Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

26 January 2025 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD

T
oday is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, the longest
period in the Liturgical Year. Last Sunday we admired the
pre-adolescent Jesus as the youngest “teacher of Israel,”
shining among the renowned teachers of the Law in the Temple.
Today, National Bible Sunday, we see him as the fulfillment
of God’s promises as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The content
of God’s Word offers us guidance and encouragement today, no less
than it did in the history of the people of Israel. Its vital message is
ever relevant.
May it bear fruit in us as we, and more people, receive God’s
Word in our hearts in the Holy Eucharist and allow it to transform
our lives.

pardon and strength. (Pause) for your great glory, Lord God,
P –Lord Jesus, you are mighty heavenly King, O God, almighty
God and Prince of Peace. Father.
Entrance Antiphon Lord, have mercy! Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
(To be recited only when no Entrance All – Lord, have mercy! gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
Hymn is sung.) P –Lord Jesus, you are Son God, Son of the Father, you take
O sing a new song to the of God and Son of Mary, away the sins of the world, have
Lord; sing to the Lord, all the Christ, have mercy! mercy on us; you take away the
earth. In his presence are ma- All –Christ, have mercy! sins of the world, receive our
jesty and splendor, strength prayer; you are seated at the
and honor in his holy place. P –Lord Jesus, you are Word
made flesh and splendor right hand of the Father, have
(Cf. Psalm 96) mercy on us. For you alone are
of the Father. Lord, have
mercy! the Holy One, you alone are the
Greeting Lord, you alone are the Most
All – Lord, have mercy!
P – In the name of the Father, High, Jesus Christ, with the
and of the Son, and of the Holy P –May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, Holy Spirit, in the glory of God
Spirit! the Father. Amen!
All –Amen! and bring us to everlasting life.
All – Amen!
P –Grace and peace from God Collect (Opening Prayer)
our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, be with you all! Gloria P –Almighty ever-living God,
All – And with your spirit! direct our actions according to
All –Glory to God in the highest, your good pleasure, that in the
and on earth peace to people of name of your beloved Son we
Penitential Act good will. We praise you, we may abound in good works.
P –Brethren, let us call to mind bless you, we adore you, we Through our Lord Jesus
our sins and beg the Lord for glorify you, we give you thanks Christ, your Son, who lives and
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reigns with you in the unity of who were instructing the peo- R – A reading from the First
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever ple said to all the people: “To- Letter of Paul to the Corin-
and ever. day is holy to the Lord your thians
All – Amen! God. Do not be sad, and do not
weep” – for all the people were Brothers and sisters:
weeping as they heard the As a body is one and though
words of the law. it has many parts, and all the
He said further: “Go, eat parts of the body, though
rich foods and drink sweet many, are one body, so also
First Reading Neh 8:2-4.5- drinks, and allot portions to Christ. For in one Spirit we
6.8-10 those who have nothing pre- were all baptized into one
After their return from the exile pared; for today is holy to our body, whether Jews or Greeks,
Lord. Do not be saddened this
in Babylon, the Jews found it day, for rejoicing in the Lord slaves or free persons, and we
difficult to make a significant must be your strength!” were all given to drink of one
“fresh start.” Providentially, Spirit.
a scroll containing parts of the The Word of the Lord! Now the body is not a single
Bible was discovered and its All – Thanks be to God! part, but many. If a foot should
content proved to be very effec- say, “Because I am not a hand
tive in awakening in the people Responsorial Psalm Ps 19 I do not belong to the body,” it
their sense of nationhood and R –Your words, Lord, are does not for this reason belong
their special relationship with Spirit and life! any less to the body. Or if an
the Lord. ear should say, “Because I am
R. M. Velez
R – A reading from the Book of not an eye I do not belong to
the body,” it does not for this

F Dm
Nehemiah

    
Ezra, the priest, brought  reason belong any less to the
body.
[the book of] the law before Your words, O Lord, are If the whole body were an
the assembly, which consist-
C F eye, where would the hearing
   
