Year 34 No.

33 Simbang Gabi | Misa de Gallo — White December 23, 2020

JOHN
IS HIS NAME
by Fr. Keiv Aires Dimatatac, SSP

I ntroducing myself is a
complex and difficult ritual for
me. Whenever I say my name,
Elizabeth wants to name their
long-awaited child as John,
a name unfamiliar to them
speaks in a serious tone about
the one who is to come as God’s
messenger. He will come to
I am used to seeing frowned, because no one among their them like a refiner’s fire, or a
confused faces from strangers. kin has that name. Thus, the fuller’s lye, to cleanse people
Most people could not figure out relatives turn to Zechariah, from their impurities to make
what I have just said. Certainly, whom they expect to disagree. them worthy when the time of
a follow-up question will usher But Zechariah, writing on a doom comes. As Elijah precedes
to confirm what they have tablet, agrees with Elizabeth that the Messiah, so John comes
misheard. Give? Keep? Keif? the child is to be named John. before Christ.
Then, finally, I have to spell it out At this, Zechariah’s mouth is John, whose name literally
for them as K. E. I. V. Relieved, opened and his tongue is freed means God is gracious or God
as if they have deciphered a to praise God. And fear comes is gifting, becomes true to his
great mystery, they will concur among them as they wonder name by showing how God
saying, “Ahhh Steve.” what the child will be. graces us. He becomes a gift
Yes, our name is who we are. We now know what the child to his parents, his community,
It is an important life’s ritual as will be. John will be the herald and his God. John thus reminds
parents want their child’s name of the Messiah and will proclaim us to prepare our hearts for
to be unique and profound. repentance through baptism. the coming of God’s gift into
Names usually have meanings He will be the voice crying in our lives. A heart renewed and
and history. A name may even the desert to prepare the way of refined is what we can prepare
embody the parents’ hope for the Lord. John’s austere life, his for the coming of God’s greatest
their child. According to a study, preaching and even his death gift to humanity–his very self,
names have a correlation to will be for the service of the Emmanuel! God is with us. As
life success; they may affect coming Messiah. Christians, we are called to be
our future. John the Baptist will be the true to our names – to be bearers
In the Gospel, commotion Elijah prophesied in the First of Christ to everyone.
results when, out of nowhere, Reading. The prophet Malachi
 people of good will. We praise hosts. But who will endure the
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES you, we bless you, we adore day of his coming? And who
you, we glorify you, we give can stand when he appears?
Entrance Antiphon you thanks for your great glory, For he is like the refiner’s fire,
(Cf. Is 9:6; Ps 72 [71]:17)
(Recited when there is no opening song.) Lord God, heavenly King, O or like the fuller’s lye. He will
God, almighty Father. Lord sit refining and purifying silver,
A child shall be born for us, Jesus Christ, Only Begotten and he will purify the sons of
and he will be called God, Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Levi, refining them like gold
the Almighty; every tribe of Son of the Father, you take or like silver that they may
the earth shall be blest in him. away the sins of the world, offer due sacrifice to the Lord.
have mercy on us; you take Then the sacrifice of Judah
Greeting away the sins of the world, and Jerusalem will please the
(The sign of the cross is made here.) receive our prayer; you are Lord, as in the days of old, as
seated at the right hand of in years gone by.
P — The Lord be with you. the Father, have mercy on us. Lo, I will send you Elijah,
All — And with your spirit. For you alone are the Holy the prophet, before the day of
One, you alone are the Lord, the Lord comes, the great and
Introduction you alone are the Most High, terrible day, to turn the hearts
(These [or similar words] may be Jesus Christ, with the Holy of the fathers to their children,
used to address the assembly.) Spirit, in the glory of God the and the hearts of the children
P — Today’s Gospel tells Father. Amen. to their fathers, lest I come and
the birth and the naming of strike the land with doom.
John. Relatives and neighbors Collect — The word of the Lord.
assume that the son of All — Thanks be to God.
Zechariah and Elizabeth will P — Let us pray. (Pause)
Almighty and everlasting Responsorial Psalm (Ps 25)
be named after the father.
Instead, in obedience to God, as the nativity of your
Son according to flesh draws R — Lift up your heads and
God’s will, the child is given see your redemption is near
the name “Yohanan”or John, near, grant our humble prayer,
that we may know the mercy at hand.
which means “the Lord is Sr. M. C. A. Parco, FSP
gracious.” As we come closer of the Word incarnate, who
took flesh of the Virgin Mary 
     
D
toward celebrating the birth of
 
the Savior, may we experience and came to dwell among us. 
the Lord’s graciousness in our We ask this through our Lift up your heads and see
lives. Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you

A7 Em A7 D

    
4

  
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
Penitential Act
God, for ever and ever.  
yourre demp tion is near at
P — Brethren (brothers and All — Amen.
sisters), let us acknowledge THE LITURGY

