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sambuhay
a pastoral ministry of the priests and brothers of the society of st. paul
Year 25 No. 22

First Sunday of Advent (B) Violet

Advent, A Season
of Discipline

he boxing champ Manny

Pacquiao is popular through
out the world because he defeated
wor thy opponents one after
another. What makes Pacquiao
win? The way I see it, he wins
because he prepares hard for
the bout. Before he gets into the
ring, he sets aside months for
practice and training. He does
not take chances. He does not
belittle his opponent and avoids
becoming overly confident. He
makes sure that he is physically fit
and mentally conditioned for the
fight. He means business, and so
he prepares hard and well.
Advent season is a time of prep
aration not for a spectacular fight,
but for the coming of Christ. In
this season we prepare ourselves
to meet our Savior, whom Pac
quiao religiously acknowledges
after winning a fight.
Advent comes from the Latin
word advenire, which means
coming or arrival. Advent season
is a time of intense preparation for
Jesus coming to fight against evil.
We first understand his coming
as his birth in Bethlehem, which
calls for a joyous celebration.
Since Christs coming is a spiritual

event, it demands of us a spiritual

preparation, which includes prayer
and disciplining our appetites and
desires. Giving in always to our
instincts and cravings is not a way
to prepare. Lack of discipline can
cause our downfall.
The First Reading is the
Israelites prayer asking urgently
for Gods return. Did God go
away? Yes, God left them because
of their transgressions. Because
of his prolonged absence, they felt
that their life became meaningless.
The Israelites are invoking God
to come back to remove their
shame. God must come to see
them rectify their ways. Realizing
their poverty and helplessness,
they now desire for his coming,
his return, to support and affirm
them.
The Gospel reading exhorts
us to be watchful for the Lords
coming. His second coming refers
to the end of the world that is
unpredictable. Therefore, we must
be alert. When he comes again,
he will judge us according to our
deeds. We must be prepared.
Preparation means doing good
deeds. We should not be found
engaging in addictions like
debauchery, drunkenness, lust,
gambling, greed, and criminal
activities.
In the Second Reading, Saint
Paul expresses his joy towards the
Christians in Thessalonica. They
heeded the gospel message that
Paul had preached to them. They
lived disciplined and moral lives.
Paul considered them to be well
prepared to meet the Lord in his
second coming.
How do we prepare for the
Lords coming? We prepare by

November 27, 2011

responding to Gods words and

by exercising discipline. Let us not
squander this time of preparation
by engaging in activities that
distract us from our focus. It is
time to return to God. It is a time
to show that God is in full control
of our life, and that we can say no
to the world, which entices us to
violate Gods commands.
On this Advent, let us not
play with fire, or else, like the
Israelites, we will be defeated and
be put to shame again. We cannot
knock down the cunning one if
we play by his rules. Instead, let
us concentrate on building up our
capacity to love by reflecting on
the Word of God, by asceticism
and mortification, by receiving
the sacraments, and by attending
ongoing formations like Advent
retreats and recollections.
As Christmas time draws near,
we are again being lured towards
consumerism and commercialism.
We are tempted to satisfy our
appetites at different Christmas
parties. Consumer goods will be
dangled at very low prices. With
the little bonuses we receive, we
might be tempted to spend beyond
our means. If we are not vigilant,
we can easily be hoodwinked
and fall into temptation. If we
dont discipline our senses, we
will be defeated by evil again.
We may not have the experience
of the baby Jesus drawing close
to us on Christmas. Instead, we
might end up feeling exhausted
and shor tchanged by the
stressful season, without having
experienced the salvation brought
by the Savior.
Even if you dont like boxing,
learn something from Manny
Pacquiao. Prepare rigorously.
Exercise discipline. Pray. To
welcome Christ in our midst, let us
make Advent a season of discipline
and prayer.
Fr. Cielito R. Almazan, OFM

Please read the reflection before or after the Mass.