ed of men, women, and those
children old enough to under- be? If the whole body were
stand. Standing at one end of hearing, where would the
spi---rit and life!
the open place that was before sense of smell be? But as it is,
the Water Gate, he read out of * The law of the Lord is per- God placed the parts, each
the book from daybreak till fect, refreshing the soul; the one of them, in the body as he
midday, in the presence of the decree of the Lord is trust- intended. If they were all one
men, the women, and those worthy, giving wisdom to the part, where would the body
children old enough to under- simple. R. be? But as it is, there are many
stand; and all the people lis- parts, yet one body.
tened attentively to the book * The precepts of the Lord
are right, rejoicing the heart; The eye cannot say to the
of the law. hand, “I do not need you,” nor
Ezra the scribe stood on the command of the Lord is
clear, enlightening the eye. R. again the head to the feet, “I
a wooden platform that had do not need you.” Indeed, the
been made for the occasion. * The fear of the Lord is parts of the body that seem
He opened the scroll so that pure, enduring forever; the to be weaker are all the more
all the people might see it – ordinances of the Lord are necessary, and those parts of
for he was standing higher up true, all of them just. R. the body that we consider less
than any of the people – ; and, honorable we surround with
as he opened it, all the people * Let the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart greater honor, and our less
rose. Ezra blessed the Lord, presentable parts are treated
the great God, and all the peo- find favor before you, O Lord,
ple, their hands raised high, my rock and my redeemer. R. with greater propriety, where-
answered, “Amen, amen!” as our more presentable parts
Then they bowed down and Second Reading 1 Cor 12:12- do not need this. But God has
prostrated themselves before 30 so constructed the body as to
the Lord, their faces to the The community of Corinth give greater honor to a part
ground. Ezra read plainly was plagued by divisions and that is without it, so that there
from the book of the law of may be no division in the body,
rivalries. Writing to them, but that the parts may have
God, interpreting it so that all
could understand what was the Apostle Paul reminds the the same concern for one an-
read. faithful of their duty to respect other. If one part suffers, all
Then Nehemiah, that is, and appreciate one another the parts suffer with it; if one
His Excellency, and Ezra the for they are all members of the part is honored, all the parts
priest-scribe and the Levites mystical body of Christ. share its joy.
GLOSSARY: Nehemiah: The governor of Jews who, together with Ezra, greatly contributed to the organization and moral restora-
tion of Israel after the Exile.

26 January 2025
 Now you are Christ’s body, into the synagogue on the sab- olic and apostolic Church. I
and individually parts of it. bath day. He stood up to read confess one Baptism for the
Some people God has desig- and was handed a scroll of the forgiveness of sins and I look
nated in the Church to be, first, prophet Isaiah. He unrolled forward to the resurrection
apostles; second, prophets; the scroll and found the pas- of the dead and the life of the
third, teachers; then, mighty sage where it was written: world to come. Amen!
deeds; then gifts of healing, “The Spirit of the Lord
assistance, administration, is upon me, because he has Prayer of the Faithful
and varieties of tongues. Are anointed me to bring glad tid-
all apostles? Are all prophets? ings to the poor. He has sent P –Spiritually united with
Are all teachers? Do all work me to proclaim liberty to cap- all the people of goodwill, let
mighty deeds? Do all have tives and recovery of sight to us address our petitions to the
gifts of healing? Do all speak the blind, to let the oppressed Lord for all the needs dear to our
in tongues? Do all interpret? go free, and to proclaim a year hearts:
acceptable to the Lord.” All –Lord, empower us with
The Word of the Lord! Rolling up the scroll, he
All – Thanks be to God! your Word!
handed it back to the attendant C –For the Catholic Church,
and sat down, and the eyes of God’s special family on earth:
Gospel Acclamation Lk 4:18 all in the synagogue looked in-
All – Alleluia! Alleluia! May she constantly be Good
tently at him. He said to them,
The Lord sent me to bring “Today this Scripture passage News to all the nations of the
glad tidings to the poor, is fulfilled in your hearing.” world through her faithfulness
and to proclaim liberty to to the teaching of Jesus. Let us
captives. The Gospel of the Lord! pray! R.
Alleluia! Alleluia! All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus C –For the Holy Father, our
Christ! Bishop and all other spiritual
Gospel Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Homily leaders: May their constant ef-
Today’s Gospel passage con- fort to promote a civilization of
sists of two parts. The first un- Profession of Faith life, love and peace be crowned
derlines the serious historical (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) with lasting success. Let us
research made by the Evan- pray! R.
gelist; the second portrays All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
ther almighty, maker of heaven C – For those involved in the
Jesus in action at Nazareth, Biblical apostolate: May they
shortly after having overcome and earth, of all things visible
and invisible. succeed in bringing all Catho-
the devil’s temptations in the lics to appreciate the Word of
desert. I believe in one Lord Jesus
God and to live out its message
Christ, the Only Begotten Son of
P –The Lord be with you! in their daily lives. Let us pray!
God, born of the Father before all
All – And with your spirit! ages. God from God, Light from
R.
P –A reading from the holy Light, true God from true God, C – For the members of the vari-
Gospel according to Luke begotten, not made, consubstan- ous Christian denominations:
All – Glory to you, O Lord! tial with the Father; through him May the love they share for the
Since many have under- all things were made. For us men Bible enable them to overcome
taken to compile a narrative and for our salvation he came all divisions and rebuild the uni-
of the events that have been down from heaven, (bow)* and ty for which Jesus prayed. Let us
fulfilled among us, just as those by the Holy Spirit was incarnate pray! R.
who were eyewitnesses from of the Virgin Mary, and became C –For all Christian families:
the beginning and ministers man.* For our sake he was cru- May their generous response to
of the word have handed them cified under Pontius Pilate, he Jesus’ invitation to a more radi-
down to us, I, too, have decided, suffered death and was buried, cal discipleship make them he-
after investigating everything and rose again on the third day in ralds of good news in their own
accurately anew, to write it accordance with the Scriptures. environments. Let us pray! R.
down in an orderly sequence He ascended into heaven and is
for you, most excellent C –For all of us: May Jesus’
Theophilus, so that you may seated at the right hand of the Fa- teaching propel us to work ever
realize the certainty of the ther. He will come again in glory more generously in favor of the
teachings you have received. to judge the living and the dead poor and the forgotten. Let us
Jesus returned to Galilee and his kingdom will have no end. pray! R.
in the power of the Spirit, and I believe in the Holy Spirit,
news of him spread through- the Lord, the giver of life, who P –Thank you, Lord, for the
out the whole region. He proceeds from the Father and gift of Holy Scripture and the
taught in their synagogues and the Son, who with the Father guidance it offers us. Grant us
was praised by all. and the Son is adored and glori- the grace to live by its message
He came to Nazareth, fied, who has spoken through till the end of our lives. You who
where he had grown up, and the prophets. live and reign for ever and ever.
went according to his custom I believe in one, holy, cath- All – Amen!