  
our sins, and so prepare OF THE WORD
7

ourselves to celebrate the 

sacred mysteries. (Pause) First Reading (Mal 3:1–4, 23–24) hand.
P — You were sent to heal (Sit)
the contrite of heart: Lord, 1. Your ways, O Lord, make
have mercy. Malachi tells us that the prophet known to me;/ teach me your
All — Lord, have mercy. Elijah will be sent before the paths,/ guide me in your truth
day of the Lord comes. Elijah’s and teach me,/ for you are God
P — You came to call sinners: coming signals the restoration of
Christ, have mercy. my savior. (R)
communication between God and 2. Good and upright is the
All — Christ, have mercy. his people. This reading forms the
P — You are seated at the Lord;/ thus he shows sinners
backdrop for the birth of John who the way./ He guides the
right hand of the Father to comes in the spirit of the prophet humble to justice,/ he teaches
intercede for us: Lord, have Elijah. the humble his way. (R)
mercy.
All — Lord, have mercy. A reading from the Book of 3. All the paths of the Lord
P — M ay a l m i g h t y G o d the Prophet Malachi are kindness and constancy/
have mercy on us, forgive toward those who keep his
us our sins, and bring us to THUS says the Lord God: Lo, covenant and his decrees./
everlasting life. I am sending my messenger to The friendship of the Lord
All — Amen. prepare the way before me; and is with those who fear him,/
suddenly there will come to and his covenant, for their
the temple the Lord whom you instruction. (R)
Gloria
seek, and the messenger of the Alleluia (stand)
All — Glory to God in the covenant whom you desire. Yes,
highest, and on earth peace to he is coming, says the Lord of All — Alleluia, alleluia. O King
of all nations and keystone of God’s people, we pray: (R) P — Let us give thanks to the
the Church: come and save Lord our God.
C — That we may come to
man, whom you formed from All — It is right and just.
appreciate our Christian names
the dust! Alleluia, alleluia. P — It is truly right and just,
and dignity and live up to our
our duty and our salvation,
baptismal promises, we pray:
Gospel (Lk 1:57–66) (R) always and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
P — A reading from the holy C — That we may become a almighty and eternal God,
Gospel according to Luke united and caring community through Christ our Lord.
All — Glory to you, O Lord. where sorrow is halved and For all the oracles of the
joy is multiplied, we pray: (R) prophets foretold him, the
WHEN the time arrived for C — That families who gather Virgin Mother longed for him
Elizabeth to have her child together at Christmas and the with love beyond all telling,
she gave birth to a son. Her New Year may renew their love, John the Baptist sang of his
neighbors and relatives heard solidarity, and support for one coming and proclaimed his
that the Lord had shown his another, we pray: (R) presence when he came.
great mercy toward her, and It is by his gift that already
C — That the Lord may grant
they rejoiced with her. When we rejoice at the mystery of
to the souls of our brothers
they came on the eighth day to his Nativity, so that he may
and sisters the reward of
find us watchful in prayer and
circumcise the child, they were eternal life, we pray: (R)
exultant in his praise.
going to call him Zechariah C — Let us pray for the urgent
after his father, but his mother And so, with Angels and
concerns of our community Archangels, with Thrones and
said in reply, “No. He will be and our personal intentions
called John.” But they answered Dominions, and with all the
(pause). We pray: (R) hosts and Powers of heaven,
her, “There is no one among we sing the hymn of your
your relatives who has this P — Loving Father, watch over
your people. May we strive to glory, as without end we
name.” So they made signs, please you at all times. acclaim:
asking his father what he This we ask through Jesus
wished him to be called. He your Son who lives and reigns All — Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
asked for a tablet and wrote, with you and the Holy Spirit, God of hosts. Heaven and
“John is his name,” and all one God, for ever and ever. earth are full of your glory.
were amazed. Immediately All — Amen. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in
his mouth was opened, his
tongue freed, and he spoke
THE LITURGY OF the name of the Lord. Hosanna
THE EUCHARIST in the highest. (Kneel)
blessing God. Then fear came
upon all their neighbors, and Presentation of the Gifts (Stand) Acclamation (Stand)
all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of P — Pray, brethren… All — When we eat this
Judea. All who heard these All — May the Lord accept Bread and drink this Cup, we
things took them to heart, the sacrifice at your hands proclaim your Death, O Lord,
saying, “What, then, will this for the praise and glory of his until you come again.
child be? For surely the hand name, for our good and the
of the Lord was with him.” good of all his holy Church. THE COMMUNION RITE
— The Gospel of the Lord. The Lord’s Prayer
All — Praise to you, Lord Jesus Prayer over the Offerings
Christ. All — Our Father…
P — Lord God, let the sacrifice
you have given as the full P — Deliver us, Lord…
Homily (Sit) All — For the kingdom, the
expression of the Church’s
worship establish us firmly power and the glory are yours
Prayer of the Faithful now and forever.
in your peace, that we may
P — Zechariah called his celebrate with untroubled
son “John,” meaning “God is hearts the coming birth of our Invitation to Peace
gracious.” Trusting in God’s savior, who lives and reigns
graciousness and generosity, for ever and ever. Invitation to Communion
we pray: All — Amen. (Kneel)

R — Lord, be gracious to us. Preface II of Advent P — Behold the Lamb of

God, behold him who takes
C — That church and govern- P — The Lord be with you. away the sins of the world.
ment leaders may show God’s All — And with your spirit. Blessed are those called to
graciousness by their loving P — Lift up your hearts. the supper of the Lamb.
and persevering service to All — We lift them up to the Lord. All — Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under THINKING OF WHAT TO GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR?
my roof, but only say the
word and my soul shall be ST PAULS 2021 SEASONAL PRODUCTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
healed.

Communion Antiphon
(Rv 3:20)

Behold, I stand at the door

and knock: if anyone hears my
voice and opens the door to
me, I will enter his house and
dine with him, and he with me.

Prayer after Communion

(Stand)

P — Let us pray. (Pause)

Grant pardon and peace,
O Lord, to those you have fed
with heavenly gifts, so that, at
the coming of your beloved
Son, we may hasten to greet
him with lamps alight in our
hands.
We ask this through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
All — Amen.

THE CONCLUDING RITES

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

Solemn Blessing

P — Bow down for the blessing.

(Pause)
Hasten to the aid of your
faithful people who call upon
you, O Lord, we pray, and
graciously give strength in
their human weakness, so
that, being dedicated to you SIMBAHAY
in complete sincerity, they may
find gladness in your remedies
both now and in the life to
come.
Through Christ our Lord.
All — Amen.
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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