AMBUHAY a ST PAULS MEDIA pastoral m Misa de Gallo (8) — White issalette ber 16,2017 ig TReturn to tis this time of the year when Filipino Catholics flock to churches at dawn to celebrate the traditional Misa de Gallo. Masses will be celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for nine consecutive mornings, with the baby in her womb as the focus of every liturgical reading. As usual, many devotees will try to complete their attendance in all these Masses out of their love for God, while others will pray for special blessings. When John the Baptist started to preach, he also drew a big crowd to himself. His preaching even led many people to ask for baptism in the Jordan River. “Be sorry for your sins! Return to the Lord!” The tone of urgency in the voice of John the Baptist as he called out people to repentance is unmistakable. Jesus made a remark on the crowd's reaction towards John the Baptist. At the beginning, Jesus said, people rejoiced at John’s light and many felt sorry for their sins. As time wore on, the Lord! however, the crowd went back to their old wicked ways. The light that shone brightly is now flickering. It is not because John had diminished his light, but because people's hearts are craven. Too many concerns are crowding their hearts. They have very short memories, the light is obscured, and temptations easily tear them apart. “He spoke on behalf of the truth,” Jesus speaks about John the Baptist. Earlier on, even John did not know the true identity of Jesus despite the fact that they were cousins. John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah long expected by Israel. Only when Jesus waded in the Jordan River did everything become clear to John. The Holy Spirit that hovered across the Jordan enlightened John the Baptist regarding the true identity of Jesus. On the first day of Misa de Gallo, we do not immediately meditate on the baby Jesus in the manger. Rather, we dwell on the undeniable truth that that same baby did grow up and in fact became a preacher. He did not move on his own; he was fully conscious of his being sent by his heavenly Father. Jesus’ preaching has a familiar ring to John’s preaching. Both of them invited people to reject sin and return to God. The only difference in Jesus’ preaching is one item that he adds: it is in his very person, in his words and deeds, that God’s kingdom is at hand. If we succeed in completing the nine dawn Masses, it is always good to remind ourselves that our struggle to get up from bed and troop to the church is not only by our own strength, but rather by grace given to us by God. It will be the Holy Spirit who will help us be attentive to all the readings in the Mass as biblical stories are again related to us—how God moved in the lives of people long ago, like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and John, the shepherds, King Herod and the wise men. Hopefully, we will see ourselves in them, and how God continues to move in our own life journey. May we spend these days in rapt attention as we joyfully await the birth of a Savior who once was born in Bethlehem, but who still wants to be born in our present-day manger—in our hearts and home, in our communities and country. —Fr. Paul J. Marquez, SSPTHE INTRODUCTORY nis) Entrance Antiphon (Recited when there is no opening song) Behold, the Lord will come descending with splendor to visit his people with peace, and he will bestow on them eternal life. Greeting (The sign ofthe cross is made here) P —The Lord be with you. All — And with your spirit. Introduction (The priest may aildress the assembly using these or other similar words) P —Today we begin a beloved and joyful Christmas tradition among our people—the Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo or Simbang Gabi. It is our im- mediate spiritual preparation for the birth of our Savior, God’s greatest gift to humankind. Let us prepare for Jesus’ coming by heeding Advent’s call for repentance, reflecting on God’s word, and living the Christmas spirit of joy and generosity. At these dawn Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us pray more intensely for the Filipino family and for peace in our country. Penitential Act P — Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare our- selves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause) P — You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. All — Lord, have mercy, P — You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. All — Christ, have mercy. P—You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy. All — Lord, have mercy. P — May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. All — Amen. Gloria Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Collect P — Let us pray. (Pause) Let your tireless grace ac- company us, Lord God, let it go before us and follow after, that in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary we who long for the coming of your Son may be sustained by your love in this life and in the life to come. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. All — Amen, THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading [Is 56:1-3a, 68] (Sit) When the people of God practice justice and do what is right, they become a “house of prayer” for the Lord. They become a sanctified community whose worship is most acceptable to God. A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah THUS SAYS the Lorn: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the son of man who holds to it; who keeps the sabbath free from profanation, and his hand from any evildoing. Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the Lorp, “The Lorp will surely exclude me from his people.” The foreigners who join themselves to the Lorn, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lorn, and becoming his servants— all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord Gop, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: Others will I gather to him besides those already gathered. — The word of the Lord. All — Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 67) R—0 God, let all the nations Praise you! ‘Sr. m.