Suggested Songs for August 19, 2012 Mass

August 19, 2012

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Liturgical Color : Green

"In full communion with God and the Church."

Entrance…

1.     Diosnong Magtutudlo, “aron lamang mabuhi sa imong mga hatag.”

2.     Awit mga Binuhat Click Here!

3.     Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (Hontiveros) swak sa first reading

4.     Pag-aalaala (Francisco) “Sa piging”

5.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano & Francisco) 

6.     Sa Piging na Handog (Carlos, Villaroman) 

7.     Sa Piging ng Panginoon (Tabuena, Hontiveros) 

8.     Table of Plenty

Kyrie…

1.     Kyrie 5^th Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo, chord of Am E7

3.     Ginoo Malooy Ka, chord of Dm A7 Dm

4.     Panginoon Maawa Ka, chord of Em-Am-B7

5.     Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)

6.     Lord Have Mercy (Francisco – Reyes)

7.     Kyrie Eleison (Misa de Angeles)

Gloria…

1.     Gloria 5^th Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

3.     Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)

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First Reading...

"Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her servant girls, she calls from the highest places in the town, 'You that are simple turn in here.'

To those without sense she says, 'Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.'" [Prov. 9:1-6]

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Responsorial Psalm. . .

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 
Let my soul glory in the LORD; 
the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me, 
let us together extol his name. 
I sought the LORD, and he answered me 
and delivered me from all my fears.

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, 
and your faces may not blush with shame. 
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard, 
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.                Psalm 34

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Second Reading...

"Brothers and sisters, be careful how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making music to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." [Ephes. 5:15-20]

Gospel Acclamation

1.     Aleluya sa ‘tong Ginoo

2.     Aleluya Lamdag Ka

3.     Aleluya (Francisco)

4.     Aleluya Kami Ay Gawin Mong Daan

5.     Celtic Alleluia (O’Caroll – Walker)

6.     Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)

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Gospel Reading...

"Jesus said to the people, 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.'

The people then disputed among themselves saying, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?'

So Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you. Whoever eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.

Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." [Jn. 6:51-8]

Reflections or Interpretation of the Readings (Aug. 19):

Greetings to all in the Name of the glorious Lord Jesus who show impartiality towards all. As parishioners or visitors, young or old, male or female, married or single, the Lord God loves you all equally. He has the best interest of each and everyone of you, seeking to grant you salvation and eternal life in His Kingdom.

Today's three readings that were just read from the Holy Scriptures can be summarized in a few simple words: "Be in full communion with God and the Church!"

What does it mean to be in full communion with God? It means to obey the commandments of God so that you may be in perfect harmony in your daily personal relationship with Him.

What does it mean to be in full communion with the Church? It means to obey the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church that has been instituted on earth through Jesus. It means that, as the Church is obligated to relate the teachings of Christ to the people so they may know the ways of the Lord God, the faithful are obligated by their baptismal promise to live their faith in Christ according to the teachings of the Church. By doing so, the faithful progressively grow in perfect harmony with the Body of Christ through their daily personal relationship with the Church.

Today's readings communicated to you wisdom versus foolishness. They invited you to wisdom. And, in this particular case, the wisdom that was referred to, was your participation in the banquet of the Lord. Wisdom told you to get your lives in order for two reasons. First of all, so you may participate in the banquet of the Lord in His physical Presence through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Secondly, so you may participate in the heavenly banquet in the spiritual Presence of the Lord by inheriting your salvation through Christ. To achieve this goal, you must be in full communion with God and the Church.

Most of the content of today's First Reading [Prov. 9:1-6] was symbolic. "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars." In other words, God is establishing His Kingdom on earth as in Heaven. The earthly Kingdom is the mystical body of Christ. The number seven is symbolic of perfection. God's perfection is seen through the Church, a reflection of the invisible mystical Body of Christ. Our perfection is found through our participation in the Church Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we worship God in spirit and truth. For the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. [Jn. 4:23-4]

The reference to mixing the wine during the First Reading was a reference to spices being added to the wine to increase its flavour. This was a common practice in those days. The table had been set, the animals slaughtered and the wine mixed. Meat and wine were the foods of a great feast. This was a prophetic and symbolic reference to Christ instituting the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist on the night of the Last Supper.

