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Suggested Songs for Pentecost Sunday Mass May 27, 2012


May 27, 2012
Pentecost Sunday in Year B
Liturgical Color : Red

Pentecost (Ancient Greek: Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the Fiftieth [day]") is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the remaining elevenApostles of Christ (Judas had hung himself), included in the 12 Disciples in the Upper Room, after the Resurrection of Jesus. The feast is also called Whit Sunday, Whitsun, or Whit, especially in the United Kingdom, where the following Monday was traditionally a holiday. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Easter Sunday, hence its name. Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday.
Among Christians, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Twelve apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-31. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as the "Birthday of the Church."
The Pentecostal movement of Christianity derives its name from the New Testament event.
We would like to suggest, you can mix languages of your selections of songs for the mass. Like for the Entrance you can sing it in Latin, English song for Offertory, Tagalog for Communion and your own regional dialect for the Recessional to commemorate this celebration that the apostles speaks of the different languages.
For comment and suggestions, you can comment it here (below) or send it to dmecchoir@yahoo.com . Thank You!
If you serve in a 6 AM, 12 NN or 6 PM mass when there would be Angelus/Regina Coeli before or after the Mass, try to work out an arrangement with the commentators and/or lectors and the choirs: Will the Regina Coeli be said or sung? If it will be sung, then sing for

English: Hangad’s Queen of Heaven, Rejoice

Filipino: Reyna ng Langit: BP in Tinapay ng Buhay Album.


Entrance:
Himaya Kanimo (Koro Vianista)
Awit sa Himaya
Diha Halaran
Bayan Magsiawit Na (Aquino)
Bayan, Umawit (Borres, Baltazar and Francisco)
Pagbabasbas (Javellana, Arboleda and Francisco)
Send us Your Spirit (Haas)
Come Holy Spirit
Send Your Spirit (Hangad)
Veni Creator Spiritus
Kyrie:
Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Fernandez)
Kyrie Mass IV (Villanueva)
Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)
Lord Have Mercy (Acts and Potencies)

Gloria:
Himaya sa Dios (Gloria) C3
Gloria Mass VIII (Villanueva)
Papuri sa Dios (Hontiveros)
Luwalhati sa Dios (Sengson)
Give Glory to God
Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)
First Reading                                                             Acts 2:1-11
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
"Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Second Reading                                                         1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13
Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Or Gal 5:16-25
Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Gospel Acclamation:
Aleluya Pagdaygon ang Dios
Aleluya (Francisco)
Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)
Celtic Alleluia
Seek Ye First

Gospel                                                             Jn 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Or                                                       Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."

Homily/Personal Reflection of the Readings:

Today, we are celebrating Pentecost Sunday. Some of you may ask yourselves, "What is the origin of Pentecost in the Catholic Church?" According to the New Catholic Dictionary of 1929, the word Pentecost is Greek for "pentecostes" which means "fiftieth." This feast "commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, and takes its name from the fact that it comes nearly fifty days after Easter. It was a Jewish festival, and has been observed in the Christian Church since the days of the apostles. It is often called Whitsunday (White Sunday) from the practice of giving solemn Baptism on that day in early centuries, the candidates being attired in white baptismal robes."

Today's three readings made reference to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, being baptized in the Spirit and being sent forth to proclaim the Word of God so others may convert to the living faith.

The arrival of the Holy Spirit was affirmed in the First Reading [Acts 2:1-11] when we heard, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. Being baptized in the Spirit was affirmed in the Second Reading [1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12- 13] when it was said, "In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." And being sent to proclaim the Word of God was affirmed in the Gospel Reading [Jn. 20:19-23] when we heard, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." These three passages are the gist of today's homily.

While preparing my homily, I was guided by the Spirit to review what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about Pentecost in relationship to the Church. Today, I would like to share with you some of those teachings.