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Entrance Antiphon (Ps 25:1-3)

(Recited when there is no opening song)

To you, my God, I lift my

soul, I trust in you; let me
never come to shame. Do
not let my enemies laugh at
me. No one who waits for
you is ever put to shame.
Introduction
P Dear brothers and sisters:
The first Sunday of Advent
begins a new liturgical year.
Advent means comingthe
coming of the Lord Jesus. Ad
vent looks back to the past
and prepares us for the feast of
Christmas which commemo
rates Jesus first coming as man
among us. Advent highlights
the present and reminds us of
the varied ways by which Jesus
comes into our lives. Advent
finally points to the future: the
glorious coming of Christ at the
end of the age.
May we stand ready so that
when the Lord comes our hearts
are wide open to receive him.
Lighting of the Advent
Candle
The lighting of the first candle of the
Advent wreath may be done after the
entrance song, with the following or
similar prayer:

Father, as we begin our Advent

pilgrimage, we light a candle of
hope. Grant us the courage to
hope: hope for your presence,
hope for your peace, hope for
your promise. Amen.
Greeting

(The sign of the cross is made here)

P Blessed be the Lord Jesus

who is, who was, and who is
to come. May he find you
watching, and may his grace
be always with you.
All And also with you.
Penitential Rite
P In the Eucharist we
proclaim the Lords death and
resurrection until his coming in
glory. How do we prepare and
keep watch for his coming? Let
us examine ourselves. (Pause)
P Lord Jesus, you are the
Alpha and the Omega, the
beginning and end of our lives

and of all earthly reality: Lord,

have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.
P Lord Jesus, you leave us in
charge of particular tasks and
command us to keep watch at
your return: Christ, have mercy.
All Christ, have mercy.
P Lord Jesus, you will return
in glory at the end of time, and
all things will be made new:
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.
(During Advent, the Gloria is omitted.)

Opening Prayer
P Let us pray [in Advent time
with longing and waiting for the
coming of the Lord]. (Pause)
Father in heaven, our hearts
desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for
the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for
Christ our Savior and give us
the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may find us rejoicing in his
presence and welcoming the
light of his truth.
We ask this in the name of
Jesus the Lord.
All Amen.
LITURGY OF
THE WORD
First Reading
[Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7] (Sit)
Isaiah expresses the great longing
of the people for the Lord: Oh,
that you would rend the heavens
and come down! We share the
same sentiments during this
season of Advent.
A reading from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah
YOU, L ord , are our father,
our redeemer you are named
forever.
Why do you let us wander,
O Lord, from your ways, and
harden our hearts so that we
fear you not? Return for the
sake of your servants, the tribes
of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend
the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking

before you, while you wrought

awesome deeds we could not
hope for, such as they had not
heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no
eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who
wait for him.
Would that you might meet
us doing right, that we were
mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and
we are sinful; all of us have
become like unclean people, all
our good deeds are like polluted
rags; we have all withered like
leaves, and our guilt carries us
away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon
your name, who rouses himself
to cling to you; for you have
hidden your face from us and
have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O L ord , you are our
father; we are the clay and you
the potter: we are all the work
of your hands.
The word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 80)
R Lord, make us turn to
you; let us see your face and
we shall be saved.
R. Jacob

Lento

/F
Gm

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Lord, make us turn to you,

3 Eb Gm

let us see your face and

/F
Eb

we shall be saved.

1 . O shepher d of Israel,
hearken,/ from your throne
upon the cher ubim, shine
for th./ Rouse your power,/
and come to save us. (R)
2. Once again, O L o r d of
hosts,/ look down from heaven,
and see;/ take care of this
vine,/ and protect what your
right hand has planted,/ the
son of man whom you yourself
made strong. (R)
3. May your help be with the
man of your right hand,/ with
the son of man whom you
yourself made strong./ Then

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we will no more withdraw from

you;/ give us new life, and we
will call upon your name. (R)
Second Reading
(1 Cor 1:3-9)
Paul encourages the Corinthians
to be steadfast in their faith until
the day of the Lords coming.
The words of the apostle are an
excellent reminder during this
season when we reflect on the
Lords coming into our lives.
A reading from the first
Letter of Saint Paul to the
Corinthians
BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God
always on your account for
the grace of God bestowed on
you in Christ Jesus, that in him
you were enriched in ever y
way, with all discourse and all
knowledge, as the testimony
to Christ was confirmed among
you, so that you are not lacking
in any spiritual gift as you wait
for the revelation of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He will keep you
firm to the end, irreproachable
on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God is faithful, and
by him you were called to
fellowship with his Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.
The word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Alleluia [Ps 85:8] (Stand)
All Alleluia, alleluia!
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Gospel (Mk 13:33-37)
P The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
P A reading from the holy
Gospel according to Mark.
All Glor y to you, Lord.
JESUS SAID to his disciples:
Be watchful! Be alert! You do
not know when the time will
come. It is like a man traveling
abroad. He leaves home and
places his servants in charge,
each with his own work, and
orders the gatekeeper to be on
the watch. Watch, therefore; you
do not know when the Lord of

the house is coming, whether in

the evening, or at midnight, or
at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and
find you sleeping. What I say to
you, I say to all: Watch!
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All I believe in God, the Father
Almighty, Creator of heaven and
earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his
only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin
Mary. He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and
was buried. He descended to the
dead. On the third day, he rose
again. He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of
the Father. He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Prayers of the Faithful