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

 God of hosts. Heaven and by which you bring us to new
earth are full of your glory. life, we may always glory in
Hosanna in the highest! your gift.
Blessed is he who comes in Through Christ our Lord.
Preparation of the Gifts the name of the Lord. Hosan- All – Amen!
P –Pray, brethren . . . na in the highest!
All –May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands, for Memorial Acclamation
the praise and glory of his
name, for our good and the P –The mystery of faith!
All – When we eat this Bread P –The Lord be with you.
good of all his holy Church. All – And with your spirit!
and drink this Cup, we
proclaim your Death, P –Bow down for the blessing.
Prayer over the Offerings O Lord, until you come (Pause)
P –Accept our offerings, O again! –May the radiance of God’s
Lord, we pray, and in sanctify- Word guide your steps in
ing them, grant that they may the way of an authentic
profit us for salvation. Christian life.
Through Christ our Lord. All – Amen!
All – Amen! All – Our Father . . . P –May the Lord protect
P –Deliver us, Lord . . . you from all dangers and
Preface I All –For the kingdom, the prosper your undertakings
P –The Lord be with you! power, and the glory are All – Amen!
All –And with your spirit! yours, now and for ever.
P –May He free you from all
P –Lift up your hearts! anxiety and strengthen your
All –We lift them up to the Sign of Peace
hearts in His love.
Lord!
P –Let us give thanks to the Breaking of the Bread All–Amen!
Lord our God! All – Lamb of God, you take P –May almighty God bless
All –It is right and just! away the sins of the world: have you: the Father, and the
P –It is truly right and just, mercy on us. (2x) Son, and the Holy Spirit.
our duty and our salvation, al- Lamb of God, you take away All – Amen!
ways and everywhere to give the sins of the world: grant us P –Go in peace, glorifying the
you thanks, Lord, holy Fa- peace. Lord by your life.
ther, almighty and eternal All – Thanks be to God!
God, through Christ our Lord. Communion
For through his Paschal P –This is the Lord Jesus, the
Mystery, he accomplished the Lamb of God who takes away
marvelous deed, by which he the sins of the world. Blessed are
has freed us from the yoke of those called to his Supper.
sin and death, summoning us to All – Lord, I am not worthy
the glory of being now called a that you should enter under
chosen race, a royal priesthood, my roof, but only say the word Tune in to Radio Veritas
a holy nation, a people for your and my soul shall be healed. (846 kHz)
own possession, to proclaim ev- every Saturday
erywhere your mighty works, for Communion Antiphon from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
(To be recited only when no and listen to
you have called us out of dark- Communion Hymn is sung.)
ness into your own wonderful BISPERAS SA VERITAS
light. Look toward the Lord and the interactive radio
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And so, with Angels and be abashed. discover
Archangels, with Thrones and
(Cf. Psalm 34) ă the messages of each
Dominions, and with all the Sunday Theme and
hosts and Powers of heaven, we Biblical readings, and
sing the hymn of your glory, as Prayer after Communion
ă how they can empower your
without end we acclaim: P –Grant, we pray, almighty life, your family,
All – Holy, holy, holy Lord, God, that, receiving the grace and your community.