"The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of his people in the language of the promise, with the accents of "love and fidelity." [Ezek 11:19; 36:25-28; 37:1-14; Jer 31:31-34; and cf. Joel 3:1-5] St. Peter proclaimed their fulfillment on the morning of Pentecost. [Acts 2:17-21] According to these promises, at the 'end time' the Lord's Spirit will renew the hearts of men, engraving a new law in them. He will gather and reconcile the scattered and divided peoples; he will transform the first creation, and God will dwell there with men in peace." (C.C.C. # 715)

"On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover was fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, poured out the Spirit in abundance." [Acts 2:33-36] (C.C.C. # 731)

"'When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church.' [LG 4; Cf. Jn 17:4] Then 'the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun.' [AG 4] As the 'convocation' of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them." [Mt 28:19-20; AG 2; 5-6] (C.C.C. # 767)

"The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. [SC 6; LG 2] The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the 'dispensation of the mystery' the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, 'until he comes.' [1 Cor 11:26] In this age of the Church Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls 'the sacramental economy'; this is the communication (or 'dispensation') of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church's 'sacramental" liturgy.'" (C.C.C. # 1076)

"Since Pentecost, it is through the sacramental signs of his Church that the Holy Spirit carries on the work of sanctification. The sacraments of the Church do not abolish but purify and integrate all the richness of the signs and symbols of the cosmos and of social life. Further, they fulfill the types and figures of the Old Covenant, signify and make actively present the salvation wrought by Christ, and prefigure and anticipate the glory of heaven." (C.C.C. # 1152)

"From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' [Acts 2:38] The apostles and their collaborators offer Baptism to anyone who believed in Jesus: Jews, the God-fearing, pagans. [Cf. Acts 2:41; 8:12-13; 10:48; 16:15] Always, Baptism is seen as connected with faith: 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household,' St. Paul declared to his jailer in Philippi. And the narrative continues, the jailer 'was baptized at once, with all his family.'" [Acts 16:31-33] (C.C.C. # 1226)

"According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [Rom 6:3-4; cf. Col 2:12] The baptized have 'put on Christ.' [Gal 3:27] Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies." [CE 1 Cor 6:11; 12:13] (C.C.C. # 1227)

"Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the 'imperishable seed' of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect. [1 Pet 1:23; cf. Eph 5:26] St. Augustine says of Baptism: 'The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament.'" [St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 80, 3: PL 35, 1840] (C.C.C. # 1228)

"This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. [Ezek 36:25-27; Joel 3:1-2] On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, [Lk 12:12; Jn 3:5-8; 7:37-39; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8] a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost. [Jn 20:22; Acts 2:1-14] Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty works of God," and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. [Acts 2:11; Cf. 2:17-18] Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn." [Acts 2:38] (C.C.C.# 1287)

"From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church." [Paul VI, Divinae consortium naturae, 659; Cf. Acts 8:15-17; 19:5-6; Heb 6:2] (C.C.C. # 1288)

"It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost." (C.C.C. # 1302)

"From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, 'Abba! Father!'; [Rom 8:15]

- it unites us more firmly to Christ;

- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;

- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; [LG 11] 

- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross: [Council Of Florence (1439) DS 1319; LG 11; 12]

Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts." [SL Ambrose, De myst. 7, 42 PL 16, 402-403] (C.C.C. # 1303)

"Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the 'character,' which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness." [Council Of Trent (1547) DS 1609; Lk 24:48-49] (C.C.C. # 1304)

"This 'character' perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and 'the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi ex officio).'" [St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 72, 5, ad 2] (C.C.C. # 1305)

Finally, "In the Lord's Prayer, 'thy kingdom come' refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ's return. [Titus 2:13] But, far from distracting the Church from her mission in this present world, this desire commits her to it all the more strongly. Since Pentecost, the coming of that Reign is the work of the Spirit of the Lord who 'complete[s] his work on earth and brings us the fullness of grace.'" [Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer IV, 118] (C.C.C. # 2818)

Offertory:
Gasa sa Gugma
O Dios Dawata
Pagdaygon ka Dios
Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios
Unsay Among Dalhon, Ginoo
Isang Pagkain, 1 Katawan, 1 Bayan (San Pedro)
Paghahandog ng Sarili (Arboleda, Francisco)
One Bread, One Body (Foley) “Many the gifts” is reminiscent of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Take our Bread (Wise) Stanza 2 ang priority.

