."

"He" is the "Holy Spirit" through Who all spiritual things become viable.

"Me" is my newly created "human spirit" that is moved by the Holy Spirit for the good of the whole Church.

"Us," by the power of the Holy Spirit, is the blooming "Christian spirit" that embraces the unity of the many human spirits who have answered their calling.

Offertory:

1.      O Dios Dawata

2.      Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios

3.      Gasa sa Gugma

4.      Unang Alay

5.      Pag-aalay

6.      Ang Tanging Alay Ko

7.      Living Sacrifice

8.      I Offer my Life

9.      Pastorale

Communion:

1.      Si Jesus ang Dalan

2.      O Espiritu Santo (F30)

3.      Kini Maong Akong Lawas

4.      Ako ang Kahayag

5.      Espiritung Banal

6.      Panginoon Narito Ako

7.      Diyos ay Pag-ibig

8.      Narito Ako

9.      Ang Kaluluwa Ko’y Nauuhaw

10.  How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place

11.  In My Heart

12.  Spirit Song (Winber)

13.  Lord Here I Am

14.  We Await You Spirit (if not used in Entrance)

Recessional:

1.      Ang Tawag

2.      Pag-inambitay

3.      Pagbanwag

4.      Magpasalamat sa Kanya

5.      Humayo’t Ihayag

6.      Pananagutan

7.      I Will Sing Forever

8.      Thank You, Lord

9.      Thank You (Hangad)

Sana’y makatulong ito J

Suggested Songs for April 28, 2013 Mass

April 28, 2013

5^th Sunday of Easter Year C

Liturgical Color : WHITE

“A SERVICE OF LOVE IN THE LORD JESUS”

ENTRANCE SONG:

1.      Awit Mga Binuhat

2.      Pag-inambitay

3.      Bayan Umawit

4.      Magsiawit sa Panginoon

5.      Praise God

6.      Sing a New Song

FIRST Reading                                 ACTS 14:21-27

After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news

to that city and made a considerable number of disciples,

they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples

and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,

“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships

to enter the kingdom of God.”

They appointed elders for them in each church and,

with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord

in whom they had put their faith.

Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.

After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch,

where they had been commended to the grace of God

for the work they had now accomplished.

And when they arrived, they called the church together

and reported what God had done with them

and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

RESPONSORIAL Psalm PS 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

SECOND Reading                            REV 21:1-5A

Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.

The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,

and the sea was no more.

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.

He will dwell with them and they will be his people

and God himself will always be with them as their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,

and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,

for the old order has passed away.”

The One who sat on the throne said,

“Behold, I make all things new.”

GOSPEL                                            JN 13:31-33A, 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

If God is glorified in him,

God will also glorify him in himself,

and God will glorify him at once.

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.

I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

REFLECTION OF THE READINGS:

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to today's celebration of the Fifth Sunday of Easter. When considering Easter Sunday as a starting point for the spiritual journey of new converts, we come to perceive that during the liturgical calendar, the Spirit of God leads the souls towards a gradual spiritual growth. For us who have been Catholics for a number of years, this same spiritual process serves the purpose of reminding us of what we have already been taught during previous years so we may continue to be enriched in the knowledge and understanding of our Faith.

Reviewing the past few weeks, on Easter Sunday, we proclaimed that the Lord Jesus had indeed risen. On the Second Sunday of Easter, the liturgical readings opened our eyes to the early history of the Christian Church. The following Sunday, we were reminded of our loyalty to the Lord Jesus. Last week, we reflected on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, hearing His voice and following Him. Today, in the next step towards our spiritual growth, we are called to reflect on our service of love in the Lord Jesus.

During the Gospel Reading, we all heard the Words of Jesus when He gave us a new commandment, "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." [Jn. 13:34] To this, Jesus added, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." [Jn. 13:35] By shining in love towards one another, others will know that we are the disciples of Jesus.

These Words of Jesus remind us of the words that are found in the First Letter of John. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love." [1 Jn. 4:7-8] "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them." [1 Jn. 4:16]

"Those who say, 'I love God,' and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him (Jesus) is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." [1 Jn. 4:20-1]

My brothers and sisters, the love that we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ is but a reflection of the love that we have for God. If we love God, we seek to please Him in all things. To please God, we must obey the commandment of Jesus to love one another. By our obedience to this commandment, our love is perfected in the Lord Jesus so the heavenly Father may love us as He loves His only begotten Son.