¢.a. parco, fsp F Gm F Se © God, let all the na-tions C7 FA "praise you. 1. 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) 2. May the nations be glad and exult/ because you rule the peoples in equity;/ the nations on the earth you guide. (R)3. The earth has yielded its fruits;/ God, our God, has blessed us./ May God bless us,/ and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R) Alleluia (Stand) All — Alleluia, alleluia. Come, Lord, bring us your peace that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel (In 5:33-36) P — A reading from the holy Gospel according to John All — Glory to you, O Lord. JESUS said to the Jews: “You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” — The Gospel of the Lord. All — Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily (Sit) Prayer of the Faithful (Stand) P — As we begin our novena Masses, let us pray to the heavenly Father that, reflect- ing the light of the Lord Jesus, we may also become like light- ed lamps for men and women, as John the Baptist was. With confidence, we pray: R — Lord of light, hear our Prayer. C — May our celebration of Misa de Gallo be truly an act of praise and thanksgiving to God for our faith and a sign of our love and devotion to pray: (R) C — May our government and Church leaders work towards helping our country rise above the evils of corruption, division, and violence. We pray: (R) C—May families, communities, and the whole nation work for goodwill and reconciliation as we all prepare for the Lord’s coming with peaceful and joyful hearts. We pray: (R) C — May every Misa de Gallo we participate in fill us with joy and peace, and may we share them with every person we encounter in leisure or at work. We pray: (R) C — May the light of Christ- mas be a sign of our faith that never falters, our hope that overcomes all obstacles, and our love that goes beyond the boundaries of race, religion, and political affiliation. We pray: (R) (The ‘urgent concerns of the community are prayed here.) P — Father, fill our hearts with your love. As we prepare for the coming of your Son as man, lift our minds in watchful hope and in fervent prayer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All — Amen. bi ee ag Meas aa Qed Presentation of the Gifts (Stand) P —Pray, brethren... All — May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church, Prayer over the Offerings P — God our strength, in you is our hope of salvation. As we present these gifts, renew your joy within us and make usa liv- ing sacrifice of praise. We ask this in the name of ihe Blessed Stiegin Many, Mite eee ere All — Amen. Preface II of Advent P — The Lord be with you, All — And with your spirit. P — Lift up your hearts. All — We lift them up to the Lord. P —Letus give thanks to the Lord our God. All — It is right and just. P — Itis truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Fa- ther, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him, the Vir- gin Mother longed for him with love beyond all telling, John the Baptist sang of his coming and proclaimed his presence when he came. It is by his gift that already we rejoice at the mystery of his Nativity, so that he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: All — Holy, Holy, Holy... (Kneei) Acclamation (Stand) All— When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. THE COMMUNION ina ‘The Lord’s Prayer All — Our Father. P — Deliver us, Lord... All — For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Invitation to Peace Invitation to Communion (Kneel) P — Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. All — Lord, I am not worthythat you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Communion Antiphon (Cf. Phil 3:20-21) We await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our mortal bodies, to conform with his glorified body. Prayer after Communion (Stand) P— Let us pray. (Pause) O God, we have received in word and sacrament the One whose coming John the Baptist so urgently announced. By the presence of Christ among us, reform our lives and give us courage to announce in the world that your kingdom is near. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. THE CONCLUDING RITES P —The Lord be with you. All — And with your spirit. Prayer over the People P — Bow for the blessing. (Pause) Be gracious to your people, O Lord, and do not withhold consolation on earth from those you call to strive for heaven. Through Christ our Lord. All — Amen. P — And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, ‘) and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever. All — Amen. Dismissal P—The first day of our novena Mass is ended. Go and prepare for Jesus’ coming with fervent hearts. All — Thanks be to God. A guide for the Eucharist and Morning & Evening Prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours Available at all ST PAULS Bookstores BE A PRIEST OR ‘A BROTHER OF MASS MEDIA If you are Grade 12 student, accollege student, or a young professional, male, single, and interested to become a priest or & brother involved in the apostolate ‘of social communication, we invite] ‘you to journey with us. Contact us: (02) 895-9701 loc 420; 09158420546; 09288766182, vocation@[Link] Visit our website [Link]; [Link] [Link]/[Link] SIMBZHAY 65 ord Available at all ST PAULS Bookstores ion Office (ST PAULS Di ion): 7708 St. Paul Road, San Antonio Village, 1203 Makati City * Tels. 895-9701 1004 © DL 895-7222 « Fax: (0/2)890-7131 » Email [Link]@gmail. com Editor: Paul . Marquez, SSP aD + Associate Elio: Ivan ROlitoquit e Managing Editor: Micha Miguel L. Competente, SSP Stat: lan Gabriel C. Ceblano, SSP