December 15 , 2021 Wedneday Evening Mass (Simbang Gabi) December 16, 2021, Thursday Misa de Aguinaldo
Reading I: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8
Reading from the book of Prophet Isaiah
The Lord says to his people:
′′ In accordance with justice and always your deeds are righteous. My salvation will no longer be revealed, it will come, it will be revealed in your eyes. Blessed is the man who does this, the son of the man who rules this. He is doing what he should do on the Rest Day, in doing evil, avoiding himself." A foreigner who is united with the people of God should not say that God will not allow him to join the worship of his people ." This is what the Lord says to the former foreigners, who are now in his people, who serve him with all their heart, who keep the Sabbath day; and those who keep his covenant with faith: ′′ I will bring you to Zion , in my holy mountain. I will make you feel the joy in my Temple. I will accept your offerings, and my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations." The Lord promised to the Israelites, that He will bring many more to be enrolled in his people.
The Word of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
Response: May the praise be to you all the people.
Oh God, bless us with mercy,
We, Lord, have mercy,
So that in the world everyone will be blessed
Your will and your salvation. (R)
May the creations praise you,
Because you are righteous to judge the audience;
You are the guide of all nations. (R)
The lands are doing well,
We are blessed with the Lord our God!
All of us are blessed,
May all nations respect you. (R)
Verse before the Gospel
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Come and visit us.
Bring your peace
to exist in us.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel: John 5:33-36
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John,
At that time Jesus said to the Jews, ′′ You sent John, and he testified about the truth. Not that I need human testimony; I'm just saying this to save you. John was like a fiery light that illuminated before, and you immediately enjoyed his light. But the testimony of me is greater than the testimony of John: the works that the Father has done for me, and I am doing for him-this is the testimony that he sent me."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Homily:
Is it because of the snacks after the Mass? Or is it because you will see your longtime crush serving as altar servers? Or is it because it gives you joy to go to Mass with your friends or with your family? Or is it because there is something that we are asking God for? We have different purposes and intentions, good or not-so-good.
In these nine days of Novena Masses, at dawn or nighttime, until the birth of Jesus, we accompany Mary and Joseph in their journey towards Jesus' nativity. We do this so that we too may be present when Jesus Christ is born.
Looking at our own experience of pregnancy, especially when "labor" comes, in our own family, what were your experiences? What preparations were you making for a healthy and safe delivery of your baby or your sibling? The father, children, and especially the mother herself, focused their preparation on the baby who was about to be born. The focus is on the baby.
Our nine-day novena is thus about and for Jesus. We must focus on Him, not on what we want from God. We are not here to get what we want; rather, we are here to give something to Jesus on His birthday.
We have been going to Misa de Gallo / Simbang Gabi Masses every year for many years already. What gifts have we given to Jesus, Mary and Joseph? In the coming Novena Masses, what gift can we bring? On the day of Jesus’ birth, Christmas Day, what gift are you going to give Him?
Fr. Joel R. Lasutaz, SSS
Image credit: flickr.com
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