Year 37 No.

32 Simbang Gabi | Misa de Gallo — White December 22, 2023

PROMISES,
COMMITMENT,
AND MERCY
by Fr. Brian L. Tayag, SSP

for “merciful and gracious is

the Lord, slow to anger, and
abounding in kindness” (Ps
103:8).
God keeps his promises
because he is a merciful God.
Out of love for us he is faithful.
He does not want to see us suffer
and in pain. His mercy sustains
us to hope and trust that what
he has promised to Abraham,
Moses, and the prophets will
be fulfilled. God has fulfilled
his promise in Christ—his only
begotten Son and the Savior
of the world. God’s promise of

“H e has helped Israel his attributes is interesting and mercy is founded on love. It is
servant, remembering meaningful for us. It leads us to because of God’s love that his
his mercy, according to his realize that Jesus Christ became promises are fulfilled, and he
promise to our fathers, to like us and lived with us because continually fulfills them.
Abraham and to his descendants God is an exemplary promise- In the Gospel, Mary
forever” (Lk 1:54-55). The keeper. In the First Reading, heralds God’s greatness, love,
passage echoes one of the most Hannah is extremely grateful compassion, and mercy, but
overused words we humans that God has heard her prayer above all she praises God for
are guilty of abuse: Promise. and given her a son: Samuel. remembering his “promise of
We often hear people say She has waited and hoped. mercy” to his people by sending
that promises are made to be Now that the Lord has granted Christ as ransom for our sins.
broken. And indeed, for many her request, lo and behold, she This means that the waiting and
this is so. The cliché reminds us gives him back and dedicates hoping is over, but the trusting in
that keeping promises is tough. him to God’s service. God’s promises continues.
There are countless moments of God has countless promises, Just like God, do we promise
our life when we feel frustrated but the greatest of them all is with commitment and mercy,
due to our failure to keep our love, and this promise of love or are our promises empty—no
promises to others and vice is Christ. God’s promise of love commitment, no mercy at all?
versa. comes with commitment and As we celebrate the season of
The readings of today speak mercy. In the history of salvation, Advent, may we come to realize
about three essential attributes God showed his unconditional that like God, when we make
of God: faithful (in keeping commitment to the Israelites. promises, our hope-giving
promises), committed, and God did not leave them in words come with commitment
merciful. The interplay of these time of crisis and tribulations and mercy.
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES Gloria him at the temple of the Lord
in Shiloh. After the boy’s father
All — Glory to God in the had sacrificed the young
Entrance Antiphon highest, and on earth peace to bull, Hannah, his mother,
(Ps 24 [23]:7) people of good will. We praise
(Recited when there is no opening song.) approached Eli and said:
you, we bless you, we adore “Pardon, my lord! As you live,
you, we glorify you, we give my lord, I am the woman who
O gates, lift high your heads; you thanks for your great glory,
grow higher, ancient doors. Let stood near you here, praying
him enter, the king of glory! Lord God, heavenly King, O to the Lord. I prayed for this
God, almighty Father. Lord child, and the Lord granted my
Greeting Jesus Christ, Only Begotten request. Now I, in turn, give
(The sign of the cross is made here.) Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, him to the Lord; as long as he
Son of the Father, you take lives, he shall be dedicated
P—The Lord be with you. away the sins of the world, to the Lord.” She left Samuel
All—And with your spirit. have mercy on us; you take there.
away the sins of the world, —The word of the Lord.
Introduction receive our prayer; you are All—Thanks be to God.
(These [or similar words] may be seated at the right hand of
used to address the assembly.) the Father, have mercy on us. Responsorial Psalm (1 Sm 2)
For you alone are the Holy
P —Today’s Gospel focuses One, you alone are the Lord, R—My heart rejoices in the
on Mary’s song of praise, you alone are the Most High, Lord, my Savior.
the Magnificat. Here Mary Jesus Christ, with the Holy
narrates how God intervenes Spirit, in the glory of God the Sr. M. C. A. Parco, FSP
in the history of mankind. The Father. Amen.  
     