Invite the simple! Who are the simple? They are those who are searching for the truth with a sincerity of heart. They are those who are open-minded to the truth as taught by Christ. Most little children are simple. They have blind faith in Jesus and Mary, longing for the blessed hope of the promises of the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. They believe!

As adults, you have been influenced by your environment, your families, your friends, your co-workers, etc... You have a tendency of setting aside that simplicity. You create a multiplicity of problems that impede your spiritual growth. You question the teachings of the Church, some even challenging them. If you had spent as much time on your spiritual growth as you have spent on challenging the teachings of the Church, surely, most of you would be very holy. But as you all know, human nature is in constant conflict with the spiritual nature. Day after day, you struggle to overcome the human nature. The answer to spiritual peace lies in placing your lives in the care of the Lord Jesus by becoming simple, by trusting in Him, in His guidance, His teachings, His infinite love, His promise of salvation that leads to eternal peace and joy.

Your participation in the Eucharistic banquet is itself an anticipation of the heavenly banquet. Jesus said, "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." [Jn. 6:51, 58] You all need the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as your assurance of salvation. Without it, you are walking towards spiritual death. Without it, your soul will be deprived of the Kingdom of God.

Nowadays, it is sad how many of the faithful neglect to defend their faith for the sake of the salvation of their children, their grandchildren, their nephews and nieces, etc... by not emphasizing the absolute necessity of the Sacrament of Baptism. 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] No one will enter the Kingdom of God unless they are baptized.
Note: When it is said that no one will enter the Kingdom of God unless they are baptized, it is to be understood that:

C.C.C. # 846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? [Cf. Cyprian, Ep. 73.21: PL 3, 1169; De unit.: PL 4, 509-536] Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: [161, 1257]
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.[LG 14; cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5]
C.C.C. # 847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation. [LG 16; cf. DS 3866-3872]
C.C.C. # 848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men." [AG 7; cf. Heb 11:6; 1 Cor 9:16] [1260]
I am sure that most of you have heard the parable of the Wedding Banquet. [Mt. 22:1-14] The king sent his slave to call those who were invited to his banquet. They refused to come. Enraged, the king sent his troops and destroyed them. Then, the king sent his slaves to invite all those that could be found on the street. They came and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' The man was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

What does the wedding robe represent? Why did the king have this man thrown in the fire of hell? It is because the man had not been baptized. He had not received the new creation, [2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15] the new heart and spirit [Ezek. 11:19, 18:31, 26:26] of the godly seed, [1 Jn. 3:9] as his assurance of salvation.

To be in full communion with God and with the Church, the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary. Then the newly baptized must maintain his state of grace through the Sacrament of Confession so he may participate in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the banquet of the Lord Jesus. All of these Sacraments are absolutely necessary for our salvation!

Baptism alone does not save anyone! (Unless you die before reaching the age of reason.) Through the Sacrament of Baptism, you receive the promise of salvation! If you were to die today in a state of sin, having neglected the Sacraments of Confession and of the Holy Eucharist for a number of years, most likely you would risk the eternal loss of your soul. God only knows! To ensure that you will be saved, you must obey God and the Church. You must receive the Sacrament of Confession to regain your righteousness and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that leads to salvation by feeding your souls.

During today's Second Reading, Saint Paul said, "Brothers and sisters, be careful how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Knowing the will of the Lord and applying it are two different things. It is no different then words without actions. Those who believe in Christ must apply the love of Christ towards God and others through their actions.

The children of God are called to be filled with the Spirit. They are called to continuous praise the Lord God in all things, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among themselves. They are called to sing and make music to the Lord in their hearts, always giving thanks to the Father at all time and for everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters, are you all filled with the Holy Spirit? Are you obeying the commandments of God? Are you all baptized and receiving the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Eucharist? Are you continuously giving thanks to the Lord God in your hearts for having opened your eyes to the way, the truth and the life? Blessed are those who are on this path for they will surely see the Kingdom of God.

