Year 34 No. 32 Simbang Gabi | Misa de Gallo — White December 22, 2020

Music has always played a crucial role in times of uncertainty. Throughout history, it has served as a link for spiritual healing and social connection and communality amidst disease, discord, and desolation.

In ancient times, poets were commissioned to chant hymns to end outbreaks and all kinds of afflictions. In the Book of Psalms, we have songs of lament and petitions. Medieval people marched and sang prayers to the saints to end the plague. Cemented in popular imagination as the soundtrack of the Christmas Truce in 1914, Stille Nacht (Silent Night) was sung by the opposing German and British soldiers as they stepped out of their trenches and shared gestures of good will. The ceasefire might have been short-lived, but at its heart, it symbolized the deep desire for

peace communicated through music.

The primary place of music is more apparent than ever during this COVID-19 pandemic. The Italians played instruments and belted out popular and patriotic songs from their balconies. The citizens of Wuhan in China encouraged one another by chanting “jiayóu” (“Stay strong!”). Now that we are equipped with better technology, virtual gigs and choirs, and online music festivals are also within reach. These serve as antidote to the growing sense of alienation and isolation among us.

In today’s Gospel, we listen to the “oldest hymn of Advent.” Bible scholars opine that Mary’s Magnificat, coming to us in Greek, could not be coming from a Galilean peasant woman. The evangelist Luke probably made use of the berakah or Jewish

blessing prayer of the Anawim. The Anawim, who included the materially poor, sick, oppressed, orphans and widows, relied solely on the Lord for salvation. Luke deemed Mary as the spokesperson of this group and the lead vocalist of those who sing God’s mercy.

Several commentators identify the Magnificat as radical and revolutionary. Mary stands in the long tradition of female singers in the Old Testament who include Miriam, Deborah, Judith, and, in the First Reading, Hannah. These prophetesses exalt God as he subverts individual and structural injustices and inhumanity and heals and liberates their victims and the little ones. Because of its daring proclamation, several countries have forbidden the canticle from being recited in liturgy or in public. The song is not good news to people who are in a position of selfish comfort, power, and wealth—or who benefit from the oppressive systems.

Mary’s Magnificat can well serve as our best Advent song. How resolute are we in allowing God to “show strength,” “scatter” seeds of hope and healing, “cast down” those who exclude and discriminate, “lift up” the grieving and the desperate, “fill” the hungry and the jobless, and “send away” the apathetic and turncoats? Not soon, but now?

Music is what we need in order to stay alive and keep going during these days of crisis. A truly fine song does not simply comfort or cure but create mystical stirrings and moral decisions.

I N T H E S EDARK TIMES

by Fr. Angelo Paolo O. Asprer, SSP

Singing

him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” She left Samuel there.— The word of the Lord.All — Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (1 Sm 2)

R — My heart rejoices in theLord, my Savior.

1. “My heart exults in the Lord,/ my horn is exalted in my God./ I have swallowed up my enemies;/ I rejoice in my victory.” (R)2. “The bows of the mighty are broken,/ while the tottering gird on strength./ The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,/ while the hungry batten on spoil./ The barren wife bears seven sons,/ while the mother of many languishes.”(R)3. “The Lord puts to death and gives life;/ he casts down to the nether world;/ he raises up again./ The Lord makes poor and makes rich,/ he humbles, he also exalts.” (R)4. “He raises the needy from the dust;/ from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,/ to seat them with nobles/ and make a glorious throne their heritage.” (R)

Alleluia (stand)

All — Alleluia, alleluia. O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! Alleluia, alleluia.

Gloria

All — 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)All-provident God, when

we were sunk in sin and death you turned toward us and rescued us by the incarnation of your only Son. Grant that we who acknowledge his coming with reverent love may also be one with him, our Lord and Redeemer, 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 (1 Sm 1:24–28) (Sit)

Hannah of fers her son Samuel in the service of the Lord. This act of dedicating her son who will grow to be a prophet and leader in Israel is an expression of her gratitude to God. The Responsorial Psalm is Hannah’s song to which Mary’s Magnificat bears a striking resemblance.

A reading from the first Book of Samuel

IN THOSE DAYS, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance Antiphon (Ps 24 [23]:7)(Recited when there is no opening song.)

O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!

Greeting(The sign of the cross is made here.)

P — The Lord be with you.All — And with your spirit.

Introduction(These [or similar words] may be used to address the assembly.)

P — Today’s Gospel focuses on Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat. Here Mary narrates how God intervenes in the history of mankind. The Magnificat is not only a song but a prophetic word and witness. What the Lord has done for Mary, he will also do for all of us, his people. May our Eucharistic celebration remind us of all the good things God has done for us in our lives, and sing our own Magnificat. We especially pray for young people, that in the midst of the pessimism and nihilism of the modern world they too may sing, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!”

Penitential Act

P — Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves 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.

Sr. M. C. A. Parco, FSP

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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 Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Kneel)

Acclamation (Stand)

All — When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

THE COMMUNION RITEThe Lord’s Prayer

All — Our Father…P — Deliver us, Lord…All — For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

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

and practice transparency and accountability in governance. We pray: (R)C — May those who work for justice and serve the weak, the poor, and the marginalized, persevere in their work, knowing that they bring God’s love among the people. We pray: (R)C — May our daily lives be a proclamation of true joy and humility as we humbly serve others and remain open to God’s grace. We pray: (R)C — May those who have gone ahead of us find peace and eternal happiness sharing in the joy of the Master’s table. We pray: (R)C — Let us pray for the urgent concerns of our community and our personal intentions (pause). We pray: (R)

P — Fa ther, l i s ten wi th compassion to the prayer of your church. May what we entreat you help us to proclaim always your mighty deeds with joy and sincere hearts.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.All — Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

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 — With confidence in your mercy, Lord God, we hasten to place these gifts on your holy altar, that your grace may cleanse us from sin through the very sacrament by which we offer you true worship.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.All — Amen.

Preface II of Advent

P — The Lord be with you.All — And with your spirit.

Gospel (Lk 1:46– 56)

P — A reading from the holy Gospel according to LukeAll — Glory to you, O Lord.

MARY said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Ma ry r ema ined w i t h Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.— The Gospel of the Lord.All — Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily (Sit)

Prayer of the Faithful

P — As we make Mary’s Magnificat our own song, let us pray to the Father that this coming Christmas we may proclaim the joy caused by God’s mercy and power. Mindful of this, we pray:

R — Hear our prayer, O Lord.

C — May the church strive to be a Church of the Poor, where the poor, equal to all others in Christian dignity, not only are evangelized but become evangelizers themselves. We pray: (R)C — May those who serve in public office cast down the culture of wastefulness, violence, and corruption; may they seek the common good

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 (Lk 1:46, 49)

My sou l proc la ims the greatness of the Lord, for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Prayer after Communion(Stand)

P — Let us pray. (Pause) Lord God, may our sharing

in your sacrament be for us a source of strength, so that when the Savior comes, we may welcome him with holy lives and obtain the prize ofunending happiness.

Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.All — Amen.

THE CONCLUDING RITESP — The Lord be with you.All — And with your spirit.

Solemn Blessing

P — Bow down 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.

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 — Go in peace.All — Thanks be to God.

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