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 HOPE: JOY BEHIND AND BEYOND TEARS
Kalakbay at Katoto

T he people of Israel, Nehemiah tells us, were

shown to be “weeping as they heard the
words of the law.”
exile but we are equally enslaved by a whole
lot of conflicting political ideologies that have
gradually seeped into every single facet of our
mainstream culture that encompasses even our
Both Ezra and Nehemiah were unanimous in tell- lives as Christian believers.
ing the weeping assembly: “Today is holy to the
Lord, your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep In this “Babylonian exile” of our theological
[…] rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength.” and pastoral confusion, the Word of God – that
Ezra and Nehemiah were not telling people to is, what it meant and what it means - has been
deny their tears. No, they were actually telling made to take a back seat. Both the rightists and
them to “make sense of their tears,” to look the leftists tend to make use of it as a tool or even
beyond their tears, and put their tears or their a weapon to drive home its own brand of truth.
sadness in the right perspective. “Today is holy
to the Lord your God.” God’s people, as a whole, whether Christian,
Buddhist, Muslim, or belonging to any other
Ezra and Nehemiah, among other things, were religious affiliation is “weeping by the rivers”
challenging the people’s “hopeful imagination.” not of Babylon, but by the rivers of division,
It was very easy to lose such an attitude of hope uncertainty, polarization, and utter confusion!
given the fact that they were no longer exiles. A The tower of Babel has grown even taller in this
lot of complacency could easily set in when one’s fractious and fragmented world. Catholics are
object of longing is firmly set in place. A life of divided into categories like “religious right” and
comfort and relative material wealth; a culture of “religious left” with the greater majority caught
instant gratification on all fronts; a society that up in a culture of poorly understood ritualism
fosters the belief and the corresponding attitude and sacramentalism with hardly any commitment
that everything is attainable and within reach to societal, much less, political issues. Morality
… all this cancels out the need for a “hopeful is reduced to personal ethics, with no bearing
imagination.” One does not need to hope. All one at all on religious and social (and definitely not
needs to do is to “pull the right strings,” make political) ethics. Spirituality is then consequently
use of that “can-do” attitude and go out there and reduced to “feeling good” with a lot less empha-
grab for oneself, and be number 1. Self-reliance sis put on “doing good.” By and large, their sole
and a great deal of self-confidence can make one focus is on a “feel good” spirituality with no
go a long way. real connection to the real world of gross social
inequality where political power is concentrated
It now falls on the Church and her ministers in the hands of a few elitist rich.
to do as Ezra and Nehemiah did. The Word of
God speaks to people then, and the same liv- This is the arena into which the “hopeful
ing, unchanging Word speaks to people now. imagination” of Ezra, Nehemiah, Paul and
“Preaching as an act of interpretation,” says Jesus is directed. This is the arena in which we,
Brueggemann, “is in our time demanding, as God’s people find ourselves in, the very same
daring, and dangerous.” As a priest over the arena where we ought to “work out our salva-
past 42 years, I can vouch for the veracity of tion” where we are called to participate in God’s
Brueggemann’s insight. How often have I been salvific work begun in Jesus Christ.
both praised and cursed by people who belong to
both extreme sides of two conflicting ideologies! Jesus, we are told today, began His ministry by
A more socially aware and more enlightened unrolling the scroll of God’s written Word.
believer would expect to hear a more “socially
and politically committed” homily. Someone Tears of uncertainty and maybe sadness flow
who identifies with a more “traditional,” more down our faces as we hurdle the challenges of our
vertically focused type of spirituality that em- world in our times. But behind and beyond the
phasizes the “other-worldly” aspects of a more tears, today, we find quiet but sure strength as
“privatistic” faith would cry “foul” every time we rejoice in the Lord who assures us: “Today,
there is mention of politics, whether tangentially this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hear-
or directly. ing.” Joy behind and beyond tears … this we
can experience here and now in this Eucharis-
We are figuratively out of the Babylonian tic assembly.