In conclusion, during today's reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life. "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day."

Let this week be a week of serious reflection. Are you in full communion with God and the Church? Do you know someone who is not? What are you going to do about it? If you know someone who is not baptized, what can you do to see to it that the person gets baptized? It is a matter of life and death! If you know someone who is not receiving the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Eucharist, reach out to him or her. Help that person in his/her return to full communion with God and the Church.

Let us "Come to Jesus, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let ourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." [1 Pet. 2:5]

Offertory…

1.     Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios, “gikan sa imong kamanggihatagon, nadawat namo kini…”

2.     Uban Ning Pan ug Bino

3.     Gasa sa Gugma

4.     Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San Pedro)

5.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)

6.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)

7.     Sumasamo Kami (Judan)

8.     One Bread, One Body (Foley) Best Choice.

9.     Christify (Francisco & Reyes)

10.   Take our Bread (Wise)Click Here!

Sanctus…

1.     Sanctus 5th Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Santos (Fernandez) chord of C-F-G-C-G7-C

3.     Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco-Arboleda, Torres)

4.     Sanctus (Misa de Angeles)

5.     Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation…

1.     Si Kristo atong Handumon, “kaugalingon gihatag”

2.     Among Gihandum

3.     Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez), “Sarili ay inihain bilang pagkai’t inumin”

4.     Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

5.     Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay

6.     Christ Has Died (Bayogos)

7.     When We Eat This Bread Click Here!

Amen…

1.     Pwede gamiton ang AMEN nga last part sa Gloria 3^rd Mass

2.     7 Amen

3.     Amen (WYD ’95)

Pater Noster…

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

Doxology…

1.     Kay Imo Man

2.     Sapagkat

3.     For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei…

1.     Cordero sa Dios 5th Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Kordero sa Dios Pastorella (Villanueva)

3.     Kordero ng Dios (Cayabyab)

4.     Lamb of God Litany (Schutte) Use stanza 1 Come to be our bread of life.

Communion…

1.     Kini Mao’ng Akong Lawas, “dawata kini… langitnong kalan-on”

2.     Magsaulog Kita Karon, “Sa kauhaw ug kagutom, ang Ginoo nagapakaon.”

3.     Ito ang Aking Katawan (Isidro & Ramirez)

4.     Tinapay ng Buhay (Atienza, Borres & Francisco) 

5.     Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) admittedly Lenten, but if you prioritize Stanza 3...

6.     Tanggapin Ninyo (Que) 

7.     Awit ng Pag-asam (Hangad)Click Here!

8.     Say the Word (Torres & Pantig-de Jesus)

9.     Anima Christi (Arboleda)

10.   The Presence of Jesus (Haas)

11.   Taste and See (Santana)

12.   We Remember (Haugen) Stanzas 1 and 2 ang priority.

Recessional…

1.     Ang Tawag

2.     Tanda ng Kaharian

3.     Magpasalamat Kayo sa Panginoon (Ramirez)

4.     I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)

Thanks and happy long weekend everyone J

Suggested Songs for August 12, 2012 Mass

August 12, 2012 
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year B
Liturgical Color :

               

“The Living Bread that came down from Heaven”

Note:

For your comments and suggestions you may email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com or simply text us at +639167222465 or +639089741495. Please share us your photos of your choir activities and even your incoming activities so that we can feature you as “CHOIR OF THE WEEK”. Thank you J

Entrance…

1.     Diosnong Magtutudlo, “aron lamang mabuhi sa imong mga hatag.”

2.     Awit mga Binuhat

3.     Pag-aalaala (Francisco) “Sa piging”

4.     Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano & Francisco) 