Sanctus:
Santos (Mass 21 Villanueva)
Santos (Fernandez)
Santos (Hontiveros)
Sanctus (pwede yung latin chant or yung English translation)
Holy (Dufford-Schutte)

Acclamation:
Si Kristo atong Handumon
Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay
Dying
Christ Has Died, Alleluia (Wise)

Amen:
Amen (chord of A D)
Amen (Francisco, Arboleda, Reyes, Torres)
Doxology (Dufford)

Pater Noster:
At your choice… If the congregation can participate to sing this, that would be better.

Doxology:
Kay Imo Man (Chord of Am)
Sapagkat
For the Kingdom

Agnus Dei:
Kordero sa Dios IV (chord of Dm-B)
Kordero ng Dios (Que)
Lamb of God (Folk)

Communion:
Balaan nga Gugma
Ang Kalinaw Ibilin Ko Kaninyo
O Espiritu Santo
O Dios Ikaw Haduol
Kinabuhi Mo, Kinabuhi Ko
Liwanagan Mo, Hesus (Aquino)
Espiritung Banal
You Never Left Me (Hangad)
Let Your Fire Fall
Here I am Lord
Breath of God (Hatch & Francisco)
The Presence of Jesus (Haas): Stanza 5 ang priority

Recessional:
Ang Tawag
Ang Atong Tulubagon
Ang Tawag sa Panahon
Diocesan Shared Vision
Humayo’t Ihayag (Francisco, Catalan, and Go)
O Bayan ng Dios
Pilgrim’s Theme (Go & Francisco)
We are Yours
Live by the Spirit.
I Will Sing (Francisco) dapat may chant yung “mamaye”

Have a nice weekend everyone J

Suggested Songs for May 20, 2012 Mass


May 20, 2012
Ascension Sunday in Year B, Communications Sunday
Liturgical color: White

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;


Entrance:
1.      Diha sa Halaran
2.      Awit sa Himaya
3.      Mag-ambahan Kita
4.      Magsiawit sa Panginoon (Isidro and Que)
5.      Bayan, Umawit (Borres, Baltazar, and Francisco)
6.      Purihin ang Panginoon (Isidro and Ramirez)
7.      Sing a new song (Schutte). Don’t forget to replace “Yahweh’s people” to “O God’s people.”
8.      Sing to the Mountains (Dufford)
9.      Play before the Lord (Dufford) Stanza 2 ang priority.
10.  Lover of us all (Schutte)


Kyrie:
1.      Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami (Fernandez)
2.      Kyrie Mass IV (Villanueva)
3.      Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)
4.      Lord Have Mercy (Acts and Potencies)

Gloria:
1.      Himaya sa Dios (Gloria) C3
2.      Gloria Mass VIII (Villanueva)
3.      Papuri sa Dios (Hontiveros)
4.      Luwalhati sa Dios (Sengson)
5.      Give Glory to God
6.      Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)

First Reading                                                             Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for "the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When they had gathered together they asked him,
"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, "Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
Responsorial Psalm                                                   Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

Second Reading                                                         Eph 1:17-23
Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Gospel Acclamation:
1.      Aleluya Pagdaygon ang Dios
2.      Aleluya (Francisco)
3.      Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)
4.      Celtic Alleluia

Gospel                                                                Mk 16:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Homily/Personal Reflections of the Readings:

My brothers and sisters in Jesus, children of the Lord who is abounding in steadfast love, welcome to today's celebration of the Holy Mass. I pray that the love and grace of Jesus dwells within all of you on this beautiful spiritual day. 

Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. This Feast commemorates the elevation of Christ into Heaven by His own power in the presence of His disciples on the fortieth day after His glorious Resurrection.

The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven completed His earthly work of our redemption. Through His numerous apparitions to hundreds of people between the Day of His glorious Resurrection and the Day of His Ascension, Jesus proved two things. First of all, He proved that He was the promised Messiah. Secondly, He proved that through He Who overcame death, those who persevere in their living faith shall also overcome death and inherit the Kingdom of God.

Based on the writings of St. Augustine, the Catholic Church believes that the observance of the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus is of Apostolic origin. During the 5 th century, St. Augustine wrote that this Feast was of universal observance within the Church far long before his time.

