GOSPEL POWER 2017 [Scripture quotations are] from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Š 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Copyright Š 2016 by the Daughters of St. Paul Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House 2650 F. B. Harrison Street 1300 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo, FSP Layout design: Dennis Ortojan Layout artist: Belen Liboon Illustrations: Rexie San Luis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. 1st Printing 2016 ISSN 2350-7217
at the service of the Gospel and culture
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God white
1st Reading: Nm 6:22-27
JANUARY
01
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23“Speak to sunday Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 24The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace’. 27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 22
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67
May God bless us in his mercy.
2nd Reading: Gal 4:4-7
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. 4
Gospel: Lk 2:16-21
16 The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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oday’s liturgical feast invites us to begin the new calendar year in the same way that Jesus began his earthly life...with Mary, the woman of faith. In today’s Gospel, Mary shows us how to live the new year from the perspective of faith–by treasuring everything and pondering them in our hearts. It is only by doing this that we will be able to see the events of our life falling into place, like fitted pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, to reveal to us the greater pattern of all of life, and the wisdom by which it is guided by Divine Providence.
Lord, you grew in wisdom and grace under your mother’s guidance. May we, too, entrust ourselves to her and learn the sublime wisdom that she teaches us at the start of this year. Amen.
DECEMBER
24
4th Sunday of Advent violet
SUNDAY
1st Reading: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
When King David was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.’ 3 Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.’ 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?...8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom... 14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod 1
such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings...16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading: Rom 16:25-27
25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever! Amen.
Gospel: Lk 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
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lthough “nothing is impossible for God,” divine omnipotence respects the gift of freedom given to human beings. God will not impose his will and violate this gift, but rather, he would engage human cooperation by proposing, inviting and asking, thereby enabling human beings to decide in freedom. This is what the angel’s announcement to Mary is all about. God submits his saving plan to his own creature, invites her to be part of it, and awaits her free consent. The incarnation of God’s Son is made possible through divine and human synergy. It is a mystery of faith, which we are invited not only to contemplate but to experience even today, as God continues to engage human cooperation in his ongoing work of salvation.
Lord‚ usher us into the mystery of the Annunciation so that through our lives too, you may become incarnate for the people of our time. Amen.
Solemnity of Our Lord’s Birth Midnight Mass white
DECEMBER
25 MONDAY
1st Reading: Is 9:1-6
There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 1
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96
Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
2nd Reading: Tit 2:11-14
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is 11
who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Gospel: Lk 2:1-14
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see— I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
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ternity allows itself to be bound by the limitations of time. Divinity’s glory conceals itself underneath the vulnerability of human flesh. This is God’s unimaginable love... self-emptying love! We confess this truth as the Incarnation of God’s Son, and we celebrate it as Christmas. The real reason for the festive season is none other than the Baby in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes... the Christ-child born for our salvation.
Lord, we often can’t recognize the gift that you are, because of the wrapper—our human misery that you have put on. Help us to accept the wrapper, for it is now inseparable from the gift. Thank you for owning our miserable condition. Amen.