5.     Sa Piging na Handog (Carlos, Villaroman) 

6.     Sa Piging ng Panginoon (Tabuena, Hontiveros) 

7.     Table of Plenty

Kyrie…

1.     Kyrie 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo, chord of Am E7

3.     Ginoo Malooy Ka, chord of Dm A7 Dm

4.     Panginoon Maawa Ka, chord of Em-Am-B7

5.     Panginoon Maawa Ka (Cayabyab)

6.     Lord Have Mercy (Francisco – Reyes)

7.     Kyrie Eleison (Misa de Angeles)

Gloria…

1.     Gloria 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

3.     Glory to God (Francisco – Agatep)

First Reading                                  1 Kgs 19:4-8

Elijah went a day's journey into the desert,
until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it.
He prayed for death saying:
"This is enough, O LORD!
Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,
but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat.
Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake
and a jug of water.
After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
but the angel of the LORD came back a second time,
touched him, and ordered,
"Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"
He got up, ate, and drank;
then strengthened by that food,
he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

Responsorial                           Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
Let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.
And your faces may not blush with shame.
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,
And from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading                                Eph 4:30-5:2

Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

Gospel Acclamation

1.     Aleluya sa ‘tong Ginoo

2.     Aleluya Lamdag Ka

3.     Aleluya (Francisco)

4.     Celtic Alleluia (O’Caroll – Walker)

Gospel                                         Jn 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,
"I am the bread that came down from heaven,"
and they said,
"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?
Do we not know his father and mother?
Then how can he say,
'I have come down from heaven?'"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Stop murmuring among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

Reflections of the Readings (Aug. 12)

Good morning! On this Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, how pleased the Lord must be with our beautiful gathering for the purpose of feeding our souls with the Word of God and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Feeding our souls, that is the message that shines forth from the Scripture readings that we have just heard.

Reviewing today's First Reading from the First Book of Kings, [1 Kgs. 19:4-8] when applying a spiritual approach, we can perceive that much of what was said is symbolic. Elijah had gone a day's journey into the wilderness and he was tired. His journey into the wilderness can be perceived as someone who is aimlessly wondering on earth. He has no purpose in life. He does not know why he is living. He perceives life as being born and then dying. It is a life without hope.

Elijah sat under a solitary broom tree and asked that he might die. He had enough of life, realizing that he was no better than his ancestors. He asked God to take his life. Then he fell asleep. From this passage, it can be perceived to spiritually mean that he who has no hope has no purpose in life. He will easily give up, accepting death as his way of ending the miseries of the world. He knows that his human nature is weak. The pleasures of the world will not last. All his wealth will come to an end. Why accumulate treasures if they will all turn to dust once one is gone? In his mind, he says to himself, 'If there is a God, end it all here and now! No more suffering!'

Going to sleep is symbolic of the end of one's walk in the darkness. Suddenly, one is touched by the grace of God. As an angel touched Elijah and told him to eat the cake baked on hot stones and to drink from the jar of water, the one who experiences a spiritual awakening learns of the living hope in Jesus Christ. He learns of the Bread of Life that is represented by the cake baked on hot stones. He learns of the living water, the Holy Spirit, that is represented by the jar of water. He is told to eat and drink. Receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit!

Having eaten, Elijah laid down again to sleep. This is symbolic of relapse into sin. Once more, the sinners walks in the darkness. A second time, the angel of the Lord touched Elijah, this being symbolic of the grace of God touching the heart of the sinner a second time. Once more, the sinner is told to eat and drink, otherwise the journey will be too much for him. As Elijah did, the sinner gets up and returns to the Church Sacraments, allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to continue to sanctify Him in Christ.

By persevering in the living faith through the Bread of Life, such being pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, the faithful one is no longer grieving the Holy Spirit. Now, he has the strength to go on for forty days and forty night to Horeb the mountain of God. The forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mountain of God is symbolic of a forty year journey towards the eternal Kingdom of God. In those days, the people did not enjoy the medical benefits that we enjoy today. As such, living for forty years was the average life span of a person. By persevering in his living faith for all those years, surely, he has obtained his salvation in Christ, inheriting the eternal promises of God the Father.

During today's Second Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians, we heard St. Paul say, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption." 