A F♯m
Magnificat is not only a song      
but a prophetic word and Collect 
My heart re joi ces in the
witness. What the Lord has
done for Mary, he will also do P—Let us pray. (Pause)
for all of us, his people. May 
D

E7 A

    
4

our Eucharistic celebration

All-provident God, when
  
we were sunk in sin and death
remind us of all the good you turned toward us and Lord, my Sa vior.
things God has done for us in rescued us by the incarnation
our lives, and help us sing our 1. “My heart exults in the
of your only Son. Grant that we Lord,/ my horn is exalted in
own Magnificat. We especially who acknowledge his coming
pray for young people, that my God./ I have swallowed
with reverent love may also up my enemies;/ I rejoice in
in the midst of the pessimism be one with him, our Lord
and nihilism of the modern my victory.” (R)
and Redeemer, who lives and
world they too may sing, “My reigns with you in the unity of 2. “The bows of the mighty are
soul proclaims the greatness the Holy Spirit, God, for ever broken,/ while the tottering
of the Lord!” and ever. gird on strength./ The well-fed
hire themselves out for bread,/
All—Amen. while the hungry batten on
Penitential Act
THE LITURGY spoil./ The barren wife bears
P —Brethren (brothers and OF THE WORD seven sons,/ while the mother
sisters), let us acknowledge of many languishes.”(R)
our sins, and so prepare First Reading (1 Sm 1:24–28)
(Sit) 3. “The Lord puts to death and
ourselves to celebrate the gives life;/ he casts down to
sacred mysteries. (Pause) the nether world;/ he raises up
Hannah offers her son Samuel
P—You were sent to heal the in the service of the Lord. This again./ The Lord makes poor
contrite of heart: Lord, have act of dedicating her son who will and makes rich,/ he humbles,
mercy. grow to be a prophet and leader he also exalts.” (R)
All—Lord, have mercy. in Israel is an expression of her
P—You came to call sinners: 4. “He raises the needy from
gratitude to God. The Responsorial the dust;/ from the dung
Christ, have mercy. Psalm is Hannah’s song to which heap he lifts up the poor,/ to
All—Christ, have mercy. Mary’s Magnificat bears a striking seat them with nobles/ and
P — You are seated at the resemblance. make a glorious throne their
right hand of the Father to heritage.” (R)
intercede for us: Lord, have A reading from the first Book
mercy. of Samuel Alleluia (stand)
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—May almighty God IN THOSE DAYS, Hannah All—Alleluia, alleluia. O King
have mercy on us, forgive brought Samuel with her, of all nations and keystone of
us our sins, and bring us to along with a three-year-old the Church: come and save
everlasting life. bull, an ephah of flour, and a man, whom you formed from
All—Amen. skin of wine, and presented the dust! Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Lk 1:46–­56) practice transparency and P—Lift up your hearts.
accountability in governance. All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—A reading from the holy We pray: (R) P—Let us give thanks to the
Gospel according to Luke C—May those who work for Lord our God.
All—Glory to you, O Lord. justice and serve the weak, the All—It is right and just.
poor, and the marginalized, P—It is truly right and just,
MARY said: “My soul proclaims persevere in their work, our duty and our salvation,
the greatness of the Lord; my knowing that they bring your always and everywhere to give
spirit rejoices in God my savior, love to all people. We pray: (R) you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
for he has looked upon his almighty and eternal God,
C—May our daily lives be a through Christ our Lord.
lowly servant. From this day proclamation of true joy and For all the oracles of the
all generations will call me humility as we humbly serve prophets foretold him, the
blessed: the Almighty has done others and remain open to your Virgin Mother longed for him
great things for me, and holy grace. We pray: (R) with love beyond all telling,
is his Name. He has mercy on John the Baptist sang of his
C—May those who have gone
those who fear him in every ahead of us find peace and coming and proclaimed his
generation. He has shown the eternal happiness sharing in presence when he came.
strength of his arm, and has the joy at the Master’s table. It is by his gift that already
scattered the proud in their We pray: (R) we rejoice at the mystery of
conceit. He has cast down the his Nativity, so that he may
C—Let us pray for the urgent find us watchful in prayer and
mighty from their thrones and concerns of our community
has lifted up the lowly. He has exultant in his praise.
and our personal intentions And so, with Angels and
filled the hungry with good (pause). We pray: (R) Archangels, with Thrones and
things, and the rich he has sent Dominions, and with all the
away empty. He has come to P—Loving Father, listen with
compassion to the prayer of hosts and Powers of heaven,
the help of his servant Israel for we sing the hymn of your
your Church. May what we
he remembered his promise of entreat you help us to proclaim glory, as without end we
mercy, the promise he made to always your mighty deeds with acclaim:
our fathers, to Abraham and joy and sincere hearts.
his children for ever.” We ask this through Christ All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Mary remained with our Lord. God of hosts. Heaven and
All—Amen. earth are full of your glory.
Elizabeth about three months
Hosanna in the highest.
and then returned to her home. Blessed is he who comes in
—The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus THE LITURGY OF the name of the Lord. Hosanna
THE EUCHARIST in the highest. (Kneel)
Christ.