Perfect love unites the children of God, (pause) without exception. If biological brothers and sisters are divided among each other, where is the love of God? If parents disown their children or the children continuously disobey their parents, where is the love of God? If a family is divided and no one is doing anything to reunite it in the love of God, where is the love of God? It is not in the family and it is not in those who know the family and remain silent to the division that harbours anger, hatred, violence, verbal abuse and all the works of Satan.

Where is the love of God when a nation is divided? The innocent are murdered. The children are orphaned. The women are raped. The refugees go hungry. The homes are destroyed. The drinking water is poisoned. Is this a service of love in the Lord Jesus?

Where is the love of God when the unborn are aborted? The life of the elderly and the sick is ended. The seniors are abandoned by their relatives. The state enforces the death penalty. The rich rob the poor. Those claiming to be christians are killing each other in the name of God. Is this a service of love in the Lord Jesus?

My brothers and sisters in Christ, who are we deceiving? Are we not deceiving ourselves? When the abnormal has become the norm, are we shining in a service of love in the Lord Jesus? Indeed, who are we deceiving but ourselves?

During today's First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the praiseworthy service of love that the Christians had for each other in the Lord Jesus. Paul and Barnabas continued on their mission from town to town, "strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith." [Acts 14:22]

Repeating the words of Paul and Barnabas, this is what they said, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." [Acts 14:22] When they were telling the believers that they must persevere through many persecutions, Paul and Barnabas were not telling them to be the cause of each other's persecution. They were not telling them that the Christians should be divided among each other and killing each other as is seen in some countries today. No, the persecutors were the non-believers, those who rejected Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God.

While it is very disturbing to see non-believers persecute Christians, how much more disturbing it is when those who are persecuting the Christians are those who claim to be Christians themselves. While they may bear the name of Christian, there is no doubt whatsoever that they are not Christians because they do not have the love of God in them. They are not Christians because they do not love their brothers and sisters in Christ. Nor do they know God because the love of God is not in them!

To shine in a service of love in the Lord Jesus is to imitate the saints of the Church such as St. Paul. In his love for Jesus, he appointed elders to lead the believers in each church. With prayer and fasting, he and Barnabas entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. And when they completed their mission, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.

Witnessing to the power of the Holy Spirit by the grace of the Heavenly Father, they shared their spiritual joy with their brothers and sisters in Christ. By doing so, they were strengthening the faith and hope of the believers. Surely, God blessed all of the Christians who were present. He provided them with the opportunity to hear of His Almighty power as the eternal Lord.

It is the same today. When a missionary comes from a foreign land and relates his personal experience of the goodness of the Lord God towards the new converts, those who are present, they are blessed by the Lord. For the Lord God provides them with the opportunity to hear first hand of all the awesome wonders that have been performed by His Spirit in the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ.

Today's Second Reading from the Book of Revelation helps us to understand the purpose of the progressive development of the spiritual wonders of God within the Holy Catholic Church.

In his vision, while in the spirit [Rev. 1:10] in a state of ecstacy, John saw a new heaven and a new earth. [Rev. 21:1] What was this new heaven and this new earth? It was the glorious arrival of the long awaited "salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah." [Rev. 12:10]

Through the Blood of the Lamb, [Rev. 12:11] the Kingdom of Heaven was regained when Michael and his angels fought against the dragon who was defeated and casted out of Heaven. [Rev. 12:7-9] At the same time, through the Blood of Christ, the spiritual Kingdom of God, invisible in nature, descended on earth. Those who qualify to enter the Kingdom of God are those who are born again of water and Spirit [Jn.3:5] through the Church Sacrament of Baptism. Through their new creation, they become members of the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of God on earth.

