°S AMBUHAY tease Wee ST PAULS MEDIA Year 31 No.30 Misa de Gallo (B) — White issalette December 19, 2017 Be Always Open to God's Surprise nthe fourth day of our ‘Simbang Gabi, Luke tells us the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah is troubled by what he sees, and fear seizes him. The angel of the Lord appears to him and says, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” The Angel introduces himself as Gabriel, saying that he is sent by God to announce the good news. This literally dumbfounds the old priest. After this time, his wife Elizabeth conceives and goes into seclusion. Zechariah and Elizabeth are both upright in the eyes of God. They blamelessly observe all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Yet they have no children. Elizabeth is barren and both are old already. In the Old Testament, barrenness is considered as one of the curses by God on a couple. Probably Elizabeth and Zechariah suffer from this stigma of being cursed in the eyes of people. But they remain righteous. They take this as the will of God for them. They are not discouraged; they don’t lose their ability to hope. They must have accepted that for a long time that they will no longer bear a child. But God manifests his graciousness to them. God lets his power work in them. This makes Zechariah unable to speak as he is overcome by his unbelief. But God later on restores his speech. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is not something new. In the First Reading, we hear the story of the annunciation of the birth of Samson. The angel appears to Manoah’s wife, who is also barren, announcing that she would bear a son. Their son is named Samson, who would deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. We can see here thatsince from the very beginning God has been very gracious and merciful to his people. God works in the lives of people amidst the impossibility perceived by the people. Today’s readings convey to us that our God is also a God of surprises. We must not lose our ability to hope, and to trust in God because once we lose our ability to hope, we lose and disregard the power of God. When we lose hope in God, that is the moment when we lose everything. Come to think of it, treating Simbang Gabi as if it were a pact can be seen as a sign of losing hope, whereby we attach strings to God so that we can pull him and make him pay for our belief in him. In this case, it is no longer the will of God that is being fulfilled but ours. To ask something from God is not bad. Yet what God wants from us is to cultivate a genuine relationship with him. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, only their relationship with God matters—no more, no less, They don’t lose their ability to hope although their old age tells their impossibility to bear a child. They accept this reality but they remain ‘open to God's surprises and God never disappoints them by giving ason—John the Baptist who later ‘on would announce the coming of Jesus. In our Christian life, we must always expect that problems and challenges are out there to get us. This can be discouraging especially when God doesn’t respond right away—or ever. The moment we are burdened with our problems, we can always bring and share all of these with God in our prayer. What's important is that we never give up our relationship with him. Even questioning God can be a form of prayer. God will understand. This is what it means to have a relationship—for better or for worse. John the Baptist’s life and ministry are gifts not only to his parents but also for us. He reminds that when God sends his Son, God doesn’t eradicate life circumstances but God in Jesus ‘wants to journey with us in both good and bad times. This is why Jesus is the “Emmanuel.” He is always in solidarity with us. Our life and faith in God will always be hard. When this happens, just continue living and praying. Never lose hope no matter how flickering it is. Be always open to God’s surprise. — Sebastian M. Gadia III, SSPHE INTRODUCTORY TES Entrance Antiphon [Cf. Heb 10:37] (Recited when there is no opening song) He who is to come will come and will not delay, and now there will be no fear within our land, because he is our Savior. Greeting (The sign of the cross is made here) P—The Lord be with you. All — And with your spirit. Introduction (1 ny address the assembly similar wortls) od’s messenger an- nounces to Zechariah that he will have a son. He cannot bring himself to believe this extraordinary news. The name given to the promised son is John or “Yohanan,” which means “God is gracious.” Indeed, the conception of John the Baptist is a manifestation of God’s graciousness which will reach its culmination in the birth of the Messiah, With the conception of the messenger who will prepare the way of the Lord, we are filled with joy and gladness, for indeed salvation is very close. Penitential Act P — Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause) All — I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (sirite your breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. P — May almighty God have mercy onus, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. All Amen. P—Lord, have mercy. All — Lord, have mercy. P — Christ, have mercy. All— Christ, have mercy. P—Lord, have mercy, All — Lord, have mercy. 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—Letus pray. (Pause) God of life, in the child who was born of the Virgin Mary you revealed to the world the radiance of your glory. Grant that we may celebrate with full and reverent faith this great mystery of the Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. All — Amen. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading Ugs 13:2-7, 24-25a] (Sit) Samson is consecrated to the Lord from his mother’s womb. The story of Samson's birth is similar to the Gospel story of the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet consecrated to the Lord's service. A reading from the Book of Judges THERE WASa certain manfrom Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the Lorn appeared to the woman and said to her, “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and beara son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.” The woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did notask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death’”” ‘The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the Loz blessed him; the spirit of the Lorp stirred him. — The word of the Lord. All — Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm (571) R— Fill me with your praise, and I will sing your glory! st. [Link]. parco, fsp Fill me with your praise Eb F7 Bb and | will sing your glo - ry 1. Be my rock of refuge,/ a stronghold to give me safety,/ for you are my rock and my fortress./ O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 2. For you are iny hope, O LORD;/ my trust, O God, from my youth./ On you I depend from birth;/from my mother’s “womb you are my strength. (R)3. 1 will treat of the mighty works of the Lorp;/ O God, I will tell of your singular jus- tice./ O God, you have taught me from my youth,/ and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds, (R) Alleluia (Stara) All — Alleluia, alleluia. O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel (Lk 1:525) P —A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke All — Glory to you, O Lord. IN THE DAYS of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once, when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine [Link] drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For Tam an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” —The Gospel of the Lord. All — Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily (Sit) Prayer of the Faithful (Stand) P — God is never outdone in generosity. In due time, he will grant the aspirations of his people. With confidence, we implore him: R—Lord, be gracious to us. € — That we may be a people well-disposed for the birth of our Savior this Christmas and for our encounter with him in our daily lives, we pray: (R) —That more and more peo- ple- of goodwill may collaborate cordially and courageously in serving the family, devote them- selves to the family’s welfare, and live the values of the Gospel and of the human person, we pray: (R) C — That parents may wel- come children with love and responsibility and help them discover the will of God for them, we pray: (R) € — That the Lord may bless married couples who, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, long for children to love and care for, we pray: (R) C — That the Lord may con- tinue to bless our people, pros- per our initiatives for peace and progress, and protect us from calamities and the evils of corruption, terrorism, illegal drugs, and kidnappings, we pray: (R) (The urgent concerns of the community are prayed here.) P — Fill us with your Spirit, Father, so that we may welcome our Savior with joy and gladness and may be true to you now and for ever. All — Am THE LITURGY OF mile tied Tt Ce, 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 — Look mercifully, Lord, on the gifts we lay upon your altar and by your power consecrate what we bring to you in our weakness. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. All — Amen. Preface II of Advent P—The Lord be with yor All — And with your spirit. P —Lift up your hearts.All — We lift them up to the Lord. P —Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All — It is right and just. P — It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him, the Virgin 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... (Kneel) Acclamation (Stand All — Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. THE COMMUNION: S 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. SAMBUHAY Subscription Office (ST PAULS Diffusion) 895-9701 {004 © DL 895-7222 « Fax: (0/2)890-7131 #E- GET EASY ACCESS TO YW 565 Days with the Lord Simbahay Sambuhay Missglette and TV Mass All — Lord, Lam not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Communion Antiphon (Uk 1:7879) The Dawn from on high will visit us, guiding our feet in the way of peace. Prayer after Communion (Stand) P— Letus pray. (Pause) Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gifts you have bestowed. Create in usa desire for blessings yet to come, that we may welcome the birth of Christ our Savior with free and devoted hearts. Through Christ our Lord. All— Amen, THE CONCLUDING RITES P—The Lord be with you. All — And with your spirit. Prayer over the People 708 St. Paul Road, San Antonio Vil :[Link]@[Link] # Editor: Paul J. Marquez, SSP ‘Associate Editor: Ivan R. Olitoquit * Managing Editor: Micha Miguel L. Competente, SSP ® Sta: an Gabriel C. Ceblano, SSP P — Bow for the blessing. (Pause) May your family always rejoice together, O God, over the mysteries of redemption they have celebrated, and grant its members the perseverance to attain the effects that flow from them. 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 forever. All — Amen. Dismissal P — The celebration of the Mass is ended. Go and praise the Lord with thankful hearts. All — Thanks be to God. Dig Available at all ST PAULS Bookstores 1203 Makati City + Tels <>