Year 34 No. 28 Simbang Gabi | Misa de Gallo — White December 18, 2020 mystery and the lifting of the THE TENDERNESS OF burden from Joseph’s heart. In a dream, the angel informs Joseph that Mary’s child has been conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph is given the charge of protecting Mary and her child, Saint Joseph publicly owning the child, and shielding both mother and child by Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP from shame. Such is the magnanimity of Joseph, chosen as Redemptoris Custos (“the Guardian of the Redeemer”). Jesus would be devoted to him as his father on earth. Generations of believers would pray to St. Joseph as patron of the Universal Church. Pope Francis is particularly devoted to St. Joseph. He popularized the devotion to srael in Jesus’ time was But this is hidden from Joachim, the Sleeping St. Joseph. On Ipatriarchal; men exercised Mary’s father, and from Joseph his birthday on December 17, much of the formal power. The who is already her husband 2019, he was shown a unique value system was centered on the according to the Law of Moses. Nativity scene, dubbed “Let Mum ideology of honor and shame. Joachim is distraught. Will Joseph Rest.” Here, Mary is sleeping and Women were often seen as the still accept her, or will Mary be Joseph is holding a tired Baby “weak link” in the male’s badge pregnant in her father’s house, with his arms outstretched in a of honor which was vulnerable a perennial source of shame to typical newborn pose. The Pope to the sexual behaviors of his her family? was touched by the image which women: his wife and daughters. Joseph, too, shares Joachim’s he said shows the tenderness of Given this cultural background, torment. He truly loves Mary and a family. the father would feel this anxiety has prepared a home for her as Joseph is rightly presented regarding his daughter: “When his wife. But will he accept her as a “just” man: a man of few she is young, for fear she may not and her child? Already, his friends words, a man of character who marry; or if married, for fear she and neighbors start to gossip. would have been respected may be disliked. While a virgin, Joseph decides to save Mary from by his neighbors, friends, and for fear she may be seduced, and mortal danger: he will divorce “customers” at his carpentry become pregnant in her father’s her, but not publicly. There will shop. Jesus would have loved and house” (Sir 42:9-10). be no trial before the elders at respected Joseph, too. But there Today’s Gospel tells us that the assembly. He will return her is also so much tenderness in before Mary and Joseph live in shame to her father Joachim. Joseph, as shown in his concern together, she is found to be Such is the consternation that for the pregnant Mary and his pregnant. This does not disturb accompanies the incarnation taking care of the Baby Jesus so us since the evangelist notes that of the Messiah. Today’s Gospel that Mary could sleep, telling this is through the Holy Spirit. shows the unraveling of the him, “Let Mum rest.” you, we glorify you, we give the Lord lives, who brought THE INTRODUCTORY RITES you thanks for your great glory, the descendants of the house Lord God, heavenly King, O of Israel up from the land of Entrance Antiphon (Recited when there is no opening song.) God, almighty Father. Lord the north”—and from all the Jesus Christ, Only Begotten lands to which I banished them; Christ our King is coming, he Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, they shall again live on their is the Lamb foretold by John. Son of the Father, you take own land. away the sins of the world, — The word of the Lord. Greeting have mercy on us; you take All — Thanks be to God. (The sign of the cross is made here.) away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are Responsorial Psalm (Ps 72) P — Grace to you and peace seated at the right hand of from God our Father and the the Father, have mercy on us. R — Justice shall flourish in Lord Jesus Christ. For you alone are the Holy his time, and fullness of peace All — And with your spirit. One, you alone are the Lord, for ever. you alone are the Most High, Sr. M. C. A. Parco, FSP Introduction Jesus Christ, with the Holy G C (These [or similar words] may be Spirit, in the glory of God the used to address the assembly.) Father. Amen. Jus tice shall flou rish in his P — On this third day of our Collect G D7 Am Misa de Gallo, the angel 4 Gabriel reveals to Joseph P — Let us pray. (Pause) the mystery behind Mary’s All powerful God, we are time, and full ness of peace for conception, which earlier oppressed and weighed down caused him a severe crisis. by the ancient yoke of sin. 7 D7 G We admire Joseph for his Grant that the birth of your attentiveness and docility only Son, so long awaited, yet e ver. to the voice of God. After always new, may deliver us receiving the message of the and set us free. 1. O God, with your judgment angel, Joseph does everything We ask this through our endow the king,/ and with the Lord wants him to do: he Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, your justice, the king’s son;/ takes Mary and her Child who lives and reigns with you he shall govern your people under his care. in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with justice/ and your afflicted God for ever and ever. ones with judgment. (R) Penitential Act All — Amen. 2. For he shall rescue the poor THE LITURGY when he cries out,/ and the P — Brethren (brothers and afflicted when he has no one sisters), let us acknowledge OF THE WORD to help him./ He shall have our sins, and so prepare First Reading (Jer 23:5–8) (Sit) pity for the lowly and the ourselves to celebrate the poor;/ the lives of the poor sacred mysteries. (Pause) Jeremiah prophesies the birth of a he shall save. (R) P — You were sent to heal king, a descendant of David, which the contrite of heart: Lord, 3. Blessed be the Lord, the will usher in new hope and new life God of Israel,/ who alone have mercy. for the people. All — Lord, have mercy. does wondrous deeds./ And blessed forever be his glorious P — You came to call sinners: A reading from the Book of Christ, have mercy. name;/ may the whole earth the Prophet Jeremiah be filled with his glory. (R) All — Christ, have mercy. P — You are seated at the BEHOLD, the days are coming, Alleluia (stand) right hand of the Father to says the Lord, when I will intercede for us: Lord, have raise up a righteous shoot to All — Alleluia, alleluia. O mercy. David; as king he shall reign Leader of the House of Israel, All — Lord, have mercy. and govern wisely, he shall do giver of the Law to Moses on P — May almighty God what is just and right in the Sinai: come to rescue us with have mercy on us, forgive land. In his days Judah shall your mighty power! Alleluia, us our sins, and bring us to be saved, Israel shall dwell alleluia. everlasting life. in security. This is the name All — Amen. they give him: “The Lord our Gospel (Mt 1:18–25) justice.” Gloria Therefore, the days will P — A reading from the holy come, says the Lord, when Gospel according to Matthew All — Glory to God in the they shall no longer say, “As All — Glory to you, O Lord. highest, and on earth peace to the Lord lives, who brought people of good will. We praise the children of Israel out of the THIS is how the birth of Jesus you, we bless you, we adore land of Egypt”; but rather, “As Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed abroad or far from home P — It is truly right and just, to Joseph, but before they may remain faithful to their our duty and our salvation, lived together, she was found families and be filled with always and everywhere to give with child through the Holy the consolation of St. Joseph you thanks, Lord, holy Father, Spirit. Joseph her husband, as they celebrate Christmas almighty and eternal God, since he was a righteous man, away from their loved ones, through Christ our Lord. we pray: (R) yet unwilling to expose her to For all the oracles of the shame, decided to divorce her C — That those who are prophets foretold him, the Virgin Mother longed for him quietly. Such was his intention undergoing crises in their personal and family lives may with love beyond all telling, when, behold, the angel of have the faith and hope of St. John the Baptist sang of his the Lord appeared to him in a Joseph who sought to see God’s coming and proclaimed his dream and said, “Joseph, son will in unexpected and even presence when he came. of David, do not be afraid to painful realities, we pray: (R) It is by his gift that already take Mary your wife into your C — That those who have we rejoice at the mystery of home. For it is through the Holy died may be forgiven of their his Nativity, so that he may Spirit that this child has been sins and rest in peace in the find us watchful in prayer and conceived in her.