During today's First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles that spiritually enriched us with the Word of God, we heard the words that were written in the beginning of the second book of St. Luke to Theophilus. In his first book, the Gospel According to Luke, St. Luke wrote an orderly account about what Jesus had done and taught from the beginning of His ministry until the day when He was taken up to Heaven after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. Now, St. Luke was writing about what took place following those days.

For forty days, Jesus had appeared to His disciples, presenting Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs. While speaking about the Kingdom of God, Jesus explained the Scriptures to His disciples. He ate and drank with them. He walked on the Road to Emmaus with some. He allowed some to touch Him to prove that He had a physical body.

Having done these things, Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until such time as they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of the promise of the Father. While John the Baptist baptized with water for the repentance of sins, Jesus would baptize His disciples with the Holy Spirit.

Through His actions, Jesus was opening the eyes of His disciples as to what was to come. In seeking to understand what was to come, some asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?" Jesus answered, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority." Failing to perceive the unmeasurable greatness of the mystery of God that was unravelling itself before their eyes, some of the disciples still longed for a worldly kingdom, a time when the enemies of the Jewish people would be destroyed. Had the disciples forgotten the past teachings of Jesus when He had told them not to believe in those who would say that the kingdom of God is here or there because it is within?
Jesus said to His disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the eyes of the disciples would be opened. They would embrace a spiritual heart that would open their minds to the fact that the spiritual Kingdom of God has come on earth as it is in Heaven. They would perceive that the spiritual Kingdom of God embraces all the saints of the past, present and future who are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. For it is living faith in Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism that one is born again and qualifies to receive salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

When Jesus had finished telling His disciples what they needed to know, He was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight. When we say that Jesus was lifted up into Heaven, it is not meant that to the height of the clouds is Heaven. It simply means that Jesus disappeared from their view. He was raised up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

After Jesus was lifted up and the cloud took Him out of the sight of the disciples, they kept gazing towards heaven. Suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them and asked them why they were looking up towards heaven. They told the disciples that Jesus shall return in the same way that He was taken up into Heaven.

Contrary to the false teachings that we hear around us, Jesus shall not return to this world through a second physical birth. Nor shall He return to come and get 144,000 chosen ones to raise them to Heaven. When He returns, it will be at the end of this age when this physical world shall come to its end. It shall be at the resurrection of the bodies, at the moment before the final judgment of all.

While awaiting that moment, St. Paul tells us through today's Second Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians that we should lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We are reminded that there is One Body of Christ and one Spirit of God. The Body of Christ is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Jesus has instituted on earth. To this Body and Spirit, we have been called to the one hope of our calling, to one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Contrary to the false circulating teachings of many, there is no salvation outside the one Body of Christ. Not all or many Churches lead to Christ and to salvation. Not all Churches in this world have the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Each Church has its own doctrines. Only one Church has the true doctrine, the truth that Jesus taught to His followers. Jesus instituted only one Church on earth. All other Churches have been instituted by men. And the true Church is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that has its seat in Rome under our spiritual father and Vicar of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI. Just as the human body without a spirit is dead, [Jas. 2:26] the bodies of the false Churches without the Spirit of Christ are dead!

Before the coming of Christ on earth, man was a slave to sin. He was a captive within the kingdom of Satan who was the prince of this world. Since the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, God reclaimed His Kingdom, making captivity itself a captive. Through Christ, the captives of Satan become the captives of Jesus. To Jesus, we are indebted for our freedom from the slavery of sin.

Over and above Jesus making captives out of His people, He gave them gifts. To each was given grace according to what Jesus determined was needed for the spiritual growth of His Body. Some were called to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until all have come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

"In Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, there are similar lists of gifts. However, there are some striking differences. In Ephesians, it is a question of the universal Church and not particular communities. The gifts are concentrated in certain "offices" within the Church. No mention is made of individual charismatic gifts of tongues, healing, etc... as in 1 Corinthians." (The Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 347)

During today's Second Reading, we heard St. Paul asking what it meant that Jesus had ascended. Did it mean that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? No! In this passage, it meant that He who descended from Heaven, who had been sent by the Father, is the same One who ascended far above all the heavens. Jesus has returned to Heaven from where He came from.