Christ Himself declared that He was marked with His Father's seal. [Jn. 6:27] Christians are also marked with a seal: 'It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; He has put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.' [2 Cor. 1:21-2; Eph. 1:13, 4, 30] This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial." [Rev. 7:2-3, 9:4; Ezek. 9:4-6] (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1296)

Called to be holy as God is Holy, we must put aside our worldly ways that fall short of shining in Divine love. We must set aside all bitterness, revenge, anger, arguments, slander and malice. We are called to a better life than that, to be gentle and kind to one another, to be peace-makers, affectionate, tenderhearted, forgiving as God has forgiven us.

These are the qualities of the children of God who shine in Christlike love. These qualities model after Christ who loved us and who gave Himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

During today's reading from the Gospel of John, [Jn. 6:41-51] we heard the prophetic words of Jesus when He said that He is the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. Through these words, Jesus was preparing the believers for the Last Supper that would introduce the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in the Holy Catholic Church.

Many did not believe Jesus. They complained. They asked how could He have come down from Heaven when they knew that His father was Joseph and His mother was Mary. Many did not believe because they were not listening to what Jesus was revealing to them. They had worldly minds that were darkened, seeking to challenge every word that Jesus spoke rather than listening. Through the hardening of their hearts, they were not spiritually disposed, this preventing them from perceiving the truth.

It is the same today. There are some who do not hear any of the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church because they are not listening. They are placing all their energies towards challenging every word, every authority, every doctrine, etc... rather then listening to the voice of the indwelling Holy Spirit who has been sent to teach and guide them. Sometimes it is necessary to remain silent and to listen. Then we should prayerfully reflect on what we heard for some time, allowing the grace of God to enlighten our hearts so we can see the light in the Spirit of Truth.

Jesus said to those who were complaining among themselves, "No one can come to Me unless drawn by the Father who sent me." As previously said, it is by the grace of God the Father that we are drawn to Jesus through the indwelling Spirit of Truth who teaches us and guides us. Those who are drawn to Jesus, those who listen to His teachings, those who believe in Him and live their Christian faith in Christ, He will raise them on the last day.

Jesus asked those who were present, is it not written in the Scriptures that the prophets said, "And they shall all be taught by God?" This is a very powerful statement. It echoes God the Father drawing His children to Jesus. It echoes God the Father saying in our hearts, 'He is the way, the truth and the life.' It echoes the incarnation of God through Jesus. It echoes Jesus who is God teaching the people. Through Jesus, at that moment, the prophecy of the prophets was being fulfilled. Jesus who is God was teaching the people.

Jesus said, "Everyone who heard and learned from the Father comes to me." Those who listen to their hearts, the free gift that they have received during the Sacrament of Baptism, they hear the calling of God and they are directed towards Jesus. For no one can go to the Father unless they go through the Son, Jesus Christ. 

The Spirit of God draws us to the Father. Through the grace of the Father, our faith is established in the Truth. We believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour. We believe in the resurrection of the dead. We believe that Christ will resurrect our physical bodies on the last day so we too may be gloriously transformed in His likeness. Everything that God does for us is accomplished by the involvement of all Three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity.

Then Jesus said that no one has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. No one has ever seen the Father because the Father is formless and invisible. [Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:27] In their struggle to bring God the Father down to earth in a physical and visible nature, over the centuries, painters have created pictures of God the Father as an old man. This practice, on the increase during the last century, has spread to every nation, especially during the last few decades. None of these paintings and "so called" holy pictures accurately reflect God the Father. In fact, they are an insult to the Divine Presence of God the Father, turning the believers away from the truth.