As Jesus said, "What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit." [Jn. 3:6] "The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." [Jn. 4:23-4]

(References to the human spirit: Job 32:8; Prov. 18:14, 20:27; Ecc. 3:21; Ezek. 11:19, 36:26; Zech. 12:1; Mt. 26:41; Lk. 8:55; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 2:11)

Through the newly created nature that we have all received during the Sacrament of Baptism, we were admitted into the invisible Kingdom of God on earth so we may worship God in spirit and truth. The earth is not the same anymore. Once, Satan was its ruler. Now, through the Blood of Christ, the earth is being transformed. With each new Baptism, the number of the children of God continues to grow and grow. And it shall continue to do so until such time as every human being has been baptized to receive the new creation and "the indwelling Holy Spirit in our hearts as a first instalment." [2 Cor. 1:22] Then, it shall be said that Satan has completely lost his kingdom. Christ will have conquered him by crushing death itself.

The new heaven and the new earth are spiritual domains that are here now, coexisting with our world. They are the fulfillment of God's promise through Isaiah. "I am about to do a new thing." [Is. 43:19] "For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth." [Is. 65:17] Now some may say that the new heaven and the new earth are not here. These are yet to come. But this is not the case. Listen to the Words of God from today's reading.

"I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God.'" [Rev. 21:2-3] The reading says, "The home of God is among mortals." It does not say, "It is now among immortals." Once we have passed on from this life and we have entered the Heavenly Kingdom of God, we will have become immortals.

While it cannot be denied that God is present in Heaven, in this specific passage of the Holy Bible, it is a reference to the Divine Presence of God on earth in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and His dwelling in the Sacred Tabernacle. Through the Holy Eucharist, God is among mortals. He dwells with us as our God. Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is fulfilled the promise of Jesus to the Samaritan woman, that "the hour is now here when we as true worshippers are worshipping God the Father in spirit and in truth, such being pleasing to God." [Jn. 4:23-4]

In this case, when the Holy Bible speaks of death being no more, mourning and crying and pain being no more, these things having passed away, such a description is of the spiritual nature of the newly created human spirit that we have received during the Sacrament of Baptism. Our new creation cannot experience spiritual death because it is of the seed of God. [1 Jn. 3:9]. As the angels have no need of food or drink, our human spirits cannot hunger or thirst because of their spiritual nature. Our spiritual nature cannot feel pain because pain results from the physical nature. Through our new creation is fulfilled the promises of the Lord God.

The description of the new creation, the new earth, the new heaven, [Rev. 21:1] the new heart, the new human spirit, [Ezek. 11:19-20, 18:31, 36:26-7] the indwelling Holy Spirit, [Ezek. 11:19-20, 18:31, 36:26; Jer. 24:7, 31:33; Heb. 10:16] these are all the high point of the Book of Revelation. "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; everything has become new!" [2 Cor. 5:17]

When the Holy Bible states that the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God is a Holy City, it tells us that it has a Divine origin. God is the Architect and the Builder of the city. [Heb. 11:10]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Book of Revelation, there is only one place where God Himself speaks. His Words are, "See, I am making all things new." [Rev. 21:5] God is making all things new for us so we may shine in our service of love in the Lord Jesus.

Through our membership in the Mystical Body of Christ which includes the Kingdom of God on earth, we are drawn to love and worship God as we were created to love and worship Him. Through our spiritual growth during our daily personal relationship with God, we obtain the necessary graces for the love of God that is in us may shine towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, through God's creation of new things, we are justified and sanctified so our service of love in the Lord Jesus may shine towards our brothers and sisters as it was meant to shine.

OFFERTORY:

1.      Mugna sa Dios

2.      Gasa sa Gugma

3.      Pag-aalay

4.      Paghahandog ng Sarili

5.      One Bread, One Body

6.      Take our Bread

COMMUNION:

1.      Kini Maong Akong Lawas

2.      Balaan nga Gugma

3.      Gugma ang Dios

4.      Pagkakaibigan

5.      Pagkabighani

6.      Kahanga-hanga

7.      Kaibigan, Kapanalig

8.      God of Love (Schutte)

9.      Here in this Place (Haas)

10.  How lovely is your dwelling place (Aquino)

11.  Love is the Answer (Hannisian)

12.  We Remember (Haugen) Stanza 4 ang priority.

RECESSIONAL:

1.      Ang Tawag

2.      Pag-inambitay (if not used in entrance)

3.      Tanda ng Kaharian

4.      Ito ang bagong Araw

5.      All my Days

6.      I will Sing Forever

7.      My Heart’s Thanksgiving