P Christ the Lord asks us to
be watchful and awake for his
coming into our lives. In need
of his grace, we pray:
R Lord, make us your
faithful people.
C May the Pope, the bishops,
and the leaders of our Christian
communities watch over the
Church and prepare the Church
for the Lords coming. We pray:
(R)
C May civil leaders carr y
out their tasks with love and
responsibility, like faithful
servants awaiting the Masters
return, so that when he comes
they will receive the unfading
crown of glory. We pray: (R)
C May peace visit the hearts
and homes of all families this
Advent season, and may our
families be seedbeds of faith
and bearers of the Good News
of Christ. We pray: (R)
C May the poor, the elderly,
and the sick hear Advents
message of consolation and see
the good things coming from
the Lord through big-hearted

persons who care for them. We

pray: (R)
C May our family members,
relatives, and friends who have
died experience everlasting joy
in the company of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. We pray: (R)
C (The urgent concerns of
the community are prayed here.)
P Lord, we eagerly wait
for your coming. Strengthen
us by the inspiration of the
Spirit, and make us watchful
and prayerful. You who live and
reign for ever and ever.
All Amen.
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 glor y of
his name, for our good, and
the good of all his Church.
Prayer over the Gifts
P Father, from all you give us
we present this bread and wine.
As we ser ve you now, accept
our offering and sustain us with
your promise of eternal life.
Grant this through Christ
our Lord.
All Amen.
Preface (Advent I)
P The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
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 to give him
thanks and praise.
P Father, all-powerful and
ever-living God, we do well
always and ever ywhere to
give you thanks through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
When he humbled himself
to come among us as a man,
he fulfilled the plan you formed
long ago and opened for us the
way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation
promised us will be ours when
Christ our Lord will come again
in his glory.

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And so, with all the choirs of

angels in heaven we proclaim
your glor y and join in their
unending hymn of praise:
All Holy, holy, holy... (Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All Christ has died, Christ
is risen, Christ will come
again.
COMMUNION RITE
The Lords Prayer
All Our Father
P Deliver us, Lord
All For the kingdom, the
power, and the glor y are
yours, now and for ever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P Behold Jesus our Master
who bids us to stay awake
for his return in glory. Happy
are we who are invited to his
banquet.
All Lord, I am not worthy
to receive you, but only say
the word and I shall be
healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Ps 85:13)
The Lord will shower his
gifts, and our land will yield
its fruit.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)
P Let us pray. (Pause)
Father, may our communion
teach us to love heaven. May
BE A PAULINE PRIEST
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The Church Renewed:

A Vatican II Catechesis
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Introducing Vatican Council II

The Second Vatican Council was the 21st general or ecumenical council
of the Church; its four sessions extended from October 11, 1962 until
December 8, 1965. The Council is undoubtedly the most significant
religious event of the twentieth century.
On January 25, 1959, less than 100 days after his election, Pope
John XXIII summoned the Council. Many people were surprised that
this caretaker pope (he was already 77 years old) would undertake
such an enormous project.
John XXIII set out three general purposes for the Council: (1) spiritual
renewal of the Church; (2) an updating (aggiornamento) of its pastoral attitudes and approaches, and (3) the promotion of unity among
Christians.
The entire Church is now in preparation for the 50th anniversary of
the beginning of the Council (1962-2012). Once again, Catholics are
called to appreciate and appropriate the marvelous fruits of the Council.

its promise and hope guide our

way on earth.
We ask this through Christ
our Lord.
All Amen.

P May God make you

steadfast in faith, joyful in hope,
and untiring in love all the days
of your life.
All Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

P You rejoice that our

Redeemer came to live with us
as man. When he comes again
in glor y, may he reward you
with endless life.
All Amen.
P May almighty God bless
you, () the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
All Amen.

P The Lord be with you.

All And also with you.
Solemn Blessing
P Bow your heads and pray
for Gods blessing. (Pause)
You believe that the Son of
God once came to us; you look
for him to come again. May his
coming bring you the light of
his holiness and free you with
his blessing.
All Amen.

Dismissal
P Go in peace. Stay watchful
and alert for the Lords coming.
All Thanks be to God.