Homily (Sit) Presentation of the Gifts (Stand) Acclamation (Stand)

Prayer of the Faithful P—Pray, brethren… All—When we eat this Bread

All—May the Lord accept the and drink this Cup, we
P — A s w e m a k e M a r y ’s sacrifice at your hands for proclaim your Death, O Lord,
Magnificat our own song, let the praise and glory of his until you come again.
us pray to the Father that this name, for our good and the
coming Christmas we may good of all his holy Church.
proclaim the joy caused by God’s THE COMMUNION RITE
mercy and power. Mindful of Prayer over the Offerings
this, we pray: The Lord’s Prayer
P—With confidence in your
R—Hear our prayer, O Lord. mercy, Lord God, we hasten All—Our Father…
to place these gifts on your P—Deliver us, Lord…
C—May the Church strive to holy altar, that your grace All—For the kingdom, the
be a Church of the Poor, where may cleanse us from sin power and the glory are yours
the poor, equal to all others through the very sacrament now and forever.
in Christian dignity, not only by which we offer you true
are evangelized but become worship. Invitation to Peace
evangelizers themselves. We We ask this through Jesus
pray: (R) Christ our Lord. Invitation to Communion
All—Amen. (Kneel)
C—May those who serve in
public office shun the culture Preface II of Advent
of wastefulness, violence, P—Behold the Lamb of God,
and corruption; may they P—The Lord be with you. behold him who takes away
seek the common good and All—And with your spirit. the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper Lord God, may our sharing rejoice together, O God, over
of the Lamb. in your sacrament be for us the mysteries of redemption
a source of strength, so that they have celebrated, and grant
All—Lord, I am not worthy when the Savior comes, we its members the perseverance
that you should enter under may welcome him with holy to attain the effects that flow
my roof, but only say the lives and obtain the prize of from them.
word and my soul shall be unending happiness.
healed. Through Christ our Lord.
Grant this through Jesus All—Amen.
Christ our Lord. P—And may the blessing of
Communion Antiphon All—Amen.
(Lk 1:46, 49) almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, (†) and the Holy Spirit,
My soul proclaims the
THE CONCLUDING RITES come down on you and remain
greatness of the Lord, for the P—The Lord be with you. with you for ever.
Almighty has done great things All—And with your spirit.
for me. All—Amen.
Solemn Blessing
Prayer after Communion Dismissal
(Stand) P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause) P—Go in peace.
P—Let us pray. (Pause) May your family always All—Thanks be to God.

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