The holy Catholic Church teaches us, "We ought therefore to recall that God transcends the human distinction between the sexes. He is neither man nor woman: he is God." (CCC. # 239) God Himself said, "I am God and no mortal." [Hos. 11:9]

The creating of images of God the Father as an old man is literally creating a false god, another idol to worship. It falls short of reflecting the true nature of the Divine Presence of God the Father as He has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ. On this subject, the Holy Catholic Church further says, "The purification of our hearts had to do with paternal or maternal images, stemming from our personal and cultural history, and influencing our relationship with God. God our Father transcends the categories of the created world. To impose our own ideas in this area 'upon him' would be to fabricate idols to adore or pull down."(CCC. # 2779)

God the Father manifested Himself through Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "If you know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him." [Jn. 14:6-7]

Jesus continued His discourse on He being the Bread of Life. Whoever believes in Him has eternal life. While the ancestors of the Old Testament ate the manna in the wilderness, they all died. But those who eat the Bread that came down from Heaven, they will live forever. And the Bread that He gives is His flesh for the life of the world.

These words echo the whole mystery of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus is God! In Him dwelled bodily the fullness of the Three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In a short while, I will be consecrating the bread and the wine. At that moment, they will be transformed into the Body and the Blood of Christ. At that moment, God will physically be present with us through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. In the consecrated Bread and Wine shall be physically present the fullness of God, all Three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity. When you will receive the Holy Eucharist, you will be receiving the physical Divine Presences of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in your hearts.

My brothers and sisters, believe in the Words of Jesus. Believe that the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Bread of Life. Without it, you have no life in you. Those who believe in the teachings of Jesus, who persevere in their living faith, and who receive the Church Sacraments, they are on their way to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

For the Sacrament of Baptism bestows you with the first instalment, the new creation of the seed of God. It makes you righteous in the eyes of God. If you sin, reach out to the Sacrament of Confession to reinstate your righteousness. Once you are righteous again, reach out to the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Living Bread that secures your salvation in Christ!

Offertory…

1.     Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios, “gikan sa imong kamanggihatagon, nadawat namo kini…”

2.     Uban Ning Pan ug Bino

3.     Gasa sa Gugma

4.     Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San Pedro)

5.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)

6.     Pag-aalay (Francisco)

7.     Sumasamo Kami (Judan)

8.     One Bread, One Body (Foley) Best Choice.

9.     Christify (Francisco & Reyes)

10.   Take our Bread (Wise)

Sanctus…

1.     Sanctus 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Santos (Fernandez) chord of C-F-G-C-G7-C

3.     Santo, Santo, Santo (Francisco-Arboleda, Torres)

4.     Sanctus (Misa de Angeles)

5.     Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation…

1.     Si Kristo atong Handumon, “kaugalingon gihatag”

2.     Among Gihandum

3.     Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez), “Sarili ay inihain bilang pagkai’t inumin”

4.     Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

5.     Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay

6.     Christ Has Died (Bayogos)

7.     When We Eat This Bread

Amen…

1.     Pwede gamiton ang AMEN nga last part sa Gloria 3^rd Mass

2.     7 Amen

3.     Amen (WYD ’95)

Pater Noster…

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

Doxology…

1.     Kay Imo Man

2.     Sapagkat

3.     For Thine (Mallote)

Agnus Dei…

1.     Cordero sa Dios 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.     Kordero sa Dios Pastorella (Villanueva)

3.     Kordero ng Dios (Cayabyab)

4.     Lamb of God Litany (Schutte) Use stanza 1 Come to be our bread of life.

Communion…

1.     Kini Mao’ng Akong Lawas, “dawata kini… langitnong kalan-on”

2.     Magsaulog Kita Karon, “Sa kauhaw ug kagutom, ang Ginoo nagapakaon.”

3.     Ito ang Aking Katawan (Isidro & Ramirez)

4.     Tinapay ng Buhay (Atienza, Borres & Francisco) 

5.     Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) admittedly Lenten, but if you prioritize Stanza 3...

6.     Tanggapin Ninyo (Que) 

7.     Say the Word (Torres & Pantig-de Jesus)

8.     Anima Christi (Arboleda)

9.     The Presence of Jesus (Haas)

10.   We Remember (Haugen) Stanzas 1 and 2 ang priority.

Recessional…

1.     Ang Tawag

2.     Tanda ng Kaharian

3.     I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)