Today's spiritual message is found in the Gospel Reading that we heard earlier. When Jesus appeared to the eleven, He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved: but the one who does not believe will be condemned." In other words, those who do not believe and refuse the Sacrament of Baptism will be condemned. It is absolutely necessary that one be baptised of water and Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

To those who believe, Jesus promised to bless them with spiritual signs. In His Name, they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Again, I must emphasize that these gifts are not the same as the gifts that are found in Romans and 1 Corinthians. Some of these gifts were given to the disciples of Christ in the early days of the founding of the Catholic Church for the benefit of the universal Church. As such, I do not recommend that anyone should go out and play with snakes and poison to test the Word of God. In all likelihood, unless prevented by the grace of God as part of His mysterious Divine Plan, they will be bitten and they will be poisoned.

Having said this, after being taken up into Heaven, the disciples went out and proclaimed the Good News everywhere. Today, we see the fruit of their work because Jesus worked with them and confirmed the messages by the signs that accompanied the Gospel.

For two thousand years, the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has valiantly persisted by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Most Holy Name of Jesus. For two thousand years, the Catholic Church has proclaimed the Good News to the whole creation, generation after generation. For two thousands years, the Ascension of the Lord has been commemorated in thoughts, in words and in actions.

My brothers and sisters, as you reflect upon the Ascension of the Lord Jesus during the coming week, remember that while Jesus has ascended into Heaven, He is here with us today. He is present in our hearts. He is present in His apostolic Church. He is physically present in the Holy Eucharist and in the Sacred Tabernacle. As mysterious as it appears, while He has ascended, our faith affirms to us that He is still here with us.

May Jesus always be with each and every one of you as you are moved by His Spirit to proclaim the Good News to those around you.
Offertory:
1.      Dios Nia Ko
2.      O Dios Dawata
3.      Diyutay Lang Kini
4.      Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios
5.      Narito Ako (San Andres)
6.      Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)
7.      Unang Alay (Magnaye)
8.      Dwelling Place (Foley)
9.      How shall I sing to God (Haas)
10.  One Bread, One Body (Foley)
11.  Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda) “That I do Your most holy will”

Sanctus:
  1. Santos (Mass 21 Villanueva)
  2. Santos (Fernandez)
  3. Santos (Hontiveros)
  4. Sanctus (pwede yung latin chant or yung English translation)
  5. Holy (Dufford-Schutte)

Acclamation:
1.      Si Kristo atong Handumon
2.      Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay
3.      Dying
4.      Christ Has Died, Alleluia (Wise)

Amen:
1.      Amen (chord of A D)
2.      Amen (Francisco, Arboleda, Reyes, Torres)
3.      Doxology (Dufford)

Pater Noster:
At your choice… If the congregation can participate to sing this, that would be better.

Doxology:
1.      Kay Imo Man (Chord of Am)
2.      Sapagkat
3.      For the Kingdom

Agnus Dei:
1.      Kordero sa Dios IV (chord of Dm-B)
2.      Kordero ng Dios (Que)
3.      Lamb of God (Folk)

Communion:
1.      O Dios Ikaw Haduol
2.      Mao Kining Akong Lawas
3.      Way Sukod ang Pagmahal
4.      Kaibigan, kapanalig (Ofrasio & Hontiveros)
5.      Pagsibol (Aquino)
6.      Kaibigan “’Di ka nag-iisa, kasama mo ako”
7.      Pagkakaibigan (Cenzon & Abad-Santos)
8.      Huwag kang Mangamba (Pagsanghan & Francisco)
9.      Tubig ng Buhay (Valdellon)
10.  Far Greater Love (Go & Francisco)
11.  Here in this Place (Haas)
12.  I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)
13.  Here I am Lord (Schutte)

Recessional:
1.      Kinsa?
2.      Ang atong Tulubagon
3.      Humayo’t Ihayag
4.      O Bayan ng Dios (Aquino)
5.      All my days (Schutte & Murray)
6.      I will sing forever (Francisco)


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